Follow me - Poetry

Follow me, Follow me.
I know the way.

I am the keeper of paths.
I am the keeper of ways.

Follow me, follow me.
I know what to say.

I am the keeper of thoughts.
I am the keeper of the maze.

Stay. Stay.
Don't lose your way.
I know the hour.
I know the day.

I've seen it all. 
Infinite waves.
Rising up.
Infinite rays.

Follow me. Follow me.
Don't go astray.

Follow me. Follow me.
I know the way.

I am the keeper of time.
I am the keeper of days.

Follow me.  Follow me.
Love is the way.

©Renny Hall

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 10

It was 3 years since Ravvyn was successfully extracted from the Whispering Woods.  Even now, she remembered how a giant panda, Mengtao, came crashing and bouncing through the forest like a black and white bouncy ball.  He was followed shortly by a stuck up blood elf named Cazora and her mysterious and sneaky spirit feline, Saberhagen.  If she hadn't pinched herself, she would have thought it was some bizarre dream.

Ravvyn enjoyed being with her new clan.  Crimson Revenge was a guild of exceptionally talented fighters, from all races and backgrounds.  They believed that justice involved more than a simple punishment.  They believed in revenge.  They fought for all that was good and Light in the world and weren't afraid to kill for it.

Ravvyn stood at the gates of an ancient, night elf temple, holding Joliset's acorn.  She had consulted many scholars.  She searched old libraries for scrolls... she was finally sure that this was the right course of action.

Ravvyn stepped over the fallen pieces of stonework, vines that wound there way around and into the temple. Inside a large hole in the domed ceiling allowed a soft and vibrant beam of light to shine down on a statue of the druid goddess of nature... Ashia Timberspark.  The statue was still magnificent, even though it had stood for millenia. Her arms outstretched and in mid transformation into a tree, her hands were branches and her feet were roots.  At the base of the statue glittered a small pool of glowing water.

Ravvyn stared down at the acorn in her pale hand with a mixture of hope and fear.  She gently placed the acorn into the pool, watching it float for a moment, then slowly sink below the surface.  She took a couple steps back and waited.  The look of fear and hope interchanging as the moments ticked by.

Suddenly, she felt the smallest vibration.  It began to increase in intensity and the water began to bubble up until it could have been a boiling cauldron.  Ravvyn looked around her nervously. And then the vibrations and boiling stopped.

"Is that it?"  she asked the statue, puzzled. There was no reply, of course.

She peered over the edge of the pool to see where the acorn had gone, but it wasn't there anymore.  Only two halves of the shell bobbed to the surface.

Ravvyn sigh sadly.  Picking up the two halves, closing one in each hand.  She hung her head in defeat.

"Years of research... for nothing." she whispered to the ground.  So she turned to leave.

After a few steps a tiny scratch sound came from behind her... by the pool.  She turned to see what had made the noise.  "Probably the wind on the vines." she thought.  But the scratching sound persisted.

She walked back to the pool, placing the acorn shells in her pockets and drawing her weapons, taking up a cautious stance.  She couldn't see anything, so moved some of the tangled vines and then, she saw...  It?  Her?

A tiny living sapling was trying to free itself from the vines next to the pool.  It looked up at Ravvyn with large innocent eyes, then it squeaked and smiled, holding it's tiny branches out to Ravvyn.

Ravvyn had never smiled as big as she did at that moment as she gasped, scooping up the fragile plant in her hands.

"Hello...  Joliset." she whispered to the smiling baby tree druid.  It squeaked and bounced excitedly in her palms.  Ravvyn laugh/cried.  "Oh, I missed you!"

She held the baby tree like a precious treasure and left the temple on their way...  home.

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 9

The next morning was hard to tell if the sun had risen or not... the sky was covered with clouds and thick smoke from the burning farms and fields in the middle of the valley.  Lavineen had not slept very well at all.  She tossed and turned, worrying about Christopher on his mission.  She got up early, ate some bread for breakfast, read the reports.  Christopher's group had not yet returned. So she went to spend time with Starmane.  

The celestial horse stood munching happily at the grass.  He snorted and shook his head with happiness when his mistress came over and began to pat him and speak softly in the elven tongue.  Starmane twitched his ears as he listened.  He butted his head and neck against her gently, in his way of comforting her.

Many hours passed and the other paladins and soldiers began to whisper and create rumors.  Lavineen mounted Starmane and went to stand upon the hill to watch.  She sat stoically. Several more hours passed.  The evening was now upon them. Lavineen took a deep jagged breath, then hung her head in defeat.  He was never coming...

Suddenly, Starmane whinnied loudly, stomping his foot on the ground. He snorted excitedly and began dancing his hooves in place. Lavineen looked up to see a ragged looking group of paladins slowly making their way across a field.  Some were walking, limping, hunched. Some of the steeds were gone.  Some held their injured riders. There in the front, leading his own steed with an injured paladin soldier slung over the saddle, was Christopher.

As he came closer to the encampment, he could see Lavi staring at him.  He had never seen her allow her face to express the emotion she was expressing right now, let alone in front of others.  Upon seeing the sorrow, happiness and love on her face, his heart tightened in his chest as if the overflowing love he felt would explode his chest.  He smiled at her, a tear welling in his eye.

Lavi slid quickly and gracefully off of Starmane's back as Christopher handed the reigns of his steed off to one of the camp paladins.  He knew they shouldn't, but they couldn't help themselves.  The rushed together and embraced with such passion that those around them merely smiled and left them alone.  The tear Chris had been able to hold back until now trailed down his face as he held Lavi in his arms.  The sweet smell of her hair, the silky threads on his face, catching in his whiskers, the warmth of her against him.  He would remember this moment forever.

