My back hurt. My feet hurt. My hands hurt. The sun clearly didn’t give a care about my suffering as it continued to beat down upon myself and the other trainees. This morning we were all split into groups of 5 to work on different farms. I wanted to be put on Sunfield farm with my mother, but I was put on Jarlsson’s (I guess this was purposeful). We each work on this farm for 3 months, and then another one for 3 months before taking take of a farm alone as a big group.
It turns out that the Jarlsson’s has pigs, cows, sheep, hens and horses. The normal lot. First I was given the last of checking the horses paddock ragwort. I have grown up being taught what ragwort is and how it is bad for horses all my life. But Ninna didn’t have a clue. I had carefully showed her a ragwort. However, she had dug up a whole corner of buttercups and grass as she thought the weed was there. Thankfully she had taken the grass out in wedges, so it wasn’t that hard to put right. Then it was lunch time and we all gathered around for a bowlful of oats and roots. Much to my excitement, I (and Ninna) was given the task of taking the horses out on a ride. Ninna had only ridden a few times so I put her at the front, tell her that we could go up into Forgotten Fields providing we kept to the track and didn’t wander into the Dew’s land. I took up the rear as we step off in a trot, sometimes a canter. I had the job of keeping all the horses in together and not letting any of them stray too far. As much as riding was better then weeding, the constant chasing of rebellious horses led to me having to constantly stay alert. So that by the time we had ridden them back into their paddock for the night I was tired. Luckily, the others had milked the cows and were starting to light the torches to keep the wolves and bears at bay. I hated milking cows. I don’t know why but the whole business of it just made me squirm. It was time to choose who would stay on watch for tonight. They would have a fire and a bag of stones to stop any predators, or other clans, from seizing our live stock. Ninna, much to my amazement, volunteered. So I thought it was only polite to volunteer also. “It’s so strange here you know. Back in the town I was training to be a baker. That’s what my father was. Every morning we had fresh bread and we would eat it as we delivered it to the Fort. I think I must be insane coming here but I just wanted some peace you know? Start again. In Silverglade clan, you do the job that your parents do. Then if you transfer to that clan you take up any spaces. If there are too many of you then you have to win the space else you’ll be sent away,” Ninna sighed. She had a way of just telling you things. The night was still. The fire crackled; the wind blew. A twig snapped. I sped around, trying to make out a shape in the darkness. I got up. What was it? “Cyth?” Ninna asked. I kept walking. Into the trees. What was it? ‘Just a fox ‘ I told myself. I turned around to go back… …And I heard Fok’s voice.
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I wandered through the woods, keeping my eyes peeled for the source of the cries. I paused in my tracks: there is was again. A bloodcurdling, spine numbing, desperate scream, that alerted the whole of Jorvik to the pain that one individual was feeling. On edge, I walked through the normally peaceful woods. And there she was. Just off the road, covered in blood and crying.
She looked about 14 years old but she was caked with grime, mud and yes, blood. “Who are you?” I asked, tentatively. But her cries had ceased and no reply came. Partly revolted, I leaned down towards her neck to take her pulse. Nothing. I called for help and soon Pa came and lifted the girl up in his protective arms. “Jina there was nothing you could do,” Ma said as she washed the dishes. “But there was wasn’t there? I could have, I don’t know, run or-“ “Jina you are being silly. Even if you had saved her I couldn’t have helped her. She was stabbed multiple times.” Ma knew that as she had washed and dressed the body in my old Sunday best. I could hear Pa shovelling the dirt back onto the body. With that I tucked my head under the covered and slipped into sleep. And I woke up. Blood. Blood on the carpets, blood on the floor. Why was there blood? “Ma, Pa!” I screamed. No response. Dread hit me hard. “No no no no no no. Help! Help! Can anyone hear me?!” “I can hear you,” a voice from across the room spoke. Silver blond hair gleamed across at me. It couldn’t be. Could it? Was that the girl from earlier. Silver hair, blue eyes and shabby clothes. Yes, it had to be. A long knife sat smugly in her hand, it’s cruel curved bland grinned. She looked at me. Eye contact. “I would love to stay, Jina, but dear old Thompson is looking for his head. He picked the wrong girl this time. However, he does hate to be kept waiting and I have an appointment with him. Goodbye Jina” “Cyth this is Ila. Mount up” Mona told me. it was the grand welcoming ceremony and all of us initiates were starting off the yearly festival. We parade into the square on horses and then start the training. It sounds so bad, but all it is is helping out on a farm. We just learn to take care of the animals and the basics of the crops (most of the crops are done by the Eponas).
