Sketchpages; INSTALLMENT #11

man, have i sucked at posting at this blog or HAVE I SUCKED. I've been doing a pretty crappy job, even i gotta admit that :P just got my laptop at school, so ill be able to access a computer more easily now. anyways, heres installment #11.

Fauna thanked me and held out her hand to shake.

"We can start right there. We use body language, too. Normally, you would give me a high-five, not a handshake." I showed them how to do it. Then I had an idea.

"While I'm teaching you how to talk like me, could you guys teach me how to act like you?"

Jay and Fauna nodded and gave me high-fives. I looked at Flora. 

"Anything you want to know or anything?

Flora shook her head, then beckoned for me to come closer. I crawled over to her sleeping bag. Then she whispered into my ear, 

"I don't need anything, but I can teach you how to talk to birds. If you want. It will help you. And I think it will work both here and at your home."

Astonished, I stared at her. 

"You can talk to birds???"

Flora nodded. 

"It's easy, all you need is one simple thing."

She was about to tell me when a loud chirp came from my sleeping bag. And another. Frost trotted over and started whining and looking at me, kneading his paws on the sleeping bag. 

'The weird-smelling bird is hungry! I think! It tried biting my nose.'

I hurried over, Flora behind me. It was true, the little mechanical baby bird was chirping loudly, flapping its whirring wings and opening its mouth widely. We fed it gemstones, which kept it quiet for a bit. While it was eating, Jay and I told Flora and Fauna the Mech Tech bird story. Suddenly we all heard chirping. Again. Not as loud, but still very consistent. We looked down at the tiny bird as it continued to make noise. 

"What does it want?"

Jay was scratching her head. I crouched down and tried petting it. Flora leaned down and scooped it up. She held it up to her face and looked it in the eye.

"Shush. You are making much too much noise for one as small as you. Be silent. Hold your peace. Be you girl or boy."

The bird sulkily tweeted, then tried to hop down from Flora's gentle but firm grip, to no success.

"Well, a lady such as yourself should not be making such an undignified fuss. It makes you seem arrogant."

The chick chirped irritatedly, then bit Flora's hand and didn't let go. Her gemlike eyes gleamed with anger. Apparently, she had matured quickly and disliked being insulted or held. Flora didn't blink. She just looked at the chick, waiting patiently. Finally it let go, but turned its head and averted its eyes. Flora rotated her hands to make it so it faced her. It turned away. She twisted it. Turn. Twist. Turn. Twist. Until finally the bird looked her in the eye. In an even, steady, quiet, powerful, controlled voice, Flora said

"I am not going to tolerate fussing, whining, arguing, grumbling, objecting, and most certainly no if's, and's, or but's. You are going to behave like a good bird. Alright?"

The bird tweeted something and ruffled its wings. 

"Now. Tell me why you were making such a fuss, please."

The bird chirped indignantly, rolling its eyes. 

"Well, you didn't have to be such a drama queen about it. You surely have the Sense. You could have hopped over to me and said please."

She put the bird down, then whispered to me

"This bird is your responsibility, you must learn what it wants."

Jay nodded and added

"Think about how you have been treating it and what it may be lacking."

Ok, that did not seem fair.

"I only just got this bird, how am I supposed to read its mind? Flora, can't you teach me how to speak bird first?"

Flora shook her head. Jay shrugged and said

"It's pretty simple. What do all pets need, and this one in particular? Think about its ancestry and where it came from."

I humphed and crossed my arms. After a minute, I turned away, knowing I would get no assistance. I studied the bird, 4 inches tall, 4 long and 2 and a half wide. It would be incredibly cute if not for the impatient shining eyes. I thought about what kind of bird it was; mechanical. It was probably one of the Mech Tech bird's kids. Nothing there. The Mech Tech bird was originally a royal automaton, or a robot. It had children, and in the forest I had met one that had given me one of its feathers, which opened the box and released the little chicky near my feet. But why had the bird given me the feather to open the box? I racked my brains for the memory. It had flown in front of me while me and Jay had been hiking to Tigress's... It had frozen, stopped moving... And I had turned the key in its back to start it again! That was it! The Mech Tech bird was a toy to be played with. The children had keys to keep them going. This one I had was a baby, and kids love to play. That was it. I turned back to my friends, who had been waiting. Fauna and Jay looked incredibly curious. Fauna spoke first. 

"Did you figure it out? What is it? What does it want?"

"I... Haven't been paying enough attention to it. You know, playing with it, and maybe cuddling it too, I guess. That and it might be running down. Needs to be wound up again. But I don't have a key..."

Flora beamed at me. 

"Good job. You figured it out."

The bird tweeted again, loudly. Flora gave it a look and it fell silent, glaring at her. Fauna and Jay looked thoughtful for a moment. Fauna snapped her fingers.

"I've got it. You still have that feather that the other bird gave you, right?"

"Of course."

"Can I see it? Just for a second. I might be wrong, but might as well try." 

