Stories we have written:

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I have written several "Nathan & Friend's" stories - 13 of 22 done :) - short ones, though.

Here's the first chapter of "Taming the Sun". Sorry for any dashes (-) because I had hyphenation on.

The sun had just discovered a breach in the thick mat of clouds over the east horizon as I slipped out the door of my house and across the lawn. I softly opened the gate and then closed it be-hind me on the other side. I generally would hop over it, but it lately had taken to squeaking when I did so. I pulled my jacket tighter about me. This was for two reasons: first, because the stiff breeze coming off the sea was quite chilly, and second, because I had told the others to try to hide their badges as much as possible. And I, as the leader, must certainly be very cautious.
As I sprinted down the road, I mentally went over the list I had come up with last night. Jacket. Camera. Badge. Flashlight. Pencil and sketchpad. Club member ID and passport. And, last but not least, the bulky package of beef jerky I had even now in the pocket of my jeans. I had also grabbed my favorite book on the way out, in case I got there early and had to wait for everyone else.
I was coming to Drew’s house now. I couldn’t tell if he had left yet or not. I slowed to a walk. There! I could see him through one of the first-story win-dows. He glanced up and must have no-ticed me, for he finished shoving a few things into a backpack lying on the table and swung it over his shoulder.
No need to hurry, Drew. I’ll wait for you! I thought. Be sure you do every-thing right; it saves time later. I heard the back door of his house slam. Shhhhh…don’t let anyone hear!! I could see him running down the path through the garden now. This path led to the road, as did the one that came from the front door, but it was longer. Why had he gone out the back? I looked up and saw a face at the third-floor window, looking out at me. Did Drew’s dad sus-pect he was going somewhere? Else why would he be up at the crack of dawn, watching the road? I tried to act casual as I continued on my way. But I knew that it’s not what you’d call “nor-mal” for a teenager to be up at 5:30 in the morning.
I was outside the village boundaries before I dared to break back into a trot. Drew was nowhere in sight. The road was clear. The road’s left edge stopped where the impassibly heavily wooded slope of Hiryuu Mountain began. The right of the road dropped off steeply in a downward, rock-strewn slope. Either side was practically impossible to have entered. Where Drew could have disap-peared to I had no idea. I could see the small boulder Koneko had suggested we put at the head of our secret trail two days ago. It had been placed there be-cause our most recent member Lan-tananaki, who had joined three days ago, had wandered along the road looking for the trail for two hours until Datenshi had seen her and showed her where it was. But the trailhead was a good half mile away, and there was no way Drew could have gotten there already unless he had run the whole way…which really would have taken endurance. But he, like the rest of the club, had to have instant re-flexes and swift feet, so I supposed he could have done it. But it wouldn’t have been advisable to run all the way through the village! …but, he just might have, if he hadn’t thought anyone was watching him.
I heard the heavy rumble of a cart’s wheels behind me. Without turning, I slowed my step so the cart would be well ahead of me by the time I reached the trail. But when the cart had finally caught up with me, I was nearly there. I slowed more, then stopped. The cart stopped, too. I glanced up at the driver. It was Lantananaki’s father.
“Hello,” I said.
He wasted no time getting right to the point.
“Have you seen Lantie?” he asked.
“No,” I replied. “Why?”
“She’s not home. I thought you might know where she is.”
“No. I’m sorry.”
“Okay,” he said, then chirruped to his burro.
When the cart was out of sight I let out a sigh of relief, but also of worry. That had been the closest yet. He had caught me almost at the trail. I was also glad I hadn’t known where Lantananaki was. If I had known, I would have had to tell him, and I, and the others as well, could have said goodbye to all of our plans.
I stood and looked up and down the road before dashing the last few yards to the trail and ducking into the under-brush.
I scrambled up the first steep bit, then paused to catch my breath. I peered up the narrow trail, which almost disap-peared at this point. All I could see was bushes, vines, and tree trunks. Taking a deep breath, I started up the next section, which was dangerously hard, and had to be done on hands and knees. When I had conquered this difficult passage and brushed the dirt off my pant-legs, I looked up. This last stretch of the trail was the hardest, because it was a near vertical wall of rock with only a few small shrubs scattered here and there. There was only one way up, and only our club knew where it was.
(here there's a rather long description on how she got up, so I left it out)
Soon I was standing in a small clearing among the trees.
Our clubhouse was a cave at the back of the clearing. Woods extended on all sides, but whichever way you went into them, you always eventually ended at a sheer cliff. We were literally fenced in. The only way to get there was the way I had come. No one has ever climbed Hiryuu Mountain all the way to the top, so far as anyone knows, and we were confident that no one would ever acci-dentally find themselves at our club-house.
Which was good. No one must ever find it. This club was a very, very spe-cial one. It wasn’t a story club, although our activities would have made a most intriguing novel. It wasn’t a drama club, yet we were acting out a breathtaking tale of our own. And it wasn’t a detec-tive club, even though the mystery we were involved in was better than the most interesting case.
Our club was called The Dragon Han-dlers.
We handled dragons.
Well, not yet, but we were hoping to.
Planning to, that is.
But no one in China really believed that dragons existed anymore, even in our tiny, secluded village high up in the mountains along the coast. Oh, sure, they admitted that at one time there must have been some sort of dragon-ish thing that had lived somewhere nearby that everybody was impressed by and wrote legends about…but there was no way that there would still be some now, in the 21st century. No way!
So, see, if we were to tell anybody that we had found clues that there were drag-ons on the mountain…and that we were looking for them…
That would have meant the end of the club. My parents and I had moved from Ireland only a couple of years ago, so my parents didn’t even have respect for the legends, much less the possible exis-tence of dragons today. This was odd, because I was the exact opposite, being fascinated by the possibility of these creatures’ presence on my home moun-tain.
I was the only one in the clubhouse. I wondered where Drew could be. Sud-denly, there he was in the doorway! “Hi,” he said.
“Drew! Where on earth were you?”
“Didn’t you see me? I thought for sure you’d have seen me. I was waiting for you at the side of the road, just at the edge of town. I’d thought you’d see me.”
“The road was empty!”
He rolled his eyes. “I was in the bushes! I thought no way would you not see me. Whatever happened to being observant like you told us to?” he teased.
“You didn’t forget anything back at home?” I asked, quickly changing the subject. “You looked like you were in a hurry. Sure you didn’t leave anything by accident?”
“Positive. I’ve got my badge, I’ve got my ID, I’ve got my passport, and I’ve got beef jerky. I’ve got a ton of it, too. See?”
“Good. I also got a camera, just so we can prove to everybody that we actually did see a dragon this time.”
“Good idea. But…are you sure we’re going to see a dragon to take a picture of?”
“Um…well, we weren’t expecting to see one any of the other times.”
“True.”
We heard a rustling at the door and turned.
“Hi, guys,” said Lantananaki. “What-tup?”
“You do know your dad saw that you’re not at home?” I asked her.
“He did?”
“He caught up to me on the road. Asked me if I knew where you were.”
“Yipes. Guess it’s a good thing I took the side road this time.”
“You’re telling me. Did you remem-ber everything? Badge, ID, passport?”
“Yeah. And, oh! I wanted to show you something else I brought.” She dug her hand into her pocket and pulled out a folding pocket map, the kind you could get at the service station in the town in the valley. “Come on to the table. I want to show you something.”
Drew and I followed her over to the small round table in the center of the cave. Lantananaki unfolded her map and spread it out on the table. It was so large and detailed that the edges nearly touched the floor all around. I hadn’t seen another copy of that particular map before and haven’t since. It was a printed topographical map of a nearly unexplored place. Hiryuu Mountain.
“See, here I’ve marked where the club-house is and where the path comes off the road. These dates are the two locations you’d said you’d seen dragons before I joined, and the one from yester-day. I traced the path, too, and have more detailed instructions on how to fol-low it on the back of the map. I also have marked where you built the cages and where you mentioned there might be a dragon’s hideout.”
“Lantie, this is amazing!” I exclaimed. “It must have taken you all night! Where did you get this map?”
“When Dad went down into the valley to get groceries he said I could come along and I bought it. It was the only one there, and I thought it could be for all of us in the club.”
“We can’t let anybody get a hold of this!” said Drew.
“Right,” said Lantananaki.
“Let anybody get a hold of what?” asked someone behind me. Whirling around, I came face to face with Daten-shi, who was grinning.
“This map Lantananaki brought,” Drew said. “It’s our club’s map. It has all the important locations marked. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Lantie had better not let her mom or dad see it, either, when she goes home,” Datenshi said.
“Oh,” replied Lantananaki, “I was thinking we’d leave it here. That way it wouldn’t get lost or stolen or anything.”
“Good idea,” said Datenshi. “So, let’s see this map.” I moved over and he bent over the map. “Hey, kid, this is good,” he praised. “Especially for only having been here twice before. What’s this…‘see back for details’?”
“That’s information on how to get up the trail. Landmarks and stuff and how to scale the cliff,” I told him.
“Cool,” he said.
“Tell you what,” Drew said, checking his watch, “I’ll leave you guys here looking over the map, but Koneko’s late. I’m going to go see where she is. No, don’t worry,” he said, looking at me, “I won’t travel on the road or go into the village. I just want to see if she’s on her way.”
“Fine,” I answered, “But I’m coming, too.”
“Okay,” he said. “You others just wait here. If you see a dragon, take a picture of it with Jessie’s camera,” he added playfully.
“No need to use Jessie’s,” Datenshi re-plied, “when I brought my own.”
“All right. We’ll see you kids later.”
“You really think they might see a dragon?” I asked doubtfully once we were out of the clubhouse.
“Naw. My guess is they’ll stay in there poring over the map the whole time we’re gone.”
He and I laughed. We were at the edge of the precipice. Drew looked over the edge.
“I don’t see her,” he said. “She’s probably down on the trail a little further on…y’wanna’ go look for her?”
“Why not?” I said. “You can go down first.”
“Well…okay. Thanks,” he replied. I dropped a rope over the edge and he slid slowly down, being careful not to burn his hands on it. Once he was at the bot-tom, I pulled the rope up and started down by hand. We both knew that it wouldn’t do to let the rope hang over the edge unattended, even for a few minutes, in case someone were to accidentally find it there and be able to climb up.
I soon reached the base of the cliff and Drew and I started into the woods. We were almost to the road when Drew, turning a corner, bumped into Koneko.
“Sorry, didn’t see you there,” Drew said.
“Why are you coming down?” Koneko asked.
“Well, you were a little late, and I thought that was sort of unusual,” re-plied Drew. “We came looking for you.”
“Oh, okay. Are Lantie and Datenshi up there already?”
“Yeah. Come on, let’s go.”
We could hear Datenshi hollering be-fore we’d gotten very far. We all jumped and started running. We reached the cliff and could see Datenshi at the top, leaning over the edge and waving his camera. I’d never seen Datenshi lose his perpetual cool, so to have him so ex-cited meant something big had just hap-pened, and we needed to get up there as soon as possible.
“Datenshi, throw us the rope!” Drew yelled. Soon we were up at the top and were attempting to calm Datenshi down enough that he could tell us his story, which was apparently of great impor-tance. Finally he drew a deep breath and told us.
“Lantie and I had just finished looking at the map—” (at this point Koneko looked confused, and we told her we’d explain later) “—and we’d gone outside to see if you’d found Koneko yet. I had my camera in my pocket, and we’d just gotten out the door when Lantie looked up and screamed. I looked up, too, and flying directly overhead there was a real, live dragon!”

