- - authors note - -
hello! i’m nova. this piece is drawn a lot from my own feelings and experiences, and of course my imagination. and a post or two that provided some inspiration
this story is a lot about one person and her feelings, but it’s also a lot about what people and ideas can do to a person. it’s about the idea of perfection. maybe even society as a whole.
and this story is, in some ways, a little bit of my story. maybe it’s also someone else’s story. i wrote it because i think people need to see it and listen. thank you for reading, and thank you for listening <3

“The queen is dead! The queen is dead!”

These were the words that rang out throughout the party. It was definitely a party you could call magnificent—after all, the queen had invited most anyone who was anyone—so it seemed suiting that such an event would happen. Rather ironic, isn’t it? The very reason the party was together would also be the reason the party would break out into chaos.

Well, technically, the Queen of Hearts was not the one who caused herself to die, so in a way, she was not fully the reason the party’s atmosphere shifted into chaos. Wait. No. Chaos was not a strong enough word for what was happening. Extreme destruction and an irreversible mess, perhaps? Still feels like a bit of an understatement, but it’s impossible to describe just how much of a mess it was. If you were there, you could have easily understood what had been happening, but you, however, were not there, so you cannot understand it so easily. A shame, really, because the party was a truly wonderful event, minus everything that happened about the queen’s death.

Ah, that reminds me—I suppose I should tell you a few more details about the tragedy, should I not? The party started out beautifully, just a modest and simple celebration to honor the banishment of the monster Alice—well, as modest and simple a celebration hosted by the Queen of Hearts could be. Which, as you would know if you had ever attended one, is not much.

The queen had decorated the castle with balloons, streamers, and tapestries as far as the mortal eye could see, and with one of the most amazing selections of colors and creations that one could choose. The food consisted of marvelous cakes, such as a 7-tier red velvet cake that was clearly the queen’s favorite, wonderful appetizers, like the fruit salad consisting of cherries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, and many more delightful fruits, and, of course, the main course, a beef Wellington thought to have been made by the queen’s very own private chef.

Now, onto the events of the night. There were a few games, a couple of riddles (oh, you know how much Wonderlandians love riddles!), and then some time for guests to socialize and eat. It was during this time, however, that the panic began. It started with the queen’s guards not being able to find her before a big speech she was supposed to announce to the party’s guests. Everyone simply assumed she had been taking a walk, but you, dear reader, know that this is not the case, and soon enough everyone realized this as well.

All living creatures (and a few not-so-living ones, mind you!) began to look for the queen, but she could not be found. After a while of searching, the truth started to sink into the Wonderlandians—the Queen of Hearts was missing, and at her very own party! It was truly a traumatic moment for all of her poor guests.

At first, it seemed simple enough—find the queen, restore the peace, and then we wouldn't speak of this ever again. But it was most definitely not as simple as it seemed. It seems that, in fact, it took them long to realize she had, in fact, died, but when they did, their reactions were similar to the words I told you—which, in case you forgot, are four simple little words that are not simple or little to the people of Wonderland in the slightest: the queen is dead.

And, of course, I suppose it’s rather rude of me to tell you all of this without even telling you what I intend to do! It’s dreadfully inconsiderate of me, truly. But I will fix this mistake by telling you something that really is simple (though maybe not so little!): I will find out who did this, and they will be sorry.
So, let’s start our investigation with a cup of tea and the maddest guest at the party, shall we?

Weekly Four
Intro: 129/100
Greece: 432/200
Inuit: 545/200
Navajo: 416/200
Aztecs/Egypt: 469/400
Mayans: 200/200
Swahili States: 206/200
Aksum/Minoan/APA: 692/600
China/Rome: 650/400
Mesopotamia: 265/200
Total Word Count: 3875/2600
Completed: 11/30/24 at 10:54 MST (my timezone, so you know that all these words count <3)
Selected: Blahaj

Intro
A glowing man runs in front of you. He beamed, “Hi there, hi there! Are you the new god here?” You nod your head, making a face. He giggles, “Oh, perfect! I have a questionnn-” You tilt your head, gesturing for him to go on. “Well, first of all, my name is Elio! I'm the god of Light and Language, and I just wanted to show you something that my wife wrote, sort of as an autobiography!” You cringe, shaking your head. He pleads with you, “Aw, please! It would mean so much to her if you could read it!” He holds out a small scroll, and you sigh, grabbing the scroll. He grinned, “Thank you so much! Have fun reading it!” He shifted into a dove, flying away.

Ancient Greece: Incorporate the supernatural/spiritual into your writing
Some wonder why I decided being a mercenary for the gods was a good idea. For me, it could not be more obvious. Power, fame, and even money. For every task I do, I receive a prize, and these prizes are all of my drive in this life. I dream of joining their ranks one day, even if it is just through power alone. I was made for the divine.
I yawned, sitting up in bed and rubbing my eyes. I groaned as I felt the little ridges in them, worn down by nights spent scratching at them. I slid my legs over to the side, standing up. I sluggishly made my way over to the mirror and rubbed my face as I tried to wake myself up. It was an unholy hour of the day and still dark out. My tattoos glowed a dark blue as I started to brush my hair, my eyes just barely cracked open. The tattoos were like waves on my arms, swirling in and out of each other, signifying my command over the waters. My legs were covered in jagged crystal tattoos, etched in sharply. I had direct control over my own fate, although it was a bit confusing at times. My stomach was lined with vines, signifying my abilities to control and converse with the plant life all over the earth. They even looked like they were growing out of the dirt, what with my darker skin tone. I scrutinized my face, glad to see the face tattoos still looked good. They weren’t too symbolic at first glance, but my linguistic abilities were centered around my mouth. These tattoos showed that my mouth could bring understanding or turmoil, and I relished in that fact.
Well, it was time to get dressed.
I reached into my closet and picked a cropped tank top to wear, as well as some tighter pants that would allow for better mobility. After dressing myself, I did some minimal makeup, lining my striking blue eyes to make them more dramatic. I huffed, rubbing out the eyeliner a moment later. I didn’t need to draw attention to my eyes, what was I thinking? I pulled my hair into a ponytail, and even then, it reached below my hips. It was incredibly curly, which made it annoying to take care of. I smiled, looking at myself. I was a thing of beauty. My body was a machine, my mind a bastion of information. I was near invincible. I couldn’t help but self-indulgently flex my arms a bit before moving on to feed myself.

