Stories

Given To Fly-*****
Santolina

AUTHOR'S NOTE

The song in this story(lyrics marked with "/"), Given To Fly is by Pearl Jam off their newest album, Yield. Hope you enjoy the story and feedback is very welcome.

/Could've tuned in
/tuned in
/But he tuned out/

Another night alone in this dark cell. I've grown used to it, though. 'Bout the only kind of 'home' I can amember, now. I don't amember being really young, but most times I wish I did. Wish I could amember my parents clearly, too. Just blurred faces, though voices clear as a bell. But then again, I'm not the only one. I don't know how long I've lived here, though just as well since I don't know how to count yet.

I'm only a few seasons old, but other chillun my age know how to count, and read, and have a real family and home, too. Then there's me, a little cat who's been whipped and beaten, lives in a moldy dungeon, who's a slave. But I'm better off than most folks here, at least I kin still walk right and have a straight back. The bricks to build this castle are heavy. /Bad time

/Nothing could save him/

But I don't like complaining. Ma always told me, 'look to the to the brighter side of things, be happy that yore alive,' and that's what I've been doing since she and pa went away. I don't know why they went, alls I amember is them being taking away to the Screamin' Room. Ma said she and pa'd be okay, and they'll come back to me sometime. I always amember their voices, not their faces. But at least I got something to hang on to. Some chillun don't even know who their parents were.

/Alone in a corridor
/Waiting
/Locked out/

Lately us slaves have been gettin' less work, 'cause the castle's near done. Pyche is pleased, so is his daughter, Entromin. Just not too long ago Entromin saved me from a lickin', so I don't bulieve she's all bad. She says I'm a strong little maid. I've never met Pyche, that stone martin's never visited the slaves. I don't know what he does except running things around here. All the slavedrivers are scared of him, so I guess he's big and mean. I don't really want to see him, but another part of me wants to. Ma said us cats are like that, always curious. I wish I amembered her face. I think she was real pretty, but it doesn't matter if she wasn't. I'll still love her'n pa.

/He got up outta there
/ran for hundreds of miles/

Today I got to see the sunset, it was so pretty. Most times I wish I was that pretty. The sun is always amembered, and everything needs it. She's so bright and pretty, and appreciated, to. I wish I was appreciated like that. But beauty isn't everything. You gotta have smarts, too. I think my ma was a smart cat. She knew about everything, and she taught me pretty songs. She said if I sang alot, and really 'pour my heart' into singing and making up songs, it'd make me feel better, and others, too. So I sing alot. Pa said ma was a 'spiritual creature'. I think it means she likes to sing alot, maybe.

/Made it to the ocean
/Had a smoke in a tree/

I feel sorry for the other slaves. Some of them are so tired and lifeless. I try to keep them happy. I'm so happy when the call me 'Sunshine', 'cause it makes me feel almost as important as the Sun herself. They say I'm an oppytomist or something like that. It means that I try to be happy with the things I got. That makes me even happier, 'cause ma told be to be like that.

/The wind rose up
/Set him down on his knee
/Wave came crashing
/like a fist to the jaw/

Ma taught me songs to stop hurtin'. I sing them alot, 'cause I'm always hurtin', inside and out.

/Delivered him wings
/"Hey, look @t me now"/

Sometimes I imagine that I have wings. That I can fly away from this cell, and see all the world underbeneath me.

/Arms wide open
/With the sea as his floor
/Oh, he's flying
/Whole./

I feel the wind beneath my wings, lifting me higher and higher until I'm just a dot in the sky.

/Floated back down
/Cause he wanted to share
/The key to the chains
/He saw everywhere/

Then I dive down to the castle, so fast that I'm just a blur. I dive back into the dungeon, and slavedrivers are comin' at me with swords and pikes, stabbing me. But I don't ever bleed. I'm still going, going towards the cell doors of the other slaves...

/First he was stripped
/Then he was stabbed
/By faceless men
/Well... he still stands/

I think real hard and the doors dissapear, and everybeast rushes out, out of the dungeon and outside under the warm sunlight. All the hordebeasts and slavedrivers rush out after them, cutting them with weapons, but the former slaves are like me. They never bleed. Pyche's castle collapses, and all the verminbeasts who're bad turn good again, like they were a long time ago. The former slaves, they grow wings like me, and we all fly away, high up with the birds, away from the place that brought pain. We're all happy, and laughing, and we all forget about the past. No more tears no death, only happiness and peace. /And he still gives his love
/He just gives it away
/And the love he recieves
/Is the love that is saved/

Then the dream fades away into the darkness, like it always does. I'm back in the cell and it's cold, so very cold. But I'm warm inside, I feel sunlight just shining right out of me, and it's gonna help me get through the night. That's why I love the sun, it's always gonna be there come morning. /And sometimes is seen
/a strange spot in the sky/

I know, someday, I'm gonna get out of here, and the others, too. Mama said, and believed, and so I know. Now I cuddle up to cold stone, trying to find a comfortable way to sleep. But I'm warm inside. I always will be.

