Do you remember when we were such close friends?
Remember when I would hurt and you know know
When I said something stupid and you still hung out with me?

Do you remember when I was so awkward?
Remember when all you had to do was call and I was there?
When we were neighbors, miles apart?

Do you remember the inspirtation we gave one another?
Remember the boys we stayed up talking about?
The fights we had that meant nothing?

Do you remember checking eachother’s sites, even when we already knew what was posted?
Remember long phone calls?
And even longer trips to the mall?

Do you remember when you got your first car?
Remember how I claimed the front seat as my own?
How your sisters and I fought for that seat until the car officially died?

Do you remember the secrets we told?
Remember all those boys that you kissed?
All the ones I  wish that I did?

Do you remember when we couldn’t spend enought time together, even if it was a whole week?
Remember how I used to visit you on your sick days, because I really couldn’t do a school day without you?
How I made you laugh, and how you returned the favor?

Do you remember being there for me when I was crushed?
When I thought I was worthless, useless, horrid?
When I needed a shoulder to cry on, and you were there?

I do.
I remember being your best friend.
The one you were closest to.
Who you shared your secrets with,
Who comforted your fears, and encouraged your dreams.

And you were the exact same for me.
Always.

But I don’t know where that went.
Over the span of a year I lost you.
I understand.
How could I not?
Because one little thing seperated us.
The thing that can seperate contries.
Oceans, rivers, and valleys.
And at the same time bring them closer together.

You fell…
in love.

I understand.

But that doesn’t stop me from missing you everyday.
Wishing we could go back to how we were.
knowing that we can’t.
Ever.

If you ever need a shoulder,
Mine’s tear proof.
And a listening ear,
Well I’ve got a set.

And if you ever need me I’ll be there.
Forever,
And always,

Your best friend.

To Terri Gamas, my best friend forever, even if it feels like I lost you.
I love you

This One Is New So I Hope You Enjoy It I Love You All.

If there was only one feeling I could take with me when I die, this would be it. With the wind flowing on my face and through my hair, the hood of my golden cape pushed back, flying in the wind, surging up and down with the different currents.

The softness of my cotton shirt and pants against my dry skin, and the rough leather of my shin and arm guards, as well as the ones on the inner legs used for riding. Saem’s white feathers edged with gold beating so closely behind me I could hear the wind whistle through them. And the heat from her body warming my body just enough.

“Mae, stop day dreaming, we’ve been called for speed.” Father Beo yelled to me. He is clan leader, and a good one at that, he sat upon his own dragon, Meona, who was a deep royal blue, and Beo in his matching cape and eyes, looked absolutely powerful upon her.

I answered him by speeding to the front of the group. I am a dreamer by admittance, I do not mean to be, but it is just my nature. Often times my head is more in the cloud than I am, even on the back of my dearest friend.

“If you’re going to let me do all the work, I may as well drop you now and lose the weight.” Saem told me strictly. “Start navigating or start growing some wings of your own.”

Yes, she can talk. In fact it is quiet annoying at times, and I wish I couldn’t hear her. But like every other living creature, I can not tune her out. Neither can those who start listening.

I adjusted our altitude and direction, mostly because I don’t doubt Saem would drop me, she’s difficult that way. I doubt Meona would do that to Beo, but she was a much calmer dragon.

This brings into fact that every dragon differs from the others, and not only in mind, but appearance and other varying ways. Saem, for example, had glossy golden scales on her long slender form, she looked like a stretched out lizard, her torso was much longer than a lizards would be, if they were her size, but she looked more like a lizard than Meona, who was much like a long, blue, cylindrical, flying snake, with appendages. And still Alic’s dragon Zelic, didn’t even look like he had scales, he looked more like he was covered with soft green goose down. And While Saem and Zelic had bird like wings, Meona had veined bat like wings. The differences were so small, and yet so vast.

I had to pay close attention as we dropped altitude to land on the palace’s landing platform. We swooped in one by one, like a dazzling rainbow, but with more variety. When we were all landed the same question that had been asked for generations was asked, they didn’t even bother to update the wording.

“Who art thou?” The guard asked, and I had to refrain from rolling my eyes.

“The Clan Dolfius.” Beo answered as we slid from our dragons’ backs, and all bent into a respectful bows.

There is one thing that someone who hasn’t been around dragons for a long period of time would not know. Dragons can shrink. As weird as it sounds they can shrink down to about eighteen inches long, at least that’s the size most chose to stop at. They do this when their rider must hide, or are going some place where their usual size would not fit, or even if they are not being ridden, so they did not have to waste energy on walking.

And the packs that a Ridden Dragon carries with it, is consumed by the shrinking magic as well, after they’ve shrunk, I could pull out one of he many blankets I store in them, and it will pull out as if it had never changed size at all.

I picked up Saem after she finished shrinking and I laid her across my shoulders, where she crawled under my long loose hair and warmed my neck.

“The king is expecting you.” The guard said in the same bored tone with a bow, he must have seen the transformation one too many times, though I’m not sure how that is possible, I’ve seen it countless times, and it still amazes me.

Now, while our clan was independent, we gave loyalty to our young king, as we are in debt to his great grandfather, so we flew under his banner and were devoted to the young boy.

When we entered the hall I made sure to get my usual spot behind Beo, who was very much my hero. He had fought on behalf of the throne and clan on countless times, the multiple scars upon his body flaunted the fact. I knew I would be like him when I grew up, though maybe a little nicer, I could never be that gruff or world weary.

When we reached the dais we all fell to one knee to show our respect and devotion to our king.

A boy, a child of only eight years old, sat on the throne, dressed in piles of purple silk, on his dark short-cropped brown hair sat a small unadorned golden circlet of gold, he did not looked pleased to be there, until Saem slithered down my arm and went to him. His small face lit up as Saem climbed into his lap and nuzzled his neck. I was smiling, until I caught Beo’s eye.

He was glaring at me, so I stood up and went to the throne. Beside the young boy’s throne I fell to one knee and bowed my head.

“Is she yours?” He asked me, I was startled into looking up, I had never heard him speak, and I thought maybe he just didn’t; now I realized he just never needed or wanted to.

“I am more hers than she is mine, your highness” I replied smiling at the boy.

“What is her name?” He was much more timid than what I thought a king should be, but it wasn’t like an often dealt with royalty.

“You may ask her, sire, she will tell you.” I told him, and he looked at me like I was making a fool of him, I gave him a small nod to go on, and he looked Saem in the eyes and took a deep breathe before a man stepped from behind the throne, no doubt there was a door that came out behind there.

He was the Adviser Geon; he was quite a handsome man of around 30-years-old. His hair was sandy blond and he had large rings on every one of his fingers. His blue eyes blazed at me, I knew it was because I was so close to the king, I’m not anyone important, I was not allowed anywhere near him.

Saem nuzzled the young king once more and leaped into my arms, and I stood quickly, nearly falling as I walked backward repeatedly bowing, until I was again behind Beo, there the gaze didn’t seem so bad.

“The king thanks you for coming at such short notice.” Geon was much more like what I expected royalty to be, haughty and snobbish; I glanced at the king who seemed to be half asleep, a glare on his face at Geon. “He invites you to rest for the night as he knows you have ridden hard, and his highness has past his own bed time.” Geon paused as if waiting for laughter, I felt myself glaring, until Saem bit me to remind me he could see me clearly and I was not in good waters with him.

Guards came in and escorted us to our rooms and I stripped off my leather guards, pulled my cloak on, and without even glancing at the room, I lifted Saem to my shoulders and went out of the room to explore.

The hall was lit dimly with torches at each intersection. My feet were silent, as the soft leather shoes we wore were made for being silent, because spying was a dragon rider skill.

Every time we come to the castle I explore it, even though I’m not actually supposed to. I know almost every part of the palace, we’ve been here a lot lately, except the royal wing, which I’m going to explore tonight, to practice my spying skills, and see why that boy is so sad.

The halls were all marble, the whole palace actually, but I knew when I entered the royal wing, for the marble walls were now inset with priceless jewels. I stopped for a moment to look at an emerald the size of my fist.

I was seized with the urge to pull it out of the wall, greed I knew it was, but I fought it down, and went along the way, refusing to stop for any more of the large gemstones.

I was a bit shocked at the fact that there were no guards to be seen, usually there were two at the beginning of the royal wing, and sets of two set out along the way, with two more at the King’s door, and one apiece for the adviser and the King’s mother.

I crept into the king’s inner chambers and I felt like something was amiss. Creeping along I came to what I figured was the King’s door. I started to open it, until I heard a voice down the hall.

“You’re going to be beheaded; you know you shouldn’t be here!” Saem whispered to me, as I looked for a place to hide. There was a small alcove behind a statue of the late King Han, and just as I slipped in there the voices stopped outside the King’s room.

“If you get rid of the boy for me, we could rule forever.” A feminine voice whispered seductively, I peeked around the statue to get a good look at both people. It was the King’s Mother Yvenne, she was speaking with Adviser Geon, who had a knife in his hand, and the metal gleamed in what scant light there was.

I couldn’t move his own mother wanted to kill him? He was eight years old! I started to hyperventilate, like I do every time I get scared, but Saem nipped my earlobe and I started taking deep, silent, breathes. I knew I couldn’t be caught, though at the moment I wanted to jump from behind the statue and kill these two.

