Tanuchan

The Devar-Tete-Whye rushes on, mindless of what happens in its banks; the waters roll and swirl, taking with them the murmurs and the tears dropped in its current, sweeping them towards an unseen destiny. The soft sound of the river comes soothing, to those who have ears to listen. A wisp of consciousness drifts from the waters, love driving it out from the place it had chosen to merge into. Life pulling it into its embrace once again, the coolness and forgetfulness of healing waters left behind if only for a moment. It floats over the water for some seconds, not in doubt nor in fear, but to collect strength from the waters loved in life and chosen as death took her. Strands of memory weave themselves around the core of the spirit, the first wisp of conciousness now bearing also a strong yet subtle purpose. Zeldon stared at the corpse in his arms, not really seeing, not even really feeling. Images of Taleena filled his mind, the sound of her laughter, the brightness of her tender spirit that involved her in the simplest of tasks. He felt someone touching his shoulders, a part of his mind heard sounds that he knew formed his name. Still, he clutched his wife's body against him, lost in his memories to escape the darkness he knew was lurking just at the edge of his mind. Darkness is sensed, and at its core the chaos that is the result of the broken Beams. The wisp of consciouness and memory that was once Taleena reaches out, bringing with her the essence of water. It blankets the darkness, shredding its threads, mixing them to the bright pulse of what was, and would always be, Zeldon's strength. Zeldon's mind cleared little by little, and though he never let go completely of Taleena's mangled body, he let hands help him. His feverish eyes subsided little by little, touched by some healing coolness that came from some place deep within him. He closed his eyes, letting that intangible touch involve him and guide him through the dark clouds. He knew then that he had to live. For Taleena, sweet Talleena - their children, their love, her love.

Welcome back, Justin! Glad to see you around once again!

charity

Taleena listened to the news with numb feelings. Tian... then my Luke... now poor Bene... She closed her eyes, turning her face and trying to not start crying again. Her hand went protectively over her belly, and she concentrated on those two lives she was carrying. She heard Zeldon talking to the triplets, received his kiss, but kept to bed for long minutes more. The voices of the children came through the window - a sure sign that they'd either already eaten, or had escaped Zeldon to play before eating. Taleena smiled briefly. She forced herself to get up, and avoided the window on purpose - she didn't want to look at the tree. A slow pain came, and another echoed in her heart. She breathed slowly, until the first, physical pain, went away. No, it's too early... it's just because of the wolves... . She made a mental note to talk to the doctor later. She couldn't do much about the second pain. Losing Luke had been a shock to her, and Zeldon's inability to show his feelings had made her feel strangely lonely. She knew their love was there, but she missed the opening of hearts that she had always had with her brother. Zeldon could be extremely tender and protective, and that made her feel good... but she missed the intimacy of whispered words. By the time she checked again on the children, Johnny was already there and told her that Zeldon had left, towards Father Callahan's. Taleena nodded, and while caring for the triplets with Johnny's help, she let her mind wander. Who is helping the wolves to kill? Who would do it... who would hate us so? She remembered scenes and words... she remembered Travis again, kneeling in front of Roland. Would he want to just leave us because he doesn't feel loved in here... or because he doesn't want to face what is being done? Then, again... there were other, silent people who could easily go unnoticed. Her thoughts came to the Manni again. Would she dare to talk to them? She knew they were travelers of distant wheres and whens. Maybe they could help somehow... Or would they buy protection by betraying us? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ OOC: vote for Panther/Freedrick

