Greet Us, Dear Spring

Upon the dusty curve of spring

My fellow begonia likes to swing.

The beaten sculpture likes to dance

While little milk boy swings his lance.

Oho the spring has come for us!

Form a ring and sing 'til dusk!

Sing 'til the day has gone away!

Dance 'til the moon casts its glow on the bay!

Riddles and stories and birds and rats

All are rising, even the cats.

The lanterns fall

The trees stand tall!

Come spring, to greet us all!

the music of emotion

Listen, the world speaks,
 But when do we really hear it?
 I listen to music in a reality
 That lives in my emotion,
 But what about the place
 Where I must continue?
 My heart drops
 Like the dew after sunrise
 When I wake up from what is untrue
 To most,
 And I always live my days
 With one foot in my head.

Belinadae

Well, it wasn't always this way. I used to be able to stare at nothing and somehow find truth in what I saw. But now that's not possible. The many truths of this world are set in stone. So when the supervisor of our section asked me if I knew why I was punished, all I could say was, "Because I lied. Lysel is always right."

That morning, I woke, as usual, at four o'clock, so that I could get to the cotton farm on time. It's horrible work, cotton farming, but I was told that "someone's gotta do it", so I don't question my place. I thought it unfair that the curly black-haired Linbies did not need to work each day; they were the ones who told us where to go and what to do when we got there. But, once again, there was a reason for that, too. It turned out that those with jet black curly hair had more brains to hide with such hair than those of us with green and chestnut locks upon our heads. I myself happened to have straight, deep green strands hanging from my head, and that classified me as one of the dumber Linbies, one of those who were best working on a cotton farm.

So here I am, working until the blisters on my hands from the previous day grow raw and red, in Section 3 of the cotton farm owned by the beautiful black, curly-haired Pamwi. She was the daughter of none other than our even more handsome, more tyrannical leader, Lysel. We all hated him. He was the one who came up with what I thought was the most ridiculous segregation between different kinds of people, the one between people with different hair. I knew that I wasn't really dim-witted, or I wouldn't be able to think such things. Heck, I wouldn't be able to write this without making an enormously amount of grammatical errors. Oh. Well, this can't be erased, so let us ignore that, please.

"Don't be forgettin' that we best be meeting our quota of a two hunderd pounds o' cotton by midnight tonight, understand, Section 3?" I was woken from my thoughts by the cruel reminder of our required quantity of work given to us by our section leader, Mecila, whose head was blanketed by black but straight strands of what looked like silk. Re-inspired by my inner anger, as well as a new discontentment that came from the utterly bad grammar used by, supposedly, our superior. And she's said to have more brains; no way that's true.

"My, my, two hunderd pounds, ya say? My, that Lysel be piling tha work on thick now, don'tcha think?" I said in my best impersonation of her accent, "That man don't know what he be doin', naw he don't. If he wants ta keep that there position he's got, then he best be easier on his devoted workers, now don't he?" The look on Mecila's face knocked everyone watching into next month. Redder than ever, and her lips twisted in a way that shouldn't be possible for a normal Linbie, she glared at me in contempt and rage.

Forcefully, she grabbed me by the wrist, half-dragged me behind the nearest tree, took out a cowhide whip, and pinned me, back to her, against the tree. I knew it was coming, and I wished I hadn't spoken. She had folded the whip in half, and began lashing at my back, my shirt pulled up to my shoulders. I winced with every stroke of her cruel brush, hoping each time that it would be the last one. But it never seemed to end. It seemed I had made her genuinely upset, and now I was going to pay for the way I had humiliated her. Not that she had had a positive reputation among the cotton farmers, anyway.

It wasn't until she finally stopped and turned me around again that an angry tear fell down my cheek. "Now, Section 3, Number 67, do you understand why you were punished?" The only thing I could say to keep myself from being whipped again was, as you know, "Because I lied. Lysel is always right."

So that was that day, and it continued and ended the way my days always ended: work until ten, and supper at home by ten thirty. I still knew that my world wasn't the way it should be, and I wanted to fix it, but my creative mind had left me back when Lysel had taken my perfect-for-society parents as his personal guards, and left me by myself. Back when the rules were established, and I could no longer think outside the box. And so, there was no way for me to formulate a plan to fix things, and there wasn't anyone who could who wasn't happy with their current standings on the social ladder.