I fished it out of a pocket and handed it to her. She took it gingerly and examined it. She smiled and spoke, while staring at the feather.

"Sometimes..."

She felt around the nib, or the tip of the feather, tapping and scratching gently

"Things from the forest..."

She put her finger underneath the small tip and pressed it firmly

"Are not always..."

The tip telescoped under her finger back into the stem of the feather, making a small clicking noise as it did so, while small tips of metal popped out from the stem

"What they seem to be."

Smiling triumphantly, Fauna handed the feather back to me. The wavy feathery part of it was still there, but the area where it was bare had turned into a skeleton key. By clicking the tip, Fauna had activated some miniscule gears and devices hidden inside the feather, pushing out the teeth of the key. Nervously I picked up the bird. Gently grasping it between both hands, I carefully rotated it while looking for a keyhole of some sort. While I did this the others went to a private area to change. Finally, underneath some feathers, I found a promising looking indent. Right at the base of the neck. Setting the bird down on a root, but still securing it with one hand so it didn't fall, I gently tapped the area. 

"Is this the right place? Does that hurt?"

The bird seemed much calmer and happier now that it could not see anyone else except me. It chirped cheerfully, so I twisted the key around in my hand so it faced the hole. I put the key in and twisted to the right. I heard a metallic winding sound. I continued rotating it until it wouldn't go any further. I twisted the key backwards a little so it would fit coming out of the hole, then pulled. The key slid out and the bird was struggling against my hand. I let go and it jumped around, singing like a jack in the box. Dinging and clicking, it was making a lot of noise. I put a finger to my lips and said tried shushing it. I then snatched the bird midair and gently placed it on my shoulder, where it seemed content to hop up and down and flap its wings. Sometimes it would get enough momentum to hop up on top of my head and down on my other shoulder! I walked over to Jay, who had finished dressing and was walking back to the tree with her clothes held in her arms. I still hadn't changed, so I handed the bird to her and asked her to take care of it. I put on the pajamas. They were as soft as my cat when she's finished grooming herself, and warm too. I dumped my clothes down a hidden laundry shute showed to me by Fauna, and walked to the sleeping bags where Flora and Jay were talking about names for my bird. Fauna and I sat down across from them and we debated about it for a while. Finally we reached a decision. She was to be named Evangiline, pronounced E-van-JUH-leen. According to Jay, it came from the word 'evingilan' meaning 'beautiful metal one'. It was a good, proud name, and Evangiline had no objections. For obvious reasons, we decided on a good nickname. Eva. She had no problems with us calling her this either, and then Jay did a small ritual that bonded us. She used a lot of that strange language, but the end result, was as she told me, her name was Evangiline or Eva and I was her master and friend. She would be able to find me wherever I was and once she could fly, she would be able to take messages anywhere I wished. Eva seemed more friendly towards all of us after that. Well, as friendly as a baby mechanical bird can seem, at least. We did all this as quietly as we could, for footsteps were heard clopping down the hall a lot. Fauna always shushed us when they were heard, and we all stopped eating or talking or laughing. Frost spent most of his time sitting next to me, wherever I went, observing. Silently. I was kind of creeped out at first, but I got used to it as the evening crept by. In no time the neat sleeping bags were messed up and most the food eaten. I taught them all a little more slang, which they used a lot in experiments. Jay was a fast learner and adapted easily. Fauna was decent, but Flora we all laughed at whenever she tried. She had such a proper vocabulary it was hard for her to understand the new words and put them in the right place. She didn't seem offended though, always just shrugged and smiled. I suggested that she should just stick to her usual way of speaking, and she agreed. We played truth or dare, which I taught them, and Jay and Fauna taught Frost tricks, like sit, play dead, attack, (I wasn't too eager about that one, but they insisted) follow, scent, and others beside, some that only Frost could do with his magical powers, including a command to stop time. Jay and Fauna were pros at training him, almost like those professional trainers you see on tv, but better. Fauna used this technique where she snapped her fingers in front of his eyes, and then demonstrated the trick using a small dog plush she had grabbed from a chest of her old toys. Jay created a dog that looked just like Frost by using magic (if that's what those strange words were) and made the dog do the trick correctly. She then gave the fake dog a treat and showered it in praise and affection. Jealous, Frost would practice the trick until he executed it perfectly, then show off to Jay, who in turn gave him his reward. I didn't know how he could eat, being made of mist and all, but Jay explained that he didn't need to be fed, but treats didn't hurt. Flora suddenly put a finger to her lips and quieted us as I tried out some of Frost's new tricks. From the door a tapping sound was heard. A very whiny, loud voice sounded from the hallway.

"Fau-NA, I KNOW you're in there, I want to come in and play tooooooo! You PROMISED you'd play baby dinosaur fights tigerrrr! You PROOOMIIISED. And you STOLE food from the kitchen AGAIN. I SAW you sneaking it! And if you don't unlock this door right NOW I'm going to go tell your tutor! Fauuuunaaaaaaaaaaa-"

FRANKENSTORM MUAHAHAHA (idk what the title for this should be sooooo...)

