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The Elementi Chronicles Book I: The Stone of Serenity
I'm writing a...
I'm writing a book. Read what I have so far to understand it.
THE ELEMENTI CHRONICLES BOOK I: THE STONE OF SERENITY
Chapter I
___{:}___
The moonlight shone on the Lake's deep, fuchsia waters. Conifer trees fringed it, thickening into foreboding woods. The Lake was the center of the Faimón Forest, and it contained a great amount of magic. Its surface was smooth, undisturbed. All seemed well, yet it was not. A wild cry broke the peaceful silence. A shape tumbled down a path through the trees. Another shape hared after the first, who had a jagged gash down its side. "Tell me where it is and we can save a lot of trouble," the second animal growled. "Never! Never in my life!" the first cried, practically wailing. "Then I guess the information will die with you!" The second figure struck the first, shoving it into the Lake. After a while, its head bobbed up, gasping for air. "We. . . . won't. . . tell you! You'll never. . . find. . . . it. . . " The second animal chuckled quietly to itself. "And who's going to stop me?" It padded silently away into the trees.
__________
Sheena opened her eyes. Squinting through the thick water, she searched for the surface. She couldn't tell which way was which in the murky fuchsia water of the Lake, heavy with magic. It was the one body of water that Aquinas leopards couldn't swim skillfully in. There! A pinpoint of moonlight shone through the water. Sheena kicked strongly towards it, propelling herself through the Lake to that shaft of light. She could feel her breath slipping away. Just as she thought she would black out, her muzzle broke the surface. Sheena gasped for air, the gash Narwhal had given her stinging. She paddled for the shore, tail boosting her forward. The leopard reached the sandy beach and heaved herself up onto it. She shook her royal blue pelt out, shuddering.
Sheena knew that the Knowledge Protector would be proud. She would not reveal the Stone's location to anyone, especially not Narwhal, even if it cost her her life. The Aquai Leopards were the guardians of the Stone of Serenity and were part of the Elementi Leopards, along with the Ignis, Ventus, Aether, and Terra Leopards. Each kept a Stone of Harmony, like the Honesty Stone and the Joy Stone.
Each cult of Leopards selected one of their kind to keep all of said cult's lore, the Knowledge Protector. The tales and secrets of each cult were passed down through generations of Protectors. Sheena was training as the Apprentice Protector for her cult.
In addition to the Leopards in the five cults, there were Leopards that abandoned their birth cult and lived as enemies of the Elementi known as Rogues. Rogues banded together, and Narwhal lead his group, which he called the Rens. Narwhal and his group wanted to get everyone in Leovie who opposed the Stones of Harmony to join him, their goal being to capture the Stones, or destroy them, once and for all. Sheena didn't know what would happen if all balance in Leovie was destroyed, and she didn't really want to find out.
Lying on the shore now, gasping for breath, Sheena recounted the day she'd been selected for Apprenticeship by the Knowledge Protector, Ciel. . . .
________
I'll add more later, I promise! Enjoy the story! Oh, and, biae!
submitted by Scylla
(February 5, 2016 - 10:02 pm)
(February 5, 2016 - 10:02 pm)
That would be so awesome, if you got published.
It's up to you to decide if it'll be a series.
You're welcome! I love this book, and I'm proud to help you keep going. ;)
(October 22, 2016 - 12:59 pm)
Thank you, Leafpool! I suppose what I meant to ask is if you think the general plot, concepts, and characters warrant another book. I suppose we'll see after I finish writing and editing the book.
(October 23, 2016 - 10:57 am)
I think you should make it a series, I could not stand it ending after one book. please please make it a series,
Lia M.
(January 11, 2017 - 12:34 pm)
(October 22, 2016 - 11:04 am)
I'd say that you should watch events develop and then decide if you want to write a sequel/series. There are talented artists of all varieties frequenting the Chatterbox-- when you've finished this book, try issuing a request for cover art, and see what comes up.
If you need any help (apart from art-- I'm not much good in that regard), such as proof-reading or editing or advice or whatever, I'm happy to be of service. (Only if you want it).
(October 22, 2016 - 1:08 pm)
Why can't you do your own cover? You could do something like that wolves one on the art posting thread! (Obviously not with wolves). That drawing is beautiful. Did you use an outline for that, or were you talking about your digital art? Outlines or not, I love your art!
(October 22, 2016 - 10:04 pm)
Thank you for your compliments, Cockleburr! Your words are kind, but I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday and I was just looking at covers in general of books, and their artists' skill levels completely overshadow my own. My book would look so... amateurish beside more skillful world, regardless of writing skill. I think I'll request a commission or something like that from an artist on DeviantArt.
(October 23, 2016 - 1:43 pm)
NaNoWriMo has started! I will be continuing this novel on my account.
(November 1, 2016 - 9:05 am)
Wait, you'll keep posting here, right? I don't have a NaNo account, but I want to keep reading!
(November 2, 2016 - 8:12 am)
Here's the next part.
