Chia's SWC stuff!
Word count: 1577

10th March
Daily: In a world where magic is banned, Wolli the mage is on the run and seems to to great at making enemies. That is, until she discovers what she thought was a safe haven - the mysterious Shadowflower Society for Mages, an organisation who have had enough of being locked away and want to combine their magic to make a stand. Little does she know, upon joining, her world will be thrown into one of heists, adventures and even more dangerous foes than before. Little does she know, that she might just be the only key to equality between mages and non-magics. She finally has a chance to meet the friends she never had! But the question is: will she get out of it alive? (124 words)

9th March
Secrets of Advorr-Fi: Her feet flew as she dashed down the ominous alley. (10 words)

Daily: (351 words)
@DashingDiamonds: “Fear is more powerful than you think.”
@Starry_Animations: “Last time we tried that, we got thrown off a cliff, crashed through someone's roof, and had to pay them three thousand dollars, so you can guess why I'm not exactly up to doing that again.”
(this is gonna be interestinggggg)

Moonlight creeped in through the extravagant windows, the only thing shedding light on the two's highly confidential conversation, or rather, argument. They stood in the dazzling hall, every surface boasting jewels, marble or gold… But they stood in the towering castle that strook fear and mistrust in the heart of everyone who dared to walk by. Dame Alytia and Calli both shot cold glares.
“I can't believe you still want to kill her,” Calli hissed, “We just need to find evidence and-”
"Last time we tried that, we got thrown off a cliff, crashed through someone's roof, and had to pay them three thousand dollars, so you can guess why I'm not exactly up to doing that again. That woman, princess, is a twisted, murderous snake and she needs to get what she deserves because there is nothing we can do to prove to the people she killed the queen!“ The Dame's fists were clenched to the point where her long fingernails had dented her skin.
”So… what.“ Calli snapped in reply. ”If she's convincing everyone that we're the criminals, and then she dies, don't you think people will be a tad suspicious?“
”Well- Well… LET THEM!“ Her words were like a fiery slap. ”Instead of losing again, and again, and again, maybe it's time we make every person who has dared to doubt us TREMBLE as we - the rightful leaders - force our way to the top again. The people who live in this castle should be us! We have the armies. What could they do to us? Fear is more powerful than you think.“
The Dame's spiteful rants always terrified Princess Calli, because she was afraid of what her friend had become. What scared her the most was how it made sense. But…
”Do you want to repeat history, Alytia? For decades, this kingdom was stained by its dark civil wars. And we are supposed to the people who right the wrongs my cousin committed and let these people be ruled by fair and just rulers. Can you call yourself better than that witch if you kill her?“

Word war:
Gausina's mage hat nearly fell off as she jumped in fright.
”Ello, mam. Why'd you jump?"
They were standing in the beautiful grounds of the ESFU Academy for Mages when a girl's pet started making conversation. A pet griffin or something like that wasn't uncommon at the mages' school, but they never talked! Gausina adjusted her large purple hat - part of the uniform - in embarrassment. Despite the biting winter day, she flushed and, with her wild red hair, looked like a flame. (84 words)

1st to 8th March: Planning and worldbuilding for my book: 1007 words *totally didn't forget I had been given a cabin*

Bi-daily (Days 7 + 8)

Word Count: 432 words
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"Welcome to day two of this session’s first bidaily, focused on dialogue! Bidailies are like dailies, but you have two days to finish them. Before beginning, check out this workshop on dialogue by Skye (@strange_skies) ( https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/665944/?page=1#post-7015579 )! Start by posting a line of dialogue in the comments. Then, choose two lines from others’ comments. Write 300 words of an interaction including these two lines and at least 250 words of dialogue for 400 points. Gain an extra 100 points by sharing your story.”

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Hazel rushed down New York’s busy streets. “Can’t be late…” They mumbled as the crosswalk they were about to walk on flooded with people that
Hazel had to push out of the way. They stepped into the rush and came into contact with a burly stranger. “Ah,” Hazel blushed, “Apologies. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The stranger narrowed their eyes at Hazel.
“The only apology I accept is cash.”
“Cash? B-but-I’m broke! I don’t have anything,” Hazel raised their hands in surrender, “I sw3ar.” As they did this, a gust of wind blinded them and they
felt a bump. When Hazel opened their eyes, they lost track of the mysterious person. “What..?” Hazel drew off as they spotted them, running on the streets with Hazel’s wallet. “Get back here,” they growled, “and give me back my wallet! Bumping others by accident is not a valid reason for pick-pocketing!” They pushed through the remaining crowd and sped towards the stranger. “I’m giving you ten seconds to drop my wallet, otherwise…I’ll…I’ll…grab it back myself and call the police!”
“…The police? Those old guys? I’m not scared of you,” The pick-pocketed stopped, and turned towards Hazel, smiling smugly, “or those guys. I bet you couldn’t grab it if you tried your hardest.”
“Shut it, Maven. We’re out of sight now.” Hazel rolled their eyes.
“Aw, but isn’t it fun to annoy you?” Maven sang, “You’re so cute and scared whenever we do this.” Hazel scoffed.
“Whatever. We’re done, the police ain’t following us right now. We took care of them. And now…” They held out their hand.
“Nope. Not now.” Maven shook her finger, tutting.
“Maven. Give. it. back.”
“You may have won the war, but I won the battle! ..Wait, I messed that up, didn't I? Shoot. Just go back to ignoring me then.” Maven pulled out the wallet and began ruffling through it. Unpleased with what was inside, they sighed and reluctantly handed it to Hazel.
“That’s better, isn’t it?” Hazel smirked. “It’s back to its rightful owner, which is me.”
“It’s not yours, isn’t it? Who’d you take that from?”
“Heh. Good catch, Maven. I’d have never thought you’d have guessed. I stole it while we were committing our escape. The owner won’t miss it.”
“I’ll never understand you.” Maven kicked Hazel playfully. ”I’ll call you back at 5, alright? We’re going to go over the plan.”
“Hah. Alright. Tell me, what's next to steal?” Hazel crossed their arms.
Maven giggled, “It’s the big one.” They bumped into Hazel, smirking. “Come back later and I’ll tell you. I…need a coffee.”
Hazel rushed down New York’s busy streets. “Can’t be late…” They mumbled as the crosswalk they were about to walk on flooded with people that
Hazel had to push out of the way. They stepped into the rush and came into contact with a burly stranger. “Ah,” Hazel blushed, “Apologies. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The stranger narrowed their eyes at Hazel.
“The only apology I accept is cash.”
“Cash? B-but-I’m broke! I don’t have anything,” Hazel raised their hands in surrender, “I swear.” As they did this, a gust of wind blinded them and they
felt a bump. When Hazel opened their eyes, they lost track of the mysterious person. “What..?” Hazel drew off as they spotted them, running on the streets with Hazel’s wallet. “Get back here,” they growled, “and give me back my wallet! Bumping others by accident is not a valid reason for pick-pocketing!” They pushed through the remaining crowd and sped towards the stranger. “I’m giving you ten seconds to drop my wallet, otherwise…I’ll…I’ll…grab it back myself and call the police!”
“…The police? Those old guys? I’m not scared of you,” The pick-pocketed stopped, and turned towards Hazel, smiling smugly, “or those guys. I bet you couldn’t grab it if you tried your hardest.”
“Shut it, Maven. We’re out of sight now.” Hazel rolled their eyes.
“Aw, but isn’t it fun to annoy you?” Maven sang, “You’re so cute and scared whenever we do this.” Hazel scoffed.
“Whatever. We’re done, the police ain’t following us right now. We took care of them. And now…” They held out their hand.
“Nope. Not now.” Maven shook her finger, tutting.
“Maven. Give. it. back.”
“You may have won the war, but I won the battle! ..Wait, I messed that up, didn't I? Shoot. Just go back to ignoring me then.” Maven pulled out the wallet
and began ruffling through it. Unpleased with what was inside, they sighed and reluctantly handed it to Hazel.
“That’s better, isn’t it?” Hazel smirked. “It’s back to its rightful owner, which is me.”
“It’s not yours, isn’t it? Who’d you take that from?”
“Heh. Good catch, Maven. I’d have never thought you’d have guessed. I stole it while we were committing our escape. The owner won’t miss it.”
“I’ll never understand you.” Maven k!cked Hazel playfully. ”I’ll call you back at 5, alright? We’re going to go over the plan.”
“Hah. Alright. Tell me, what's next to steal?” Hazel crossed their arms.
Maven giggled, “It’s the big one.” They bumped into Hazel, smirking. “Come back later and I’ll tell you. I…need a coffee.”

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Author’s notes: Hehehee this was so hard :0

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◦°☆ Hello, I’m Dawn! <33 ☆°◦
They/her
Artist
Dystopian - SWC Mar. 2023
#DystopianFTW!!

(Bi)Daily
3/8-3/9
500 points
644 words
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"Welcome to day two of this session’s first bidaily, focused on dialogue! Bidailies are like dailies, but you have two days to finish them. Before beginning, check out this workshop on dialogue by Skye (@strange_skies) ( https://scratch.mit.edu/discuss/topic/665944/?page=1#post-7015579 )! Start by posting a line of dialogue in the comments. Then, choose two lines from others’ comments. Write 300 words of an interaction including these two lines and at least 250 words of dialogue for 400 points. Gain an extra 100 points by sharing your story.

Extra Prompt: We’re adding a new aspect to bidailies: a second prompt for no additional points. For this bidaily’s second prompt, experiment with different dialogue tags & their impacts in a piece of your own!"
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Olivia's eyes dart around the room anxiously. A piece of cloth is stuffed in her mouth and taped in tight with duck tape. Her hands are tied behind her back with a rough piece of rope that's cutting into her wrists and ripping off her skin, same with her feet. She didn't know how she got into this situation. All she remembered was having a smoothie with her friend, Raya, in a booth at the duo's favorite smoothie shop and then blacking out. Olivia squirmed in her chair even more, not one bit sure what was about to happen to her; or what had happened already. A dark figure appeared in the corner of the room, walking down the staircase. Olivia squinted, trying to see who it was, and when she recognized the face, her eyes widened in fear.

“Hello, Olivia. Nice to see you,” Raya smirked. She walked over to Olivia and ripped off the duck tape. Olivia spat out the musty rag and quickly launched into a ramble of confusion.

“R-Raya! What is this? What did you do? Where am I? What do you want? Can I leave now? Can you at least tighten the rope around my wrists and feet? Or wait, no, let me free! Please! I don't want to be here! I want to leave! Please just let me go! What did I do? What did I do to you? What happened? We were just drinking smoothies and then now this? Can I trust you any more?” Olivia rambled.

“Shut up! Or you're not going to make it out of this room alive. I'd stay quiet if I were you,” Raya threatened, making Olivia shiver.

“Please, let me go free! Promise me you will!” Upon Raya's silence, Olivia continued. “O-once I'm out of here, I-I'll make sure that it's you who doesn't get out alive! I-I'll collapse this whole place! My father can do it! And he will for me! He owns a demolition company, after all. A-and after he finds out what you've done to me, you're body will be found amount the rubble and ruins of this building, and it sure won't be alive,” Olivia spat out, terrified of what the answer would be. She wasn't the best at making threats.

“I don't understand why you'd do that,” Raya said, tilting her head in amusement. “Because if I die, you'll be gone from this planet as well.”

“I'm not asking for much, just a promise. And you can't even do that,” Olivia said, ignoring the last part and also disappointed in her friend's loyalty to her. Or, well, ex-friend, apparently. “A-and what do you mean by that?”

All of a sudden, footsteps could be heard from above the musty room. Raya looked up in fear, as if trying to see through the ceiling. She hurried quickly to untie Olivia's hands and feet.

“Run. You might have a chance of escaping this, but I don't,” Raya whispered hurriedly. Olivia stared at Raya in confusion. One moment, they were just having smoothies. Next, Raya was threatening Olivia. Now she was helping her? Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but Raya slapped a hand over it.

“There's no time to explain. Just run.” When Olivia didn't move, Raya screeched at her. “RUN!” Large feet appeared coming down the stairs and Olivia ran out the door that she hadn't seen before. Raya screeched and Olivia looked back at her friend, seeing if she was okay. Raya wasn't okay. She was on the ground, a warm, red liquid pooling around her and an object in her back. With one last look, Raya mouthed Olivia one word. Run. And that's what Olivia did. With one final look away at the tall figure approaching her quickly, Olivia whispered one final thing to her friend. “I'll miss you Raya. And I'll always remember you.”

xxfierrorfalafelxx chain week 2

bidaily 8-9

“Last time we tried that, we got thrown off a cliff, crashed through someone's roof, and had to pay them three thousand dollars, so you can guess why I'm not exactly up to doing that again.”