For yet another year, my life remained the same. However, when I was walking one day on our only day off of work, Lysel's birthday, of course, I came across a pair of travelers. "Hello," said the woman, "Could you tell us if we are anywhere near Maziron?" Maziron, as I had gathered from my secret studies, was a long ways away from Lyslia. "Maziron is quite far from here. Are you lost?" "Yes," replied the man, "My wife and I are on our way to her parents' home to have her baby." "Congratulations," I said, "Well, it's very late. Would you like to stay the night in my home before continuing your journey?" "Yes, please," he replied with a smile after a sideways glance at the woman, "Thank you for your hospitality." "Of course," I smiled back at them. They looked so happy, like my parents and I had been. My mother had been pregnant, too. "I'm Vedy, and my husband is called Ralbu," said the woman. "Oh, sorry. I'm Belinadae," I replied, "Nice to meet you both." A smile stretching from ear to ear, I led the couple back to my home.

The following morning, I awoke to leave for the cotton farm, when Vedy turned to me from her mat on the floor. "Where are you going so early in the morning?" she asked. "Work," I replied. "Work?" she asked with a puzzled look on her face, "But you're so young." "I am? Some of the people who work at the cotton farm with me are seven or eight years old." "Really? That sounds horrific. Why would anyone make children work on a cotton farm?" This thought puzzled me. For the majority of my life, it had been this way. I'd been working for Mecila ever since I had turned six. My first working day was my birthday. And I remembered how it had been the most horrible experience of my young life.

When I had woken up that day, I walked into the kitchen to see my parents sitting at the table with somber faces. When they had told me that I had to go to work that day, I didn't even know what that meant. Until Lysel entered our glorious little world, no one under twenty needed to work. And so I was appalled at the idea. Nonetheless, I walked out the door with my head held high. I soon found out I had been much too confident for my own good.


Later in the day, after many tears over the hard labor on my fragile body, my mind began to wander. I began staring at nothing in particular, pondering the many various thoughts bouncing around in my curious little brain. I started to focus on what the reason might have been for my having to work today. And who had decided this; surely my parents hadn't wanted this to happen. And then the whip fell. The first whip on my back I had ever felt. It was full of anger at whoever had been wielding it, and my back stung well into the next hour. "Back ta work, missy. We don't be needin' sleepers on this here farm." I turned around to see a gorgeous woman, but her beauty had no matter to me, as all I could look at were her cruel, snobby expression. I could tell that she was not from here. She couldn't be; everyone in what had been Dahlini (before Lysel arrived, of course) was like family, not like this. Every Linbie was equal. Right?


"Because some believe that others are theirs to control," I replied sadly, "And I'm afraid their minds won't change." I turned and strolled out the door, staring at the ground. I guess I had lost my confidence over the years.

I followed my usual path along the edge of Pamwi's brother's apple orchard, trying not to be seen by the men who kept watch from the roof of their master's house. I began to remember what it felt like to be beaten, and I noticed that now that I had gotten used to such cruelties, they did not seem so bad as they truly were; it was all commonplace. If only everything could go back. But I knew that one could not turn back time, that everything was as it was, and it couldn't be forgotten.

As I worked myself harder and full of anger throughout the day, I felt that perhaps I could change things. Perhaps I could make my world a better place to live in. And so, after hours of painful labor, I began to head home, a faint smile dancing on my lips.

When I walked through the doorway, I found that Vedy and Ralbu had already left. I went to the table and began to set out some things for my supper, when I noticed a small slip of parchment with scraggly writing on it. It read:


Belinadae, thank you very much for allowing us to rest in your home for the night. I am sorry we were not able to give you a proper goodbye, but we couldn't stay any longer. We hope that your situation will soon improve, and we believe you are capable of great things. Also, after much thought, we have finally decided on a name for our baby: your name. It is a very beautiful name, and it is the name of someone who knows how to dream. Again, thank you so much. Best wishes, Vedy and Ralbu.


Learning of the baby's name touched my heart, and I felt that I hadn't done enough for such an honor. However, hearing that they "hope my situation will soon improve" inspired my anger at our society even further. I knew what I had to do. I walked back out the door and down the road toward Lysel's home. It was easy to find; it was the only house big enough to be seen above the treetops. I walked up the path to the front door, being sure to keep my head high. With no hesitation, I pounded on the door with a fist full of contempt. Soon after, the doors swung slowly open.

