Chatterbox: Blab About Books

Heres the first chapter of a book I'm writing.

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            “You’re an idiot, Meris.” Northon growled, sitting on a
tree branch. He cast no shadow, as their whole world was enveloped in darkness.
His skin was black, his hair white, but filled with grey dust. His amber eyes
glowed protectively.

            “Yeah, yeah.” I said, rolling my eyes. We were sitting
beside the lake, I don’t even know why. It was an 10 minutes until my Coming of
Age ceremony. 

            “Your awfully lucky you never broke your ankle, jumping
out of that tree.” Northon retorted

            “Aw, you care about me!” I sarcastically exclaimed. I
pulled my throwing star, named Mist, from my pocket and threw it across the
lake. It soon returned to my hand, wet with spray from grazing the lake.

            “Well of course-“  
I looked at Northon, who was blushing. I laughed and looked at myself in
the lake. My snow-like, waist length hair was braided so tiny, intricate, beads
could be threaded on the ends, I had dark grey skin, and blue-green eyes.
Smiling, I examined my sharp teeth. I had a teal dyed silk top on with white
pants. I was surprised they were still white, but they didn’t easily stain, and
is they did, my mom just washed them.

            “We need to get you to your little ceremony.” Norton
said, getting down from his tree, I turned from my reflection and followed him
to the path to the village.

            “it’s not little, you had yours last year.”

            “Eh.”

            We made it back to the village just as the ceremony
started. I squeezed into my spot and the village leader started speaking.

            “Welcome to this year’s Coming of Age ceremony. Remember children,
don’t come back until you have your rider’s branding . First off we have Aleo.”
He congratulated the guy, handed him a satchel, and sent him into the forest.
The Leader filtered through the names.

            Until it was my turn.

            “Meris Awolen.” I walked forward. “This young Pquaraess
has shown extreme skill with throwing stars and agility. If she succeeds and
survives the week, she will make a valuable contribution to the Guild. He
handed me a satchel and I shook his hand, and then ran down the path, into the
forest, to find a Sam’mumi egg.

            I’d only seen one Sam’mumi, and that was Norton’s. Norton
called him Felo; he was red with black markings and amber eyes. His was
friendly and liked dried meats. I got to ride him once, with Nortons help, it
was amazing.

            I strayed off the path, and climbed a tree, I figured it
would be the best to see nests. I walked from branch to branch,

            I flew forward; an unbearable amount of wind forced me
from the branch.

I
was pushed. I tumbled to the ground, and tried to stand. My ankle was numb.
Well, karma isn’t in my favor. I see what pushed me; a mother Sam’mumi
defending her nest used a gust from her wings to push me away. I soon and
limped closer to the nest. The mother swept down and hissed, puffing her chest
and spreading her wings. I swished my tail, pinned my ears, and hissed back.
Pacing in front of the mother I pulled my star and threw it. It hit the mother
in the eye, leaving a flowing river of silver blood in its wake. The star
covered in silver returned to my hand. The mother roared in anger, leaping at
me. I ran out of the way, falling from the shake of the ground. The mother took
the chance and pinned me, I closed my eyes and prepared for it: This was a
frost breathing Sam’mumi. She was going to kill me, freeze me to death.

            Oh my, am I stupid. A fire spell! I summoned fire in my
palm and shoved it the mother’s cut eye. She reeled back, sputtering and
coughing. I stood, watching the mother: she was dying. Guilt clawed at my
chest. She was on her side now, breathing heavily. I sighed and walked to her.
My hand was the size of her pupil, she was huge. I placed a hand on her chest
and found a fluttering heartbeat.

            “May Davicua forgive me. Please heal your creation, for
she has fought nobly. I never had wished to maim this creature. Please forgive
me, my creator.” Her heartbeat strengthened, and the wind blew through the
trees; through my hair rustling the beads. I limped away to the nest, cringing
with each step. At the nest there were two eggs, each black. I took one, and
placed it in the satchel. I hurried off, dragging my foot behind me.

            Soon I came to a clearing, I decided I would rest. From
the satchel I pulled the egg and set it on the ground. I also pulled a folded
cloth, which I knew was a tarp for a tent, I just needed three sticks, and
because of my foot I just summoned them. I made the tent and sat inside of it.

            I placed my hands on my food. Pain shot up my leg and I
felt the broken bones. I whispered a short healing spell. An unforgiving darkness
of exhaustion spread from the corners of my eyes. I fell backwards, all the
spells sapping my energy.

            When I woke up, my foot was better but my head was sore.
I hate karma.