Lavineen gazed into his eyes and Christopher realized she also had tears in her eyes.  He gently held her face in his hands, rubbing the tears away with his thumbs so tenderly.  Droplets of tears twinkled in the light of the camp torches and fires and reflected in her eyes.  She was so beautiful.  He finally kissed her for the first time in front of the world.  At first Lavi was shocked, but she no longer cared who knew of their love.  Consequences no longer mattered.  True love is a rare and precious gift. She kissed him back.

After another few moments of embracing each other, Christopher took a deep breath and a few steps back from Lavi,  knelt down on one knee.  Lavi, still holding his hand, looked at him puzzled.

"Are you injured?!  Do you need a healer?" she asked, frightened.

"No. No, I'm fine.  It's just that..." he tried to clear his throat as his heart pounded in his chest and his face flushed red. The whole camp seemed to be watching him now, but he didn't care.

"My dearest Lavineen... we went through the academy together as teenagers and we have watched each other grow.  What has grown most in those years is my overwhelming respect, devotion and love for you..." he spoke with a slight waver to his voice, his face breaking out in a sweat.

Lavineen stared down at him with surprise as he held her hand in both of his.

"I don't know what tomorrow may bring for us, but I know that I can't live a single day without you by my side.  You are the light of my life.  Will you please take me as your husband?"  he asked her, his eyes hopefully looking into hers as he awaited her answer.  He held his breath.

Lavi looked around for a moment, at him, at those that had gathered, at the General of the camp who was smiling at them.

Then she turned back to Chris.  "I can't live another day without you either.  I will take you as my husband."  then a rare and radiant smile beamed from her face as Christopher jumped up, embracing her and lifting her off the ground.  The camp erupted in cheers.  As he brought her feet back to the ground, he kissed her once more.

He turned to the General stiffly, at attention.  "General, sir! With your permission of course?  Would you marry us right now.  Sir, I don't want to waste another second of my life without this beautiful woman." he saluted respectfully.

The General grinned widely.  "Granted Lieutenant! And it would be my pleasure." he saluted. Allow me to get myself ready for a quick ceremony.  He went to his tent.

The ceremony was not fancy, the bride and groom were wearing their armor, but no one could doubt the happiness of that moment.  As short lived as it was...

For a mere couple hours after the impromptu wedding and the celebrations were taking place the scourge of undead had decided to make a sneaky attack of their own.  Soldiers were yelling, rushing around, screaming...

Christopher and the General began barking orders at their soldiers and finally, they were in some type of order, but the undead were already attacking and there were a lot of them.  Christopher pulled out his shield and one handed sword.  He yelled out prayers to the Light to fill him and the soldiers around him with it's holy blessings.  They all immediately perked up, shining with inner light and determination.  Christopher then held a hand out at an incoming undead that gnashed it's rotten maw threateningly.

"By the Light, be turned away!"  Christopher yelled.  Holy light shot from his hand, burning the evil creature and made it turn away and flee.  He shield slammed another undead in the face and chopped the head off another beside it.

Lavineen held her massive two handed sword , chopping through undead bodies like they were clouds and not bones and rotten flesh.  The General was out in front, yelling and crushing the enemies with his huge hammer.

The fight was furious, it smelled like putrescence and fresh blood. Dark soil and sweat.  Holy light was beaming around everywhere, but so was unholy light desecrating the very ground.  The sun began to peak it's way into the sky as morning came.

Christopher shouted to Lavineen, "I have to push them back.  Fall back to the village with the injured and keep them safe!" and before she could protest he yelled "And that's an order soldier!"  with that, he grabbed her and kissed her one last time, then ran off leading his men.

Lavineen gathered the rest and the injured and they did as they were ordered and fell back to the village.  Thistlemoore was a small, but pretty village and the folks living there were always kind and thankful to the paladins and soldiers.  They would help take care of the sick and injured.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher lay there on the ground.  The scourge scum still chewing on him as he lay dying.  He closed his eyes and thought of Lavi.  Her beautiful face.  They way she had smiled today.

He died with her smile in his heart.


A light began to shine in his eyes as he began to float bodiless in a dark void.  Closer.  Closer.  Whispers.  Closer, brighter.  Brighter.  The being of Light reached down a hand to him as it flapped it's ethereal wings. He reached out, but something became incredibly wrong...  The light began to cry  in despair and sorrow as it was pulled away. Then the darkness returned.  He was alone. He didn't know for how long...

"Oy!  Caretaker?!  Where ya wann we should dump these duds?" a gravelly voice said with a strange accent.

"Jes line um up righ 'ere! Yes yes. good." another voice said.

"Wha' a waste a good meat!" said a third voice with a gurgle.

"Oh, it ain't no waste.  Jes you wait an' see!" the caretaker said excitedly, rubbing together his pruney hands. "Now git ye back ter werk ye maggot heads!" he shooed them away.

As he turned back to examine the failed undead recruit bodies a sparkle of a glint caught his eye.  Christopher's body was still wearing the necklace Lavineen made him promise to return to her, but he never got the chance.

"Oy... wuts this??" the wrinkled hand reached out to grab the necklace when suddenly it was grabbed.  The caretaker jumped back several feet in surprise.

"....d...d....on't.....t..ouch.....th....a...t......."  the corpse said, gripping the celestial medalion in it's boney hand.

"Ah!  So's ye ain't a dud.  Good fer you, now report to the priest and git outter my crypt ye bag of pus!" The caretaker pointed to the exit.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Five years had passed since that fateful day...  the day Christopher and Lavineen had gotten married.  Lavineen sat mounted on Starmane overlooking a different valley.  The undead scourge had pushed back very hard.  She hadn't seen Christopher since their wedding day.  He was dead.  Gone.

Lavineen stared blankly out over the fields with sorrow in her heart and a sense of deja vu.  These farmlands were next on the scourge's list, but this time, they'd be ready.  The King and Queen had gathered together all their troops and made the front line unbreakable.  At least they felt they had.

