Places to Chat
I'm writing a
Chatterbox: Blab About Books
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)
I'll get into that later. You'll be surprised.
(November 6, 2016 - 10:30 am)
I guess that's the answer to my question. Thanks Scylla! This story is getting really intense and deep.
(November 5, 2016 - 10:12 pm)
Woooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww.....
*Groans at the suspense*
Woooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww.....
(November 6, 2016 - 12:00 pm)
I'm doing a word war right now so expect more soon!
(November 13, 2016 - 5:15 pm)
Sheena went over a map of Aqua land in her head as she swam through a river. The water flowed over and through her fur, and she felt at home once again. Aqua leopards had the ability to breathe water as well as air, which allowed for uninterrupted travel.
The Essences were concealed deep in the heart of their Element's land, encased in a shrine of that Element. Legend said that the Aether Essence was hidden among the stars. Each Essence was an orb of pure Elemental energy and if one was stolen or destroyed, its Element would lose its magic.
Did Narwhal realize that if he "reclaimed" the Essence of Aqua, he'd lose his own magic as well? His frost-blue fur had not yet faded to the black of Ferals, which meant he was still part Aqua and would be affected by its Essence. But Sheena was sure that whatever the circumstances, she needed to stop him, for her own sake...and for his.
The Essence of Aqua was inside a huge sea that the Aqua knew as the "Black Hole." In truth, it was a blue hole, but it was so bottomless and daunting that the name stuck. Sheena wondered if, even with her enhanced swimming abilities, she would be able to withstand the water pressure. She could barely imagine the weight of the Black Hole on top of her, crushing her, killing her. The journey would be perilous and perhaps even lethal, but Sheena was prepared to risk it.
And what did Narwhal mean by "another path?" In the end, it all lead to the Black Hole. Who would tell him where it was?
Sheena shook her head, causing a few bubbles to rise to the surface. She took a deep breath, letting her gills filter oxygen into her lungs, and kept swimming. Seaweed tickled her face but she didn't notice. Fish darted by her muzzle and she snapped out to grab one. After swallowing it, she decided to get out of the river.
Powerful hind legs bunched and she leaped out of the water, scattering droplets. She stood at the riverbank, letting water run in rivulets off her fur. As she adjusted to land-breathing, the leopard squinted into the distance, down the river. The sun was behind her. The horizon was solid blue--the Black Hole. Sheena felt a lump of apprehension rise in her throat, but she choked it down. She couldn't back down now. She slid into the river once more and paddled her towards her destiny... or her death.
~~~
The river led straight into the Black Hole, its smooth bottom gradually sloping away. And then there was a sheer drop into the sea, right before a wall of coral. Sheena leaped out of the river right before the drop, fear sparking in her pelt. Ciel had prepared her for the day she might need to visit the Essence of Aqua, but she had never imagined, at the time, that she would have to so soon. There were a series of natural protections guarding it along with enchantments that only a Knowledge Protector knew how to cross.
Sheena licked a paw and drew it over her ear, trying to calm down. There were so many ways this could go wrong; what if she failed? Failing is not an option, she told herself firmly. I will not let Narwhal win. And how will he even get past the barriers? He knows nothing about them.
I hope.
Time is of the essence, Sheena reminded herself. He can't get there first. She lashed her tail, stepping gingerly out over the coral. The water was surprisingly warm, but the coral was sharp. The water only came up to her nose, so she'd need to swim carefully to avoid injuring herself. She knew that there was an opening in the coral somewhere, which would lead to the next level.
Sheena swam gingerly over the coral, letting the currents carry her safely over the reef. Small fish hid in the nooks and crannies of the brightly colored coral, but Sheena didn't stop to look. She glided onward, scanning frantically for the opening. The water was clear, but the coral seemed to span for miles and miles, never-ending. How could she pick out one small gap in the massive reef? What if Narwhal had already found it and was on his way to the next obstacle?
The thought of him corrupting the Essences gave her fresh energy. And close ahead, she saw it--the gap. The currents glided right over it, so Sheena had to carefully break out. She streamlined her body, diving down into the hole, into the darkness beneath.
~~
Hallia says ndge. Nudge? Why are you nudging me? What?
~~
Dear Admins,
I hope this isn't too much for you. Hopefully it won't slow you down.
(November 15, 2016 - 10:27 am)
Cool! I love your description of the water.
(November 19, 2016 - 3:24 pm)
Thank you!
(November 19, 2016 - 8:34 pm)
This is beautiful, Scylla! I love it!
(November 20, 2016 - 12:29 pm)
Scylla this is so good! I didn't even know you were posting on this anymore!
(November 20, 2016 - 10:28 am)
Thank you! Why would I stop? This is my life's project <3
(November 20, 2016 - 9:39 pm)
Confession: I haven't read all of the story so far.
I started reading this about two/three/four months ago and just started at the very back pages where the most recent posts are. I haven't read all the bits before that.
*Cowers in shame*
Maybe soon I'll have time to read it all through.
(November 20, 2016 - 12:43 pm)
Wow, Scylla, this is so good! The suspense! I want to know what happens next! If this were a published book, I'd stay up all night reading it! I can't wait for more! It's so wonderful!
(November 24, 2016 - 10:38 pm)
Great StarClan, you have no idea how great that just made me feel! Thank you so much, Alexandra!
