We decided to change one of the cats morning wet meals to when my fiance gets up rather than when I do- a few hours later. This will make it so their wet and dry food in the morning are actually two meals that aren't right on top of each other.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Let's Babble Our Way to Post #4,000,000 And Win Prizes Too!
- Thread starter Anne
- Start Date
- Status
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,089
- Purraise
- 13,358
@Artiemom my heart aches for you. I don't know if I could foster either. I only hope she gets to rest in a relaxing home and gets sent on her way before she suffers too much. So hard to watch them sick and ill knowing that not much else can do to fix the situation. I only hope she finds some peace before she leaves. I am surprised they didn't send her on her way at this point. Poor girl. I am not looking forward to my old girl getting sick from her heart disease-there's nothing we can do as she isn't in heart failure yet. I haven't decided what I would do. She is unable to be medicated. I would probably opt to send her on her way. She is just so independent and doesn't want help with anything. Hopefully it doesn't make an appearance for awhile. Last September we got an ultrasound on her heart and organs. the organs and belly are fine-no thickening of intestines despite her vomiting and constipation. But one of the chambers of the heart was slightly enlarged but not enough yet to medicate-so we are on a watch and wait. Because of this we have a note in her file to not give pred. They told me we can't treat the issues until she goes into heart failure which to me sounds cruel but that's the way it goes. If I could get transdermal or injection meds-that would be the only way to treat her. So far she still plays/eats/purrs/harasses the neighbors cats. She is still full of ___ and vinegar so to speak. Hisses at honeybee although yesterday She licked Honeybee's foot when I held it in front of her face but we were outside. Sometimes they get along-other times they chase each other.
It infuriates me to see old, sick pets dumped at shelters instead of taken mercifully to the vet so they don't suffer not only the disease the owner can't or won't spend money on to treat. Her suffering is two fold. Sick and abandoned and obviously very loved at some point in her life.
Thank you for the information. I'm going to copy the pictures, print them, and put the artist's url on the back of the prints. When I take Hekitty in for microchipping in August, I'll take it to them. It is such a lovely idea.My cat's plaque is easy to spot - it's the ony one with stickers all over itI didn't put the stickers on, though. I was a member of the FDMB board at the time and a local member put the stickers on while she was there with her cat. The stickers are still there 4 years later, although one was starting to fall off the last time I took the cats in for a check up so I took it home and put it on my cat's urn.
I agree
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,827
- Purraise
- 1,032
So, I was looking under recommended videos on Youtube when I came across this video of a cat watching a horror movie. (Well, it was more of a kitten.) It looked cute until I realized: the cat must be able to understand everything that's going on in the movie to react like it did. It's sad.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,089
- Purraise
- 13,358
Not sure I would like to see horror movie-the kitten was probably what I would be watching more than the movie
I have a bad habit of following them around and watching them just because. They could be sleeping and I would watch them. yes I am a nut.
I keep getting extra snuggles from Ivy, Autumn and even Munchkin. It must be there birthday present for me. Couldn't ask for anything better from them.
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 8,089
- Purraise
- 13,358
Happy Birthday Rhondalee! I hope your kitties give you lots of purrs and meows for your birthday! Purrrr Meoww!!!
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,827
- Purraise
- 1,032
Happy Birthday!
So you got the Kayak! i've always wanted to try one, but it's been canoes for me all the way. Are you going to take it on white water at all? EDIT: I have messed up my quotes here - it is @Handsome Kitty who has the new kayak, I think?
My hat is off to you for volunteering for these babies. Poor Sunshine deserved so much better from her previous people. At least you will be there to offer her affection and love and that will mean a lot to her.
Happy Birthday!