Clip clop. The horse trotted into the square. I was happily riding bareback, but the transfers (the initiates from other clans) were bouncing around, struggling to stay on. Mostly not because of lack of riding, but because here the horses acted differently to say in the Firgrove clan. Riding a different clans horse takes time to get used to! We stop in front of Han Har’s house. He’s the clan leader, he is quite young but very good at his job. On either side of him, the 6 elders sit, viewing us as one may view toys in a shop. “People of Jarlaheim. Today we welcome our newest recruits. Alice of Jarlaheim,” Alice dismounted and walked to the front, where she was presented with a bag from which she must pick out a welcome gift. A packet of seeds. Appropriate. “John of Jarlaheim. Ninna of Siverglade. Zumbi of Valedale. Mora of Jarlaheim. Avalon of Valedale.” Valedale? Maybe he’d know about my brother! Han continued, “Cyth of Jarlaheim”. I walked forward, keeping my eyes to the ground. I plunged my hand into the depths of the bag and pulled out a thin pull on, made from the material that was used on the bags. I turned and saw Ma in the ground. We made eye contact and she nodded - she was very happy with me. Over I walked to the other recruits. After the rest of the names were called, we were taken to the dorms where we would spend the night. Fok, who is in change of the recruits, told the boys to go to the left, girls to the right. Mona was already inside the girls dormitory: she also did the training. It was an array of matrices, each covered with a sheet. No pillows. Above each bed was a hook (that was on the edge of a precipice, ready to fall) where we would hang our clothes. Then each of us had to first print, then sign, our name in the big book of recruits. From now of we were all not from any clan. It was now that those who had moved were leaving their clans, and join Jarlaheim in the 2nd stage of membership. When you are a child, you are in the first stage, since people recognise that you didn’t choose to be a part of this clan. Then when you are in recruit you join the second stage. If you graduate, you get the 3rd stage of membership, able to vote on some choices in the clan. Finally, if you ever become an elder you get the 4th stage of membership. Before me in the line was Ninna. However, she wrote Fina on the paper. If you move clans you are allowed to change your name fitting to the clan. Avalon didn’t change his. I would change my name if I had the choice, but I can’t. We each took a bed and Mona passed us our new clothes. One pair of boots, a cloak, a shawl and a nightdress. Then two dresses, two pinafores, two shifts, two pairs of underwear and stockings. “Use the privy outside and then wash your hands and faces back in here. Comb and braid your hair, then change. Put all your things at the end of the room: you won’t be needing them. You have 5 minutes,” Mona said after she’d give them last girl (Jay) her things. 5 minutes later, under the thin cover, I started to wonder if it was like this in other clans. It must be. Ma had told me that the reason it was like this was simple. People came from so many different places and they had habits. Everyone had to be stripped of their identities to start their new life here. Everyone had to be presented as equal, regardless of their upbringing. Hanging onto this thought, I drifted into sleep. Have you noticed that with this one I tell you that is happening rather then showing you like I did it Kitty’s tale? In KT the story line was quite simple, but here there is so much more with the story and less with the writing. It’s actually quite good practise! When I have finished Cyth’s choice (I think it will be 10 parts like KT) I will try and do something where both storyline and technique are combined. Or maybe next Sunday there will be a Halloween tale instead… Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop. The road to the Fort of Pinta was long and unkept. It was used so irregularly that we were probably the only people to venture down it for a year: it was only really used for the choosing ceremonies. A moment of flying as the cart hopped and flew over a stone, only to plumet down around to the track.
A misty sea of orange had filled the setting sky. It glittered onto the ocean; dancing on this surface. It was in this light that we arrived. The Fort was a bee hive of activity. The Silverglades had already taken the space inside the Fort to camp as they were highest on the hierarchy. The Valedales camped in the forest to the North and the rest camped on the beach. “My brother is here,” I thought. The whole of the clan comes to the ceremony. It was a long night: I couldn’t get any sleep. Come morning I just walked up the river to the fresher water and washed. All the clans kept looking at each other, in polite amazement. We only got to see each other every year, and we all only get to experience 2 clans at most. I pull on my orange robe with a green cord - the colours of the harvest countries. The Eponas use a green robe and an orange cord. I stand with the other children who are coming of age, around a circle. Around us are the Rulers, dressed in black and gold. Then the clans sat in their groups, not mixing with the others apart from the odd glance. And even that was frowned on. I wait. My turn soon. I set forward. I walk towards the spike in the middle and cut my hand. I force my feet to the wooden spike with the bloody hand prints of all before me. And I press it. And I walk towards a clan. Jarlaheim clan. I sit myself next to my mother. She has saved me a seat, she never doubted me. Tomorrow the initiation starts, but today I keep my head in my mothers lap, letting her stoke my hair. Its weird how your whole life can change in a heartbeat. How everything you’ve ever worked for can be taken away, and next time you’ll need to work 10 times harder to get it back. This isn’t just fantasy: I’ve experienced it.
