A June Post

     Ello!!! 

It's the end of June already. Seriously? And *sheepish grins* I haven't even managed a post till now. Which I couldn't have left any later, because then it would July. I totally couldn't miss a month, could I? So because my life is downright crazy and I'm not very organized, I don't have a story instalment. But I thought you might like to know that I am still alive and all that. Also I might rethink Friday posting ( which I have been trying to stick too. ) It is my catch up school day and at the moment I really need it. And my story has hit a road block so   I need a lot of time to tackle it too.

      Moving on, what has kept me mostly from my blogging? One word... Eisteddfod. So last week was the eisteddfod and I needed a whole week to debrief from it. How'd it go? Mostly good. Music was soooo much better than I thought it would be and I was pleasantly surprised at how I went. I got a second and a third. I've been told ( and totally agree with ) that that score is nothing to sneeze at, because the people who beat me have had hundreds of hours of music lessons, whereas I have very much not. But I'm very happy with my improvement and deeply grateful for the lessons I have this year. Plus it was fun. :P Speech and drama, I got a first and two thirds. My first was for impromptu mime, which completely shocked me. I didn't think it would go so well, but apparently I kept it simple and didn't stray from the main idea. ( Dentist's patient :D ) Third for sacred and Australian poetry.

     This is also my first blog post without braces!! Very exciting! :D Now I just have to wear a retainer for three weeks straight ( except for eating ). So I have a bit of a lisp now. :P

      Also second week of holidays I'm going as a assistant leader for a Christian camp. It is mainly aimed at sharing the gospel with primary aged kids who wouldn't normally get a chance to hear it. So I would greatly appreciate prayer for that. I've never done anything like it before. I get to teach part of a memory verse and sing among other things. :)

Thank you for listening to my ramblings, I really appreciate it! :D ♥

See ya in July. ;P

Antonella Rose.

The Belated Instalment and General Post Stuff

I realize it's been nearly a month since my last post. That's a bit scary actually, where is the time going? I took a sick day yesterday, and being home-schooled you have to be nearly dying before you get sick days. ( just joking :P ) And now my ear hurts. Let's hope it doesn't burst, because that would be uncool. And here is the instalment before you all die in suspense as to whom the kidnappers are. ( option two one )

Quick as lightning a sack was thrown over my head and a strange perfume filled my nose. Within minutes I had drifted off to sleep due to the drug.

 I was cold and my head hurt. Upon opening my eyes I discovered it was still dark. I blinked trying to get my bearings and realised I was still in a sack lying on very cold and hard ground. I attempted to remove the sack finding, to my surprise, that my hands were tied behind my back. 

Not good. Friendly people don’t dump you in sacks on the ground and tied hands behind backs.

Now I was in trouble.

But I didn’t have to wait long to find out what kind of trouble I’d gotten into. The sack was abruptly pulled off. I squinted in the dazzling light. A shadow fell across my face. A really big shadow. I slowly raised my eyes upward my heart thumping in my chest. And then my eyes focused on the dwarfish figure of Iggy.

“Good morning, lassie.” He grinned down at me. “Isn’t it a lovely morning?”

“You!” I gasped. I opened and closed my mouth in shock. Whatever I had expected it was certainly not this. As I had this thought I anxiously wondered if Hínnior had anything to do with it. I had liked the short, old man.

“Me indeed!” Iggy cackled. Or tried to. Half way through he broke out into a coughing fit.

“Mas’er, are you alrigh’?” Izor said as he ambled up with concern evident in his voice. Funny how I hadn’t noticed him before. Hard not to notice an eight foot giant, one would think.

“Fine, fine. I’ll be okay,” Iggy croaked to his faithful manservant. It, however, did little to reassure Izor.

“What do you want with me, shorty?” I asked.

“I highly recommend you don’t call me shorty. Remember you’re the one tied up on the ground,” He said this in a dark voice which Izor visibly cringed at. If he was cringing maybe I should be afraid too. “As to why you are here, I want to know something.”

“What?” I inquired cautiously. After all I’m sure people don’t go to such great lengths as kidnapping just to ask you when your birthday is. But I was also pretty sure I had nothing of that much interest to tell Iggy.  

He didn’t seem to agree.

“Last night,” he murmured, almost to himself, “last night how’d you do it?”

Now I was thoroughly confused. “Do what exactly?”

“Don’t play stupid with me!” he shouted, “You know precisely what I mean.” I stayed silent not wanting to agitate him more which was actually harder said than done. He took a deep breath and started talking to me like I was three, “I’m sure you haven’t forgotten already, but to recap last night you were chased by the Hélior hares, were you not?”

“Umm, yes.” I warily affirmed. I still had no clue where this was going.

“So how come you’re still alive? Nobody survives the Hélior hares. Not unless they have strong magic. So what magic did you use? I command you to divulge your secrets right now!” Iggy, red in the face, was breathing heavily now. I sensed it would get rather ugly if I wasn’t careful, but I didn’t quite know how to let him down gently, so I decided to put it simply. Hopefully he would accept the truth, and not explode.

“Ahh, well, actually I didn’t use any magic at all.”

“None at all?” he stared at me in disbelief.

“Nope.”

“Then how?” He demanded.

“With a stick,” I answered, but hurriedly add when he glared, “a big stick and I hit it against a tree and snapped its neck.”

He continued staring at me intently. Finally his eyes narrowed and he snarled, “I don’t believe you! Fancy killing a Hélior hare with a stick! No one escapes them without magic. I see we are going to have to do this the hard way. Izor, search her!” He delivered this command curtly to Izor, who had been watching the proceedings quietly. He started as if someone had hit him with a stick.

“Bu’,Mas’er, I couldn’  possibly!” He protested loudly.

“You can and you will!!” shouted Iggy spitting saliva in his rage.