Ma named me Anthemis 'cause she said her little girl will grow like a plant, in courage and knowledge. I'll be strong, mentally and physically, and I'll see forests and oceans, and feel real grass under my paws. And I will, 'cause she had faith in it.

And ma was never wrong.

/A being that was given to fly/

THE END

Reality welcomes vermin-****
Aurora Goldtail

Fermald the Ancient pricked her ears. She listened down the stairway and could hear the whining and groaning of the corsair downstairs. She entered the kitchen, greeted by smiles and hellos.

"Whoi, gudd mornin’ to yew, miz Fermald, ma’am," Foremole rumbled in his curious molespeech. "Hurr, Froir ‘iggle ez maken ee zupper; ee lunch ez ready. Ho aye, ‘ere’s ee brekfist." He passed her oatbread, soft white cheese and maple cordial.

"Good mornin’ to ye, Fermald," Higgle glanced behind his shoulder. "Just puttin’ a raspberry’n’apple turnover in yon cooling rack. Oh, ‘ere’s y’supper – mushroom’n’leek pastie. If ye want it warm just bring it down ‘ere ‘n I’ll put it in e’oven."

Fermald glanced in the corner – the wounded weasel crouched in the corner, moaning. "Mad Eyes will find me, his claws stretch beyond sea and land! Fools that we were to take the Tears of all Oceans, death follows wherever they go! Witless beast that I am, woe to me, ‘tis useless to try to escape the vengeance of Mad Eyes!" Creatures walked past the weasel with looks of indignation, impatience and annoyance. The dirge of the corsair echoed through the room, creating a haunting atmosphere. Pity burned in Fermald’s heart – no, it wasn’t pity, it was understanding. Fermald turned to Friar Higgle, and in her usual manner recited a poem.

"Creatures here have patience so deep,
But not deep enough so it seems,
The crack is much deep, too deep for some,
Deep like the sea, not the stream.
Woe to the beast who created the crack,
Who before was one of his kind,
From beyond the sunset where evil reigns,
There are hearts too shallow to define."

Mattirose sent a great one in-*****

The weasel had stopped whining and was listening to Fermald’s riddle, contemplating on the words, staring straight at the squirrel with wide eyes. Fermald gently approached the corsair, and led him down the corridor to the attic.

Ah, yes, I remember the day quiet vividly. Strong autumn winds blew the alamost leafless trees this way and that. Firelight warned me that rain might be in store for me, but I quickly dismissed the idea in my heat for battle. Half a season ago, Ravenclaw, and his band of murderous vermin, had infested our forest, causing havoc everywhere. I was the daughter of a chieftain, and therefore, I was lusting to rid my country of this menace.

Back to my story, I looked over the dale and with my keen eyes, I spotted Ravenclaw. With the battle light shinning in my eyes, I turned to my companion, Ringtail. He smiled at me, he bright green eyes glistening in the sun. My heart melted. Over the years, Ringtail seemed more than a companion, and at times more than a friend. I pushed away the thought. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his handsome face. But, alas, he was a squirrel, and I, a mousemaid.

"Ahoy, Matti!" Ringtail's voice brought me back to reality.

"Yes, Ring?" I answered cheerily.

"I got a bad feelin' bout this battle, Matti. I don't like it." he said biting his lip nervously.

I smiled. "You sound like an ole hedgehog mum, frettin' bout her little ones, Ring." his face lifted.

"Maybe I do, but at least I don't look like an ole water beetle wid that puss on!" he laughed.

"Watch yerself, Windtree." I said, trying to sound menacing. He turned to me. "You watch yerself, Fiercesword." this time he sounded fearful for me, almost loving.

Down below my lookout, my scouts noticed Ravenclaw's advancements. I nodded and motioned for my troops to follow me. Like waves of death, we padded silently down the northern crags of the foot moutains.

Raventail was mine! Unsheathing my sword, I advanced on the unsucpecting vermin horde. Signaling to my archers, I ordered them fire. The deadly hiss of arrows filled my ears. Smiling fiendishly, I sounded the attack. My beasts flew at the terrified vermin. The battle was on!

We battled for a long while, and soon I realized Ravenclaw had escaped!

I followed his tracks away from the battle ground. I never knew

Ringtail was watching me. I found Ravenclaw waititing for in a forest glad.