I strode into the front courtyard that appeared in front of me, fuming. As I reached the next set of doors, however, I was stopped by a pair of guards armed with spears. "You may not pass," explained one of them. "And why not, may I ask?" I questioned. "Our lord Lysel does not welcome uninvited guests, especially ordinary citizens, into his main hall," replied the other. With no real thought I grabbed hold of their heads and pushed them into each other. With a loud bonk, they feel to the ground.

I pushed open the doors to a large, carpeted room. At the far end was Lysel, sitting upon a golden throne. "And whom do I have here, invading my home?" He said with a sideways grin, "Ah, yes, the daughter of my two most loyal advisers." He clapped twice, and I watched, full of sadness, as my mother and father walked into the room, wearing clothes almost as glamorous as Lysel's.

"Gemzolin, Frisnala, greet your daughter." "Hello, Belinadae," came the cracked voice of my father. "Hello, father," I replied, a tear falling down my bruised cheek. I couldn't bear to look at them. They seemed to be pampered, but on the inside, they hadn't yet been able to get over the dismay of our separation, not even after ten years. But I understood where they were coming from. I still couldn't let go of them either.

"So, why are you here? Have you come to revolt? Surely you aren't planning on ending my rule with an army of one." He laughed, and it was an evil laugh. I brought my head back up, and replied, in a voice as strong as I could muster, "Perhaps I am. Perhaps I am not. But I must bring to your attention the cruelties you have brought to our peaceful land, to Dahlini." "Dumb girl, do you think I do not realize this? Do you think that if you tell me this, that I shall quietly leave? No! Who, in their right mind, would give up such a wonderful position as mine, for such an insignificant population?"

"You are wrong! We of Dahlini are not insignificant! We are truly superior to you and all of your pawns, as we have realized, early on, the true meaning of life: equality and love among all Linbies. That is why we named our land as such! It is, as you must have known, the original Linbie word for "harmony". We will join together, as one being, to defeat you and end your tyrannical rule!"

"Guards!" I turned to see a group of about six men running toward me. I was able to take one last regretful glance at my mother and father before the hilt of a sword knocked out my lights.

I awoke many hours later, in a stone cell. Turning, to my left, I came face-to-face with a rotting corpse. After an initial cry of shock, I looked closer, finding that it was a young girl who had once helped me collect berries for the harvest festival. I couldn't gaze at her skeleton; there was too much destruction to be seen there. I tried to rise to my feet, but I soon found that my hands were chained to the wall.

So this was where my anger had led me: to a cell that would become my grave. I didn't want to think about death, or my hatred of the life I was forced to lead, or anything. I wanted to run away and never return. But, obviously, that wasn't possible. So what would I think about, with the rest of my life to do nothing but think. It was almost humorous; I was to begin and end my life with the ability to think deeply, and think what I wanted to.

During the weeks I spent there, chained to the wall, I thought many things. I thought first of the most recent events, and later of things that had happened in my past. I then thought of what may have happened if things had gone differently, such as where I would be now if Lysel had never come. How wonderful life would be now! I wouldn't be dying. But I later realized that everything is for a reason, and things will one day be okay again.

After about three weeks of thinking much and eating little, I was told that I was to be hanged. I asked what that was. "We tie a rope around your neck, and pull you up by it so that your neck snaps and you die." It sounded horrific. I wasn't sure if I would be able to live up until then. I continued to shiver as the man unlocked the restraints on my arms, and as he pulled me up the stairs and out of the dungeons.


To be continued..

LIKE A BOSS.

Just found out I can make the blog formatted to fit mobile devices. Sweet! Love it when I don't have to zoom in and scroll in every direction. :) Betcha wanna see now. I know I did. :)

Your Typical Suspenseful High School Romance Story

Leta closed her eyes. Everything would go back to normal if she woke up right now. She would be back home, in her bed. Nothing was happening. It was all a dream.

She opened her eyes, only to find that nothing had gone away. She wasn't in her bed, she was in a strange room. Eyes stared at her with one purpose and one purpose only. To eat her.