“I'm a wingless beast. Longing for the skies, eternally bound to the ground.” (this was rushed so it;s like all dialogue

Xavier flicked the switch and the light in his mom’s garage illuminated a pile of random scrap metal, car parts and just random machinery. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. “Not againnnn,” he groaned. “Gianna! Get in here.” His sister Gianna, who had somehow both developed in the womb with him and also on an entirely different planet, came skipping in. “Yes brother dear?” “Don’t call me that. What’s all this doing here? You better not be doing one of your projects again.” he shuddered when he said that. They ended up in the hospital lot thanks to her projects. Gianna grabbed a ratty old pelican plushie that she kept on a shelf in the garage and collapsed dramatically. “I can’t help it, Xavier! I’m a wingless beast. Longing for the skies, eternally bound to the ground.” she said ‘ground’ with such disdain and disgust. “You’re a human, Gianna! You aren’t supposed to have wings. Why are you so obsessed with this?” “Did you not here what I said? I said-” “Yeah, yeah. I heard. Chill. I’m just saying, why do you keep trying when it never works.” “It’s like Tommy Edison said: if at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” “Thomas Edison never said that and please don’t call him that.” “Tommy and I were best friends in a past life. I think I can call him whatever I want.” “Maybe you should have been friends with the Wright Brothers. Maybe that could help you build a plane. Not that I think you should be doing this.” “Oh relaxxxx, I’m not building a plane.” “Oh good. No more of that nonsense.” “I’m retrying the Super-Gianna-Copter!” “Oh no. You’re not serious are you?” “Oh yes I am and you’re going to ride it with me.” “Absolutely not.” “Oh yes you are. Come onnn. Live a little, Xavier. I know there’s wings deep inside of you too and you feel just as bound to the earth as I do.” “NO! I like the ground just fine. No crazy freak accidents from your experiments.” “But you love the Super-Gianna-Copter.” “Last time we tried that, we got thrown off a cliff, crashed through someone's roof, and had to pay them three thousand dollars, so you can guess why I'm not exactly up to doing that again.” “Aww, come on don’t be a spoilsport. I need you to convince Jack’s mom to let us use her sewing machine.” “I don’t even want to know why you would use that. I’m leaving.”

swc workshops (post july '22)

Flash Fiction by Rey_venclaw (Nov 2022)

Humor by Stariqe (Nov 2022)

Thank You Notes by mossflower29 (Nov 2022)

Transcripts by Spire- (Nov 2022)

Monologues and Speeches by -faerylights (Nov 2022)

Spoken Word Poetry by Sunclaw68 (Nov 2022)

Songwriting by -Alocasia (Nov 2022)

Time Management by MoonlitSeas (Nov 2022)

Motivation by seasiide (Nov 2022)

Self Care by gooseful and RLove10 (Nov 2022)

THANKYOUUUUUU NOTES

I’ve had such an amazing session with you guys this month! Yes, maybe I didn’t meet my word goal, and maybe we didn’t exactly win as a cabin, but it doesn’t really matter, because I feel like we’ve gotten to know each other so well. Even small interactions have made this cabin feel closer, and I’m grateful to everyone, even if you’re not specifically mentioned.

Dear Leopard,
Honestly, I’ve got a huge amount of respect for you, because not only did you make it an amazing session for everyone in adventure, and you ran the cabin beautifully, but you did it all with one leader down. You leaders are so dedicated and awesome, it’s actually mind-blowing. Thankyou for making this session a blast for Adventure, especially all the effort of creating the cabin in the first place, and all that goes on behind the scenes!
I have loved my time in Adventure this month, and hope to see you again in another session. Thank you again <3

Dear CD,
You’ve felt like the lifeblood of the cabin for the whole session. The Ruins and Runes project must have taken serious dedication, and the profile pictures you made are sooo cool! You made being in Adventure enjoyable and exciting, and I really hope to see you next session! You’re an amazing and dedicated person, so thank you!

Dear Leina,
You probably won’t get round to reading this, but I hope you’re doing OK <3

Dear Lily,
I feel like I’ve seen you a lot around camp this session, especially with the runes project! You’ve participated so actively in camp, and you’ve made it great for everyone! And you were also a perfect character to add to my SWC fanfic for one of the dailies ^^ So thanks for being brilliant and hope to see you again soon!

Dear Brave,
I’m pretty sure you joined about halfway through the session, but I still feel like you’ve been really active and amazing! You did really well in Cabin Wars, and were just generally brilliant! Thank Youuuu : )

Dear Wordy,
Thank you for being so active during cabin wars! I don’t think we could have done it without you! Hope to see you next session!
P.S. :0 you’re a clarinettist too!!

Dear Kate,
You were also really active during cabin wars, and you’ve been amazing <3<3 Thankyouu!

Everyone else in Adventure,
Thankyou for making this session so wonderful, it’s been so much fun! I feel like I've gotten to know everyone better than I have done in previous sessions. I’m gonna try and drop everyone a follow, because you’ve all been brilliant, even if you turned up part way through. If I’ve missed anyone important, and you know it’s you, just consider this a heartfelt thank you. I hope to see lots of wonderful adventure buddies next session, and look forward to being enemies in future >: D Thank you again, and keep slaying!

THE FINAL (countdown) WEEKLY
(Total 4176 words) hahahelphaha

Part 1 - Character Planning (Total 415 words)
Ryan - The main character, confident and smart. He is obviously righteous and good and has a strong moral compass, which somehow seems to lead him to make the correct decisions. However, he is not a perfect goody two shoes, and hangs out with a bunch of dodgy teens who get him into smoking. Ryan is about eleven, and he is the youngest of the group, but he feels safe and like he fits in. He hides this secret carefully and elaborately when he betrays Pip’s brother to the police. The teens help him solve the mystery, but he cannot say. His friendship with Pip is broken when he gives Sam away, and it ends bitterly for the two of them.
Pip - The hero’s best friend, Pip is a seemingly meek and nervous character, often jumping at sudden noises and such like. However, he suddenly becomes brave and hostile when Ryan decides to carry on the mystery without him, and Pip discovers that Ryan is getting closer to solving it although he doesn’t know it yet. Everything comes to a confusing climax when Pip goes missing; Ryan and Sam go looking for him, and find him holding Doug at gunpoint. Doug knows Ryan, and calls his name, While Sam is trying to talk Pip out of the whole thing. When Ryan finally betrays Sam to the police, he is mean to Ryan for a while and blames him, but a few weeks later gives up and is never seen again.
Sam - Pip’s mysterious older brother, who is the culprit. He appears very little in the story, and comes across as friendly and talkative. Of course, he is the person who the reader least suspects, and everyone, even Ryan, is surprised when they find it is him. Sam had poisoned a girl who had bullied and hurt Pip. Sam is highly protective of Pip, and tells him everything. When he tells Pip about the murder, they both gladly swear to secrecy. When he is found out, instead of resorting to playing the villain’s role, he is just sad and defeated, telling the truth that he was only trying to protect his little brother.
Doug - Someone from Ryan’s teen group, originally a suspect. However, he has made an uneasy pact with Ryan, swearing to innocence, although Ryan secretly would betray him if he turned out to be guilty. This is the ‘threatening rival’ for part four. He is overbearing and powerful, and seems to watch Ryan’s every move.
Full Story

(PART TWO) - Total 151 words
Ryan found out the same way as everyone else. It was in the news all over the place. Cynthia Clark was dead. Everyone was shocked and overflowing with questions and fears. The police had investigated - everyone knew that. They claimed that her death had been sudden and unfortunate, but Ryan was suspicious. The police had been too vague. Cynthia had been a notorious bully at his school, ringleader of a gang of girls who feasted on easy prey. No one really liked her, even her gang was wary of her, but surely no one would want her dead? That’s what everyone thought. For a while, the shock had everyone too stunned to do much, but Ryan was a curious boy, and determined to fill in the gaps. With his little friend Pip to help him, they began to tackle an unintelligible tangle of information and cryptic clues pointing to the truth.

(PART THREE) - Total 715 words
Ryan had always loved his morning walks to Rooksbridge School in the park. To hear the birds singing and nature stirring brought him joy and melted away all his worries. All those cold, cold worries. Just thinking about them suffocated his mind with the sickly aroma of cigarette smoke. Two large hands grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, until he was staring into the grinning face of Doug, wearing his usual red woolly jacket.
“Hey, Ry,” Ryan could feel his breath against his face, hot and stinky, and mudded with smoke, “You, me and the boys, Crescent Alley after school.” The boys were a group of older teenagers that Ryan had recently started talking to. They gave him cigarettes and made him feel welcome, even though he was younger than them and didn’t fit in. He hated them for it.
“Sorry Doug, I can’t today,” Ryan sighed. Doug didn’t ask why, but his usually ignorant and dumb face hardened and he shrugged. For a few seconds they were just standing there, studying each other. Then Ryan pulled away from him and set off at a brisk pace towards school. He felt hot and angry when he reached into his pockets and pulled out a pack of cigarettes that hadn’t been there before. They’re playing me! He knew that anyway. There was a note too:

Crescent Alley, after schoole. These are ten quid.

Ryan knew this method. He couldn’t exactly refuse the pack now, so they were making him pay as well as hang out with them. In anger, he tossed the piece of paper away, and reluctantly pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He hated the smell, he hated them for what they did to him. But he needed them. They made it all better.
When he reached school, he stamped out his cigarette before anyone could see him. He did feel more relaxed, but that wouldn’t last long.
“Pip! What is it?” he had just found his best friend, young Pip, white as a sheet and distraught, hiding under a bench. Ryan knelt down.
“It… It’s Cynthia!” Pip sniffed. His eyes seemed wide with fear.
“Pip! What’s she done? I can help you! Please.”
“No… She hasn’t- Cynthia’s dead.” Pip seemed to be shaking.
“You’re not making sense. What do you mean?”
“Ry, Cynthia is dead. I don’t know. She was-” Pip stopped himself abruptly.
“She what?”
“Nothing.” Pip sniffed and then shakily stood up. They went off to class after Ryan had comforted him. Ryan found out later that Cynthia, a notorious bully who had tormented Pip for months, was, in fact, dead. There were rumours everywhere. Murdered? Maybe a car crash? A heart attack? Jumped off a cliff? Murdered? No. That sort of stuff never happens, Ryan told himself at lunch when he was sitting with Pip. Pip seemed out of sorts. Sure, someone had died, and Pip was often jumpy and easily spooked, but this seemed different. He was so unlike himself. His easy smile and bright laugh appeared to be absent, no matter what Ryan tried to do. Pip did smile, but his face was stiff and strained. Ryan felt that everything was wrong, and was glad to be setting off home at the end of the day. He was at the school gates when he saw a piece of paper on the ground. It was trodden on and battered and almost torn, but Ryan picked it up nonetheless. It read:

Cynthia, let’s talk. Prince’s Avenuoo, Saturday at ten.

Cynthia! A note, addressed to her? How had no one seen this? And there was something else. Ryan could have sworn he had seen the handwriting before. On his way home, his diligent eyes were searching, searching. It was right where he had left it. The note from Doug he had thrown away this morning was trampled and torn, but still there. He compared the two. He smiled. Then he frowned. The handwriting was the same, he was sure of it. Doug’s handwriting. A coincidence? Probably. But he couldn’t shake off the strangeness of it. Pip had been acting weird today, and now he had a note for the late Cynthia. His mind was troubled, not calm as he walked home, and not even the dazzling sunset soothed him.

(PART FOUR) - Total 513 words

It was as he was opening his front door that he remembered. He retrieved the note from his pocket. He was glad he had picked up Doug’s note again. ‘Crescent Alley’ said the note. He hated himself for it, but he knew he had to go. He had their trust, they knew that he would bring them money, and he didn’t want to lose it. Ryan wouldn’t stay to find out what would happen if he broke it. He sighed heavily and grabbed some money from his room.
“Where are you going?” called his mum as he was leaving again.
“Just the shops. Back soon!” He didn’t wait for any more questions.
He instinctively began smoking as he was walking, to put him slightly more at ease. He greeted Doug and the rest of his gang with a curt nod, and handed over the money. They were talking and passing round a can of beer when it occurred to Ryan that he could ask questions. He looked up at Doug, who had spilled beer down his red jacket, and asked bravely,
“Did you hear about Cynthia?” Ryan felt regret and anxiety creeping in as he wondered whether he should have asked.
“Sure did, Ry. Wasn’t it awful. You don’t look too good yourself!” They all laughed. He cursed under his breath.
“But, I just want to know- were you guys friends with her? Did you hang out with her like you do with me?” They looked at Ryan oddly, especially Doug. Electric stares crackled in the few seconds of suspenseful silence. Ryan made a quick excuse to leave, but flinched when he heard Doug making an excuse too. Ryan considered running, but that would only make things worse. He let Doug pull him into a separate alley and press him up against the wall.
“Watch it, mate. I don’t know what you know, but you need to shut your mouth.”
“It was- just a thought I had. Let go of me!”
“A thought, eh?” Doug stared at him cooly. Doug usually acted large and foolish, but he could be as cunning as he liked. Before he could stop him, Doug pulled Cynthia’s note from Ryan’s pocket. His eyes widened gradually as he read it.
“You little-!” Doug did not let go of Ryan, “how did you get this? Tell me! I know what you think. I know you think I got Cynthia. I didn’t. But you were gonna snitch, weren’t you.”
“No!” Ryan thought to himself that he probably would if he could.
“Well, you ain’t gonna snitch now, are you. Swear it!”
“I swear! I won’t say anything! Let me go!” Doug dropped him and stepped back. Ryan got the message. He turned to look at Doug once more, whose eyes followed him intently, and walked away, trying to look as if nothing had happened.
He knew he had been too brave, and now he had Doug on his back, Ryan would have to tread carefully. But there’s something! This is more than just a death. I need to find the truth!

