Jazmee27 
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It's happened again: "The Woodland" cannot be added to without it sounding "stupid" [such is the pattern]
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Reply #1361. Jun 29 12, 7:37 PM
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Jazmee27
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ONE OF THESE DAYS, PERHAPS CERTAIN DETAILS OF ALL MY DRAFTS WILL COME TOGETHER [I did add a bit to it, which is good]
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Alonso strained his ears for the slightest sound, but there was nothing, not even the chirp of a bird as it flitted from tree to tree. He gazed around uneasily, noting the silent creatures who inhabited the woodland. THEY’RE ONLY QUIET WHEN THE PREDATOR STALKS, he thought, unable to suppress a shudder. “Are we almost there,” he asked quietly, hoping his voice was level enough to mask the fear pulsing through his veins like a poison.
“Should be,” his identical twin answered, blue eyes narrowed in concentration. Did he sense the danger, or was he merely puzzled they hadn’t reached their destination yet? Alonso kept his unease to himself, quickening his steps so he wouldn’t lose sight of Ontario.
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Reply #1362. Jun 29 12, 7:40 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
A bruptly, he stopped, and Alonso nearly ran into him. “The trail,” he muttered, showing the first sign that he, too, was disturbed by the intense silence.
“What about it,” Alonso demanded, no longer trying to hide the alarm he’d felt for the past fifteen minutes.
“I can’t see it anymore,” Ontario answered quietly, as if afraid that speaking louder would bring danger crashing down upon the two of them. His gaze shifted around nervously, his fists clenching and unclenching in an unconscious display of nerves.
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Reply #1363. Jun 29 12, 7:40 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
“We shouldn’t have strayed from the others,” Alonso hissed, lowering his own voice.
“I told you, it was Maria who suggested we remove ourselves someplace quiet, so we could practice,” his brother explained. “She even gave instructions, said to follow the path—“ His head jerked up at some sound only he could hear. “Trust the enemy,” he muttered darkly, taking a step in front and to the right of Alonso.
“What am I to do,” Alonso whispered.
“Don’t move,” Ontario answered, his penetrating blue eyes fixed straight ahead on what appeared to be the ugliest bush he’d ever seen. He watched, heart in mouth, as his twin took another step forward, then yet another to the right, until his hand was level with the strange vegetation. WHAT IS HE DOING? Alonso wondered.
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Reply #1364. Jun 29 12, 7:41 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
Maria Mathiesen whirled around as if at some sign only she could read. “It’s all gone wrong,” she murmured.
Cheveyo moved up to stand beside her. “They knew,” he said simply, staring off into the distance.
Behind them, Devlyn ground his teeth in frustration. Those two were infuriating, he thought, nothing either one said making an iota of sense.
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Reply #1365. Jun 29 12, 7:42 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
“There’s no time,” Cheveyo exclaimed as if reading his thoughts. Devlyn sighed in exasperation. Why did his older brother constantly have to stick his nose in everyone else’s problems? Why did he always snoop through his sibling’s mind all the time? Did he not know the meaning of the word respect? “Of course I do,” Cheveyo hissed so that only he could hear. “Maybe one of these days you’ll be appreciative of my ‘meddling.”’ I doubt it, Devlyn thought sourly, feeling a surge of elation at the brief flicker of pain that flashed across his brother’s features. Servves him right!
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Reply #1366. Jun 29 12, 7:42 PM
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Jazmee27
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ANOTHER DRAFT OF "END OF THE ROAD" JOINS THE ARCHIVES OF INCOMPLETE
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Anastasia slid between the crisp sheets and sighed in contentment.
“Enjoy yourself,” someone asked from the other bed.
“When did you get in,” the seven-year-old asked her twin sister.
“Just now,” Anja replied.
“So how was your evening,” Anastasia asked curiously.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” her sister said, laughing, “I asked you first.”
Anastasia smiled. “So you did.” She hesitated as memories of the evening flooded her mind. “Yes, I had a lovely time,” she sighed. “First, he took me to dinner at this quaint little restaurant across town, and then we went for this leisurely stroll…” her voice trailed off tiredly.