Everything began on the first day of school. Every story with a frightening and suspenseful climax begins at school. Everyone knows that. In fact, Leta knew that, too. She had a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach that something would happen, all due to the events of this day. High school. She had heard multiple opinions on the matter. Some said it was great; you meet new people, new teachers, and a new place. It's a fresh start. Others said that it's horrible; you're isolated and/or bullied, and freshman get egged on Fridays. Of course, movies and books that take place in high school that lead to encounters with suspicious and malevolent characters, like Twilight, Wings, and that kind of thing, were another issue. She didn't know who to believe, so she would have to find out for herself.

She got on her bike and hesitantly lifted the kickstand. When she got to the school, it was bustling with people. A LOT of people. Taking out her bike lock, she wondered who was true. So far nothing had gone wrong, but it wasn't too late for something to happen. Once her bike was locked, she walked quickly and discreetly to the entrance, not pausing to ask anyone for directions, even though she needed them. 103A. That's where I go, right? She looked at her schedule. At least she got that much right.

"Looking for 103A, are you?" Leta turned to see someone leaning over her shoulder.

"Y-yes."

"Well that's on the first floor. The bigger numbers are farther away from the entrance." His voice was confident and smooth. "You've got some ways to go. I'll come with you if you want. My first class is a few doors down anyway."

"Um, okay." Leta was overwhelmed. How could he be so sure of himself?

"Oh, sorry. I'm Reask, by the way. I'm a sophomore."

Oh, that's why he's not nervous.

"I-I'm Leta."

"Cool name."

"Y-you too."

They walked in silence. He seemed okay with that.

Leta sat with the same silence for the duration of Algebra. She listened and took notes, and never raised her hand or spoke. When it was finally over, Leta quickly put her things back in her backpack and was the first out the door.

Just as it would be in any other typical suspenseful high school story, Reask was waiting for her just outside the classroom, leaning one hand against the wall.

"Hey there."

"Um, hi."

"Hey, you wanna come have lunch with me and my friends today?"

She looked up for the first time that day. His face was perfectly shaped, and his skin was flawless, just like any suspicious boy in any story like this. However, this time, it didn't bother her.

"Sure." She didn't stammer, and she smiled. That was her one big mistake.

After a few weeks, Leta wasn't shy anymore. She knew where to go, what to do, and, most importantly, who her friends were. Reask and the others. Reask had two older sisters in junior year, named Jalia and Gifra, who treated Leta as one of their own. He also had a brother who was a freshman, just like Leta. His name was Lysagh. He had been shy as well when they first met, and Leta knew they would be good friends. Now she never ate lunch alone, and Reask walked her to class. She always had someone to talk to.

"Hey, Leta."

She turned and smiled. "Hey, Reask."

"So, I was wondering, would you wanna go somewhere with me Friday?"

"Um, sure. Where to?" Just like the movies. She should run. But she didn't.

"My favorite place in the city."

"Oh. Okay." This wasn't a good sign. But Leta was too excited to be cautious.

"Great. I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Okay, great."

"'Kay. See you then," he said in his low, beautiful voice.

"Coming!"

Leta zipped down the stairs to the front door.

"Where you going?" her mom called.

"Reask is taking me somewhere."

"Ooh. Well, okay but don't do anything stupid.'

"I won't. Bye, mom."

"Bye. Have fun."

Leta opened the door to see Reask standing in his usual jeans and T-shirt.

"Hey."

"Hey. Aren't you cold?"

"Nah. This is nothing."

"Uh, okay. Let's go."

They waited at the bus stop (neither of them could drive), and it was a while before Reask finally spoke.

"Leta. Have you ever wondered why you're so beautiful?"

Leta was flattered, but confused. "What do you mean? I'm not that pretty."

"Yes. You are. Like an angel."

He turned to her and cupped his hand around her cheek. As he leaned in closer, Leta forgot how to move. How to breathe. Their lips were a breath apart when the headlights of their bus came into view.

Leta suddenly remembered how to use her arms and legs, and she turned away from him and walked toward the door. He followed and put in $1.50. They sat silently as the bus moved, faster and faster. after about ten minutes, the bus stopped again.

"We're here."

They both got up and walked out.

"Thanks." Leta said to the bus driver as she passed him. They were on the sidewalk in front of a dilapidated old building. Leta was confused again.