(PART FIVE) - Total 321 words

But what was it? Everyone was being so secretive and strange. Ryan was confused, so he smoked to clear his head. When he got home, as usual, he quickly disposed of the cigarette and had a shower. It all gave him time to think. There were a few interesting things that had happened over the course of the day. He had learned of Cynthia’s death, that was a shock to everybody; Pip had been distraught and different to usual. He had found out that Doug had been recently in contact with Cynthia. Doug. He must be connected somehow. And Ryan had gone and made an enemy of him. Relax, Ryan told himself. What are you worrying about? The police are surely on top of this, so if there is something wrong, there’s nothing they can’t handle.
Meanwhile, Pip and his big brother Sam were cuddled on the couch in their apartment, watching Alex Rider. Their parents divorced years ago, and the two of them had stayed with their dad, who was never home. They chose not to think about it too much; at least they had their freedom. Their father would be gone for weeks at a time, god knows where, but the brothers would look after themselves. At 21, Sam was technically an adult, and he cared for Pip like a son, but like a brother too. Pip could count on Sam to keep him looked after, and they had both gradually grown away from their father.
“The police haven’t said anything about how Cynthia died yet - when do you think they’ll put it in the news?” asked Pip.
“Shh- I wanna watch,” said Sam, but he was listening to Pip all the same. “They’ll probably have to put out some garbage soon that tells the public nothing.”
Pip and Ryan’s phones buzzed at the same time. A news article. Cynthia Clark. Rooksbridge. Death. 5:14am. Cyanide.
Cynthia was poisoned.
(PART SIX) - Total 506 words
Ryan tensed. I knew it! This was more than an unlucky coincidence, this was murder! He put his phone down and lay in bed, wanting to hide from everything for a while. It was all too complex for him. At first Cynthia’s death had seemed new and thrilling, but now the thought of it made Ryan shiver with uncertainty and anxiety. There was a killer out there, somewhere close. And the police didn’t appear to be making any progress with the case. The truth of her death seemed to be resting with him, just an ordinary schoolboy who wanted desperately to have a normal life right now. Ryan hardly slept that night, what with all the possibilities buzzing around in his mind. The frustration was what drove him on. I will get to the bottom of this. I will.
Ryan spent the next school day searching and searching for clues. This was made far easier by the fact that Pip was home sick. He found himself slightly lonely at lunch break, when he decided to go snooping. This was the kind of fun that he and Pip would usually have together. The article said that Cynthia’s body had been found behind the Rooksbridge school bins, a grimy walled off area which backed onto Prince’s Avenue. Ryan decided to have a sniff, to see if he could spot anything of significance.
A flash of red. Ryan swivelled round and saw a dirty snag of red material, caught in a splinter of wooden fence. He delicately dislodged it and held it up to see. He imagined someone, clad in red, depositing the girl’s body here, and catching their garment on the fence. Now, who would be stupid enough to wear bright red to murder someone? His eyes widened with the realisation. Doug! The red jacket flashed in Ryan’s memory, and then it vanished, overtaken by thoughts poisoned by fear. Ryan whispered aloud,
“So, was this why Doug was so reluctant for me to go to the police? Why was he so aggressive with me?” Did Cynthia know something she shouldn’t have, and am I close to finding it too?
“Am I next?” Ryan’s mind ran dizzy circles of fear, and his ears started to ring. The school bell. Ryan shakily went off to class, and for the rest of the day, his concentration was non-existent. How do I avoid Doug? Is he looking for me? The paranoia was sickening and clouded his judgement, but he made a decision. He texted his mum:

I’m going to Pip’s house for a while, I’ll have dinner there. x

If he went somewhere else for a bit, and took a different route home, he would be ok. And anyway, Pip will appreciate me going to check on him. Ryan took care to look all around him as he walked. He dared not smoke; nothing could erase his worries now. He tingled all over as he made his way to Pip’s place. Not too long, I’ll be there soon, five minutes, he thought.

(IN BETWEEN)

It was good to see Pip again. He was looking tired and dishevelled, but overall better than he had done yesterday. Then Sam came up behind him, a warm, comforting kind of person, with a welcoming smile and a big red sweater; the effects of years of responsibility for Pip.
“Come in,” he said warmly. Ryan slumped down in a chair, glad to know that he was safe from Doug. They sat round the cluttered kitchen table, eating coke and chocolate digestives, as Ryan discussed with Pip his findings over the course of the day. Occasionally Sam chipped in with a comment about Cynthia, but listened intently to Ryan.
“I’ve been looking for things, stuff that might explain Cynthia.” Ryan noticed that every time he said her name, Pip shrank back slightly into his chair.
“…and I was looking behind the bins at school, and I found this,” Ryan retrieved the red fluff from his pocket. Sam’s eyes widened slightly, and some twisted expression changed him momentarily, before he changed back to normal.
“A-and, whose do you think it is?” asked Sam. Ryan was reluctant to spill the beans about Doug, since he would kill to keep his smoking a secret.
“I’m still not sure,” he replied at length, “but I feel I’m getting close.”
After chatting for a little longer, during which time Sam barely spoke, it was time for Ryan to leave.
“See you tomorrow!” called Pip as he walked off. Sam stood there too, smiling again.

(PART SEVEN) - Total 124 word outline and 437 story

OUTLINE:
#1 - Ryan sets off to school, deciding to take a different route for fear of Doug
when he receives a mysterious message from him: “Meet me by the school bins” Ryan is confused
#2 - Ryan’s curiosity overtakes him and he approaches cautiously. He begins to hear muffled noises, which suddenly turns into a yell, which is quickly silenced. Ryan is even more careful
#3 - Ryan can’t look from a distance, so he is forced to peek round to see Doug being threatened and held hostage with a knife, although he can’t see who.
#4 - The answer is that Doug, whom Ryan thought was an enemy, needs his help. Unarmed and defenceless, but brave and stupid, he heroically reveals himself.

Ryan slept well that night. The next morning he was chopping vegetables before school, and he caught his reflection in the knife blade. He jumped as the sight of his own reflection caused something to surface in his mind. Sam and Pip. He had dreamed of them the night before, and they wouldn’t budge from his mind. They were like a stain on his mind’s eye.
Ryan set off to school with an air of confidence. He was planning on a different route, when his phone buzzed in his pocket. A message from Doug. Doug? How does he have my number? Then Ryan remembered Doug’s sudden moments of cunning, and he knew that it really wouldn’t be hard to find his number.

Meet me, Princes Avenue, behind the bins.

The full stop at the end of the message was a clear sign of seriousness and that this was more than just teasing. Ryan shivered. What if Doug- what if he’s the murderer and I’m next? Ryan fiddled with a cigarette nervously. It occurred to him that he hadn't smoked in almost two days. His senses felt sharper and his mind was clearer without smoke blocking it. I know! I’ll go to school and find Pip, and we can go together. Maybe it was time Pip knew about Doug; they were best friends after all and he would be safer with Pip than alone. When he reached school, he had fifteen minutes before registration, and was going to face Doug. However, he couldn’t find Pip anywhere. Ryan groaned,
“Pip, please don’t be off school again,” this thought caused a change of heart. I shouldn’t rope anyone else into this. This is my problem to fix.
The bins were secret. They were so grimy and undesirable that even those who knew of their existence hardly ever went near. That would have been why Cynthia was left there, an attempt to hide her body for some time at least. His train of thought was interrupted by a human voice, muffled and unintelligible. Ryan was silent. He listened.
“Hel-!” a sudden shout, quickly silenced. The voice was familiar. Doug? Ryan crept closer. There was no other way to go about this dangerous mission; he peeked around the wall.
It was Doug. He was being held hostage with a knife.
“Please! I know nothin! Let me go!” His voice reminded Ryan of when Doug had done the same to him.
A voice, not Doug’s this time, made a small, meek noise. Ryan was inclined to ignore it. Doug needs my help! Was he really ever my enemy? Did he even kill anyone?

(PART EIGHT) - Total 113 word foreshadow, 453 story

Then Ryan looked up. Gripping Doug’s neck as hard as they possibly could, which wasn’t very tight at all was
“Pip! Sam?” Ryan did not believe his eyes one bit, and took a bewildered step back as he tried to make this vision go away. Surprise, it didn’t.
“Ry!” Doug’s call was quiet but strong, and his eyes lingered on the blade before him.
“Ryan! Don’t go! Please! I can explain!” Pip’s squeak sounded more frightened than Doug.
“How? What? No..” Ryan wanted to wake up, to find that this was all just a strange and forgettable dream. He flinched away when Sam gently placed his hand on his shoulder. Sam guided Ryan to a wall, and held him against it, his expression pained and hurt. Ryan was glad that it was Pip with the knife, not Sam.
“See here, we don’t want to hurt you,” Sam sounded genuine, “we just… had a score to settle with Cynthia.”
“It were you?!” This time it was Doug’s turn to be surprised, not Ryan. Instead, he thought:
It all fits now. Pip being upset, Sam’s red sweater, and Doug’s anxiety was just genuine worry and fear. Doug, however, hung his head low, and a salty tear rolled quietly down his face. Pip sniffed, and was tempted to let go of him, but Sam motioned to hold on to him. He began,
“I’ll explain, Pip. Ryan needs to know. Cynthia bullied Pip a while back,” (Ryan knew this, and went red as he remembered doing very little to defend him), “and one day, very recently, she and her gang messed him up real bad. And, guess what, the school did nothing. I care for Pip, more than Dad ever will, and I love him, so I was just trying to protect him.” Sam turned to Pip, who was shaking and wanted very much just to run away; it had all gotten too out of hand for him.
“Ry, I’m sorry.” Pip whispered hoarsely. Sam took over,
“We just need you to keep quiet - destroy the evidence too. And we can all just go on as normal. We’ll ignore the fact that Doug is exploiting you and deserves better punishment, and you’ll ignore Cynthia. Deal?”
“But her family… don’t they deserve to know?” Ryan’s mind was a battleground, keep the secret of Sam and his best friend, or tell the truth and end this all?
“Deal.” Ryan’s mind was made up. Doug said quickly,
“Please, can I go now? I won’t tell, I swear.” In truth, Doug was sickened by the fact Sam had killed Cynthia, and felt too nauseous to say a thing. Pip released him, and they all walked off to class in loud silence.

(PART NINE - EPILOGUE) - Total 276 words

1 month later
Ryan sat on a bench alone, eating his lunch gloomily. The events that had spawned from Cynthia’s murder still stung, even now that all of it seemed so distant. He had had a sudden change of heart after his conscience had suffered the weight of that dangerous secret for three days. He had anonymously tipped off the police, but Sam would have known it was him. That thought hurt the most. He imagined Sam behind bars, not angry or insane, like other killers, just sad and gloomy like Ryan right now, in his own prison of loneliness. Pip had gone to live with his father in the next city, disappearing without warning. The last time Ryan had seen him, Pip had been changed, bitter and upset from Ryan’s betrayal. The last words they had exchanged were,
“Pip, you must understand! I'm so, so sorry!”
“No. I don’t need you to apologise. Just leave me.”
The cold inside Pip at that moment made Ryan shiver. Regret seeped through his bones, and he ached for a friend like Pip. His own actions had blown an unfixable hole in his heart, a hole that he filled with ashes from cigarettes. Ryan just sat there, lagging behind the rest of the world which continued to spin without him.

Cynthia’s band of bullies had slowly disbanded.

Ryan’s mum was becoming suspicious of the faint hint of smoke that Ryan tried so hard to cover up.

Doug had stopped hanging out with his gang, and wanted desperately to move away, to start afresh.

And Pip missed Ryan. And Pip hated Ryan. And Pip needed Ryan. And Pip wanted Sam.

Daily 24th March - Tramedy
Total: 481

A rather idyllic night was resting over Sweden. In valleys of pearly white and ink black trees, not a creature stirred. Not a sound could be heard in the soft blanket of night. It was only the muffled sound of tears which interrupted the sweet, sweet silence. That and the reality of impending doom. Under a fir tree, beneath the sky, and sheltered from the snow, lay two young sisters, wrapped up warm and cosy, crying softly in each others’ arms. After losing everything and being flung into the chaos of a world facing destruction, the two of them were almost out of grief. Their tears began to dry, leaving behind a sharp, sticky tang on their cheeks. They looked into each others’ red eyes and smiled. They knew that there was nothing they could do to prevent their perishing, so they mutually agreed that they might as well embrace it. Without a word, just sisterly love and companionship, they arose and stood in solidarity among the stillness, holding each others’ hands tightly. They didn’t bother to look at the wall of black nothing sloping steadily towards them, it was as obvious as their fates. They hugged one last time, with laughter instead of tears, and let death claim them with content smiles, knowing that all was over.