I would be brought up on charges, and everything I ever had, would be worth nothing. But still I wanted to rip that woman’s cold, dead, heart from her chest. How can a mother want to kill her only son?

“And we can rule together?” Geon asked, he sounded much less self assured than he did in the throne room.

“Of course my love, we can rule the world and the best part, we can blame it on the Dragon riders, and we would never be expected.” She whispered and kissed him passionately.

Needless to say Geon looked convinced.

I could feel the bile rising in my throat, and the tears rising t o my eyes. I looked to Saem and she seemed to be in agreement with me, so I hunched down to wait until the Queen left the area and Geon entered the room.

((( I don’t think this is what myspace had in mind when they asked these questions… If you need a smile then there you go )))

1. What does your MySpace headline mean?
It’s code for….
Well I can’t tell you now can I?
that’s why it’s a code.

2. Elaborate on your default photo:
You elaborate your default photo.

Oh that’s right….
I don’t CARE…
Muahaha…
….
…
Ok, I’m sorry.

3. What’s your current relationship status?:
Lost in Translation.

4. What are you wearing right now?:
Well…
A light brown tunic, and a white flowing shirt with dark green breeches.
My boots are newly made and lined with rabbit fur (that I hunted and skinned myself)
And I am covered in a layer of dirt, smattered with blood, from a day in Battle.
A Knight’s work is never done.

5. What is your current problem?:
My nemesis keps forgetting my name.

6. What do you love the most?:
Long walks on the beach in the light of the full moon.
Changing into a werewolf and chasing rich people.
Telling the paparazzi that Brittany is at it again.
The list goes on.

7. Who makes you the most happy?:
When I put that bright red cape on, and I know that my spandex outfit still looks good.
And of course saving the world from villians like Lex Luthor….

8. Are you musically talented?
Uh, hello, Bach ain’t got nothin on me.
I play the bagpipes like no one’s business.
And the electric recorder.

I’m thinking of starting a band.

9. If you could go back in time, and change one thing, what would you change?:
My socks.
I forgot to this morning, and now no one will stand next to me.

10. If you MUST be an animal for ONE day- what would you be?
Beast.
From the X-men.
He counts right?

Ok then….
Wolverine…
I like his hair.

11. Ever have a near death experience?:
Well, on a recent trip to Tokyo, I fell into a harsh disagreement with a ninja, as I cannot read subtitles backward.
It lead to violence.
More on his part then on mine….. ouch.

12. Can you dance?
Dancing is required for all royalty.
Uh DUH.

13. What’s the name of the song that’s stuck in your head?:
I’m a big supporter in Jim Carrey’s solo album.

What? All the Celebs are doin’ it these days.

14. Who did you copy and paste this from?:
Why is that your buLsiOneRssI ??
Hmm?

15. Name someone with the same birthday as you:
Uh, I was not born.
I was hatched on the sixth tuesday in Aprarch.

16. Have you ever destroyed someone’s property?:
As a renegade it is my duty to harm my former “Master’s” material property.

17. Have you ever been in a fight?:
With my rebel geurrila brother’s, I will bear arms against my unjustified government.

18. Have you ever sang in front of a big audience?:

Have I ever sang in front of a big audience?
Have you ever paid attention in your English class?

19. What’s the first thing you notice about the OPPOSITE sex ?:
Whether of not they would be able to beat me in mortal combat.

I’m running out of apponents.

20. What do you usually order from Starbucks?:
Star bucks?
is that like Planet does? (female deer, get it?)

21. Do you have a crush on one of your myspace friends?:
I have a crush on all of my myspace friends.

Hey there SEXEH, can I hit you up?
Call me, Wild THANG.

22. Ever had a drunken night in Mexico?:
Have you ever had a Sober night in Mexico?
Hmmm?

23. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?:
Have you ever wondered why you are so set on conforming me to your perception of beautiful? Have you? Shall I tell you of the emotional ramifications of such implications?

No?
Alrighty then.

24. Do you still watch kiddy movies or TV shows?:
Is Kiddy, a plural turn for baby goat? Or maybe a nickname?
Buddy buddies?

25. Did you have braces?:
I am not forest gump.
Or that nerdy.

26. Are you comfortable with your height?:
If I was uncomfortale could you fix it?

27. What is the sweetest thing someone’s ever done for you?:
Well I was built a home from sugar, because I am the lollipop princess.

28. Do you speak any other languages?:
yes.
The real question should be… is there anythign you can’t do?
And the answer is no.

29. What’s your favorite smell?:
Freshly killed sugar cane.
They’re wiley.
but when I take them down…they stay down.

30. Who are you currently texting?
I am texting, you, this is text is it not?

31. Are you comfortable with answering personal questions?
Are you comfortable with me giving you purple nerples?
Repeatedly.

32. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Yes.
My relationship with my soldiers is one that I treasure.
They do the fighting, and I hide behind anything close enough.

33. What do you do when you have a bad day?
Convince the bad guys they won, then catch them in a giant mouse trap.
Amazingly my day is better.

34. Do you miss someone?
Private Dungeree.
He was a brave Kangaroo.
But, there was nothing to be done for him….

35. What are you wearing on your feet?
flippers… I’m going dancing later.

36. Have you made any mistakes recently?
I’m a super hero.
We don’t DO mistakes.
usually…

37. Is there something that has happened in your past that you really dislike talking about?
If I dislike talking about it, well, I’m just gonna open up to you and your amazing counciling skills.

38. How’s your heart been?
Beating.
I know.
I suck at being undead.

39. Was your last kiss a mistake?
Yes.
I misjudged the situation.
And I’m afraid that horse will never be the same again.

40. Do you think you’ll be married in 10 years?
I’m already married.

Did you not read my codes?
Jeez.

“Molly, are you alright?” David asked cautiously.
“He ignored me the whole class, not my favorite class anymore, no sir-ee.” Molly ranted in an undertone.
“C’mon Molly, it’s just one class.” David offered.
“And if Professor Hagrid ignored you though out Care of Magical Creatures, I’m sure you’d be a bit devastated.” Molly spat.
“Maybe you came on a bit strong?” Sam added, feeling it safe to enter the conversation.
“I like my women coming on strong!” Alex waggled his eyebrows, and Molly laughed at him.
“What would I do without you guys?” Molly asked sincerely.
“Probably die a slow and lonely death involving a lot of pigmy puffs.” Sam told her swinging his hand over her shoulder and looking down on her.
“Gross, Gryffindor PDA.” A little sneer found its way to them through the hall. The group turned to find Flint and Malfoy laughing over Goyle’s comment.
“Shut up gorilla boy.” Sam told him with no emotion. Molly grinned and swung her arm about his middle.
“Oh Sam, oh Sam, take me here, right here. Oh, Sam!” Molly moaned looking Malfoy in the eye with a huge grin.
All the boys were laughing, and Malfoy glared.
“I bet you are their little tramp huh?” Malfoy told her.
“I bet your jealous now aren’t you?” Molly laughed and turned to the guys, “Come now boys, pay attention, here we see the rare albino ferret-spawn in his natural habitat, please no flash photography, we don’t want to scare it; the poor beast has no natural defenses.” They all passed Malfoy pretending to photograph him.
“Oh look and two of the ferret-spawns most natural allies, scientific name – Idiotus gorillus, please stand back, they eat anything too close to their mouths. Come now, come now, mustn’t dawdle.” Molly turned to grin at Malfoy one last time as she and the boys turned down another hallway.
“Molly I love you, marry me?” Dillian asked her with a grin.
“If only you had asked me but a week ago.” Molly joked with him.
“All my hopes, all my dreams dashed! Who has taken my love?” Dillian went in to all out drama mode, falling to one knee and clasping his hands under his chin.
“It was me!” David declared grabbing Molly and dipping her, “We tried to hide our love, but it was impossible!”
“Nerds, we’re gonna be late for transfiguration if we don’t hurry, and Vanderbon already hates us.” Molly laughed, still in David’s arms. “Put me back on my feet.” She laughed at him.
Setting her upright with a smile they all headed toward transfiguration. Nothing good ever came out of Transfiguration class if both Molly and Professor Vanderbon were in there at the same time.

