Mythical Alphabet

Hello everyone! Sorry this post has come so late. I've spent all afternoon working on this. You see, a long time ago I developed a special language to use in my books. I figured that since I'll probably use it at some point in my blog, I'd better at least post the alphabet here. Of course, the words will still be different than ours, but you'll at least know what it sounds like when you see the little symbols!

Sorry for the poor quality. I'm not really an artist, and this was my first time every using the program I used to design these. I hope you still have fun looking at them! :)

Anger (story)

Xeldan clenched his fists in frustration, anger sweeping over his hard features. His deep green eyes glared at Elysse. "He can't be," the man told her firmly. "He's only a baby. And look at him! Does he look as if he has any special power? He is a normal child!"

"If you were going to refuse to believe my answer, why did you call me here in the first place?" Elysse met his anger with an icy calm.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

Immortal (story)

Elysse moved without hesitation over to Aerana and studied the baby in her arms. "So. This is the immortal child." She paused and reached out for the boy. Aerana handed him over reluctantly. "Yes, I can feel his power," Elysse continued. "He calls to the Hyspire. He is the one."

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

Little Kittens!

One of my female cats has had kittens! Seven of them. It's not the first time one of my cats has given birth, but it's still exciting every time. Kittens are very cute later in life, but when they're first born they just like little blind rats. Still, they've got some element of charm due to their tiny, fragile helplessness.

Here's a picture of the mom from about a year ago:

Isn't she pretty? Of the two female cats who can give birth though, she's not the best mom. She has a tendency to get irritated when her kittens are mewing for her and will sometimes growl at them as she comes to nurse.

Still though, it's nice to see her as a mom. When someone comes to give her attention while her babies are feeding, she'll get this super happy look in her eyes and start purring. It's so cute! I haven't mentioned it yet, but a cat's purr is my favorite sound in the world.

I'll upload pictures of the kittens at some point. Stay tuned! :)

Elysse (story)

A knock sounded on the door that led outside. Aerana looked nervously at her husband, who was staring darkly at the door. He hesitated like this for only a moment before moving to open it. "Elysse," he said sharply. "It's about time."

A woman strode in without waiting to be invited inside. She was the very image of beauty, but there was something dangerous about her. Her large eyes were a deep, unnerving gold with silver flecks. They seemed to draw in the soul of whoever was looking at them in a most uncomfortable way. Red hair tumbled in wild curls and waves from her head like an all-consuming wildfire. Her almost impossible curves were like an hourglass, marking away the passage of time. Xeldan shuddered as he shut the door behind her.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

Home and Fear (story)

On that particular summer night, Xeldan and Aerana had started out at home along with their week old son, Daevyn. Aerana sat in a wooden chair near the the warmly burning flames in the fireplace, cradling the baby boy in her arms. Her sapphire blue eyes were filled with worry. Her husband paced the room restlessly, his long strides taking him from wall to wall in three steps.

There were not many objects in the room to get in his way. There was the fireplace that was used for warmth as well as cooking. There was a small table with four chairs, the extra being used for company. There were a few cupboards for supplies. There were two doors, one leading outside and the other to the bedroom, the only other room in the house. It was small, but it served their needs and it was home.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

Would you like to take a survey?

Okay, before I get down to what this post is really about, there's something I want to say. For several of my friends out there, the story I've been posting will seem suspiciously familiar. And the answer to the question this will create is yes, the parts I've posted were written previously by me and some people have even read them in the past. The story was not finished though, so I hope to start writing more original things later. There are two reasons why I didn't start completely from scratch. The first is that I had no new ideas and while I could've thought of one, I wouldn't have been as sure that it was something that would work and be interesting. I won't be able to take back all of the stuff I post on here if I want to meet my goals. The second reason is that since I am currently taking college classes as well as trying to balance several other things, I do not have very much time to be writing a second story. It takes more time to think of things to write than it does to write them. I wanted to start with something quick and easy while I get into the habit of it, and then allow it to get more time consuming later. I hope this answers any questions on this matter.

Now, onto the more important topic. My survey. I have many reasons for creating this survey, as well as some for posting it in my blog. But I won't bore you with the details. Just know that it will be a big help to me for the book I'm writing and that I'll really appreciate you answering the questions.

Please read through the questions below and then send me the letters that correspond with your answers. I want to maintain as much privacy as possible in order to get the most accurate answers I can, so please email your answers to me at propheciesofshadow@yahoo.com and I will make sure that no one sees how you answered but me. If you find that two or more answers both fit you, please tell me this and explain to me why this is. And I promise with all my heart that I won't judge you for anything you say. I beg you to be as honest as possible. This will really be a huge help. Thank you.

 

The Survey

(Yeah, I had a little too much fun throwing formatting stuff on the title... Sorry.)