Well that was dramatic! I’m Ellen, Ellen of Jarlahiem. I’m from Britannia but my Ma (Essa of Jarlahiem) decided that myself and my brother would have a better life on the island of Jorvik. My brother. I can’t even speak his name. He ran of and left Ma and I all alone. On his 14th - two years ago- he went to join the Valedale clan. “Respect his choice” the elders tell us. I hope he failed initiation. I’ve lost you haven’t I? 3 years ago tomorrow Joh Jarl died, leaving the island of Jorvik divided into clans. He told us that at the age of 14 (when we become adults) each of us could chose which clan we wish to join. Tomorrow I’ll be at my ceremony. I think I want to rejoin Jarlahiem - the animal farmers. Over in the Epona clan they farm plans. We farm animals and corn. Our clans used fight to fight a lot over land until we built a fence. Now I can see you wondering about the other clans and their jobs. I suppose its very different in your day. The Firgrove clan mines coal and cuts wood, Valedale is in charge of keeping the balance of the island right, Silverglade is full of trades men and women, Cape west clan do fishing. Then there’s the Kalters. They’ve just disappeared but they live up North. Also there’s the Town of Pinta, which is the center of trades and life here. Tomorrow we’ll ride there for the ceremony. At the ceremony each of us will state what clan we wish to join. Then we’ll train for a year to join that clan: 15 is the age you can start work. Each clan has its own breed of horse, and we’ll be partnered with our soul horses. We were born together, even if we didn’t know it, and we’ll die together, defending the island of the force called Garnok. Garnok is evil and in our half a century of living he has appeared 4 times, and taken lives. He mainly takes the Valedale clan trainees, but there have been a few from other clans too. Ma is calling for bed now, its a big day tomorrow. I awoke from the depth of a dream (as rather interesting one about a giant chicken). Of course, the chicken part might be owing to the fact that a rooster was crowing loudly. Sleepily I rubbed my eyes and hopped out of bed.
I’m Saga by the way. Saga Sunfield. I don’t get half teased about my name! I stepped out onto the cobbled yard at our farm. Freja was already awake and was feeding the kittens (she is in charge of a kitten rehoming centre). I sighed. Today was one of the longest days. I would have to do my chores around the farm and then head off to school, followed by stable work (this earned money as I was saving up for my own horse). I headed into the cow shed. It was my job to milk and feed the cows. I milked each one. Their foamy milk falling into a tin bucket, that I kept emptying into the big barrels in the cellar. Freja was already down there. She started filling up the bottles of milk. It was still only 6am so we would deliver them before everyone woke up. After the cows were happily munching away, I climbed onto the cart which delivered the milk around Jarlaheim. Well, to a third of it. Some order from the Goldsperes and some from Jorvik Stable farm. But Jorvik Stable farm only supplies Jarlaheim and a few people in Epona. But we supply most of Jorvik. I set the bottles down in the early morning ferries. Some would be taken to the Valleys, some up Silversong River for those villages and some to Silverglade. Of course, a lot went to Epona. Back at home Mam gave us each 2 oat pancakes with honey and berries (picked in Greendale) before we set out for school! The little girl and little boy splashed in the water of the open ocean. I stood there, watching them. My son and daughter. Mark slipped his arm under mine, holding me tight.
“Mummy look I’m a fairy” the girl cried. Running around flapping her arms as if they were wings. “And I’m a naughty Brownie ready to turn your face green” the boy said. Chasing the girl into the water and splashing her. “One day Kitty you’ll have to tell them. One day they will leave to train, you know Arla is a soul rider and James is a West Hunter.” “I can’t Mark. Here they are safe” Both Mark and I had scars to show our work. I had dark lines spiralling up from my wrists to my torso. They showed where the evil had been within me. Mark had a scar running the length of his face. When I found out that a soul rider’s daughters will be soul riders, I realised that my mother must of been a soul rider too. I searched through all the records for weeks until I finally found one saying “Caren, gave birth to a female, later died”. I traced Caren’s family down to a boy called Alex. Alex’s best friend was a West Hunter called Mark. We fell in love, moved to New Hillcrest and had 2 children (and one on the way). I settled myself down with Arla and James that night. I told a story: “I reached out. So slowly and ever so tentatively. My hand found the door knob in a trice. I started to turn it” I watched, as if through a window, the soul riders rush through the base. For the first time in a week, I felt a feeling. Not of fear, nor happiness. But guilt. I wasn’t sure why, but I did. Raven, as I called her, had no guilt. Just a stone face as always.