Sorry to leave you hanging; I only have done 3 chapters anyway, so I'm anxious to find out how the story ends up, too!

Chapter 2

We all stood there, stunned. Drew looked utterly foolish, and I would have taken the opportunity to laugh outright had I not felt the same as he looked. We’d spotted dragons far in the distance before, but this…!
Koneko finally managed to gasp, “You did take a picture of it, didn’t you? Oh, Datenshi, please say yes.”
“Yes. I got two.”
“He got them just in time,” added Lantananaki, who was standing next to him.
“Can I see?” all three of us asked together.
“Sure.” Datenshi handed me the camera and Drew and Koneko crowded up on either side.
“Sorry; they’re kind of fuzzy,” Datenshi apologized. “The thing was really fast, and it was almost gone by the time I had my camera out. I got two shots of it, but it’s sort of small in the pictures. See?”
“That’s fine,” I said. “There should be a way to zoom in on it.”
“Really? Can you do that?” Datenshi wedged himself in so he could see the camera screen.
“I’ll try… …let’s see…okay, there you go!”
There’s something intriguing about seeing a wild dragon in its native habitat.
“Wh-o-o-o-o-o-a!” Koneko breathed. “Is there some way to enhance that?”
“Possibly.”
“Go ahead,” offered Datenshi.
“All right…then…there you are. It’s somewhat clearer, anyway.”
“Oh, much better,” said Datenshi. “Wow.”
I turned off the camera and handed it back to him. “Well, now we have proof that there are dragons on the mountain, but it would be better to wait on showing it to other people until we can get a close-up. What do you say we start a meeting on how that might be accomplished?”
“That’s why we came,” said Drew.
As we turned toward the clubhouse, Datenshi sidled up to me and asked, “Could you teach me in a little bit about the settings on my camera? I never really tried to use them, but I want to now.”
“Of course,” I replied. “Your camera is almost exactly the same as mine; that’s the only reason I knew what to do.”
Once everybody was assembled in the clubhouse I stood up in front of the table, which still had the map on it. I clapped my hands twice.
“This meeting has come to order,” I announced. “We will stand and recite together the Dragon Handler’s code of ethics.
“I will be loyal to the club.
“I will be respectful to my parents and those in authority and answer any questions they bring up, even if it concerns the club’s doings, and I will not lie to them.
“I will try to be at all club meetings.
“I will get along with, and will not criticize, any other members of the club.
“I will be kind to all animals.
“I will deal fairly with all other members of the club, and with all people.
“I will strive to achieve the main goal of the club by capturing and taming the wild dragons of Hiryuu Mountain and the surrounding mountains.
“I will be a Dragon Handler.”
The others sat down on the floor. “Now,” I said, “Will the secretary please come forward and read the minutes from our last meeting?”
Koneko stood up and pulled a pad of paper from her pocket. She cleared her throat and read:
Roll call: all present.
Code of ethics was recited.
Previous meeting’s minutes were read and approved.
Old business: no old business.
Report from evidence committee: nothing to report.
Report from construction committee: repairs to Enclosure #1 completed; repairs to Enclosure #2 completed; construction of Enclosure #3 begun.
Report from secrecy committee: nothing to report.
Announcements: no announcements.
New business: plans made for next meeting’s activity being the baiting of the enclosures.
Activity plans: enclosure work.
Prayer led by Jessie.
Meeting adjourned.
Koneko handed me the paper. As she sat down, I said, “Would anyone like to make a motion to approve the minutes?”
Drew replied, “I make the motion to approve the minutes.”
“I second the motion,” said Datenshi.
“All in favor say ‘Aye’,” I said.
“Aye,” said everyone.
“Opposed, same sign.”
Nothing.
“Motion carried,” I said. “It looks like there’s no old business except did everyone bring some-thing to bait the cages with?” When everyone nodded, I continued. “Well, since that’s done, let’s move on to the reports from the committees. First we’ll hear from the evidence committee, so Datenshi, if you’d come forward.” He did and I nodded to him.
“You all know about the dragon that showed up,” he said. “This is even better than the other stuff we’ve found before, like the footprints and all that. But more importantly, we have a photo. Jessie mentioned earlier that we ought to wait to show it to any people, due to the fact that the pic-ture isn’t very clear. And I was thinking they might say we were faking it. So, does everybody agree that we’re not telling anyone outside the club about the picture unless that person men-tioned it first?” Everyone nodded. “Good,” said Datenshi. “That’s all I had to say.” He returned to his seat.
“Okay, now we have the construction commit-tee’s report, so, Drew?”
Drew came up. “We finished checking the first two cages and, as far as we know, they are about as escape-proof as we’ll be able to get them. It will probably take a week or so to finish the third cage. Also, I’ve drawn out a plan for a stable for the dragons if and when we catch any.” He held up a sheaf of papers. “We can go over them later. That’s all I’ve got.” He went back to his seat.
“And now our newest committee, the secrecy committee,” I said. Lantananaki came forward.
“It’s been brought to my attention that my dad noticed I was gone this morning. Also, Jessie said that Drew’s dad, as well, seems to be getting suspicious.”
“What?” exclaimed Drew.
“He was watching the front road this morning,” I explained. “It was a good thing you went out the back.”
“I’ll say,” Drew replied fervently. “Sorry, Lan-tie, for interrupting. Continue, please.”
“That’s it. I’m done,” she said.
“Okay,” I said as she went and sat down. “Are there any announcements?”
Datenshi raised his hand. “I think you should mention the map.”
“Oh, yes! Thank you.” I grabbed two corners of the map and held them up so that the others could see the map. “You see this map? Yes, most of you have. Koneko, Lantie made us this map for the club. It has important locations marked, such as the cages and the trail.”
“Jessie, may I say something?” queried Drew.
“Go for it.”
“I’m wondering where we ought to put the map. Tacked on the wall? Folded up on a shelf? Or what?”
“I’d think that should fit in ‘new business.’ And if no one has any more announcements, that’s what comes next. Any announcements? … No? Okay. New business. Where will we put the map? This topic is open for discussion.”
“I’d say on the wall,” Drew offered.
“Same here,” Koneko said. “Easy to access; no folding and unfolding. Also, it’s better since all five of us can see it at once.”
“But if someone were to accidentally find the clubhouse, the map would be right there for them to study,” protested Datenshi.
“The clubhouse is well hidden,” Lantananaki broke in. “Accidentally finding it would take a miracle.”
“Drew and Jessie found it by accident.”
“Sure, but they aren’t grownups. Grownups would think twice before trying to scale a fifteen-foot cliff.”
“Well, sorry to rain on your parade, Lantie,” Drew interrupted, “but we thought twice about it. Trust me on this one.”
“Well,” said Lantananaki, “grownups would think three times. My point is, it’s unlikely that anyone would accidentally find the clubhouse. And Koneko has a point. It would be easier to plan things with the entire club if it was flat on the wall.”
“Okay,” said Datenshi finally. “But we don’t have Jessie’s opinion. What do you think, Jess?”
“Hanging it on the wall sounds fine to me,” I said. “Do we want to vote? All in favor of hang-ing it on the wall, say ‘aye’.”
There was a chorus of ayes.
“Opposed, same sign. … Motion carried. You got all that, Koneko?”
“Yep,” she said, glancing up from her notepad.
“Good. Plans for the activity. Baiting the two finished cages, obviously, but do we want to work more on that third one?”
“Sure, why not!” exclaimed Drew.
“Fine with me,” said Koneko.
“Me too,” said Datenshi.
“Umm…I think I’ll probably need to go home as soon as the baiting is finished,” Lantananaki said. “I’m probably going to get into trouble as it is, but…you know.”
“All right,” I replied. “I understand. So the rest of us will also work on the third cage. Plans set, let’s close in prayer. Drew, would you like to lead us?”
“Sure,” he said. Standing up and closing his eyes, he said, “Lord, thank you for the meeting we’ve had today. Thank you that we have the club at all, and please bless our work today, so that no one will get hurt. And please, please, please let us catch a dragon! Amen.”
“Amen,” murmured Koneko.
“I make a motion to adjourn,” Datenshi said.
“Second that,” said Lantananaki.
“All in favor?” I said.
“Aye,” said everyone.
“Opposed? … Motion carried. All right, let’s get to work. Drew, would you help me hang up the map? You others can get ready to go.”
I picked up the map and Drew followed me over to the wall. As we were hanging up the map, I glanced over my shoulder at the other three as they eagerly put on their backpacks and jackets.
“Drew, do you know how big the dragons are?” I whispered.
“No.”
“Are we doing something really dangerous?”
“Jessie—”
“Drew, Datenshi is barely thirteen. And look at Lantie. She’s so small for twelve years old.”
“Jessie, the dragon tracks we found weren’t that big. How big then can the dragons that made them be? The footprints were only six inches across. There weren’t even any claws on them.”
“Drew, I do not want anyone getting hurt. The dragons I’ve seen are always ’way off in the dis-tance. They could be bigger than they appear.”
“Shh, Jess. Not so loud. They might hear. Anyhow, Datenshi and Lantie saw one up close. If we could only get that information out of them without them getting nervous…”
“We need to do that. Drew, I’m not scared for me, but I’m scared for them.”
Drew laughed quietly. “Stop talking like you’re their mother. Besides, I know you’re not scared for you. You’re real brave—for a girl.” He grinned. “Come on, let’s get ready to go.”
As we hiked through the woods around the clubhouse, on our way to the first cage, I kept assuring myself that Drew had made a good point. The dragons couldn’t be that big or dangerous. Smallish size. No talons or claws. Yet even as I got caught up in the excitement of baiting the trap, I was a little anxious. Datenshi noticed it.
“What’s on your mind, Jessie?” he asked. “You aren’t talking. It’s not like you not to talk.”
“I just was thinking,” I said, “I wonder if these cages are big enough. How big was that dragon that you and Lantie saw?”
He thought for a moment, then replied, “A lot of it was its tail. About half of it was tail. It was a long tail.”
“Any, uh…teeth?”
“Didn’t notice. Why?”
“Just curious. So, how long would you say it was total? Including that tail?”
“Couldn’t really tell. All I know was it had a long tail.”
“Less than twenty feet?”
“I’d say.”
“All right. Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.”
The cage was finished being baited. There was beef jerky strewn all over the floor of the cage, and one particularly tempting piece was strung on the middle of a rope running from the floor of the cage to the roof.
“Don’t touch the rope, Drew,” teased Koneko. “You might lock yourself in.”
“Yeah, sure, and then tomorrow you’d come and find me here and be like, ‘A-a-a-a-ah! It’s a dragon!!!’” We all laughed.
“Remind me not to be standing under the door when he does release it,” Lantie added. “Splat.”
“Squish,” corrected Datenshi. “No graphic sound effects, please.”
“Hope it doesn’t hurt the dragon if it lands on him,” Koneko said.
“Who, Drew?” asked Lantie.
“No, the real dragon. I mean, that’s a heavy-duty gate. It’d hurt landing on your head.”
“Or your tail,” put in Datenshi.
“Bonk,” said Drew.
“No graphic sound effects, please,” said Daten-shi. “Well, should we go bait the other one?”
“Um…yeah?” said Lantananaki.
As we were walking away from the cage, Drew whispered to me, “Did either of them say any-thing to you?”
“Datenshi did. He said the dragon was less than twenty feet long. But he’s infatuated with the tail. Apparently it’s really something. Half of its length, I guess.”
“Okay. Say, Jess, did you feel like there was somebody watching us as we were in there bait-ing the cage?”
“No, but please don’t mention it. You’re mak-ing me nervous.”
“Well, sorry, but I felt it.”
Just then Koneko came up to me. “Lantie is doing graphic sound effects for Datenshi up there. It’s kind of amusing. Oh! Did either of you feel like somebody was watching us as we were bait-ing the trap? Or was it just me?”
Drew gave me a look.
“Stop it,” I said. “You’re making me nervous.”