Last edited:
@Rhondalee
OK,,,so, I'm back on Computersaurus Rex, but only because I got frustrated with the itty bitty keyboard and the not-a-mouse, This morning a very nice lady at Acer tech support actually listened to me when I told her I had never used a laptop, and while I was certain that the answer to my question was in the manual, I couldn't get online to GET to the manual, and that I've been, apparently, piggybacking off of my neighbors. She had me restart both Punk and the router. Immediately, I connected under my login name! By the time we managed that, I was totally frustrated, so I switched back. I cut my nails off short, so at least they won't be skidding on those flat keys. Tomorrow I am determined to use the Punk for most everything!
OK,,,so, I'm back on Computersaurus Rex, but only because I got frustrated with the itty bitty keyboard and the not-a-mouse, This morning a very nice lady at Acer tech support actually listened to me when I told her I had never used a laptop, and while I was certain that the answer to my question was in the manual, I couldn't get online to GET to the manual, and that I've been, apparently, piggybacking off of my neighbors. She had me restart both Punk and the router. Immediately, I connected under my login name! By the time we managed that, I was totally frustrated, so I switched back. I cut my nails off short, so at least they won't be skidding on those flat keys. Tomorrow I am determined to use the Punk for most everything!
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,827
- Purraise
- 1,032
Okay, want to post but nothing to say--so here's part of Chapter 1.
Chapter 1
Yarey pulled her hair back and tied it with the leather strip. She then flexed her arms and twisted slightly, in one of the exercises the weaponsmaster had taught her and her cousins, to make sure that her clothes wouldn't pull or hamper her movement in any way. They were perfect; she was glad she'd managed to trade for them from her cousin.
When she'd been a small child her father had died in the war, and her mother had gone back to live with her brother, Isdel—while pregnant with Yarey. For years Isdel had pretty much ignored her existence; oh, she shared lessons with her cousins (her uncle's sons, Kalvor and Kaldin), but he rarely spoke to her or even acknowledged her existence. Then, about two months ago, his attitude suddenly changed. It was as though he suddenly remembered she was a girl.
He pulled her out of weaponswork, got her fitted for court gowns, and had a tutor teach her to walk, talk, and move like a proper young lady of her rank. She'd hated it. The gowns were severely restrictive, the shoes were pure torture, and she'd enjoyed weaponswork.
Even now she was glad that she was the same size as her Kaldin's girlfriend. That meant she'd been able to trade her court gown (that everyone swore was beautiful) for his old workout clothes. She didn't see anything wrong; the girl would get a court gown that (as a shepherdess) she wouldn't normally be able to get, her cousin would get points with her and her family, and her uncle would never know what had happened since she'd be away at school.
She carefully packed her few belongings (most of her needs would be supplied by the school), and slipped the long handle of her pack over her shoulder. She then grinned at the room, empty and waiting for the next occupant. She was finally going to be going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country—and she'd be out from under her uncle's eye while doing so.
She left the room and thanked her hosts for allowing her to stay. She was well aware that they'd had no choice; Isdel was their landlord and he'd laid down the edict that they had to look after her until the opening ceremony of school. Still, she'd tried to be a polite and considerate guest for them. “Thank you for looking after me,” she said politely.
The man glared at her. “I hope they eat you alive,” he snarled.
His wife patted him on the shoulder. “Now, now,” she said absently. She smiled at Yarey. “Have a good time, and study hard.”
“I will, thank you,” said Yarey as she left the house and joined the small stream of people walking towards the tall, pale rose colored walls surrounding the school. She knew that the man didn't hate her, but was projecting his anger at Isdel forcing her as a guest onto him. She understood it, and didn't take offense. Isdel was surprisingly good at upsetting people, and had been like that since she was a small child.
She took more delight in looking around at the people walking towards the school. Some of them were dressed in court finery, as her uncle had wanted her to dress in. The tightly laced stays gave a specific curved silhouette to the young women wearing them, the ruffled laces and petticoats swirled around their legs, and she knew from experience that those pretty little black boots really pinched the feet. She had no idea how the other girls could wear them; much less walk in them.