"It's nicer inside. Come on."

They strode to the door and Reask pulled out a key. The tumbles clicked as he unlocked the door.

"Wait."

Reask turned to face her. "It'll be fine. Trust me."

She did. She trusted him. Maybe too much.

She followed him inside. It was dark. Reask pushed the door closed and the fear in Leta's gut built higher. Then a single lamp switched on. She saw the outlines of the faces of Jalia and Gifra, as well as some she didn't know, staring at her, their eyes full of hunger and rage.

"Reask, what's going on?" Leta squealed, the fear overwhelming her.

"Remember when I told you that you were like an angel?" Reask replied slyly from the shadows, "That's because you are an angel."

Leta gasped in shock. No way this was true.

"Why do you think you were adopted? Demons killed your angel parents. Demons like us.

"But why do you want me?"

"You, my dear," Reask continued as he moved closer and held her cheek again, "Are the last of your kind."

Leta pushed his hand away and ran to the door. It was locked. Leta closed her eyes. Everything would go back to normal if she woke up right now. She would be back home, in her bed. Nothing was happening. It was all a dream.

She opened her eyes, only to find that nothing had gone away. She wasn't in her bed, she was in a strange room. Eyes stared at her with one purpose and one purpose only. To eat her.

She watched as the demons moved in closer, closer, the perfection fading from their ravenous faces. She braced herself for what was to come.

Good bye, mom. Good bye, world. Good bye... Reask.

"No! I won't let you eat her!"

Someone had jumped in front of her, she could hear their breathing near her. She opened her eyes. It was the back of Lysagh's head.

"Brother, I told you not to interfere! I told you that if you're gonna be a vegetarian, you need to stop saving our food!"

"Yes. But Leta's different. You betrayed her. She trusted you, and you turned on her." His voice was strained, "I'm not taking orders from someone like you anymore!"

"Hm. I see. Would you kill me, then?"

"You may be my brother," Lysagh continued, "But if you still plan to eat Leta, I will kill you, brother. I love her. I don't love you anymore!"

Leta stood in shock. She hadn't spoken, and she didn't plan to.

"You have become blinded by anger. The angels may have killed our parents, but you have killed all but one. And I won't let you finish it."

"All right, then. If that's what you think. Come at me. I dare you."

Lysagh charged at him, and Reask dodged his blows, all with a smirk on his now deranged face. After some short amount of time, Lysagh looked up at his brother, guilt and sorrow in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry it had to end this way, brother," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small handgun. he squeezed his eyes shut as he pulled the trigger.

There was no blood. Just ash. Let a watched in amazement and horror at the black soot that was falling to the floor, erupting from Reask's body.

Lysagh turned to his sisters. "Sisters, please."

"Say no more, Lysagh," said Jalia, "We didn't like this much, either."

"Yeah, I like deer better anyway," said Gifra. Leta cringed at the thought of eating a deer.

"Thank you."

"Master Lysagh," came a voice from one of the new faces. This man was quite old, but his wrinkles were perfectly shaped. "We're all very sorry for causing you so much trouble. However, now that your brother is defeated, you are the heir to the throne.

This was getting even more surprising by the minute.

"Congratulations, Lord Lysagh," came another voice.

"Thank you, too. All of you." He turned to Leta. "I'm so sorry about all of this. My brother, he-"

Leta wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed herself up so their lips met. She felt his arms close around her. She wished this moment could go on forever. She finally brought her face away from his and smiled as she continued to look up at him.

"I love you, too."

So this is obviously one of those stories where the main characters are too young to know that they love each other, but they do anyway. Besides, it's an angel and a demon. They're more mature than they should be. :)

FOOL.

FOOL.

だます。

Дурак.

मूर्ख.

바보.

خداع.

Tonto.

Thank you, Google Translate.

FOOL! <3 Excalibur

Muahahaha! Raven's Random Post!

Ha!  I'm posting on Echo's blog wether she likes it or not!  Now...  Let me think of something that REALLY irritates Echo... like... THERE'S A LEECH ON YOUR BACK!

Let's see what else... like... nyan nyan nyan nyan nyan.

Or let's see... like... YOUR FACE!

Ok I can't think of anymore.  Byebye =)