There you go.

Chapter 3

Lantananaki had just headed back toward the clubhouse to get the rest of her things so she could go home. The rest of us stood watching her disappear among the trees.
“Bummer,” said Datenshi. “I wish she didn’t have to go.”
“Me too,” said Koneko.
“Why did she have to go, anyway?” asked Dat-enshi.
“She probably has chores at home,” Drew ex-plained.
“Nertz,” grumbled Datenshi.
“It’s just not the same when the whole club isn’t here,” commented Koneko.
I chuckled half-heartedly. “Less than a week ago, this was the whole club.”
“Well, not anymore,” said Datenshi sadly. “Now we’re missing somebody. Nertz.”
“Well,” said Koneko, trying to be cheerful, “let’s get to work on the other cage.”
“I don’t know,” sighed Datenshi. “I don’t really feel like it now.”
“Oh, come on, Datenshi,” Drew said encourag-ingly. “It’s not like she’s never coming back.”
“Maybe it is, though,” Datenshi mumbled. “Her dad’s probably gonna’ ask her where she was, and then the cat’s out of the bag.”
“Well,” Koneko said, “We might as well get as much done as we can before that.”
“I need to head home really soon. I have to get back by 7:30, so my mom can get me up at 8.”
“Well,” Drew said, “then we can just stay here and look at the stable plans and decide where we should put it.”
Everyone agreed to this, and so that’s what we ended up doing for a few minutes until Datenshi had to leave. Drew, Koneko, and I watched him disappear over the cliff with heavy hearts.
“There’s a chance this will have been our last meeting,” Koneko had just commented sadly when we heard a horrible sound coming from the woods.
“Oh, golly…what on earth was that!” whim-pered Koneko. The sounds continued, getting louder and more intense. Loud crashes were punctuated every now and then by spine-chilling screeches and rumblings.
“Gee whiz,” Drew gasped. “I have never heard anything make a noise like that, unless it was when Kirin tried to help Mom with the dishes.”
“Well, your brother’s too little to come all the way down the road by himself, much less scale the cliff,” Koneko replied, “so he’s kind of out of the question. Jessie! Where do you think you’re going?”
Well, where did they think I was going? I had to find out what that sound was!
“Jessie, wait!” shouted Drew, starting after me. Koneko was quick to follow.
I slowed my pace a tiny bit. This wasn’t only so that they could catch up, but also because the noises up ahead had reached a new level of feroc-ity, and I had the thought that maybe I should be running in the opposite direction. But I was too curious as to what was making the sound to turn back…
Drew and Koneko soon were standing beside me about twenty feet from the first cage we had baited that morning. It did have something inside of it; that was sure. Whatever it was filled up the whole cage and was beating so violently against it that we wouldn’t have known what it was but for the yards of thrashing tail extending from under the gate. Even as we watched, a coughing roar erupted from inside the cage.
“Oh…my…word,” I whispered.
“J-J-Jessie?” Drew stammered.
I finally managed to reply, “Y-Yeah?”
“You’ve got your camera, right?”
I’d left it behind at the cave. My stomach dropped. It took a few seconds before I could eventually choke out, “No.”
But then a voice screamed out from behind us, “But I have mine!!!”
“Datenshi!” Drew and I cried. He was with us before you could say “knife”, down on one knee, snapping pictures as fast as the camera could process them.
Then we heard a horrible cracking sound and one of the iron support bars flew across the clear-ing and hit a tree a few feet behind us with a crash, and the dragon snarled ferociously.
“Get back to the cave!” Drew commanded. “Now!”
He didn’t need to tell us twice. Only Datenshi turned to take one last picture of the angry beast we had caught. In any case, we probably broke any and every record getting back to the club-house.
“Okay,” panted Drew the moment we were out of the woods. “We are getting off this mountain right now!”
Drew slithered over the cliff and I hastily fol-lowed. The four of us streaked down the trail, leaving the rope hanging over the edge of the cliff. Soon we burst onto the road (which, thank-fully, was empty) and skidded to a halt. I leaned weakly against a tree. Once I had caught my breath sufficiently I glared at Drew.
“What did I do?” he panted.
“You said this wasn’t going to be dangerous!”
“That was a long tail!” gasped Koneko.
“I told you so!” Datenshi crowed.
“Nobody told me it was going to be that big!” Drew said defensively. “The tail alone was at least 15 feet long!”
“That was a huge tail!” Koneko murmured.
“Datenshi,” I said, “Your dragon wasn’t full-grown yet.”
“In other words,” he replied, “The cages are too small.” He looked up the mountain where we could still hear the noises from, and added, “And the gate did land on his tail.”
“Bonk,” said Drew.
“That…was…an…immense tail!” Koneko ex-claimed suddenly. Everyone else got quiet and looked at her. “Well,” she protested, “it was! Didn’t anyone else see it?”
“I did,” Datenshi answered readily.
“We need to tell Lantie,” Drew began, but just then she herself came running down the road to-ward us.
“What in the world is going on?” she asked in-quisitively. “And what are all those noises?”
“Um…” said Datenshi, “Jessie, why don’t you tell her? You were there the whole time.”
“Uh…” I said, “well, we just caught our first dragon.”