Molly was naturally good at Transfiguration, even though she hated it, and since Vanderbon liked to torture people she made Molly do all the demonstrations, and corrected little things about it, until Molly blew up at her, and was sent to the Headmistresses office.
As usual they all sat in the very back seats, which may be one of the reasons the professor was so adminant about them participating, but as far as Molly was concerned, Vanderbon was just an evil old hag with nothing better to ocupy her time with.
“Class, now, today we wil be turning mice into teacups.” Banderbon started class, and Molly leaned back in her chair and put her feet up on the desk. Smacking her gum at Merry as she passed out the mice to them. Merry rolled her eyes while Molly grinned.
Merry and Molly got along fine, Molly just loved to mess with the extremely prim Merry, it was how they’d interacted since they were five.
“Miss Weasley since you don’t seem to be paying too much attention to the lesson, I’d like to see you turn your mouse into a cup.” Vanderbon sneered at Molly.
Molly smirked at Vanderbon and flicked her wrist and muttered the spell under her breath, the cup turned into a pristine white teacup with gold detailing and a finely carved handle.
“Beat that.” Molly muttered with a grin.
David and Sam tried hiding thier chuckles while Alex and Dillan stared at the teacup in shock.
“Well, it seems some of my teaching has actually sunk in, hasn’t it Miss Weasley.” Vanderbon seemed pleased with herself.
“Actually my mum taught me that this summer.” Molly gave Vanderbon her most instigating grin.
“Out. Out. I want you and your no good, rotten, little followers out of my classroom right now!” Vanderbon seemed to snap, she was nearly foaming at the mouth.
Molly stood up and raised her hands, “Followers.” She said and walked from the room, with four boy tailing her.
When they were in the hallway they all burst out laughing.
“Let’s go visit Hagrid!” David suggested for their free time, Professor Vanderbon’s class was their last class until lunch.
“May as well have some sunshine on your sentence day.” Alex commented.
A unison groan came from all three of the ‘troublemakers’, as they pushed open the doors to the grounds. It was raining, which wasn’t really that uncommon on hogwarts grounds.
They raced down the hill toward the small cottage on the grounds. The rest of the day passed by almost too quickly, and it was time for detention.
Alex and Dillion gave her a hug as she headed toward the dungeons, Sam and David had already headed to thiers.
When she got to the dungeon Zak was already there leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.

As Sydney was lying face down on deck she didn’t see anything but the wooden boarded of the ship, until Ryder picked her up and set her on her feet. Swaying a bit Sydney leaned against Ryder.
“Thanks.” She croaked as Billy stood next to her holding her shirt, and Teck stood close to Ryder.
The people that were infront of them definately were not from the Royal Navy or any other navy, they definately had the look of pirates about them, they were dirty and most had scarves tied every which where, and some had silver danglies in their hair.
Not all were white either, there were some that looked to be from the southern tribes, with their dark skin tatooed with bright inks. And others had the slanted eyes from the east, their hair in pigtails and braids. And still others worn Middle Eastern garb mixed with their sailing clothes.
Overall it was quite imposing site.
“Well, what are four boys such as yerselves doin’ out here?” What seemed to be the captain asked. His face was gaunt and pock marked, he owned a pair of dark, bushy brows over sunken brown eyes. His hair was in a long pony like that of the Eastern men, and atop it all was a grand, deep green hat, topped with a large peacock feather. He gave them a kindly sinister grin, how he pulled them both off at the same time was beyond anything Sydney had ever seen, most of his teeth were gold or silver, they wer shiny too, clean, which shocked Sydney a bit more. His build was stocky, but she could tell that the captain did his fair of work on the ship, even given his rank.
“We escaped from a slave ship, Syd-” Sydney cupped a hand over Billy’s mouth.
“Ye escaped from a slave ship? Four boys all on their own?” The Captain looked bemused at the thought, he appearently thought them liars.
“We may be just four boys, but I happen to be a fair swordsman.” Sydney glared at the older man, he looked to be in his late thirties.
“What’s yer name boy?” The old man asked with that same smile, showing this glittering teeth agian.
With a hand still over Billy’s mouth Sydney replied, “My name is Syd. This is my little brother Billy, and my other brothers Teck and Ryder.” Sydney indicated each as she introduced them, her eyed never leaving the captains.
“Your voice is awful high for a boys.” Another man noticed, his hair was scraggily and if it was clean it might be blonde. He had an orange scarf tied around his head it covered the whole top of his head, in his hair there were random sparklings of sliver and other glittery colors, what looked like trinkets from a rich womans jewlery box. He was a srawny man, not much thicker than Billy’s own small self. But he held himself tall, as if he owned the world. There were two more scarves on him, a green one on his wrist and a red one on his leg. He looked quite scary in fact.
“I was sick as a child, my voice will always be high.” Sydney lifed her chin a little higher to show it didn’t embarrass her.
“At least we’ll get to imagine theres a gal on board.” He decided, which rose a chuckle from the men.
Ryder tapped Sydney on the shoulder, but she had already noticed, all of the men’s teeth had silver and gold in them, and the teeth that were natural were actually fairly clean, not an often sight with pirates, or so Sydney was told.
“I’ll make ye a deal. Are you up for it boy?” The captain asked with that kindly sinister grin again.
Sydney pushed Billy slightly behind her, and straightened her shoulders. “It depends on the bargain….pirate.”
“Ah so ye caught on to that fact, eh?” The captain laughed, as did the crew. “Ye can fight me, sword fight,as I see that little bit o’ metal about yer waist, and if you can unarm me, I’ll let you four aboard my ship as part of the crew, but if you fail to unarm me, you will be thrown into the brig and used as our next shark feed, is it a deal?”
Sydney paused and looked at his crew, she could feel the excited tremor that ran through them. “I’ll ask you this once sir, and as I am not a part of your crew, nor am I your hostage as of yet, so I can not be punished for it, do I look stupid to you? Because I am not, why would I accept a challange from a seasoned fighter when I, meself, am more green than grass?”
The look on the captian’s face took on a suprised, as if he as totally taken of guard, which he probably was, most young bucks were eager to prove themselves, as Sydney had learned from Peter and the other boys, her declining the offer must have been the first time it happened.
The captain let out a peel of laughter. “A smart one boys!” He roared, and the crew roared along with him. “And what about you boy? D’you want ta fight a salty old sea capt’n?” He grinned at Ryder.
Ryder looked at Sydney, and, though he didn’t really understand why she was declining the offer, he shook his head, “I’m with my brother on this, sir.” Billy and Teck squared their little shoulders and glared at the pirates.
“Well then, to the brig with the lot.” The captain exclaimed and a couple of men started edging forward.
Sydney drew her sword and looked the captain in the eye and told him, “I’ll take your deal, but on different terms.” He motioned for her to go on. “If I lose, you may feed me to the sharkies all you like, but either way my brother’s get a part on the crew. A good role, none of that ship’s whore crap, that I have heard of. And if they wish, they’re to be put off at next port. Just as well off as they came aboard.” Her face was set and she glared at him hard.
“That is quite an uneven deal.” The captian remarked.
“How so? You get free labor, and the only expense is food and a bit of ale, every meal time. And the only thing your men miss out on is the company of an extra man’s bum.” She added harshly. The men on board growled at her, and she let a low growl issue from her own chest.
The men took another advance on them, and Ryder took out his own sword, while Billy and Teck pulled out the dagger’s at their waists. The all stood as Sydney did, feet set firmly apart, back slightly hunched, glares on their faces.
“Well looks as if we don’t have much of a choice.” The capatain chuckled. “We couldn’t possibly beat four armed boys.” They all laughed.
“You could give it your best shot.” Sydney told him, “But how would it look, pulling into port, with you, and what’s left of your crew, in the brig?” She sneered.
“Alright boy, I accept your challenge, but mostly becuase I want to cut that smart little tongue from your mouth.” He didn’t chuckle this time, he looked more mad than he had through the whole echange.
“The en guarde sir.” Standing at ready, they flew into a fight. The clanging of swords rang out on the sea air, for every one of Sydney’s advances, the captain claimed one of his own.
The captain’s sword sliced through the skin on her lower stomach, just as her’s cut on his shoulder.
They both retreated for a moment and then flew back into the fight. Sydney landed a cut on his thigh and recieved one on her upper cheek. Then all of a sudden he has his sword pointed at her throat.
Sydney dropped her sword and put her hands up in defeat. The captain grinned and lowered his sword.
He did not motion for his men to take her below or throw her to the fishes.