“Kitty, if they come up here we must fight. If not we stay” she said. Her eyes staring, unblinkingly. I nodded. Hoping she couldn’t see my face, feeling all over it; hoping she couldn’t hear my heart, thumping in my chest. The next two hours were agony. Filled with shouts of pain. Flashes of light. I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I did. I really did. Three hours had passed since the beginning on the attack. The fighting had become tried and slow. But they still got to our platform - Raven and I were surrounded. I lashed out, one hand hitting the spell. It rebounded upon the boy who cast it. I could only reflect the spells, not cast them. Then I saw a wisp of red hair under one hooded head. I stopped fighting and let the world drift off. I woke up in the soul rider bunk house. Clary looked at me, red eyed. “I’m so sorry Kitty. What you must of gone through… I thought you were just lazy. But you were fighting. The other girl is here too, but under lock and key. They managed to remove it from you, because you fought it.” The two girls stood at the edge of the rig. Their hair, so different in colour, blew out behind them. The seas were dark and unforgiving. The waves crashed; the heavens clashed. Air, wind, rain, sea. A percussion like no other.
Slowly one girl turned her head towards the other. “They’re late” she said. “Yes” the other agreed “ Spoaks and his men should be punished”. “Great minds think alive” Suddenly, a plane revealed it’s self of the platform - cloaking device. The 4 men disembarked and 3 strode to the main building. “You’re late” The first girl said, her tongue as sharp as her features. “I’m sorry Ma’am. We were delayed due to the storm” “Do you have the cargo?” At that a limp form was brought out of the plane. A horse. A horse in a silvery light. The second girl started. She walked forward as if to touch this strange arrival. But the first girl gave her a look and she lowered her hand, mumbling a “sorry” to her feet. “Come on let’s go and eat.” They both hurried inside. As the turned the corner leading to the dinning hall, the second girl slipped. She fell in slow motion. Before she hit the ground she glowed - silver. She rose up again and landed clean on the slippy metal. The first girl was livid. Angry. She slapped the second girl around the face saying “Don’t ever use that dirt again - Kitty”. “Fripp, I’m getting rather worried. I know she was upset but she doesn’t have anywhere else to go” Elizabeth pleaded.
“What you request of me is not possible. We can’t send a full scale mission after a young trainee. We all die in the end, what difference is it if it’s now, tomorrow or 100 years?” “It makes all the difference and you know it” Fripp’s eyes flashed, “I suggest you control your emotions Elizabeth.” “Fripp, she is, as you know, no normal trainee. There is something I can’t place, that will make her stronger, and with strength comes desire. And we know who desires most,” Avalon said, speaking carefully. Fripp considered this and then said: “We give her 24 hours, no less, before we look.” Both Elizabeth and Avalon left to confront the 3 soul riders sitting on the grass by the bubbling river. As they approached the other trainees gathered, ready to listen. “In 24 hours we will begin to look for Kitty” Elizabeth said. Ashley, Luna and Clary exchanged looks. “Will she come back?” asked Luna. “Will you force her to train with us?” “Can you god darn get on with it” For you see, the trainees hadn’t been told about Kitty. All they knew was that after Clary’s accident she’d broken down and hadn’t been joining in lessons, and now she’d run away. Or so it looked. “Girls listen, this isn’t Kitty’s fault” Elizabeth pleaded. Ashley and Clary got up and walked off, Luna murmured a quick sorry before joining them. “I thought I’d be her friend” Clary said, “she didn’t visit me once. Just stayed in her room”. “She just ignored me and wouldn’t speak. If she comes back I heard one of them talking that she’ll have to under go a test. I think it will make her work, whatever it is, I hope it hurts” Ashley cried. Luna looked horrified, but again didn’t speak. If only they knew what was happening to the child. The hard iron of chins cut into my already battered and bruised skin. I knew who these people were, the dark riders, our enemies. I let out one desperate sob into the darkness. One so full of sadness that it could last a full lifetime.