Inuit: Your character shows empathy and helps an animal
I walked outside and smiled to see that my garden was thriving. The sun beat down on my face and neck, although I had no worries about burns since he and I went way back. I bent down and picked a few strawberries from a large and unruly bush. It waved a limb, and I waved back at it, thanking it for its sustenance with a bow.
I heard a noise from behind me and turned. I tilted my head, surprised by the sight in front of me. How curious… I approached a small dove that was stuck in the brush that towered around my abode.
“Excuse me, are you in need of assistance?”
The dove nodded its head, struggling to pick its wing out of the thorny bush.
I pursed my lips and waved my hand to part the thorns. “I am very sorry, my friend. Are you alright?”
It nodded once again, shaking its wings. I smiled, glad that it was alright. I made a face, “Are you here to deliver a message?”
The dove glanced around before it began to morph into a man.
The dove grew taller and more humanoid, glowing and shining as it finally transformed into a god whom I had worked with many times before.
Once the transformation was over, he spread his arms, giving me a huge smile, “Lilith! It is SO good to see you!”
I crossed my arms, “What do you want?”
Elio stopped, coughing a bit. His almost pure-white skin reddened. “Why, Lilith, how forward- Wouldn’t you like to at least say hello to me first?”
I shook my head, “Just get to the point, please.”
He sighed, “I don’t know why I expected more, you were never one for pleasantries-” He tugged at his long, curly blond hair and bit his lip. “Well, I… need your help. Yet again.”
“Ah, not surprising in the slightest.”
He reddened even further, “Just so you’re aware, I can do things for myself, but- but- I just… sometimes require assistance, that’s all!”
“You enjoy getting help from me, I understand. Nothing to be ashamed of.” I smirked, watching him cough more as he attempted to hide how flustered he was getting. How… endearing.
He rubbed his neck, “Well, um, yes, I suppose that is correct. I do… I do like having your help.” He paused, “But! Remember! I was the man who gave you your immortality in the first place, so, really, you are just returning the favor!”
“Really? Huh, I’ve never registered that hundreds of quests and favors would count as returning a single one. Honestly, Elio, you’ve made my eternal life more miserable than enjoyable.”
He sighed, “I suppose… But, I really, truly need your help this time. I could strengthen your healing magic!”
I raised an eyebrow, “Really, that’s all you’re offering?”
“I’m desperate!”
“Then give me enough to actually care.”
“How, how about I give you shapeshifting?”
“I got that ability from Alina a few decades ago, this is old news, my friend.”
Elio sighed, “How… how about I give you something else?”
“I want some of your feathers.” I stated.
He reddened even FURTHER. “Oh- oh- really? That’s… different-”
“Feathers, Elio. That’s what I want. Three of them.”
He grimaced, “Ughhhh, fine-”

Navajo Nation: Your character is forced to make a decision they don’t want to do
I smiled, “Pleasure doing business with you.”
He sighed, plucking a few feathers from his back and handing them to me. I took them delicately and set them to the side. “Alright, now what’s making you so desperate?”
Elio plopped himself on the ground and groaned, “My father is waging warrrrr- againnnn-”
“What does that have to do with you?” I sat opposite him, crossing my legs delicately.
“He wants me to help him, and I can’t say noooo-”
“How devastating,” I said dully.
He shot me a glare. I chuckled, gesturing for him to go on.
He sighed, “I just… don’t want to do it!”
“Again, how devastating.”
“I KNOW!” His eyes burst with light, and I couldn’t help but snicker.
“I’m very sorry my friend, please, continue.”
He huffed. “I really don’t want to be involved, because he’s warring the other Pantheons, and I really want to be on good terms with them!”
“Why is he warring them?”
“I honestly have NO idea!” He groaned, flopping onto the ground.
I scooted a little closer, so I could hear him better.
Elio sighed, “I just need help. Please, can you try to fight on my behalf and end the war quickly? It’ll make it SO much easier if you just wipe everything out quickly so I don’t have to deal with anything.”
I raised an eyebrow, “You know that I don’t enjoy working for your father’s benefit. Remember the last time I worked for him?”
“But you won’t be working for him, you’ll be working for me!”
I made a face, “Still.”
“Pleaseeeeeeee-”
I sighed, finding the face that he made while pleading to be utterly pathetic. “I will try to find some other way first, but if I cannot find a solution that doesn’t benefit your father entirely, I will do as you ask.”
Elio threw up his hands in the air, “WOO!” He shot up and grabbed me in a huge hug, which caught me off-guard. I pushed him back, “ExCUSE me- Don’t touch me without asking first!”
He shot back, “Oh- Oh- Sorry!”
I crossed my arms, “You should know this by now.”
He chuckled nervously, “You’re right, I should know better-” He got up and stretched, “Welll, have fun! You know how to keep in touch!” He gave me a wink before transforming back into a dove and flying away. I shook my head. Wow, that man. I sighed and got up, walking back inside to gather my weapons and supplies.

