Special Features
“Alive”
Eva Szocik
In the morning when someone asks you when you “got up” today, do you ever wonder what it means to be “up”? Questioning one’s awareness of the triviality of life may be rare. For instance, when you’re doing a simple everyday task, such as the dishes or laundry, do you question whether you’re truly aware or awake at that moment? I wonder if it is simply the large, intense moments where we feel the most alive. As you’re reading this, are you awake or alive, or perhaps both?
I suppose we’re always, in theory, alive - no matter if we’re asleep or awake. Our hearts are always beating, and our brains are always theoretically functioning, indicating that we are alive according to scientific or neuroscientific explanation. Even when we’re asleep, we typically dream. This is a sign of the functioning of the brain, and, evidently, the beating of the heart. So, what is the distinction that some may identify of being alive or not being truly alive in life? Some people say that either you’re just living or you’re alive, but is there really a difference?
As I get out of bed in the morning, I look out the window at the beams of light reflecting off of the bright, rising sun. Today is a new day, I think to myself. But, is it? What is a new day, anyway?
Is time even real?
I guess I hope it’s real. I want to be able to say, to truly know for sure that something is completely 100% real.
When I was younger, I was talking to my dad about reality and dreams, and perhaps the distinction between them both. He told me you can tell if you’re dreaming by blowing lightly on your arm, and feeling it. Years later thinking back to when he told me that, I talked to him about that conversation and I mistakenly recalled him as saying that you can tell if life itself is real by blowing on your arm lightly. He corrected me, telling me that that’s only how you can tell if you’re dreaming. I was somewhat disappointed, wanting reassurance that my surroundings are indeed real.
Sometimes we look for reassurance about things that you simply cannot find reassurance about. We can of course feel temporarily reassured about something such as reality, but, sometimes I feel at the end of the day we can never truly know.
What does it mean to be alive, I wonder? I wonder if the answer to that question is up to me to figure out, or it’s answer already exists and I just simply need to figure out how to find it.
I suppose we’re always, in theory, alive - no matter if we’re asleep or awake. Our hearts are always beating, and our brains are always theoretically functioning, indicating that we are alive according to scientific or neuroscientific explanation. Even when we’re asleep, we typically dream. This is a sign of the functioning of the brain, and, evidently, the beating of the heart. So, what is the distinction that some may identify of being alive or not being truly alive in life? Some people say that either you’re just living or you’re alive, but is there really a difference?
As I get out of bed in the morning, I look out the window at the beams of light reflecting off of the bright, rising sun. Today is a new day, I think to myself. But, is it? What is a new day, anyway?
Is time even real?
I guess I hope it’s real. I want to be able to say, to truly know for sure that something is completely 100% real.
When I was younger, I was talking to my dad about reality and dreams, and perhaps the distinction between them both. He told me you can tell if you’re dreaming by blowing lightly on your arm, and feeling it. Years later thinking back to when he told me that, I talked to him about that conversation and I mistakenly recalled him as saying that you can tell if life itself is real by blowing on your arm lightly. He corrected me, telling me that that’s only how you can tell if you’re dreaming. I was somewhat disappointed, wanting reassurance that my surroundings are indeed real.
Sometimes we look for reassurance about things that you simply cannot find reassurance about. We can of course feel temporarily reassured about something such as reality, but, sometimes I feel at the end of the day we can never truly know.
What does it mean to be alive, I wonder? I wonder if the answer to that question is up to me to figure out, or it’s answer already exists and I just simply need to figure out how to find it.
HURRY UP ALREADY!
Samia ahmed
As finals week reels closer and closer,
Our stacks of homework grow bigger and bigger
we prepare for the well-needed summer break
And our brains really ache.
We all anticipate that summer fun,
Not the everyday P.E. run,
The Oreo ice cream.
Lab report for Biology,
THE VACATION
the incoming math test.
If the Summer is what we want,
HURRY UP ALREADY!
Our stacks of homework grow bigger and bigger
we prepare for the well-needed summer break
And our brains really ache.
We all anticipate that summer fun,
Not the everyday P.E. run,
The Oreo ice cream.
Lab report for Biology,
THE VACATION
the incoming math test.
If the Summer is what we want,
HURRY UP ALREADY!
Some Story of My Thoughts
Freedom Gobel
I’ve always lived moving one step forward and five steps back. In fact, I was traveling so far back at a velocity far more dangerous than most that I didn’t even remember what I was supposed to be moving towards. Every day I showed up more tired than the day before. Boredom has become my permanent state of being, but I'm not complaining. I'd rather be bored than confused. I'd also rather live on the moon, but I'll save that explanation for another day.