“Honestly, Izor, are you going to let a tiny man who comes up to your kneecap boss you around?” I asked exasperated at his cowardliness. Obviously the thought had never crossed his mind. You could tell by the furious concentration now clouding his brow.

“Izor, listen to me!! I am your master. Do as I say!” Iggy was hopping up and down in his rage now. Izor seemed to come to a decision after this outburst. “

“Mas’er, can do i’ if he wan’ i’ done so badly!” he countered defiantly. Good for you, Izor, I thought. Iggy definitely did not agree. His face turned scarlet and he started frothing at the mouth. It took him several minutes to recover from his speechless rage.

“You are a disgrace to your kind!!” he spat, “You will regret this.” Izor, to his credit, didn’t even flinch. When Iggy saw that he wasn’t going to back down his eyes hardened.

“I will do it myself then. And you,” he turned his attention to me again, “you will regret the moment you opened your mouth when I am finished with you.” He started toward me with a malicious glint in his eyes. Suddenly a whistle echoed through the clearing.

1. Iggy spun around just as Izor came charging across toward him. He swatted the little man like a fly and he went flying into some bushes. Izor and I waited breathlessly waiting for him to reappear.

But he didn’t.

2. Preston shot up from behind a wall of brambles and released an arrow. It sped through the air hissing as it went and ended in a thunk as it hit Iggy in one of his legs. I saw Preston drawing back for another shot presumably this time at Izor. I shouted out, “Preston, no! The big one’s a friend!” He released.

I didn’t know if he’d heard me.

3. Two cloaked figures seemed to materialize into the middle of the clearing. One raised its arm and pointed in our direction. A blur of fur bolted, heading straight for us. I squeaked in fright as it leaped upon me.

Okay. I really struggled writing this one for some reason. Probably why it took me so long, I guess. 

Tomorrow I'm going to a Sydney Youth Orchestra intro workshoppie thing. I'm supposed to play first violin, but I'm not entirely sure I can do it. But we'll see how we go. And I'm playing two songs in our local eisteddfod. And some other songs with our orchestra for the eisteddfod too. So my musical life will be hard work this term. How is your music coming along?

Now, I have to go. 

See ya'll later!

Antonella Rose 

Poppy is Back!!!

   Well hello again. :P Poppy is back today. She may get slightly concussed. But at least she's still alive. I felt slightly dramatic writing the fire scene, but hey I like how it turned out I hope you do too. Option 1 won. ( it was a close thing ;P ) 
(By the way, I forgot to mention last instalment option 2 won because one of my sisters broke the tie for me.) And here it is,

   I awoke to find myself back at home outside the fringes of the woods. But something was wrong. Very wrong. I smelt the air and shivers shot up my spine as I smelt the unforgettable scent of wood smoke. I spun around to see a sight that sunk my heart to the very tips of my toes. My beloved home was burning. My thoughts jumped immediately to the rest of my family. With a cry I began to run toward the swirling mass. I charged in through the front door which was hanging crookedly from its burning door frame. The smoke stung my eyes, and for a horrible moment I could see anything. With sobs tearing my throat, I wiped away the tears and swept the kitchen with a burning glance.

Nothing.

I could feel the heat burning fiercer every breath and hear the creaking of the roof beams as they neared collapsing point. I ran through to the bedrooms scanning each hurriedly for any sign of them.

Nothing.

My heart felt like tearing in two and tears blurred my vision once again. But the creaking beams were louder now and I knew I only had seconds to get out before the house collapsed. I spun around and charged back the way I’d come. As I entered the doorway to the kitchen I heard the bedrooms’ roofs come crashing down. I felt the glowing sparks as they burned through the clothes on my back. I tried to increase the pace to get out before I was buried alive in burning embers, only I couldn’t. The smoke was making me dizzy and tired. I crashed into a chair and stumbled losing precious seconds. I ran over the flaming door which had fallen over, and nearly made it to the end of the porch before the whole thing collapsed.

Nearly.

The porch roof caught the back of my head as I jumped off. I sprawled on the mercifully cool ground, the world spinning round and round. I felt groggy and stupid. All I wanted to do was lay my head down and sleep. But there was something I had to do first. What was it again? I was sure it was something to do with the family. Maybe I would remember in the morning. My head inched closer to the ground, but a thin tendril of thought was harassing me. Why wouldn’t it let me sleep? Slowly through the thick fog a path cleared until I saw the faces of my beloved family. I had to find them! I tried to crawl forward, panic rising in my heart. But I only managed a few feet. I couldn’t go any further. I felt like my body was letting me down. My family needed me!! I needed to save them. Through the confusing fog of panic a little voice whispered,

“What if they don’t? What if they got away already?”

Now I felt even more confused, but then I remembered I hadn’t seen any bodies in the house. Surely that meant they had gotten away? I didn’t know for sure, but it made me feel slightly better. Enough for my aching head to take advantage of. The dark edges of unconsciousness crept through and eventually everything faded from view.

The sunlight tickled my eyelids, and I groaned as I tried to open them. My head felt thick and heavy. I rolled over onto my back, the movement setting my head throbbing. I groaned again as I raised myself to a sitting position. The sight before me brought tears to my eyes. There the only home I had ever known lay reduced to a smouldering pile of timber. I blinked away the tears and tried to focus. If Mamma, Poppa, and Preston hadn’t been in the house then they must have left before I got there.

Which means there should be tracks.

I scrabbled to my feet, ignoring the pain that shot through my neck and head. I ran to the place where the front door used to be and scanned the area. My keen hunter’s tracking eye saw three hurried sets of foot prints going in and out of the house. Probably when they realised I was missing. After a few minutes I was able to concluded they had left the house before it had started to burn.

And the foot prints led into the woods.

New fears shot through my mind. What if they had been attacked by the Hélior hares? I’m pretty sure Poppa and Preston could take on a dozen easily, but what if there were more? A lot more?

