No, not yet. I have nothing that no one here has seen yet, so I'll post multiple things, and HOPE that at least one thing is new to everyone.
So, let's get this High Octane Hedgehog rolling! While we were camping, I did a video tour. Here are the last two parts of it, nicely embedded for your convenience.
Now, some of you have already seen that. (I'm calling you out, Anonymous Faerie) One more video that Ms. Faerie has already seen, then I'll post...something else...
This is a snippet from my ongoing Writing WIP, though not much work has been done on in the last four weeks. It's called "The Untold Adventure"
A wolf howled outside the walls, and Dubi sighed. "Fier misses me," he said as he paced back and forth in front of the wagon the male companions were to sleep in. "And, he really wants to be in here. He calls it a buffet. Hopefully it won't get to the point where we'll need anything like that. Also, hopefully I managed to convince him not to try and get in before I call."
Mela, who was waiting nearby, nodded. "At least our mounts won't eat anyone. I wonder why it is horses don't like you, Dubi? Were you mean to them as children? My mother always said that horses could sense that sort of thing."
Shaking his head, Dubi said, "No, actually, I think it has more to do with my affinity with wolves. Probably spooks them or something. I prefer Fier though, he has a certain quality other horses seem to lack. The quality of inspiring fear in my enemies."
A little girl ran up to their small group, tears running down her face as she asked, "Are any of you a hero? I need a few heroes, can any of you help? Please! He has my sister, are there any heroes here?"
Cleesh stepped forward, followed quickly by Burl, Mela, and Dubi. Cleesh knelt down, making hushing noises and saying, "We are heroes, the best in the land, now tell us. Who has your sister, and where?"
Rubbing at her tear stained eyes, the little girl took huge shaky breaths and explained, "My little sister and I were playing over by this boarded off door on the other side of the tower, when suddenly a man jumped out and grabbed my sister. He gave me a horrible smile and said, 'Aha, now I have some tender stew meat!' and went back through the door. I tried, but couldn't get it open. Can you please help me, I think he wants to eat my sister!"
With a slight twitch, Dubi said, "Oh, we can't have that. It simply won't do, having your young, innocent, sweet, tender sister eaten like that..."
"Uh, no. It won't do at all." Cleesh looked at Dubi askance and continued, "Have no fear, young one, we will save your sister. Come on men and Mela, get your weapons and let's go." Quickly Dubi belted on his Shakspire blade, Burl grabbed his axe, and Cleesh donned his sword. "Lead away, fair lass." Cleesh said, and the small girl ran off to the other side of the tower, the heroes following her.
In a few minutes, they had navigated the crowds, a few patrols, and an impromptu goose juggling competition to arrive at a door that seemed to lead underground, that had been boarded up until recently. The door was large, black, and looked rather as if someone had said huffily to the builder, "How do you make it look impressive? I don't know, just keep doing things until it looks like the door is worse than what is contained beyond!"
The ancient runes carved around it certainly lent to the overall atmosphere, as did the way the gargoyle perched atop it seemed to follow you around with its eyes. Stone thorn vines wound around the door frame, and it even looked as if someone had cleverly carved deep claw marks in the stone, as if a giant demon hand had tried to get out. The boards that had held it shut were artfully rearranged, so that you could get the door open, while still looking like it was stuck shut. Cleesh tried to get it open, and it proved resistant. With an elegant bow, Cleesh stepped back and gestured at the door. "Burl, perhaps you would like a try?"
"With pleasure." Burl took a padded set of brass knuckles and punched the door solidly where the door knob should have been. The door shuddered, and swung open with a drawn out squeal of acquiescence. Burl gestured for Cleesh to lead. "After you, oh fearless leader."
Cleesh looked into the doorway, and got the distinct feeling that the doorway was staring back at him. The void beyond the door brought to mind a saying his mother had always said. "Darkness is not the opposite of light, Cleesh." She'd said, bouncing him on her knee. "It is merely the absence of light. When you see Trueblack, the real opposite of light, you'll know it." Looking at the doorway, Cleesh knew it, and didn't like it. This was the sort of black a Ninja looked gray in. He turned to Mela and asked, "Perhaps you can light our way?"
A green ball of light formed itself in Mela's hand, and the Trueblack receded with what was almost an audible hiss. Cleesh went down the steps, Mela following behind him. Burl came next, and Dubi took up the rear. The stairs descended longer than any stairs in their position had a right to, and when they finally leveled out it was into a very nondescript looking cave. A faint sound was heard from an offshoot, and they all headed in that direction, choosing appropriate seeming off-branchings when it was necessary. The green light sparkled off of crystals embedded in the walls, forming strange shifting beads of brightness that rushed and flitted about like intoxicated lightning bugs.
Light began to come from ahead, and they all grew more cautious, trying to make less sound. The light coming from ahead had the lambent quality usually associated with burning torch wood, and when they rounded the corner they saw it was coming from a more intentional looking room, with a squared out door and walls inside. They entered the room, still not seeing anyone, and were heading for the door on the other side when the door slammed shut behind them. They all whirled around, and Burl tried to open it to no avail. A noise came from the next room, and they turned around again to see what had made it.