“Quack?”


“Hello, my friend. The plan has worked, I take it?”

“Sure has.” A duck named Sally and a cat named Larry stood quietly at the edge of nothing. But that was Ok. They had planned it. It was all part of their scheme to overthrow the British government. It was called the Delete Everything And Then Bring It Back, And Frame The Government (or D.E.A.T.B.I.B.A.F.T.G for short). So Larry, who was fed up with catching mice for infantile adults who could hardly brush their hair, and Sally, who had the power to pause, play, and delete the universe, had agreed to make the sensible and informed decision to destroy everything.

“How about a drink at the pub? Then we can start phase two.” Suggested Sally.
“You deleted the pub, remember.”
“Right. Yeah. Didn’t think about that. The people might be just a little p*ssed off that I deleted the pub.”
“You deleted the people too.”
“Oh yeah.”
“Sally, there’s nothing left to do. Let’s begin.” Phase two involved turning the universe back on, pausing it, and planting evidence of plans to destroy everything on the Prime Minister’s desk. And then the rest would solve itself.

The sisters regained existence five minutes later, embracing tightly on a dark winter’s night in Sweden. As they realised they weren’t dead, tears welled in their eyes, and then stopped.

“Paused!”
“Great work Sally! I’ve got the documents, I’ll go in through the window. Press play as soon as you see me leave.”
“For all duckkind!”

[big]Daily 18th March - Abstract concepts
Total: 335

My name is Joy. People say that I’m elusive, that I’m shy, that I don’t show my face enough. But I don’t think so. I’m always everywhere, any time of day, I live to destroy bitterness, anger, despair, who are also everywhere. I just don’t think people notice me. If they would just sit up and pay attention, then they would realise what I’m like. They can find me in the warmth of the sunbeams, and in the scent of the flowers, and in the touch of snowflakes; I’m always there. But I hide in strange places too. In the victory of a hard won battle, in the satisfaction of revenge, and even lower places than that. People notice me more when I’m in these odd places, but I just wish they wouldn’t. I hate how I can hide in bloodshed and cruelty, and I wish to be free.
On a slightly brighter note, I love the weekends as much as any person. On the weekends, I am free to roam, and I am unstoppable. I make the whole world bright and a little bit happier for just two days a week. I wish every day could be a weekend. You see, there was this one time, where I was making sure that this guy could be perfectly in time to buy tickets to see his favourite band at a concert. He had never seen them live, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to show him. Yet when he came to book them, he saw that they were performing on Wednesday night only. He then couldn’t go, because he was working a night shift in his job (I don’t like to give details, they don’t matter when things are happy and good), and had run out of sick days for the year. If only it had been the weekend, he could’ve seen this band and had a roar of a time.
Anyway, mush dash, the weather in Australia is amazing right now!

Daily 17th March - Flowers
Total: 377

Snowdrop - Hope
Daisy - Innocence
Foxglove - Treachery
Terfoil - Revenge


Maisie sat alone in the grass at the bottom of the garden, picking daisies. She was making bracelets from them and putting them on her wrists. Her sleek golden hair bounced around her petite shoulders, and her cheeks were rosy. Her mother walked up to her and stood behind her. Daisy noticed her mother was there and wove a snowdrop into a bracelet.
“I made this for you. Daisy looked up at her mother and handed it to her.”
“That’s lovely darling.” Her mother smiled down at her innocent young face. The smile, however pretty it looked on her, was pained and forced. She kept telling herself, her friend’s death was not in vain. Roger is part of a great plan, and just a small price for the great discoveries that can now be made. But whatever she told herself, the thought of her own Maisie weeping over the news of Roger’s death was too much. Daisy’s sweet figure brought her mother too much pain. To distract herself, she studied the snowdrop in her hand.
It was near death; spring was fading into summer now, and this snowdrop, the last one of its patch, was growing brown at the edges. I won’t tell Maisie now, she thought. No, I can’t bear it right now.
20 years later
Miasie stood facing her mother, the love from twenty years ago gone without a trace from her eyes. They were at the bottom of the garden, where foxgloves and trefoils now grew.
“So what? His death was for science?! What ‘discovery’ has been made since his death that was worth his life?” Maisie stood before her mother, tears running silently down her face, as if wanting to be discreet, so as not to have to face Maisie’s rage like her mother was now.
“I’m sorry. But it was years ago.” Maisie’s mother was weary,and although grief consumed her too, she did not have the same burning energy to really feel it like Maisie did.
“Sorry?! You're sorry?! Well Roger isn’t here now to hear you say that, is he?” Maisie half screamed. The foxgloves trembled in the storm of her rage. She quietened to a hoarse whisper:
“You’re… a monster.” Maisie spat in her mother’s stunned face, and ran.

Daily 15th March - SWC Fanfic
Total: 329

Rune yawned and rolled over. She fell with a thud onto the rug underneath her bed. It was the only thing keeping her from the dusty stone floor.
“Ow.” Rune stood up, bleary eyed and slightly dizzy. She could feel a draught pouring through the open window, and a beam of harsh sunlight pierced through a crack in the shutters. Confused, she looked at the antique clock on the wall.
“Ten O’clock!” she exclaimed. Everyone was up and out. Everyone but CD and her.
“Hey. Hey, CD, it’s time to get up.” she whispered to them. They rolled over, snoring, so Rune decided to leave them. She rushed to the bathroom with her washbag, and quickly ran a brush through her hair. She threw on a loose pair of shorts and a t-shirt, discoloured from the hours of working in the dust. She stretched as she walked out into the light.
The castle was coming along well. The outer walls were complete, save the north-east turret, which was being worked on by a group of five. The north interior buildings were almost finished too, and they looked like a real castle. The space she was in was beginning to take shape as a courtyard, and grass was beginning to spring from the dust. She planted herself on a seat at the campfire, where Leopard was chatting with another camper.
“Hi, Rune! Tired from cabin wars, eh? Well, at least you beat CD to it! Here, have something to eat.” Leopard handed her a small bowl of porridge and a pastry.
“Fresh from Poetry.”
“Thanks,” Rune took a bite of the pastry, “so, what am I doing today?”
“Well, seeing as the new north barracks are finished, I was thinking we could start moving the armour and weapons over. We need the space in the courtyard. Also, you and the rest of the armoury team now have new sleeping quarters, and they’re much safer!”
“Cool! I’d best get going then.”

Sofi's Weekly 2:
Total: 798

PART 1 - (130 words total)

Before school on Monday morning, I took a walk around the school field. It's been quite cold lately, but it was sunny enough and there were birds on the field. I love the little bit of quiet I get when I walk in the mornings; in the winter months no one is allowed on the field, so usually there's nobody about except me. When I see my school from a distance, it puts things into perspective a bit. Like, it just helps me to think, especially when I don’t have friends about to distract me. Personally, I thrive on quiet, and my mind is freer when I’m alone. I feel content and happy, and sets me up for the day calmly, even if I’ve been a bit stressed so far.

PART 2 - (155 words total)

Safe Ship, Harboured - The Crane Wives
I love this song for its foot-tapping rhythms, and complex,fast-paced harmonies. (Well, all Crane Wives songs are known for their awesome harmonies). The introduction sounds urgent and rushing. The lyrics themselves are sung passionately and with beautiful harmonies underneath it. They give me the impression of a heated argument between two people about how they are dragging each other down in life and would be better off without each other. The bridge, which has voices overlapping each other, as well as exaggerated percussion, gives the impression of a storm, filled with chaos, and a desire to escape. It then returns back to the chorus, which continues this impression of both a storm and an argument, bursting with passion and emotion. The ending is a cacophony of sounds, instruments and percussion, all creating chaos and overlapping sound. This is strong and impactful, emphasised by the outro: the quiet sound of waves and a gramophone playing.

PART 3 - (513 words total)

“I thought we were sisters! Yet you keep all of this from me?” Anya, my sister, threw the notebook to the ground.
“You have no respect! I just want to live my life. I don’t care about you!” my rage was a thundering tempest of fury. Anya had found my secret notebook behind my drawer. It was a plain, tattered old thing, yet it had caused this much upset. Anya yelled,
“I just want to be close to you. Is that too much to ask?” I glared cool as ice, my expression giving her the answer clear as day. I spoke, my voice low and dark.
“You’ve read it, I assume? Tell me, tell me then, what did I write in that book that upset you so much? What secret do I have that’s so big that I just have to share it?”
With that, I stormed out of the room. I made a decision. It was amazing weather today, too good to miss, so I slipped my weathered trainers on and headed for the park. I threw on a thin jacket; I needed to feel the cold, to energise me, to prepare me for coming home.
The air felt crisp and sharp against my cheeks, so I set off at a running pace. Maybe that was partly so I didn't get caught again by my sister. As I reached the gates, glistening with dew covered spider silk, I slowed to a walk. My mind was full of dirt and dust, and I felt I needed to get rid of all that. I gave myself a little shake, and walked through the gates into an oasis of green. The park had only just opened, and I could see just one or two other people out. Good. I didn’t need others to talk to at the moment. I took a route that was quiet, a little side path, tucked away between bushes and trees, secluded from the rest of the park. I took a deep breath, and as I exhaled, I let go of my thoughts. I was furious at Anya for looking at my secrets, but I knew I would forgive her in the end. She didn’t seem sorry, but she was probably caught in the heat of the moment, like I was. I thought to myself, maybe I reacted wrongly too. Anyway, If I came back with my anger gone, we could all be happy again.
As I walked on, I spotted a robin, perched lighty on the twisted branch of a bush. It was a plump and round and merry robin, and its song was jovial. I smiled along with it, and found proper joy again. The sun worked its way through the leaves down towards me, and the warmth gently touched my cheeks. I felt the first warmth of spring against my skin.
I made my decision. When I got home, I would get rid of the book. Tare it to pieces, never to be seen again, lost in the storm of our rage. I didn’t need all those secrets.

Daily 14th March - Folklore
Total: 465 (Not including poem at the beginning)

“One for sorrow, two for joy,
Three for a girl, four for a boy.
Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.”

The sky rumbled threateningly, unleashing all its wrath upon the land above which it hovered. Today it hung low, blocking the gutters with leaves and churning the dry soil to slippery mud and coaxing the worms from their lairs to feed to the blackbirds.
A magpie, preening its bright, pristine feathers in the gloomy British rain, and humming to itself the sprightly tune of a song thrush it had heard that morning, was perched on a branch. It was clad in raven black and dove white, with an iridescent hint of jay blue, ever a thief of others’ pretty things. It was simply standing there, enjoying the nice gloomy weather, singing out into the torrents for rain.
A gentleman strolled past this one particular magpie, muttering to himself under his breath. He cowered under a bright blue umbrella, in a vain attempt to save his suit, which already happened to be soaked through from a run-in with an unruly car trying to ruin his day. Beneath his raven black suit, he wore a freshly ironed shirt and blue tie. He had washed all his clothes for this, and now it would all go to waste. He had even shaved!
“I’m late. I’m bloody late.” The man was late for a job interview, and worse, he would look an atrocious mess. There was no way he could get the job now, and he had half the mind to turn around, defeated, and sulk at home. If only he had done.
The magpie stared down from its perch. It stopped whistling. The man had failed to acknowledge it. The magpie winced. It knew what would come next.
“Watch out! Wait!” the magpie screeched frantically. The man looked behind him, disgruntled, bit dismissed the strange sound as the wind, and carried on.
“Stupid human,” the magpie cursed.
The sky rumbled. A low, dark rumble that shook everything. Little children in their classrooms heard and crowded to their windows, eager to see a terrifying flash that would split the sky in half. The magpie heard it too, and, knowing better than to stay in one place, hopped off its perch and gracefully glided to a tree some distance away.
The hair on the back of the man’s neck began to rise as he passed close to a fir tree. But it was more than instinct. All of a sudden, a flash of white and a stupefying crack split the air, and he felt the sting of flames near him. He turned around in utter horror, but had no time to react. With a terrifying crash, the great fir he had passed under engulfed him in flames. Then all was quiet, save the soft sizzle of a fire and the ceaseless onslaught of rain.
“You fool, you didn’t salute me.”