Perhaps they had left me a clue?

I ran to the edge of the blackened circle and peered all around. A note would have been destroyed, and what other kind of clue could they leave? But my mind was clutching at straws and I looked a second time. Was that something sparkling in the early morning sunshine over there, or were my eyes playing tricks on me? I scrambled over the charred beams and slipped in my haste, burning my foot on the hot embers still hot under the thin layer of ashes. I proceeded with more caution, prepping myself for a disappointment. After all nothing could survive a fire like that.

Could it?

I was wrong. Again.

I grabbed a stick and poked around the shining object. I cleared the ashes from its surface so I could see it clearly. I started in surprise as I saw it was a gem of some kind. But I know we never had such a one in the house. It was dark, dark blue nearly black, and scattered with shining pinpoints of light that seemed to dance and sparkled. Different colours swirled before my eyes strangely calming and beautiful. I touched it cautiously, but to my surprise it was felt cold. Which was weird since it had practically been cooking in its little pile of embers. I picked it up and felt its smooth surface. I tucked it into my pocket and made my way back to the safe ground. Where had it come from? I was thinking furiously upon this and what my next course of action should be, when I heard a stick crack.

1. I spun around and gasped. There stood my family, scratched and bleeding, but alive! But they were looking at me strangely. What was wrong with them

2. Quick as lightning a sack was thrown over my head and a strange perfume filled my nose. Within minutes I was drifting off to sleep due to the drug.

3. I slowly turned and saw to my horror a hare nibbling the sweet grass just outside the woods. It glanced up and froze, its nose twitching a million miles an hour as it saw me. It slowly advanced towards me.

Well, what do you think? Sorry the options weren't a little more thrilling but it's late.

We going to a community rally tomorrow. My family is going to be singing an item. And there will be lots of people. I'm not good at talking to people I don't know. I do find it easier to talk to younger strangers than ones my age, but hopefully I can make some new friends.

The computer is all fixed and so here is my header thing. I wish to thank Jane oh so very much for making it for me. You're the best!!! And I think it's beautiful. :P

Anyways, my bed is calling me. Good-night!

Antonella Rose 

Broken Computer

   So our computer is broken. Yep, broken. So I can't do much since I can only use Mum's IPad. If I was more organised I could have written the next instalment on this, but I only thought about it today. My apologises. 

    Instead I'll write quickly about a concert I did on Wednesday. My music teacher puts on a concert every term, and this term I played a song on my violin. The theme of the concert was courage. You were supposed to play something that wasn't too easy. I played Concerto in la minore by Alberto Curci. It was four pages long and a felt a little bit too long, but I think it was alright. I was nervous at the beginning and you could tell because my playing sounded shaky. But after a few bars I was better.   My teacher accompanied me. It was only the second time I'd played the song to the piano. People said it was good so I'll take their words for it.

   In farewell I'll tell you some good news. I'm getting my braces off in June!!! Okay that is still quite a way off, but I'm still excited about it. It'll be weird not having them anymore. I have had them for two years and three months. That seems like a really long time when you write it down.

   Anyway, see ya!!

   Antonella Rose

The Forgotten Magic

  Look at that, we have a title for this novel now. :) This makes me happy :P

I hope that you enjoy this third part. I'll be very grieved if you can't pronounce the names, and I hope you'll forgive me if that be the case.

 Here it be :D

“I don’t know, but they’re gonna get it. How dare they bash my door down… or try to anyway.”

He started hobbling toward the door with an indignant cry. I stared in surprise.

   “No offence or anything but what exactly are you going to do?” I asked.

The door creaked ominously, but still held. I was unsure how it had managed to stay in one piece so far. Whatever was on the other side was pretty determined though.

  “I’m goin’ to give them a piece of my mind, and a lecture on other people’s property.” He declared still steaming with anger.

  “And just how are you going to do that?” I asked not a little sceptical. Ok, the man could turn himself into a cat, but I couldn’t see that coming in handy. He turned and smiled saying mysteriously,

“Oh, I have my ways.” He winked at me and turned back to the door. I looked around and saw the table. I crawled under it grabbing the fireplace poker as a weapon on my way. Whatever was behind that door sounded big and I wanted to be able to defend myself. Hínnior grasped the door handle and tugged it viciously. The door opened with a spooky creak, and revealed…

A giant.

Like I mean a real giant. It was easily eight feet tall, and probably weighed five hundred pounds. My heart leaped into my mouth, and I gripped my poker till my knuckles were white. To my surprise Hínnior didn’t seem the least bit perturbed by the sight of the thing. I gaped as a little man stepped out from behind the giant. He was up to the giant’s knee. He was a dwarf by human standards, but next to the giant he was miniscule. Hínnior opened his mouth to speak, but the little man beat him to it.

“Honestly, Izor, I asked you to knock not break the door down.” He said with a frown. The giant lowered his head and scuffed the ground with his giant toe.

“I’m sorry, Mas’er.” Izor whimpered with a lisp. “I did no’ mean to. Some’imes my s’rength does me no good.” He sniffed and sighed. It was bizarre. Here was Izor, eight feet tall, reduced to a sniffling, cowered servant by a man who came up to his kneecap.

“I’m terribly sorry, Hínnior. Izor doesn’t know his limits yet.” The little man apologized.

“Oh, that is alright, Iggy. The door will hold more of Izor’s knocking any day.” Hínnior boasted.

“Still as proud as ever over that door,” grinned Iggy. Through this conversation I still hadn’t moved from my shelter under the table. Now at Hínnior’s invitation, the duo moved inside. Iggy immediately noticed me hiding.

“I see you’ve got a new pet, my friend,” he said boring his jet black eyes into mine. Despite my misgivings about this dwarf man my blood boiled at the mention of me being a pet. It did make me wonder if Hínnior kept humans as pets, but only briefly. I scrabbled out from under the table and drew myself up to my full height. Even so I only came up to Izor’s waist.