Did I have a full lifetime? What did they want with me? What could I of done? Was it a question of the wrong places at the wrong time, or was it something deeper, darker. Could they know about the evil inside me? Question after question, but no answers. Just more pain, the constant bite of metal, the deep burning from where they’re magically tied me. A jolt. And then light. A light so bright, so filling that it dazzled me for a full ten seconds. Squinting while my eyes adjusted, I made out five, six, seven men. 5 guards and three others. One man could only be one person - the leader. Out of the two others, one was a child. A girl with raven hair and dark black eyes. The last was a women, she looked just like the girl, but older, eviler. “So,” I say, scared into talking, “this is the cleaver part where you tell me your secret plan and then I save myself or get rescued and you fall to some sticky end in the dark pit you once crawled out of. For good always wins” The women let out a soft eerie laugh. “Good wins just as much, if not less, then bad. Only when good wins they tell everyone the tale, when bad wins we keep it to ourselves.” The man stood and thundered: “We will not be telling you our plans, Soul Rider. But I will tell you the past. We decided to create two girls, seeing what would happen if we mixed the powers of soul rider with the powers of dark rider. The idea was to take the extreme powers of soul rider and mix it with dark. But both babies, both girls, displayed signs of light. My Boss told me I was kill them, but I couldn’t. I’d spent my life working on these infants. I persuaded him to let you go to the mortals and for me to keep Natalia. But as she aged, she turned dark. You stayed mortal, until now. Maybe I will reveal the plan. You will work for us” “Never” I cried. “What Pa hasn’t mentioned is that in about 30 seconds you will fall asleep. You will awake totally obedient to myself, Ma and Pa. You will not remember your former self, your your friends,” the child spat the word “just us, because, in the dark, evil will prevail.” My head sank, my body sank and my mind gave up to this new one. "Here are your horses, you all know how to ride, so ride them, get close to them. But be back before sunset"
I felt my hands grip his mane and we were off! Galloping full speed, swerving trees. I wasn't thinking of my troubles, just the stars flashing before us. The wind in my hair and the feeling of friendship between us. "Can we go to the hills?" I cried. Don't speak with your mouth. I hear the reply with my head. Of course I've never seen soul riders talking to their horses, they speak inside their heads. I push myself into my head, letting everything else go, and I hop over to Mavrik's. I think the words: okay. We can go up to the hills if you want but it is getting close to sunset, we must return. Return where? A life I hate? A life where people look at you as if you're dirty, infected - You are not, and you know that. But even I can feel the evil inside you. Come on let's go up that path. The further we climbed, the colder it got. My thin hoodie was no longer enough. The snow danced and glistened in the sun light, reflecting the flame of the reddening sky. Here the trees were thin and bare. Until we reached one. It was full of glossy leaves. Under it grew fungi and flowers. Mavrik, it's beautiful! It's called a Primeval Tree. They are magical life wardens, they all are around Jorvik. I'll stay here for a bit. And with that I sat down and started to sketch the beautiful flowers and mushrooms. I didn't notice as the light ebbed away. I didn't notice until something caught my eye. Something cloaked, red, and evil. I mounted on Mavrik and we fled for our lives. Through the forests and the hills. Past the lake and the houses, until we reached the stable. Go to bed Kitty, before you get- "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? WE'VE BEEN WORRIED SICK! IT'S PAST 10 AND YOU HAVE ONLY JUST GOT BACK. WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED? DON'T EVEN REPLY. GO TO YOUR ROOM AND WE'LL CONTINUE THIS TOMORROW." Elizabeth yelled. Her horse, Jocker, chased Mavrik into his stable. I padded into my room, and I heard the lock. I sat there, I had no intention of sleeping. I'd left my book at the tree and I wanted to retrieve it. Stars danced before my eyes, "Wake up Kitty" they called, "Wake uppp". My eyes opened. Stars! Erika! I could use the stars to help me escape. I focused, and let myself slip through space. I was there. I was at the tree. I turned and picked up my note book. Burning. My wrists were burning together at the back. I screamed, I tried to scream: no sound came out. Silence and blackness. I sat cross legged on the floor of the training arena, drawing strange rune-like symbols with my fingers in the dirt. I wasn't allowed to join in as the "evil might awaken". It is increasingly dull just to sit and watch the others, well fail, at magic. My mind now isn't sure if this is the right life for me. Nights spent in a locked room, waking from nightmares of shadows. A normal life? Too much to ask? Well then again, what's normal?