Daily 13th March - Irony
Total: 613

“This sleepover is going to be epic!” Violet giggled. She was hosting a sleepover at her house with her friends Mia and Poppy. But there was a twist. They were also inviting Grace, a girl they knew who had publicly embarrassed all three of them without even knowing what she had done. Now it was time for revenge. They had an array of cruel pranks and tricks to get their own back. First up was the food. They had a “special meal” planned for Grace.
“Ew! This smells horrid!” sniggered Mia. She was preparing a mushroom and tomato quiche, a combination of three famously hated school classics. For dessert was tapioca pudding, the dessert that you discovered just after you thought rice pudding couldn’t get any worse. The girls were buzzing with excitement.
“Just imagine her face!” Violet pulled an impression of disgust.
“And, the best thing is, she can’t refuse it, because of how ‘kind’ we’re being, letting her come for a sleepover.” Poppy smiled as she downed a glass of coke. They had agreed to order pizza from Domino’s when Grace was otherwise occupied. They had also arranged many other experiences for Grace, involving her having a horrible time, whilst the three of them could watch her suffer.
“The sleepover is going to be epic!” Grace told her friend on the other end of the phone. She was packing to go on a sleepover with some girls in her class. It seemed odd of them to invite her, because they never really talked, but she appreciated the gesture.
“Anyway, got to go!” She finished packing and headed off to Violet’s house. It was going to be so much fun.
“Welcome.” Mia smiled sweetly. The other two smiled, yet theirs had a darker hint.
“Wow, you two are already here! I’m so excited.”
“You’re going to have a great time.” mused Poppy. They flicked their hair and led Grace upstairs.
“Sorry, you’re going to have to sleep on the sofa, there isn’t enough room to fit all of us in my room,” said Violet. Grace didn’t show the slightest hint of disappointment.
“That’s okay. So, what are we going to do?” Mia began,
“We were thinking about TV. How about we watch a horror movie? The Shining, perhaps?” The truth was, the three of them hated horror, they were doing it to scare Grace. And anyway, they had a plan. Five minutes in, they would leave to “get snacks” and then not return. They would be upstairs, chatting merrily away chewing popcorn while Grace became too frightened to sleep. After the girls carried out their plan, and the film was over, Grace came back upstairs to them.
“I loved that! Horror is my favourite genre! Too bad you couldn’t stay and watch it with me. Anyway, I decided to grab a few snacks from the kitchen, crisps and stuff.” Grace was oblivious to the intentions of the three girls. When Violet could snatch a moment, she whispered to Poppey,
“She’s so dumb.”
Then it was dinner.
“Mmmm, tasty! I love mushroom quiche! Did you make this?” It really wasn’t going to plan. Grace seemed to be enjoying herself more than they were. They went ahead and ordered pizza for the three of them, when Grace walked in on them.
“Wow! Midnight pizza! Can I have some too?” She squeezed in without them saying a word, bewildered by her obliviousness and brazenness.
The next day when Grace returned home, she had had an amazing time, managing to ruin the girls’ plans. Mia, Violet and Poppy, utterly defeated, decided to just stick to secretly pouring water down the back of her neck in class.

Bidaily 8-9th March
Total: 370 (259 of dialogue)

“But… I know him. He wouldn't do that.” - @shes-a-lady
“Are you really going to open the door?” - @gooseful

“Race you!” Anastasia called. The two friends were going to jump on her big brother while he was sleeping.
“That’s unfair! You had a head start! Wait up, Ana!” Maria came hurling upwards after her.
“Girls! Can you please keep it down up there? Your brother is trying to sleep.”
“Not for long,” grinned Anastasia.
“Are you serious? I thought you were joking, Ana. I mean, it does seem a bit mean to just burst in and wake him up.” Maria whispered.
“Are you serious? He hasn’t woken up at all today, and it’s almost midday.”
“No, wait. Are you really going to open the door?”
“Yeah. Duh.” Anastasia smirked mischievously. They crept in.
“SURPRISE! Good morning Frank! What can I get your highness for breakfast?” the little girl joked.
“Get. Out. NOW.” Frank growled. After they shut the door, subdued, he called,
“Ana, I’m going to steal all your chocolate and I’m going to lick all of your sweets. Just you wait! And, I’m going to tell mum.” on that note, the girls scarpered.
“D-Do you think he would? Tell your mum, I mean. Not all the stuff about the sweets. Like, I don’t want to get in trouble.” Maria was obviously anxious. Ana was seething with laughter.
“Calm down, Ana! We could get into trouble. We were really mean. Well, you were, anyway.”
“But… I know him. He wouldn’t do that. What happens between us stays between us. It’s a thing we have.”
“Girls!” Ana’s mum shouted up the stairs.
“Oh no. Frank told her." The worry was apparent in both of them. Then Ana calmed down.
“Well, we only left his room, like, a minute ago. He couldn’t tell my mum that quickly. Anyway, this is just a playdate. If anyone gets done, it’ll be me.”
“Okay. I trust you.” They both went downstairs together, to face their fate.
“Who wants to make cookies?” Ana’s mum exclaimed.
“Me!” said the girls in unison. Ana then whispered to Maria:
“So, it really was nothing. I guess I was right then.”
“This time.”
“Come on. Admit it! You knew it would be Ok, you were just worried about nothing.” They both giggled happily, and made some very nice cookies.

Sofi's Weekly 1:
Total: 3690

I, um, couldn't be bothered to put this into a scratch project, which is unusual of me, and I've got a bi-daily to speedrun :'), soo…

PART 1 - (1021 words total)
“Okay, okay. I’ll count.” Flora’s friend Bella offered. A small group of ten year olds were playing hide-and-seek in the forest together. Life for them was perfect, carefree. Nothing, nothing could spoil that. Flora and her best friend Jan ran in exactly the same direction, Flora clutching her bag as she ran. They would always follow each other, no matter what; or at least, that’s what they thought.
“You go tree, I’ll go bushes,” mouthed Flora. They found suitable places to hide and waited for Bella to start looking. That was when Flora saw something. A flash in her peripheral vision. It was nothing. Or at least, that’s what she thought. She began to creep closer to where she had seen the light.
Hidden in a bush, tucked into the undergrowth, sat a small sphere. It was like amber, transparent and warm and welcoming in colour. It was glowing faintly, inviting her to stow it away for her collection of odds and ends. It was her best find yet!


Flora reached into the bush, and as she did, a bramble thorn scratched her cheek. She winced, but continued to reach for the orb. She stretched her arm out, grabbed it, and stowed it inside her bag. She was surprised, yet she felt no surprise. The second she touched the orb, something had changed. She had expected the orb to be warm based on how it looked, but it only sent a shiver passing through her, causing her soul to shake off all its warmth and life, leaving a mind, cold and ruthless, with not an ounce of pity or warmth. She rose, numb and emotionless, then began to put one foot in front of the other. As she walked under the tree where Jan was hiding, they hissed,
“What are you doing?!” She continued, not even acknowledging them. Even as her friends tried to stop her, she continued.
3 years later
Flora sat alone in her dark room. Her soul had never healed from the deep wound that the orb cut into her. She was the same as she had been three years ago. Numb. Enslaved by the orb. Eventually, one by one, her old friends had deserted her. They did not know what had become of her, or why. Jan had been the last person by her side. Just before Jan, despairing and pained, left her side, Flora’s soul, gasping under the orb’s weight, let out a last cry for help. Guided by her own soul, Flora showed Jan the orb and explained everything. They did not understand. They did not see the orb’s power and beauty. They were shocked and horrified. Though it pained them to do so, Jan severed all ties with Flora, leaving her totally alone. She didn’t mind though, she had her orb.


Jan had seen the flash too. They climbed down from their tree, mind overrun with curiosity. As Flora reached into the bush, a bramble thorn scratched her cheek. She winced, but continued to reach for the orb. Jan saw Flora’s bag tossed on the ground, and heard her wrestling with leaves and branches.
“Sh! They’ll find us!” Jan called to her.
“Look what I found!” She stretched her arm out, grabbed the mysterious sphere, and showed it to Jan.
“It’s.. so beautiful,” Jan looked on in awe. They took it from Flora and felt its steady weight in their hands. They were surprised, yet they felt no surprise. Flora felt it too. The second they touched the orb, something had changed. They had expected the orb to be warm, inviting, but it only sent a shiver passing through them, causing their souls to shake off all their warmth and life. The pair looked at each other. Eyes empty. Faces blank. The orb had seized them internally, and now had total control over them. Yet it just sat there, glowing.
They both knew what they had to do. This is ours now. They shall all see its beauty, they thought in unison.
It all spiralled from there. They began using the orb’s power for control. Everyone who touched it bowed to them, and ultimately, the orb. It started with their friends, then their family, their town, their country, and so on. And everyone that stood in the orb’s way, the passionate, the powerful and everyone in between, they thought: they’re only children. How can they hurt us? Yet no matter how they tried, all peoples of the world, leaders, scholars, human beings, bowed to the orb in the end.


10 years later
A 20 year old Flora was sitting in a room, largely empty save a table and two chairs. She was waiting for a private interview with a big news company. She hadn’t prepared anything to say; what was there to say? The whole world already knew the orb’s horrors.
Being the first witness of its power, and not being tainted by it, Flora had become a key to finally defeating the ever-growing power it controlled. Although, the outlook wasn’t good. She started having flashbacks to when she had first seen it; she was playing in the forest with her friends, no older than ten. She had shown her friends the orb as soon as she saw it. They passed it round. They were all transformed. She remembered her friend Jan, the empty look in their eyes as they said to her ‘leave,’ then two days later when they asked her to join them, to become ‘perfect.’ She was traumatised, shaken by the horrors that had turned into a global crisis. The sight of her changed friends had imprinted on her mind, and left a hole in her soul. Out of this hole poured passion, a burning desire to end the fighting, to rescue humanity from the orb. So, what was she doing here? Sitting alone, idle, waiting to tell the people what they already knew. She had better things to be doing. She got up and left. And ignored the looks she got as she walked out, fuelled by her memories, having not spoken a word. She had a war to win.

PART 2 - (694 words total)

Event One - Explanation of past
First person, Olivia’s perspective. She remembers the moment her quest began, on her fifteenth birthday, the night her best friend, her only family, was taken by the dragon Rhael. She knew that Nora wasn’t dead, in fact the only way she knew that Nora was still alive was because of Nora’s raven, who was very intelligent. Char had shown her the way to Rhael’s cave, in the hope that Nora might be rescued. Olivia had blind trust in Char, she had always depended on animals for companionship and comfort. Along the way she had met a wolf, who initially tried to attack her, but she had befriended her, and the wolf revealed her ability to communicate with Olivia. It had been a long journey and Olivia was tired, but she needed all the strength she could muster right now.
Event Two - Explain Present
Third person, Olivia’s perspective. She is sitting with Wolf, within a smaller cave at the foot of the mountain leading up to Rhael’s cave. Olivia is tying up her shoelace, and trying out various suits of armour scattered throughout the cave (from past contenders Rhael, who failed), while Wolf paces worriedly, echoing Olivia’s own feelings. Wolf asks questions like, ‘what if she’s not there?’ ‘What if we fail?’ and so on. Olivia turns to her and says bluntly, if we fail, we run. If it’s obvious we can’t save Nora, we leave. Nora knows this isn’t true, and that she’ll fight to the death for Nora. She is lying to Wolf to protect her.
Event Three - Buildup
She settles for an ill-fitting helmet, a leather breastplate, and a pair of metal boots, to protect her from the heat. She says to Wolf, ‘whatever you do, don’t die.’ then ‘let’s go.’ they begin to scale the mountain, which is cold and a strong breeze almost knocks Olivia off their path. The going is steep, and they don’t talk much because they are concentrating hard. Gradually the snow becomes less frequent and the temperature rises. When they reach the top of the mountain, they are facing the cave, heat wafting from it like a giant oven. They turn to each other one final time.
Event Four - Climax
They are both ready. They nod to each other and enter the cave. Rhael is sleeping, so he doesn’t notice. Nerves on edge, beads of sweat forming on her brown, Olivia signals to Wolf to take the high ground. She picks her way along a steep path towards a ledge, where she waits for Olivia. Wolf has been concentrating on the climbing so much that she loses sight of her and begins to panic. Then she sees her face looking up from behind a boulder, weapons at the ready. The second Olivia leaps out, Wolf springs from her ledge onto Rhael’s back. Chaos ensues. Wolf is slaloming around the spikes protruding from Rhael’s back, struggling to keep balance. Olivia aims while Wolf is Rhael is distracted, and looses an arrow into his eye, causing him to scream in pain. Wolf jumps out and lodges her teeth in Rhael’s neck. He roars, taking little notice of Olivia, trying to fling off Wolf, but her grip is too strong. Eventually Rhael smashes his head against the cave wall, dislodging
“Wolf!”
Wolf falls to the ground, then black.
Event Five - Aftermath
Wolf’s perspective, waking up. She recalls hearing a roar, but not from Rhael, from Olivia. She is dazed and confused, but steadily gets up. She sees Olivia lying motionless next to Rhael. She is covered in blood. Wolf races over to her, yelping her name as she prods her body. Olivia slowly wakes up and sees Wolf. Wolf is still worried and tells Olivia she is wounded. Olivia checks her whole body, but the most she has is a small burn. They then both look over to Rhael. He is the source of the blood, as there is a clean stab wound in his heart. They don’t celebrate, they clean themselves off and dress their wounds in silence, both knowing the full extent of their actions, and that they have to find Nora.