“I am most certainly not a pet!” I said indignantly my eyes blazing. Somehow this was funny to both Hínnior and Izor who both burst into loud laughter. Iggy only let a ghost of a smile touch his features.

“Oh, leave her be, Iggy. I found her here when I came home. She was taking refuge from the hares.” Hínnior explained.

“What kind of a name is Iggy anyway? Sounds a bit childish,” I said just a little smugly. I was convinced I’d found a way to get back at the man for calling me a pet.

I was right.

Iggy turned red and steam could have been coming out of his ears, although I could have been imagining that part. Obviously I’d hit a tender issue with the little man.

Fortunately for both parties, Hínnior interrupted before Iggy exploded.  

“Now, now, no need to get our arms in a twist. I’ll have no fighting in my house. But what are you we going to do about you, lassie. You can’t stay here.” Hínnior said thoughtfully.

“I definitely need to get back home.” I said suddenly worrying about how Poppa, Mamma, and Preston were faring since I hadn’t come home. I certainly didn’t want them out in the woods with those hares around looking for me.

“Well, we could point her the way and shove her outside,” suggested Iggy grinning with delight.

“I refuse to budge a step out of this hut with those crazed things out there.” I said coldly.

“No, I don’t think we’ll send her out there, Iggy.” Hínnior said glaring at Iggy.

“Oh, well, it was worth a try,” whispered Iggy none to quietly to Izor. That sent Izor laughing again.

“I think it be best if you sleep here tonight and we’ll send you on your way tomorrow.” Hínnior concluded. I agreed with a nod though I was pretty sure I would sleep a wink tonight with these weird people around. I settled in the corner on a pile of fur coats. Despite my intentions to stay awake and listen to their conversation, I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. Running form hares will do that I suppose.

I was sleeping sweetly when a sudden shriek pierced my consciousness. 

1. I awoke to find myself back at home outside the fringes of the woods. But something was wrong. Very wrong. I smelt the air and shivers shot up my spine as I smelt the unforgettable scent of wood smoke. I spun around to see a sight that sunk my heart to the very tips of my toes. My beloved home was burning. My thoughts jumped immediately to the rest of my family. With a cry I began to run toward the swirling mass.  

2. I jumped to my feet and grabbed my poker. I looked frantically around for Hínnior and the others, but the hut was empty. Panic filled my heart as I ran to the door, and swung it open to reveal a terrible sight.

3. My eyelids shot open. I sat up cautiously my hand groping in the darkness for my poker. My hand closed over it and I pulled it closer. I looked around and was surprised to see the others fast asleep still. Seriously? I pulled off the blankets and tiptoed over to the figure I though was Hínnior. I was about to shake him awake when I noticed something odd. I peered closer and saw that this man was clean shaven. My heart leaped and I slowly back away. That man couldn’t be Hínnior and he was too small to be Izor, and too large to be Iggy.

“Where am I?” I thought horrified.

Right before I backed into a chair. 

Voila! I hope that makes you happy. 

We're going golfing tomorrow. I've never been before so hopefully I'll manage. :P My brother likes to go, and so does one of my friends. She will be there tomorrow so that will be helpful. That is if it isn't cancelled due to the rain. We're getting quite a bit of it but I don't mind too much. It's rather nice. Which is a good thing I guess since we'll be getting more. 

I must say adieu now. Sorry for the shortness of this, but duty calls.

Arrivederci!

Antonella Rose 

Can't Think of a Post Title

   As the title suggests I can't think of a title. Does anyone else do that? It's because I don't really stick to one topic when I blog, I suppose. I've had a pretty boring week to top it off. Right at this instant I think only Wednesday was eventful. ( it usually is :P ) We went to a Spirit of Anzac thingie. It was very cool. They gave you head phones and a Iphone which automatically played tracts which explained the different exhibits. You could collect items on the Iphone too. I got forty-two which wasn't too bad, but I probably missed some, because I was rushed through the last few. I was just reading/ listening at the same time which, by the way, is a little bit tricky. And so I got left behind the group. Apparently they waited half an hour on the other end for me and my sister. But I like to take my time and read the plaques. Anyways that was lots of fun.
   Now, I'm trying to think of a title for this story, but I'm not having much luck. The Secret Stone of Shimmering Something. You get the picture? That's what I'm coming up with. I often think the title is the hardest part of story writing. Well, I have till next week to think of something.
   I'm currently reading the fifth Brotherband book. I kinda zoomed through book four so I'm not entirely sure how much I retained, but hey I enjoyed it. Any of you reading something exciting at the moment? Flipping from one side of the coin to the other, Writing. I am currently struggling to write a short story for schoolwork. It's called Serving with a Smile, and it has to have three incidents building to a climax in just 500-800 words ( I believe it is somewhere around that ). How do you do that exactly? I think I've discovered I don't do well when I have to plan out a story and then write it. (Especially such a short one. I like longer stories.) Which was why I thought a choose-your-own adventure story would suit, because I can't really control the story-line. I like to just jump in and go with the flow, I guess. Not sure if that's a good thing.
    Wrapping up with a question, Do you find my blog enjoyable/interesting? I feel like I just ramble on about my life and go into too much detail.
     Anyways, good-night. :D
          Antonella Rose

The Second Instalment

  I'm finally back with another part of this story. Still need to think of a title. It's a little bit shorter than the first one, but hopefully just as good. It contains a little bit more dialogue. But then again one doesn't have much time for talking when running for one's life. :P Anyway option three won.
So here it is,



 Unbelievably I saw a little hut nearby. I ran to it and threw the door open slamming it behind me with all the force I could muster. The yelps of pain indicated I’d hit some. Hard. Suddenly there was silence. Then something cast a shadow across the floor. I looked at the dark shadow outside the window. I prayed that the window was fastened shut. But it wasn’t. It swung open with an ominous creak. A shadowy figure jumped gracefully to the floor. Relief washed over me in a flood as I saw that it wasn’t a hare, but a cat. Mind you it was a huge cat, more like the size of a sheepdog. It advanced slowly staring at me with icy blue eyes which were oddly out of place in its warm yellow fur. Those eyes seemed to hold me in a trance. I couldn’t move nor speak. I tried to swallow but my throat was dry. The cat stopped a meter in front of me. It opened its mouth wide and my heart leaped into my throat. I could see its razor sharp teeth glinting like little shards of diamond. I closed my eyes and prepared for the attack. It was deadly quiet until…

“Meow.”