Ryme started screaming as she saw the men comming toward her and Nalo. “Help! Help! Roan! Daddy! Nanny Klyne! Someone help!”
No one came to her aid as the men picked Nalo up, “Nalo, Nalo wake up! What did you do to him? Nalo?” Still hysterical Ryme tried to pry their fingers from Nalo, “Leave him alone you brutes!”
Two of the four men grabbed her arms, now she was screaming louder than ever, “Daddy! Daddy!” Her cheeks and shirt were being soaked by her tears. The men gagged her mouth to stop her screaming they tied it so tight around the back of her head she could barely close her mouth, and they tied her hands together with a lead rope to pull her. They left her feet undone, but the first time she tried to run from them she was tugged back to land on the ground.
Still screaming at the men around the gag, Ryme wedged her feet under a large root to keep her in place. The man that had her rope tugged brutally, but Ryme kept her resolve. She reached up with her bound hands and started tearing at the gag in her mouth, the largest man strolled forward and grabbed her about her shoulders and picked her clear off the ground, her feet coming out from under the root.
Ryme started hitting him around his face and neck, and kicking everything that was close enough to her feet.
“She’s got more fire that I’d expect.” The one that still held the rope commented.
” We can put that out right quick.” The large one said, he didn’t even seem to notice her hiting him, though she could clearly see bruises forming, not only on his face and neck, but on the backs on her hands. “I’m going to take the gag out, and you’re going to tell me your name, and your boyfriend’s name, do you understand? If you scream, we’ll kill him.”
Ryme glared at him, she was sorely tempted to scream anyways, to test his bluff, but however much she disliked Nalo, she couldn’t risk his life. She stopped hitting him, and after one last kick to his knee she held completely still.
The large man stood her on the ground and pulled the gag from her mouth. He wasn’t tender about it, she felt his nail cut her neck below the ear.
“Your name?” He gruffly demanded.
Ryme ran her tongue around her mouth, trying to moisten it. The licked her lips once her mouth had enough saliva to speak. Looking the man square in the eyes, she spit at him, and with dangerous aim, hit him in the eye.
The man roared at her, he was terrifying, Ryme trembled from head to toe before she fell to the ground. A bruise forming on her face, it took up the whole half of her face, she felt the blood pulsing, and she did not want to be brave anymore, she started crying, loud, body shaking sobbs.
“Re-tie the bitch’s gag.” The man growled to the one holding the rope. The rope man nodded to the giant one and brought the gag to Ryme’s face, when she proceded to kick him, swinging her tied hands wildly, to keep him away.
“Hold still or he comes back over here to make the other side of yoru face match.” Rope Man threatened. Ryme’s hands fell and her feet stopped mid-kick. He tied the gag in her mouth and pulled her to her feet. “You’ll walk like a good little bitch, or I’ll drag you along the ground. Got it?”
Ryme nodded at the foul man, and looked at the ground, she knew he would think she was simply giving in, and a little part of her was telling her she should, but she couldn’t, so she kept her eyes down, but told herself it was just to watch for roots.
“Alright, let’s get out of here before someone get curious.” The Giant commanded, one of the other men slung Nalo, the tall, musclular, most definately heavy, Nalo over his shoulder, like he was a rag doll.
Ryme stared back at the ground as Rope Man pulled her roughly behind him. She stumbled along behind him, it seemed that every root moved to trip her as she followed.
She couldn’t think to guess how long it took them to get where they were going, but it felt like hours. Her feet were sore and her face was throbbing. Nalo had yet to wake up, which really worried her.
Ryme looked around the small clearing that the men brought them to, there were three carriages there, all very large, with vertical metal bars instead of the usual wooden sides. And inside said carriages, were people. Men, Women, and children, all crammed inside the cages, pushed up next to one another.
Rope Man shoved her toward the front cage, the one with the least amout of people, he ripped her gag off, and tossed her into the cage. They tossed Nalo in after her, his head made a loud thump on the floor.
Ryme scooted herself over to him and pulled his head into her lap.
“You brutes! You had better hope he’s ok, or I swear to God-” Ryme yelled out at them, her eyes narrowed into slits.
“You’ll do what?” The Giant growled through the bars. Ryme immediately cowered and lowered her head, tears still slipping down her cheeks, her captors snickering ouside the bars. There were at least twenty of them in the camp, most were large and terrifying, but five or so looked to be not much older that Nalo, were thin and wirey, and all were extremely handsome.

The next morning Sarah walked to the tree where Matty and Josh were already waiting for her, with her little twin siblings, Tanner and Alyssa, her hand was wrapped in gauze, and in a sling, because her mom and freaked out and taken her to the hospital, which took two hours, because she couldn’t just go to the local doctor’s they had to go to the big hospital, which was an hour and forty minutes away.
To find out it was just a sprain.
“Wow, what happened?” Matty asked when she was next to them, Josh gave her a hug without any hesitation, and went to stand with the other two.
“Jakob caught me off guard with a mitt to the back of the head.” Sarah told him with a roll of her eyes.
“What a jerk.” Matty said with a sneer, and they started walking to the elementary kids’ school.
“Mark told me his dad told him I was a-” Josh got really quiet and didn’t finish his sentence. Sarah looked at him, and stopped so he caught up with her. She grabbed his hand and looked at him.
“What did his dad call you Josh, you can tell me ok?” Sarah said, they were all still walking, and the other three weren’t even pretending not to listen.
“He called me the, uh, the N-word, and said Mark couldn’t play with me anymore.” Josh whispered, adn immediately Matty started yelling.
“Matty, stop, I’ll deal with this.” Sarah told him, “Walk my brother and sister to school, Josh and I are makng a detour.” Still holding Josh’s hand she turned toward Jakob and Mark’s house.
She opened their gate to their picket fence and marched straight up to the door, ringing the door bell she gave Josh a comforting smile. Mrs. Anderson, Jakob and Mark’s mom, answered the door, she was a mousy woman, with dark black hair and big blue eyes.
“Can I help you?” She asked in her nervous sort of way.
“I was wondering if Mr. Anderson is home.” Sarah told her with a level gaze, Sarah was extremely mad, Mr. Anderson was racist and sexist and she was not going to let this get by without some inferferance.
“Why, yes he is, sweet heart, I’ll go and get him.” Mrs. Anderson told her with a nervous smile, she was a nice enough lady, but how she could marry such a horrible person, Sarah couldn’t understand.
Mr. Anderson came to the door, he was 6 foot 3 inches tall, thin and wiry, with short black hair which was getting thinner at the top, and dark brown eyes, overall he wasn’t a very scary man. “What do you want?” He growled.
“Did you actually call Josh here the N-word, sir?” Sarah asked him, her back straight and her eyes boring into hers.
“Well if the little jungle monkey wasn’t trying to be around my son, we wouldn’t have any problems.” He told her in his superior way.
“What did you just call him?” Sarah asked in a slightly raised voice. “You think that just because you’re older than us, you hace any right to say those mean, hurtful things?”
“Listen to me, you and that little critter get off my property before I call the police.” He growled at her.
“We’re leaving, but don’t think our parents, and the school board won’t hear about this, and just for your information, the north won the war.” Sarah growled at him, looking him straight in the eye, anger radiating from her. “And the next time you see him, I would advise apologizing, or you can just watch your own child from now on, because I won’t be doing it.”
Holding Josh’s hand Sarah stomped off the porch, and onto the sidewalk. She was fuming, the nerve of that man. Everyone knew he was racist, but that he would do, and say something like that to a child, it made Sarah ball her fists.
“Sarah, are you alright?” Josh asked her, he had tears on his cheeks.
“Oh! Joshy!” Sarah knelt down and hugged the little boy. “Those things he said were not true at all, do you understand me?” She looked Josh in the eyes and tried to make him understand.
Josh nodded, but he was still crying.
“Hey, let’s get some icecream after school, ok? I’ll pick you up today with Matty, and I’ll buy you a nice double scoop. Sound good?” Sarah smiled at him, Josh gave her a little smile and whiped his eyes.
They got to his school as the bell rang, and Sarah dropped him off in his classroom, being attacked by all the little kids in there that she baby-sat.
“Guys I have school, I’ll see you afterwards, ok? I have to go!” Sarah finally got free and ran to her own school, two blocks away.
Sarah skidded into her first period class, tripping through the doorway. The whole class turned their attention to her, and started laughing. Looking up at the from the floor, she gave the teacher a sheepish smile and went to her desk.
“What happened?” Jade, Sarah’s best friend asked. Her long loosely curled hair hanging over her shoulder, and her brown eyes wide with worry.
Jade was classically beautiful, she had natural red lips, and porcelian skin. She was quiet and shy, and sweet as could be.
“I had a run in with Jakob yesterday.” She explained by way of her sling.
“No, your cheeks are wet, and your eyes are all red. Were you crying?” Jade was often oblivious to the world around her, with her nose between the pages of a book, but when she was paying attention nothing escaped her.
“Jakob’s dad.” Sarah replied. She settled into her seat to listen to the first of her science teacher’s many boring lectures to come, and mentally curse whatever person put her in first period chemistry.
“Hey Sarah, can I walk with you?” Johnny called out, as Sarah said ‘bye’ to Jade, and was headed toward second period.
“Sure.” Sarah told him. Johnny caught up and swung an arm over her shoulder. He was completely in love with Jade, and the only person in the whole school who didn’t know was Jade. He was a cute kid too, with wild red hair, and big brown eyes, that always had a goofy twinkle in them.
“So, I have a question for you.” He started off, as they walked into the classroom. Sarah dropped her bag on the floor and hopped up on the desk. Facing Johnny’s desk directly behind her, giving him the signal to continue. “Does, well, I have a friend, who wants to ask someone to the homecoming dance, but he doesn’t know if she has a date yet.”
Sarah stiffled a laugh at the attempted hypothetical question, “Jade is dateless, as far as I know. And if you asked her, I’m almost positive she would say yes.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, this is about my friend.” He replied promptly, but Sarah saw the small smile that had come to his face. “In other news, your brother was seen lately macking on his imaginary girlfriend, any comments?” Johnny put a fake microphone up to Sarah’s face.
“Well, Mr. McAdams, I must say that for an imaginary girl, she gets around. I saw her macking with Colby the other day, and we all know that’s a breeding ground for STD’s” Sarah responded in a serious tone, as Colby and Chase walked into the room.
Chase hid a smile, and gave her a little wave, as Colby glared. “Well, I must say, this is a different turn out from what I expected folks, it seems Jimmy Matters not only has imaginary STD’s, but is macking on Colby’s leftovers! What do you have to say for yourself Mr. Matters?” Johnny put his ‘microphone’ in Jimmy’s face as Jimmy slumped in his seat and grinned at their antics.
“Truth be told, Johnny, may I call you Johnny?” Jonny nodded in a serious way to Jimmy, who continued, “She told me she was, in less then nice terms, unsatisfied, by Colby, and that if his kissing was a preview of what was to come, she was staying STD free for a while.”
A unanimous ‘Oh’, came from the desks around them, and around Colby.
“Do you have anything to say in response, Colby, is it?” Johnny stood up and brought his interview to Colby. Colby leaped out of his seat at Johnny when he was close enough. Only to be held back by his friends.
Sarah and Jimmy were already on their feet.
“Watch your backs.” He threatened them all.
“Alright class, let’s settle down.” The generally clueless history teacher intoned.
Sarah shot Colby a sickly sweet smile as she sat down and gave Johnny and Jimmy high-fives. He glared right back at her. Rolling her eyes Sarah slumped in her seat, waiting for the customary ‘first day of school rule reminders’, because years of doing the same thing taught her nothing, appearently.
“That was the funniest thing…ever.” Anthony added as they walked out of the classroom. Anthony or ‘Quick’ as he was often refered to, was another of the boys that played ball with Sarah. He was the quickest thing on two legs, or at least that what the track coach kept saying while he tried to get Anthony to join. He had shaggy dark brown hair and hazel eyes, and had the mystical power of smiling so nice it knocked a girl off her feet.
“We do what we can.” Johnny, Sarah, and Jimmy said at the same time. Then they all fell apart into laughter.
“What class next ladies and gentlemen?” Talan asked as he joined them walking down the hall.
“Chem.” Anothony said.
“Ditto.” Johnny told him.
“English, with Miss Roberts.” Jimmy told them suggestively, and Sarah fake gagged.
“Hey me too!” Hammie said as she popped up next to them. The 5′4″ boy with wildly spiky hair and an aversion to sitting still was, or at least seemed to be, on a 24 hour a day sugar buzz.
“Right on.” Jimmy said as they broke off.
“Gym.” Sarah told Talan, who was still walking with her.
“Me too.” He told her, his easy smile came to his face, as he ran a hand through his long-ish blonde hair. His foamy blue eyes smiled with him.
A dark skinned arm flopped onto Sarah’s shoulders,”Me too.” Matty told her with a sigh. He grinned along with Talan, and Sarah grinned too as they walked into the gymnasium.