Thanks to Mithrandin for writing with me ~~~~~~~~ Taleena's sleep was restless, too often interrupted by soft crying that she tried to hide from Zeldon. At last she stared at his sleeping form, and silently left their bed. Heedless of danger, she opened the door and went to the river. A gentle breeze played with her loose hair, and she closed her eyes. Memories came - memories of Taleah and her laughter, her cries while being dragged away by the wolves. Of Luke and Duke, her baby brothers. Of Duke returned roont. Of Luke and herself sharing childhood and growing up as close as twins. Of Luke's body hanging from the tree. She hugged herself, suddenly tired. The soft singing of the river got louder and louder in her ears, and she let it fill her mind. She took some paces towards the river, not thinking, not listening beyond the soothing sound. Zeldon surprised Taleena with his heavy footsteps on his approach. Covering her shoulders with his work jacket and wrapping arms around her, he turns her towards home.“You know it’s not safe to walk outside nowadays at this time.” Hell not at any time so it seems… Dawn was already tinting the sky when Taleena came to her senses in Zeldon's arms, feeling his heart racing in fear. The unborn babies also seemed restless, and her breath caught as a tiny foot kicked her stomach hard. She touched her husband's face, unable to find words and just shaking her head. "I am alright, Zeldon. I just needed some air." She let him lead her home, and was grateful when he tucked her into bed again. Luke... baby, what have we done to you? Zeldon kissed Taleena forehead. “I’ll check on the fish and be back in time to help you with the kids.” She heard Zeldon walking around the house, and then leaving. She knew there was work to be done and that Zeldon would be back in a couple hours. Johnny would be arriving by that time to help with the triplets, who would by then be widely awake and demanding breakfast. Taleena slowly drifted into sleep, just to be awoken by Zeldon's sudden arrival with news on Bene'sdeath.

ego

... drunk

water

Taleena closed her eyes, and willed herself to calm down. The unborn twins kicked hard, and she knew they had sensed her distress. Quiet, quiet, little ones... hush, there is nothing you have to worry about... Zeldon's hand was there, supporting her, and she whispered to her husband. "Tian Jaffords... why? Because he dared to try to save all babbies instead of only one of each pair? Who can be as cruel as to want to condemn half the children in the Calla?" She felt her heart constrict as she thought of her triplets, and it was with an effort that she focused on her husband's words. "Cruel people will do many things to protect their own... including sacrificing their neighbor's. Or maybe even desperate people. But I hope that Tian's death wasn't meaningless." He stared at Roland and his ka-tet. Taleena let her eyes wander around the crowd - people she had known for most of her life, if not all of it. She tried to guess who would have any motivation to want to help the Wolves. But hard as she tried, she couldn't see anyone who would be an informant. People she didn't like, people that had had trouble with her father - those, yes. The petty squabble common to any village. But... killing children? Her eyes rested on some people that kept to themselves, talking quietly. Blue cloaks covered most of them. Surely not one of the Manni... they set themselves apart... but they suffer too... She caught sight of a familiar sullen face. Travis. Not an agreeable one... but he lost his twin. Would he...? Just because the town whispers that the wolves would have better taken him instead of his brother? "Don't try to guess, Taleena. We will just go insane if we see traitors everywhere." Zeldon's strong arm wrapped around her protectively. She sighed, and again let her eyes wander over the crowd - this time looking for Luke. Where is he? ~~~~~~~~ OOC: vote for Finnius/Luke. Sorry, dear "brother"... just randomness here, I know you understand it

First of all, welcome to The Pen, LilacFlame For the lack of comments so far, Alaeha put it very well: sometimes we take time to answer... or some of us read, but for one reason or another just don't know how/what to answer even when we like a poem. So don't feel ignored or discouraged! I admire your work with rhymes, since I am quite the opposite to you - I am unable to work in rhyme, and the amount of work/energy that I need to force myself to do it usually ends up in just killing my Muse completely... Don't trust too much my evaluation on rhymed work - however, I tend to agree with Alaeha that a variation in the rhyme structure within each stanza might add some freshness to it. What I mean is just that the excessive repetion might lead to dullness, and thus divert the attention from the poem per se to just the amount of repeated sounds. I like the way you told the story, focusing on the feelings of the girl. A small thing that I noticed, while I was reading your poem, is that last verse seems a syllable or so short ... I stumbled in the rhythm. However, I'm a free-verse poet so it might just be the way I read your poem, nothing else. Other people can give you more qualified feedback *if* that is what you're looking for:). (Also, I couldn't help but notice some minor typos/mistakes (e.g. loves/love's or it's/its)... if you wish, I can post or PM them to you if the feedback you ask includes this kind of comments.) Again, nice to see one more poet around. Hope you come to feel at home around us!

dress (sorry if it's repeated - haven't followed this for a long time)

To clarify two points, that I forgot to post... Taleena is *very* pregnant - how close to her time is something I haven't decided yet, it'll mainly depend on how the story/RP goes... but anyone interacting with her can suppose around the 8th month of pregnacy at least. Johnny/Savage Dragon helps with the triplets in a regular basis, spending some time at the Clearwaters' every day or couple days.