            I sat up and crawled from my tent. I ran to the forest
and grabbed wood and rocks for a fire. When I returned I found the wood lit
easily, which was good. While the fire was burning I emptied the satchel and
found other thinks including wound ointment, a spyglass, a tiny bag of dried
stag meat, a blessing charm, a bottle of ink, a dip pen, a charcoal pencil, and
a small journal. I turned to the egg.

            I filled the pen and opened the journal. I drew the egg,
it was shaped like an oval and the shiny black had flecks of red in it. I moved
all my stuff to my tent, extinguished the fire, and fell asleep.

            I awoke to a pain on my collarbone, a splitting, stabling
pain. I suppressed a scream of utter frustration. I walked through the forest,
trying to find a stream. When I found one, it was fast moving, but I could
vaguely see my reflection.      On my
collarbone was a mark, lines intertwined that looked like I used my dip pen. It
was spectacular; I realized it was my riders mark. I ran back to my tent and
searched around for the baby Sam’mumi. I felt something tugging my bootlace; I
looked down to see a navy Sam’mumi. He had a black chest and black wing and
tail feathers. His eyes where a deep marron.

            I picked him up, and it seemed as if my collarbone was
buzzing. He chirred softly. I placed him on the ground and reached for the bag
of dried meat. I took a strip and popped it into my mouth I fed the rest to the
baby.

            “You need a name, don’t you little one?” I thought for a
moment. “How about Vieolir?” The baby didn’t seem to disagree. He ran
in-between my feet and flapped his wings. I smiled and began to pack. It was
quick work, and I only took the stuff that was of use in the satchel, but I
left the tent.

            I ran through the forest, Vieolir trying to fly after my,
but only running. We soon came to the village entrance. I picked up Vieolir and
walked in, standing tall. A crowd quickly gathered.

            I was the first back, apparently.

            Northon ran up to me, beaming. I smiled.

            “Only a day?”

            “What do you mean.”

            “Well, it usually takes longer to find a nest, let alone
get the egg.”

            “The Sam’mumi found me…” I told him the story, and he
laughed.

            “That’s funny.”

            “Sure.” I replied, walking deeper into the village. They
gazed at me, my mark, and Vieolir. The village leader soon approached me,
carrying a bundle of clothes. I bowed my head to him, but he waved his hand
dismissively.

            “Meris, welcome to the League of KIolgazi.”

            “Thank you.”

            “Now listen, around noon I predict, what have you named
him?”

            “Vieolir.”

            “Well, I predict Vieolir will be full grown by then, for
Sam’mumi’s are not slow growing creatures. Here I have for you riding clothes,
and a manual, I suggest you read through it tonight.” The leader nodded to me
and walked away. He stopped and turned to me.

            “What you did back there with the mother? Noble. Davicua
forgives you, and approves.” He smiles and leaves.

            Vieolir flapped onto my shoulder, and I smiled. I raised
my hand and the crowd cheered.

            We walked to my family hut, where my parents congratulated
me, and met Vieolir. They loved the baby Sam’mumi. Somebody knocked on the
door, and my mother and I answered it.

            “Is it okay if we start building your Sam’mumi hangar?” A
dusty grey man asked.

            “We don’t have any money to pay-“

            “it’s free for the League members.”       

            My mom nodded. “Go on ahead.”

            “Thank you, it should be done at midnight.” The man ran
off, and we closed the door, I picked up Vieolir and carried him upstairs. I
set him on my bed, and retrieved the manual from my pocket. It has to be only 5
pages.  It read,

Taking care of your
Sam’mumi

DIET

Sam’mumi’s
of all ages should be restricted from all foods except meats (dried and fresh)
and Pankm. Meats are essential, as any plants, fruits, and vegetables (except
Pankm) should be avoided as most is LIFE THREATENING.

EXERSISE

Sam’mumi’s
should be ridden every day, as unfit Sam’mumi’s are at risk to destroy
property, get various sicknesses, and runaway. When riding, please ride
correctly and with correct equipment.

MATNEINCE

      Please wash monthly, taking extra care on feathers.

            “Seems simple
enough.” I whisper. Vieolir jumps off my bed repeatedly, gliding to the ground
and landing silently.

            “Meris! The hangar
is done!” I run downstairs, carrying the Sam’mumi. He wiggles out of my hands
and flies the rest of the way and into the hangar. I’m astonished, because on
the outside its tiny, but on the inside magic was used. Inside is a huge dome,
with a glass ceiling that clearly shows the sky. The walls are marble and glass
alternating.  The floor is made of white
marble. It seems light in here, buts not: there are candles lining the walls
and s blessing charm on the opposite side of the dome. It seems so large.

            “Oh my Davicua… This
is amazing.”

            “Yeah.” My mom says.
“You should get to bed, check on Vieolir in the morning.”

            “Yeah.” I shuffled
under the stairs and into my room. I welcomed sleep, I was exhausted.