“It was only a kiss.” Ryme told him, looking down at her hands as she twisted them infront of her.

“Only a kiss? How can one even be sure you’re a virgin?” Nalo asked in an instagating tone.

“It was my first kiss.” Ryme informed hi quietly.

“Your first? What, today? This week?” Nalo goaded her, wiht a glare, he had advanced on her so they were only about a foot from one another.

“My first ever.” Ryme mummbled.

Nalo’s eyebrows shot up, he had gotten his fair share of kisses throughout his life, he had just wanted to make her feel guilty. And by the way that she said it, he knew she wasn’t lying, and her face was beet red. Which gave more to the evidence that she was being painfully honest.

“Do you ever lie?” Nalo asked her with a confused look on his face.

“No, at least I try not to.” Ryme admitted.

Ryme hated this, she was so awkward around him, and her heart was stil beating wildly from Roan’s kiss, and she was afraid Nalo would tell her father.

“Are you going to tell my father?” Ryme mummbled to him. Nalo was a bit shocked, the thought had never actually crossed his mind. Then he grinned to minself, on the inside.

“I hadn’t decided.” He told her with a sly grin. “Maybe you could sway my vote?” He suggested.

Ryme finally looked up into his face, she looked completely confused. “What do you mean?” Ryme asked with no idea what was going on in Nalo’s mind.

Nalo rolled his eyes and stepped forward and put his hands on her waist, putting her flush up against the tree trunk once more. Ryme was bright red, and would not look into his face.

“What,” Ryme gulped, looked around, stil not meeting his eyes, “What are you doing?”

“Swaying my choices.” Nalo told her with a smirk. It really was far too easy to tease this girl. He leaned in closer to her, and Ryme tried to push him from her, tears in her eyes.

“Please, stop it.” She asked him in a whisper, still pushing his chest.

Pausing Nalo looked at her, “What, you let the servants kiss you, why can’t I?”

“Because, I know him, I don’t even like you.” Ryme told him honestly, even though she feared his reaction.

Nalo was actually taken back, the honesty of this girl was strange, and he was shocked to find that her words actually hurt him.

They both had no idea that they were not the only ones in the wood, and while their attention was only being payed to one another, four large men had snuck up on them.

“You don’t know me well enough to dislike me.” Nalo countered, his face still inches from hers.

Ryme was starting her retort when Nalo suddenly when limp against her, she wasn’t ready to hold his wight, nor was she strong enough, so she fell to the ground with him.

Ryme was shocked, she froze, her eyes grew wide and pulling away she fell over a root. Looking at Roan, he didn’t looked the least bit shocked, but slightly pleased with himself.
“What was that?” Ryme squeeked, scrambling to her feet.
“It was a kiss Ryme, you know that.” Roan told her with a little grin.
“But, you’re- you’re not aloud to kiss me!” Ryme protested her eyes still wide.
“If I were not your servant, it would not matter.” He reminded her with a grin. The it faltered a bit. “Are you… mad at me Ryme?” He looked honestly worried.
Ryme had to stop and actually think about this. It went against everything she had been taught, and she didn’t understand why Roan, of all people, would want to kiss her.
“I’m not… mad Roan. But, why did you, I mean, why’d you kiss me?” Ryme was bright red, she looked him in the face. As always he was covered in dirt, but as a grin spread over his face she could see that his teeth were clean, and, she thought, his lips had been extremely soft.
He met her eyes evenly, his blue meeting her green. Ryme’s face was hot and she could imagine the waves of heat flowing from her face.
“You know why boys kiss girls Ryme.” Roan insisted. His grin was less innocent now, and much more mischievious.
“Roan, don’t tease me.” Ryme was fidgeting and looking down. Roan’s usually harmless teasing was making her even more self-conscious than usual.
“Ryme, boy kiss girls because they like them.” Roan told her stepping close to her again. “And because they’re pretty and fun to be around. At least that’s why I kissed you.”
He was close to her now, she could smell him, it wasn’t unpleasent, like fresh hay, or the ground after a storm, mixed with the musky, almost man smell.
“You… you like me?” Ryme whispered, they were close enough that Roan heard her as if she had spoken normally.
“I can’t remeber when I didn’t.” Roan’s hands went to cup her jaw, and his face was getting closer to hers, and Ryme was preparing herself for her second kiss.
There was butterflies, it wasn’t the cold dread she felt when she thought of kissing most all of her suitors. She let her eyes flutter closed and she puckered her lips.
“What’s this?” Ryme and Roan jumped away from one another, Roan landing on the ground and Ryme being caught by the trunk of a tree.
And there he stood looking stoic and terrifying. Nalo was standing in a pool of light, looking every bit the avenging angel. He was like stone, glaring at them.
“None of yer business, that’s what it is!” Roan growled at Nalo.
“She’s my nearly betrothed. You’re just the servent boy.” Nalo growled.
“Oh, because you’ve treated her so great up to now.” Roan pushed himself to his feet, both boys stood with their feet set, dangerously glaring at one another.
“And, you’re still a servant. You have no say in how I treat her.” Nalo grinned sadistically, Roan advanced on him, and the thought of how talented Nalo was in hand-to-hand popped into her mind.
Pushing herself off the tree she stepped inbetween them,adn put her hands on Roan’s chest stopping him. “Roan, stop, please.” Ryme begged, looking him in the eye.
“Yes Roan, don’t do anything you’ll regret.” Nalo goaded him. Roan step forward threateningly.
“Leave him alone, just because you’re born higher than he is, and have been babied all your life, it doesn’t make you better.” Ryme turned around, her riht hand still holding Roan back, and glared at Nalo, her hands shaking. She had never been this mad, or mean, in her whole life, and she didn’t like it, though it was refreshing.
Nalo’s features contorted in rage, and Ryme was honestly terrified. “You’re coming with me to the castle, and he’s going to go back to whatever it is that he does.” Nalo said in an even tone.
“You can’t boss her around, this isn’t your fiefdom!” Roan shouted in outrage.
Nalo didn’t glance at Roan once. His eyes were trained on Ryme. And she knew he was mad, and could probably hurt Roan so that he would never be the same.
“Roan, go back to your duties, I’ll talk to you later.” Ryme told him, not looking away from Nalo.
Roan touched her shoulder and mummbled, “I don’t want to leave you alone with him.”
“I’ll be ok, I promise.” Ryme assured him, finally looking him in the eye. Roan still looked reluctant, but turned around, with one last glare at Nalo, and stomped from the trees.
“We’re not even wed, and already your tarting around with the help.” Nalo growled with Roan was out of earshot.

Ryme stepped away from him and Nalo’s hand fell to his side. His face showed no emotion, but her emotions were spread across her own face, as they always had been.

The fear that he may strike her, the anger that had boiled over the edge, and the sadness, Nalo looked closely. He could not understand the sadness.

“Miss?” Roan’s voice came form the stable door. Ryme turned to it, after wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Yes Roan?” She asked using the superior tone.

“Miss, timothy is waiting inside for Monsieur Nalo, and the Captain McLeay wishes to speak with you.” He told her tentatively.

“Alright, Monsieur, just walk through those doors. Roan, take me to the captain’s guard.” Ryme said walking to Roan. She didn’t glance back, and neither did Nalo, as they headed in their respective directions.

“What did the Captain need Roan?” Ryme asked as they walked toward the barracks.

“He didn’t, I just figured you didn’t want to be around that jerk anymore. He made you cry Ryme, nobody does that to you.” Roan looked at her a little sheepishly.