 

1. Do you have a comfort zone (a set of behaviors and routines which you are uncomfortable being without)?

a. Yes, and I don't like any event that makes me deviate from it.

b. Yes, but I don't mind an occasional new experience, even if new things are a little frightening.

c. Kind of. There are certain things that I don't like to change, but mostly I'm open to new things.

d. I understand and accept that life is full of change, but there are definitely things that other people do that make me uncomfortable.

e. Not really. I enjoy and welcome new things. Occasionally though, things do happen that throw me off a little bit.

f. No way! Life is full of adventures and opportunities, and I welcome them all!

 

2. How would you react to a sudden change of environment (e.g. an unexpected move to another country)?

a. Unfortunately, with fear.

b. With a lot of research. I would want to learn as much as I could about the new place.

c. I would be nervous at first, but would end up taking control of the situation and doing fine.

d. With caution. I would be very careful until I got comfortable with the situation.

e. With apathy. I don't care where I am.

f. With excitement. It's a new place to explore!

 

3. What is your opinion of darkness?

a. It's scary.

b. I turn on a light and it goes away. It's that simple.

c. I'm not afraid of it, but I much prefer the light.

d. I don't like what it symbolizes, but I enjoy being out in the shadows of night.

e. Darkness is supposed to be evil, and light is supposed to be good, but there's definitely a gray zone between them. I appreciate the beauty of both, and the part in between.

f. I love the dark.

 

4. How do you act when in danger?

a. I become afraid and try to escape from the situation.

b. I become afraid, but force myself to act calmly and do what needs to be done.

c. I become afraid, and withdraw into myself.

d. I spring into action and do whatever my gut tells me to.

e. I make sure that everyone else is safe before getting myself to safety however I can.

f. My senses become sharpened and I calmly assess the situation.

 

5. How do you view your parents?

a. I love them and I try my best to obey and respect them. I know that anything they tell me to do is in my best interest.

b. I love them, and I try to respect them, but I have a hard time obeying them all the time.

c. I care about them deeply, but I realize that they are only human. I listen to what they tell me and decide for myself whether their advice is good or bad.

d. I love them, but I don't think they realize that. I'm pretty independent and they don't understand me.

e. I'm not very close to them, but I don't hate them.

f. My parents and I don't get along. At all.

 

6. How good of a person would you say you are?

a. What is the definition of "good"? It's not like I'm evil, but I'm not the sort of person that most people consider good.

b. I try my best to be a good person, but unfortunately I don't think I do very well...

c. My goals and causes are good, therefore I'm good. The actions I take to get to these ends don't matter, because the result will be good.

d. I would say I'm a decent person. I try my best anyway.

e. Everyone likes me, and I don't go out of my ways to do bad things. That makes me a good person.

f. I am a very good person. I know it, and people tell it to me all the time.

 

7. What is your definition of evil?

a. Evil is anything that has the ability to harm yourself or someone else.

b. My definition of evil is based on my religious beliefs, and/or on what I have been taught all my life.

c. Evil is something that varies based on each individual's morals, but that always revolves around common principles established and upheld within whichever culture the individual belongs to. In short, evil is a variable idea.

d. To do something evil is to do something that goes against the laws and rules of society. When there is no society, there is no evil.

e. Whatever is not good is evil.

f. The definition of evil is a topic to be saved for intense philosophical debate. I don't feel like I have the right to define it alone.

 

8. How do you deal with anger?

a. I tend to get physical. Not necessarily violent (though that can be included here too) but I'll grab people a little roughly, or throw things at the wall.

b. Anger often makes me say things that I wouldn't normally, and I tend to feel bad about it afterward.

c. I lash out at those around me, in whatever way will get me in the least trouble.

d. I control it through force of will until I can proceed normally.

e. My anger makes me cold and calculating. I don't do things impulsively when I get angry, but I do tend to get revenge.

f. I don't get angry often, but when I do I try to remind myself to stay calm and not do anything I'll regret later.

 

9. Which of the following activities do you find most appealing?

a. Reading and learning.

b. Catching up with the latest news and gossip.

c. Playing video games with lots of fast-paced action.

d. Archery, horseback riding, or anything old fashioned and adventurous.

e. Creating works of art.

f. Hanging out with people I care about.

 

10. Do you make friends easily with strangers?

a. I have a hard time making friends with anyone.

b. I tend to be too self conscious and shy...

c. If they are the kind of person I want to be friends with, yes.

d. I'm not shy, but I usually consider my words carefully before I speak, making me somewhat quiet. This does make it harder to make friends, but easier to keep them.

e. Well, I try to love and be kind to everyone, which makes me a lot of friends. So yes.

f. Making friends is easy. I'm a likable person.