I like metaphors. They're like a vessel designed to escape reality, and despite the ridiculousness I put on paper, my English teacher lets me do it. Teachers always say, "You're not wrong if you can explain yourself!" And then I start a ramble of nonsense where I begin with a thought, eventually wandering through the gaping depths of my brain until I can't even comprehend what I'm saying. I'll look up from my feet to see 25 confused head tilts and the teacher nodding like she knows what just happened. She has to applaud my "imagination" and we both know it. That look is my entertainment. I LIVE for that look. Priceless.
There's a point to this, I swear. Just hear me out.
I was talking to my dog yesterday, and he said, (I should probably mention that I dig personification too) "Keep it simple," and he proceeded to chase the audacious bird across the yard. He never gets it, but he keeps trying despite his inevitable failure. And BAM! A meteor hit me right in the middle of my brain. A meteor of enlightenment, just in case you were confused with my reference. Or maybe you were just bored, for which I applaud you. Better bored than confused. So a meteor hit me in the middle of my brain, right, and in that moment I realized that my dog just taught me the greatest lesson known to man.... The key to life is to keep it simple, and DO! Don’t think so much. Maybe it’s time I start moving five steps forward.
At this point I began to ponder the reality of my life. If my dog taught me the most valuable thing I need to know, then what am I really doing at school? The point is to open my mind to new information and all that stuff, but is that even happening? To what extent does my formal education educate me? Welcome to my brain.
Agreed, I learn how to do stuff like use a colon, but here's my concern: Does this information take up precious space in my brain before I get to decide what it needs? Is the space in my mind subjective? Is the volume dependent on the density or is the quantity dependent on the volume or am I just making my head hurt thinking about it?
Yikes. One step forward and five steps back.
I like metaphors. They're like a vessel designed to escape reality, and despite the ridiculousness I put on paper, my English teacher lets me do it. Teachers always say, "You're not wrong if you can explain yourself!" And then I start a ramble of nonsense where I begin with a thought, eventually wandering through the gaping depths of my brain until I can't even comprehend what I'm saying. I'll look up from my feet to see 25 confused head tilts and the teacher nodding like she knows what just happened. She has to applaud my "imagination" and we both know it. That look is my entertainment. I LIVE for that look. Priceless.
There's a point to this, I swear. Just hear me out.
I was talking to my dog yesterday, and he said, (I should probably mention that I dig personification too) "Keep it simple," and he proceeded to chase the audacious bird across the yard. He never gets it, but he keeps trying despite his inevitable failure. And BAM! A meteor hit me right in the middle of my brain. A meteor of enlightenment, just in case you were confused with my reference. Or maybe you were just bored, for which I applaud you. Better bored than confused. So a meteor hit me in the middle of my brain, right, and in that moment I realized that my dog just taught me the greatest lesson known to man.... The key to life is to keep it simple, and DO! Don’t think so much. Maybe it’s time I start moving five steps forward.
At this point I began to ponder the reality of my life. If my dog taught me the most valuable thing I need to know, then what am I really doing at school? The point is to open my mind to new information and all that stuff, but is that even happening? To what extent does my formal education educate me? Welcome to my brain.
Agreed, I learn how to do stuff like use a colon, but here's my concern: Does this information take up precious space in my brain before I get to decide what it needs? Is the space in my mind subjective? Is the volume dependent on the density or is the quantity dependent on the volume or am I just making my head hurt thinking about it?
Yikes. One step forward and five steps back.
Study for finals, so you can be calm during the summer!
Maysa Saadeddin
|
Time for sports and fun
The bright nights to come Being able to relax Trips to see family But hold on the year isn’t done yet Although it’s so close but it’s still not here We need to be aware finals are near To have fun on your break, be prepared Before you get scared That finals you could fail. Keep your hopes up and stay calm When the test is in your palm Breathe and count down from three Just don’t forget to try your best And end this year strong |
|
The Last Sock Standing
Mya Bailey
It’s not some sort of foot fetish, alright? Socks are all around us, from the fuzzy warm ones that curl your toes into comfort to even socks that go far up our legs. Of course I’ve grown to find the necessity in wearing a pair of socks all the time. Mismatched all the way onto socks that don’t even belong in a pair, which connects to the main idea that involves May 9.