“Thanks Roan, you’re my best friend, you know that right?” Ryme grinned at him as he led her toward the small grove of trees that grew on the property.

“Yes, I’ve come to learn it.” Roan smiled at her and helped her over a large root.

The trees in the grove were old and large; it was more like a small forest than a grove. Ryme’s arms couldn’t fit around any given tree. The moss covered the ground like a soft blanket, and this time of year the leaves were just beginning to change colors.

“Tell me something Roan.” Ryme looked to the older boy.

“What do you want to know?” Roan grinned at his friend, he always seemed to have a grin on his face, almost anything made him smile and it was hard to get him to stop.

“Am I pretty?” Ryme blushed, a bright red color at her own question.

“Well let me think on this.” They both came to a stop and Roan started walking around her slowly. “You have the prettiest hair I’ve ever seen, deep and chocolate colored, and when it catches the sunlight just right it shines. And you’re eyes are the deepest most lovely swirling pools of green. Yeah, Ryme you’re pretty.” His grin seemed to get even bigger.

“Don’t tell me that just because your my friend or my servant.” Ryme was consious of herself, she was embarrased by her own question and his undoubtably joking answer.

“Not as a servant?” Roan asked her looking her in the eyes.

“Or as a friend.” Ryme said, her jaw set and her lips quivering.

Roan looked into her eyes and took two steps toward her, stepping over a large protruding root, he reached out and grabbed both side of her face and brought his lips down to hers.

Multi-Genre Essay
The Kite Runner

The connection between child and parent is not one that is easily broken. It isn’t something that can be taken for granite. Just like the connection between between Amir and Baba.
Amir is always looking for something to make Baba proud of him. And no matter what Amir did Baba never really seemed to notice, unless it was something that interested Baba himself, something to do with physical greatness.
Like winning in the Kite tournament.
My essay is based on the relationship between parent and child, and how that connection can be strong, and almost codependent, or can be not there at all.
While Baba loved Amir, he was so ridden with guilt at what he had done, Baba broke the one law that he had actually believed in. He had not only stolen it from Amir, but also from Hassan and Ali. And that made him want to accept them both, though he could only accept Amir, the part of him that he would rather have traded for the athletic Hassan. Thus effecting the parenting skills he had, making him distant, and in a way unresponsive to Amir.
It is also about how a child often believes the best of a parent, even in the worse of circumstances. How they look up to, and in even earlier life, idolize, their parents. No matter if they are the most horrible, or the best parent in the world, a child loves them the same amount, as if they wre superman/woman, themselves.

Bob Carlisle – Butterfly Kisses
There’s two things I know for sure
She was sent here from heaven, and she’s Daddy’s little girl.
As I drop to my knees by her bed at night
She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes
And I thank God for all of the joy in my life, oh but most of all…

For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair
Walk beside the pony Daddy, it’s my first ride
I know the cake looks funny Daddy, but I sure tried
Oh with all that I’ve done wrong, I must of done something right
To deserve a hug every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.

Sweet sixteen today
She’s looking like her Mama, a little more everyday.
One part woman, the other part girl
To perfume and makeup, from ribbons and curls.
Trying her wings out in a great big world, but I remember…

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
You know how much I love you Daddy, but if you don’t mind
I’m only gonna kiss you on the cheek this time.
With all that I’ve done wrong, I must of done something right
To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses at night.

All the precious time, oh, like the wind the years go by.
Precious butterfly, spread your wings and fly.

She’ll change her name today, she’ll make a promise, and I’ll give her away.
Standing in the bridegroom just staring at her
She asks me what I’m thinking, and I said I’m not sure.
I just feel like I’m losing my baby girl, and she leaned over…

Gave me butterfly kisses with her Mama there
Sticking little white flowers all up in her hair.
Walk me down the aisle Daddy, it’s just about time.
Does my wedding gown look pretty Daddy? Daddy, don’t cry.
Oh, with all that I’ve done wrong, I must of done something right.

To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses,
I couldn’t ask God for more, than this is what love is.
I know I gotta let her go, but I’ll always remember…
Every hug in the morning, and butterfly kisses

This song, to me, has always represented a father’s love. The kind of love that should come unconditionally, the kind that should be given freely, and never expecting something in return. And as a father, or a mother really, loves a child, a child loves that parent without question. Even when a child, such as Amir, isn’t shown the love as obviously as most, they still want the love and approval of that parent that they look up to so fervently.
Butterfly Kisses, is a song that has always meant a lot to me, because my father played it for me, and he wasn’t around as a grew up, but I still yearned for him to love me and be proud of me. Just like Amir wanted Baba to be proud of him.

The Amber Spyglass- Philip Pullman

‘… Then, at word from the woman, the golden monkey sprang on Lyra’s daemon, gripping him with hard black fingers. The daemon flipped from shape to shape more quickly than Ama had ever seen a daemon change before:cat-snake-rat-fox-bird-wolf-cheetah-lizard-polecat-
But the monkey’s grip never slackened; and then Pantalaimon became a porcupine.
The monkey screeched and let go. Three long quills were stuck shivering in his paw. Mrs. Coulter snarled and with her free hand slapped Lyra hard across the face, a vicious backhand crack that threw her flat; and before Lyra could gather her wits, the beaker was at her mouth, and she had to swallow or choke…
And the woman was singing softly, crooning baby songs, smoothing the hair of the girl’s brow, pating her hot face dry, humming songs to which even Ama could tell she didn’t know the words…
Eventually that stopped, and the woman did a curious thing: she took a pair of scissors and trimmed the girl’s hair, holding her sleeping head this way and that to see the best effect. She took one dark blond curl and put it in a little gold locket she had around her own neck. Ama could tell why, she was going to work some further magic with it. But the woman held it to her lips first… Oh, this was strange.’

Mrs. Coulter, who is Lyra’s mother, is definitely not the typical mother, in fact she’s not a very good mother at all. But she does love her little girl. She is hiding her in a cave from people who want to kill her. And later she will defend the girl against a man who strikes fear into the hearts of many. Lyra didn’t know it was her mother putting her into the coma like sleep, and when her friend revives her, she thinks her mother was afraid for her life because of the sleeping.
Showing that even though Lyra despises her mother for what she was doing to innocent children (cutting their Daemons (souls) from their bodies), she still wants to believe the best of her, to believe that she would protect her no matter what.

This is a picture of my mother, my brother, Briar, and me. It’s on our trip from North Dakota to Oregon. It is, in my opinion, a very happy photo of the three of us.
It’s been the three of us for most of my memory. My mom and dad got divorced when I was six years old. And while we’ve had our very rough times, I’ve always loved my mom, no matter what I’ve said in fits of anger.
But the person I’m writing about, isn’t one that’s in the photo, I’m writing about my dad, or papa, as I called him for the larger part of my life.
My dad was, by far, not the best parent. He was not nice at all. He hit my mom, my brother and I, and when I lived with him in North Dakota, he let my step-mom and sister, use me as their scapegoat and punching bag.
And yet, I cannot help but to yearn for a connection with him. I want him to love me, and to be proud of me. To tell me I’ve done a good job, that I’m doing better than he could have hoped.
I couldn’t begin to explain why I hope for this, I just know that I do. And that almost every kid I’ve ever met has hoped for, the approval of the person they seek it from most. And while teens are supposed to be rebellious and what-not, I’ve not met one yet that doesn’t want their parents to be proud of them.
I know that being around my father is not what I should do, in fact I should cut him from my life completely, but, as I am over caring, over trusting, I can’t, I just can’t.
I know many a person that would tell anyone who asked that I didn’t care what anyone thought about me, what anyone saw when they looked at me. They would tell other how I’m strong-willed, and set on accomplishing the goals I’ve set for myself, come hell or high water.
And if anyone had a problem with that, well they should buy an air conditioner and a boat, because I’m doing it with, or without, their permission. These people would tell you that while I don’t care what people think, I care what people do, I want to change the world, and I don’t need anyone’s permission, I’m bossy when it comes to manners, and I can be silent and shy, but I never need anyones acceptance.
Personally, I believe they’re delusional, because I always want someone to be proud of me. And I’m getting better at not wanting it from the wrong people.
So while I really do want that parental approval from my father, I think I cherish it more from my mother.
My mother, who is my protector, and who knows that I can do it, who has always encouraged me. I am fortunate to have one parent who loves me more than two could hope for. And that is a child-parent connection I would not soon sever.