Taleena winced slightly at the strength with which Zeldon grabbed her arm, what made him immediately loosen the grasp with a quick, apologetic glance. Roland looked at both her and her husband, and then at their children. She felt goosebumps as she stared for a second into the gunslinger's incredibly blue eyes, feeling that in some way ka was at work. "May you have twice the number, sai Clearwater". Roland nodded at Zaldon, then turned to the others who were approaching. As Freedrick exchanged some words with the gunslinger, she discreetly left for the house following Zaldon - who just stopped to invite Tam for some tea. She smiled, for she liked silent Tam though sometimes his sudden sullenness when confronted with writing scared her. A voice coming from the direction of the ka-tet called her attention, and she turned just in time to see Travis kneeling to Roland. She frowned, but waved again to Tam who was looking suddenly unsure. "Yes, I have cookies and that tea you like, Tam. Come!" She turned to Johnny, waving to him also. "Johnny! Come in too, these little imps have abused you long enough already!" She put Íris on the ground, and both her and her sister immediately ran to grab Johnny's legs, babbling happily about the "dog" they'd seen and the nice cookies their mom had baked. She smiled at then while walking past them, but in seconds her face clouded. And the wolves are coming... for my babbies... . "Don't." Her husband's voice was soft at her side, and the love in that made her want to both cry and smile. "They..." "Hush. Maybe... if they are who Tian Jaffords claim, who the Old Fella claims... I've heard stories." "All of us have." She blinked tears away, and distractedly rubbed her aching back with one hand. "Do you think we dare to hope...?" "Maybe." He rubbed Taleena's back gently while they walked towards the house, the voices of Travis and Roland becoming just noises in the background. Taleena served tea and cookies to Johnny and Tam, keeping an eye on the triplets who sat happily on a corner chewing their own share of cookies. She followed the conversation silently, here and there nodding at something Zaldon said. More than once her hand rested on her belly, feeling the movements of the babies in there, waiting to be born. Maybe to a Calla without wolves...? She dared to hope. In spite of everything, what she saw in the gunslinger's blue eyes had given her hope. She ached to share that with Zaldon, but that would have to wait until they were alone.

Taleena observed the group that approached Calla Bryn Sturgis with a frown of aprehension. The Old Fella seemed satisfied, or so she deemed, while it was clear that sai Overhouser wasn't in a too good mood. Zeldon wrapped an arm around her sholders, and she felt better for his protection. Her eyes strayed to their chidren - Osiris was playing with a small carved horse given to him by Luke, and the girls were intent on dragging Johnny Drumwoode to some mischief. Suddenly, to Taleena's horror, she saw Iris clapping her hands and heard Diris delightful laughter, and both girls ran towards the approaching ka-tet. Or, to be more exact, to the billy-bumbler that walked beside the boy. "Iris! Diris! No!" She ran and caught Iris just as she stumbled, and her stern voiced managed to stop Diris. Then Taleena blushed, for she was just a couple steps from Roland. "Sorry, gunslinger," she said. "Long days and pleasant nights. I'm Taleena Clearwater, and these are my daughters Iris and Diris." She made a curtsey, spreading invisible skirts. Zeldon rested a hand on Taleena's arm, holding Osiris. "Zeldon Clearwater. Taleena is my wife, and this is our boy Osiris. Long days and pleasant nights, gunslinger."

Just to add a quick note - if any of the players who haven't read the book need a bit of help, I volunteer for answering any questions in post or PM (c/c Mynx)... I'm relatively around and might answer a bit faster than Mynxie due to timezone difference . I'll post something later.

Welcome back, Sabre. I've enjoyed reading your poetry in the past, so I'm glad for your wish to share them with us again.

Number 7 for me, please

I'd like to try, but lately I'm quite unreliable when it comes to deadlines since RL has been a tad too demanding on "time" questions... if you don't mind that, I'll do my best. Question: does it have to be a short story, or can be it a poem?