A black shadow stood in the doorway, hat brim tilted down just enough to cover the eyes. The stranger spoke, saying with a touch of sincerity, "Welcome to the last day of your life, I'm so glad you could make it. I am Requiem, and I'll be ushering you to the afterlife."
Mela, who was waiting nearby, nodded. "At least our mounts won't eat anyone. I wonder why it is horses don't like you, Dubi? Were you mean to them as children? My mother always said that horses could sense that sort of thing."
Shaking his head, Dubi said, "No, actually, I think it has more to do with my affinity with wolves. Probably spooks them or something. I prefer Fier though, he has a certain quality other horses seem to lack. The quality of inspiring fear in my enemies."
A little girl ran up to their small group, tears running down her face as she asked, "Are any of you a hero? I need a few heroes, can any of you help? Please! He has my sister, are there any heroes here?"
Cleesh stepped forward, followed quickly by Burl, Mela, and Dubi. Cleesh knelt down, making hushing noises and saying, "We are heroes, the best in the land, now tell us. Who has your sister, and where?"
Rubbing at her tear stained eyes, the little girl took huge shaky breaths and explained, "My little sister and I were playing over by this boarded off door on the other side of the tower, when suddenly a man jumped out and grabbed my sister. He gave me a horrible smile and said, 'Aha, now I have some tender stew meat!' and went back through the door. I tried, but couldn't get it open. Can you please help me, I think he wants to eat my sister!"
With a slight twitch, Dubi said, "Oh, we can't have that. It simply won't do, having your young, innocent, sweet, tender sister eaten like that..."
"Uh, no. It won't do at all." Cleesh looked at Dubi askance and continued, "Have no fear, young one, we will save your sister. Come on men and Mela, get your weapons and let's go." Quickly Dubi belted on his Shakspire blade, Burl grabbed his axe, and Cleesh donned his sword. "Lead away, fair lass." Cleesh said, and the small girl ran off to the other side of the tower, the heroes following her.
In a few minutes, they had navigated the crowds, a few patrols, and an impromptu goose juggling competition to arrive at a door that seemed to lead underground, that had been boarded up until recently. The door was large, black, and looked rather as if someone had said huffily to the builder, "How do you make it look impressive? I don't know, just keep doing things until it looks like the door is worse than what is contained beyond!"
The ancient runes carved around it certainly lent to the overall atmosphere, as did the way the gargoyle perched atop it seemed to follow you around with its eyes. Stone thorn vines wound around the door frame, and it even looked as if someone had cleverly carved deep claw marks in the stone, as if a giant demon hand had tried to get out. The boards that had held it shut were artfully rearranged, so that you could get the door open, while still looking like it was stuck shut. Cleesh tried to get it open, and it proved resistant. With an elegant bow, Cleesh stepped back and gestured at the door. "Burl, perhaps you would like a try?"
"With pleasure." Burl took a padded set of brass knuckles and punched the door solidly where the door knob should have been. The door shuddered, and swung open with a drawn out squeal of acquiescence. Burl gestured for Cleesh to lead. "After you, oh fearless leader."
Cleesh looked into the doorway, and got the distinct feeling that the doorway was staring back at him. The void beyond the door brought to mind a saying his mother had always said. "Darkness is not the opposite of light, Cleesh." She'd said, bouncing him on her knee. "It is merely the absence of light. When you see Trueblack, the real opposite of light, you'll know it." Looking at the doorway, Cleesh knew it, and didn't like it. This was the sort of black a Ninja looked gray in. He turned to Mela and asked, "Perhaps you can light our way?"
A green ball of light formed itself in Mela's hand, and the Trueblack receded with what was almost an audible hiss. Cleesh went down the steps, Mela following behind him. Burl came next, and Dubi took up the rear. The stairs descended longer than any stairs in their position had a right to, and when they finally leveled out it was into a very nondescript looking cave. A faint sound was heard from an offshoot, and they all headed in that direction, choosing appropriate seeming off-branchings when it was necessary. The green light sparkled off of crystals embedded in the walls, forming strange shifting beads of brightness that rushed and flitted about like intoxicated lightning bugs.
Light began to come from ahead, and they all grew more cautious, trying to make less sound. The light coming from ahead had the lambent quality usually associated with burning torch wood, and when they rounded the corner they saw it was coming from a more intentional looking room, with a squared out door and walls inside. They entered the room, still not seeing anyone, and were heading for the door on the other side when the door slammed shut behind them. They all whirled around, and Burl tried to open it to no avail. A noise came from the next room, and they turned around again to see what had made it.
A black shadow stood in the doorway, hat brim tilted down just enough to cover the eyes. The stranger spoke, saying with a touch of sincerity, "Welcome to the last day of your life, I'm so glad you could make it. I am Requiem, and I'll be ushering you to the afterlife."
3 comments:
*evil grin* Camping... I remember these...
Great pictures on that CP video. Whoa. There were some OLD pictures of Everest on there. :oops: Nice job. Thank you for sharing!
thanks much for revealing my secret identity..
graveyards! woot "badah, badah, badah!"
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