PART 3 - (671 words total)

Summary:
There has been a tsunami on the coast of Japan, and Sarah Miller is stuck in a makeshift hospital with nothing more than a hairline fracture on her left wrist and a few cuts and bruises. She was recovered from the wreckage of a hotel about 12 hours ago, and she had been hastily patched up and put on a chair in what looked like it used to be a waiting room. There she meets a man named Alex Budge, who also has mild injuries. They swap stories and learn how the other got there, then they introduce themselves at the end of their conversation, suddenly realising they were nextdoor neighbours as children.
Outline:
Green = Sarah’s perspective, present tense, 3rd person
Yellow = Sarah’s past, past tense, 1st person
Blue = Alex’s perspective, present tense, 3rd person
Red = Alex’s past, past tense, 1st person
Purple = Shared memory, 3rd person
Pink = Sarah Flashforward

Sarah on the plane home
Sarah Miller is sitting uncomfortably in a chair, with few injuries and the inclination to get up and help. But the room is far too crowded. Her sling feels clammy and tight
Alex Budge is exhausted from everything. Too exhausted to be surprised. He is bored because no one here speaks English. Brushes scraggly blond hair out of eyes
Sarah spots someone who looks like they are as bored as her and need a good old cup of tea
Alex spots someone in a sling, a young woman with black hair and a Levi’s hoodie. They are wearing British clothes, so he decides to have a crack at talking to her. Anything to escape the boredom
Sarah spots someone trying to pick their way across the room to her - they look normal enough, another patient like her. She says a quick hello
Alex is relieved that she speaks English and he strikes up a conversation, about how rubbish ‘this’ all is
Sarah is enjoying speaking to someone from her own country, she feels like she is back in civilization. He asks her how she came to be here, and she begins to reveal her past
Sarah’s mother died at birth, and dad was nowhere to be seen, so she was raised by a foster family. She loved them but they were easy to let go of when she grew up. She just wanted to see the world. She worked a well paying job for a few years (very talented), then pooled all her money and started travelling.
Alex is reminded of someone he knew when he was young, although the memories were foggy.
Sarah had been to a good many countries, not needing or wanting roots until the money began to run out. She decided to make Japan her last trip for a few years while she sorted out some more money. Of course, that had all gone out the window when the tsunami came.
Alex’s story is different, although he decides in his head that his story can’t compare to Sarah’s in any way
Alex came from a large family with just enough money to go around and have a little bit at the end. In school he took an interest in Japanese. He loved the language and the culture, and spent his free time in a class to learn the language. When his grandma died, she left an unexpectedly large sum of money to him, and a note telling him to do something crazy with it. So, to honour his grandma, it was first stop Japan.
Alex reminds Sarah of someone she once knew, but memory is foggy. She tells him this and he says the same.
Sarah and Alex have an argument over whose fault it is that Alex fell into a puddle, then Sarah spits in his face and walks away home
They both say next door neighbours in unison, very cringe. :) They shake hands awkwardly as Sarah explains that she changed her first name. They then make a deal to try and stick together until they’re both out of trouble.

PART 4 - (1304 words total)

(Before we begin, IT'S FICTION. This tsunami is entirely fictional, I don’t remember any major tsunamis in Japan in 2018, correct me if I’m wrong)
Sarah finally had some time to think once she was on the plane, which would take her home from Japan to little England. It was going to be a long flight anyway. She had said goodbye to Alex at the airport, although they would probably see each other again soon. As the plane rose above the clouds, she began to feel an ache behind her eyes. It must be the altitude, she thought, but it was in fact that she hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep in two and a half days. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her cast encasing her left arm was itching like there were bugs inside it. She wanted to get some sleep, to have a break from life for a few hours, but she had never been able to sleep on planes. At least she could take comfort in certainty, knowing that she was heading to her old friend’s house to live there for a while.
———————–
A woman who told the doctors her name once she woke up, had been pulled from the carcass of a hotel a few hours ago. Her unconscious form had managed to hold on to a hospital bed for a couple of hours, until her condition was stable enough to move her to a crowded waiting room type establishment. The tsunami had flooded the hospitals with patients. This woman had turned up with a hairline fracture in her left arm, and a couple of cuts and bruises. They had hastily patched her up and put her in a cast, then gave her a label round her neck with her name and condition. Sarah Miller.
She has been sitting there for a while. She rubs her forehead, partly because it is incredibly humid, and partly for the aching sensation behind her eyes. She is surprised to find a plaster there, and pulls it off because the edges have become sticky with sweat and the stupid thing is already falling off her forehead.
Sarah is completely dazed by the rapid passage of events; the original tsunami, being dumped in the hospital, and coming out the other end here, one in a sea of faces; asleep, weeping, irritated, anxious. The whole room is wrong. It’s clammy and her cast feels tight and uncomfortable. She is sweating underneath her Levi’s hoodie, but decides not to take it off for the immense effort it will take. Her body aches too much, so she contents herself with brushing her straight black hair out of her eyes.
———————–
A man is sitting in a large room. Low ceilings, yellow lights, crowded, and everything is blurred by noise. He just wanted to enjoy his opportunities, but now he’s stuck here, surrounded by an ocean of unknown faces and unfamiliar languages. Instead of seeing the sights he’d been promised, he’s slumped in a chair, exhausted, bored and fidgety. He remembers how he got here very clearly. He had been on the top floor of his hotel when the water got in. It was a terrible sound, and he knew that something had gone gravely wrong. However, he was safe, tucked away in his room. When the water had calmed down to just a waist-deep whitewater rapid in the streets, he began to take the safety stairs towards the sound of shouting, and of help. About two floors from the bottom, the stairs were strewn with rubble and he slipped and tumbled the last two flights of stairs. So, now he’s wound up in this hellhole with nothing to do and better places to be. He’s not hurt, but he knows that he can’t just walk out either.
Through the blurriness of his boredom, he spots a Levi’s hoodie in the corner of his eye. A brand he knows well, one he saw a lot back home. She’s also got raven black hair and pale skin; she looks somehow familiar. That must be a good sign, he thinks, so decides to have a crack at talking to her. He begins to tentatively pick his way through the crowded area, taking care not to trod on any toes.
———————–
Sarah sees a man making his way towards her. He looks friendly, and somewhat familiar. He looks British too. She nods a quick hello to him. He replies with,
“Um, hi. Do you speak English?” so, he is British, thinks Sarah.
“Yeah, I do. Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, cool! You too.” He looks like he intends to sit down, so Sarah budges up the best she can, and winces when he accidentally bumps into her left arm. He quickly pulls away, and leans back into the seat.
“Hey, you sound English, where’re you from?” replies Sarah.
“I’m a Londoner, me, this was just meant to be a sort of holiday,” he smirks at the absurdity of the situation.
“So, how did you end up here?” he continues.
“Well, it’s a bit of a long story.” thoughts of the past resurface in Sarah’s mind.
“We’ve got time.”

“I was raised by foster parents. My mum died when I was born and my dad was nowhere to be seen. I don’t remember them at all, so it never really mattered to me. I did extremely well in school, and although I didn’t come from a particularly posh background, I managed to get myself a well-paying career. I moved out of home first, though, into a small flat which I rented for a couple of years. I loved my parents, but it felt surprisingly easy to let go of them. I didn’t have a reason to stay in my job, or my flat, or even the country; I had no known family, and I felt free to move with no such roots to tie me down. As soon as I accumulated enough money, I began travelling, living out of my suitcase, all over the world. Japan was meant to be my last journey for a while, as I was in need of some more money…”

“But… here I am. Stuck in a makeshift hospital after a major natural disaster. I guess it was only a matter of time for me, I’ve travelled to so many dangerous places recently.”
The man pauses for a moment, taking in Sarah’s words.
“Wow.” Sahara reminds him of someone from his past, but his mind is foggy.
———————–
Alex was shaking from head to toe, drenched in cold, muddy puddle water.
“Mum’s going to kill me!” yelled Alex, “What was that for?!”
“You fell in! I didn’t push you!” Sarah retorted.
“You did push me, I saw you do it. You literally shoved me.”
Sarah spat in Alex’s face, swivelled round with the force of a hurricane, walked up to her front door and slammed it behind her. Alex was left standing in the pouring rain, bewildered and downcast. Defeated, he moped back inside, and sulked the rest of the day.
———————–
They both make the connection at the same time. Their one shared memory, a bitter and painful one, is the only reference they have to each other. Sarah extends her hand.
“Sorry, I never asked your name. I’m Sarah.” They both know each other’s names anyway. Sarah and Alex; yet they both feel obliged to complete the age-old English ritual of shaking hands, very awkwardly, and very uncomfortably.
“I’m Alex.” They both smile, for they now know each other, and their childhood rivalry.
“Let’s make up. I admit I did shove you in that puddle.”
“Okay,” Alex laughs, “well, now that we're here, let’s try and stick together until we’re free from this mess.
“Agreed.” they realise that they haven’t let go of each other’s hands, and quickly pull away. They are both still children at heart, and the bitter events of the past have profoundly changed their future for the better.

Bidaily in one hour yayyyyy
514 words
Quotes:
“Hey, get back over here! I need my mango!”
“I never really want to run away, I just want to see if you care.”

“Hey, get back over here! I need my mango!” I chase after the robber, scrambling to get my mango back. I try not to drop any more mangoes out of my basket while doing so. As always, I lose him. This one guy always keeps stealing my mangoes! I go back to the market to sell the rest of them. “Fresh, ripe, mangoes, anyone? They're freshly picked, nice and ripe!” I hold one out for somebody to see. Once the day is over, I go back to my family's hut, and place my bag on the table with a sigh.
“Same person again?” My mom asks. I look up.
“Yeah. I don't know how he always gets away! I mean, I'm the fastest runner in the town!”
“Ay yay ay! You catch him next time.” (idk how to spell that lmao)
“I wonder who it could be. I mean, I know all the boys in the village at our school, and I'm faster than all of them.”
“Well it has to be one of them. Ay, I do hate them stealing our mangoes - after our family works so hard to grow, pick and sell them! What do you children say, es em ach? ah, smh. Well, ‘smh.’”
“Okay, never say that again. But you're right. I'll catch him next time, okay? I've been doing my best.”
“Have you ever considered it's not one of the boys from the village school?”
“What? But everybody goes to the village school. That's impossible!”
“I think there are some families on the south side of town who don't send their children to school. They're so poor they can't afford to not have them working on the farms with them. You know, we're lucky to have what we do.”
“I know maman, I know. Whoever it is, they always wear a black hoodie, so I can't catch them!”
“You'll get them tomorrow. I'm making a delicious dinner, and then you can get some rest.” The next day, I go out selling mangoes again, but am alert for the mango robber. I see someone with a black hoodie moseying around the market. I pretend to not see or notice him. When he grabs a mango from my basket, I put my foot in the way so he stops running. But instead, he trips! “Whoops!” I whisper to myself, quickly catching him. “Give me my mango! And you owe my about ten already!” I glare at the boy.
“I'm sorry - I never really wanted to steal your mangoes and run away, and at first I just wanted to see if you'd care.”
“Well obviously I would!” I glare at him some more.
“Right, obviously. But then my family saw it and was so happy with me, so I had to keep getting more. I live on the south end of town, and we really don't have much. I just had to keep stealing your mangoes.”
“Oh, well in that case, keep them. You can take some, too!” I hold out my basket to him.
“Really? Thanks! By the way, I'm John.”

aand that's all I'm going to write bc this is due haha

March 8th-9th Bidaily

“What in tarnation did you just touch to make the alarms go off?” Dustin Kight screamed across the room as the sirens blared throughout the building. Hundreds of vacationing tourists rushed through the doors, ignoring the serene robotic voice instructing them to “stay calm and proceed to exit the building in a cautious manner.” Aerin reddened. “I-I-I didn't touch anything, I swear!” “They pushed the button,” Blake informed his supervisor. "He what?" Dustin screeched. “I can't hear!” Caroline yelled over the commotion, deafening Dustin in one ear. “I have freaking moderate hearing loss - go outside!” The four employees of Seven Mirrors Hotel reluctantly joined the throng of travelers hurrying out of the building. Once they had fought their way through the crowd and gotten to a slightly quieter spot in the parking lot, Dustin turned on Aerin. “YOU PRESSED THE BUTTON?” he snapped. Aerin took an involuntary step back. “I-I didn’t! I promise!” Dustin’s eyes blazed. “Seriously? You mean to tell me the alarms just went off of their own accord?” Aerin opened their mouth, but Dustin cut them off. “I’m not taking chances anymore if it means losing all of this. You’re fired. I’m sorry, Aerin, but you’re fired.” Aerin froze, astonished. “I-I, what?” “I said you’re fired, Aerin,” Dustin said, rubbing his temples. “The expenses for your mistakes are adding up and we’re this close to being in debt. I couldn’t — I can’t keep doing this. It’s…it’s too much. I’ll give you your last paycheck on Friday.” “But…Dusty? Dusty, how am I supposed to get another job? Dad’s gonna kill me if I get fired.” “We’ll be sure to come to your funeral,” Caroline joked. Aerin cut her a glare. “Shut up, Caroline. It’s not like your dad wouldn’t do the same.” Caroline shrugged, smirking. “But I’m not getting fired, am I?” Aerin rolled their eyes and redirected their attention to Dustin, who shook his head. “Sorry, Aerin. This is the last time. Thanks to your mishap, I have to pacify all these people who paid for a peaceful vacation. I can write you a recommendation letter or something, but this…this is the last straw. You can head inside and hang up your Seven Mirrors jacket. Your name tag can go on my desk. Pack up your stuff. Bye, Aerin.” Aerin looked at Dustin as if to make sure he was serious. Dustin gave them a firm nod. “I’m serious.”

daily ~ 493 words, 423 of them are dialogue
I had to speedrun it because I forgot to do it yesterday and today I barely had enough time I hope it counts–

“But… I know him. He wouldn't do that.”
“You’re never this calm. Something’s… off about you.”