Lavineen growled angrily.  Anger was the only thing that she would allow herself to feel anymore.  It hurt less...  She would often scout the fields and treeline alone. Recklessly seeking out undead filth to destroy.

Starmane snorted and pawed at the soil.  He was ready!

With a click of her heels to his flanks he was off like a shot.  Galloping through the tangle of trees with ease.

Suddenly Starmane reared up in surprise, throwing Lavineen to the ground.  It was such a surprise because it had never happened before.  Lavineen brushed dirt, and leaves out of her face and hair, stood up and dusted herself off.

"Starmane?!  What was that....."  she stopped speaking as she saw the reason for her fall.

"Christopher?!" she stared in disbelief at the rotting creature before her, wearing her pendant, resembling the lost love of her life.

[to be continued...]

**I do not own any of the images included in this story.  Just the story!  All rights for the images go tto their owners.  I am merely a fan and admirer.  **

Crimson Revenge- Payback in Blood. Part 8

Lavineen Lightbringer held a hand up to her face, blocking the sun from her gaze as she surveyed the fields below. Her pointed ears poked out delicately from her sunbeam colored hair. The plate armor she wore was immaculate, shining and very ornate.  It was paladin armor.  On her back was a beautiful crimson and black cloak and over that, a large two handed sword named "Hope's Blessing" glinted and glowed with an inner light.

Starmane bent his head to gaze on the hillside flowers as his mistress sat upon his golden saddle. He was a celestial being from the astral planes of the ancients.  A billion stars twinkled in his coat of sky, his wings folded neatly at his sides.

The farms below lay in ruin, the crops ruined, the buildings burning.  Smoke billowed into the sky, thousands of feet high.  Farm animals that had escaped their pens were all running around panicked. The undead scourge was here. The farms were all lost.  In the center of the largest field sat an immense cauldron. It bubbled with a sickly purple liquid that spewed a noxious cloud of gas. This was the scourge poison. Once dead, any creature could be brought back to fight in the undead army for the Dread Queen, Malvissa Frozenheart.

Seeing the horror below frightened Lavineen, as it would anyone, but her face remained the same, calm expression.  She didn't move at all when another paladin rode up beside her and stopped.

"My group is up next. On a special mission." the male paladin said, looking at the fields instead of Lavineen. His armor plated horse snorted a greeting to Starmane who bobbed his head in return.

"We head out tonight." he removed his plate helmet, shook his black hair and ran his fingers through it a couple times.  He turned to look at Lavineen's face expectantly.  His human emotions written clearly on his face.

A stab of pain shot through her heart. She boiled with fear and worry, but mostly overwhelming love.  Even though she felt so much, her face didn't betray her feelings. Her expression remained the same.  After a moment she put her hand down and turned to look at him.

"Congratulations on your important mission, lieutenant." she said evenly. "I'm sure you will do an excellent job leading, as always, sir. May the light protect you."

Christopher grinned slyly at her words.
"No need to be so formal, soldier. We're the only ones in ear shot."  His steed bumped against hers gently, the two animals clearly used to being this close to each other. He suddenly embraced Lavineen, pulling her close and kissing her passionately. She returned his kisses with her own passion for several minutes before sighing and laying her head on his chest armor.  Christopher caressed her head lovingly.

"I want to go with you, Chris. I can't bear to be apart from you. It's so dangerous... I never want to lose you." she spoke softly.

Chris gently lifted up her chin to look in her eyes tenderly.

"Lavi. I feel the same way, but everything will be okay. I love you more than life!  I won't be gone long. I'll be back before you wake in the morning." he smiled warmly. He kissed her nose playfully, making her smile as only he could.

"I love you, Christopher. More than you'll ever know." Lavi removed a necklace from around her neck, placing it around Chris's neck.  "I want you to take this with you." she said as she clasped the chain.  The necklace held a silver pendant with a small piece of a celestial star embedded in it.

"I will wear it proudly and return it to you tomorrow." he smiled as he tucked it under his armor, close to his heart. They kissed and held each other for as long as they dared, not wanting to get caught in their fraternizing. It was against the paladin order after all.

[to be continued... ]

This is a story of a girl

She lay upon the sofa, wiping a tissue at her nose as the dreaded cold virus summoned more liquid snot lava from her sinuses. She was watching some stupid show on TV to pass the time. It was distracting enough to hold her attention as her fever began to break.

She was home sick from school, so she was alone in the house.  Twelve year olds don't need babysitters, right? Her brothers and sister were at school.  Her mom and her mom's boyfriend were at work.  She was used to being home alone. She had done it for years, but those years were in the secluded mountains.  She didn't realize living in the city (and in a bad area) would be so... different. Dangerous. 

She had the sweetest boyfriend. They'd been together for almost a year at that time.  She loved him. She didn't feel worthy of him, but she treasured him. She loved how he wore his favorite football team jacket.  How he smelled like antibiotic soap, fresh air, sunshine and cars.  They had only ever kissed and even though he was older by a couple years, he never pressured her into anything more. He was amazing. 

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.  It sounded just like her oldest brother's knock.  She was tired, sick, young and naive.  She got up, unlocked and pulled the knob slightly so her brother could come in. She didn't even check to make sure it was him. She just flopped back on the couch exhausted. 

Huge mistake. It would haunt her forever. 

She was wearing her pajamas, which were a long purple t shirt nighty, but nothing underneath, as she always did.  It was just more comfortable to sleep that way and she hadn't changed her clothes from when she woke up that morning. 

She looked over to talk to her brother, but was shocked to see that it was 2 older boys and her brother wasn't there.  These guys were 17+ years old and hung out with her brother, but they were into drugs, stealing and she didn't know what else. 

She would find out. 

A blonde guy sat on the recliner near the couch she was resting on, but the tall dark haired one sat right next to her on the couch.  He nearly sat on her feet.  He grinned at her and spoke. Her skin crawled and she suddenly felt scared. 