She snuck out of her home, clothed in only her father’s discarded clothes. They were so large on her that she had to tie the ends of the breeches and the arms up, as well as the waist. His old, worn shirt billowed around her; the small moth eaten holes let the summer breeze touch her skin.
She knew the punishment for such unladylike behavior. Women were to be polite and obedient, and never to go outside in the middle of the night to “play” with her father’s old sword. She was to behave and sit like a doll upon some man’s shelf. A prize to be earned never touched unless she was needed for wifely duties.
She refused to be a doll; her father had told her that she would be something great one day. And she planned on making a difference.
Ever since the king had been executed by Sir Elliot, the man who had decided to overthrow him, the land had been run to ruins. Taxes rose, property values plummeted, and her family been torn apart, as the army recruited her older brothers, and her mother and she were the only ones left to help her father with the farm. They had once been the richest family in the valley, now they couldn’t afford to pay the farm hands and they had to till the whole farm by themselves.
Not an easy task to say the least.
Her hands were raw and calloused, where as they had been soft and smooth just six months ago. These things made anger grow inside of her that she could not control, the worst of which was taking her brothers. She had four older brothers, and even though they had picked on her often, she had still loved them intensely. They had protected her from many a thing, and had taught her most everything useful that she knew.
They had been taken from her, ripped from the family, and forced into the service of the false king, as she had so lovingly dubbed King Elliot.
Adda was only a girl of sixteen, not even a suitor left as all her money was gone, and now she was determined to free her brothers and her country, not that she had any idea how to do it.
Another jab with the sword and Adda want back into her house. The very house that felt so empty without her big brothers.
As the morning sun rose in the sky, so did Adda. Her mother’s, once soft, hand shaking her shoulder. She was in tears.
“Momma what’s the matter?” She asked pulling herself into a seated position.
“Darling, we’re losing it. All of it.” Her mother sobbed into Adda’s night gown.
“What momma, what are we losing?” Adda pulled her mother to arms length and looked into her eyes.
“The farm, the manor, our summer home, our family” Her mother broke into sobs again and held her stunned daughter.
“Where’s Daddy?” Adda asked her mother in a whisper.
“Downstairs with the collector” She cried.
“I’ll be right back.” Adda pushed her mother from her gently and headed downstairs. Her bare feet where quiet on the wood floors, she could hear men arguing in the entry way, so she headed for the door that lead there, quietly as she could she put her ear to the door and listened to the conversation on the other side.
“King Elliot demands this property and your summer home, you would do well to oblige.” the man had a squeaky voice, and in complete honesty Adda expected her father to laugh at him, but that wasn’t what happened.
“This land was my father’s before mine and my grandfather’s before him, how can this King,” Her father said the word with as much malice as she did, “declare it his own?”
“Simple my good man, he is king.” The mouse man spoke the last words so slowly as to help a simple man understand.
“Do not speak to me as if I am an idiot. This King has taken my sons, my money, my field hands, and now he wants my homes and my land? This False King is none more than that, a false man, I will not leave my land of my own will, the true King respected that and I stand by his name.”
“You, sir, should not disrespect your king.” The mouse man threatened her father.
Adda narrowed her eyes as she pressed her ear even harder against the wooden door, how dare that man speak to her father that way.
“He is not my king.” Her father growled. Adda cheered silently for her father and his will of steel, which she had so dearly despised for most her life.
Adda listened closely and she heard the click of heals, mouse man was walking away. Slowly she opened the door and peeked through.
“Daddy?” She called quietly.
“What Adda?” Her father turned to her and held his arms open for a hug.
“What are we going to do?” Adda whispered hugging her father. “The false king will undoubtedly take our land.”
“Darling I know what we must do.” He told her gravely, the tone shocked Adda, and her father’s drawn face was ripping her heart out.
“Daddy?” Adda asked, she was scared; her father was not easily shaken.
“You must leave, your mother and I will go to the stocks, but they know not of you. Run Adda, I want you to go to the city where your uncle is, he will take you in. I know he will, he loves you more than we know.” Adda’s father was nearly pleading her.
“Yes daddy.” She told him, and hugged him tight until the footsteps were coming back then kissing her father’s cheek she fled the room up to her own, where her mother was.
“Momma, daddy wants me to run away, will you come with mother?” Adda could not let her mother go to the stocks, she was much to fragile a woman.
Her mother sniffled and wiped her face, looking at her daughter she opened her arms and Adda stepped into the embrace. “I would never dream of leaving your father’s side.” She answered and stood, walking from the room, with one final look at her daughter, she said, “Adda I know that it is a lot of responsibility to put upon a child, but you are strong, you must save your country. You have to save them all from that horrid man.”
“I will Momma.” Adda let the tears fall down her cheeks as she watched her mother leave the room, and she collected her things.
Adda was never an extremely brave girl, in fact she was down right scared of most things, but as she was packing she was overcome with grief and anger. She vowed silently to bring this man to justice any way she could.
Adda shoved a light dress, it was her favorite dress. The color was a light green and it had a deep purple trim. She also liked it because it was a peasant style dress that her friend Raven had made it for her.
The she ran to her brother Talen’s room and rifled through his drawers, grabbing four pairs of pants, and pulling a dark brown pair on.
Talen was only a year older that she was and he wasn’t much bigger than her, as she was quite tall, but her curves would be an issue with his shirts, so she went to Nate’s room and grabbed four shirts, and stripped off her nightgown, she had fallen asleep in her breast band so it was already pulled on tight, and then she pulled on a tight green undershirt to hide her chest more so, then a loose brown over shirt.
Shoving the other clothes in her bag she ran to Jerret’s room and ripped open his closet and pulled up the loose board on the floor and pulled out his hip knife and boot knifes. She had her own boots in her room so she ran back to pull those on and fitted the knives in them, and the hip knife into the belt Jarret had made for her after showing her his hide-hole.
She thought she was about ready and was nearly ready to go when she though about the fact that she had grabbed something from every one of her brothers’ rooms, except from Remmy’s. So she ran to her favorite brother’s room and looked around, then she knew what to grab.
When they were younger Remmy had always been the one to start a game of cops and robbers, and on his dresser still sat the mask the robber always had to wear, the other ones had gotten lost somewhere but Remmy had saved one.
Adda walked forward, tears falling down her face even harder, because this was the last thing she needed, then she would be gone, forever, never to return to her home.
She grabbed the blood red mask, it had been dyed red on accident when the maids were dying the curtains, Jarret and Remmy had been fighting over it, and had fallen into the dying vat, and turned themselves and the mask red, they got it washed off and their clothes thrown away, but the mask had been saved.
She shoved the mask into her pack and swung it onto her back, she pulled her long blond hair up into her cap, and after a quick stop to the kitchen Adda was ready to set out. With one last glance at her home she set out down the road, humming a song her father had taught her when she was little.
She decided that she would take the mill workers road, because it went by forest, which would make it harder for the false King’s men to look for her, because she could slip into the woods, and she had always loved that road best.
She set off down it with a sad smile on her face, moving on to the next song she knew. It was a bright day, the run way already burning the back of her newly tanned neck. But it made the trees even more beautiful as the sun and the leaves played hide and seek, the wind swaying them ever so slightly to give the trees an almost magical feeling.
She tried to think of the positive things to push her through, and while it was hard she pushed through.
Four days later she was setting off from her small campsite. She would be in town in a couple of hours and to her uncles in just a few more, as she hadn’t visited since she was eleven. Adda’s feet were sore and she was hungry, her food had run out two nights ago, and she didn’t have the heart to kill anything.
“Please just kill me, oh God please kill me.” Adda’s head snapped toward the bushed next to the road. She couldn’t block out the crying, even if it was faint.
Adda pulled her pack tighter over her shoulder and headed toward the bushes. She was weary as she crept forward. The pleading was a loud quieter now and Adda could barely make it out.
“Oh Jesus. Let me die, just let me die.” The words were whispered and were right on the other side of the large tree that stood in front of Adda. Adda stopped to take a calming breath, then she peered around the trunk of the tree.
A boy lay on the ground, blood covering his clothes. He was curled up on his side, in a fetal position. Adda looked around for the attackers but saw no one. Slowly she crept toward the boy, who was now rocking and mumbling prayers.
“Hello, are you alright?” Adda asked creeping forward.
He looked up at her, his black hair was mussed; sticking out at all angles. His eyes were an icy blue that startled Adda a bit. His face was covered in drying blood and growing bruises.
He started to croak something out, but his throat only emitted a hoarse rasping. Realizing his throat must be dry, Adda pulled her canteen from her belt and helped the boy, who looked to be around her age, to drink. He drained the whole canteen, upsetting Adda a bit as she had just filled it and didn’t know when she would go by water again.
“Thank you.” He wheezed out. And took a large breath.
“What happened?” Adda asked with a slight frown as she shouldered her canteen and helped him to sit all the way up.
“I was ambushed.” He said simply, like she was supposed to know what he meant. After a furrowing of her brow and pursing of her lips, he got the hint that she had no idea what he was talking about. ” The kings taxes are really high in the city, and more and more people are falling into debt and out of his favor, which isn’t a good thing,” Adda rolled her eyes at the obvious statement, “And some just decide to take off before they’re put in the cages, and they sometimes attack messengers, also known as, me.” he broking into hacking coughs and spit out some blood, much to Adda’s disgust.
“What are cages, and what exactly does a messenger do, and who are you?” Adda asked after thinking for a moment. She would definitely seem like a simple country girl, which she pretty much was, but it was better to know.
“On ever entrance to the main city there are four cages, all in all there twenty, they are five by six feet apiece, and only 5 feet in height, up to seven people are forced into one, all but two cages are full, when they do fill up, the King will start executions of those who have not, or rather their families, have not earned enough money to pay off their debt, and believe me there will be a lot of dead after that.
“As for a messenger, I run payments, bribes and messages between fiefdoms and the palace as well, meaning that I keep rich people safe, to keep my own family out of the cages.” He had caught Adda’s look of disdain for what he did, but she held her hands up to his suddenly hostile tone, as a sign of surrender. “And my name is Damian.”