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Reply #1367. Jun 29 12, 7:45 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
“You just like to bait me,” her twin complained.
Anastasia’s brown eyes widened in mock shock. “Now WHY would I do that, when hurting your feelings is the same as hurting my own?”
“I don’t know, but you still do it.”
“As if YOU don’t dish it out yourself,” she muttered.
Anja flopped down on her bed, dissolving into giggles. “We are twins, are we not?” Anastasia couldn’t suppress a grin of her own as she yawned once more. It HAD been a good day.
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Reply #1368. Jun 29 12, 7:46 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
“It’s about time you got something good from life,” Ontario commented as he leaned casually against the wall.
“I guess good things really do come to those who wait,” Alonso replied, his crystal blue eyes surveying his identical twin for a second before asking, “you’re sure you can’t sit down, not even for a second?”
“I don’t think so,” the nine-year-old said regretfully, turning the knob around and around in his fingers, “work to do.”
“That’s always the excuse you use,” Alonso exclaimed.
“Yes, I know,” his brother stated in a bored voice, “I work too hard.” He paused, then added, “perhaps you should try it sometime.”
“Yeah, the day you learn to relax,” the other boy shot back. He watched, torn between exasperation and regret, as his twin threw open the door and stormed off to his own dorm. Little did they know, but danger waited just around the corner, taking in the entire scene.
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Reply #1369. Jun 29 12, 7:46 PM
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Jazmee27
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“I’m amazed you didn’t mess it up yet,” Fergus hissed.
“What do you mean,” Lachlainn demanded, “I was being careful!”
“Oh, yes,” the eleven-year-old sneered, “skulking around the target’s room while that nosy brother of his was about!”
“Will you lay off,” the seventeen-year-old grated. “He didn’t see me, and is gone now. Why wait a moment longer?”
“Just to be safe.” Fergus was half tempted to grab his older brother and shake him, so annoying could he be at times. If something happened to spoil their plans, the younger boy thought angrily, it was likely to be due to Lachlainn’s bumbling stupidity.
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Reply #1370. Jun 29 12, 7:47 PM
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Jazmee27
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Lachlainn drew out his breath. His younger brother meant well, and maybe he’d had even spared his life a time or two. Still--
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Reply #1371. Jun 29 12, 7:48 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
Anja slid into bed and lay, stiffly, wondering how long it would take for her sister to drift off. Part of her felt bad about the deception, but she convinced herself it really was necessary in order to protect her twin from the shock that was coming. That was, if her insight vision of earlier were true. I SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER, Anja thought. Ah, well, it didn’t really matter. If only she could prevent the Dark from scoring another victory. “Perhaps I should at least go to Ontario,” she mused.
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Reply #1372. Jun 29 12, 7:48 PM
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Jazmee27
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Ontario surveyed his reflection in the mirror, noting the lines of worry around his eyes. IT’S A WONDER ALONSO DIDN’T NOTICE, he thought sourly. “Maybe,” a soft mind voice suggested, “you were able to hide your concern until you were no longer around him.” The nine-year-old gave a startled yelp, not unlike an injured animal, and reached up to clasp his head in both hands. “Sorry,” the voice continued, “didn’t mean to scare you.”
Ontario gave himself a few seconds to calm down before he tapped into his own magical energies. “Who’s that,” he demanded, “and what do you want?”
“The same thing you do, and it’s Anja Godunov.” The nine-year-old felt his eyes widen in surprise. Anja? “You had an Insight Vision earlier,” she continued, “one similar to my own.”
“You kept me from losing composure around Alonso,” he hazarded, knowing instinctively he was at least half right.
“I saw no reason to worry him—or my sister. They seem unaware of any ill feeling.”
“Why are we so lucky,” he muttered.
“I’ve been asking myself the same question,” she replied.
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Reply #1373. Jun 29 12, 7:49 PM
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Jazmee27
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He took in the room for a few moments, then asked, “where are you?”
“I was pretending to sleep, but then Anastasia drifted off, so I snuck out. I thought, if it was all right, I’d come over and we could figure something out.”