Tanny As a wolf - went for one tacklehug too much, not noticing her vict...erm... new friend was a fire elemental (and that wolves aren't fireproof). As a tanuki - left her tail dangling from the tree branch she was sleeping on and got mistaken for a coonskin cap by the Horned Demon who inhabited the nearest cave. Got impaled in its horns.

Just wanted to add a couple links here, with some info on the settting... Warning for those who haven't read the book - it contains spoilers!! http://www.thedarktower.net/wiki/Main/WolvesOfTheCalla http://www.thedarktower.net/wiki/Main/Terminology Also, to clarify something (Mynx, I hope you don't mind my adding info... a couple people have asked me about it...) One of each pair of twins between ages 3 and right before puberty are taken by the Wolves each generation or so (23-24 years).

Patrick: they can be of different genders, it's only chance so far that all our characters have had same-gender twins Mmm... actually, Mith's character has a roont sister, Zelda - he should be posting his info later today/tomorrow. Savage: nice character! Never mind the exotic names, it happened that I had mine in mind for some other purpose, and a bit of searching in those 'baby-names' sites gave me the name of the sister. The children's names came up in a converstation with Mithrandin. If you don't find a love interest or someone to adopt you in a spare room (or even if you do), maybe you want to spend some time every now and then to help Taleena with the triplets? She is in a rather advanced pregnancy, so she'd need some help . PM me if you're interested! (Well, you or anyone else ).

Can still be edited for more info . Thanks Mynx, for allowing the triplets instead of twins! Taleena Clearwater, 28. Twin sister: Taleah, died a couple months ago. Taleena has been married to Zeldon Clearwater* (37) for 4 years, and they have triplets - 2 girls (Iris and Diris) and a boy (Osiris), aged 3. She is pregnant again, and she's also a skillful Oriza thrower. She loves her husband dearly, and they have a happy marriage. They live in a smallhold by the river (Devar-Tete Whye), and breed fish. She has a sweet temper that can become rather fierce when irritated, and the stubbornness of the Carpenters is still visible in this. Taleena has a younger brother, Luke**, who is slightly jealous of her husband but who otherwise keeps visiting her. She still feels very close to him, and not even her husband's mild annoyance towards Luke's ways stops her being somewhat overprotective of him. *: played by Mithrandin **: played by Finnius

I'm in, say the gods thankya Character midway to coming - will have to check it with you, Mynxie! (You were stricter than I thought, but I see a way out for my idea... PM you later, no time right now).

I am as much disgusted/disapponted by what I see in this thread as NightFae and Whisky. Sincerely, I don't like politics and religion discussions because of their high flammability. I don't like seeing them around at The Pen because if something is prone to start a flame war, it is that - because it has been posted in *public* areas. Were this thread been posted in the Courtyard from the beginning (of course, supposing it had been accessible to Whisky), I would just skip it because of my personal dislike to those discussions. It is just not in my comfort zone to talk about those unless with people I consider close friends. But here in the Cabaret, where anyone can see it and post once registered - I don't consider it completely appropriate. Though, as others said, we are all mostly adults here and I hope it would end up self-moderated by the Pen members as a whole. As for Whisky's intent - I appreciate that, and I think it showed he trusted the Pen membership so share their opinions in a moderate, non-offensive way. But again, his intent would be better answered in an area where many members would be more comfortable about showing their personal thoughts - as I said, internal areas. Of course that is on the premise Whisky felt comfortable enough to apply to us... and I hope it comes to that, yet . Mm... sorry if my thoughts came up disjointed... I'm not really comfortable talking about this in public, but I do think some things in this thread have gone too far.

1. adjective - sweet 2. verb - skydive 3. noun - dragon 4. body part - throat 5. verb - cast 6. body part - finger 7. emotion - frustration 8. adjective - bright 9. noun - speaker 10. noun - dandelion 11. pronoun - we 12. emotion - anticipation 13. adjective - snowy 14. adjective - edgy 15. body part - ear 16. verb - hop 17. noun - window 18. verb - translate 19. body part - thigh 20. emotion - joy 21. verb - hug