T is for Toby

“Are you alright?” Finn asked softly as they followed Justin towards the back of the shop.

“Fine,” Toby said quickly before realizing that it wasn’t Finn’s fault and it was rude to snap at him. He remembered the exchange they had before and decided to see if Finn really could hear his thoughts.

I’m sorry. I just don’t like the fact that all anyone sees anymore is Caspian.

Finn started, nearly tripping over a chair leg as they walked across the store. I... I suppose no one would like being someone they aren’t. But, this is strange. Can you really hear me?

Toby looked back at Finn and nodded. As long as you direct your thoughts to me I can hear them. I’m not sure why you can hear me, though.

Perhaps it has to do with these. Finn gestured to the markings around his neck. The guilt rushed through Toby before he had a chance to block the emotions. He hadn’t meant for Finn to know how uneasy the markings made him feel. They still didn’t know how life would change now that Finn was a bonded soul. Clearly, hearing Toby’s thoughts and feeling his emotions were a part of the bond but how far did it go?

Word Count: 7090

I'm half tempted to include my Teaching Reflections in my Word Count today. If there's one thing that doesn't seem to go away it would be reflecting on my teaching style and writing up paragraphs on top of paragraphs on how I integrate technology in the classroom, not to mention describing what I feel an effective teacher looks like. Again, I am counting the days until summer vacation. It can't come fast enough. It will be lovely when I can sit down and focus on my own writing for more than 20 minute blips during the day.

S is for Shivers

The laughter started then, mean and cruel as he felt hands push him back hard. It wasn’t physical pain but something deeper, more visceral that radiated through him. There was someone else inside of him but where? And how could he have let this happen? He prided himself on being so careful, always on the look out for the wrong sort who were out to hurt him or his brother. He hadn’t realized that the person he had to look out for was inside him all along.

But it wasn’t him. He couldn’t think like that no matter what thoughts were rushing through his mind. Even in his most violent tempers he never considered harming his brother. Finn was the only family he had left and he’d be damned if he let anyone, let alone himself, destroy that. If it wasn’t him, then what was causing him to act like a monster?

The answer came as soon as he opened his mouth. The voice sent shivers down his spine and Gabriel reeled, pulling his own self as far away from the Other as possible. The words that the creature spoke were not his own and for the first time since he was a child Gabe felt real fear. Images ran together and it felt as though he had tried to close his eyes, stop his ears - not wanting to hear or feel anything that was going on. He only just felt the blow to his head, the pain radiating numbly through his body before he slipped happily into the darkness of unconsciousness.

He wasn’t alone. It was in this dark place that he met the Other. He wanted to run, to put as much distance between himself and the creature as possible but chains sprang out of the dark void and wrapped themselves around him. He was trapped in his own mind and no amount of shouting would save him. The creature’s rasping laughter filled the space around him and he could feel hot tears sliding down his face. Gabe had always prided himself on his strength and courage but those failed him now. All he had left was the hope that he wouldn’t be forgotten. That someone would find him and give him the ability to fight back. He latched onto that thought and it kept him from slipping into despair.

He clenched his teeth together, repeating the words that gave him hope over and over again until it drowned out all other sound.

This is my body. This is my mind. I will stop you.

Word Count: 6925

I've finished the prologue and moved back to Chapter 3. I'll need a few more words today to be back on track. I took a bit of a break this past weekend but it was well deserved.

Spring Fever has definitely hit my students. Notes on Chemical Bonds have sent them into giggle fits. It's either excitement for prom (which is this weekend) or information overload. Either way, it's definitely time for summer. I'm ready, they're ready - oh yeah. It's time.

33 days left! (I think that should be my new count down)

R is for Raven

All four races lived together in harmony along with the ancient Wyrms who lived high in the mountains. As time moved on, however, the fickle nature of Taia’s magic soon arose as humans began to view their magic far superior than the creatures around them. Soon war erupted between the god’s chosen, casting each race apart. The races became so engrossed in the fighting that they soon forgot the gods who had blessed them. It was then that a human wizard rose to power and proclaimed himself creator of Eirre and ruler of the Cradle of the Mountains. He declared himself Jax, the one true deity and that all other beings came after him and because of him. He was a cruel leader and his name resulted in waves of panic throughout the four races.

            As Jax’s followers grew in number, the Four gods knew that it was time to act. They met together, speaking for three days and three nights. On the fourth day, it was decided that four individuals from each of the chosen races would be called together. The Raven, the Cat, the Wolf and the Wizard – their names now lost in time – were given a Pearl by the Four gods to act as a perfect vessel in which to bind the wizard. Asen, Ger, Hek and Taia had each sacrificed their own living power to create the Pearl. They would exist as spirits, no longer able to influence the four races directly.

            The four chosen were to make their own sacrifice to trap the false god Jax in the Pearl. The Raven, the Cat, the Wolf and the Wizard would give of themselves to seal Jax, locking him forever in the Pearl. The Cat, the Wolf and the Wizard were willing to follow their gods but at the last moment, the Raven turned away. The seal became imperfect and the three were instantly destroyed leaving only the Pearl, Jax’s corrupted power seeping from the seals, and the Raven.

            The Raven, heartbroken at his own cowardice, took it upon himself to take the Pearl and protect it from any who would seek to claim its power. There the Pearl remains and there the Raven sits.

Word Count: 6522

Last night was opening night for my show, Nunset Boulevard. It was fantastic! My word count suffered but I think my book will forgive me. Last night was just what I needed. After the highly stressful week, being on stage was such a mood booster. I'm looking forward to tonight's performance. It will be a welcome distraction.

Q is for Quietly

Justin turned to Toby and paused, visibly shocked. Toby knew the thought that was running through the man’s head before he ever uttered a word. Caspian, he thought. He’s alive? Justin took a breath, shaken by Toby’s appearance but he forced a smile onto his face as he offered his hand to Toby. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said quietly.