---

The five of us were standing where the cage used to be, carefully examining the pictures Dat-enshi had taken. They had actually turned out pretty well.
“I still don’t get why the tracks are so little when the dragons are so big,” Drew said, puzzled.
“The only thing I can come up with is that they have small feet for their size,” I said. “But sheesh, that dragon was enormous!”
“His tail, especially,” Koneko pointed out.
“What I can’t figure out,” Datenshi said, “is what on earth did he do with the rest of the cage? I mean, really. There’s only, like, half of it left.”
“Speaking of which,” Lantie replied, “why don’t we put this stuff” she nudged a piece of the broken cage “and the materials from the finished one, and the half-finished one, together, to make one big cage?”
We stared at her.
“What!” Datenshi exclaimed. “We’d never manage to tame it anyway, so…why should we try to catch it?”
“But I didn’t get to see it!” she protested.
Drew and I exchanged glances.
“Please,” begged Lantie.
“I suppose we could…” I said.
“Yes!” exclaimed Lantie. “Come on, let’s go start work on it right now!”
“But, Lantie, it’s getting on time when your parents will start to look for you,” Koneko pointed out.
“Jess said they already are.”
Datenshi glanced at his watch. “Oh, wow. I really have to go now.” He looked up at me. “Should I show anybody the pictures?”
“I don’t know…Drew, what do you think?”
“I wouldn't; not yet,” Drew said.
“Okay. Bye, y’all!” Datenshi started into the woods, then turned and asked, “You coming, Lantie?”
Lantie sighed. “I guess so. Bye, guys.” She and Datenshi walked off together. Somehow see-ing them go seemed a bit less depressing now, since this new excitement.
“I’m guessing you’re wondering why I told him not to share the pictures,” Drew finally said.
“No. Not if you were thinking what I was thinking,” I replied.
“I don’t know why he did it,” Koneko said.
“I think it’s because we don’t want to scare the parents with its size,” I explained.
“But,” added Drew, “if people say we’re lying about seeing dragons, we do have proof.”
“And then we can show them the pictures,” Koneko finished for him. “Good idea.”
“But Jessie,” Drew asked, turning to me, “why on earth did you agree to Lantie’s cage idea?”
“The big one probably won’t get caught again,” I answered. “He’s learned his lesson. But I was thinking we might catch the small one she and Datenshi had seen, and we might be able to tame that one. And I doubt he’d be able to escape.”
Drew grinned. “Well, then, should we go get the stuff from the other cages now?” he asked.
“I suppose you could,” I said slowly. “I proba-bly should be getting home, though.”
“Aw, it wouldn’t be much fun without you, and besides, it would take too long,” Koneko com-plained.
“We could do it tomorrow,” Drew conceded. “Everyone who can make it tomorrow can come and help. We should tell the others.”
“I’ll tell Lantie,” I offered. “She lives near us.”
“And I’ll tell Datenshi,” Drew said. “What time should it be?”
“My parents are gone all day tomorrow,” Koneko said, “so I can be here anytime.”
“I have all my chores done at about 8 in the morning,” Drew said. “I can probably get here at, say, quarter after.”
“I probably could, too,” I said. “So-o-o…say we officially start at 8:30?”
“Or 9, depending on when the others can get here,” said Koneko.
“Right. Well, I probably should get home now,” Drew said. “I’ll see you guys later!” And with a wave of his hand, he was gone.
“I probably ought to take off, too,” I said to Koneko.
“Well, just wait a bit,” I said. “It would look really weird for any grownups that are up right now to see a half a dozen kids walking into the village within a few minutes of each other.”
“Okay,” Koneko agreed. “Well…what should we do while we’re waiting?”
“We could go partway down the path, anyway. No need to stay just sitting up here.”
“All right.”
After a bit, once we were sure Drew had had plenty of time to get to his house, Koneko and I started down the road, chatting carelessly so that nothing would look unusual to any passersby. Soon we reached the village.
“See you tomorrow,” I said in a low voice.
“Yeah,” she replied, and jogged off towards her house. I watched her for a minute, then turned my steps toward my own home.
My parents were still asleep when I got there. I tiptoed to my room and hung up my jacket, first checking the pockets to be sure I hadn’t dropped anything, which I hadn’t. Then I slipped back into the main room and got a bowl of cereal. Soon my mom came down the stairs, yawning.
“Hey, Mom,” I said.
“Hey, Jessie,” she replied. “My, you’re up early! I’d thought you’d want to sleep in.”
I looked up, perplexed. “Why?”
She laughed. “It’s the first day of summer break! Don’t tell me you thought you had school today!”
“No,” I mumbled.
“Just getting a head start on your summer, get-ting up early?”
This is not early compared with when I’d really gotten up!
“Your friends are probably all still sound asleep,” she said, laughing.
I seriously doubt it.
“My, you’re quiet today,” she commented.
“I am?”
“Yes. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah.” I decided to change the subject. “Hey, Mom, how do you suppose Hiryuu Mountain got its name?”
“Well, what does it mean?”
“Koneko says it means ‘flying dragon’.”
“Well…I suppose somebody saw an eagle fly-ing over it and thought it was a dragon. Or there was a rock formation on it long ago that looked like a flying dragon, or something like that. Or they just thought it was an interesting name. They didn’t name it because they saw a real dragon there, that’s for sure.” She looked at me hard as she said, “Because dragons don’t exist.”
Of course they don’t, I thought. It’s not like we saw two different ones just this morning.
I’d finished my cereal. “Hey, Mom,” I said, “I was thinking about going to hang out with Lan-tananaki for a while. Is that okay with you?”
“Where would you be going?”
“Probably just biking along the road. Taking a walk down by the shore. Maybe hang out in the woods. Talking and stuff.”
“I guess so. Just don’t go too far.”
“I won’t. Thanks, Mom!” I dashed into my room. I grabbed my jacket out of the closet and ran out into the street. I hopped onto my bicycle, which had been leaning against the house, and pedaled over to Lantie’s house and knocked on the door. Lantie herself answered it.
“Hi, Jess,” she said.
“Hi. I was wondering if you’d want to go hang out, just the two of us?”
“Sure. Mom’s not awake and Dad’s not back yet, so I’ll have to leave a note. Come on in while I write it.”
I did, and stood right inside the door as she wrote on a scrap of paper and put it on the table. She took her jacket off the hook by the door and picked her bike up off the lawn.
“So…you’ve not been questioned yet?” I asked as we walked our bikes down to the road.
“Nope.”
I bit my lip. “What are you going to tell them when they ask?”
“Maybe they won’t.”
“They probably will.”
We were at the road now. I swung onto my bike. “What did you say in the note?”
Lantie and I started riding down the road. “I said, ‘Going to ride bikes with Jessie this morn-ing. Be back later.’”
“Maybe they’ll think you put it there this morn-ing and your dad didn’t see it!”
“Maybe. Hey, then I won’t have to face inter-rogation after all!”
“Yeah, that would be good.”
“Definitely.”
We were passing Drew’s house now. He was in the front yard and beckoned to us.
“What’s up?” I asked as we pulled up.
“I was wondering if you’d wait for me while I got my bike, too.” There was a strange note in his voice.
“Of course,” I said. “Anything wrong?”
“I have something important I need to tell you guys in private.”