She identified more with the people who seemed to be dressed like she was; they were wearing flexible linen and leather designed originally for practicing weaponswork. Unlike those of her fellow students streaming to the school hers were a little bit loose on her, but she liked it. It was easy to move in. She didn't like having her movements restricted.
She looked at the rosy wall as it towered above her. The gates, iron wrought in the design of roses complete with wicked looking thorns, were easily twice as tall as she was, even if they were open. Passing through those gates meant that she was no longer beholden to Isdel. If she chose, she'd never have to live under the same roof as her cousins again.
She was filled with a sense of giddy freedom and suddenly took off running for the gate. She reveled in the sensation of her feet hitting the cobblestones through the boots. She leaped over the threshold of the gate—and time seemed to freeze for a moment. She was surrounded by a warm, gentle feeling, and she felt the brush of a hand push a lock of hair out of her face. The moment passed and she landed on the ground, turning to look at the gates again. Students passing through had brief expressions of puzzlement, wonder, and one girl looked horrified.
“New students,” a voice called out. Yarey turned to see a young woman wearing a white linen blouse with a blue leather vest and blue canvas breeches. On her right shoulder was an orange patch in the shape of a star. The young woman herself was tanned, wearing no cosmetics, and her hair was pulled back in much the same way as Yarey's was. The woman clapped her hands together. “New students, gather around me; we'll need to close the gate as soon as all of you are safely on this side.”
Yarey hung back slightly and allowed the others to go in front of her. She didn't really like being in the attention zone of authority figures, and she figured being closer to the back of the group would keep her out of the young woman's eye. She fell into group at the rear as the gates slammed closed behind her. She whirled to see a foot wide gap between the two halves of the gate—and the iron thorny rose vines grew to cover the gap until the gate was a seamless whole.
“Yes,” the young woman said as beyond the gate the townspeople began to leave their homes. “The gate and walls are sentient, and they do not like people trying to cross them.” A loud snickering laugh caught Yarey's attention and she looked back at the young woman—in time to see the orange star peel itself off the sleeve to hover next to the young woman's head. “All right everyone, my name is Virik, and this is my soulling, Kough.”
“What's a soulling?” asked one of the students.
“I think I'll let the headmaster answer that. Come along; we don't want to be late for the ceremony.” She turned and the students hesitantly followed her.
Perhaps, if she kept her voice down, Yarey could start a conversation and make a new friend. She didn't really start conversations back at home, but she could now. Walking next to her was a girl her age wearing a slightly darker shade of blue than the young woman that was their guide. Where the young woman looked as though she was ready for battle, the girl was dressed in court finery. Her hair was a rich blond, her skin pale, and she had a small scattering of freckles across her bridge of her nose. Yarey hoped her feet didn't pinch too much in the shoes, but thought that the flat hat looked nice. The gray feathers gave it an almost whimsical look. “It's nice to meet you,” Yarey ventured.
The girl glanced at Yarey through the corner of her eye. “You,” proclaimed the girl primly, “will not last past the first day.”
Yarey turned at the sound of someone making a rude noise. The boy she now faced was the same age, dressed in a similar fashion to Yarey, but his clothes were slightly more threadbare and worn than hers were. His skin was darker than any she'd ever seen before—but this school admitted students from all across the country. He could easily be from the Artasurn region down in the south.
The boy made a face at the girl to Yarey's left. “Some people,” he announced boldly, “have their nose so far in the air that they'll drown if it rains. And will they look down to save themselves?” He shook his head. “Of course not—after all, all their friends are drowning, why shouldn't they?”
Yarey couldn't help herself. She giggled, and then ducked her head. The tutor Isdel had hired to teach her to be a lady had proclaimed that Yarey's giggles were coarse and unrefined and ordered her to never allow one to slip in public.
She saw the boy grin and his teeth flashed white against the dark of his skin. “Nice ta meetcha,” he said extending a hand. “My name's Ban'cha.”
Not entirely certain why he was extending a hand, Yarey mimicked the gesture. “Yarey,” she said. “It's pleasant to meet you as well.”