I slowly opened my eyes to see the cat now sitting, still watching me but a little less intently. I breathed again. The breath caught in my throat though as the cat began to swell. It grew bigger and stood on its hind legs. The face began to change with the ears shrinking and swivelling till they rested on the sides of the creature’s head. Sure couldn’t call it a cat now. The whiskers were sucked into the nose which had grown less pointed and more snub like. Finally the transformation seemed complete, and it looked kinda human. A furry human still possessing ice blue eyes though. But as I watched in fascinated horror the fur began to fade away into skin. Now it was finished. It had the appearance of a little old man. He was a head shorter than me and had a bushy snow white beard. Actually it gave the impression it could have been home to a number of small creatures, it was so big. I suppose that was to compensate for the fact he was utterly bald. He had a wrinkly face, a snub nose, and those piercing blue eyes. But he looked nice enough. As nice as a man who had just transformed from a cat can be.

He grinned at me and said,

“Hello, what have we here? What might you be doing in my house?”

I stared at him for a long moment before I decided to answer him. After all, his hut had just saved my life.

“I’m Poppy, and I’m hiding from the hares.” I replied.

“What were you thinking wondering outside at this hour? Everyone knows that the Hélior emerge from the hares at the full moon’s light.” He looked at me in surprise.

“Well, I’m not everyone.” I answered just as surprised to learn that this was supposed to be common knowledge.

“Yes, well, that is obvious. Where do you come from?” He was starting to look just as puzzled as I felt.

“I live with the hunter and the village healer.”

“But not their child?”

I shook my head, “No, they adopted my brother and I after our parents disappeared.”

He nodded his head. “I heard rumours Paul and Primrose had taken on a couple of kids.”

“But who are you?” I asked. I was telling him about me, he could at least shed some light on himself. I’d never seen him before, and I didn’t think anyone lived in the woods near us. Briefly I wondered if Poppa and Mamma knew anything about this man.

“I am Hínnior of the Harlian Hall.” Seeing the blank look on my face he continued, “There is a clearing on the western side of the hut. It is call the Harlian Hall by the folk who live in the woods. I am the caretaker of the Hall. I make sure the Hall is kept clean and ready for the next lot of meetings held there.”

“Wait you mean there a more people like you around the woods?” I was skeptical to say the least. I was in the woods on any given day and I had certainly never seen another soul anywhere. But then again who was to say they couldn’t turn into ordinary creatures? I could believe almost anything in my present state of mind.

“Sure. Plenty of them around, but they keep themselves hidden well. That is unless they choose to reveal themselves to you. Otherwise nobody ever finds them.” He said.

“You mentioned something about Helium and the hares?” I asked now thinking back to my recent adventure.

He chuckled and smiled, but his face quickly grew serious. That can’t be a good sign, I thought.

“Not helium, Hélior.” He answered.

“And that is?” I prompted. He seem reluctant to further explain.

 “They are the evil spirits that live in the hares. They can’t emerge and take control of the hares until full moon, because they are weak under the spell. But the spell is weakest at the full moon so they can break free from it then.” He finally managed.

“What spell?” I asked. It was intriguing in a scary kind of way.

“The spell put in place by Allor, the great sorcerer. It protects the woods from----

Something threw itself against the door with great force. The door creaked and bent under the weight, but held, though it was obvious it wouldn’t hold for much longer.

“What’s that?!” I cried fearing coursing through my veins once more.

1. “They’ve come.” He whispered, fear evident in his voice.

2. “I don’t know, but they’re gonna get it. How dare they bash my door down… or try to anyway.” He started hobbling toward the door with an indignant cry.  

3. Before he could answer the door fell in with a loud crash. Dust filled the room. I coughed and my eyes stung painfully. An angry, hoarse voice spoke up from the whirling dust.

“Where is it?”

 I hope you liked it. I will get onto a photo for it soon.

So, I haven't been up to much. We went and watch Rogue One on Saturday at the movies. I thought it was pretty good, I'm just not a big fan of movies where they kill all the good guys in the end. I know in this movie it was kind of necessary, but it still bugged me. Other than that I liked it. 

Sunday was that concert I mentioned. It went really well, in my opinion. Besides the fact my bridge slipped out of my violin right as we were getting ready onstage. Real helpful I know. But my teacher saved the day and put it back in without snapping any strings, and tuned it before we were supposed to start. I'd had the feeling it wasn't going to stay in much longer. It was leaning precariously to one side. Now I'm going to need to get another one. Other than that it was reasonably uneventful. We were first on, and we watched a little of the other performances, but we had to leave before it finished because Mum had had an attack of vertigo the day before so she wasn't feeling well. 

We got a new piece of music on Wednesday call Celtica and it is really beautiful. There is a violin solo, and it is really nice ( way out of my league :D ) my teacher played it for the rehearsal. They're thinking of sharing it with the violist who's music is a little too simple and boring for him. 