He asked her where her brother was. She told them she didn't know.  The blonde guy snickered. The dark haired guy scooted closer. He smelled like stale cigarettes and b. o. He started making inappropriate remarks.  He slid his hand up her nighty, groping his way up to her chest. She pushed and squirmed and protested.  The blonde guy laughed, clearly amused.  The dark haired groper laughed at the girl's indignant struggling and her unsuccessful attempt to push him away.  He kissed her lips, licking her lips and teeth as she fought back. He roughly tugged up her pajamas while she desperately tried to keep herself clothed.  He squeezed her bare breast underneath her pjs cruelly. All the while he was leaning over on her, pushing her down with his stronger body. She kept pushing and protesting.  She was scared to death.  This creep was going to rape her!

She would later learn that this piece of shit had already raped his own sister. 

He laughed again then looked around as if he had heard something. He asked if her mom was home.  She quickly lied and told him her mom and boyfriend were napping on the other side of the wall.  His eyes went wide. The two teens made haste and left. 

She ran and locked the door.  She ran into her room and cried.  She was disgusted.  She felt violated.  She felt gross, filthy...  She showered in extra hot water until it ran out.  

There was no way her boyfriend would forgive her. She really didn't deserve him now.  These are the thoughts that went through her mind.  She wasn't brave. She couldn't open up about things.  She had been sexually abused when she was even younger.   She was scared that all sex would be scary like this and weren't they heading toward this, her boyfriend and her? Weren't they getting more serious?  She had to run. She had to hide.  She's good at running, hiding and keeping things locked inside. 

She called him up a couple weeks later to break things off.  Why??!  He wanted to know.  She could not tell him. The words were locked away inside.  Let's just be friends... 

He was mad.  He had every right to be.  They didn't talk on the phone ever again.  She held her pet rabbit, Shadow, and cried so many times.  At one point she held a loaded gun to her head, Her finger on the trigger.  She spiralled down into depression for the first time.  Depression is chronic for her now as a grown woman. 

All the boy and her would ever be from that point on is friends. (after the anger died down and the untrue rumors of what happened were forgotten)

She died inside.  She accepted all the punishment. She felt she deserved it all.  But she couldn't just let go.  She couldn't stop caring about him.   All she ever wanted was for him to live a happy life, even if it was not with her.  She still hangs around in the outskirts of his life, just to know that he is happy. She is sorry.  Sorry to be such a coward.  It's too late for sorries... but it's not too late to unlock that horrible secret from her mind and let it fly away.  It weighed so much after carrying it for 23 years... 

I miss that girl sometimes.  Not for her fear or insecurity, but the way she felt when she was with her friends and the sweet boy.   Being young and carefree... She remembers the way he would walk with her, play in the snow at night with her, gaze at the stars with her.  It still makes her smile when she remembers.  She is simply glad to have fond memories like that. 

In case you didn't realize by now... 

This story is my own.  In other words, the girl is me and this story is true.  

May it help you find your own words that you may have locked away.  It's never too late to let go of your burden.  Not so that "they" can forgive you, but so that you can forgive yourself. 

My path has led me to where I am in life and I am glad to be where I am.  I am grateful and most of all, happy.  

...And I forgive myself. 

At War - Poetry

At War

I am at war with myself.

Constantly.

I am sweet, kind, accepting, giving.

Then

I am mean, hateful, rejecting and selfish.

What am I?

Who am I?

I hate each form while in the other.

I am blonde, energetic, smiling.

But

I am dark, thoughtful and brooding.

I love you.

I hate you.

Light and dark collide within.

Eternally struggling.

Who am I?

What am I?

I want you.  I need you.  I love you.

No.

I desire you.  I hate you.  You need me.

I am lonely.

I love being alone.

I am at war with myself.

-Renny Hall

I Can't Recall - Poetry

I have died a million times.
And every time, my smile lies.
You see the mask, it covers my insides.
You fail to penetrate my disguise .

Even now, I rot away.
Dead again, but not to stay.
How much failure must I replay?
Too much debt. I can't repay.

My shell is cracked.  Inside I burn.
Hatred seething, unconcerned.
I scream out, but no one turns.
For sweet relief, my spirit yearns.

After hate, my sadness falls.
In the darkness, in my halls.
You think you've broken down my walls
But I moved them. Where? I can't recall.

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood - Part 7

Underneath the ruins of an ancient temple of the goddess,  in the Whispering Woods grew something foul. A thick stench filled the air. Death.

Many bones littered the once-sacred crypts of the noble high elf race. In an adjoining chamber, built for religious ceremonies, sat Malvissa Frozenheart in a throne of twisted roots and bones. Her eyes glowing red in the eerie purple firelight, emitted by black braziers, lining both sides of the chamber. Large demonic horns protruded from her head.  Long, sleek black hair reflected the firelight.

Nightmare Queen by AlexRuizArt on deviantART

At one time, she could have been human, but whatever she was now was far from humanity.  A large werewolf stood guard at her side.  On the other side of  her twisted throne stood an ugly creature with pointed teeth and greenish grey skin and a long tail that ended with an arrow point. An imp.  Clearly without a sane mind, the imp fidgetted and giggled intermittedly by his mistress's side.

The chamber had rows of ornate chairs lining a pathway from the door to the throne. Nearly every one of the chairs had a rotting skeleton slumped in it. There were close to a hundred chairs with skeletons in them.  Behind the row of chairs many glowing, red eyes of werewolves blinked in anticipation.

Malvissa stood then sauntered down the path, her hair trailing behind her like a wedding veil. She came to pause at the first skeleton slumped in a chair. With one finger she gently, seductively traced the lines of the skull, ending with the mouth. She grinned, though there was nothing but malice in her eyes.

"You have done well, my pets." she spoke as she glanced around the chamber at the many eyes watching her.