Grey looked sidelong at Violet, who was staring at some point in the distance.
“You can’t pretend I’m not here. We need to talk.”
Violet didn’t answer, the rain soaking her clothes and dripping off of her eyelashes into her eyes.
“Violet!” Grey’s was sharp, sharper than intended. Still Violet didn’t answer.
Grey took a deep breath and said, very slowly and clearly, “Violet. Please. I know you found something. Something big. If you don’t tell me, I will find out my own way. And something tells me that I will take it better from you.” When Violet still didn’t answer, Grey added, “Could you at least tell me the general idea?” Finally, Violet answered, “I found out what happened to Larch.” She was eerily calm. “You’re never this calm. Something’s… off about you. What did you discover?” Desperation was creeping into Grey’s voice now. Still staring away from Grey, Violet answered, “Larch disappeared two years ago. There was no trace of a struggle anywhere we looked, but we never figured out where Larch disappeared, so we could never rule out any options. We had nothing, Grey. For two years we investigated lead after dead lead, getting nothing but fragmented information that we weren’t even sure connected to the disappearance. Three months ago we received our biggest clue yet–we finally figured out what Larch’s last mission had been. It was a self-assigned mission, which was why it was so hard to track down. We investigated immediately, but we had all but given up. It was Rose who suggested I look into it, because I was close to Larch and you were on your top-secret mission, and Rose figured I could follow Larch’s footsteps because I would be the best at guessing what Larch would do. Well, second-best. But you were on your mission. So I was picked for the job. I quickly found a new lead that I was shocked no one had noticed, but after two years of searching everyone had given up hope and we had become a bit sloppy in our investigations. After I found the first lead, I began to find more and more, and pieces fell into place–even pieces to mysteries we’d given up on years ago. But I couldn’t find the answer to Larch’s disappearance. Well, couldn’t is the wrong word. It’s more like wouldn’t. The clues were all there. I just didn’t want to see them. Larch… didn’t disappear, or get kidnapped. Larch ran away to join the Blood Guild.” Grey stumbled a step back, as if distance could change what had just been said. “Are you sure?” Grey’s voice was desperate for a different reason now. Violet nodded. “Yes. I explored every possibility. I tried to ignore it, but the answer was unavoidable. I’m sorry, Grey.” "But… I knew Larch. Larch wouldn't do that.” Violet sighed. “Apparently, you didn’t know Larch as well as you thought.” Then she turned and walked away into the storm.

Folklore Ingredient Challenge Log
❝You walk through the Folklorian spell shop, admiring all of the books that are strewn about the place; there are hardcovers, softcovers, and tons of notebooks and journals. You see one with a marbled blue gray cover and gold writing on the cover that you can't quite make out from where you are. Walking towards it, you pick it up and read the golden cursive on the cover. It reads: ❝Piper's Ingredient Journal.❞ Curious, you take a seat at one of the nearby countertops and set the book down, opening it and peering into it's contents.❞

0/3 Rosemary:

0/2 Silver Dust:

0/2 Lavender:

0/2 Sage:

0/2 Dill:

0/1 Moss:

0/1 Jade:

0/1 Feverfew:

0/1 Quartz:

0/1 Amber:

0/1 Basil:

0/1 Cilantro:

0/1 Parsley:

1/1 Lemongrass (212 Words):

The world in the story that I’m going to be using for the majority of my ingredients is basically just a small suburban town. It’s a small town where everybody knows everybody else. It’s a very close-knit community and the majority of the people are very religious (specifically they are mostly part of the Christian faith). The town includes two churches, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school, a couple of Supermarkets as well as some fast food chains however other than that there is not much there. Regardless of there not being much in the town, most of the people are extremely happy in the town. There are of course always going to be a couple of people (mostly high schoolers and other teenagers) who will want to leave. There are a few opportunities for good jobs here, however anyone who wants to make it big and be recognized outside of the town would have to go and find work elsewhere, although that is often discouraged by many of the adults. This can sometimes be frustrating however also a bit confusing to many of the teenagers, leading some of them to wonder if there is something else going on in the town that they aren’t being told about.

March 10, 2023

Elara has never struggled with finding her purpose in life. In a kingdom based off of the four seasons, it seems that everyone’s lives are already laid out for them. Elara likes it this way, and is content with her future. That is, until her world is shaken up when her older sister Lyra joins the tyrants, a group of insurgents who oppose the council and wish to overthrow it. Elara, appalled by this newfound revelation, goes on a journey to find her sister and make her see light. But Elara soon realizes that the world is far more complicated than she thought. The kingdom that she thought she could trust is crumbling before her eyes, and she isn’t sure how to feel. Will her world ever be the same?

130 words

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Word war 1

I wanted to shut it away, all my misery. Those who made my life miserable, they need to be punished. But I can't control what others feel. I'm too pathetic. I'm too weak…

“Hey, Marbles. Are you okay? We're already done with our exams.” Weren called out to me, awakening me from my subconsciousness. “Huh, what? Oh the exams, they are finally over…” I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking of how much tears I've poured down because of these events. “So do you want to hang out? I mean, like play games together…” Weren suggested, but I had other things in mind. “No, Weren. At least not now. Maybe next week we can meet to play games?” I replied, knowing full well that was not what I was going to answer, “I'm sorry, Weren. I need to study.” Weren smiled, “It's okay, but please keep your promise next time.” But in his smile, there was a flicker of upset. “He's hiding something from me, I can feel it.” Weren silently reminisced.

172 words

WORD WAR #2:

“Something’s wrong. He’s not just run away, it’s not like him. Arley is gone, and it’s for some crazy reason, I don’t know.” I pause, allowing my words to sink in. “But you’re not listening to me, are you? Because you think I’m probably crazy.” I walk off, grabbing the paper as I go. There’s no point trying to convince them that I’m right, I need proof. And I know exactly where to start.

I head upstairs, and walk into Arley’s room. On the side, there’s a book titled ‘Strange Occurrences’. I pick it up, and flip through the pages until I find something interesting: The Swirling Rings. ‘…able to transport the user to another universe… holds mysterious powers… WARNING: user will be trapped until all five rings are found and used in unison…’ I’ve read enough. This is exactly what I was looking for. I decide to text Paulo to meet me straight away. Even if he didn’t listen to me before, he’d bound to now that I have proof.
WORDS: 171

(a continuation of what's happened in my novel as of yet, but her brother's gone missing and nobody will listen to her theories as to why, since most of this won't make sense)

Nickname- Ava
Content- Weekly #2nd
Cabin - Horror

LET'S GET STARTED

Part1
Topic- write about 15 minutes of an enjoyable activity you did off screen
Wordcount- 102/100

For fifteen minutes, I continued writing my fanfiction which is in my notebook!! I couldn't really socialize because we are not going out this weekend, so instead, I decided to continue with my writing! This is a high school fiction OF COURSe because for some reason I'm obsessed with this genre, and it's a love triangle <3 It's extremely complicated and I even had to draw up a chart to understand who likes who and who's getting who xD I STILL DON'T KNOW WHICH LEAD IS GONNA GET THE FIRST LEAD ;_; IM SO TORN I LIKE BOTH OF THEM SO MUCH.

Part2
Topic- do something which consumes you either watching/reading/etc.
Wordcount- 122/100

Everyone here knows what I did of course.
I read!
We're in SWC, what do you think?
It was fanfiction again ^^' This one was about assassins. I do not think it was scratch friendly. It's about you (or Y/N) and you have to hunt down the group of the deadliest assassins in the world.
*nervous chuckle*
It does have a trill to it though, I feel happy while reading fanfictions. The genre of this fanfiction was a thriller, a slight horror, romance, fantasy, and of course, fanfiction. While reading this I realized I had already read the first two chapters, and I realized that it had been in my library for a long time, kept away until I opened it again.

Part3
Topic- Draw elements from the activity you did in Part 1 and the media you consumed in Part 2, and combine it together into a story
Wordcount- 734/500

I'm going to continue another story that I used for the first week, the bold words are the words that have already been written!!

CHAPTER 1

Ivy groaned as she crumpled up another paper and threw it into the trash can. Nothing she wrote made sense. She couldn't continue any story she wrote.
She couldn't think of any rhymes for her poems. It was like her brain had stopped functioning altogether.
Her phone started ringing. It was right next to her, but it felt far away. Ivy closed her eyes as her senses felt imaginary. Nothing mattered anymore. She wanted to sleep for a thousand years. No, she thought. Wake up, Ivy. But it wasn't her voice. It was someone else's. It was a rich sound, like a few hundred voices together. It snapped Ivy's eyes open and she grasped her phone as she came back to earth. Before she pressed the bright, green, buzzing button on the screen, Ivy puzzled over whose voice that was. Definitely not hers. But it had sounded distinctly familiar. She shook her head as she pressed the glowing button.
‘Hello?’ she asked as she answered the call.
‘Ivy!!’
‘Devyn? What happened??’ Devyn was Ivy's best friend. She rarely called because whenever she needed to talk she just came over to her house straight away. She had only called 2 times before, once when she had sprained her ankle and once when she was too sick to come out of her room.
‘Come over to my house right now!’
‘But wh-’
‘RIGHT NOW.'
‘ok, I’m coming', Ivy accepted. No one could ever fight with stubborn Devyn. It was impossible. She would always win so it was better to quit in the beginning anyways. Ivy heard a beep, indicating the call had ended, and she sighed, rubbing her eyebrows. Ivy got on her cycle and headed to Devyn's house.
Halfway she remembered she left her phone at home and she grumbled. She was too busy to turn back now. How COULD she have forgotten? Ivy took the right into Devyn's neighborhood. She reached Devyn's house and knocked. When Devyn opened the door, she hugged Ivy and pulled her inside.
‘Now tell me what it is. ’, Ivy questioned.
Devyn laughed in her light Irish accent. She playfully punched Ivy's shoulder. ‘Stop pretending climber. You know what I mean.’
That was Devyn's pet name for Ivy. ‘climber’. In Ivy and Devyn's school, the students of third grade had to perform a play for the whole school. Ivy, to her shock, had got the part of the talking poison ivy plant, who had to lead ‘Rose’ and her pet deer through the forest. Devyn had gotten part of the deer and had to try her very hardest to not laugh during the play. Ever since that day, Devyn's go-to name for Ivy was a climber.
Ivy gave Devyn a look of confusion. ‘What do you mean?’
Devyn studied Ivy's face, realizing she really didn't know. She gasped, and held her forehead. ‘you’ve forgotten again, my girl, haven't you?'
Ivy thought for a while. ‘I still don’t know what you me-'
Everything went dark. She couldn't see. What had happened? It didn't really matter. She wanted to stay like that. The world couldn't trouble her here. Ivy felt at peace as the darkness sucked her in more.
Wake up.
Ivy heard the same voice she had heard before, when she was fading away, just like this.
No, Ivy resisted. I want to stay here.
no, the voice resisted back. Wake up.
Ivy felt annoyed. Why won't you leave me alone? She asked the voice.
Do you dare talk to the fairy queen like that? The voice thundered, suddenly changing an octave.
Ivy took a few seconds to understand what had just been said. She wasn't sure she had heard it correctly.
Wait… What?
‘What do you mean?’ Ivy said, daring to speak. But it was gone now. The voice had disappeared as if Ivy had offended it. Had she offended it? She wasn't really sure.
‘Oh, m-my phone,’ Ivy said, fumbling around trying to reach her pockets for her phone. She might be able to call Dewyn-
Ivy groaned. She had forgotten it at home. Why did it have to be today?
As Ivy sat in the black void, somehow able to see herself without a mirror, the black started to turn into white. Very slowly, but it did. Ivy didn't notice as she fell asleep like she wanted to when she had fainted just a bit ago. When she woke up, her back was now actually resting against something. A barrel supporting her sleeping body tumbled away when she tried to move and left Ivy alone in the streets of nowhere.
People were laughing and there was folk music going on next to a supposed fountain. She slowly stood up and looked at her clothes. They were definitely not what she had worn to Devyn's house.
That's a punishment for you, the voice suddenly said, coming back. Ivy jumped and then asked, WHO ARE YOU?!
I'm the fairy queen, the voice said as if losing patience. But then a sly kind of joy came back. Go ask one of the people what year it is, won't you? It asked as if trying to hold a laugh.
Ivy in confusion asked a lady in a tight dress and cap, ‘Hello miss, what year is it?’
‘Why, 1996 of course dearie,’ the woman answered with a basket full of apples in her right hand. ‘Do you need something?’
Ivy's head disagreed with the woman. Wait, 1996?! The supposed fairy queen answered. I WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO SEND YOU BACK A YEAR!
Ivy politely smiled at the lady through the pain, and when she turned she growled at the fairy queen.
What the heck is wrong with you?