We celebrated our little miracle baby, Ali's twentieth birthday on Thursday by going out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I got lemon chicken which was very yummy, and I managed to eat it all. ( which is a great achievement for me ) He had a red velvet mud cake which was heavenly. We had to cook it at my sister's place because our oven is broken at the moment. It was a very nice day, albeit with some sad memories attached. Mum was sad, and no doubt Ali too. Sometimes I image what it would've been like to have another Ali around. It's so hard to do though. Next year it will be harder because it will have been his twenty-first. I wonder how Ali feels knowing he could have had another half. I know I've mixed feelings on the subject. But I'm thankful we have Ali, because he very nearly didn't make it. One of many blessings to count. :)

And then Friday finds me here writing this. This week I was supposed to write a story for English, which is coming about very slowly. It's a lot harder to do than this story, because they are very different styles. But I think it will work this time. ( It's not my first attempt :P )

Looking back it was actually a busy week. How was yours?

Cheers!

Antonella Rose ♥ 

My Musical Life

  As the title suggests I have a musical life. Do you? I play a violin ( just in case you hadn't heard :P ). I started learning probably four years ago, so this will be my fifth year. I started learning with a really nice guy, named Mr. Baker. He was also the conductor of an orchestra which was held in the same building I had my lessons. He invited us to try it out and so we did. We still go now, but Mr. Baker has moved on. I started having lessons again this year after a considerable amount of time not having any. Well, it felt like a long time to me :) I discovered I'm grade three level, which is where I thought I was about. So this orchestra is rather small and barely keeps going, but I like it nonetheless. I play second violin, and my seat mate is Heidi. She's younger than me but about the same grade, probably higher actually. We have a concert on Sunday. I'm looking forward to it. I can play most of the music well, and I'll have my teacher there to help too. I also started playing my violin at church, because our organist left. So my sister and I have taken up that role, which is quite interesting. Sunday will be rather packed though. We'll go to church and play there, then mum and dad have a meeting, so we are being picked up by a friend who will take us to the concert rehearsal. 

   My mum and I agreed that I should post the story every fortnight. So, sorry, but there won't be one today. Ironically I've started this story right as my English decided to teach me all about writing stories. So now I have to write another story, except it will be starkly contrasted between this one. Two very different styles :P

   I'm going to post this and go start the next installment of the still-no-name story :D

   Arrivederci,

   Antonella Rose ♥

The First Installment

Hello everyone,

   Sorry for missing last week's post, but I didn't finish the installment till late. And Saturday I went to a conference thing. That was very interesting. So here I am, and most importantly is the first installment, of.... bother, I didn't even think of a title! Arhh scatterbrained me. Read the story and tell me your suggestions. Hopefully between all us terribly smart people we will come up with something brilliant. :P

   Without further ado, here it is

     It was a picturesque little scene. The cute little hare nibbling away at the lush green grass in the middle of the nice, cool clearing.  I mean it would have been picturesque for most everybody. But not me. I took a deep breath and released my last arrow. It sailed in a near perfect arc toward the hare which was grazing contentedly unaware of my presence Some might have felt guilty at shooting at an innocent, little critter, but I most definitely did not. Mind you I’m not a heartless hunter. If it had been a deer, rabbit, or even a bird I would have regretted what I had to do.  

    But it was a hare. I don’t know why, but ever since I was a little girl hares creeped me out. Not you don’t want to pet it creeped out, but the shivers up and down your spine, freezing in terror kind of creeped out. Rabbits, they’re cute and adorable, but hares? I’m convinced they are downright evil. Not that I’ve ever come across any concrete proof, but I can tell it in their little beady eyes. But it didn’t really matter, because I said ‘near perfect arc’ for a very good reason.

It missed.

The hare barely glanced up, but I swear it was grinning, and bounded off into the dusk. I heard a suppressed chuckle from behind and turned to glare fiercely at the tall lanky boy who had moved from his concealed hiding pace and was now leaning against a tree.

“It’s not funny,” I forced the words out through gritted teeth.

“Oh, yes it was. Definitely funny.” He replied grinning broadly.

I stomped off to retrieve my arrow. I strained to see through the dim light, and saw it lying at the base of a large tree. I hurried and scooped it up. I turned and walked straight into a low-lying branch. The loud guffaws echoing from the trees around made my blood boil. I couldn’t see clearly for the reflect tears clouding my vision and fine red mist of nearly uncontrollable anger. I strode quickly to a tall, blurred shape which I thought was him and pointed an accusing finger directly at it.

 “You’re scaring all the wildlife away,” I nearly yelled. The laughing only increased in volume to a hysterical point. I wiped the tears from my eyes and saw why. I’d pointed to a sapling instead of my brother. He was rolling around on the ground several meters to my right laughing in uncontrollable fits. I practically leaped over till I was standing over him, and nudged him, not too gently, in the ribs.

“Stop it!! It’s sooooo not funny.” He managed to control his amusement long enough to say,

“It doesn’t matter, you totally scared everything away with your stomping, branch bashing, and tree whispering, except it was more like tree shouting.” And with that he dissolved in to giggles once more.

“I’m going home. You can follow when you’ve stopped being so insensitive.” I declared and abruptly turned on my heels and started off. I heard him scrambling up, and soon heard his quiet footfall beside me.

“What did I do wrong?” I wailed. “It was so close, and that evil hare knew it. Did you see it grin before it took off?

   “You have a habit of breathing out right before you release. It’s affecting your aim that tiny bit. And I didn’t see any grinning hares.” He answered with no hint of amusement this time. He knows how scared I am of them, so he doesn’t tease me. But I don’t think he necessarily agrees about their evilness either.

“And the only way to fix that is?” I tentatively asked of him. I had the feeling I wouldn’t like what he said.