The boy shook her hand and then gave a low whistle. “You sure speak high,” he commented. “Yer pa's a noble?”
She shook her head as a tall, white structure came into view. “I am not entirely certain what my father was,” she said. “I do not recall meeting him.”
“Well, this school does allow anybody to take the entrance exam,” the girl to Yarey's left commented. “I suppose that means it also allows those who are not properly pedigreed.”
Yarey was far too used to insinuations that she was a ******* to take insult to the comment. The girl was clearly not going to respond to friendly overtures, but Ban'cha had made one of his own. “What do you think the entrance exam is going to be?” she asked him.
She had asked people on Isdel's estate what the entrance exam was—but no one knew. There were all sorts of wild rumors and speculations from a sixty-seven page written exam (unlikely as one did not have to be literate to take the exam) to battling the headmaster's pet monster (also unlikely as the exam was open to those with physical ailments that made conventional battle impossible). The exam was likely not magical in nature, as there was no requirement for magical abilities. Still, all of that was merely conjecture on what the exam wasn't—there wasn't anything to giver her a clue as to what the exam was, and she was afraid of failing. She did not want to return in failure.
Ban'cha chuckled. “I've heard rumors, same's you,” he said amused as the group came to a stop in front of the tall white building. “Nothin' concrete.”
Yarey nodded. She was a little disappointed, but she understood. It was the same hurdle she herself had come across after all.
The orange star floated over them. “You'll want to stop talking and pay attention children,” it chided. You're about to enter a new phase of your lives.” It laughed and flew back over their heads, towards the young woman.
“All right everyone,” she said. “I'm sure all of you can see the large brown doors behind me, unless you can't see anything.” Yarey understood the sentiment; the brown doors were large, and took up almost half of the width of the building. “When these doors open you will file in. The graduating students will hand you an orange ribbon, and you will hold on to those as long as you're here. They get handed to the next group of students, when you graduate. Assuming, of course,” added the young woman thoughtfully, “that you pass the exam.”
“What happens if you fail?” asked Yarey timidly.
“What was that?” asked the young woman, and a student repeated the question louder. “Well, if you fail one of two things will happen. You will either get sent back to your parents—or you die.” Before anyone could respond to that grim comment the doors opened to reveal a spacious interior. Yarey followed the students in front of her as they filed into the room and she stared in awe.
All of the buildings on Isdel's estates, all of the buildings that she'd ever seen, were built in layers. This building looked as though someone had placed a giant crate on the ground and gave it a door for entrance and exit. The floor was made of hardwood, much like the dancing room back on the estate, and it was polished and waxed. Under the wax were circles. Some of the circles looked large enough that all of the students could stand in one, but some of them looked barely large enough for a person to stand in. As she passed over the circles she felt the tell-tale residual vibration of magical energy in them. What were they? What could they be for?
In front of them was a group of adults. The adults (who had to be the graduating class) were standing and each was, as Virik had claimed, holding an orange ribbon. They were wearing dark blue robes that contrasted greatly with the ribbons. Yarey couldn't help but notice that there seemed to be far fewer of the graduating class than there were of the new students ready to take the entrance exam.
Beyond the graduating class was a stage. On the stage was an older, battle-scarred man about Isdel's age, a giant box filled with what appeared to be giant chicken eggs, and a monster. She stared at the scaled red and black monster with horror. “Is it dangerous?” she whispered.
“Only if it's hungry,” a voice behind her said. She turned slightly to see a woman wearing a long white robe. The woman grinned at her. “And never people. We're almost certain that boy ran away.”
“Students!” barked the man on the stage getting their immediate attention. “I am the headmaster at this school, and my name is Zachi. Graduates! Pass on your ribbons, and choose wisely.”
The graduating class moved among the new possible students with searching eyes and multiple ribbons in their fists. None of them said a word. The new possible students didn't say a word either. Suddenly one of them stopped and made eye contact with Yarey. The gaze of the light brown eye felt heavy; almost as if the person wielding it was seeing into her very soul. Suddenly the person (impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman) nodded and handed the ribbon to Yarey.