"Ah see the brat o' Fiercesword considers 'erself, quiet the warrior, eh?" he sneered. My fur bristled and my eyes glowed red.

"How dare you call me that!" I roared. "You will know my name. I am a child of Fiercesword, born on the night of a storm! Reared, by badgers!" my voiced roared above the increasing clouds. Ravenclaw barley flinched. I rushed him. He meet my attack with a swift arc of his twin blades. Glaring, I jumped behind him and pushed him to the ground. He sensed my victory, and rolled out, from under my blade tip.

Before I realized what had happened, Ravenclaw had me pinned on the ground.

"Well, well, isn't this the 'Ighty One?" he grinned evilly. I struggled for my voice, but my throat was choked. Then a familiar cry meet my ears.

"WIIIIINNNDDDDDDTTTRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!" Ringtail!

He bowled into Ravenclaw. The crafty vermin side swiped him with one of his swords. Ringtail, clutched his foot paw in pain. Then he saw Ravenclaw advance me again. Hate surged in his eyes, and he flew at Ravenclaw. Caught unawares, Ravenclaw feel. Quickly, he jumped back to his feet and slashed at Ringtail. For a few minutes, I watched, then I saw Ravenclaw through sand in Ringtail's face. Ringtail howled, and stumbled backwards. Ravenclaw ran at him, and cut Ringtail across his throat. I screamed in anguish. Ringtail fell down. I ran after Ravenclaw, and cleaved him in two, before he knew what was happening.

I raced over to Ringtail. He saw me and smiled, blood oozed from his wound. Crying, I tried to staunch the flow of blood, but to no avail. He beckoned me to come closer to him with a paw. I leaned down to his face.

"Matti, I--I--I love you.." he said, his breath becoming shallow. I smiled through my tears. He loved me! All these years I had hid my love from him. Now at the hour of his death, he said he loved me.

"Ring, I have loved you for so long. Please don't leave." I begged.

He frowned.

"It cannot be, my love. Let me tell you something." I leaned closer. He looked into my eyes. With a dim smile, and closed eyes he kissed my lips. It was the sweetest thing either of us had ever felt. For a long time we stayed like that, until I realized his lips had grown cold. Cold with Death. I let go of him and held his paw, as the rain began to fall.

Here's a story about the founding of Maple Hollow. By Jasmine.-****

When I was young, my family was killed by a group of barbaric squirrels. I lived alone in our cave in the mountains for quite some time, then decided to live my life full of adventure. I was going to become a warrior.

I traveled alone, never knowing where I was. I met an old squirrel named Tirron. We were best friends, and the old squirrel Tirron taught me many things about becoming a warrior, and the day finally came when he would train me to become one.

>For many seasons I practiced with my javelin, a gift from Tirron. But being strong wasn't all he taught me , he taught me that knowledge, honesty and bravery were the keys to becoming a warrior.

When my training was complete, he gave me his final gift. Four gold medallions. They were intricately carved into the shapes of maple leaves.

On each of the medals, there was a letter. B, H, K, and S. He told me that B stood for Bravery, H stood for Honesty, K stood for Knowledge and S stood for Strength. He told me they were the keys to being a warrior.

One summer day while in our den, I asked him why the medallions were shaped as maple leaves. Tirron told me a great tale of a badger, mouse, squirrel and hare who were great friends. The badger was brave, the mouse was smart, the squirrel was strong and the hare was honest. They decided to start a band of warriors. They destroyed evil and saved many goodbeasts. They had saved an old badger from a band of vermin. In gratitude, she each gave them a nugget of gold. They were her only valuable possesions.

The badger, squirrel, mouse and hare each carved them into a maple medallion with a letter standing for their most imporatant traits. After many battles, the group decided to retire. They housed themselves in a gigantic hollow maple tree, seeing that a maple tree would go with the medallions. Many other beasts seeking refuge lived there. Some were old, some were young and some had families. But as time went on, many of them moved out.

The badger, hare, mouse and squirrel were once again alone. After time, the old hare passed away, but it was a peaceful death. The mouse and the badger also passed away, leaving only the squirrel. He lived a sad life, alone in the tree. He decided to go adventuring one day. He gathered some food and the medals, but left all of his belongings in the maple.

Tirron explained to me that the old squirrel was himself. I was surprised, but awed by his story. He told me that he wanted me to go back to the maple, and start a band of warriors, and house the wounded or weak. So we traveled back to the gigantic tree. Tirron's told me many tales, all of them wonderful, but of all of them, the story of the medallons my favorite. This is the story of the founding of Maple Hollow, a tale that will surely be remembered.

To this day, Maple Hollow stands like a beacon, housing warriors and weak beasts alike. Just remember, Strength, Courage, Honesty and Bravery!

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