I suppose normal would be at least having friends. I have no friends at the moment. Clary, Luna and Ashley no long talk to me. I suppose they've been told to keep away. Urgg. I've looked this runic drawings up in the library. They were a language of Linta: a tribe once devoted to good, but now to bad. It turns out only a decedent of the Linta can write these runes. But honestly what do I care about the past? I'm not going to let it effect my future. I shape my life and I can never stand the people who cry and rant whitest not doing anything about it. "Kitty we are heading down to the stables, remember today is the day of the partnerships" Avalon informs me, "We have decided that having a soul horse may keep the force contained" So it doesn't hurt anyone but me. I found my way through the forest to the stables. I can't even describe the pulling feel of being near a soul horse. Your soul horse. It's like there's another part of you that you didn't know about. It's like your soul is close to you. We are one. It isn't hard to chose. All four of us have a need to get close to the one. We stumble into the stable (the others ignoring me). "Mavrik" is the one I stop by. I jump over the gate to his stall and pull him into a tight hug. "My human. My child. The one who will guide me", Mavrik's voice in my head. "Yes, yes" I reply. It might seem silly, dramatic, but imagine finding a sister that you haven't seen for years and you love. Only we didn't know we have this horse. Maybe things will turn out okay? Little did she know, in four hours, it would be a new story for Kitty. Kitty's tale will be coming out every Tuesday and Friday at 6pm from now on. In about three weeks you'll know Kitty's tale from beginning to end! See you Sunday! I woke and stretched. My second morning on the island, and so much to do! Today I planned to of course go riding but secondly visit the town of West Cape and the woods and things around there.
After breakfast I headed down to the stable. I checked in with my instructor Lucy and headed to the small shed to collect my boots and helmet (I borrow them). Another girl was in there, black haired and freckled. “Hallo” she called. “Hi” I replied. “You must be Ava? I’m having a lesson with you. I’m on this exchange culture thing too!” “Ah, hi! Who you staying with?” “Isabel Stonefield, and her younger sister Jone. Yesterday I went to school with Jone but I’ve done a bit of riding before so I think I’ll be able to catch up.” “Not a long way to catch up with me. I’ve only really done trot and walk”. “We’ll be the same level then!” When we mounted up, Abbie -the black haired girl- was clearly much better then me. She sat tall and proud on her horse and kicked it on with ease. Today we practised our sitting trot and just at the end of the lesson tried a canter. Abbie seemed to not like canter, but I loved it. It was smooth and just all round nicer then the bumpy trot. When our lesson had finished, we headed up to the bakery and brought 2 cheese, and two chocolate, twists. We sat in the shade of a tree that led down the bank to the stream. I asked Abbie if she had anything planned for the afternoon and she admitted that she did not. I suggested that we called a taxi and headed to Jarlaheim. From there we could get the ferry to West Cape, explore the village and then walk up past the woods. We could walk to the riding hall in time for a mini dressage competition. Another walk to Inn by the bridge, dinner there and then a taxi back to new Hillcrest. She agreed. After a rough ferry crossing we explored the village shops. I loved the houses and I thought to myself “one day I’ll live here”. The children here were running around helping the catch come in. Almost all the adults were also there. A large hut read “fishing hut and school”. No wonder the children here were so used to fish! Abbie, who was from the South, suggested a paddle. We found a small beach, but it was so chilly! We walked on to the woods. I could see why it was called Golden leaves woods. It was bathed in a golden light. Then I check my watch. 3pm! Hurried, we ran to Silverglade Riding Hall. In the end the Bobcat girls won. I knew I wanted to be a dressage rider. They were so graceful on their horses. I managed to get Loretta’s autograph. A long walk to the Inn by the Bridge and we were greeted by Ed. The food was wonderful! I sent a message to Mr Syth and he drove his car from Moorland to collect myself and Abbie on the way home. Jumping tomorrow! After a busy day of packing the day of traveling has finally arrived! I can't believe I was given Jovik to explore while my best friend - Lily - was given the UK. I feel so good about being able to spend my week of riding here. The ferry was long and seas were quite rough. I felt very sick and had to remind myself that I had another ferry and a long drive before I got to the house of my host family. After the boat had docked at West Cape I collected up my luggage and jumped into the little rowing boat that would take myself and 4 others to the shore.