Why does everyone react to you this way? Toby thought, hoping that Caspian would hear it.

A long time ago I was in trouble. A pack of Wolves had separated me from the Clan. Justin protected me. My death must have been hard on him.

That was an understatement judging by the emotion on Justin’s face. He looked as though he was torn between embracing Toby or keeping his composure. It was a battle that was hard won, especially as Toby felt Justin’s hand tense in his grasp. “Nice to meet you, too,” he said, embarrassed.

“Does Henri know?” Justin asked, turning to Aidan.

Aidan nodded. “He didn’t seem at all surprised when we met him on the street. Somehow, I believe he has known all along.”

Justin cursed under his breath. “He should have told me,” he said, his voice thick with emotion before he glared at Aidan. “You should have said something. This-”

“It was safer if you didn’t know,” Aidain said simply.

That only seemed to anger Justin further. “Safer? I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need anyone to protect me. If you knew that he was alive then you should have mentioned it. Henri should have told me.” He clenched his teeth hard and it was clear he was keeping himself from raising his voice.

“Does Harp know?”

Aidan sighed. “We can talk about it when Henri comes back. In the meantime, don’t you have a student to look after?”

Word Count: 6522

Words aren't going to be coming today. Life has interrupted my regularly scheduled broadcast. Tomorrow it should resume and I will have over 7k. That's a promise!

P is for Prologue (and Pearl)

Prologue - Darkness

Quiet.

That was all Gabe could hear. It was a welcome change from the voice that seemed to be screaming at him ever since he touched the Pearl. At first he thought it had been his own thoughts. It wasn’t strange for angry thoughts to flood his mind especially when he was feeling stressed or frightened. But these thoughts had begun to frighten him. The level of violence he was imagining was unlike anything he had experienced before but it wasn’t until they turned to his brother that he knew that something was horribly wrong.

Gabe had tried to stop himself but it was as though another force had taken over. He had seen Finn asleep by the camp fire as though watching through someone else’s eyes. But those were his hands that slipped quietly to the bag that sat at Luna’s side, sliding his fingertips in and pulling out the short dagger she had brought along for protection. He was helpless to do anything, even as he knelt on top of his brother’s chest, squeezing the breath out of him. Finn’s eyes opened in disbelief, even as Gabe wanted to scream and push his own body off onto the ground. It was too late when the warm blood gushed over his own hands and he fell back, then, Luna’s screams echoing in his head as he took off at a run.

I didn’t do this. It wasn’t me. Oh gods, Finn, I’m’ sorry!

Word Count: 6522

So, I jumped to the beginning of the story since I had this idea for a different scene that wouldn't fit in the current chapter. Nothing says I can't jump around and write different scenes as I go. This one is turning out to be a bit more difficult to write than the first one. Maybe it's just that I have far more responsibilities than I did back in November, plus, I may be working too much with this one story. I'm starting to get the "I really like this story, but I'm not sure I'm telling it right" vibe. That could be a sign I should swap to something else.

For the moment, I'm pressing on! I can always swap to something new after April.

O is for Ordinary

“So, am I right to assume that Henri is still running his school?” Aidan continued, changing the topic quickly.

“Of course,” Justin sighed, shaking his head. “Just when I think one has left us he takes on another pupil. Laurie is in the back right now. He’s made a bit of a mess with the oven, as you can see.”

Justin gestured to his shirt that was covered in black streaks. Finn caught Toby’s eye and the two started to laugh. After the last few days and the stress they had been under, the ordinary way that Justin spoke about a messy kitchen sent them into peals of laughter.

“It looks as though you’ve started a school yourself,” Justin observed, watching as the two boys attempted to pull themselves back under control.

“Not a school, actually,” Aidan replied, putting his hand on Toby’s shoulder. “This is my son, Toby, and his friend, Finnean.”

Word Count: 5684 (So close!)

Working up to the last rehearsal before Opening Night (hey, another O word!). It's made finding time to write a little difficult but I managed to squeeze in a few words today. I think I need to change my final word count goal. If I can hit 10k by the end of this month I will consider myself a winner (especially with everything going on in my life). Even one more word is a word I didn't have yesterday.

N is for Normal

There was one object that caught Toby’s eye. It didn’t look like much at first glance but Toby felt drawn to it. It was a small pendant on a chain laying on a small table. It was difficult to see as the table was covered in bits of colored stone in an ornate mosaic but Toby could make out the pendant even from a few feet away. It called to him, much as the Pearl had the first time he had entered the wizard’s house. But it was different this time - the voice that called him was far more soothing than before.

Toby took a step towards the table before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to see Finn staring at him oddly. Don’t touch that. I have a bad feeling about it.

It was Finn’s voice in his head. It wasn’t the first time that he heard another’s thoughts that didn’t belong to him. It was strange how normal it was becoming that he didn’t think twice to answer Finn.

It’s not the same as the Pearl. The pendant feels different.

The expression on Finn’s face, however, wasn’t what Toby expected to see. The other boy’s mouth dropped open and he stammered. “Did you...” he started, completely bewildered. Toby didn’t have time to explain. There was a loud bang and a door in the back of the shop opened wide, smoke spilling out into the shop.

Word Count: 5465

Ooo, a stretch today! But it still works so I'm not going to split hairs. Normal works well, especially because it's something that Toby won't ever feel again at least not in the way he expects.

Thank you for all of your comments! It's incredibly encouraging to see that people are following along. This is a new endeavor for me and so far I'm seeing only positives. And while I may not reach the ultimate CampNaNo goal - I'm still calling it a success. I'll just keep writing every day and hit 6k tomorrow, I think I can, I think I can.