Mistress Elsha Hawk's Stories

Trapeze Artist (Use your senses challenge)

2008-07-24T00:43:50Z

I entered the semi-dark red and yellow tent. The smell of popcorn smacked me in the face along with the cheering of hundreds of people. My white and blue sequined leotard was riding up and I pulled it out behind the stands, before walking to the third ring.

I climbed the tall skinny ladder, testing each rung with my slippered foot. The top platform swayed slightly under my weight, but I countered unthinking.

The spotlight suddenly blinded me and I waved to the now invisible crowd. I blinked and suddenly this moment froze. I had seen this before, the man in the red hat, the elephant bowing, the popcorn spilling, but when?

The bar was swinging towards me, I turned to catch it. The moment was gone. I focused, my hand finding the right point just off center. My legs tensed, I jumped and reached to secure my other hand on the bar. Something wasn’t right. It slipped.

My body swung to the height of the arc, my stomach now in my toes with the speed. On the downward, I let go. The net winded me, my ribs stinging.

King Bluetooth's Blood Pressure Rises

2008-07-23T23:55:24Z

King Bluetooth was in a room with two huge maps, the army general, two servants, and three panting messengers.

“You! Fetch some water! I can’t stand the sound of them panting like dogs!” The King pointed at a servant who immediately bowed her head and scurried out.

A fourth messenger nearly knocked her down in his haste to enter the room.

“Your majesty! The fifth ring has been destroyed! A dragon blew fire over the slaves and the army camped there!” He nearly collapsed after saying this. The remaining servant and a fellow messenger carried him to a chair.

“No! It can’t be!” The King’s face went white. “The oracle said… but now? I’m not finished…I…No! It’s not time! General! How long is the ride to Fyrkat?”

“Several days, sir. Maybe a week, even if we switched horses every day.”

I might not have a week He thought. “Let’s meet
them halfway, at the second circle, Trelleborg.”

“Good strategy, Sire!” The General complimented a little too enthusiastically to be convincing. Then proposed his ideas.

Newborn (Welcome to Life challenge)

2008-07-23T01:23:33Z

Look at you! So wrinkly and silently snug in your blankie. What a rough start huh?

It’s just you and me. I’m not sure how I’m going to do this. Right now I feel as helpless and as tiny as you are.

The world is a big place, little one. And it’s full of people and things that could hurt you. But it’s also full of some beautiful sights and souls.

Seek out kindness, strive to help others. You’ll find happiness in this bloodthirsty world.

Don’t be afraid to love. It is your greatest gift.

You have so much potential! But don’t worry about making the most money, just do what you love. A lot of people go to college for a degree they never use.

I’m still young, for an adult. I will be growing and learning right along with you. That’s a little scary, but I promise never to make you pay for my mistakes.

Take care of your body, it’s the only one you have. Don’t eat the wrong things, don’t do drugs, and get regular check-ups! I want you to thrive in this world with me.

A little mouth opens in a big toothless yawn

Not the Olgoth Kira Remembers

2008-07-22T20:25:05Z

“Father! We need to talk!” Kira pleaded, his eyes shining. He couldn’t remember being this happy.

“Not now son. The ring your dragon attacked was only partially finished. And only one battalion was there. You need a strategy.”

“Come to my tent!” bellowed Perceval in his egotistical way.

Kira followed, but only because he didn’t want to be separated from his father. Olgoth walked with a slight limp from being dropped and he winced as his burns rubbed on his clothes.

Katra followed too. She couldn’t bear to be separated from Kira, much to his embarrassment, but she proved useful in getting water, salve, and bandages for Olgoth’s wounds.

Once he was properly bandaged, Olgoth began to draw in the dirt inside the tent. He drew the five rings, the coast, and where he’d overheard the armies were moving to camp.

Kira just stared at his father. He never knew how smart, and brave he was. He thought about how he must have had a loyal following for so many men to be willing to claim his name.

Who was this man?

Cheerleaders Are Not Weak! (Revenge Challenge)

2008-07-22T01:29:14Z

Mandy had never been dumped in her life! What was Jack thinking! She was the squad leader, had perfect hair, perfect legs, perfect.. well, you get the picture!

Jack was the obvious choice; quarterback, awesome car, perfect smile, perfect muscles. They had made out after every game, drove to the best spots to park and do the same.

It was just unreal! How could he fall for another girl?! How could he flash his perfect smile at that geek?

I saw his shiny sports car parked in his usual spot. I walked over and casually ran my key down the length of it. Then I circled to the other side and did the same, looking in the windows for signs of her. I saw something sticking out of the back seat. My ribbon! I wanted it! The windows were up, doors locked. I searched for something heavy. I found a piece of chipped concrete. Cheerleaders were not weak! I hefted it up to my shoulder and then through the back right window!

The alarm sounded. I quickly unlocked the door and retrieved my ribbon while classmates laughed!