Malvissa returned to her throne, but did not sit. She turned to face the room. A werewolf gently placed a gnarled black staff, with a small skull fastened atop, into her hand when she reached out. She closed her eyes and held the staff in her hands breathing deeply.  Then, with both hands, she drove the staff into the ground with a loud scream and a devious look on her face.

Purple light snaked out from her staff across the ground, traveling to each chair, up the legs and all over the bones of each skeleton covering them in purple glowing light. Malvissa began to yell out her spell in demonic tongue.  The chamber began to shake, dust and rocks falling from all around.  A thick fog seeped up from the ground.  Some of the werewolves stepped back in fear. Some looked around, but the truly devoted werewolves grinned widely and howled with delight.

The chairs and skeletons shook, then the fog and light was sucked into the bones.  As Malvissa ended her vile spell casting,  everything and everyone was quiet. After several moments in silence, the bones began to wiggle... A finger here, a jawbone there.  The skeletons began to sit up in their chairs. When all of them were sitting, Malvissa gestured for all of the skeletons to stand.  Each of them stood and faced their Dark Mistress, awaiting her orders.  The werewolves began to clap and cheer loudly.  Malvissa smiled wickedly, enjoying the accolades. When she gestured that she wished to speak, the crowd became silent, eagerly listening.

"It is finally time, my pets!  It is OUR time! No longer will we dwell in the shadows of but a single forest. No!  We shall take our place in this realm! We shall take it ALL!" more howling and cheering.  "Too long have they hunted and killed us, my pets.  We are now the hunters!  They WILL FEAR US! They will run and they will hide. But they will join us...  alive OR dead! Let the nightmare begin!"

The crowd cheered louder than ever, excluding the skeletons who stood awaiting new orders. The Dark Mistress cackled with twisted delight.

**************************************

Ravvyn had found a small empty herb pouch in Joliset's backpack. She gently placed the acorn in the pouch, tied it, then placed it like a necklace around her neck. She tucked it under her clothing so it would not get snagged on a tree limb, or a creature claw...

Without the fire trail to guide her anymore, Ravvyn had to make an educated guess as to which way to head out.  She was deciding which way to go when suddenly the ground beneath her feet began to shake and rumble.  Ravvyn knelt to place one hand on the ground.  The source was under the ground and not an Earth Rumble...  Purple light snaked out of the ground turning the whole forest a purple glowing hue.

Ravvyn drew her hand back and stood to look around.  The forest had stopped whispering.  An eerie silence fell over the Whispering Woods.

Ravvyn blinked her lavender eyes. "Evil is coming." she whispered to herself, her heart filled with dread.

[to be continued...]

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood. Part 6

Mengtao, Cazora and Saberhagen had entered the forest and its dark, dank fog.  Cazora reached into her pack, pulling out two pairs of goggles.  These weren't just any goggles.  These were enchanted vision goggles, built by Cazora herself.  Not many knew she was a brilliant engineer and a skilled enchantress of items.  She handed one pair to Mengtao and put on her own.  Pressing a few calibration buttons and turning the nobs until she could see very well.  She turned to Mengtao,  gently tugged his face down and calibrated his goggles.

"Better?" she asked him.

"Um..."  He stammered as he realized he had been staring at Cazora's chest during the calibrating. He began looking around. "Yes.  Much better!" he hoped she hadn't noticed his ungentlemanly eye gaze. The last thing he wanted to do was treat her as anything but the breath-taking creature she was.  A person that he respected immensely.

Cazora continued on, seemingly unaware of the wandering eyes.  She knelt down by Saberhagen and whispered to him.

"Sabey. Can you see in here?" she asked.  The large feline made a a short purr sound to acknowledge he could see very well. "Excellent." Caz whispered as she straightened up.  She looked over her shoulder to Mengtao who quickly began scanning the forest. Cazora smirked knowingly.  "Are we ready to continue?" she asked.

"Mmhmm" Meng nodded, grinning. "Lead the way, General Cazora." he gestured politely.

"That's General Cazora Starfall to you,  Commander." she teased. Meng grinned widely.

Cazora drew her golden bow,  'Wing Fury'. As she held it,  the two wings of the design began to flutter their feathers, as if they were alive.  Caz readied an arrow from her magic, never empty, quiver. The arrow she took was replaced instantly with another.

The trio made their way through the forest.  It was a twisted mess of roots, dead looking trees,  ugly mushroom and spore plants squirting their noxious clouds into the air.  The air was thick and musty.  The smell was of decaying and rotting plant matter, mildew,  and something else they just couldn't place. With the goggles on, the forest took on creepy purple and green hues. There were cockroaches, ants and insects scurrying around, their bodies mutated and grotesque.  Some had extra appendages, others had pulsating pustules all over their exoskeletons.

Cazora wrinkled her nose in disgust as she accidentally stepped on a particularly large and pus filled larva.  It's squishy squirt sounds echoed into the forest loudly.

Mengtao looked at Caz with horror and disgust on his face.  He was not a fan of bugs... or pus. Cazora raised her boot up and a thick string of pus dangled. Meng gagged loudly,  covering his mouth and nose and clenched his eyes shut.  "That's so disgusting!" he gasped.

"Ugh!" Caz frowned as she scraped her boot on a nearby tree root. "This place and all that dwell within are tainted." she said, scraping.

Saberhagen snuffed the air.  Saberhagen's heckles raised and he growled.  They were being watched by many eyes...

Cazora looked up from her scraping and saw several pairs of glowing eyes blinking at them. Several growls rumbled from the forest around them that were not Saberhagen.  Mengtao pulled his bo staff from his back and took his stance.  "Incoming." he whispered.

A large werewolf emerged from behind a gnarled tree and lunged at Meng with teeth and claws as two others crawled menacingly toward Caz, snarling and slavering.  Meng ducked gracefully, flattening his body, extending his leg and kicking the werewolf squarely in it's gut as it sailed over him.  It yelped in surprise and thudded heavily against a tree.  Cazora swiftly released two arrows in such swift succession, her arm was a blur as it loosed and reloaded.  The two werewolves that had been crawling toward her were snarling as they clutched at arrows sticking from their eye sockets, before falling limply on the ground.