Sheena swiped her tongue over her whiskers, somewhat satisfied. She wanted to catch another fish, but she shoved her hunger to the back of her mind. She needed to focus on the task ahead; there wasn't much time left. She had to find Narwhal before it was too late.
Too late? the voice in her head scoffed. As if you ever had a chance!
Sheena growled. I do! I have a chance! I need to help the Elementi!
Your determination is laughable, the voice answered derisively. Why do you feel an obligation to help them? If they knew who you are--what you are--they'd kill you on the spot. Destroy the Stones yourself, Sheena. Don't wait for a weakling to do it for you. You could take over the pitiful Elementi, begin a new reign.
Sheena shook her head, staggering backwards. No! she cried. I couldn't live with myself if I did that!
You're too soft, the voice snarled back.
Who are you? Sheena demanded. Her head was silent for a moment, free from the shadows of the voice.
I am you, Sheena, it said eventually. I am everything you could become, everything you'll never be. I am the possibilities of your future. I am Hidden.
Sheena held a paw up, flexing its claws. She imagined them stained with blue Aqua blood and shuddered. You made me kill Xiang.
You killed him, the voice corrected. I pushed you in the right direction, but in the end, it was all you.
That wasn't the right direction, Sheena thought back. It was cruel.
It all depends on your perspective, her Hidden voice answered. We have hardly scratched the surface of what we can do. Think of all we could accomplish!
Sheena flattened her ears. Go away. I need a break.
There was no response.
She exhaled a long sigh, getting to her paws, welcoming the mental silence. But the voice's words sent a shiver down her spine: I am the possibilities of your future.
What was she becoming?
(November 3, 2016 - 5:34 pm)
One word: mind blown.
Okay, that's two words. But wow. Sheena has a huge inner struggle now? Awesome. I mean, not for her, but I love how you worded that bit. I can't wait for the next part!
(November 5, 2016 - 12:02 pm)
Here it is! I decided to add the mental conflict to make the story more interesting. It will most likely affect the main climax.
The sounds of the forest filled her ears as she padded through it, senses alert. The dark blue leopard was following a stream that she was sure led to the lake where Narwhal had confronted her. She treaded lightly over its rocky bank, thinking about what she would do if she found Narwhal at the lake, waiting for her, ready to torture her to find the location of the Essence of Aqua.
She shuddered. What had happened to him? He had been her closest friend.... What had made him so bitter?
The moon was rising and the sky darkening, just as it had on the night where Narwhal had hurt her. Sheena hoped that this time, he wouldn't be there. She decided not to dwell on it anymore as she reached the lake. The stream she was following sloped down and the forest cleared away. As she had predicted, it led to the right lake.
Sheena stood for a moment at the top of the shore, surveying the lake. Its surface rippled slightly, but there was no disturbance that a swimming leopard may have caused. The banks were empty at a glance, but she decided to walk down and take a closer look.
Sheena should've been satisfied that Narwhal wasn't there and go back, but something told her to go forward and investigate. Maybe he had left a clue as to where he had gone, hoping she would follow... but if there was one, and if she found it, would she really follow it? Was it the best option?
Yes, she told herself firmly. I have to do this, if not for myself, but for my family, and my friends, and Ciel.
Ciel.
Her teacher would have no idea where she had gone. He hadn't wanted to kill her; why had she ran away? She had never even said goodbye. Would he come looking for her? He was the one who had known her best, would he guess what she had set out to do? Would he try to help her?
Sheena shook away the questions crowding in her head. Without another thought, she bounded down the slope and began her search.
Nose pressed to the damp pebbles, the leopard trotted slowly around the lake, senses straining for any sign of Narwhal. As she completed a full circle of it, tail lashing in irritation, something caught her eye. A huge, rubbery leaf was stashed in a clump of ferns. Curious, Sheena padded closer. She could now see words scored on it, as if by claws. Narwhal's claws. Had he left her a message?
She dragged the leaf out of the ferns. The claw marks had started to blacken, wilting the leaf, implying that the message was a couple days old. It read,
I found a path to the Essence of Aqua. I will reclaim it soon. Don't try to stop me.....
Two moons ago, she never would have thought that Narwhal could've written something so sinister. But now, she knew it was true, and that he would stop at nothing to find the Essences. But what did he mean by "reclaim?" The Essences belonged to the Elementi. He couldn't take them, even if he tried. Over time, so many enchantments and protections had been layered upon them, securing them. Only the Knowledge Protectors of each Element knew how to relocate them.
And Sheena knew exactly where the Essence of Aqua was.
(November 5, 2016 - 3:10 pm)
O.O
(November 5, 2016 - 9:06 am)
OwO
(November 5, 2016 - 12:36 pm)
This is growing better and better all the while! Excellent. Scylla!
Queries: Why does Narwhal leave Sheena the note? Why does he want her to know what he's doing? Why doesn't she wonder why he told her?
Questions, questions. Thank you so much for all you've done! This is a wonderful story-- I can't wait to see that climax you mentioned.
(November 5, 2016 - 10:26 pm)