May 9 remains as Lost Sock Memorial Day of which we all can salute and be in remembrance of our valuable socks that were lost in their own type of war or, something. Where do the socks go that we lose from the original pair anyway? It’s like this odd conspiracy that seems to make its way into our daily lives. Even if I do really enjoy wearing a fresh pair of socks upon my feet, I won’t spend my day from dusk to dawn looking for the matching pair. Not that I don’t miss those socks, props to them for wherever they reside in my day to day life now, but what should these lonely pairs of socks, that we still have, do on their own? Can they even survive on their own? Simple answer: Yes, they’re socks after all, but if we want to dig in our creative box full of ideas that the world doesn’t usually act on, what can these lonely socks stand as?
After scavenging through every piece of paper and filled cardboard box inside my mind, I have concluded 5 ways you can appreciate the sock that stayed with you. Some of the ways don’t even require the sock stay in its original form/purpose. Although, we do want to remember the socks that have left, their pair can’t go to waste over the loss of their friend. Yikes, that’s actually horribly sad sounding. They’re socks, end quote.
In conclusion, May 9 will be strongly known mainly, in our hearts, for Lost Sock Memorial Day. Socks are a gift, a creation that will day to day be there for us as we go on and grow up. We may grow in age and as people, but a sock is a sock. The socks were there for us, always, and so we should remember them for what they have given us. Comfort. Warmth. A Friend.
May 9 remains as Lost Sock Memorial Day of which we all can salute and be in remembrance of our valuable socks that were lost in their own type of war or, something. Where do the socks go that we lose from the original pair anyway? It’s like this odd conspiracy that seems to make its way into our daily lives. Even if I do really enjoy wearing a fresh pair of socks upon my feet, I won’t spend my day from dusk to dawn looking for the matching pair. Not that I don’t miss those socks, props to them for wherever they reside in my day to day life now, but what should these lonely pairs of socks, that we still have, do on their own? Can they even survive on their own? Simple answer: Yes, they’re socks after all, but if we want to dig in our creative box full of ideas that the world doesn’t usually act on, what can these lonely socks stand as?
After scavenging through every piece of paper and filled cardboard box inside my mind, I have concluded 5 ways you can appreciate the sock that stayed with you. Some of the ways don’t even require the sock stay in its original form/purpose. Although, we do want to remember the socks that have left, their pair can’t go to waste over the loss of their friend. Yikes, that’s actually horribly sad sounding. They’re socks, end quote.
- Wear the sock with another loner sock, that doesn’t look too messed up in the pair, but matches just enough to look satisfying. Mismatching is the key to life. Okay, not really, but from my life experience of digging through my dresser drawers searching for a scrap of something has had me stoop towards finding another lonely sock. That sock is then matched with the other lonely sock, and then a new pair has formed, huzzah! I read online, from the site upshot.net, that those who frequently wear mismatched pairs of socks are smarter individuals than those with regular pairs. That could be an excuse for wearing them. It’s nice to think about that concept once in awhile. It’s kind of like giving the abandoned socks a new partner, so they aren’t so frequently alone. Well, I’ve just humanized a piece of clothing in my head. Great.
- Re-use the sock as a cleaning tool around your house. Socks don’t have to just remain as being used as socks. You can use your lonely socks in the position of dusting, cleaning, or even for wiping off white boards. The sock has a lot more abilities than first imagined. It can also be used in the process of reaching spots, cleaning dirt off, where it’s hard to reach. Pretty practical for being a sock, in my opinion. Buying dusting mitts doesn’t have to be rocket science as it may seem, since a sock can basically just transform into this new and improved utensil. Note: Make sure you wash your sock before using it, please. I mean, it was used for the purpose of a sock, but it will be altered now to cleanse, so cleaning it beforehand would be a wise decision.
- Make your sock into a pouch to store some of your items. Socks obviously have an opening at the top of the fabric, allowing the foot to slide right into it for comfort. It’s sock logic, of course, but with an extra sock there is always a way to reuse it. For example, if you have little pieces of something, take legos for an example, you’d probably rather not step on those pieces because it’ll make you feel a horrid pain. In this option, you can store the lego pieces in socks, and maybe tie a rubberband or some material around them to hold your things. It can range from holding small parts, like puzzle pieces or game cartridges, or even an entire item, like maybe a pair of keys you keep losing. It’s far more handy than it may sound, and as much as it may feel odd to be using a sock on the daily to keep your stuff, you’re keeping everything in your view. You’re being a successful human being,maybe!