Aztecs: Incorporate an image/symbol that unearths a memory in the main character/Ancient Egypt: Your main character has a “dark day”
I rummaged through my drawers, finding various artifacts that I’ve hoarded over the years. I lifted up a necklace, the chain lined with thorns. I wrinkled my nose. Ugh, this one was uncomfortable. I set that to the side, picking up a pendant that sucked all the shadows into it the moment I put it on. I made a face, no, this one wouldn’t do.
I didn’t know why I was being so picky this time around, but, for some reason, I was. I scurried everywhere around my house, trying to find something that would suit the occasion. Eventually, I had to resort to digging through my storage. I descended the stairs to my basement and began to pick through what boxes I had. I heard something roll around in one of the boxes. Ah, that must be the crystals that I would occasionally use for divination. I had forgotten about those.
I reached over and opened the small box, and two dull, brown eyeballs stared back at me. I cringed, shying away from the box. Bile rose in my throat as my mind forcefully dragged me back through the depths of my memory.
“It will benefit you, Lilith. Trust me.”
“I don’t want this!”
“You will want this, I assure you.”
My shrieks rang through my head. They echoed and slammed into my skull. My tattoos glowed red. My eye sockets burned and squealed in agony, almost as if the deed was being done right then instead of thousands of years ago. I scratched at my face, fingers scraping at the cold ceramic that now composed my eyes. I wanted them out! I wanted them out! I wanted them to leave me! Just end the pain, end the misery. I hissed, my fingernails screeching and squealing as they attacked my eyes. I knew it was destructive, I knew that it wouldn’t do anything. But, I couldn’t stop. My eyes burned and throbbed. They weren’t the culprits, so why did I punish them? I had no idea, but I didn’t care. OUT! OUT! I wanted them OUT! I was blind before and I could be blind again! I needed none of Alaric’s rewards. None of them, NONE! I shuddered, hugging my arms. I writhed on the ground, sobs begging to escape from my throat as I attempted to hold it together. No tears formed, nothing to soothe the scraping. My eyes itched and burned, and I couldn’t help but resent them. Sight wasn’t worth it if it was forced. I never wanted it. I never needed it.
I closed my eyes, darkening my vision. That gave me a bit of solace, a reminder of my life before. I couldn’t help but smile as the darkness comforted me. It wasn’t a perfect reminder of my blindness, but it would do.

Mayans: Include a ‘creation’/origin about your character and Swahili City States: Part of the story in script format
Eventually, I calmed. My chest rose and fell slowly as I let my heaving breaths gently release into the air. I sat up and swallowed whatever bile there was before anxiously peeking into the box yet again. The eyes were still there, still as… eye-like as ever. I cringed, memories still resurfacing like waves, beating against the walls of my mental fortitude.
Alaric: “Wonderful job, Lilith.”
Lilith: “Thank you, Almighty. Your praise brings me great joy.”
Alaric: “As it should. Now, what would you like as your reward.”
Lilith: “Power, that is simple. I made that clear to you from the moment I agreed to do your bidding.”
Alaric: “I have power that you have never known, and I’m sure that it will be beneficial to you. Of course, many other beings have this ability, but I’m sure that you would be glad to join their ranks.”
Lilith: “That would be wonderful, Almighty. I shall accept whatever you have to offer.”
Alaric: “Ah, perfect. Sight shall suit you well.”
Lilith: “Excuse me?”
Alaric: “It will benefit you, Lilith, trust me.”
Lilith: “I don’t want this! You promised me power!”
Alaric: “You will want this, I assure you.”

Lilith: “Where- where am I?”
Selene: “You’re still at my father’s palace.”
Lilith: “Oh gods, you are beautiful-”
Selene: “I’m glad that you’ve finally noticed. Well, it’s not like you’ve had a choice, but all the same.”
Selene: “How are you feeling?”
Lilith: “Horrid.”
Selene: “You don’t look like it.”
Lilith: “I am in shock.”
Selene: “Well, now might be the time to give you these then.”
Lilith: “Give me… what?”


My memory faded there. Ah, my mind was blocking the trauma. How noble of it. I huffed and closed the box, shoving it out of sight as I attempted to reign in my emotional response to it. I was better than this. In a way, didn’t he actually benefit me in the long run? Because of him, I ended up having so much more renown than I could’ve ever dreamed of. Of course, I always wanted more, but his so-called reward helped me get where I am today…

I stood and began searching for more weapons. I was determined to earn my reward, as well as to laugh in Alaric’s face as I find a way to stop his frankly stupid war. I dug through my storage, eventually finding a few artifacts that were… well-suited for the job.

Aksum: Your character must trade or barter to receive something they want/Minoan: Your character comes across writing that no one can decipher, they must find a way to decipher this writing/Aboriginal Peoples of Australia: Include a dreamtime character
I shuddered. Eating magical frog eggs was not pleasant in the slightest. Still, they were the best mode of transportation I had. I opened my box and couldn’t help but cringe. Oh joy, they had rotted. That meant…
I swallowed my pride and reached for my bottomless satchel. I made sure that I loaded all my armor and weapons in, just in case, as well as all the supplies I had chosen. I took a flying staff and set it up below my feet. I took off into the sky, hoping to make this interaction quick.
The air was warm, and I smiled, feeling the wind caress my face. Birds flew around me but scattered fast enough that they didn’t bother me.
I landed by a small little cottage and grimaced when I realized just how annoying this entire interaction would be. I knocked on the beaten door, “Tiddalik, I require your assistance.”
I heard a croak, indicating that I could come in. I stepped inside and looked at the gigantic frog that sat in front of me. He croaked, and I cringed, “Yes, my eggs have rotted yet again.”
He narrowed his beady eyes, and I sighed, “I’m sorry. I will make good use out of them, I assure you.”
Tiddalik croaked, pushing a tablet toward me. I made a face, and he croaked insistently. I sighed. “Alright, I shall run this errand for you, Great One.” He appeared annoyed, bellowing again.
“My apologies. Tiddalik it is. I am sorry, I forget that constantly.”
“I do have a condition.” I said, trying to quell my fear. “Please, let me have double for this errand. It is one for the great Elio, god of light and language. Please, allow me to please him more adequately.”
He let out a large, humid sigh. He gave me a nod.
He was clearly judging me, so I quickly made my way out with the tablet. I looked down at it and sighed. I supposed that I might need to talk to my current employer. Joyful, he was always fun to deal with. I boarded my staff once again and set out, ready to get this errand done.

“Lilith! It is quite good to see you!”
I nodded.
“Come in, come in!” Elio opened the door to his opulent palace in the clouds, and I strolled in cautiously.
“So, dear Lilith, what brings you here? Do you need guidance? Some extra help? What could it be?”
I sighed, “Well, since you know all languages ever, I Thought that I could get some help deciphering this text.”
Elio clapped, “Oh, how wonderful!” He giggled, “Let me see it!”
I handed it over to him.
He beamed, “Wonderful, thank you! Shoo, get yourself some refreshments while I translate this lovely little thing!”
I tilted my head. “Despite all the times I’ve worked for you, I’ve never been anywhere else in your home except for this room. Mind telling me where these ‘refreshments’ are?”
Elio perked up, “Oh, just follow that hall until you get there. You’ll know it when you see it!”
I made a face, doing as he said.