On the ferry was a girl called Tan, she was the co owner of one of the biggest race teams on Jovik. She told me all about New Hillcrest, the place I'd be staying. We docked at the edge of the long jetty. Ewa told me that to the left was the stables were she worked and to the right was the main village, I could get a cup of coffee before my ferry arrived in half an hour. Tan hurried off as the ferry to Fort Pinta, where ever that is, was going almost straight away. I found the small café and ordered a sandwich and a cup of coffee - black. I sat there, looking out to sea and watching the fishing boats coming in. As I glanced down at my watch I noticed that I oly had a few minutes before the ferry would leave. I hurried on to it. Jovik's ferry system seemed quite small. It was a little boat with a small deck for those on foot and a larger deck for those in cars or on horses. We arrived at Jarlahiem. Wow, it is impressive. It's like a city but it is all inside this huge outside wall. It was now around 6pm so I grabbed myself a bite to eat - Jorcola and some soup before calling a taxi to take me to New Hillcrest. The taxi driver pointed out several sights along the way, Goldspere farm, run by a local family, Storm Garden - large beautiful gardens and fields, Crescent Moon Village - a small village with Ivy covered houses, and finally he pointed out New Hillcrest. He dropped me in the town center and I walked down the lane, pulling my luggage with me. Number 6. I knocked and the door opened revealing a girl - about my age. "Hi", she said, "I'm Millie, I'm your exchange partner". "Oh hi" I replied. "I live here with my dad, mum, older brother James and little sister, who's 2, Alice. While you're here you need to learn a new activity, and as here on Jovik everyone rides, you'll be learning riding! Also on Friday you'll be coming into school with me. The afternoons are for you to explore Jovik. You're bedroom is upstairs second door on the left" "Gee, thanks! See you tomorrow". It was only a small exchange but I was tired. I opened the door to the little guest room and fell swiftly asleep. They advanced. Swirling black forms of mass. Closer, closer. Fear bit into me, like a snake bites into its pray. Closer, closer. There was no way out, no short cut, just me. Closer, closer, closer. Energy started to drain from me, and then I felt a billion explosions in my body. Each one prickled and hurt, but not in a bad way. My throat started to burn - and I awoke.
"Kitty, calm down. Kitty, breathe". Elizabeth. My eyes adjusted to a small white-washed room with a bed, a dresser and nothing else. "It hurts, Elizabeth. It's coming". I could see Elizabeth's eyes momentarily betray a hint of fear before she whipped her head around "Julie, get Avalon, fast", she turned back to me, "and call Millie and Alicia". I wanted to get up, to run, to break free, but Elizabeth held me down. Two girls - soul riders - came to help her. Then he entered. Avalon didn't look afraid at the sight of a screaming struggling child. In fact he simply look at Elizabeth and said "Clary is awake now, she is almost fully healed: I did a growth spell on her broken bones. She will need a few days sleep and rest but then she'll be as right as rain." "Clary! Clary! I need ... to see.... Clary". Each breathe I tried to rise. Avalon did not say a word but he simply placed his hands around my head. I was speeding through a tunnel of blackness - blackness and blood. Pain and misery. Death and doom. It hurt. How much pain would I endure? Could I endure? And it was over as fast as it had begun. "We opened her mind to the forces, but it looks like evil wants the girl. She is strong which is why it has only got her now. Until I can find a way to block them out, keep her sedated." "No, let me out, let me out" Millie and Alicia drew back their hands stung. I jumped up, I had to be free of here. "It's the evil inside her, it doesn't want to go, hold her down" The pulled me back onto the bed, a man ran into the room and threw a firey liquid into my throat. I screamed as sleep took me. "Kitty wake up" I rolled over in bed, sleep filling every muscle of my body. "Don't you dare go back to sleep Kitty Greenrow". That's Clary. She was introduced to me last night as "Clary of the Sun". Her flowing deep red hair and green dancing eyes make her one of the pretties people I've seen. Two other girls are in here "Luna of the Moon" and "Ashely of the Lightning". I haven't really met these two yet, but I'm sure I'll get to know them. "Last night Elizabeth told us to meet down at the paddock, but I'm not sure where that is" Luna said in a worried voice. Her silky blond hair and clear blue eyes, staring unblinkingly. "Ah, I don't see the darn point in getting up early" Ashely replied in an almost angry voice, black hair tied in a tight not and green - blue eyes. Luna seemed much nicer. "Well, Ashely, you can stay but you know what I don't want to get on the wrong side of that Avalon" Clary said, her eyes traveling up and down Ashely. "I agree" I said, I liked Clary and Luna quite a lot. I pulled on my jeans and trainers from yesterday, but we'd all been given a white top which I pulled on over my head, splashed my face with water from a jug, and tied back my hair. All four of us (Ashley grumpily following behind). We stumbled around the forest until we reached a small paddock, the second Avalon saw us he started to talk, not waiting for us to reach him. "-rning soul riders. I hope you slept well, you have now started something special. You are, in a few years time, to be the guardians of the Island of Jovik. Whether you come from Silverglade orphanage - Kitty, West Cape - Clary, Hillcrest - Ashely and of course Paddock Island - Luna. We will get straight stuck in, you will do a basic energy transferring charm. For every spell you do, you will use energy from your source. As you get more experienced you will use that energy to focus on a goal, but now just summon the inner you. Ashely" Ashely stumbled forward and looked at him, "Think of the flash of lightning Ashely". She closed her eyes and suddenly she jumped and rubbed her hand, "it stung". "Good, good," replied Avalon "Luna" Luna looked hard at a rune of a moon on his robe, she lit up with a beautiful silver light, she rose slightly off the ground and fell. "Very good Luna of the Moon, very good, Kitty" My heart jumped. What did I do? What if I couldn't do it. Focus on the lightning he'd said to Ashely. The lightning. So I should focus on the stars. I remembered looking at them once with Abbey, my old friend. We reached out and held hands as the light shone down on us. I felt a slight tingling in my hand... "Very good Kitty, your past will always help you, Clary" Clary gave me a little smile and stepped forward, I could see the same puzzled expression cross her face as had crossed mine. Then she rose high in the air, shining brightly. It was beautiful.. then she fell.