 

Feel free to tell me about any thoughts you had on this survey, or anything else! Thanks once again. :)

Stormdance (story)

This particular event happened in an ordinary house within the city. The house did not belong to anyone important. The couple who lived there were Xeldan and Aerana Stormdance. Their surname came from the only ancestor of any great interest Xeldan had. His great, great grandfather had been a battle wizard who had caused a storm to dance, mesmerizing the guards on watch at an enemy camp and allowing a few soldiers to sneak through and destroy the enemy's food supply. It had not been a great enough accomplishment for the wizard to earn any sort of noble status, but it gave him the title which became the surname for him and his descendants.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

Destiny (Story)

It was in this city of Hawkwood, in the year 483a.w. (after war), on the third day of the sixth month, that something was happening of enough importance to shape the future of the world. It didn't seem like a particularly important night to the average citizen sleeping in their bed. Indeed, only four individuals even knew of the event, and only three would remember it. But sometimes the most significant events in history are forever lost to the public's view.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

About me

Hello again! I decided to do a normal blog post today instead of another story post. I realized that in my original introduction post, I told you almost nothing about me as a person, so I figured I had better fix that.

I, Arriah, am a pretty normal girl. I'm sixteen, I'm the oldest of four children, and I'm currently enrolled in Granite Falls High School. Oh, but my schooling... That's where the first of my oddities come in. You see, even though I'm enrolled in GFHS, I don't attend there. I don't even have any classes there. I am a part of the Running Start program, which means that all of my classes are taken at Everett Community College, for both college and high school credit. When I graduate from high school, I will also have my Associate's degree. Pretty cool, huh?

My hope is then to attend BYU. But not in Utah. In Idaho. The one in Utah is considered a better school, and much harder to get into. That's not the reason I chose Idaho though. I simply feel that BYUI is a better fit for me. However, as time pulls me toward graduation, my interests and dreams are changing. I'm still open to other schools and other paths. I get emailed by various universities daily, telling me about the benefits of attending their schools. I could unsubscribe from the program that gives them my email address, but I don't, because I want to consider all my options.

Um, other than my schooling... I like to write, obviously. I also love to read, act, and work on big projects that consume my interest for a few days or even weeks before I return to reality. And, this post is becoming way too long. Time to stop talking. That's another thing, I don't talk much. I write a lot, but unless I'm acting I tend to be rather quite and even shy.

...And I'm a Mormon.

Hawkwood (Story)

The city, Hawkwood, was not large. It had been founded by a family of lesser nobles of the kingdom of Astyria. The family's symbol was the hawk, and so the city was named. It had begun as a humble village with few citizens, but was quickly discovered to be surrounded by a rich supply of wood and game. Soon it grew to support a thriving population.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html)

The Valley (Story)

Chapter One

Though that night was peaceful in the valley, to say that it was silent would have been a lie. Crickets and frogs sung together in a chorus of chirps and croaks. A stream bubbled happily as it wound its way down from the Northwest to the South. A soft summer breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees, the sound echoing with more power than the gentle wind possessed.

 

The valley was arranged naturally in a very defendable manner. Its North, West, and part of its East sides were bordered by tall, impassable mountains, while the rest of it was surrounded by a thick evergreen forest. The whole valley had once been a forest, but a considerable space in its center had been cleared away to make room for the city.

(Read all previous parts of the story here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/chapter-one.html) 

Introduction

Hello. I'm Arriah Dreamscribe. And you are? *waits for your answer with a frozen smile for an overly prolonged length of time* It's very nice to meet you!

So, this is my blog. You want to know why I'd make a blog? No, you probably don't. People make blogs all the time, and my reasons for creating this one were probably not even questioned. But, I'm going to tell you why anyway. I am making it because I am a young writer with dreams. I would like to publish the book I'm currently working by the time I graduate from High School in 2014. I've been worried, though, that my book will be passed over without a second glance, as most novels from new authors are. My plan to fix this problem is to give the publishing companies a little bit of added incentive by having a blog with enough followers that I can reasonably argue that plenty of people will buy my book.

However, not any type of blog will do. It is for a special purpose and thus has to be special. It has to show off my talents as a writer. Therefore, I am going to use this not only for normal blog purposes, but as a story-writing blog. Several times a week I will post entries with a paragraph or two of a story, slowly writing and developing it over time. It will not be the one I'm writing to be published, but hopefully it will help me in my goals related to that book. Of course, this is a blog, so I will also use it to talk about other things related to life, and perhaps even give advice on topics I feel qualified to talk about, but the main purpose will be the story.

To make things as simple as I know how (I'm not yet very familiar with how to use the Blogger) I will label each one of my story posts as "story" both in the title and as an actual label. To see only the story posts without any of my others, just go to the bottom of one of the story posts and click the label which says "story". It should then lead you to a page where only posts labeled the same will be shown.

That's enough about that. I think I've made it quite clear that I tend to make things longer than they need to be. Don't worry though, I'll try to keep my entries short and interesting.

On that note, I'll leave you to explore and read what I have posted at whatever future time you've discovered this. Farewell, my new friend, and have a wonderful day!