I came back, holding a few pastries, which tasted absolutely divine. I came in to see Elio holding up another tablet proudly. “There we are! How’d you enjoy my baking?”
I made a face, “You made these?”
He nodded giddily. “Did you like them??”
I shrugged, “They’re quite good. I must say that I’m impressed.” I came over to him and sat next to him on the couch he was reclining on.
He giggled, “Oh, lovely! I’m glad!” He handed over the tablet, “Here you are!”
I read over it, and it made no sense to me. However, Tiddalik would probably understand the script. I took the last bite of my pastry and stood up, “Thank you. I appreciate your aid.”
He beamed, “Not a problem!”
I waited for him to ask for payment, but that request never came. I made a face, “What shall I pay you?”
Elio shrugged, “Your presence and compliments were plenty enough.”
I rolled my eyes, leaving before he could change his mind.

Ancient China: Your character has a morally grey moment/Ancient Rome: Character development that changes them from a “character” to a “hero”
I returned to Tiddalik and acquired my eggs. I thanked him for his time and left his cottage. Alright, now it was time to truly carry out my task.

I popped an egg into my mouth and tried not to retch as I thought of my destination. Alaric’s palace. A hub between worlds. I knew that I needed to make my presence known, and I know that I needed to make my demands met. However, I wasn’t entirely sure on how to do that. I decided to screw it and just go up to Alaric himself, but first, I needed to find him.

Ah, of course. He was in his throne room. My mind flashed to the event that had occurred in this very room. I steeled my nerves. I did not need to have another panic attack right now.

Alaric waved his hand, “I suppose that that would do. We shall ride at dawn.”
I approached, steeling my nerves. I would show respect, but I would not show restraint.
“Almighty, I come with a request!”
He turned to look at me with his striking blue eyes. They looked similar to my own. His neck creaked as his statuesque body moved slowly and methodically to face me. “Ah, little warrior. It is a surprise to see you. I thought that you never wanted to have anything to do with me again. Why the sudden change?”
I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat. “I would like to resort to diplomacy before beating your forces in battle.”
“Did my son put you up to this?”
I shrugged, “So what if he did? It is for my own self-interest as well. Your planned war against the other pantheons is not something that I would advise you to do. For what purpose would you even want to do that?”
Alaric shrugged, his joints clicking as his mouth slowly upturned into a smile. “It is advantageous for me, little warrior. I’m sure that you would do the same.”
My mind flashed back to the times I had done reprehensible things to get what I wanted. I simply shrugged, “Oh, for sure.”
I reached into my satchel and brought out a sword. “However, I find peace to be much better for myself. You wage war, you reap the consequences.”
Alaric laughed, “I suppose that’s how it works. However, I think it will do ME more good than bad.”
I raised an eyebrow, “How so?”
He chuckled, “Why do you have to know? Gods, you are nosey.” He stretched out a hand, “Why don’t you help me? I’m sure that your many talents would make you quite the asset on the front lines.”
I stopped, biting my lip, “What would you give me for it?”
“A lavish lifestyle, simple. I would provide for your every need for the rest of eternity. My son gave you immortality, didn’t he? You should be just fine.”
I put down my sword, “Elaborate.”
He stroked his beard, “Money, more power, things of the sort. If you have any specific requests, they shall be granted.”
I blinked, and I was reminded of the gouges that were present in my eyes. I glanced around, and I saw… Elio? Ugh, that man was everywhere. He pressed his hands together as if he were praying to me. It was clearly a plea for me to stop him. I rolled my eyes, cringing as they scraped in my sockets. What wonderful reminders.
I threw up my head and sneered at the god in front of me. “I don’t think I’m willing to do that.”
Alaric blinked, and his head rotated as he registered, “Well, I don’t know what I was expecting. So, I suppose that you’ll attempt to stop me now. How do you think you’ll do that?”
I cracked my knuckles, “What brings more destruction? Battle between two immortals or battle between thousands?”

Mesopotamia: Incorporate a poem or poetry into your writing
I reclined back on the couch and closed my eyes. I finally got a bit of time to relax. That was short-lived. Elio tapped my shoulder, and I groaned, looking up at him, “What?”
He grinned, “Sooo, you know how I’ve been dabbling in poetry?”
I blinked, “Oh, yes dear, that… new hobby of yours?”
“It isn’t that new! It’s been, what- a hundred years!”
I tilted my head, “And that /isn’t/ considered new?”
He shook his head, “Nope! I just actually got serious about it now!”
I made a face, “Elio, I don’t think you realize that I get to see you every day, and thus, I know exactly how much of a lie that is.”
“Just hear me out! I wrote this in honor of-”
“What? Your legacy?” I snickered. He was self-absorbed enough.
He shook his head, “Nope! Yours!” He cleared his throat, summoning a scroll. I cringed, oh, how lovely. I adored this man, but by no means did I think that he was a master of poetry.
“You are as strong as an ox, as sly as a fox-” I rolled my eyes.
“As spry as a rabbit and as lovely as a…” He squinted, trying to read his handwriting. I snickered.
“As- as lovely as a dove, isn’t it,” he made it clear there was a line break, “beautiful that you can be just so well-rounded?”
I coughed, and Elio continued. I tried to give him as much attention as I could, but, alas, he eventually lost it. I couldn’t help but smile as I zoned out though. How… endearing.

INUIT
I stood up from my seat, stretching my arms. Final exams were tomorrow, the last ones i’d ever take before I was out of school for good. It would be nice to get them out of the way, but I had been studying for biology since the sun had started to creep above the horizon. Passing that class meant guaranteed entry into a world-class science program- one I had been hoping to get into since I learnt what it was, 6 long years ago.

But studying for so long is only useful until you get stuck in a loop of repeating the same, simple sentence again, and again, with no clue what the person who wrote it actually meant. So I stood up, deciding to step outside and escape the burnout. Sliding open the door, I looked up the street and saw a small cat, huddled close to the side of my building. She was pressed tight against the brick, trying to escape the sun. Without a word, I walked back into the house and grabbed a bowl, filling it with water and placing it on my doorstep. After a moment I slid a spare shoe under the door too, stopping it from swinging open. The cat watched, wary- so I stepped back inside and settled down on the sofa.

