“Escape from Ackerley” a collaborative story
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@joelle-stone I was assuming that it’s summer, but I don’t actually know. There’s no snow, at least.
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Limping along on three legs, my wings folded, I started to follow the others. . . then stopped short, vaguely noticing that the fox — I was pretty sure that her name was Farley — had as well. Something felt. . . out of place.
It’s just that you’re completely without the pack for the first time, I mentally reasoned, trying to chase the feeling away. It’s probably nothing.
The feeling persisted.
I mentally shook my head, and started forward again. I knew that I could ignore the odd sensation if I put my mind to it.
It wasn’t that I had anything against gut feelings — I’d simply been taught not to trust them when there were other individuals around, trustworthy individuals, who didn’t appear to be having the same issue.
I trusted Akaya’s judgment more than my own, and since she didn’t seem to be having a problem, that meant that my odd feeling was simply the result of frazzled, hyperactive nerves, and nothing more.
Forcing back the creeping suspicion, I followed Akaya, Farley a few steps ahead of me.
Hwæt! Wē Gār-Dena in geār-dagum, pēod-cyninga, prym gefrūnon, hū õā æpelingas ellen fremedon!
We could say it’s mid-autumn. *shrugs*
Akaya led the way with Farley at her tail. Silent limped along behind with the hedgehog waddling quickly after. Farley could smell the unease in the air. She could hear the difference in the way they moved. Stiff and jumpy instead slow and soft. She saw Akaya’s ears swivel this way and that, searching out the source of danger, and in a moment she realized she was doing the same thing. Farley’s tail swished uneasily along the ground. Her spine and back legs where tense and ready to launch her forward at any sign of danger.
turn back turn back turn back turn back turn back
The voice in her head chanted.
turn back turn back…
Farley shook her head. “No” she growled out loud. But why? Why not? Because of Akaya. For the first time she didn’t want to be alone.
Beautiful things don't ask for attention
I’m for late summer (otherwise Ash would lose his antlers pretty soon). Will right an intro as soon as possible.
Here goes another one of my posts!
Faith waddled as fast as her little hedgehog legs would let her. To get down the rocks she decided to roll into a ball and just roll down. “That should be faster right?” Faith thought to herself. Even though she was going as fast as she could she got far behind the others. “I’m going to have to ask for a lift. I’m scared of the flying thing (for she still didn’t understand what she was) and Ferguson is still to close to my enemy, so that leaves me with Farley or Akaya.” Quickly she made up her mind because she was falling farther and farther behind. “Farley! This is Faith the hedgehog calling you from the very back! Can you come pick me up because I’m falling behind, and I can’t keep up!”
Ok, I’ve never written anything like this before, so let’s see how this goes…
The river was a wide swath of clear, shallow water rippling gently like silk in a breeze. At least, it had been clear. And it had been shallow. And it had rippled gently. Now it was a torrent of fast currents and liquid muddied from the rockslide. The cliffs all around had shed their stones like snakeskin, and the drinking-place at the river was full of new rapids.
Ash didn’t bother drinking. No doubt the water was poisoned now. What had happened? First the earth had growled like an angry bear, then it had shook so violently Ash could hardly keep his long legs from buckling, and then it had ripped open in several places. Even now the ground occasionally moved, and Ash decided being by the river was not the safest place.
His sister, Cedar, had barely survived the onslaught with her fawn, Ivy. Cedar’s mate, Rye, had abandoned her for “high-spirited adventure in the mountains” in late spring, just after Ivy was born. Ash hated him for it, and hoped to never see him around Cedar again, or they might get into a big fight that Cedar would not be pleased with.
He dipped his head and caught a glimpse of his reflection. Yes, he had a large set of antlers this year, thanks to the good feeding. The does had definitely been attracted. But Ash had a reputation for the meanest fighter around, and he was determined not to mate unless another buck was after the doe and he could beat him soundly for her. On the other hand, he might never mate at all. Who wanted to be tied down like that? Then again, he was already tied down.
He looked to his left, where Ivy huddled by her mother. Cedar and his niece were his family now. He’d see them safe through the winter until Cedar obtained another mate, then maybe he could have the pleasure of tracking Rye down and teaching him a lesson.
Cedar was a pretty doe, sleek and graceful, and she had retained a few of her fawn spots on her rump. She’d been all to eager to accept Rye’s courtship and offer of mating, and it had cost her. Hopefully she’d be more careful next spring.
Ash stiffened, large ears swiveling. Ivy gave a cry of terror and Cedar bounded away with her. No wonder.
Ash turned away from the river, large bracket of antlers lowered. Unlike Rye, he would fight to the death to let his sister and niece get away. A scent filled his nose, and he fought the urge to escape up the steepest slope he could find.
Wolf.
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So there it is! Hopefully that works with y’all… 🙂 @jasmine @crazywriter @birds-rock @rebekah12
OH….MY…..GOSH!!!! That was AWESOME Kinnan! (May i call you that on here?) i think Ash and Faith will get along swell!
Yay, glad you liked it! And sure, you can call me Kinnan. 🙂 Or Joelle. It’s up to you! 😀 Hm, a buck and a hedgehog as best buddies. I like it! Although… hm…. will have to think on this…
Ha ha ha, this is so fun!!! Sorry I keep saying that.😛
“Farley! This is Faith the hedgehog calling you from the very back! Can you come pick me up because I’m falling behind, and I can’t keep up!” Called the hedgehog waddling desperately after. Farley flinched, remembering the quills still lodged in her side. “Um, … sure.” She said turning around. She crouched next to Faith and allowed her to climb up her tail and onto her back. “Please be careful” Farley said, thankful that hedgehogs didn’t have quills on there undersides.
Once Faith was firmly situated between Farley’s shoulder blades and holding onto the fur on the back of her neck, Farley trotted up and caught up to Akaya. She tried to walk smoothly so she wouldn’t jostle Faith, but found it harder and harder as the terrain became more rough. There where more fell trees, more and bigger places where the earth had split. And on top of that, the mounting feeling of dread was growing worse and she was trying not to whip her head around at the smallest sound. Instead, her ears where swiveling in all directions and her nose was constantly twitching in search of the cause of alarm.
Soon, they broke into a clearing and the river was in sight. Farley froze, her head went down, and her hackles rose. She felt Faith’s paws tighten on her fur, and she realized she was growling. She stoped and glanced at Akaya who was sniffing the air with one paw mid air as if she had froze mid-step.
TURN AROUND
The voice in Farley’s head screamed. The ground shook.
Beautiful things don't ask for attention
FAITH CAN RIDE IN ASH’S ANTLERS!!!!! How cool would that look?!? 😛
Excellent post! I will try to write another one as soon as I can.
@birds-rock (again),Can we talk tomorrow on the Guardians doc at like, IDK, 3 or something? I want to make sure you know something about Ash…
I can’t be on tomorrow. It is my super busy day. Maybe Tues? at 3 should work though on Tues.
Nope, Tuesday doesn’t work. 🙁 How about Friday? Or I can just tell y’all. But that will ruin things… :/
@everybody else,
I’m not trying to leave you guys out, but since BR mentioned Faith and Ash becoming friends, it’s important for her to know this. Otherwise it relies on you guys not knowing about it. Sorry!! Maybe I should just tell you. :/ Argh, this is so hard!! Hopefully y’all aren’t offended. 🙁
How about we just do today at 3 like you originally wanted. I can make the time. 😀
Ok, works for me! 🙂 I’ll try to keep it short. 🙂
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