“Practice, practice, and some more practice!” Preston chirped cheerily. I groaned. I didn’t have a lot of free time to do what I wanted. You see I have to help Mamma with the herb collecting. She’s the village healer so she has to have a good stock on hand in case of emergencies. And when she doesn’t have what she needs, she sends me out to fetch them. So I know my way around the woods and I can get them fairly quickly. Sometimes she lets me off helping her fetch and brew things so I can go with Poppa on his hunting trips. He’s a hunter, and he’s teaching Preston his trade. So Preston is often with him. I treasure the times I go hunting with Poppa alone. Preston helps me by giving me tips about things I’ve missed. Sometimes it doesn’t end all that well, as this trip indicates. Generally though it’s fine. So basically that means I will have hardly any time to practice my archery.

As we came in sight of the little three room cottage, I saw Poppa going into the log cabin which serves as a barn for our two horses, Mora and Nara. By the time we had walked to the cottage door, he had finished feeding them and it was time for dinner.

I lay in bed that night thinking of archery practice and wondering how I was going to slot it in with my day tomorrow. I was comfortably full of turkey pie, and a warm fuzziness was taking hold as I drifted into sleep. Before I completely succumbed to sleep, I had time to reflect on my wonderful family. Surely no one else had a mamma that could make the best golden, crunchy pastry for pies, nor a poppa that could make the most tender, juiciest turkey filling to go in that perfect pastry with the divinest gravy to accompany it. And I was ninety-nine point nine percent certain that I alone had a brother who could make apple and blueberry filling fit for angels to eat. Combined with that perfect pastry it was heavenly. Not only that but they were loving enough to allow me two slices of each. Probably because they knew I adored them both. I slipped into dreamland happy. Which didn’t last for very long. Soon in came bounding hares with fangs dripping saliva.

And I couldn’t hit a single one.

The next day Preston and Poppa went hunting. They were out to get pelts today, because the markets were on the weekend, and Poppa wanted to take as many pelts as he could muster for then. Mamma needed my help brewing various concoctions for the village stock. We also needed to bake provisions for the trip to the markets.

Now towards nightfall, I was out in the woods practicing my archery. I couldn’t believe my good luck. Mamma had finished with me after dinner and I still had an hour of daylight. So here I was practicing on the wooden targets Preston had fashioned for me. I was definitely improving. When I’d finished I had ten minutes till dark. I packed up my things and turned to head home. I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks.

There were hares blocking my path. Lots of hares. My blood turned to water and my knees started to shake. I could have handled one or two in my way. But there was a dozen. Besides the fact hares don’t congregate like this, there was something unnerving about the way they formed a loose semi-circle around my chosen path. I stood stock still eyeing them off, weighing my options.

Until they all bared their fangs at me, and then I turned tail and ran.

I had no idea where I was going; I just hoped they wouldn’t follow me. Five seconds later I heard their pursuit. I was freaking out big time. I am certain I ran the fastest that night than ever before. In fact so fast I didn’t think it was even possible. For a full horrible minute I ran blindly through the woods with no purpose in mind just absolute terror. But very quickly common sense kicked in. I began to run quietly still fast but with not as much noise. My mind flashed through the options open before me. I was still ahead of the hares, and gaining ground. But I couldn’t keep going forever. I needed to hide. The hares would be tracking me with their noses, so logically I had to throw them of my scent. And the best way I could think of was through the stream I knew was just a little ahead of me.

I crashed through the stream, and nearly made it to the end before I slipped on the slimy rocks and face planted the water. I dragged myself clear, so glad that these freaky hares were just as stupid with fangs and without. If they’d had brains they would have corner me off.

That was right before one charged alongside and skidded to a stop in front of me. We stared at each other for a long moment. It seemed to be gloating in the fact it would beat me without a doubt. Not on my watch, you ugly beast, I thought fiercely. I saw out of the corner of my eye a big branch leaning against a tree. I grabbed it and faced the charging hare. It had started for me the moment I’d moved, but perhaps it didn’t have very good eyesight in the dimming light, because it kept coming despite my weapon. I bided my time till the time was right and then I hit it.

Real hard.

  It flew through the air and crashed in to a tree. I don’t know if the tree or the force of my hit broke its neck, but it certainly wasn’t getting up again. Take that, I thought triumphantly.

Suddenly the woods was alive with the sound of scrabbling feet and I realized with shock that the others had caught up while we’d been having our skirmish. I could see the leaves shaking as they reach the far side of the stream.  I turned and frantically search for a place to hide…

1. My eyes alighted on a small cave, and I entered rushing to the very back. Suddenly the air was alive with black wings scratching and screaming to exit. I had a horrible thought of hares investigating the noise. I fainted.

2. I looked around despair closing in. Then I remembered hares can’t climb. I rushed to the nearest tree and began to climb. The hares rushed around clawing at my legs.

3. Unbelievably I saw a little hut nearby. I ran to it and threw the door open slamming it behind me with all the force I could muster. The yelps of pain indicated I’d hit some. Hard. Suddenly there was silence. Then something cast a shadow across the floor. I looked at the dark shadow outside the window.  

   Ok, this looks a little plain. I'll try next time to find a picture to use as a header thing.

    What have I been doing? Do you know what I've been doing? Please tell me if you know, because I hardly do myself. Ummm..... Oh yes, I've been doing that most pleasant thing we all adore. Take a guess... breathing!! ( I'm tired if you haven't guessed already ) I meant school work actually. I've also been reading quite a bit. I picked up a book at the conference I went to last Saturday. It was a Rod and Staff Publishers book, called Just Thirteen and I started reading it Monday. It was so good, that I'd finished it in about three days, and then I was hungry for more Rod and Staff books that I started reading The Way She Chose which though was twice as thick I finished in a day ( I'm fairly sure anyway ). And now I'm Rod and Staff deprived. Has anyone else read Rod and Staff books? We have a few others, and I find them very good. 

    Sorry for such a short post, but I hope the installment makes up for that. It is rather long. I must go to bed now, for I'm tired and I have to go out tomorrow. 

    Please don't hesitate to comment and tell me your favourite option!! 

    God bless you all!

    Antonella Rose.