NAVAJO
The cat blinked once, and then again, before slinking onto the step and lapping at the water. I forced myself to stay in my seat, glancing at the cat out of the corner of my eye. She was small- i’d be surprised if she was more than a kitten. She was limping, and it was beyond clear that she wasn’t in good shape. I took a deep breath, worried. I didn’t want to scare her, but what would happen if I let her back into the street? That surely would be a death sentence. If the wound didn’t get infected and kill her, starvation would- or . I looked through my fridge, pulling out a small tray of mince and placing it on the floor. Bait. Almost immediately the cat stepped inside, eying me warily while he ate. I let out a sigh of relief- and closed the door quietly behind her.

The cat panicked. She slunk into the corner, leaving the food almost completely untouched. Her fear broke my heart, but I couldn’t open the door. I had to get her to the vet, if I could, or at least clean her up. I took a deep breath and moved over the the corner, opening up a cupboard.

AZTECS
A bowl clatters to the floor, muffled quickly by the sound of a small cat bed landing on top of it. I take a deep breath, stepping back.

I remember. I remember the rumbles of a warm body, dark colored fur pressed against my side. I yawned, rolling over and stroking the cat with my free hand. “Nyx,” I whisper, attempting to nudge her off of me. “I need to get up, kitty cat.”

She glares at me with tired, half hooded eyes, and I sigh, taking a moment to blink the sleep from my eyes. “Alright, get up and i’ll get you breakfast.”

As if she understands, the cat hauls herself up and trots happily into the kitchen. I suppose she might understand, by now. Every single morning went like this, careful and calm and safe. Just the two of us.
I open the window above the sink, poking my finger out to feel the drop of rain bead against my skin. Nyx looks at me as if i’ve committed some sort of horrible crime, by not getting her food immediately. I stifle a laugh, grabbing her food and putting on the jug to boil. “You’ve got to let me have my breakfast too, hm kitty cat?” I laugh, and I eat, and all is well.

MAYAN
Nyx was my first cat. I had never planned to get her, and I never planned on picking up a new cat afterwards- I needed to stop getting ahead of myself. This little cat might be chipped, or missing.

Nyx was a big cat- but at first I mistook her for a small dog. She was tattered and worn, but that never stopped her from scratching at my door every morning, demanding slivers of my attention. I guess it eventually worked because I convinced my parents to let her stay, and went out to spend my leftover pet sitting money on a shiny blue bowl and a fluffy gray bed that would never get used because she’d always settle on my lap to sleep.

I lost nyx a year after my parents moved out, and it hit me hard. It’s been… two years since then. I didn’t want another pet- another cat who would break my heart. But I guess they just come to you, don’t they? That was when I got winston. He was just a little old cat, taken in by my friend because the shelter was too full to keep him. Unlucky for them, a series of unfortunate events meant they couldn’t keep him anymore. So I watched Winnie, helping him through his final year.

I didn’t want another cat. I didn’t. I didn’t want to feel that heartbreak all over again.

ROME
A pitiful mew jolted me back to the present, and I pushed the memories away. There was a cat who needed me now. They had needed me then- in a time that was now long gone. I filled up the bowl with a new serving of water, and carefully walked into the room, bed held tightly in my othe-

The cat was lying on the carpet.

Nononono.

I ran over, heart breaking when she looked up at me, obviously scared but not sure what to do. I checked her over, and it only took me a moment to realise what was. The cat had overheated- probably a result of the lack of shade in my neibourhood. I scooped her up and put her on the table, using a cloth to wet her fur and moving the water to be easy for her to reach. Then I left to the freezer to grab some ice, and finally called the vet.

I nodded along to the instructions coming through the speaker phone for a bit, after I explained what had happened. The vet on the line told me to only be worried if she started panting, but advised I brought the kitten in anyway. Heatstroke wasn’t the only killer out there for a street cat.

GREEK
I had named my first cat nyx because when i found her in the dark of the forest, all I could see were two eyes. The rest of her seemed to blend in, like the inky depths of the night. Maybe I was jumping ahead with this kitten, but I wanted something to match. They were almost like opposites- Nyx inky black and this kitten a brilliant shade of white. Hecate, maybe. Artemis… I ran through the names in my head, before finally settling on Phoebe. Like the greek moon goddess- or one of her names, anyway. When the kitten made it out of her appointment with the vet nurse and I was called to pick her up, she would be phoebe.

Ring
Ring
Ring

I grab at my pockets trying to locate my phone, before spotting it on the table next to me.

“Hello?”

“Alright. Yup. I’ll be in in just a few minutes.”

I check everything in the house is in order for my new furry roommate, and then sprint to the car. I turn the keys, not even pausing to listen to the rumbling of the engine. Time to meet phoebe, time to bring home the moon-cat.

MINOAN
I clutched the carrier that contained the kitten carefully, as if one wrong movement could cause it to shatter. The woman behind the desk scribbled something on the receipt, and I took it without a word, waving her goodbye and going to sit in the car. I needed to pick some medication up for her, so I grabbed the receipt to see what was diagnosed and couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the writing. Who could read that messy handwriting? I looked closer at the note, before flipping over the receipt and realising the inky paper was around the wrong way. “Arn’t I silly, hm phoebs?” I hummed, smiling at the cat through the crate. “I think we’ll get along just fine. The cat mewed softly, almost as if in disagreement. “What, do you object, your grace?” “Meow.” I laughed, pulling the car out of park. “One more stop, missie, and then we can finally go home. Does that sound good?

EGYPT
Phoebe wasn’t getting any closer to me. I wasn’t used to having a cat like this- one who wasn’t begging for every inch of the attention you can give, so it felt weird. I wanted the cat to jump up on her lap or claw at the door, but she was content sleeping in the sun most days. Even when it rained she didn’t find me for warmth, just slid under blankets or by the heater.

I started to wonder if I was doing something wrong. Sure, it had only been a week- but what if I was missing something? Had it been too long since I had had cats last, so this cat suddenly hatted me? I try and silence the thoughts, but they persist.

Phoebe is sleeping in the corner, away from the sofa again. She’s been eating and drinking well but a part of me is worried about her lack of interest in playing, or games. I wondered what happened to her when she was small, to make her like this. I sigh. Nothing I can do, but keep pushing on. One day, she will volunteer to spend time near me- she’ll take her food without checking for threats- and it will all be worth it.