Listen; and you will hear the wind blow.
Tousling the treetops as an adult does a child's hair.
Pushing through every crack, hole, or crevice,
Creating a sound out of nothing and air.
You can hear it;
Louder, stronger, then fading, swirling back into an invisible circle
Whose presence is only known by the leaves it whisks around
Like grains of sand being swirled about by the waves,
To be placed back down upon the surface to which our feet remain steady until the power of nature shakes us back down again,
To be replaced back upon the ground from which all grows up from
As gently, as vague, as almost unnoticeable as a whisper in a silent classroom.
There, but just.
The leaves make the noise of the wind as it pushes them against one another like people in a crowded subway, murmurs of discontent.
They don't like the contact.
No one does.
The wind doesn't mind, it's in the mood for a powerful night tonight. The waves, far out at sea, are being pushed and pulled by it.
The moon is losing her power tonight.
The rain that follows the wind,
That exposes the wind like a sheet placed over an invisible person,
Showing which way it chooses to go.
The rain is silent.
Until you listen for it.
The rain is invisible.
Until you watch the yellowy orange glow of a streetlight.
The rain cannot touch you.
Until you push yourself outwards into it's wet, cold embrace
As it covers you and whispers in your ear.
The rain is the voice of the wind.
Giving something silent sound.
The rain cannot speak on its own,
And neither can the wind.
They move together in a harmony few notice and even fewer can match.
The clouds are dark tonight
They blot out the stars.
Not that they're anything new.
We see only the sparks from thousands of years ago.
The moon isn't here tonight either.
The clouds cover us,
Hide us,
Like a hand pressed over our eyes.
We are in our own world now.
And the wind and the rain are creating a dangerous duo tonight.
It's dark outside.
Shadows fall everywhere,
Like someone spilled them and forgot about them.
The shadows have never had a voice.
But the rain and the wind voice their fury over their injustice of being only copies,
Imitations,
Silhouettes of everything else.
The trees are silhouettes tonight as well,
Forming dark shapes against the clouds that cover us,
The color of gray construction paper.
The wind is silent
Unless you listen for it.
Close your eyes and listen,
If you were to look outside you'd be just as blind.
So close your eyes.
And listen.
Because the rain and the wind are having the time of their lives outside
Like they've done and will continue to do
Until no one is there to see it
No one to listen for it
No one to care
No rain to speak
No shadows to darken
No clouds to push against
And still, even then, silently, the wind will blow
Like it blows tonight
Pressing warningly against my window and wetting the steps outside my door
Swirling the leaves around in an autumn dance
Just like ones last year
And yet completely different from any dance done any year before.

TO MOM

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY BY AT LEAST ABOUT SEVEN DAYS MOM!
Which is a week, which reminds me of how much I hate those signs in the windows of stores that are all 'OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 24 HOURS EVERY DAY!' Seven days IS a week. You can just say 24/7. Okay, off track! So, Mother, I am going to do a freestyle poem/ish/sort/blog/post/thingy which PROBABLY won't be one of my BEST posts, but I feel like I owe you. Sooooo, here goes!
*Ahem* Mothers.
In the wild, mothers are more connected to children than the fathers. When a baby animal is born, it has a genetic code from the father which dominates its physical appearance early in its life, so that it looks like the Father and the Dad knows that that animal was made by him. Eventually, some of them change and look like the Mom. Mother animals will most often die to protect their young. In nature documentaries, you can see babies climbing all over the Mother and she doesn't do a thing. Moms, in the animal kingdom AND the human culture, usually make a lot of effort, or "go out of (their) my way" (quote from mom) to please the kids, help the kids, etc. And us kids don't always realize that.
MOTHER STEREOTYPES AND MOM FACTS AND STUFF:
The Mom is always softer on the kids.
Thanks to Disney and Bambi, I grew up for a while thinking that Chipmunks were baby Squirrels.
Sometimes, Mommy DOES kiss 'Santa Claus'
Moms are the fashion providers and interior designers.
Random scribbles from kids can be viewed as adorable and printed into Christmas Cards.
Moms cook.
Random pics of you smiling look wonderful on Facebook.
So, I am going to stop before I start using some seriously weird and stupid crap that doesn't make sense at all.
So Mom, I loves you, and I will write a make-up post for this crazy not that well written post later. PS: These stereo-thingies are based on my personal experiences. I know there are some father-based families and these do not apply to all. SO YEAH, MOM HAVE A HAPP- your birthday passed a week ago. Soooo.. have a good life! (this post is so scramble someday i will look back on this and grimace) Love you, Dad you will have one of these coming your way come June!

Sketchpages; INSTALLMENT #10

Luna smiled and waved as we were dragged along the hallway, down the stairs, and back into the room we were to sleep in. It had a large tree in the center, and sleeping bags nestled among its roots. Seated on one of the roots, Flora was whispering to a bird cupped in the palm of her hand. As we walked up to her, she flattened her hand and the bird flew out an open window. Fauna asked

"A message? To who?"