An Upcoming Story

    There I've gone and mentioned it in the title; consequently, I'm officially committed to the making of this story ( most of it anyway. You guys will have a fair say, I should think. ;D ) But I'm not starting till next Friday. Definitely not stalling. :P Any ideas floating around out there? I honestly haven't much thought out yet. Still a week should be enough to plan. I think the first installment will be the hardest. Not much of a writer, unless school forces it upon me, and then it takes several days to get a short story together. And then a few more days to improve it, just a couple more to proofread it, finally a day to write it out neatly. Tough work. :) This I'm doing of my own free will, and I think I will enjoy it. Only on one other occasion ( five words there that all begin with the letter o ) have I ever done that before. It was a writing competition. And that was alright, I think.
     Moving on to other things, this was my first week back at school, and I felt it went rather well. Besides normal subjects, I write out scripture verses for writing, spelling, and Bible memorization. Mum is going to laminate them and stick them around the house. So I tried to use nice writing. I'm not very creative, though, so it looks the same mostly, nice, but the same. And I use my scented pen, oh, and it makes it so much funner to write. It smells divine! I did three this week, and my favourite was Lamentations 3:22-26

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. ( KJV )

I thought that was really beautiful. It's amazing that it is of the Lord's great mercy that we aren't consumed. All because His compassions fail not. But are new every morning. That's a lot of mornings! 'Great is thy faithfulness' I just love that phrase. It's a great hymn too. My rambling thoughts on that. :)
     Besides school, I went bowling on Saturday last week. That was fun. I learnt I'm not a very good straight shot, but I got by. I don't go often, so I have a good excuse. :P On Wednesday was our first orchestra rehearsal for the year. We had a severe shortage of numbers, but we were alright. Got two new songs. It was mostly violins too. Which is because they're pretty epic. ( not really, we just have a lot of them, but I think they still are. Violas are pretty epic too. Actually most every instrument is epic. ) Here is a pretty epic photo of a pretty epic violin. ( At least I hope it's a violin and not a viola. No, I'm pretty sure it's violin. ;D ) Ummm.... might be a few more then one. :D There were so many lovely ones I couldn't make up my mind ( not to much of a surprise. I'm shocking in that aspect ) But they're just so pretty. Ahhhh...sigh. :P


       


Moving right along without more beautiful pictures of violins, it's been a scorcher today. We had to bring all our dogs inside our granny flat where there is air conditioning. When one has more then a dozen odd dogs, that's interesting. :D But it's only going to be hotter tomorrow and Sunday. 45 degrees or something horrible like that. I had to write this post late because it was too hot to sit at the computer for long, and as you can see I write too much as it is. But still it is late and I probably should go to bed now. After all I'll need my strength to ward of heatstroke. :P
See ya next week!!
Antonella Rose.

Welcome to Rose's Realm!!! ( pt 2)

Hello again,

   I realized I probably should have introduced myself in the first welcome to Rose's Realm, but I completely forgot on account of me being very excited about my blog being finished, being tired and being hot. So I will attempt to do it now. Here are some facts about me.

                  My name is not Rose. Ha, tricked you all! :) My middle name is Rose though, so there is a                      connection. Actually there are a few hints around that my name isn't Rose.

                   I'm a Christian too. And homeschooled.
                   I live on seventeen acres of dry, dusty, dazzling desert. Not really, but it feels like it at the moment. 

                  We ( being my family ) have an assortment of animals. Cows, pigs, sheep,                                                 chickens, goats, ducks, muscovies, a goose, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, a rabbit, a princess   parrot, and a bearded dragon. I think I didn't leave anything out. ;P

                  I have thirteen siblings. Yep, you read that right! Seven live at home, and I'm the tenth                            child. I also have nine nieces and nephews.

                  I live in a three bedroom house with one bathroom. ( with a two bedroom granny flat also                      with one bathroom )

                  I own two smooth coat chihuahuas, two mini goats, and seven khaki campbell ducks.

                  I play the violin. And a tiny bit of piano ( meaning I can play basic melodies ) ( I can play                      melody and harmony if I set my mind to it ( easy of course! )) Oh, and one song on the  ukulele. I play my violin in an orchestra.

                  I like cross stitching also. One of my hobbies, it is.

                  I have brown hair which might have a coppery sheen in the right light, and brown eyes. I                         might be half blind ( shortsighted in other words ), and have braces.

   I think that's enough about facts. This week I fare-welled two of my puppies. :( I have only two left. One is going tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow I will be going with my mum and some siblings to a friend's place and then dropping him off. Then we're going bowling. I'll tell you about it when I get back. I plan to post every Friday when I can, but I might make a few exceptions. 

   I was thinking of perhaps writing a choose your own adventure blog story. It's where there is a fragment of a story and then the readers get to choose between three options as to what happens next. Does anyone think that is a good idea? I haven't ever done one before, and I don't write much. But I think it would be fun to try it out.

   I think that be all.

    Over and out,

  Antonella Rose

                  

    

Welcome To Rose's Realm!!!

Hello everyone,
   Here is my new blog! I really like it and I hope you do too. I would firstly like to thank Jane oh so very much for helping me make it. I couldn't have done it without her instructions. Thank you Jane!!!
Now I don't have much to say because I've already said most of it on my other blog. But I will say this... It's hot. Agreed? Yep, it's hot. Very. I don't know how animals cope outside. Sometimes I think it would be cool to be an sea creature. If you could be a sea creature for a day what would you be and how would you spend your day? I think I would be a dolphin. And I would explore the secrets of the deep where no man has gone before. And surf the waves, jumping out of the water, generally having a good old time. What about you?
I must go attend to a poor sickly goat who does unfortunately have to be outside. And she isn't coping very well. Actually neither am I, and I'm inside. ;) I think I'll survive though :P
Bye!!
Antonella Rose.