Another werewolf jumped out of the trees to her left, but she turned right, shooting more arrows at new werewolves advancing.  Saberhagen appeared behind the werewolf, pouncing on the back of it's neck, breaking through the skin with his long pointed fangs.  The sound of a loud bony crunch emitted from the werewolf who slumped to the ground, his neck broken.  Saberhagen released the dead werewolf as he shimmered and disappeared once again.

The werewolf that had fallen against the tree, was getting ready for another lunge. Meng twirled in the air, kicking the werewolf multiple times in the jaw before landing and taking his stance again.  The werewolf didn't get back up.  Mentao rolled forward like a furry ball, knocking down a couple of werewolves as they emerged from hiding to attack.  They fell over flailing clumsily as Meng stood and turned swiftly, bo staff in hand, to knock them over the heads. Whack! Whack!

Cazora was showering arrows at the other glowing eyes in the forest.  Each arrow produced an angry scream or growl.  Meanwhile Saberhagen was slinking around, pouncing on the enemies from behind to snap their necks.  A few moments later, Meng, Caz and Saberhagen stood together in a circle of furry bodies, panting from the effort.  Nothing moved.  The other eyes had disappeared, fleeing into the trees.

"I guess they bit off more than  they could chew." Caz laughed and finished wiping the bug goo off her boot onto a dead werewolf.

"Indeed." Meng agreed, smiling, as he picked up his pack, re-slinging it onto his back.

Saberhagen was visible and nonchalantly licking blood off his paws.  Cazora patted him on the head.  Stepping over the circle of bodies, she led the way onward once more.

***********************************

Ravvyn had awakened from her sleep to find herself drooling a bit onto Joliset's fur.  Joliset was still asleep in her giant Dire Bear form and snoring loudly.  Ravvyn wiped her mouth, embarrassed.  She hadn't slept like that since she was a mere infant.  The fog was still very dense, but she could tell it was daytime from the slightly brighter hue above.  She stood, brushing off dirt and moss from sleeping on the ancient cobblestone covered ground.

After awhile she decided to awaken Joliset, so they could continue on their journey out of this evil place.  She patted Joliset, "Time to awaken."

But Joliset did not stir.

"Time to awaken, Joliset."  Ravvyn said as she shook the bear.

Still nothing.

Ravvyn was now worried.  "Joliset!  Wake up! Joliset!  Joliset!"  She shook and patted the great bear, opening it's eyelids to look at it's eyes.

Joliset stirred weakly.  Snuffed her bear nose, then tried to get up.  She seemed very disoriented to Ravvyn.  "Change into your humanoid form, Joliset.  Can you do that?"  Ravvyn asked, clearly concerned.  Slowly, the cloud surrounded Joliset as she changed into her humanoid form.  She lay limply in Ravvyn's arms.

Ravvyn gasped as she saw the claw marks on Joliset from the evil spirits the night before.  They had changed color and were now obviously infected or poisoned as the wounds pulsated with long dark veins radiating outward from the wound.  "You have been infected."  Ravvyn said to Joliset who fluttered her eyes and groaned, breathing in small wisps.

"Can you use your Earth Magics to heal yourself?" Ravvyn asked. Joliset moved her mouth weakly, trying to asnwer.  Ravvyn leaned in closer to hear what she was trying to say.

"D.... dy...ing."  Joliset said.

"No!!  You can't die!  We...  There must be something I can do."  Ravvyn stammered.

"H....old... me..."  Joliset managed, as she began to swirl into one last cloud.  Ravvyn clutched at Joliset's body and began to cry.  Her hands were closing together in the cloud until they clasped each other.  The cloud dissipated and she held something very small and light in her hands.

She sobbed at the loss of the only person who had ever shown her kindness in this life.  Even though they had only known each other for a short while, she had felt connected.  Like a sisterhood.  Tears dripped down her face as she looked down, slowly opening her hands.  She held a small acorn with a white stem. "Ussta... abbil.." she sobbed.  ('My friend', in Drow.)


(To be continued...)

**I do not own the art posted on this page.  All rights and such go to their perspective owners.  I am merely a fan of their work.

Crimson Revenge - Payback in Blood part 5

Rennoewen stood at the edge of the Whispering Woods staring expectantly where she had sent out her flame trail over 3 days ago. The East wind had kicked up as a large storm of dark and ominous clouds made their way toward the camp. She had sent Joliset a couple of days ago. She only hoped Joliset and Ravvyn were both okay and would arrive soon. The wind fluttered Rennowen's cloak and robes gracefully, her hair flowing around her as she stood as still as a statue.

Cazora came to stand beside Rennoewen, "You can't make them appear there, no matter how hard you stare, my Queen." Cazora joked, attempting to settle Rennoewen's frayed nerves. Cazora noticed that Rennoewen had stood here nearly the entire day, only taking a short break every few hours.  Cazora knew Rennoewen was a worrier.  Her kindness, caring, and generosity was part of what made her such a great leader.  The people of the realm knew their queen truly cared about them and that she did much to maintain the health and happiness of her people.

The trail of light emerged brightly from the forest, snaking it's way to Rennoewen's staff.  As the trail ended and burned out at the top of her staff, Rennoewen stared hopefully and expectantly at the place where Joliset and Ravvyn would emerge any second now.  As time ticked by, her face lost its hope,instead turning to dismay.

"Oh dear...," she mumbled disappointedly after a half hour went by.

Cazora straightened up, adjusted her bow on her shoulder, "Saberhagen and I shall go find them, and lead them back, my Queen."

Cazora knelt on one knee before Rennoewen, one closed fist over her heart, head bowed, "My bow, my life,  are yours."