Abandoned in a Crowd

2008-07-21T23:18:09Z

“KIRA!” A voice screamed and a blur of pale cotton and golden hair pushed past the crowd standing a few yards back and flew toward him.

She looked like she wanted to embrace him, but only grabbed his arm at the last moment. “Are you okay? I was so sure you were dead!”

He noticed her face had dusty tracks from fresh tears running down her cheeks.

“I’m fine. She can’t hurt me.”

“Oh Kira!” She cried and buried her face into his shoulder. He looked at Perceval like What do I do? and Perceval, the master at all things, just turned away.

Kira reached around with the arm not being soaked in tears and patted Katra on the shoulder, very lightly. “Please stop crying?” he begged.

Slowly she calmed herself and looked up at him through red, and yet adoring, eyes. “I couldn’t bear the thought of you…” She caught her breath to stop the tears from coming again, her face pinched and red with the effort.

“Katra. I.. I don’t think think it will be a problem.”

She stared at him a long moment, then kissed his cheek.

Cold Feet

2008-07-21T17:14:35Z

“Perceval? Are you sure we’re ready?” Kira took a break from riding Marduke as she hunted for her evening’s meal. He didn’t want to know what she ate.

“Lad, the time is right for us to move to the fortress and battle the King.”

“We don’t even know if he’s there!” protested Kira. He had been reflecting on his short week of training and felt very inadequate.

“Oh, son, he’ll be there! Trust me! And you’re ready, Kira, because Mardy is ready. She will take care of both of you!”

Sometimes Perceval’s confidence was contagious and inspired everyone. And sometimes it was just annoying. It was annoying now. Kira sighed and walked to the edge of the encampment. The horses grazed hungrily, not even bothering to look up at him.

He scanned the sky for Mardy, then doubly frustrated, he wandered through the tent city kicking rocks and sticks.

“Psst! Kira!” A loud whisper came from somewhere to his left. A slender hand beckoned from a tent flap. Curious, Kira walked into the lamp lit shelter.
“Katra!?!”

She giggled.

The Sanctity of Marriage (Diabolical Villain Challenge)

2008-07-20T00:00:45Z

I felt the sweat trickle down my back. It was hot here in the bushes, but my anger was hotter.

Soon I saw them, the pastor and his wife, coming out to their new sauna room. They claimed they won it on a game show, but that was as false as his puritan life.

Soon the steam filled the little box and I approached, unnoticed.

I pictured my daughter’s tear streaked face as she used the psychologist’s dolls to demonstrate what that Pastor had done to her.

I slammed the door open and evicted them from the sauna at gun point, both in their swimwear. I told them to quietly enter their house.

Once inside, the Pastor tried to talk me down. “You are troubled, Caleb. God knows whatever you’re going through, and..”

“Bedroom! Now!”

“Take whatever you want! Shoot us! It’s all just things of this world.” The wife was well-schooled.

“I’m not going to give you the satisfaction of death, no. Undress, woman! On the bed!”

“What?!”

“An eye for an eye, Pastor. Your sanctity of marriage for my daughter’s virginity.”

The Pale Man

2008-07-19T22:57:00Z

I’d been a butler for years at the Harrington residence. I was treated well, paid well, and quite enjoyed my job.

But lately, the house had changed. The couple had several summer and winter homes around the world and spent many weeks away now that the children had grown. Only the middle daughter, and most troubled of the three if you ask me, bothered to hang around. Often bringing males home and leaving a mess.

I was becoming bored. I watched TV for the first time in my life. I took up drinking with the cook and gardener on weekends.

It was just such a weekend that I had been in the guest house drinking when I saw headlights in the drive. I thought it might be the lord and lady of the house, so I attempted to enter the kitchen, but alas! I had locked my keys inside!

I slunk around the east wing of the house and spied the middle child with a date. Whew! They moved quickly towards the door, as it was raining. I pursued them, but the door was slammed and locked in my face!

Dripping, exasperated, I laughed.

Esbin Gets Nervous

2008-07-18T19:49:47Z

“Also, the eastern armies have moved up the coast northward and are attempting to fortify the western troops by crossing the fjord. It will take them two more days to reach the ring fortress. And no sign of Perceval fighting among the villagers.”

“Good. You are dismissed Messenger.” Esbin was trying to make sense of this news without looking confused. He couldn’t hold another memo in his brain!

“Esbin!” called the gruff voice of the Commander. Esbin jumped and maps slid to the floor.

“C-come in!” He cleared his throat as the burly, bearded viking ambled inside.

“Commander, I have news that…”
“Forget it!” interrupted the viking. “The dragon has been seen! It flies circles above an army wearing impenetrable armor, led by the rogue Knight Perceval!”
“Perceval!?!”
“They are marching on the fortress! And they grow in numbers through every village they cross!”
“Commander, we..”
“I know. They are tearing down camp as we speak. We move tonight! We’ll be coming up on their right flank from behind!”