- Create your pet a toy! This one goes out there to all you pet lovers who want to make your pet the happiest that they could ever be, or you may want to build an alliance with them so when they had conquered the Earth, under your guidance, they will spare your soul and life. Either way, pets are really into pet toys, so a sock is here to save the day. Here are some ideas from www.wisebread.com, there is a way that you can place a tennis ball inside of the lonely sock to the toe-end, tie a knot, and boom! You have created what the website calls as The Sock N’ Ball. If you don’t get the chance to take care of an animal, you could always donate your old or lonely sock to ASPCA where they use your item to make truly comfortable and nice dog beds for the pets there. It feels nicer to give your needy a sock a new home, by cutting them into pieces for a dog. That sounds harsh, but socks are socks.
- Make your sock a living being to hang out with! Okay, so that can be taken a tad incorrectly by a reader. I’m inferring towards the concept of forming your lonely socks into sock puppets. Most know about sock puppets, but to make your lonely sock even more festive towards the occasion of May 9th, you can transform your socks into something much broader. Grab some hot glue, a handful googly eyes, maybe some other artsy decor. You can make your dreams come true by modeling your loner sock after actors like Chris Pratt, who you may have seen in plenty of well-known movies, or even of our new president Donald Trump. It brings so much to the table for you and your ambitious sock life. You can even include a few of your friends or family to join you, celebrating the holiday with, maybe, a sock made of Kim Kardashian to celebrate.
In conclusion, May 9 will be strongly known mainly, in our hearts, for Lost Sock Memorial Day. Socks are a gift, a creation that will day to day be there for us as we go on and grow up. We may grow in age and as people, but a sock is a sock. The socks were there for us, always, and so we should remember them for what they have given us. Comfort. Warmth. A Friend.
Lost In Time: Prologue
Shalen Tully
Where the hell is it?
Hearing Soleil's annoyance and frustration boom through the castle’s voidless corridor, I shuffled hastily through the tallgrass to clammer and slam behind one of the pillars sides; the impact softened by the vibrant fauna grown around the base. The Ricochet Shield and Primarc’s Bane holograph projection gave off a blue tint that made me a walking target. With haste, I spun the gear on the handle to turn the holographic shield off and attached it to my belt, then did the same to my weapon and slid it as quietly as I could into my scabbard—hearing the rod make tiny clinks I knew it would hear.
*tink, tink- clink- tink, clink, tonk*
I knew it’d heard me, but it wasn’t trying to be any quieter. Listening, I heard it leap seamlessly across from pillar to pillar, a few bricks clonking onto the ground; its metallic claws clicking impatiently against the stone, then with a scrap planting themselves deep into the rockface. I heard its nostrils flare and puff out smoke twice before Soleil opened its mouth and moaned a low, rumbly growl—the breaks in between the growls just a little too long. Like a song.
That’s not good.
It knew.
Looking down at the floor, I started to strategize how I’d handle the situation. I peered over to the right and caught a glance of the elongated, aged wooden door: my goal, or what was behind it. I pulled back into the foliage and put up my green hood to try and blend into my surroundings. Soleil growled aggressively, most likely hearing the leaves rustle: the obstacle.
Could I sneak around?
Looking at the ground, puddles were littered across the marble floor where it had slanted and cracked; the grass being just tall enough to hide it. I was lucky to not have stepped on any of them getting inside, Otherwise… I didn’t want to think about it, but yet I had to; I had to think. Yet, no matter how much I thought I was smarter, it always seemed to be a step ahead. I was really hoping it didn’t know now. That’s all I needed right now.
Ideas continued to splatter out, but the more I thought of ways of getting through that damn door, the more ways I thought of how it’d be able to get me. Again, whatever Soleil was, it adapted to kill its prey. After another moment of thought, I concluded that I needed to get a good look around to know where it was located, then go from there. Also because I’ve never actually got a good look at its terrifying majesty.
Inching my head carefully around the side of the pillar, backing in a few times with hesitance, I saw it wrapped near the middle of another pillar; a crack from somewhere out of view beamed a ray down upon the creatures outline. Drool visible from this distance hung and shook from the creature's open mouth as its head twitched uncomfortably around like a bird, but its gaze oddly continued to look forward at… something; however, when I looked ahead I saw nothing.
It was hard to make out where it was looking, though, because of its eyes. They were a dull and flat white, given life through its white luminescence, making the creature look ancient. It also allowed me to make out the creatures overall odd appearance. The eyes were contorted and sunken subtlely into its skull, making the jagged ridges of its eyebrows and cheeks jut out prominently. Red and gold feathers went across its head and lower neck, following along to its reptilian mouth, to its elongated muzzle, to its flared nostrils, down to its pointy-tipped mouth. Down below its giant head in the light I could see its hand wrapped around the edge, blending into the foliage that surrounded it. On the other side of I saw Soleil’s hind legs hunched down and planted into the rock.