“Thank you,” said Yarey, startled.
The graduate grinned, but took off in silence. Soon all the graduates were gone from the room leaving only the potential new students. The doors closed again and Zachi looked around at the potential students, who now each had a ribbon. “You,” he said grimly, “are not yet students. If you pass your entrance exam, then you will be students. All of you, however, are blank slates. Your future is not yet written, and for some of you it will be very short indeed.” He looked around the potential students again. Then his hand suddenly shot into the box and pulled out an egg. “This is your exam,” he said. “You will carry this egg around with you until it hatches. You will have it with you eating, sleeping, and bathing. Inside the egg will form a creature that is created from your personality. That creature is known as a soulling. Should your soulling not, or not attempt to, kill you or any of your fellow potential students you will become a student.” He put the egg back in the box and pet the red and black creature on the head. “This is my soulling, Shynn.” The creature's yellow eyes traveled over the room.
“If you pass,” Zachi continued looking around the room again, “you will graduate. Some of you have no magic. You will learn to battle those who do. Some of you have magic. You will learn to battle those who don't. All of you will learn how to battle. Some of you have never learned to read. You will learn. Once you are students your teachers will work with you to create a curriculum that is tailored to you.
“As potential students, and later as students if you pass,” Zachi said with another warning glare to the potential students, “you will live on campus. We have a mess hall to feed the students, teachers, and cleaning staff. Punishments are chore duty. The gates open to admit new students and to allow graduates to go out into the world.
“Your soulling egg will hatch in three to seven days. We will give you two weeks for your soulling to develop, and the teachers in charge of you will be learning about you to better coordinate your curriculum. Now, in single file, come and get your eggs.”
A man about Zachi's age stepped onto stage and whispered something in his ear that made him scowl. “While you are here we will provide you clothes, shoes, and shelter. You will not starve; we do not restrict food as a punishment.” He looked at the man irritably. “All right?” The man nodded and stepped back. “Now, single file, get eggs,” said Zachi.
Chapter 1
Yarey pulled her hair back and tied it with the leather strip. She then flexed her arms and twisted slightly, in one of the exercises the weaponsmaster had taught her and her cousins, to make sure that her clothes wouldn't pull or hamper her movement in any way. They were perfect; she was glad she'd managed to trade for them from her cousin.
When she'd been a small child her father had died in the war, and her mother had gone back to live with her brother, Isdel—while pregnant with Yarey. For years Isdel had pretty much ignored her existence; oh, she shared lessons with her cousins (her uncle's sons, Kalvor and Kaldin), but he rarely spoke to her or even acknowledged her existence. Then, about two months ago, his attitude suddenly changed. It was as though he suddenly remembered she was a girl.
He pulled her out of weaponswork, got her fitted for court gowns, and had a tutor teach her to walk, talk, and move like a proper young lady of her rank. She'd hated it. The gowns were severely restrictive, the shoes were pure torture, and she'd enjoyed weaponswork.
Even now she was glad that she was the same size as her Kaldin's girlfriend. That meant she'd been able to trade her court gown (that everyone swore was beautiful) for his old workout clothes. She didn't see anything wrong; the girl would get a court gown that (as a shepherdess) she wouldn't normally be able to get, her cousin would get points with her and her family, and her uncle would never know what had happened since she'd be away at school.
She carefully packed her few belongings (most of her needs would be supplied by the school), and slipped the long handle of her pack over her shoulder. She then grinned at the room, empty and waiting for the next occupant. She was finally going to be going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country—and she'd be out from under her uncle's eye while doing so.
She left the room and thanked her hosts for allowing her to stay. She was well aware that they'd had no choice; Isdel was their landlord and he'd laid down the edict that they had to look after her until the opening ceremony of school. Still, she'd tried to be a polite and considerate guest for them. “Thank you for looking after me,” she said politely.