Stella said quietly

"Secret."

"Oh come on, secrets are boring!" Fauna moaned. When Flora didn't say anything, she sighed and asked 

"Well, I assume you aren't going to release any info, are you?"

Flora mimed zipping her lips, smiled, and shook her head. Fauna sighed, scratched her head, and started to jog off in the direction of the stairs. 

"I'm going to grab you guys some pajamas and sneak some food. Be right back, 'kay?"

I called back

"Cookies and root beer, if you have any."

Jay called out her and Flora's requests, and Fauna was gone. Me and Jay plopped down on roots facing Flora.

"Come on, what was the message or whatever it was? You can tell us. Please?"

Flora hesitated, then leaned in close and looked around. 

"Alright, but don't breathe a WORD to Fauna."

She whispered. We nodded seriously.

"Well, her birthday is coming up in 12 days, and she is turning 13. This is a very important age here,"

She added to me

"and I want to get her something really, really special. So, I've been watching and listening, and I think the perfect birthday present for her would be a Forest Elk."

She paused here, because I probably looked as curious as I felt. Jay jumped in. 

"A Forest Elk is... Well, you do have elk where you come from, right? It's a kind of deer..."

"Yes, I have noticed our worlds share the same language and many of the same animals. I know what an elk is."

Jay nodded and continued

"Well, a Forest Elk is much the same as a normal elk. But Forest Elk are especially intelligent, so they are trained very carefully. They are used for battle chargers, steeds, hunting, message carrying, and many other jobs. They are loyal and courageous in the face in danger, steady on their feet and calm, fast, and move incredibly smoothly and quietly."

I nodded. 

"Cool."

Flora continued, a little bit faster this time. Fauna would be back soon.

"So I think an elk would be a good companion, and aid her on her scouting and hunting trips. Also, Forest Elks live exactly as long as their owner. So it would help her for the rest of her life. I have been saving up for quite the while, and I sent a letter off to a man that breeds the best Forest Elks. If I am lucky, Fauna shall have the elk exactly on her birthday. So don't tell her, kay?"

She smiled as we both nodded and mimed locking our mouths with keys and throwing them away. Suddenly we heard a loud

"I'm back!" 

And Fauna, who had conveniently been running at full speed, crashed into us, unable to apply the brakes quite in time. I toppled off the root, but Jay and Flora kept their balance as Fauna stood up. I sat up and shook my head, laughing. Frost, who had been sniffing some blankets ran over and started barking at Fauna.

"Woah, woah, boy! I just fell. Fauna is nice, okay? Good boy. Calm down."

Fauna giggled and jumped down to help me up.

"He thinks I pushed you off. It's okay, boy, and for goodness sakes please stop barking! Luna's maid is searching for me 'cause I stole these out of the royal kitchen."

She held up a bracelet. She went over to the flattest root, then tapped the bracelet, turning it into multiple food and drink items. We all cheered and clapped as she grinned and then, clearing her throat, stood up very straight, turned up her nose, and lowered her eyelids, eyeing us haughtily. 

"Dear goodness, you scruffy ruffians just make me have need of my royal barfbag. I AM a royal princess, of course. If one of you had gone... Ugh, do not make the royal mind even think the thought."

She shuddered exaggeratedly. We were laughing by now. She continued.

"My, my, all I do ask is respect. That and 12 royal muffins. They are so good for the liver, you know. Bow down, curtsy like you are properly of royal blood!"

She grinned and sat down to much laughter and applause.

"That was Leopold, the royal tutor. He turns everything from snails to muffins into a boring history or anatomy lesson. He and Joseph really ought to get together sometime. Maybe they'll bore each other to death."

We all snickered and I decided to put a little Emiline in the comedy routine. I stood up and put a rather snooty expression on my face.

"Well, I daresay if I had gone instead of you, the royal pain in the bottom, I would have gotten twice as much food. For I do not strut around sticking out my nose. You must properly walk around while displaying your tush."

Here I walked around, probably looking amazingly like a duck. Fauna was on her back laughing, while Jay was wiping her eyes. Flora was giggling like crazy. We all were having a great time until we heard a knock on the door. Quick as a whip, Fauna turned the food back into a bracelet, which she tossed to Jay, who slipped it on her wrist. We all jumped on our sleeping bags and started chatting about Frost, who stretched casually and started to show off. Well, Jay, Fauna and I chatted. Flora continued to be overcome by sudden bouts of the giggles. We heard another knock on the door. Pretending to notice for the first time, Jay shouted

"Enter, if you be friend, and not foe, and most preferably not a Male."

Silence. Finally we heard a voice say

"Be the Princess Faunlina be inside this room?"

Fauna grimaced at the name, then shook her head and started waving her hands and mouthing 

"Say NO!"

Sounding bored, Jay called back, 

"Of course not. Why would she be here? All who be in here be I."