MESOPOTAMIA
A quiet rumble
In, out.
In, out.

Just minutes ago she slunk into the room, eyes like daggers
But she surrendered before I could say a thing
Curling up in my lap with a final glance shot my way
As if she was telling me
Not to try anything.

I glanced at
The sun by the door
The bed in the dark
And the door sitting ajar,
Welcoming her into the outside world
Whenever she pleases.

Purring. The first time i’ve heard that from her.

“You remind me of them,” I whisper,
Keeping my eys on her shape.
“Though, they were less anxious.”

The cat grumbles in complaint at my noise,
Stretching her arms towards me and
Hooking tiny claws into my shirt.
I grinn, pulling them carefully out.
“Be careful, there,”
I laugh
“You don’t ‘gotta pay for these.”

She grumbles in complaint, and falls
Back into a
Deep
Deep
Sleep

I laugh, attempting to minimise the
Movement of my own body for hers.
Isn’t it funny, how much we’re willing to morph
In order to please an animal?


So now I sit here, trapped under the weight of a creature far less heavy than me.
But I don’t want to move
So I don’t move
Because to get here,
To trust again
And love again?

That was enough.

AKSUM
“Paul! I’ve told you this before! That dish I gave you was to borrow, not to keep. You’ve been storing /what/ in it?! My friend, how long have we known each other…. That’s right, ten years! So by now you should know one key thing about me… I don’t lie. Wait, you really haven’t picked that up? Alright, silly. I’ll be popping by to grab the dish in a bit, make sure it isn’t radioactive or anything. Wait, you want me to do your dishes? Get lost- Ok fine, I’ll do one half for the bowl. Is that a deal? Always nice talking to ‘ya, paul.”

I smile, putting down the answering phone and stroking phoebe’s back. “You here that? I’m gonna get you the nice fancy bowl I brought for winnie to have his water in.

I leaned forward, smiling. “It has a fountain! How cool is that!”

The cat stared up at me blankly.

“Alright, alright. He said he’d bring it over now, hang on just a sec.” with a yawn I walked into the kitchen, pulling open the kitchen blinds and letting the sun settle over my face for just a moment. A knock on my door. Ah, that must be paul, with the bowl I lent him.

SWAHILI CITY STATES


“Phoebe!”

[The cat looked up, but didn’t make any move to approach the newcomer. Instead she stretched out, seeming to greatly enjoy the sun slipping through the window.

“Hey feebs? Where are you at?”



“Oh, there you are, kitty cat! You’ll never guess what happened at work today. I was helping out caycee, right, and then her computer just exploded! Right there and then!”



“So all of the smoke set off the alarms, so we had a fire drill! Luckily nothing caught, but we had to sit outside in the baking sun for what felt like a lifetime. You would have loved it”

CHIN(AHHHH)A
The phone was ringing. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, forcing phoebe to begrudgingly crawl off the bed. With aching feet I walked across the room, grabbing the phone off it’s hook.

“ ‘ello Vivian here, what can I do for you?”

The voice on the line started talking, and I felt myself freeze.

“Hi viv-” I shuttered at the name, “- The adoption records at the vet show you picked up a cat about a year ago. We’ve got a couple ‘guys here claiming that that’s there cat. Of course, technically it is now legally yours, seeing as you’ve done all the paperwork and owned her for over a year, but they’re requesting a visit to convince you they’re worthy of getting their cat back.

I looked down at Phoebe, and then back up, making a decision. I had seen the way her flesh clung to her bones, her scared look when approaching any human. I wouldn’t give her back.

“Tell them i’m sorry, but that won’t be happening. She is safe and happy, and I wish them all the best,” I responded bluntly, hanging up the phone.

Sure, maybe it was cruel. Maybe they did nothing wrong, and were nice. But all the same, what if they wearn’t? It was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.

“Hear that, kitty cat?” I called, watching her ears prihhhck up to attention. “You’re mine, all safe, forever.”
”

AUSTRALIA:
I look out the window and see a huge snake, with scales that shimmer in a million different shades and tones. I suppose it should scare me, but I know he means no harm.

Phoebe jumps up on the window sill, meowing loudly at me. I glance out the window once more, and the serpent is gone.

“What was that, huh kit kat?” I ask, as if the cat will answer me. Instead i’m met with silence, not even a quiet meow.

“Alright, if you’re gonna be like that.” I laugh, rubbing her ear affectionately. “You’re such a stange little creature, you know that?”

She looks at me with a deadpan expression, and I laugh. “Don’t judge me, you know i’m right!”
I’m met with more unimpressed looks.

“All right, i’ll get to your breakfast if that’s what you’re so fussed about.

She mews her aprovel and trots over to her bowl, eyes on me the whole time. She meows once, quietly, and then again, louder.

“I swear, who taught you to be so noisy? Winnie and nyx were always dead silent.”

I turn from the window and for a moment I can almost swear I see a flash of rainbow Sales- before everything vanishes again and it’s just like a normal day outside.

Submit with weekly:
_____________

Alex pulled back his hand, I saw it start to swell up and turn red, my eyes widened before standing up and running over to him.

I nodded, I looked over at the piano and my eyes lit up, it wasn’t a complete waste to come here.

It felt as if there were weights on my fingers pushing them down on the keys, it felt like it was pulling at my skin.

It didn’t matter, I couldn’t like a mistake like that happen again

My brothers and parents weren’t home today, they were away on a trip overseas, they entrusted me with myself for the next week or two.

I grinned, it was the day of her big recital, we decided to come home early in order to not miss her big day, I went to her room

Ada Koch has been dead for years now, rumors say that if you approach the manor at 12am at night, the soft notes of Fur Elise could be heard echoing from the house.

OKAYOKAYOKAY- UGH this is hardddddd- I have no idea how many words this will be, but it’ll probably be a lot. There’s a note for everyone (not literally, but all the groups of people are there ) here, so, idk, ctrl-F your group or something-

Hosts
MASSIVE thank you to you guys! This session was one of my favorites, and your invaluable work towards this session should not go unnoticed. Y’all are so wonderful and amazing and I’m in awe of all of the work that you have put in into making this camp go round once again. SWC is such a huge part of my online life, and I’m so utterly grateful that it’s in such good hands. You guys are the best, and I will be forever grateful! You should be incredibly proud of yourselves for all of the crazy amazing things you were able to help pull off this session!