Than I saw its tail. Snaking and eyeing in my direction, with the three spires on the end rotating with dangerous speed.
Suddenly getting uneasy, I pulled back into the greenery.
Uh-oh…
If there’s one thing I knew about Soleil, it’s that that was bad. I’ve seen that thing plenty of times, just dangling and swinging like a big ol’ clock in front of me, and then…
Damn it!
I zoned out, not listening to my surroundings as I eyed down at my belt. Need a plan. Now. There was my shield, my bag - with nothing useful inside - and my tablet. I stared down at the boomerang-shaped frame for a moment, my fingers tapping and slowly wrapping around its hilt while thoughts churned in my head. Then: I got it. Pulling it out, I tapped the blue icon in the top right. The screen burst out from the handle, flickering to life; I quickly brushed it off and held it a foot from my face to see if I could catch my reflection in the dim lighting. I could. Passing the display from my left hand to my right, I peered it through the leaves around the column’s right side to see if it was still there.
Nothing. Just an empty ray of light.
“Where—” I whispered before cutting myself off as I looked up.
*Woom, woom, woom, woom*
Its tail hovered above me, still, pointing directly at me with its spires twirling slower, now closer to its target. I gave it a distressed look as it inched forward, not breaking its gaze, before suddenly pulling back towards the pillar.
*Floomph, floomph - fwhap*
Looking up, I saw an array of long, golden feathers draw hastily back behind the column.
It grew wings.
As I said, Soleil adapted itself to kill.
In a rather quick decision I flicked my wrist and chucked my tablet into the other hand, spun it to correct its orientation, and held it out on an angle so that I could see what I expected to see: a pair of two glowing, twisted white eyes, squinting in annoyance and anger. But it didn’t move. It was waiting.
For me to make a choice.
Taking a shaky breath, I made a choice; adjusting my thumb down to the button on the tablet and pressing it twice, switching the screen into a short, one-sided dagger. Soleil acknowledged this threat and released a loud growl, followed by its claws loosening and its tail whizzing faster, the feathers on its back standing up like a cat.
“Come on, Soleil,” I said with purpose. I don’t want to hurt you. I pushed a button on the buckle of my belt, making it look like I was adjusting it before we dueled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it illuminate, and I knew I was good. “If you’re going to do it then, just do it!”
Soleil screeched in response, sliding around the pillar with urgency and swung its claws at me, but I put my right hand outward and pushed forward, and was flung back in time to miss the blow. I caught Soleil latch onto the wall while crashing into and rolling across the floor, and needed to quickly get my footing. I made my hand into a fist and made firm contact with the ground, magnetizing me to the ground so that I could catch myself just in time to be met by a large, gaping mouth lunging in my direction.
Get him out of there, right, NOW!
We don’t have enough time-
Well give him more then, damn it! DO IT, NOW!
To Be Continued… September.
Hearing Soleil's annoyance and frustration boom through the castle’s voidless corridor, I shuffled hastily through the tallgrass to clammer and slam behind one of the pillars sides; the impact softened by the vibrant fauna grown around the base. The Ricochet Shield and Primarc’s Bane holograph projection gave off a blue tint that made me a walking target. With haste, I spun the gear on the handle to turn the holographic shield off and attached it to my belt, then did the same to my weapon and slid it as quietly as I could into my scabbard—hearing the rod make tiny clinks I knew it would hear.
*tink, tink- clink- tink, clink, tonk*
I knew it’d heard me, but it wasn’t trying to be any quieter. Listening, I heard it leap seamlessly across from pillar to pillar, a few bricks clonking onto the ground; its metallic claws clicking impatiently against the stone, then with a scrap planting themselves deep into the rockface. I heard its nostrils flare and puff out smoke twice before Soleil opened its mouth and moaned a low, rumbly growl—the breaks in between the growls just a little too long. Like a song.
That’s not good.
It knew.
Looking down at the floor, I started to strategize how I’d handle the situation. I peered over to the right and caught a glance of the elongated, aged wooden door: my goal, or what was behind it. I pulled back into the foliage and put up my green hood to try and blend into my surroundings. Soleil growled aggressively, most likely hearing the leaves rustle: the obstacle.
Could I sneak around?