Rennoewen smiled and placed her hand upon Cazora's ebony-haired head.  "Do not go, only you two,"  she nodded at the empty shimmering space at Cazora's side where Saberhagen stood, invisible. "Take Mengtao as well."

Cazora looked up with surprise and grinned shyly.  Rennoewen smiled back, knowingly.  Cazora bowed her head respectfully, then took her leave to find Mengtao. Large paw prints appeared in the grass behind her as she led the way. Rennoewen turned back to stare at the forest, worry painted on her face.

The melodious sound of a smooth male voice rang out as Cazora made her way through the camp of tents. She and Saberhagen came to a stop at a large yellow and blue tent.  A large white and black, furry bear with humanoid features was practicing the ancient art of unarmed combat in a small dirt patch beside the tent.  His movements were smooth, precise, graceful. As he ended his routine, Mengtao, the Pandaren monk twitched an ear, turned to grin at Cazora.

"Greetings!  Of what do I owe the honor of your visit?" he asked one fist against his flat palm, head bowed slightly.  Cazora smirked as she walked toward Mengtao.

"Oh. Well..." she stood before him.  He was at least a foot taller than she. She fluttered her eyelashes as she gazed up at him. "I am in need of your assistance, Commander Mengtao. "

Mengtao smiled even wider, "Ah, I see.  Let us discuss it, shall we?" He politely gestured toward his tent with one open paw/hand.

"Indeed." Cazora stated seriously, taking a moment to glance around at who might be listening. None of the other parties seemed to have noticed the interaction at all.  All were engrossed in their own activities at the moment.  Lavineen, a blonde, female, blood elf paladin,was cooking over a campfire.  Ziggle the goblin was playing with her pet frog, Wibbit. Hawke, the large Viking warrior, was practicing his one handed sword and shield moves loudly and with much gusto. Szintra, the male blood elf shadow priest, was fussing over his hair in a gilded mirror. Chopa, the greatest tank and most unlucky orc, was laughing loudly with a group of other guild members somewhere in the camp. Crimson Revenge was a guild of the most skilled fighters, magic users and healers in the entire realm. 

Cazora walked over to the yellow and blue tent as if she were on official business. Once inside, Mengtao closed the tent flap then turned around to be tackled in Caz's passionate embrace.

"Oh Mengmeng! I missed you." she whispered breathlessly and kissed his face.

Mengtao chuckled happily.  He made a low rumble sound in his chest as he held her close to him and returned her kisses.  "As have I, missed you." he spoke softly and lovingly as he held her face in his warm, furry paws.

"Do you really need my help? Or was that merely an excuse to see me?" he asked playfully.

"Both, actually." she said as she stood back to hold his hands.

"Ah.  So, we are to venture into the Whispering Forest then, in search of our guild  mates?" Mengtao loved the thrill of adventure.

"Yes." Cazora wished it was not such a dire mission, so they could spend one last, comfortable night together. Instead, they had a dangerous mission from which they might never return.

"I will gather my supplies then." he turned and began to load a large pack.  Cazora made a disappointed face, then turned to leave. But before she could open the tent flap, Mengtao grabbed her, swept her up in his great furry, bear arms, and kissed her. She grinned up at him. After he placed her back down, she smirked delightfully, then left to get her own supplies ready.

Saberhagen sat outside, springing to his feet and sprinting after Cazora as she made her way to their tent. He knew they were about to enter that evil forest and he grumbled his dissent.

"I know, Sabey. I don't want to venture in there any more than you do, but we have a duty to our guild and our queen." Cazora spoke as they entered the tent and she began to pack.

Saberhagen appeared then,  snuffed his nose disapprovingly.  Then licked his lips, stretched and plunked himself down on the floor and grumbled again.

Cazora looked at him shocked. "Don't make me take Gara instead of you..."

Saberhagen sat up at the mention of Gara, the spirit wolfs name. He flattened his ears sadly, then made a soft kitten like-mew. He didn't want to be left behind.  So he submitted, rolling over on his belly and stretching his legs out toward Caz, playfully clawing at her cloak hem.

"Mmmhmmm. That's what I thought." Caz grinned as she pretended to be irritated and slap his paw away.

A short while later,  Cazora, Saberhagen,  and Mengtao were ready to go.  The guild members and Rennoewen wished them good luck as they waved goodbye.  Cazora looked at Mengtao and they exchanged an excited grin,  then stepped into the Whispering Woods. Saberhagen was ahead of them scouting in his invisible form.

'Joliset and Ravvyn were as good as found,'  Cazora thought confidently to herself.

(to be continued... )

The art on this page is not mine, nor do I claim them. All rights go to their owner and creator.  

I. ~ Poetry

I am the broken plate

You threw upon the floor

I am the door jam

As you busted down the door. 

I am the promise 

You won't love me anymore 

I am nothing. 

I am the pain

As you scream into my face

I am the water on the floor

Displaced. 

I am the promise 

You will walk out of the door

I am everything. 

I am the mirror

Broken razor shards

I'm the losing hand

When you play cards. 

I am the promise 

You will walk out of the door. 

I am. 

I am the thousand

Lies you scream

I am the failure

In your hopes and goals and dreams

I am the crowd

When you make an awful scene

I am the promise

you will walk out of the door. 

I. 

Ode to Choppa

There is a mighty strong orc
Who was delivered by 100 stork
Born with a great axe in his hands
He became the best tank in all the lands

But...

There was only one hitch
He tumbled into every ditch
For though he was knighted
He was also far sighted

Choppa, so tall, his voice a low rumble
A kind-hearted soul,  yet so kind and humble
He went to the mines to mine ore for a bit
But he dropped down a bottomless pit

One time,  as I followed behind the old fellow
Choppa promised I could work the bellows
On our way to the forge
We ended up in a gorge

And this story's not done at fall 1 or fall 8
I could tell you a fall for each calendar date
Choppa fell down each cliff,  each crevasse, and each pit
He fell down each mountain,  each trolley, and each lift

He's tripped down each step of every stair
You often can see him fall passed through the air
One thing I find most endearing of all
 Is that after each tumble, each plummet, each fall
Choppa always gets up and dusts off with a grin
Turns to his friends and says, "Let's do dat again!"