New Post~
After the bright sunlight of the reef above, Sheena blinked in the sudden darkness below. Not even the tiniest ray of light could be seen and the darkness was absolute. Sheena still had to get past six protections until she reached the Essence. Ciel had told her that the Knowledge Protectors had set seven because seven was the most magically powerful number. She had gotten past the first, which was the coral reef. The next was navigating safely through the dark.
Not navigate, Ciel had told her, all that time ago. You will find that you are wherever you want to be if you do not fear it. Don't fear the dark, Sheena. It will not hurt you.
But how could she not be afraid? The dark was oppressive, crushing her from all sides. There could be anything lurking in the dense shadows. The older leopards back at home had wove tales about fish with huge jaws and sharp teeth and bulbous, staring eyes. Jaws that could swallow a cub like you whole, they had said. But Sheena wasn't such a small cub anymore... was she?
Sheena treaded water, eyes stretched wide, trying to find anything in the inky blackness of the water. All sound was muted, all sense of direction lost. She held a paw in front of her face, but even if she squinted hard, she couldn't see it. How would she know if she had finished? How would she be able to see the next barrier in this nightmarish darkness?
That's right, little one, the voice muttered. Succumb.
Sheena had nearly forgotten about it. But it was those taunting words that roused her. I will not be afraid, she thought forcefully. I will beat this. I will find the next barrier and protect the Essence. Try and stop me, she added for good measure. I am not afraid of the dark.
And suddenly, a door appeared in front of her. A silver door. And she could see it. At least, she thought it was a door. Ciel had told her that something like that would appear in front of her. He had instructed her to, when she saw it, to push it open with her shoulder. But where would it lead? And what had made it appear?
Shoving these thoughts aside, Sheena gave the door a push. It gave easily, swinging open and revealing a light-filled world. Sheena gladly swam through the doorway, entering the new trial.
(November 25, 2016 - 4:28 pm)
Awesome! This gets better and better with each post! Great work, Scylla!
(November 26, 2016 - 1:02 pm)
:D Thanks!
Light dazzled her eyes. Light, and sound, and beauty, and color. The darkness that had taken hold of her for only a minute had seemed like an eternity, but she was finally free. But she wasn't safe yet. There were still five more protections to surmount. She paddled cautiously through the water, eyes open for the next obstacle. Sheena looked down out of curiousity, and her stomach dropped--she couldn't see the bottom. She suddenly felt very small. The water below her paws was lost in the blue depths. It was such a rich, sapphire blue... Sheena had never seen such a beautiful color. She wanted to drift away into it, and become one with its endlessness.
But she couldn't. Sheena snapped her head up, tearing her eyes away from the blue. A school of colorful fish darted past and she followed it. The fish swam with ease in perfect formation, gracefully diving and twisting. Sheena swam faster to catch up. It somehow seemed important that she swim with these fish.
They led her in spirals through the water, and she knew that they were tkaing her somewhere. And then, out of nowhere, a wall of rock became visible in front of her. Sheena rubbed her eyes and looked again. The fish had swum right through it. Maybe it was an illusion. Sheena tried to swim through it as well, expecting to glide through as the fish had, but her face connected with very solid, very rough rock.
"Not so fast, buster," a deep voice rumbled.
Sheena blinked, startled. "Who said that?" she asked hesitantly.
"I did. Now come here where I can see you."
The wall. The wall was talking to her. The wall was talking. It was talking. Too shocked to argue, Sheena drifted back a bit. She looked closer and saw two shiny, black eyes and a rough mouth hewn from the stone. The eyes squinted at her for a time.
"You're blue, just like that other one," the wall said eventually. "'Cept the other was pale and you're dark. Kind of like light and shadow," it added thoughtfully. "I knew in me stones that I shouldn't let the other through, but he knew all the right answers so I had to."
Sheena remembered. The third barrier is a riddle. And then, I'm going to solve a riddle.... given to me by a wall. A wall.
"Now there," it said. "I have a riddle for you."
It took a deep breath, and closed its eyes. "I am everywhere and everyone knows me, but as soon as you say my name, I am gone. What am I?"
The wall's eyes were open once more, staring at Sheena. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably. Why was it so unnerving? Perhaps it was because walls weren't supposed to have eyes. Yes, that must be it. She turned her mind to the riddle. As soon as you say my name, I am gone... Was it Narwhal? No, it couldn't be; he didn't fit all the requirements. And besides, this riddle had been set centuries ago, before either of them had been born. When Ciel had told her about the Seven Barriers, he hadn't told her the answer to the riddle. "You'll need to figure that out yourself," he had said, eyes twinkling.
But what did it mean? She pushed her mind harder. She wasn't thinking deeply enough. It couldn't be a living thing, because nothing could be everywhere at once. It had to be a concept.
The Black Hole pressed on her, its silence almost overwhelming her. Silence. She gasped. It's silence! It could be anywhere, and eveyone knew what it was, but as soon as a word was spoken or a sound made it was broken. It mad perfect sense!
"It's silence," she announced to the wall. "The answer is silence."
The wall chuckled. "Good job. You solved it much faster than that other one. Good luck, little Aqua. Go well."
And with that, the wall opened its mouth, revealing a gap. Sheena swam through and into the next trial.
(November 26, 2016 - 3:48 pm)