More to come…

The beginning of Chapter 4

Soon the three of us were riding out of the vil-lage. “Well?” I said expectantly.
He sighed. “It turns out that somebody found the path to the clubhouse.”
My heart skipped a beat and I stopped my bike. “What,” I said dully.
“How?” cried Lantie, as she almost swerved off the road into the woods.
Drew cut a wide circle and came back to us. “Turns out I was being followed,” he said.
“By who?” asked Lantie.
“Kirin,” Drew growled.
“Kirin?” repeated Lantie. “Your brother?”
“Yep. The silly little kid trailed me all the way to the secret entrance.”
“But I doubt he could make it up the trail. He’s only what, eight? Nine?”
“Nine,” said Drew. “And he didn’t make it the whole way. He said he didn’t go very far, be-cause his pants were getting muddy. He was go-ing up on his hands and knees!”
Lantie chuckled.
“But I’m afraid he’ll blab,” Drew said.
“Come on, he’s old enough to keep it a secret!”
“He follows me everywhere!” grumbled Drew. “Little goofball.”
“Where is he now?” I asked.
“Back at home. I told him not to tell a soul and I’d give him some jellybeans. He said okay, but only if there weren’t any green ones.”
Lantie laughed again, but I was feeling too sick at heart about losing our secrecy.
“Well, I probably should get back,” Drew said after a long silence.
“Yeah, okay,” I replied. “See you.”
Neither Lantie nor I said anything for a long time. Finally I grunted and started down the road on my bike.
“Jess,” said Lantie, coming after me.
“What?” I looked back at her.
“We have pictures as proof there are dragons, so why are we still keeping it a secret?”
I considered this for a minute before answering, “I’d like to tame one first.”
“Why?”
“Because if our parents find out, they might say it’s too dangerous.”
“Do you think we ever will?”
“Will what?”
“Tame one.”
“I…I don’t know.”
We rounded a bend in the road and there di-rectly before us lay the vast ocean. Lantie squinted at the distant horizon. “I sure hope we do tame one. Wouldn’t it be great to go flying off to the east, across the ocean, on the back of a powerful dragon?”
Just the thought of it made her unconsciously quicken her speed. I shifted to a higher gear and caught up with her.
“What, you mean riding it?” I exclaimed.
“Sure. I mean, they’d be plenty big enough.”
Now you may be surprised to hear that the thought of riding the dragons once we’d tamed them had never really occurred to me. Now that I did think about it, though, I couldn’t imagine what we would use them for otherwise. But really—riding a dragon? I didn’t suppose anyone had even attempted it in a couple thousand years.
“I forgot to look for teeth,” I said suddenly.
Lantie glanced at me. “You…what?”
“I forgot to look at the dragon we caught to see if it had any teeth.”
Lantie looked at me rather strangely. “It had to have had teeth. How else would it eat?”
“I meant long teeth. Sharp teeth. Fangs. Grrr. You get the idea.”
“Oh.” We were quiet for a long time. Finally Lantie said, “If he was tame we wouldn’t have to worry. But we need to catch him first.”
“Oh, that reminds me, I almost forgot the main reason I wanted to talk to you!”
“The main reason?”
“Yeah. Can you make it to the clubhouse by, say, 8:30 or 9 in the morning? We’re going to start work on the new cage.”
“Ooh, goody! Um…I think I can make it. I sure hope I can.”
The road sloped downwards here, and as we coated down it, the boulders lining the shore to our right became more level with us.
“Do you want to get off here and just walk around a bit down by the shore?” I asked when we were nearly level with them..
“Sure,” Lantie agreed. We ran our bikes up into the woods a bit so they would be well hidden and then walked out onto the rocks.
“You have to be careful so you don’t turn your ankle,” I commented.
“Or step down into one of the cracks between the rocks,” added Lantie.
We were a good distance from the road by the time either of us stopped looking at our feet and started looking at the shore.
“That’s a really unusual-looking rock,” said Lantie casually. “I don’t ever remember seeing it there before. But we could sit on it to talk.”
“Where?” I asked, looking up. I saw that we were a good quarter mile from the shore, and there was a huge, dark, reddish hump a few yards out into the water where it was still shallow enough to wade. I stopped mid-step.
“Lantie,” I said nervously, “we might be sitting on that sometime, but it’s no rock!”
She looked again and her eyes lit up. “It’s the big dragon!” she squealed.
“Yeah, it’s the big dragon…and I would highly suggest we go back now….” I took a step back-wards.

And that's as far as I've gotten. Sorry it was so long.

I really enjoyed reading all your writing! It’s really encouraging to know there are other writers out there. Keep it up! :D

I love writing short stories… but I don’t know that I would want to post them… they are realllllly long short stories. ;)

So are a lot of mine.

I really like yours! :D

Mine have a lot of cowboy/country themes in them.

Somehow I'm not surprised. :-)
Most of mine involve fantasy creatures.

:D
I’ve wanted to write fantasy before but never was able to come up with a really good story that really flowed well. One I started was called “Tisrock’s daughter”….

My Dad has inspired most of my princess stories. :)

:-) Was "Tisroc's Daughter" about Calormen?

No, it was about a character named Tisrock (a rock man, or man of rock) who adopted a girl…. :)

Nice! I scanned it, and I like it! I'm going to read it more thouroughly tomorrow, but it looks really neat!

Here's one I wrote a couple of months ago:

“Wednesday. Today is Wednesday.”
“Wednesday. W-E-uhhhhh…D-N-E-S-D-A-Y. Wednesday.” The young boy answered.
“That is correct, Steven, you may sit down.” Ms. Belle said. In the 5th grade room Alyssa gets her tests back. You may think that Steven and Alyssa are just plain, normal, kids in school. They may appear as just “kids”, not popular, not cool, but, Alyssa and Steven Jones are AMUTUER detectives. Alyssa Jones is 10 years old and is in 5th grade. Steven Jones is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade. Ding-dong-ding-dong. The large bell rang.
“School’s out for the summer! Yea!!” Children burst out of the school doors shouting happily. Steven ran over to where Alyssa was standing.
“Where do you think we are going for vacation?” Steven asked. “Hmmmmm… ‘Africa.’” She said sarcastically. “No…Russia!” She exclaimed.
“We’ve been to Mexico, I think it is Brazil.” Steven said proudly. “Well, Dad said he’d tell us as soon as we got home. Let’s go!” Alyssa suggested. The two children ran down the sidewalk. Finally, huffing and puffing, Alyssa pushed open the screen door, letting it slam behind them.
“We’re here! We’re here!” They shouted. Steven ran into the room where their parents were talking. They paused as he ran in.
“You said you’d tell us the minute school was out!” Steven said as he gasped for air. Alyssa caught up to her little brother almost knocking him over.
“You promised!” she joined in. Their father stroked his chin playfully.
“Did I?” their father asked smiling.
“You did! You did!” The children answered excitedly.
“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you, but-.” He said grinning.
“What? What?” They asked eagerly.
“Guess.”
“Russia!” Alyssa said.
“Brazil!” Steven shouted.
“Neither.” Their father chuckled
. “Then where?” The children asked, ready to explode.
“Well I could tell you and make it boring,” Their father said, “Or,” He paused. “You could have this.” He waved a piece of notebook paper. Without hesitation the kids said in unison,
“The paper!” He handed over the piece of notebook paper. “Wait!” Dad said as they started to open it. “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,” He paused. Alyssa and Steven eagerly waited. “GO!” He exclaimed. The kids ran to Alyssa bedroom.
“Read it Alyssa!” Steven urged.
“Clue number 1. These clues are hard, dig in the dirt but don’t get hurt.” Alyssa read out loud. She grabbed her notepad and copied the clue on a page.
“That doesn’t make any sense.” Steven said with a puzzled look on his face. Alyssa laughed. Then she grew serious.
“But why would he say don’t get hurt? Or dig in the dirt? Where is somewhere we could get hurt?” She said partly to herself. Alyssa scribbled down something.
“What are you writing?” Steven questioned, peering over her shoulder. She showed him.