Crimson Revenge... Payback in Blood. Part 4

Joliset bounded through the woods as fast as she could, chasing the flame trail and trying not to dump her passenger.  Ravvyn held on with a tightly as branches tore at her armor, cloak and hair. A a mob of angry beasts scurried behind them.  Joliset was fast in deer form... but Ravvyn wondered how good was her stamina compared with the werewolves and dire wolves following closely behind them?

The woods began to thin and then Joliset's hoof beats began to click on an ancient cobblestone road.  They had come upon an ancient city.  The light changed as the darkness of the trees disappeared and the fog remained.  The air around them felt lighter.  The ruins of grand mansions and temples faded in and out of the fog and there came a wind that whistled and moaned.  Ravvyn sat up to look around her, checking behind to see where the beasts were.  There was no sign of them. Ravvyn's skin prickled and the hair on her neck raised.  What was so bad that it could turn evil creatures away?

Joliset the deer was panting heavily.  She slowed and glanced behind her.  Seeing nothing behind them, she slowed to a trot and then to a slowed walk.  Ravvyn slid down off of the white deer as a cloud engulfed it and changed into humanoid form.   Ravvyn awkwardly let go of Joliset's neck.  Joliset merely turned around and smiled kindly.

"We are not safe yet, but we can rest for a bit before we continue on." Joliset spoke as she rested on an old wall, still trying to catch her breath.  Ravvyn nodded and remained standing, scanning the area for trouble.  Then her heart sank when she realized the fire trail was gone.  She knew without a doubt there was no way Joliset knew the way out.  The Whispering Woods had a way of making travelers walk around in circles until they perished. Usually, it was because they were eaten by any number of horrible creatures that dwelled within these woods.

Ravvyn narrowed her eyes at Joliset, "How will we find our way out of here now?", she asked.  Joliset merely smiled and produced some food from a small pack.  She silently offered Ravvyn a sandwich.  Ravvyn was starving, so she took it and began eating, her white eyebrows furrowed with worry and suspicion.  Joliset drank from a water pouch, then offered it to Ravvyn who drank greedily.  As they finished eating and drinking, the day was turning into night.  The ruins began to darken once again and the air smelled strongly of wet earth and something else Ravvyn could not quite put her finger on.

The whispers of the long dead was so powerful now.  It was making Ravvyn's skin prickle with goosebumps and the hair on her neck stand up.  She felt they were being watched, but couldn't see, hear or smell anything. One glance over at Joliset and Ravvyn knew that she felt the same.  They were not alone.

Joliset sniffed at the air, then growled a low rumble that didn't seem to match her beautiful features. Her magical lightning cloud covered her and then there was a massive dire bear in her place.  It's shoulders as tall as Ravvyn stood there with a white streak down its back and wearing all of Joliset's ear piercings and necklaces.  The dire bear growled at a specific place in the dark fog.  Joliset spoke in a deep growly voice, "Get on my back, quickly and hold on!"  That was all it took for Ravvyn to hop on.  As she glanced at the spot Joliset was staring at, she saw blue, iridescent light materializing before them. A spirit of the dead had arisen from it's resting place. It glared directly at the pair of intruders and screeched in anger as it raised it's claw-like ghost hands, it's hair flying around it as if by some otherworldly wind.  It was an ancient high elf female, but she was twisted by some evil force now.  She was not a high elf anymore... her mouth opening unnaturally wide as if to swallow them whole. Rows of needle sharp fangs lined her maw, ready to chew up their souls. Her elaborate gown was torn into rags that fluttered in the spirit wind with her hair. She would have been splendid to behold back in her time.  Now, as a twisted spirit,  she was frightening beyond belief.

Ravvyn broke out in a cold sweat as she held Joliset's bear fur in a death grip.  Joliset growled menacingly at the ghost, as more and more spirits began to materialize around them.  Many different high elf males and females who were now twisted evil spirits surrounded them.  Their once-beautiful features warped into the stuff of nightmares.  

The first spirit swiped it's claws at them as it screeched.  Joliset was scratched and blood was leaking from the wound.  She growled in pain, reared up and swiped her giant paw at the evil spirit.  The razer-sharp dire bear claws sliced the ghost in half, ripping the tattered gown as well.  The ghost stared at her stomach then went out like the flame of a candle, disappearing from her tortured existence.  This only infuriated the other spirits, causing them to advance faster, claws and teeth ready to strike the duo.

As Joliset reared up again, Ravvyn rolled nimbly off, disappearing into the dark fog.  Joliset the dire bear growled with all her might, standing on hind legs.  As the evil spirits came within striking distance the bear swiped with it's claws striking two enemies at once.  Another spirit approaching from her flank was chomped in half and thrown by her enormous fangs.  Joliset was getting sliced by the spirit claws. She searched around her, looking for Ravvyn, dreading she had been abandoned when Ravvyn appeared from thin air behind one ghost and decapitated him, disappearing after he went out.  Ravvyn then appeared behind a screaming spirit about to strike Joliset from behind. She chopped off it's head in one smooth motion, and disappeared once again.  

That night, every spirit in those ruins found their release from purgatory to the plane of existence that awaited them next. All at the hands (and paws) of Ravvyn and Joliset.  When they felt as if the danger was passed, Ravvyn curled up next to Joliset, the warm and furry, dire bear as they both fell asleep exhausted, a bit bloody and sore.

[to be continued]

*Disclaimer I do not claim any of the artwork in this story as my own.  All rights go to their perspective owners/creators.  I am a huge fan and if you are too, visit their pages and let them know.  :)