Esbin's Army Days

2008-07-18T19:20:22Z

Esbin sat in his tent on several rugs piled atop the lumpy plains grass. It was still too hard.

He secretly despised the war. The thought of bloody bodies lying everywhere disgusted him. Yet the energy inside the army camp was invigorating. The efficiency with which they set up camps, dished out food, and even washed was satisfying and made him almost comfortable.

He sat looking over maps of the woods and foothills. His spies had told him they were training the dragon in a secret location somewhere. He was trying to guess where.

The problem was, however, that he did not have a mind for army strategy, but when the Commander came to his tent, he wanted to sound intelligent. He wanted to know the perfect spot for hiding a dragon and anticipate Perceval’s next move.

“Esbin, sir?” A voice called from outside.
“Come in!” Esbin tried to sound authoritative.
“The armies to the west have retreated, sir. They are encamped a day’s journey closer to the ring fortress than the original camp, with only 40 men left.”

Perceval's Offer

2008-07-17T17:18:01Z

“Allow me to introduce myself.” Perceval slid his sword point away from Marduke’s neck and the scales made a sword-sharpening ring as the blade left them.

“Whoa! Nice armor! I’m gonna need those scales! I am the Knight Perceval! I have fought in the Holy Wars, and lived to tell the tale! And..” his tone turned down-to-earth and less pompous. “I am as much against Blue-Britches as any other land holder out there.” He pointed out of the cave. “And I’m inviting you to personally train with me, and only me, as I am the best!”

“Do you have more apples?”
“Mardy!”
“What?”
“There are more important things here to think about!”
“Look, Kie, we know we’re going to fight, and we know which side we’re on, and we know we need training, and this guy just beat us with food! He could have killed us! We’re going to do it!”

Kira frowned at her, beaten at his own logic game. He was mostly frustrated with how immature he felt next to a three-month old dragon!

“We accept, Sir Perceval.” Kira said with a sigh.

“Fantastic!”

Agreement

2008-07-17T02:53:37Z

Kira and Marduke had been flying above the clouds that surrounded the mountaintops and had been practicing dives and turns. They had worked out a system of commands using pressure and touch.

Just yesterday a small band of men had found their cave.

They had shouted from below the cave entrance and gotten Kira’s attention. Once it was established they were commoners, not soldiers, they were allowed an audience with the escapees.

They told of the war on the coast, of how it was coming, of how the oracle and the witnesses had spread rumors of a dragon helping them overthrow the King. And they offered them safety and training in the foothills.

Kira and Marduke thought best when they were flying. So the next morning they thought as they stayed above the cloud cover.

“It’s our destiny to fight, Marduke. I know it is.”
“A dragon is only hatched when it is needed, Kie.” Marduke responded sagely.
“Stop doing that!”
“What?”
“Talking like you’re older than me!”
“A dragon is born with the wisdom of..”
“Aargh!”
“Fine”

The Tax Collector

2008-07-17T02:40:44Z

The Tax collector was not a simple-minded man. When he was summoned from the grueling work of carting dirt up to the height of sixteen feet, he thought he was being summoned to his death. He was feeling rather angry with the fickle King, who had imprisoned and enslaved him after years of faithful service.

Instead of being directed to the courts for a trial, he was told to wash and meet with Esbin Drey.

Confused, but relieved, he approached with cautious steps. “Sir?”

“Ah, yes, I have an assignment for you. The sea village commoners are quite rebellious. The King finds this distasteful. So he is prepared to offer them a reprieve from this seasons’ taxes. You are to deliver this message.”

He pondered his lucky break and crazy missive. The people wouldn’t care if the King never taxed them again, they had had enough!

When he reached the coastal villages, signs of war were everywhere. He stopped in a local tavern to get the story.

The fighting had moved inland, toward the mountains, and the legendary dragon.

A New Nest

2008-07-16T18:21:13Z

The journey to the mountains would have taken days on foot, but all too soon the snowy tops were right before the two escapees.

“Look for a cave!” Kira yelled into the wind.

They circled the snowy caps until Kira thought he was frozen to Mardy’s shoulders. His fingers were numb and blueish, but he couldn’t let go. She wasn’t always conscious of her rider every second of the flight. Kira had thought ahead and was wearing his heaviest coat and boots, but the farmland never got as cold as this!

When she spotted one, she dove and it was all Kira could do to lay almost flat against her back and lock his legs and feet tightly around her neck.

The cave was big enough that Mardy could stand inside, but tapered down to a small alcove where Kira could lay out of the wind.

He clumsily unrolled his bedding on the floor and asked Mardy to lay as close as possible. She was beginning to produce her own inner warmth, the makings of her fire breath, and so the small space in the back of the cave soon became comfortable.