CHAPTER 2

Before all this, Ivy didn't know why she couldn't write anymore. She had wanted to close her eyes and go to bed forever, but the Fairy Queen had made her stay awake. If the Queen cared about her that much why would she send her back in time for some cruel joke?
Why?!
You do know I can hear you, right, complained a grumpy voice in Ivy's head.
Do I care? Ivy asked rhetorically. No.
Rude. The voice replied.
Ivy was about to burst at the Fairy Queen calling HER rude when she was the one who had sent her to 1996 and then acted like it was totally normal when she bumped into someone around her height. It was a boy with an intensely-freckled face, short-cropped brown hair, and a small hat. He was wearing a jersey.
‘Who might you be?’ the boy questioned. ‘Why do you care?’ Ivy snarled back, clearly irritated by the hot sun. ‘Because I know everyone in this town, but I have never seen your face.’ The boy said. ‘Oh lucky you, popular lad-’ Ivy said, realizing sounded a little too much like Devyn. She had no more time to think about that though because a second later she had passed out. The boy just stood there and looked at her with a ‘Seriously?’ face and then dragged her by the arms to his house.
If this was fiction, Ivy would have surely been excited about what would have happened to the main character. She would have been intrigued and would have jumped right into the next chapter.
Unfortunately, this was real life, and Ivy was very scared for her dear life.
‘WHO ARE YOU?!’ she screeched when she woke up and saw a young lady putting medicine on her head. The medicine bottle almost fell onto the ground and broke if the boy who had dragged her here didn't catch it in time. The lady gave her a glare which forced Ivy back into a lying down position.
Ivy closed her eyes in fright when the lady's hand came close to her head with the towel again. Realizing this, the lady pulled back and sighed. ‘Open your eyes,’ she said and Ivy peeked from under her eyelids.
It was a hut. Not really old-fashioned, and quite large for what Ivy imagined a hut would look like. The boy who had carried (or dragged) her here had caught the bottle- Oh wait, that wasn't the boy who had carried her here. Ivy observed his features and realized his hair was fluffier and slightly longer, and he had lesser- way lesser- freckles on his face than his brother, who was cooking something near a small fireplace.
Staring, are we? The Fairy Queen gushed in her head. Ivy mentally glared at her and the voice disappeared.
‘Who are you guys?’ Ivy asked. ‘That’s it? Not a thankyou?' the boy next to the fireplace scoffed. ‘I saved your life you know-’
‘Marcus, shut it.’ the lady said. She had similar features to the boys, freckles and brown hair. Hers was tied up in a braid that reached almost her hips.
‘I’m Lydia.' the woman said. ‘These are my two younger brothers, Marcus and Skylar. Say hi, guys.’ Marcus made a face at Ivy while Skylar waved with around five percent emotion.
‘You fainted close to our house. Marcus was going to leave you near the barrels unless Lydia saw him.’ the so-called Skylar said. Ivy looked at Lydia in gratitude while the Fairy Queen muttered praise to her, even though nobody could hear the queen except Ivy.
‘What is that?’ Ivy asked, looking at the towel in Lydia's hand. ‘It’s homemade medicine.' Lydia said proudly. ‘It worked one everyone I gave it to.’ Marcus rolled his eyes. ‘It didn’t work on Gerald-'
Lydia glared at me. ‘Gerald said he had a fever instead of chickenpox. You’re lucky you didn't catch it, or you would have had to stay in bed for as long as he did.' Marcus shuddered and went back to cooking. Skylar applied more medicine on the towel, and Lydia put the towel on Ivy's head.
‘Skylar, come with me. You-’ Lydia looked at Ivy, confused. ‘Ivy,’ she obliged, and Lydia continued. ‘Ivy, stay here, we’re getting more medicine.' Ivy didn't have to be told twice, and she fell into a deep sleep.

181 words, word war, using the prompt, “Excuse me, why is your pet griffin talking to me?”

“Excuse me, why is your pet griffin talking to me?” a girl next to me asked. “TEchnically, it's not talking.” I said. “But he's just a little lonely, and he loves cats” I chuckled. I didnt have a cat at home, but my pet griffin Milo would love that. “So, lets make a deal. ”He'll play with your cat, instead of your hair“ She looked at her hair, terrified. It was all in knots and tangles ”NO!“ she exclaimed, and ran out of the park. I lauhged, though my griffin frowned and fretted. ”It's okay Millo, i'll get you a cat somehow" I said, trying to make him feel better. He didn't, he longed for the cat she just saw, and maybe it was the breed? I knew I couldn't ask now, that would be weird, and after all, that girl was extremely snobby and so annoying. I hated her attitude, and her hair wasn't even good to begin. The hair part i said aloud, with made my griffin slightly less fretty and smiled a bit. I smiled too at the

King post is more than 1000+

102 words - March 10: daily 10

Two sides. One world. Only one may come out on top.

Ophelia finds her life twisted in lies after her generation-old family sparks a war: a series of battles that would change the nation forever. Stuck in between she has to find a way to stop it all - before innocent lives are lost at the cost of all things dear to humanity. Making friends along the way, Ophelia strives to restore peace using a prophecy she uncovers in her great-grandfather’s grave.

Join this heartwrenching adventure where backs are stabbed, lives are lost, and secrets are uncovered - with a potentially darker meaning.

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Weekly #2
Warning: This weekly has mentions of stress, suicide attempts, LGBTQ and depression. Please refrain from reading this if you're uncomfortable with any of these topics.

Part 1: Do a Relaxing Activity
I read a book, and went to exercise. Below is how I felt

I had been so stressed out. Of course, exams. I decided to lay back down a relax on my bed and read a good book. It was my favourite Dystopian book, the Hunger Games. Contrasting to the nature of the book, I felt at peace instead of feeling intense for the characters as I loved Dystopian stories because it makes me feel the impact of how strong the character is. While I was still reading, my brother came into my room and asked me to go exercise with him. I hesitated as I wanted to rest but I reluctantly agreed. Turns out it wasn't that bad. I jogged around the park, breathing nice fresh air and felt free for the first time before my exams.

125 words

Part 2: Consume Media
The music I chose is a soundtrack for the game Touhou Seirensen, Unidentified Fantastical Object. The music is right here. It is also recommended to read this passage while listening to the song.

When the song starts, I was immediately hit by a impact of cheerful and jubilant feelings. Slowly the song transacts into a upbeat pace, making my heart feel at peace and joyous as the beat gets faster and faster, then it exploded as though someone was throwing a party and having fun. It was beautiful. I had never felt so carefree after so long. It continued over and over, it feels as though the song doesn't want the fun to end. However, I was met with a wave of silent serene as the monotone beats were played. I felt anxious, as I felt something powerful was coming. Soon, it came. The music changed from happy to depressing. Instantly I was hit with a powerful wave of calm and depression. The melody was so soothing and sad at the same time. I wept silently, as this song perfectly portrays my emotions. However, with beats pacing faster, it feels as though the song is cheering me up, saying that this isn't the final part, saying that this is not the climax. Suddenly, a massive trumpet sound caught me off guard, giving me a feeling that I shouldn't give up on my struggles. I wiped my tears, slowly sinking myself deeper into the music. As though the song felt my emotions, the song went back to a calm melody, beating over and over. Until it was gone.

These events happened to me in real life
234 words

Part 3: Story

“Weren, would you please turn down the volume? I'm trying to study.” Marbles complained, trying to find his Advanced Math notebook. It was a subject he excels in. Weren was in his room playing mobile games. “Ah, sorry.” Weren replied, putting down his phone beside him, “Hey, what are you doing actually?” Weren came to his side, looking at the tiny writings of his friend. “It's nothing, but my notes. Would you like to help me study? I mean, I could really need help to revise for the upcoming exams…” Marbles muttered subconsciously. Weren knows perfectly well that Marbles had been weeping at night and couldn't sleep, it's due to his insomnia caused by his constant stress that never seemed to go away. Weren smiled, although both of them knew that he wasn't as good as Marbles when it comes to math, “Sure, I'll try to help.” Weren however knew the reason why he wanted Weren to study with him, it's for him to feel comforted.

“Finally, our exams are over!” Weren cheered, while Marbles looked depressed. He didn't even look at where he was going, causing him to bump into several people. “Ouch! Hey, Weren. I need you to come to the courtyard later at 8 at night.” Marbles requested as they headed back to the student dorms. “Oh? Okay, sure!” Weren agreed as they entered the room. Weren had instantly lay on his bed, thinking of a world without exams. It was not just for himself, it's to be rid of his boyf- I mean, best friend's depression. Weren swiped off that thought. When he regained his consciousness, he saw Marbles was no where to be seen. “Huh, maybe he went to find Luna?” he thought until he saw the time. “Oh no, it's already 7.30? I had to go now!” Quick as a werewolf, he dashed off the dorm to meet Marbles.

Marbles stood under the cherry blossom tree at the courtyard, reflecting on his life. Everything was ready. “Are you sure you wanted to do this?” Luna asked, concerned. Marbles just stood and whispered, barely audible but manageable for Luna to hear, “I've made up my mind, and I can't let anyone disturb me again.” he shed a tear saying so. “Huff, huff, Marbles, I'm here…” Weren panted. He looked up and saw Marbles climbing up a ladder and tying a rope on one of the branches. “Is he…” He stood on the stool, took the rope, tied around his neck. As he was preparing to kick off the stool, Weren caught him and removed the rope off his neck. “Hey, Weren! Why'd you do that?” Marbles wept, he didn't even know he was embracing Weren, wiping his tears off his shirt. Weren sighed, “It's because I can't live without you.” Marbles stopped crying, and looked up to Weren's eyes, they were filled with tears. “Oh, actually I knew it.” “Wait, how?!” Weren exclaimed, thinking that his secret was well kept. “It's pretty obvious, most romance stories happen this way. It's kinda cliche now…” Marbles answered, feeling nervous. “But if I'm honest, it's true that I feel the same way for you.” Both of them were silent. “Um, sorry to interrupt, but I'm leaving now…” Luna piped up awkwardly, leaving the two friends behind under the peacefully falling cherry blossoms.

Writer's Note:

This is the first time I've written this type of story in a long time. So I poured out all of my inner emotions while writing this. If you feel any struggles, don't contain them. Instead, tell a trusted person, which could be anyone, about them. It can be a friend, parent, teacher, just anyone you can trust. Also, take note that the Luna represented here isn't Luna from SWC. Instead, she's a character of mine who's friends with Weren and Marbles. With that all said, I hope you had fun reading this! Till then, goodbye.

650 words (including the writer's note)

1009 words in total

Critique for @Sandy-Dunes (For Folklore Critque Project)

Hi Sandy! So first of all, I want to say that I really love this writing and enjoyed reading it! I think that introducing Madeline in the beginning and giving an overview of her problems was a great idea as it really pulls the reader into the story and makes them sympathize with her.
However, I also think that giving the reader more context behind those things (i.e. Why was she suspended from the academy? Also what is the academy?) would have drawn the reader in even closer. If you were ever to expand on this writing I think that is something I would consider doing. Honestly, that’s the only thing I really have to say about the story. It was a shorter piece of writing, which was how it was meant to be, so it’s understandable that it isn’t filled with tons of detail. So the only recommendation I would have if you were to ever expand on this is to give the reader more details on Madeline’s life and expand on the things that are mentioned; it can bring the reader into the story and make your writing even more interesting to read.
To end, I just want to say that I love the ending of the story, it’s such a peaceful ending and paints a really beautiful picture and gives the reader a feeling that Madeline is at peace, leaving the reader a sense of closure as well. Overall great job! <3

Daily 10: 142 words

“It was the seventh time the magpie came to me. This time it came with a message.”
Cara is in a sticky situation: She has to juggle an array of fragments that now make up her life. New city, new school, new bullies, the same old family struggles.
Yet, soon after settling in, Cara is regularly visited by a magpie knocking on her window pane, carrying strange objects from daffodils to golden nuggets.
Soon enough, the magpie gives Cara a small message, calling her from a dreary, grey life into a journey where all of her problems can be solved with a click. The world dances with vibrant colours and dazzling magic, pulling the girl away from her dull, heavy reality.
Soon enough, though, this imaginary world comes with a darker side… and it's ready to take over both fantasy and reality.