Leadership Roles
This is just kinda more in general, but everybody who has fulfilled a leadership position in some capacity did such an amazing job at it, I just know it! Cabin leaders, you guys slayed!! Like, I loved getting to see the various concepts that you guys came up with for your cabins! Daily team, we did a great job on the dailies and weeklies! MBC, we’re going to do awesome on designing the memory book! Everyone, you guys did awesome!

Bangsian Cabin
Speaking on behalf of upper management, you all did a satisfactory job this session. You all were very nice cogs in our capitalist machine, and we ran quite smoothly. Also, what union? Huh? I’m a ghost, I don’t have ears.

XD In all seriousness, I am SO grateful for you guys! Without you, this awesome cabin would not CURRENTLY BE IN FIRST PLACE! *confetti* You all slayed so hard, and I loved getting to see just how committed you were! Thank you for your participation, this has probably been my favorite session to date, and a lot of this is thanks to you guys! Much love from one of your corporate overlords <3

Chris
Hi, yeah, you get a thank-you note! First of all, I’m so proud of you for doing what you were able to do this session! You should be proud of yourself, you’re awesome, and I’m so happy to see how you’ve grown this session. Even if not everything was your favorite, I still think that you should look back on this session and see just how far you’ve come. You’re wonderful, and I am SO glad that we were in the same cabin this session! You were a joy to have as a camper, and gosh, I really hope that your last(? Who knows, maybe March will work out-) SWC session was as special as possible. Keep checking in with the community, it doesn’t die in between sessions! You are a light to have, and you brighten every conversation we have. Thank you for being my friend, and thank you for putting in the effort. You really seemed into it, and I’m so glad! I hope that you made some new friends and that you got to have good conversations with some people. Putting yourself out there was worth it, I’m sure! Much love my friend, thank for being amazing <3

Aurora
Alkdhflasjfkajshdfkjashfkjashfkf I feel so bad for not talking to you more this session! Gosh, we really need to chat more, sorry I love being able to talk with you. You’re wonderful, and amazing, and you’re absolutely great to talk to! You are so creative and cool and I loved getting to read some of your writing. I hope that our rp goes well in the future <3 You’re the best, and I hope that you enjoyed this session! I hope that we’re able to get a few more sessions together!

Em
I loved your cabin concept, it was so amazing and lovely! I could not be more proud to be a fellow corporate overlord with you! You are such a light, and I loved getting to chat with you when I could. We should totally keep in touch as the session goes on. I would love to get to know you more! Also, I may give JWC a look, so, there’s that ;D You are incredibly funny, as well as capable and smart. You did a great job managing our cabin, and I’m very proud of you!

Recca
Heyyyy Recca! Gosh, you’re awesome, and so funny! I loved getting to be a co with you, it was amazing experience! I definitely think that we should keep in touch, because I feel like I REALLY didn’t talk with you much this session, which makes me very sad. I wish you the best! <3

Chuey
Eyyy, Chuey! You were SO iconic this session, I absolutely loved getting to see you float around everywhere! Your chaos is quite appreciated, it often put a smile on my face. I think this is your first time co-leading, right? That’s literally SO cool, and I think that you did such a wonderful job! Fantasy was so iconic this session, and I loved getting to see how you got involved. You’re such a cool person, and I really appreciate just how much intentionality and purpose you had with participating. Very proud of you <3 We should really chat more aha-

Sage
Hey Sage!! Was this your first session, because, gosh, it doesn’t seem like it- You were SO iconic, and you were so, so involved. I loved getting to see how you thrived in this environment, and I’m really grateful for all the times that I was able to interact with you. I loved getting to see just how exuberant you were, and I really look forward to seeing you participate in more sessions if you’re able. You were an ICON, and you should be really proud of yourself for stepping up so much! We should totally talk more! Much love, my friend, I’ll see you around <3

Zy
Gosh, you are so cool- I love getting to read your writing, and whatever interaction we had this session was so fun- I’d love to get to know you more, you seem like such a cool person! You did a brilliant job leading Mystery! Sending loves from Bangsian to our amazing siblings!

Campers
SLAY. ALL OF YOU. SLAY. YUP, EVERY ONE OF YOU. SLAY!! I didn’t get to talk to y’all as much as I wanted to (stupid college classes-), but everyone who I DID talk to was absolutely so wonderful, amazing, and funny. I don’t know exactly how much you wrote or how much you participated, but I think that you should be so, so proud of yourself regardless. You stepped out into a different environment, and whether or not you’re very experienced, each session presents unique challenges every single time.

All the other cabins
Slay. Big slay.

Anyone I missed (because I’m certain that I did)
You’re definitely amazing, and I’m sorry for having a horrid memory. Like, literally, a goldfish would beat me in a memory contest. Anyways, uh, you’re really cool, and you slayed this session <3

❄Sarah's March 2025 SWC app .. text ver. .. 1577 words (including excerpt)❄

Hello, I’m Sarah and my pronouns are she/her. I live in the great lands of PST! I’m your average teen that enjoys various hobbies like drawing, reading, writing, baking, and sports (soccer and volleyball!). My favorite books/series are HP, KOTLC, Six of Crows, Shadow & bone, and The Cruel Prince. I love writing so much, as you could probably tell I write mostly Fantasy, dystopian or mystery, though I have yet to actually complete a story of mine haha. I listen to music a lot, and my playlist is pretty much all Enhypen. Some of my favourite songs are Fatal Trouble, Shout out, Moonstruck and Bite me. I happen to be a bit (more like a lot)of a couch potato on weekends, and I spend that time watching and re watching shows. I’m a big Avatar the Last Airbender and How to train your dragon fan. I’ve watched both a /ton/ and know every episode by heart. But when I do manage to get outside for some fresh air, I like to go on walks around my neighborhood. My favourite season to go on walks in is Autumn, because the falling leaves makes everything look so pretty. I go on hikes a lot, and even when it’s chilly, the colorful leaves make it all better. (and hot cocoa)

I’ve participated in SWC for five sessions now. I was a first a camper in Dystopian, then a co-leader in non-fi (tctwnw), fairy tales, horror, and poetry. I’ve also co-led in other camps on Scratch, JWC, SRC, and SNC. I’ve been writing since I was little, starting with short silly stories and drawings to go along with them in my Hilroy notebooks. I still write a ton, and often get up in the middle of the night to jot down ideas for a story so I don’t forget it the next day. Off of Scratch, I was president of my student council, and I also volunteered at my local temple.