Down down down, I thought she'd never hit the ground. Avalon was there before I'd even taken a step forward. He picked her up in one swift sweep, and he turned and left, just gone. Ashley ran back down to the village and I fell to the ground in horror. I felt Luna's arm around me, a comforting voice "Just a bit of this Kitty, drink a bit" and I blacked out. Recently I have seen how much I love to write, and so I wrote this. The story of Kitty. I plan to write another one in a few days. I don't know exactly when and i don't know how many chapters there will be. I just hope you enjoy this one! I reached out. So slowly and ever so tentatively. My hand found the door knob in a trice. I started to turn it and... Wait. Something was wrong. I turned upon my heels and headed back to the last door. Ah, I'd thought so. Rubbing my finger along the wood I found the message, " Ni ddylai ti agor unrhyw ddrws. Dylai Ti yn syml ewch drwy'r porth bwaog.".
For those of us less antiquated with Welsh, it translates into "Thou should not open any door. Thou should simply head through the archway,". Before we start to ponder on that, let me tell you a bit about myself. My name is Kitty, I'm 13 and I wouldn't even think of calling myself normal. Unlike the other children at Silverglade orphanage, I preferred to spend my time around nature rather then the other children. Not that anyone else minded. I was always the odd one out. Able to speak in both Welsh and Irish, always making tackles comments and... But can I trust you? I suppose I'll have to tell you this bit as we get to know each other more. But I'm sure there is a question on the tip of your tongue, what am I doing? Well a week ago I was reading through a new paper when I saw: "12 - 15 year olds wanted to apply to Valedale Academy. Please sent an application letter to: Fripp, The Stone Circle, Valedale, Jovick" The oddest thing was only 3 hours after I answered this letter I was asked to come with this beautiful women with red hair. She called herself Miss Sunbeam. And that was where this all began. Each day a new trial, a new test. Each one not harder, just different. Some knowledge related, some physical and some.. magical? I can't be sure, but I was asked to hold this stick. One that had been carved and it hummed gently in my hands. Another time he lifted his paper white hands and cupped them around my cheeks. His dark, deep, eyes searching my own violet ones. He is Avalon. I think he is a druid or a monk. He dresses in a long dark robe, inscribed with runes. He speaks so slowly and hoarsely. He scares me, but I am enthralled. I can't turn my head, drop the stick. Ah, here it is. An archway. I stepped out into the dark night, and there he stood with a small girl. "Well done Kitty of the Stars, you have passed. The other two will join us soon. The moon hasn't yet reached it's highest point, and I think there will be a lightning storm later. Welcome to the newest circle of Soul RIders." Today I found this very funny comic on Starshine Legacey online. I think is it amazing and cannot wait to continue reading! By the way I haven't abandoned you, I have just been very busy of late XD
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Li Silentland
Hello!Welcome to my little space on the large internet where I can share my thoughts, views and fanfics! I am you 'normal' teenaged girl, who loves writing, gaming and horses. I've played Star Stable online since 1st June 2014 and I am currently a level 20 player on Cupcake Valley where I hang about with Frosty Roses and my 18 pixel horses! Disclaimer: All images and anything else to do with this blog are taken in the game Star Stable Online produced by Star Stable Entertainment AB. I have nothing to do with Star Stable and own none of their graphics. But I can tell you it is a great game and you should play it!
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