"And I." 

I chimed in cheerfully. The voice paused again.

"Well, if you happen to see the princess, do tell her Chef Garbanzo wishes to see her as soon as her royal schedule allows."

Fauna grimaced and stuck her tongue out in the direction of the door. Me and Flora started making faces too. Jay grinned and tried to stifle a laugh.

"Well, I have no royal idea where the elusive highness must be. How can you lose a princess? Most insufficient. I shall have to inform the queen of this lapse in control when she returns. How immature. Well, be off with you. If you do not leave me and my comrade in peace, I shall tell you who I am and you shall be shivering in your boots or whatever you nosy servants wear nowadays."

There were receding footsteps to be heard. We waited until we could not hear them anymore, then burst out in laughs and clapping. Jay grinned and nodded, accepting the applause and praise. 

"Jay, that was brilliant! You are amazing at acting! Do you really have that strong of a reputation to be sure it will scare people off?"

Jay laughed and clapped me on the back.

"I am liking you more and more every minute! Yes, I have a strong reputation, around this castle particularly. Nobles and royals have always taken special liking to me, causing me to visit the palace often. In the past, tyrants before your or anyone else's time, the blasted extreme cleanliness, polite niceties and brainless servants has caused my temper to get the best of me many times. These servants and butlers and such have been trained to avoid, and almost fear any kind of mess. They hate cleaning up, even now. So I am known not to be one to cross."

If there was one thing I had noticed about Jay, it was that she took time in her answers but always satisfied every aspect of my endless curiosity. I had gleaned that she did not like to waste time talking from this observation, for in answering every possible question on a subject, she challenged your ability to form a question she had not already answered and completed all there was to be said on a subject. It really was quite clever, and I admired her for it. 

"But most of my reputation is made of much more scary and impressive things than that sort of rubbish."

She added, looking proud. I nodded, then poked Fauna. 

"Did you get a chance to snag some pj's while you were a fugitive from cooks?"

"Pj's?"

Fauna looked at me in confusion. I guess they hadn't made any slang yet over here. (Wherever 'here' was, exactly.) 

"Pajamas. Where I come from, they are called both."

Fauna nodded and a grin took over her face. 

"I am so going to use that with everyone here. Maybe even get Script to get me some pictures of their expression."

She snickered, rubbing her hands together like a villain. She hunched her shoulders and cackled evilly, eyes darting around, giving me and Jay a good case of the giggles. It was like we all were hyper. Fauna stopped and straightened up again. 

"But seriously, you absolutely have to teach me how to talk like people do, y'know, in your world."

I shrugged. 

"Sure, why not?"

 (Sorry for not posting for so long! I will try to put in a couple extra posts this week to make up for it! I have a lot more pages of Sketchpages that I've been working on but haven't released!

Sketchpages Installment #9

When we arrived at the castle, I was awed by its huge size and magnificent beauty. The gardens were rainbows of color. The walls were colorful and elegant. When we reached the entrance, with huge marble steps flanked with statues, we exited the carriage. We said our farewells to the winged horses, and started towards the stairs. When our group reached the first step, a deep voice called out.

“HALT! Who goes there???”

I was startled to see it emnate from a large stone lion. Fauna sighed in exasperation. 

“Joseph, you KNOW who it is. It’s me, sis, Jay, and our new friend Tweet. For goodness sake, if they’re with us they’re obviously okay! I don’t just pick up people from the streets, you know!”

Joseph sniffed haughtily and cleared his throat.

“Rules are rules, Princess, and if I remember correctly, 1,099 years ago when my maker, Gioliani, the great sculptor, gave me life, he entrusted me to the protection of Sir Galihant. Sir Galihant placed me and all my brethen here, at these steps and gave us the strictest instructions, instructions I have followed dutifully every day since then. Would I not be doing my duty if I ignored these rules, and through them, my duty? Would I not be endangering the lives of thy royal family and your treasures that lie herein? Princess, it is my duty and my honor to serve your family, and if I am to do it to my satisfaction, I must follow the strict guidelines set for us 1,099 years ago.”

As he was droning on, Fauna was lip-syncing him and making faces. I tried hard to stifle my laughter. When Joseph had paused for breath, Jay interjected before he could start up again.

“Joseph, you are completely right. We must follow the rules if you are to keep your position, duty, and status. I am BlueJay, Hero, Tracker, Hunter, and Queen Friend. This is Princess Fauna, and her sister Princess Flora. Their ranks are determined, of course, by their names. This is Tweet, otherwise known as Emiline, world crosser, Animal Friend, Aura keeper, and companion to myself. May we pass and enter the halls of royalty and view the secrets inside so jealously hidden as long as we keep the peace?”

Joseph was silent for a long while, trying to find fault in Jay’s efficient speech. But he could not. She had spoken the truth and spoken it well. Finally he spoke.

“Very well. Enter, and keep the peace if you value your status.”

We nodded respectfully, and ascended the stairs. 