My top cabin preferences would be Fantasy, Sci-fi, or Mystery, in no particular order. I would prefer not to lead Poetry, non-fi, fairy tales or horror, because I’ve already been apart of them before. As for tctwnw, I’d rather not (co)lead it, since the I really enjoy the competitive aspect of SWC
Here are my theme ideas for these three genres!
Starting with Fantasy, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, and I’m currently re reading the series (again..)! I would love to have a Hogwarts themed cabin, where campers would be students at hogwarts, apart of a quidditch tournament against another magic school, Durmstrang. Campers will have a shot at winning the school quidditch tournament cup.
For Sci-fi, my theme idea is where the world gets taken over by artificial intelligence. Created to once make the world a better place, the machines have gone rogue with a mind of their own. Campers are apart of a team of agents that are on a mission to shut them all down.
For Mystery, the cabin would be a game of clue. Campers would achieve clues every few days by writing, and must find out the details about who the culprit is, and which room it happened in, before it’s too late. It would be an adaptation of the game, with it’s elements, but with different kinds of clues.

I plan to dedicate 1-2 hours a day to SWC, usually around 7-9pm. Unless something unexpected appears, this will be the case for the start of planning to the end of the session. I don’t have any extra curricular activities during during March, so I’ll have a good amount of time on my hands. There will be two days during the session that I won’t be active, since it’ll be my birthday!

Starting off strong with my skills when it comes to time management:
I’m a multitasker! I’ve always worked this way, and I find it easier. I’m able to finish things faster when I work on several at once. I’m still able to switch between tasks well that I can pay enough attention to each one, and complete it the best I can, without putting half and half of my energy into two different things. I don’t procrastinate. I’ve certainly struggled with this in the past, but this is one of the things I’ve managed to turn into a skill, rather than a shortcoming. I always start on things as soon as I’m able to, and don’t leave it to the last minute. This gives me more than enough time to complete anything before given deadlines, and time to revise and reread.
For my shortcomings:
I’m a very big perfectionist when doing anything at all. I pour a ton of time into fixing little bits that I often forget about completing the actual project first.
I also have some trouble accounting for the amount of time I’ll need for each thing, and sometimes accidentally take on more than I have the time for.

Collaboration is one of my strong suits, and I love to work with others. I always prefer to do group projects rather than individual ones. I have good communication skills, and I can easily ask questions to make sure we’re all on the same page. I’m good at listening and considering other peoples ideas, as well as adding onto it with some of my own. I’m very flexible when it comes to collaboration, and I’m easily able to fix my plans to go along with changes, along with being open minded. As for weaknesses, I’m a bit of a micro manager when working with others, because I always try to make everything perfect. Perfectionism is one problem that regularly shows up for me, but I’m learning to trust whoever I’m working with.

The quality I think is important and I embody is activity. It’s something I’ve said in every other application of mine. Activity creates a lively environment with an interactive experience. Interactive story lines in cabins are always my favorite, and it takes a lot of activity to be able to keep a story moving, and to motivate campers to participate. Active cabins are always fun and memorable. Leaders that are active are also able to quickly adapt to problems along the way, such as slow progress with the story lines. I’ve had a session where we missed a whole event because of inactivity among leaders and campers, which led to the last event getting dragged on too long. So it’s important for leaders to be active enough.

An interactive cabin with an outgoing atmosphere where campers can work together to reach personal writing goals as well as contributing to the story line

154 characters

Taryn draws in a sharp gasp, and before she’s able to say anything, Helen pins her back with a dagger.
“Finally,” Helen half laughs. “Enough of these games! Someone needs to stand up to you.”
Gasping for air when Helen loosened the grip on her throat, Taryn tried to release herself from the bonds. “I haven’t done anything!” She shouted, desperately.
“There you go again! Always with the lies, and the fake personality. Let it out Taryn, we know what you are.” Helen brandished her dagger around in the air.
“You don’t understand! I didn’t mean to!” Taryn begged, thrashing at the ground.
“Oh no, YOU don’t understand!” Helen shouted back, bringing her dagger back near Taryn’s throat. “I have the witch in ropes, with a dagger in my hand. What will the world think of you?”
Taryn let out a sob, and tried to pull herself away from the blade. “Please, don’t do this! You’re not-” her voice softened. A smile spread across her face. “You’re not as foolish as you seem.” It was Taryn’s turn to laugh. “The world will think nothing of me because after today I will return back and they will never remember Taryn. They will also mourn Helen for she will have ended her own life in a cave.”
Helen was taken aback, shock clear on her pale face. She whipped the end of her dagger quickly towards Taryn, her eyes wide.
Taryn rolled her eyes. “No use keeping up this act. No one’s here to witness it anyways.” She scoffed, ripping apart the bonds on her wrist with one gentle flick of her hand. “Witches cannot be tied in ropes.” She whispered to Helen, who seemed to have lost her words. “Goodbye, Helen. Very sorry.” With one clean slash, Helen’s shouts were cut short. “Not,” Taryn finished.

Yes, I will be available to add points in the main cabin throughout camp.

No, I’m unable to share a promotional project for SWC.

B. I fully understand and will be able to complete all the responsibilities of a (co)leader!
C. In the event that a (co)leader in my cabin goes inactive, I would ask the hosts what we could do, which could be offering another co, continuing on with the session, or waiting to make sure if they’ll come back. I would then work with my (co)leaders to split the stuff the inactive leader left, to make sure the cabin still goes by smoothly. If I were to go inactive, I would notify hosts and (co)leaders before leaving, and let them know how long I would be gone for. I don’t think I’ll be going inactive for a long period of time , but if something unexpected happens to pop up, I’m sure we’ll be able to work through it.