Looking at the ground, puddles were littered across the marble floor where it had slanted and cracked; the grass being just tall enough to hide it. I was lucky to not have stepped on any of them getting inside, Otherwise… I didn’t want to think about it, but yet I had to; I had to think. Yet, no matter how much I thought I was smarter, it always seemed to be a step ahead. I was really hoping it didn’t know now. That’s all I needed right now.
Ideas continued to splatter out, but the more I thought of ways of getting through that damn door, the more ways I thought of how it’d be able to get me. Again, whatever Soleil was, it adapted to kill its prey. After another moment of thought, I concluded that I needed to get a good look around to know where it was located, then go from there. Also because I’ve never actually got a good look at its terrifying majesty.
Inching my head carefully around the side of the pillar, backing in a few times with hesitance, I saw it wrapped near the middle of another pillar; a crack from somewhere out of view beamed a ray down upon the creatures outline. Drool visible from this distance hung and shook from the creature's open mouth as its head twitched uncomfortably around like a bird, but its gaze oddly continued to look forward at… something; however, when I looked ahead I saw nothing.
It was hard to make out where it was looking, though, because of its eyes. They were a dull and flat white, given life through its white luminescence, making the creature look ancient. It also allowed me to make out the creatures overall odd appearance. The eyes were contorted and sunken subtlely into its skull, making the jagged ridges of its eyebrows and cheeks jut out prominently. Red and gold feathers went across its head and lower neck, following along to its reptilian mouth, to its elongated muzzle, to its flared nostrils, down to its pointy-tipped mouth. Down below its giant head in the light I could see its hand wrapped around the edge, blending into the foliage that surrounded it. On the other side of I saw Soleil’s hind legs hunched down and planted into the rock.
Than I saw its tail. Snaking and eyeing in my direction, with the three spires on the end rotating with dangerous speed.
Suddenly getting uneasy, I pulled back into the greenery.
Uh-oh…
If there’s one thing I knew about Soleil, it’s that that was bad. I’ve seen that thing plenty of times, just dangling and swinging like a big ol’ clock in front of me, and then…
Damn it!
I zoned out, not listening to my surroundings as I eyed down at my belt. Need a plan. Now. There was my shield, my bag - with nothing useful inside - and my tablet. I stared down at the boomerang-shaped frame for a moment, my fingers tapping and slowly wrapping around its hilt while thoughts churned in my head. Then: I got it. Pulling it out, I tapped the blue icon in the top right. The screen burst out from the handle, flickering to life; I quickly brushed it off and held it a foot from my face to see if I could catch my reflection in the dim lighting. I could. Passing the display from my left hand to my right, I peered it through the leaves around the column’s right side to see if it was still there.
Nothing. Just an empty ray of light.
“Where—” I whispered before cutting myself off as I looked up.
*Woom, woom, woom, woom*
Its tail hovered above me, still, pointing directly at me with its spires twirling slower, now closer to its target. I gave it a distressed look as it inched forward, not breaking its gaze, before suddenly pulling back towards the pillar.
*Floomph, floomph - fwhap*
Looking up, I saw an array of long, golden feathers draw hastily back behind the column.
It grew wings.
As I said, Soleil adapted itself to kill.
In a rather quick decision I flicked my wrist and chucked my tablet into the other hand, spun it to correct its orientation, and held it out on an angle so that I could see what I expected to see: a pair of two glowing, twisted white eyes, squinting in annoyance and anger. But it didn’t move. It was waiting.
For me to make a choice.
Taking a shaky breath, I made a choice; adjusting my thumb down to the button on the tablet and pressing it twice, switching the screen into a short, one-sided dagger. Soleil acknowledged this threat and released a loud growl, followed by its claws loosening and its tail whizzing faster, the feathers on its back standing up like a cat.
“Come on, Soleil,” I said with purpose. I don’t want to hurt you. I pushed a button on the buckle of my belt, making it look like I was adjusting it before we dueled. Out of the corner of my eye I saw it illuminate, and I knew I was good. “If you’re going to do it then, just do it!”
Soleil screeched in response, sliding around the pillar with urgency and swung its claws at me, but I put my right hand outward and pushed forward, and was flung back in time to miss the blow. I caught Soleil latch onto the wall while crashing into and rolling across the floor, and needed to quickly get my footing. I made my hand into a fist and made firm contact with the ground, magnetizing me to the ground so that I could catch myself just in time to be met by a large, gaping mouth lunging in my direction.
Get him out of there, right, NOW!
We don’t have enough time-
Well give him more then, damn it! DO IT, NOW!
To Be Continued… September.