“Quick! Climb fast, or else he shall want to do a pat-down!”

Fauna hissed through her teeth. We climbed faster, and, true to her words, we heard a 

“Wait! We have not done the royal-”

Before we slammed the door on his voice and tried to smother our giggles. When our laughter had subsided, Fauna sat up and said

“Sorry. Joseph gets so bored out there he tries to keep anyone who comes by trapped for as long as possible, since all the other statues have heard all his stories and won’t respond to him at all.”

I laughed again.

“Sometimes, if a maid or a servant did wrong, they shall be punished by listening to him drone on. But Joseph doesn’t even know it’s supposed to be a punishment! He also trains most of the staff, but he does well. He starts off with the boringly obvious stuff, and when they are simply so bored they start to listen to him, he is talking about the important highlights. He has easily dispelled many a robber by monotoning through the very lecture we narrowly avoided just now.”

Eventually we helped each other up from the ground and headed off to the bath rooms, because,

“No offense, but you guys kinda smell.”

The bath houses were roman style, and the warm water against my skin felt delightful. Once we were clean, (Fauna and Flora had joined us for the company) we splashed around and had games and diving contests. When we were dried off, we trotted through the castle to find our rooms. Me and Jay had suites down the hall from Fauna and Flora’s bedrooms, but both of them were going to be joining us for the night. After all our stuff was organized and put away, Fauna led us to the older princesses’ rooms. The sun had set by now, and the moon had risen and the stars were starting to come up. First we visited Princess Stella, the younger of the elder two. When we entered her room, I was struck by the glowing stars on the walls and ceilings. The whole room was a beautiful purplish dark blue, and everything was blue or silver. The walls had multitudes of beautiful paintings of stars. An easel lay in the corner of the grand room. Out on a balcony, the princess stood, sketching in a sketchbook, glancing up every so often to judge her drawings against the stars. She wore a flowing, simple dress covered with stars, of course. She looked about fifteen or sixteen. When she heard the door, she turned and her long black hair covered her face before she tucked the long strands behind one ear. She smiled, and asked in a quiet, even voice

“Good evening, Fauna. I heard you had returned from your trip. I am glad to see you in good health.”

She turned to Jay.

“Ah, Jay, my good friend. Once more you return to the nest, or your informal home.”

She stepped forward and embraced both Fauna and Jay.

“And who may this be? A little sparrow to follow the BlueJay?”

She looked curiously at me. Unsure of what to do, I performed a feeble curtsy. 

“Um, I’m Emiline. I’m trying to get back home, and Jay said she could get the Queen to help me.”

“She’s from District 101 E.”

Stella nodded knowingly, and smiled warmly to me.

“Well, it is wonderful to meet a new friend. I do hope you shall enjoy your stay, however brief it may be, at our castle.”

I smiled and nodded. Stella picked up her sketchbook again and looked back at me.

“Be that an Aura by your side?”

I nodded. 

“Ah, an animal friend. I see your marks now.”

She was looking at my necklaces. I looked down at them, a little confused but pleased. 

I kept peeking at her sketches, trying to glimpse what she was drawing. Being a bit of an avid artist as well, I couldn’t help but be curious. Stella saw me and smiled. I blushed but she offered me her sketchbook and continued to chatting with Fauna and Jay about journeys and adventures. Finally I handed her sketches back. They were brillinat, perfectly scaled, and beautiful. She accepted them, and told me we should draw together sometime, if we didn’t have to leave immediately. 

“I know a good artist and potential model when I see one. You shall have to pose for one of my paintings someday.”

I blushed, and thanked her.

“Sis, we kind of better go visit Moony, she’ll kill me if I don’t hurry.”

Stella frowned faintly and was about to say something, but Fauna dragged us out of the room and closed the door behind us.

“Sorry, but she was about to scold me. She doesn’t like when I call sis Moony.”

She shrugged and walked down the hall to another door. She knocked, and an ‘Enter!’ emnated from within. Jay swung open the door and we entered, Fauna in front and me in the middle. Again, the room was color based, but with blue and yellow. Maps, diagrams, drawings, and paintings of planets, stars, and the moon covered the walls and piles were on the floor. Again, the princess was on a balcony, yet again gazing at the stars. But she was looking through a telescope, frowning and pausing to adjust it every few seconds until she noticed us and straightened. Before she did, I noticed her past waist-length blond hair, with a blue dyed section in the middle. She smiled, pushing back the same few strands of hair that had fallen onto Stella’s face. 

“Fauna! It is glorious to see you once more. And look, you have brought me my dear friend Jay once more to my windowsill. And who may this girl be, with Animal marks round her neck and an Aura by her side?”

Jay explained about me again, and Fauna chimed in about my dilemma. I nodded when they had finished, and said

“Yep, they covered it all. I’m Emiline, but my unofficial name is Tweet.”