“I think it’s the black berry bushes.” Said Alyssa. “
No way! Big hole.” Steven argued. “Well don’t just sit there!” Alyssa cried jumping up of the bed. “Let’s go!” she grabbed her notepad and pencil. Steven followed her outside. It was a very sunny summer day. “Let’s go to the big hole first. It’s closer.” Steven suggested.
“Mmmm…Okay, okay.” Alyssa grudgingly ran to the deep hole their father had dug for a pear tree. It was half way filled with rotting leaves, but still dangerous if you fell in.
“Let’s dig it up!” Steven
Exclaimed.
“Wait!” Alyssa shouted. She looked into the sky squinting. “Sun is shining, and dad said something about a wooden box.” She concluded.
“SO WHAT?” Steven asked excitedly anxious to start.
“If it had rained the leaves would be wet, but if Dad had hidden it a couple of days ago it would start to rot. He’d have to hide it this morning. The leaves look perfectly dry. If, he had dug the leaves up, buried it, and covered it up at least a couple would be wet. He looked dirty so he must have done it quickly. Then he wouldn’t care about how he covered it up. And knowing him, he would want to take a shower.” Alyssa finished breathlessly. “Ohhhhh….” Steven said his cheeks red with embarrassment. “So…” Alyssa said with a grin, “It’s at the blackberry bushes!” She finished proudly. Steven sighed.
“Okay. I’m beaten.” Steven answered shaking his head. “Come on!” Alyssa urged. Steven followed.
“Careful.” Alyssa warned as she led the two of them to the bushes. They carefully crawled under the thorny blackberry bushes.
“Look!” Steven said in a low voice. “Footprints!” Cautiously they stood up. “Steven, hand me the shovel please.” Alyssa said. She started digging. CLUNG. The shovel hit something. Kneeling down Alyssa took a small object out of the ground. The space was small and cramped. Brushing away the dirt she took of a wooden top. Steven squatted beside her. She read out loud, “A small piece of metal is what you search an eager time of day when things are put in here, you shout when you see it and scream when you get some, look for a box with numbers.” The notepad was flipped open once more.
“A small piece of metal?” Steven shook his head. “Really?”
“Hmmmmm…” Alyssa thought. “Maybe a metal button?”
“A button. Alyssa, that’s crazy.” Steven grumbled. All of a sudden he shouted, “A key!”
“Yes!” exclaimed Alyssa. “We’re looking for a key in a box!”
“In a box?” Steven questioned.
“A box with numbers on it.” Alyssa mused. “In the basement!” she said excitedly. “What if a box was sent-” She stopped in mid-sentence, knowing her brother would finish it.
“It would have numbers on it!” Steven caught on immediately.
“Let’s go!” they both said at the same time. They looked at each other and laughed. The two of them ran down to the basement.
“Oh no!” wailed Alyssa.
“What hap-” Steven said coming down the rest of the stairs. He had been observing a spider spinning its web on the staircase. He stopped suddenly almost knocking Alyssa over. Steven and Alyssa both stood with their mouths shaping an O. Tons of boxes were stacked around them. “Do we really have to look in ALL these boxes?” Steven asked breaking the silence.
“Yes.” Alyssa replied. After checking about 10 boxes each
Steven asked wearily, “Are you sure Dad would make it THIS hard?” “It is peculiar. But clue number 1 said ‘these clues are hard.’” Alyssa said, but inside she was wondering too. Steven mumbled, “The clues are hard. I’m hungry. I haven’t even seen 1 sign of a- I’ve got it! The mail box! You shout when you see it and scream when you get some! Mail!” He shouted. He ran up the stairs and burst outside with Alyssa close behind. Steven nervously opened the mailbox. He grinned as he pulled a small shiny piece and read the small tag on the key:

         “This is the last clue
           Look for a square that is brown.
           Open it with the key.
     Waving in the wind
     Sturdied to the ground
          Such a sweet-” Alyssa peered over his shoulder and with a puzzled look spelled the next word, “L-E-M-L-S.”  “Is that even a word?” Steven asked confused.  “I don’t think so.” replied puzzled Alyssa. “But we can check in dad’s giant dictionary.” She assured Steven. “First let me copy the clue.” Alyssa said as she opened the notepad once more (with more enthusiasm this time). They hurried down to their father’s office downstairs. “L-e” Alyssa whispered. “Hmmmmm…. Nothing.” Alyssa said. “Let’s forget until we get to that part of the clue.” She said.  “Okay.” Steven replied. “Let’s go through it line by line.” Steven suggested. “Okay! I’ll do the first line and you do the next.” Alyssa agreed happily. “‘This is the last clue.’ We’re close!” Alyssa said.  “‘Look for a square that is brown.’ Ummmm…” Steven sheepishly grinned. “Let’s look at the next line too.” Alyssa said with a smile. “Open it with the key.” Alyssa read.  “It’s a box! I knew it!” Steven said excitedly.   “Okay, so it’s a brown, square, box.” Alyssa jotted down what she had said.  “Beautiful blue and green.”  Steven read.  “What’s blue and green?” Alyssa thought out-loud.  “The ocean?” guessed Steven.  “Weeelll, let’s read more.” said Alyssa. “Okay. Waving in the wind, close to the ground, such a sweet l-e-m-s-l.” Steven read.  “SMELL!” Alyssa exclaimed. “Oh, why didn’t I think of that before.” she cried. Alyssa jotted something down. “Okay, so what is blue and green, waves in the wind, is close to the ground, and smells?” Alyssa asked, smiling.  “Flowers!” they said together.   “Now which flower is blue?” Alyssa asked.  “Why didn’t you say blue and green?” questioned Stephen.  “Because the stem is green the bloom is blue!” Alyssa answered brilliantly. “Oh. Well then,” He paused.  “Mom’s Cornflowers!” The twosome answered together. Hurrying to their mother’s garden they walked carefully through the flower bed until they came to the cornflowers. There hidden was a rough, brown box. The children jumped up and down shouting, “We found it, we found it!” until they could calm down.  “Well, let’s not just stand here!” Alyssa said. Steven handed the box to Alyssa. Steven handed the box to Alyssa. She took the key from her pocket and gently unlocked the box. The wooden box creaked as she opened it. Inside lay a pile of grass and “flowers”.  “They’re leis!” shouted Steven. “And hula skirts!”  “We’re going to Hawaii!” screamed Alyssa excitedly. They joined hands and danced around wearing the leis - and skirts. “Dad, Dad!” They shouted. “We know, we know!” The professor suddenly appeared in the doorway, smiling.  “Where?” He asked playfully.  In unison they cried, “Hawaii!”  “You’re right!” Dad replied chuckling.   “When do we leave?” Alyssa asked anxiously.  “Well,” Their father stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Our flights are booked for next week. But of course, if you don’t want to go I can canc-” The professor was interrupted by cries of:  “Of course we want to go!” “We’re going by plane?” and, “Yippeeee!!!”  Dad laughed. “Wait, wait!! Yes, we are going by plane-” again he was interrupted by “Yea!” “Woo-hoo!!!” “Yippeeeeee!!!!” and other squeals of joy. “Let’s go pack!!” Steven cried. Before you could say Silly Sally Sells Seashells they were upstairs ready to pack. Alyssa thought for a moment then ran down the stairs again.  “Mom,” She began.  “Yes daughter?” Mom answered.  “How long are we staying?” Alyssa asked.  “Well, your father said 3 weeks, so, three weeks it is.” Mom said kindly.  “3 weeks?” Alyssa questioned, amazed.  “3!” Her mother answered a smile on her face. Alyssa thundered up the stairs and started writing a list:

To Take:
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Pajamas
Bible
Brush
Floss
Socks
Earrings
Shorts
T-shirts
Jeans
Formal outfit
Swimsuit
Goggles
Sunscreen
Sunglasses

Alyssa thought for a moment then started to hurry around. Steven, meanwhile, was bustling around stuffing shorts, shirts, shoes, anything he might need. Just then Alyssa popped her head in the doorway. “Hey, mom said we’re staying for 3 weeks. Thought you might just want to know.” And with that she was gone.
“Thanks!” He shouted after her. Now where are those goggles? Steven wondered silently.
“Children!” Their father called suddenly, interrupting their packing. They hurried down stairs.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” They asked worriedly.
“Nothing’s wrong!” Dad said laughing. “I have something for you guys.” He pulled a large box from behind his back. “Open it!” He urged them. “Really?!”Alyssa squealed. Steven gingerly opened it. There, laying in the box were two scuba diving sets.
“Wow! Thanks Dad!” They cried.
“But- We don’t know how to scuba dive.” Steven objected.
“Oh pu-leese Steven!” Alyssa groaned.
“All fixed!” Dad said, chuckling at their puzzled faces.
“Do you really expect us to learn in one week?” Steven complained.
“I have a friend in Hawaii.” Dad explained. “He’s offered to teach you how to scuba dive!”
“Wow!”
“Cool!”
“THIS IS AWESOME!” and other joyous comments erupted from the two kids. “Is there some sort of catch? It seems so.” Alyssa questioned. There was silence in the room.
“Yes.” Dad sighed. “His son has been kidnapped.
“What?” Alyssa gasped.
“His son?” Steven’s eyes bulged. “That’s terrible!” Steven said worriedly.
“But I still don’t get how it connects.” Alyssa commented.
“He wants your help.” Dad said simply.
“He wants our help?” Alyssa asked, amazed. Dad just smiled and nodded. “WOW!” Alyssa exclaimed. Three hours later Alyssa ran downstairs. “I’m finished packing most of my stuff!” She grinned.
“It’s time for bed.” Mom ordered. “Dad or I will be up in a minute to say good night.”
“Yes ma’am.” Alyssa groaned.
“Alyssa!” Mom admonished. Alyssa ran up the stairs scaling two at a time. “Steven!” she called as she embarked upon his room.
“What?” Steven asked, poking his head out the door.
“Time for bed!” She smirked.
“You have got to be kidding me.” He moaned. She smothered a giggle as she pointed to Steven’s clock. It read 8:30. “Okay, okay you got me.” Steven said, obviously disappointed. Alyssa walked into her bedroom. After changing into a white nightgown with pink, blue, lime green and purple dots, Alyssa pulled back her floral comforter. Sliding into bed she pulled out her blue leather Bible, the one she got for Christmas. She flipped to Psalms and read:

Psalm 91
Security of the One Who Trusts in the LORD.
91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions,
and under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
14 “Because he has loved me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in [trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”
Alyssa smiled contentedly and put her Bible back under her pillow. Just then Mom came in to pray with her. After saying her prayers, Mom prayed. Then Alyssa said, “I read Psalm 91 tonight. It was really good.”
Mom answered with, “I know that one! It is good. Good night sweetie! Sweet dreams!”
“Good night Mom! I love you!”
“I love you too!” Mom then shut the door and left. A couple of minutes later Alyssa slipped into deep sleep. Meanwhile, Steven had changed into his camo jamies and climbed underneath his camo covers. He pulled out his camo waterproof Bible he had gotten for his birthday two years ago. He opened it to the story of King Saul and David. As he was reading Dad knocked on the door. “Come in.” Steven called.
“Hey son!” Dad said smiling. “What are you reading?” Steven looked up and said, “The story where David cuts the piece of cloth from King Saul’s robe.”
“So it’s pretty good?” Dad asked.
“Yeah, actually I was reading Song of Solomon but it got to mushy.” Steven made a face. Dad’s hearty chuckle filled the room.
“Really? You think so?” Dad asked.
“Mmm hmm..” Steven replied, engrossed with his story. Dad just laughed.
“Okay son, do you want to pray first or would you like me to?”
“You.” Steven said solemnly.
“Father in Heaven….” Dad finished praying and then it was Steven’s turn.
“Dear Jesus, Thank you for Mom and Dad and Alyssa. Please help us to have another boy.” Immediately Dad’s eyes popped open and almost choked.
“Another boy!!??” Dad’s eyebrows were furrowed in a way that meant he was confused. “Amen.” Steven’s prayer inturrepted Dad’s thoughts.
“Well son, it’s time for bed. Good night!” Dad spoke up, in the midst of his thoughts.
“Good night, Dad!” Steven bid him good night and went right to sleep. The next morning, Alyssa woke up as the sun was coming up. 5:46. Alyssa read. She changed into a puffy white blouse, the one that looked like Lucy’s in The Dawn Treader Movie. Oh, she loovveedd that movie. Long black skinny jeans with pink thread in them were her pick for the day. She pulled her hair back into a braid and tied it with hot pink ribbons. She looked at herself in the mirror and put on a light pink cowgirl belt. After picking up a couple of books and papers that had slipped off her desk, she crept out of her turquoise room and into Stephen’s camouflage bedroom.
“Stephen? You awake?” Alyssa poked her head into the camouflage room.
“I’m awake alright!” A voice came from where the bed was, but Alyssa didn’t see anyone. Alyssa stepped into his horribly messy room, her eyes searching the messy room. Steven crawled out from under his bed.
“And what were you doing in there?” Alyssa asked, sternly, but playfully.
“I was conducting an archeologist dig.” Steven replied, with the same playful seriousness. “Through your mess I suppose?” Alyssa asked, cleverly. The two children burst into laughter. “But seriously, you need to clean this up.” Alyssa stated.
“I know, I know…” Steven mumbled sourly. It was then Alyssa noticed Steven’s outfit. He wore a bright orange t-shirt, inside out and backwards. A pair of wrinkled shorts accompianed it. His dirty blond hair was rumpled and sticking straight out at the back.

“Hey, I thought we could make breakfast today for Mom and Dad, since they do so much. And it’s only 6:02!” Alyssa suggested.
“That is the best idea I’ve heard today! How ‘bout waffles? I loovee waffles!” Steven eagerly responded immediately.
“Great! Let’s go! Shh…” Alyssa said just as excited, ‘cause she loved waffles too!

See the Narnia thread for my most recent story.

Oksy, everybody. I'm in a writing club this summer and I've decided to write a story about a gryphon named Firecock. I need names for supporting gryphon characters. I have Goldwane, but I need more. You can completely make up names (like Eucalypse, who might be in my story or might not) or combine words (like what I did with the other names). So far, the names have a Narnian-ish sound.
I also need some names for people, who live in a culture mostly medieval, but with a twinge of American Indian.
Can anyone help me?

How about Rapidwings, Glasswhistle, Silverstorm, Dermiticus, or Thundertail?

I love to write, but I'm afraid I can't type any of my stories here. It would take up toooooooooooo much space! The last story I printed, was 356 pages !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Has anyone here ever used the "One Year Adventure Novel" school course? And Noooo, I've never published a book, although I'm working on it:)

Thundertail is just ASKING for a bunch of caricatures of it!

O-o-o-o-oh…those are fantastic! Silverstorm is my favorite! And Thundertail is totally cool, too! Wow…thanks so much!

I'm doing One Year Adventure Novel right now!! :D Did you do it? :)

Anyone have any suggestions for writer's block? I'm writing that gryphon story and have sort of lost inspiration. Not enthusiasm, thankfully; just inspiration.

The most fun fanfic I've ever written; took me about 2 hours.

All you Narnians…remember Pittencream, the sailor offhandedly mentioned near the end of Chapter 14 in VODT? Here you go…

(untitled)

“Way, way, for the Tarkaan Kalimir!”
Annoyed, I again moved to the side of the road. I was crammed between a woman holding a screaming child, and a man reeking even more of garlic and fish than most of us other Calormenes. I would be glad when I could get through Tashbaan. I had to pass through it every few weeks because of my job and so I was used to the crowd and the constant making way for Tarkaans and Tarkheenas, but today was the worst. If I felt like trying to count how many times I’d had to stop and move to the side of the road just on this street, I’d have to take off my shoes and count everything twice. On the other hand, if I decided to count how many steps I’d been able to take between each of those stops, I’d only need one hand. I growled as I saw another litter coming in sight around the bend ahead.
Then I heard a loud voice rising above the general ruckus of the crowd. It had a rather whiny tone, and I couldn’t exactly say it sounded very agreeable. When I finally made it around the corner ahead, I could see the speaker.
He had light skin like the people who live to the North, but was darkly tanned and I guessed he’d lived here in Calormen for many years. He was standing on a heap of stones piled against a building, and there was an interested circle of people clustered around him. I joined them.
“The sun got bigger every day, whiter and hotter, and more unbearable,” the man was saying. “The water gleamed and sparkled and sent up a heat of its own. There was no way to escape from the light. It penetrated every part of the ship. The galley, the cabins, the hold, everywhere. Every morning the white birds flew straight out of the sun and went over us, flying towards the west. A few minutes later, back they would come, singing their strange, evil song, and fly back to their home in the sun.”
I leaned over to the man next to me and asked, “Who is that?”
“He’s a sailor,” he whispered back. “He sailed to the end of the world on a voyage with the king of Narnia on the Narnian ship the ‘Dawn Treader’ years ago.”
I nodded and turned my attention again to the speaker.
“The water grew deeper, and deeper, and deeper, until you couldn’t see the bottom of the sea. And yet it grew clearer, and clearer, and clearer, and the ship raced along like the wind, yet without the wind, as there was no wind but what we made ourselves by our sailing. The magic of the last sea was pushing us relentlessly toward the edge of the world. The water flashed and glittered and the sun bore down ominously until the light and the heat were too much to bear. Before long, it became too bright to see anything. All we could see was white. But one day, the light broke and we could see each other and the ship again. Behind us was what seemed a white wall of light that fell from the peak of the sky, and we realized we’d reached the other side of the sunrise.”
Someone behind me made a stifled choking sound, but I was too spellbound by the sailor who had gone to the last sea to turn and see who it was. The speaker went on.
“But still the magic of the sea pushed us onward, faster and faster. There was no way to stop. Our sail billowed out full behind us from the speed at which we were going, but it slowed us not a bit. On and on we went. We never saw the white birds any more, because the sun never passed overhead now, but rose behind us and made its way west. The light grew dimmer every day as we got further and further from the place where it rose, and still the water grew deeper, and deeper, and deeper, until it was deeper than the world is wide.”
The person behind me snorted. I wondered how he couldn’t believe the sailor, who spoke so fervently.
“Ahead of us, the horizon continued on and on. There was no end of it, no land in sight. On and on, for days and days, caught in the last sea, endlessly sailing on and on, away from the sun, away from our homes (which by this time were thousands and thousands of leagues behind us and which we had not seen for a year), away from everything everyone has ever known. All that was there was water. Only water, and the light, which was daily growing less, and us. Just us, a small ship in an endless ocean, caught in the endless sea at the edge of the world, rushing, rushing, rushing, towards the edge of the world, unstoppable, helpless, hopeless. We were sure every day that this would be our last. But every day the magic pushed us more swiftly, until we were going so fast that the ship was barely skimming along the top of the water. Then one day, we saw ahead of us, stretching from horizon to horizon, a streak of black. It was difficult to see, for by now the light had grown so dim that we needed lights on the ship at all times except for at high noon. We tried to slow ourselves, but it was no use. The black streak thickened and grew by the minute, and we feared lest we might run against it, but there was nothing we could do. As it came nearer, we saw that it reached to the sky, just as the wall of white had, when we passed through the sunrise, yet we still could not see what this black wall was. And yet on it came, faster and faster, until the ship suddenly ceased its eastward rush and we saw (when it was but a league away) that the blackness was nothing. It was the lack of light, darkness itself, in its solid form.”
The man behind me seemed to have gotten some smoke in his face; in any chance, he was coughing rather hoarsely. The speaker went on.
“We rowed slowly forward, until we reached the wall of nothing. They let the boat down, which those in it steered right into the wall and disappeared. They returned soon and we took them back up and rowed into the blackness. For two days and a night we continued through it, and would have seen neither each other’s faces nor anything of the ship but for the lanterns we had on the prow and stern, and we were afraid we were traveling in circles. But finally we broke out of the blackness, and ahead there lay a sea of white water, and we wondered if this was yet another last sea which we had just entered. And above us there stood another sun, which glinted off of the water and blinded us after being in the blackness. And still there was no wind. Far ahead of us we could see a crystal-blue island sitting on the horizon and—”
Suddenly the man behind me called out, “I say, friend, what happened when you turned and came back?”
The speaker, still speaking to his audience in general, said, “When we finally returned to Narnia, the king, who had promised every one of us homes, land, and gold, and an honorable place in his court, turned me away unjustly and denied ever having told me such, although he’d given the others their share. When I reminded him of his promise, he grew angry and threatened to have me imprisoned, and I was forced to flee here. I—”
Suddenly the man behind me burst into peals of laughter. I turned, irritated, to see who it was and saw a light-skinned, muscled man with his arms wrapped around his waist, bending over in fits of laughter.
The speaker looked at him and a peculiar expression crept over his face. “Rynelf!” he gasped, paling.
Rynelf looked up at him and said between laughs, “You know as well as I do, Pittencream, that you deserted at the Lone Islands on the way home and came here, and that you stopped at Ramandu’s Island and waited for us to return from the end of the world!” He laughed again. “You never even saw the last sea, you big old liar!”
“I—” began Pittencream, but Rynelf interrupted him.
“And I must say, you did a very bad depiction of the Silver Sea. And the Dark Island was not in the last sea. And we did not go so fast we lifted out of the water. And the sea did not keep getting deeper and deeper; if anything, it got shallower and shallower. And where on earth did you get the idea for the second sun?”
“I—” began Pittencream again.
“And what about food? Where did the crew on your ‘“Dawn Treader”’ get food? And you know, I don’t remember being on the other side of the sunrise, with the sun getting further and further away…oh! And that Blue Island! Tell us more about the Blue Island you saw on the horizon, that you were talking about right before you stopped!”
There was no reply. I looked back at the pile of stones. There was no one standing on it. Pittencream had slipped away.
The End