He tensed suddenly, only half aware why, and strode to the door. “I’m on my way out,” he said shakily, trying to fight down a surge of panic. “I’ll meet you.”
“What’s happening,” she asked, not expecting an answer. “Protector help us,” she implored as she quickened her own steps.
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Reply #1374. Jun 29 12, 7:50 PM
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Jazmee27
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Fergus caught up with Lachlainn just outside Alonso’s door. “Use the resources available to you,” he pleaded.
“If you’d rather not help, fine, but don’t be a hindrance,” his older brother hissed out of the corner of his mouth.
The eleven-year-old swallowed nervously. “You know I’m in,” he said. “I want to see this family go down as much as you.”
“Then, act like it,” Lachlainn retorted, striding easily into the room.
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Reply #1375. Jun 29 12, 7:51 PM
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Jazmee27
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“Place is dark,” he muttered gleefully. “That’s good, makes it easier to work.” He pointed to the bed, where the nine-year-old lay sleeping. “Probably exhausted. Also makes it easier for us.” He touched his younger brother’s arm and squeezed gently. “You think you could use magic to silence any noise he might make.”
“I’ll do better than that,” Fergus replied. “I’ll make sure NONE of us does anything to call attention to ourselves.”
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Reply #1376. Jun 29 12, 7:52 PM
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Jazmee27
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Anja turned at a sound from Ontario, like a choked gasp. “Here,” she exclaimed, pushing a chair under him as he slumped over. It didn’t even occur to her to wonder why it was that a chair came to be in the hallway. Sometimes, stuff just appeared when it was most needed.
The nine-year-old held on to the arms of the chair like a lifeline. “Thanks,” he gasped when he could use his voice. He knew the young girl hovering next to him had questions, but he was reluctant to answer them when he didn’t understand what was happening any more than she. EXCEPT THAT ALONSO’S IN TROUBLE, AND I’M SUFFERING SYMPTOMS EMANATING FROM THE TWIN CONNECTION. He tried to take slow, calming breaths, but it was hard to do with his mind reeling the way it was. NOT TO MENTION MY CHEST FEELS AS IF SOMEONE’S SQUEEZING IT, he thought wildly.
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Reply #1377. Jun 29 12, 7:53 PM
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Jazmee27
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As if reading his thoughts, Anja laid a gentle hand on his arm and held out a small brown capsule. “This might help,” she suggested. After a moment’s examination, he shook his head, and she nodded thoughtfully. “Then again,” she muttered to herself, “I didn’t really think so.” She pursed her lips, then went around to the back of the chair, then around the other side to the front. Almost without realizing what she was doing, she reached out and trailed her fingers across his forehead, feeling how warm the skin was. "Raemahtosiyra,” she whispered, breathing a sigh of relief as his expression cleared.
Ontario clasped her small hand in his larger one. “Thank you,” he murmured.
“That’s what I’m here for,” she answered, straightening as best she could while he yet held her hand.
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Reply #1378. Jun 29 12, 7:54 PM
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Jazmee27
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Anastasia burrowed deeper in the covers, whimpering softly. A part of her knew something was wrong, that she must get up, but she was too tired to move. LET ME SLEEP, she thought wearily.
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Reply #1379. Jun 29 12, 7:54 PM
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Jazmee27
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======
He wasn’t quite sure what had woken him, but there he was, fully alert, blood pounding in his ears, fingers acting in the ways that would activate his fledgling Powers. The magic responded to his unspoken command, and there was a momentary change in atmosphere as whoever was attacking him stumbled backward. Then he felt a tug on his arm, heard an involuntary gasp [his own], and slumped against his pillow, fighting against the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes. A second later, he saw a flash of bright light and felt an explosion of pain the likes of which he hadn’t experienced for some years. NO, he thought numbly, NOT AGAIN. He felt himself slipping from the conscious Universe, knew there was nothing he could do about it. His last thought, before blackness swallowed him, was a plea that his brother remain safe from the same Darkness that had claimed him.
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Reply #1380. Jun 29 12, 7:56 PM
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