Her watery gaze rested on him only a moment before she threw herself forward into his arms and hugged him, like she had hugged Peter, not long ago. Tears still surging through her body, she had to force them away from her.
Thoughts of Peter brought her back to her senses she pulled from a slightly shocked looking Ryder, and wiped her eyes, she had revenge that needed to be fulfilled.
Wiping the wetness from her red cheeks, a plan started forming in her mind.
“There are uncharted islands everywhere in this ocean, maybe we could find one?” Sydney suggested still blurry eyed, and sniffing. “We can alternate rowing, Ryder and I, and if you two boys will keep watch, we’ll shift sleeping.”
“But we could be stranded for days!!!” Ryder told her.
“We can go a while without water, it’ll be uncomfortable, but it’s all we can do, we have to find land, and hope we’ll get lucky.” Sydney said softly.
“It the only chance we have.” Billy piped up and with a sidelong glance at Teck, who nodded, he stared intently at Ryder.
Ryder mulled the options over in his head, and seeing as he couldn’t think of anything better, nodded. “I’ll row first, and when I tire I’ll wake you.” Ryder told Sydney.
“I’ll stay up with you.” Billy told him. Teck, looking slightly downcast, he didn’t want to help a girl, but he nodded none the less. He and Sydney curled in the bow, close together to keep warm in the salty ocean air, dusk was coming in fast.

The stars were out by the time that Sydney woke up. The sky was clear and there were two small bodies huddled beside her. Both Teck and Billy were curled beside her; Ryder was still rowing, though his eyes were half closed.
Carefully Sydney sat up and crawled to him, careful not to wake the small boys or rock the boat too much.
“Ryder.” Sydney whispered to him, her hands on his knees while she sat facing him. “Ryder go lay down by the boys, I’ll row for a while.” His eyes were still barely open as he nodded, and started toward the bow.
As it turns out rowing a boat is hard work. More hard work than Sydney had ever been faced with.
She strained, her damp clothing rustling in the wind. Her eyes burned from the sea salt, and her mouth was dry already.
She tried not to make too much sound as she grunted against the oars, and it only got harder. Her arm muscles burned as she rowed, throwing her whole weight against that of the oars.
Sydney felt as if her arms would fall off after a half an hour of rowing. But she forced herself to keep going. Closing her eyes to keep focused, she missed the large ship coming upon them.
Until she felt someone shaking her hard. Opening her eyes she looked straight at Teck who was motioning wildly at something behind her.
Sydney turned to see an extremely large ship, barreling toward their little boat.
Pulling on the oars as fast as she could Sydney tried to pull out of the ship’s path. But the suction was pulling their little boat under.
Sydney screamed at the top of her lungs, and was soon joined by an awakened Billy and Ryder.
A rope fell from the side of the boat and they all scrambled for it. Sydney and Ryder helped Billy and Teck onto the rope, quickly before climbing themselves. Sydney’s arms, which were already tired from rowing threatened to let her go, Ryder, who was below her hollered up to the top, “Pull us up, we can’t make it.”
And he bade her to hold on tight. When they were pulled over the side Sydney sprawled out on the deck, her clothes still had not dried from their plunge into the sea, neither had the other boy’s, her hair was salty and damp, sticking out from her head at strange angles.

Fortunately Billy and Teck could paddle the boat, even barely. They brought the boat along side of the two teenagers and helped them up. Sydney first, then Ryder fell into the boat and while Sydney spluttered and gasped for air Ryder grabbed the oars and paddled as far from the large ship as possible.
And they all drifted to their own thoughts, not a single pirate came after them, laughter was heard from the deck of the ship, they must find the pirate in a dress quite hilarious.
Billy sat next to Sydney and patted her shabbily cut hair. Putting her head in his lap he just ran his hand across her hair until she slept. Billy knew in his heart that this sister would never leave him, and he would never in his life leave her to harm. She had nearly drowned and he was not there to help her.
Teck looked at Billy’s display of love and made a silent face, though no one noticed this. He knew that love was for nothing, that all who loved died sooner. He had a fondness for his friend Ryder, but it was not even a brotherly love. Teck would never love, just like he would never allow himself to talk.
The blush slowly receded from Ryder’s cheeks. He had never been so close to a girl, not even the wanton Warf women; they did not pay attention to scruffy boys, but this girl had held him close and held as if she would never let go. Looking out at the sea Ryder decided that he could not think of her this way, she was to be like a brother, she was a fighter, he had felt the fury of her gaze when he had pinned her in the ship, that was close proximity too, but with the thought of death loomed, one did not think of such things. He must think of her only as a ‘brother’ of sorts, she certainly could fight like one.
And this is how they went for a while just sitting in their own thoughts. Soon enough Sydney woke and crawled to help Ryder with the oars.
“Thank you for saving me Ryder. I would have drowned if not for you.” She said, but refused to look at him.
“We are all family now; we must not abandon one another.” Ryder told her with a smile, as he pushed his other thoughts away.
“Where are we going?” Billy asked from the bow of the boat.
“I don’t see any land at all.” Sydney commented. “No wonder they didn’t come after us.”
Ryder looked around them, hopelessness in his eyes. Suddenly he was angry. At least on the ship they had food, shelter, water, and they were dry.
“We should have just stayed on the ship. Stupid girls and their stupid ways always have to make everything worse.” He growled at Sydney.
“Don’t blame this on me!” She shouted back at him.
“It’s your fault.” He shouted back.
“You didn’t have to follow me! You chose to do so!” Her voice was quivering with rage, and she was on the verge of tears.
“You upperclassmen think you’re so great!” He yelled at her, “But you’re not, you’re nothing but idiots, you can’t do anything right! Can you? You have killed us!” His voice was at full volume now as he glared down at her.
Sydney’s eyes well as tears started seeping down her face. Then she put her head into her hands, sobbing.

But Ryder flipped her around and pressed her into the wall, both little boys pressing into it along side them.
Ryder’s hand was placed firmly over her mouth. Sydney’s eyes were ablaze, and Ryder visibly flinched from the look of pure contempt. Her gaze only softened into fear as she heard the pound of boot steps coming upon them. Her eyes were wide and her breathing increased.
“Shh, Sydney you have to calm down, or we’ll be caught!” Ryder whispered into her ear, his body was almost painfully pushing her against the wall.
Taking deep breathes Sydney tried to calm herself and only completely succeeded when she felt Billy’s small hand entwine with hers. That pure act of his confidence in her made her level of bravery rise a few notches.
Soon enough the person walked past them, unfortunately they would have to move more quickly now, as the man was headed for their prior room. Sydney lifted Billy into her arms as Ryder pushed himself from her and lifted Teck the same way.
Grabbing Ryder’s hand so they did not separate Sydney ran alongside of Ryder.
Soon they heard the shouts of prisoner escapes, but Sydney could smell the salty air of the sea, and the wind was blowing Billy’s hair wild.
Sydney felt her legs pumping even harder to keep up with Ryder’s strides. Soon they were out in the sun filled daylight. Sydney cursed in her head; it would have been so much easier if it had been dark.
Every eye on deck looked at the two, what looked like, boys holding hands and the small children in their arms. Wicked grins spread across their faces, and Sydney cringed. This was not good at all.
Sydney moved Billy to her back and motioned for Ryder to do the same with Teck.
The men stepped closer to them and Sydney drew her sword. The action only caused the men to grin even more.
“What do you think you’re doing boy?” One man asked her, his teeth were blackened and most were missing.
After the disgusting man’s question, the guard, who was currently wearing Sydney’s dress, burst from the same door the children had run from.
As the crew looked at the man in, what used to be, an elegant dress, they looked at if they didn’t know weather to laugh of be outraged.
While they were occupied, if only for a moment, Sydney ran to where the lifeboats were situated and she motioned to Ryder. At the exact same moment they cut the rope on the lifeboat and it fell into the water.
Sydney turned her head to look Billy in the eye. “Can you swim?” She asked.
“Of course, who can’t?” Billy said.
“Can you?” She directed her question to Ryder and Teck who nodded. “Then Jump!” She shouted as the pirates started circling them. She set Billy down and he ran to the ledge, and grabbing Teck’s hand, both young boys jumped.
Ryder was still standing by her, his sword drawn. He grabbed her hand and started pulling her toward the water.
“Sydney, can you swim?” He asked her seriously, not taking his eyes from the pirates.
Sydney did not answer him, but he knew what the answer, the anxiety in the silence showed through her bravado. She could not swim; she had never even been in water, besides the bath!
The crew was closing in on them and Sydney was unwilling to jump. She would not go, she had thought of every obstacle, except the water!
Ryder, on the other had, had another plan in mind. He sheathed both of their swords swiftly, but with some difficulty. Then he reached over and grabbed Sydney’s hand and pulled her to the edge. He wrapped his arms around her waist and jumped overboard.
Sydney let loose a high pitched scream that was heard across the vast ocean.
“Hold your breath and close your eyes.” Ryder instructed moments before their feet connected to the water.
Sydney took in a large breathe and closed her eyes, but that didn’t stop the salt water from rushing into her nose. Losing her concentration at the pain she opened her eyes and tried to take a large breath.
Salt water filled her lugs as she fought for air. Suddenly Ryder burst through the water Sydney clinging to his side, spluttering. Sydney held herself so tightly to Ryder that he could feel all of her womanly curves and a slow blush crept across his face as he struggled to move them toward the life boat.