Wow. You are good. :)

I just read your dragon story for the first time, and… wow. I really like it! You really are an amazing writer! It inspires me to get to work on the story I'm planning on writing… Anyway, have you gotten any further on your story? Do you know how it's all going to end up, or are you just making it up as you go?

BTW, your VOTDT story was really good too. :)

Oh, thank you, SBG and Jess! I've been writing fiction most of my life, and it feels good to see all the practice paying off!
I haven't written any more of the dragon story, because…um…yeah, I'm not really, really sure where I'm going with it. I know I do want them to catch a dragon, but I don't know when or how, or if it's going to be just one or more than one, or if it's going to be an adult or not, etc. So…I'm sort of stranded. I'm hopefully going to get back to work on it pretty soon, but I can't be sure.

Thanks! :-) Quickest fanfiction I've ever written, probably that anyone's ever written! I had to rein it in at the end because it wanted to keep going, but it would have been an unending story if I'd let it run away with me.

I understand your predicament. I too am having a sort of writer's block at the moment, but I think I may have finally solved it. Just keep trying, and you'll come up with something! :)

(Hey, have you ever tried freewriting? It's where you just sit at your keyboard and type nonstop, trying to come up with something for your story. Nothing is not allowed! I've found it to work very well for developing the plot of a story. :) )

SBG - I didn't know it was called free writing but that is a great way to start stories. It sort of my style as I like to write humorous short stories.

Well, usually I don't do it to write stories, but to develop the plot of the story I'm working on. It's never going to be part of the story, but it helps me to keep going with the story. :)

I usually start my stories that way and do a little editing afterwards.

Okay. :) For me, my freewriting could never be in story form, because it is so sloppy. :P

Yeah, it usually gives me something to go off. I still have to do some work making it smoother or longer afterwards.

I have! I wrote a little book called The Prince of Pie which my brother really likes. :)

I have written a few short stories and when I have time i will be uploading them to my website @
zachweb.yzi.me/minibooks

I've not tried freewriting in years…I should test it out again! :-)

I'm writing a book called "David's Medallion" but I've only got part of it done. And I can't post it because I handwrote it and would have to type up the entire thing.

What's it about?? :-)

IDK if you've heard of this but I've been working on a book with some friends called "The Prince of the Fallen". It's really good, you should read it. :) lol

Is that TSTNE?

yes. We've got a name for it now: The Prince of the Fallen: A Tale of the Nobles of Alavaria.

Ooooooooh! I read all that was written of it a month or two ago, but I'm not on the forums every day, so it's hard to keep up with it. Are you really going to make it into a book!???!???!???

Hopefully - its longer than the length of LWW. We want to publish it as an e-book but it hasn't gotten finished since 2 of our main contributers (Jimmy & SBG) are at college and doing BB studying, respectively, so we'll have to wait…

Wow… … …that is so cool! Please-please-please get it finished so I can read it without having to worry about what's going to happen next and not be able to find out! :-) I think that all I've read was to the chapter after my favourite character (was it Rowan?) died. :-( I almost always choose the guy who dies as my favorite character. I even keep almost killing off my favorite character in my own book (he's not the main character)!

Yeah, I heard that Jimmy's at college. Wow, so I guess the story is in a bit of a standstill, huh?

EDIT: Ack! "Favourite"? In Southern Illinois? Correction. "Favorite". Reading Narnia affects even your spelling.

Yeah, I heard that Jimmy's at college. Wow, so I guess the story is in a bit of a standstill, huh?

He is working Little by little on editing he told me :D! He had 2 chapters edited before he left so maybe if he will e-mail them I can post it on TSTNE……

YAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!

I was working on a story about a peasant who lives near the city of Thrae (Earth), in the kingdom of Nehave (Heaven). Anyway, the greatest knights of the kingdom are captured by a dragon, so the King chooses this peasant to slay the dragon and rescue them. It's supposed to be an allegory but I haven't gotten very far yet. (I'm kind of stuck. :))

Sounds cool! :)

I think we should all have a part on the editing.. The two chapters he edited and posted still need a little editing…

This is a story I wrote a while ago for school.

"Benji!" Brittany called. "Looks like there's a letter for you." Benji came running out of his bedroom. "A letter for me?"

"Yes. It looks like it's probably a birthday card from Grandma," Brittany replied, handing the card to him.

Benji ripped it open and his jaw dropped. "Yeah, Brittany, you were right. It is a birthday card from Grandma. But look what else she gave me." Brittany looked at the dollar bills that had fallen out of the card. There were three twenty dollar bills. "Wow, Benji! Sixty dollars. What are you going to do with it?"

Benji frowned. "Um… I'm not exactly sure. I'll probably save it for now. I've been looking at this really cool robot at Kmart. I might buy that."

"OK, but make sure you think about it first. That's a lot of money," Brittany warned him.

---

A few weeks later, Brittany was looking at their church's website. As she scrolled down one of the pages, she saw a notice on one of the side bars. It said that the church was looking to buy a sound system and microphone. She remembered how bad the sound had been last week. She read a little more, and saw that they were only about sixty dollars away from buying it.

Benji walked into the living room just then and saw her looking at the web page. He looked over her shoulder and read the notice. Sixty dollars? he thought. I wonder… "Brittany, what's the church's mailing address?" he asked.

"Email? Or snail mail?"

"Snail mail," he said.

"I think Mom has it in the front of her address book. Why?" Brittany asked.

"Well…" he said, and told her his plan. "That's a GREAT idea, Benji! Check it over with Mom first, but I think you should do it, if you really want to."

Benji was a little worried at first when he sealed the envelope which contained the money he had gotten for his birthday and a note saying that he wanted the money to be used to help buy the new sound system. As he watched it drop through the mail slot at the post office, he suddenly felt really happy.

When he mentioned this to Brittany later, she asked, "Why do you think you felt that way?" Benji hesitated, then said, "I have no idea. I thought I'd be really sad to give away the money I was going to use for that robot, but I felt happy instead. Why do you think I felt like that?"

Brittany laughed and handed him a Bible. "Look up Acts 20:35," she said. "Look especially at the last part. I think you'll get the answer to your question."

He did.

"…It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35b