She smiled and nodded and said it was great to meet me, and should I like to, I would be welcome to take a look through her telescope, the ‘best of it’s line.’ She introduced herself as Princess Luna, and ten frowned and rushed over to a desk covered in papers and scribbled something on it with a stray pencil, looked it over, then scowled furiously and crossed it out vehemently. 

“Princess, what plagues your mind so? You look like a cat that had it’s tail stepped on.”

The wrinkles in her brow straightened a little and her frown ceased to look so angry. 

“Well, there’s this little scale problem in my mathematics for this diorama of our solar system, and I just can’t seem to get it right.”

She frowned once more. I said

“May I look at this perplexing puzzle? I’m not that good at math, but I might be able to help.”

She shrugged.

“Why not?”

She handed me the papers, and I rifled through them, following her steps. Finally, I found the root of the problem.

“Look, you crossed out here which made you multiply the wrong number, which caused problems in your division of the fractions.”

She took her papers back, and mouthed words silently as she followed through my explanation. She smacked her forehead when she realized I was right.

“Great unicorns, you are right! How did you see that?”

“My old teacher always nagged me to check my work.”

I imitated an old lady squeaky voice.

“Check your work! Check your work! Check your work!”

Luna, Jay and Fauna laughed, and Luna erased the problem and redid it.

“Thank you, Tweet. I am so grateful for your helpful assistance! This will help immensely with the building of the model!"

I started to shrug off all the praise, but I was interrupted by Fauna, faking a huge 'yawn'. Jay raised an eyebrow.

"Princesses, I do think the rest of the royal tour shall have to wait tomorrow. Princess Luna, where may we find the queen tomorrow? Tweet got here by accident and is quite determined to find her way home as quick as possible."

"Yeah, sis, where is the Queen?"

Luna frowned.

"Oh dear, Fauna has been away for the past week or so so she does not know... The Queen has gone off upon one of her trips to another county. She shall return in a week or two. If you are in need of speed, you may stay the night and set off into the city in search of another, but if it is the Queen's services you wish, you shall have to wait. I am sorry if this hinders your progress."

Jay brooded for a moment. She looked up. 

"I have made a decision. We need good help, but fast as possible. These times are dangerous for Tweet."

Fauna looked depressed. 

"Well, I guess I can't blame you if you guys don't want to stay in this stuffy old castle... Will you at least stay the night? Sis can arrange a carriage in the morning…"

Jay looked surprised.

"Leave? My good friend, I did of course say speed is of the essence, but we need professional help if Tweet is to get back. Did you all not notice? We need the Queens help, for when Tweet came back, she accidentally closed the only portal to her world. The only one that can make a new portal to a specific place would be he Queen."

Luna nodded thoughtfully, while Fauna looked a little lost. She shrugged it off though, and asked eagerly, 

"So you guys are staying until the Queen returns?"

Jay nodded, a smile spreading across her face. One grew upon mine too. Fauna did a little victory dance. Luna laughed, and a cat upon her bed raised its head and growled. It was a light shade of yellow. Luna paused and sighed. 

"Oh, Crescent, you get enough naps in the daytime. Do stop being so dreadfully grumpy."

Fauna whispered in my ear

"Crescent is Luna's cat. Bad-tempered fellow, but incredibly smart."

Then she grabbed me and Jay and pulled us out into the hall. 

"Bye sis, gotta go can't stay have to run have a lovely evening with your doodles and gadgets NIGHT!"

SKETCHPAGES; Installment #8!

She nodded and smiled again.

"I think I can guess the rest of your story from then on."

I grinned and walked on in silence. Every now and then she would point out some danger and beauty that sometimes I could see, sometimes I couldn't. We made small talk, normally about the metal bird or the politics of this land.

"Here, in this world, we have a queen, who is grandmother to four princesses. Each controls a small part or category of the realm. I am good friends with each of them. A king or queen rules over this land as long as they are living, or as long as the public wishes them to stay. It is a lifelong decision and they must listen to and obey the wishes of the people."

I nodded, understanding. She went on, speaking of manners, people of large status, and ranks. They had not cars, but carriages and chariots pulled by tame animals of any kind. Dresses and suits were common among the nobles, hunters, questers, and heroes wore the kind of clothes we were wearing. Hunters hunted for food or prize. Questers went around looking for quests or deeds they could do to earn a Hero status. Treasure hunters went in that category of clothing as well. Well known heroes are as respected as aristocrats. Animal Friends are rare people who can commune with the animal kingdom and go around helping the creatures of the wild and gaining trust and presents in return. They are very rare. Wizards and witches wore normal clothes and were very common. Each magical person has a special talent. Some are employed by royalty, and wear special robes. Wise women and fortune tellers are experts at their craft , are always right and give good advice. Seeing small abnormalities among the public is to be expected and does not necessarily mean magic runs through their veins. Some examples are animals ears, wings, tails, fur, and other animalistic features. Another category is that of Angel. Angels do not come from heaven or anything, they are merely people who have a special sixth sense that tells them when and where someone's life is in danger. Angels are known for being fair and very quick in traveling to their intended destination. They are to be respected. Ghosts are common and spirits, though sometimes kind, are to be careful of. I absorbed this all. The lowest rank is common. Farmers, laborers, etc are nonmagical people that live normal lives. They are treated decently, though and always paid for their services. The lowest rank, however, is the lowest of the low. Her face darkened as she spoke of this. They are called the oath breakers when a name is needed though most generally avoid speaking about them. They are the breakers of the peace. Robbers, dark magic practicers, and all the other dark spots of cities are locked up under spells and key and given therapy. If they see the err of their ways, they are set free and watched. Vandals, however are welcome as long as they use their paint for art. If they write criticism or their name, they are warned but given a private space to do art instead of the buildings. I asked about fairies, leprechauns, pixies, dragons, sphinxes, and whatnot. They all existed, and mythologists study them. There are museums, but no zoos. We continued talking as we walked through the forest. Finally, we stopped at the edge of the forest. We had made it out. I heard Jay sigh with relief. I glanced at her, amused.

"Glad to be out?"

She nodded and grinned.

"I've been through that forest more times then I can count, but each time I make it out I am thankful."

I nodded, remembering the demon flowers. A question occurred to me.

"Jay, what rank is your sister? And you? And what is my rank?"

She answered breezily

"I am a hero, my sister is an Angel, and you...."

She thought for a moment.

"I think you may be an Animal Friend."

I was surprised, but pleased. I smiled and she smiled back. We set up a lovely meal right at the edge of the forest and talked and laughed until our stomachs were full. We digested for a while, then packed everything up and moved on, now following a dirt road. My legs hurt and my feet were sore, but I was determined not to stop. Jay explained that once we got to the Castle City, we would go find an old friend of hers that could lend us good rooms. When the sun started to go down, we were still walking. A carriage pulled by winged horses came up behind us.

"Jay! Jay, is that you?"

As the carriage passed us, a blond head poked out of the window, along with a waving arm. Jay grinned broadly and waved back.

"Why, if it isn't Fauna! Fauna, where are you off to?"

Fauna, the girl laughed and said

"You daft duck, me and Flora are headed home of course! You want a ride? Your friend looks like she could use a rest!"

I laughed and followed Jay as we clambered into the carriage. Once we were in, it started up again. Inside, it was very roomy and pleasantly cool with plush velvet seats facing each other. Once we had gotten comfortable, I examined the two people sitting across from us. The blond haired girl, the one who had waved, was about my age with freckles and a slight tan, wearing the same clothes as Jay, only green. Next to her, looking a couple years younger and very shy, was a light skinned girl with long black hair half covering her face. She wore a light green dress covered in plants, birds and bugs. She had light blue eyes, and Fauna had light green. Jay introduced me.

"Fauna, this is Tweet. I found her in the forest and she's trying to get back home. Tweet, this is one of the princesses I was telling you about, Princess Fauna.”

Fauna grinned and held out a hand to shake.

“Well, I figure you must be okay if Jay’s given you a nickname. What’s your real name?”

I shook her hand. 

“I’m Emiline.”

“What region are you from? You don’t look like you come from here.”

“Tweet here came from District 101 E.”

Jay interrupted.

“Oh. Well, at least you have protection from Jay. You should be careful if you don’t know your way around.”

“Tweet kind of fell in on us, but she has regained her balance and is a natural. Fast learner, too. And she has an Aura.”

An expression of awe crossed Fauna’s face.

“An Aura? Wow! And from District 101 E! How long has she been here?”

I popped back into their conversation. 

“Last night was my first night here.”

Fauna nodded, looking more interested as she gazed at me.

“Well, if you have an Aura, let’s see it.”

I clicked the catch on my locket and Frost leaped out. He nuzzled me and I hugged him. I was surprised at how much I had missed him. The girl sitting beside Fauna let out a little ‘oh’ at seeing Frost. Frost turned and sniffed her, then licked her cheek.

Jay laughed and said

“I am sorry princess, but your silence caused me to forget my manners. Tweet, this is Princess Flora, sister to Fauna. Princess, as you know by now, this is Tweet.”

Flora nodded shyly and smiled. 

Fauna sighed.

“You never say anything! Why, last week I almost went crazy trying to find out if you wanted to order spaghetti or a salad!”

Me, Jay, and Flora laughed at this. As we rode towards the castle, we chatted about the forest, weather, and things in general. When the subject of sleep came up, Fauna refused outright to let us go stay at an inn for the night.

“The Queen and Luna would kill me if I let you guys do that! You have to come stay with us! Our sisters would love to see you again, and I haven’t had a decent slumber party in ages!”

Jay laughed and surrendered.

“OK, you win! We shall unwillingly go into your beautiful air conditioned palace, but we shall go as if lead was attached to our feet!”

I agreed, and did an impersonation of walking slow-mo. So, in this way, did we find ourselves heading towards a royal palace to meet the Queen, our original destination, and the two older sisters of the kingdom.