The man glared at her. “I hope they eat you alive,” he snarled.
His wife patted him on the shoulder. “Now, now,” she said absently. She smiled at Yarey. “Have a good time, and study hard.”
“I will, thank you,” said Yarey as she left the house and joined the small stream of people walking towards the tall, pale rose colored walls surrounding the school. She knew that the man didn't hate her, but was projecting his anger at Isdel forcing her as a guest onto him. She understood it, and didn't take offense. Isdel was surprisingly good at upsetting people, and had been like that since she was a small child.
She took more delight in looking around at the people walking towards the school. Some of them were dressed in court finery, as her uncle had wanted her to dress in. The tightly laced stays gave a specific curved silhouette to the young women wearing them, the ruffled laces and petticoats swirled around their legs, and she knew from experience that those pretty little black boots really pinched the feet. She had no idea how the other girls could wear them; much less walk in them.
She identified more with the people who seemed to be dressed like she was; they were wearing flexible linen and leather designed originally for practicing weaponswork. Unlike those of her fellow students streaming to the school hers were a little bit loose on her, but she liked it. It was easy to move in. She didn't like having her movements restricted.
She looked at the rosy wall as it towered above her. The gates, iron wrought in the design of roses complete with wicked looking thorns, were easily twice as tall as she was, even if they were open. Passing through those gates meant that she was no longer beholden to Isdel. If she chose, she'd never have to live under the same roof as her cousins again.
She was filled with a sense of giddy freedom and suddenly took off running for the gate. She reveled in the sensation of her feet hitting the cobblestones through the boots. She leaped over the threshold of the gate—and time seemed to freeze for a moment. She was surrounded by a warm, gentle feeling, and she felt the brush of a hand push a lock of hair out of her face. The moment passed and she landed on the ground, turning to look at the gates again. Students passing through had brief expressions of puzzlement, wonder, and one girl looked horrified.
“New students,” a voice called out. Yarey turned to see a young woman wearing a white linen blouse with a blue leather vest and blue canvas breeches. On her right shoulder was an orange patch in the shape of a star. The young woman herself was tanned, wearing no cosmetics, and her hair was pulled back in much the same way as Yarey's was. The woman clapped her hands together. “New students, gather around me; we'll need to close the gate as soon as all of you are safely on this side.”
Yarey hung back slightly and allowed the others to go in front of her. She didn't really like being in the attention zone of authority figures, and she figured being closer to the back of the group would keep her out of the young woman's eye. She fell into group at the rear as the gates slammed closed behind her. She whirled to see a foot wide gap between the two halves of the gate—and the iron thorny rose vines grew to cover the gap until the gate was a seamless whole.
“Yes,” the young woman said as beyond the gate the townspeople began to leave their homes. “The gate and walls are sentient, and they do not like people trying to cross them.” A loud snickering laugh caught Yarey's attention and she looked back at the young woman—in time to see the orange star peel itself off the sleeve to hover next to the young woman's head. “All right everyone, my name is Virik, and this is my soulling, Kough.”
“What's a soulling?” asked one of the students.
“I think I'll let the headmaster answer that. Come along; we don't want to be late for the ceremony.” She turned and the students hesitantly followed her.
Perhaps, if she kept her voice down, Yarey could start a conversation and make a new friend. She didn't really start conversations back at home, but she could now. Walking next to her was a girl her age wearing a slightly darker shade of blue than the young woman that was their guide. Where the young woman looked as though she was ready for battle, the girl was dressed in court finery. Her hair was a rich blond, her skin pale, and she had a small scattering of freckles across her bridge of her nose. Yarey hoped her feet didn't pinch too much in the shoes, but thought that the flat hat looked nice. The gray feathers gave it an almost whimsical look. “It's nice to meet you,” Yarey ventured.
The girl glanced at Yarey through the corner of her eye. “You,” proclaimed the girl primly, “will not last past the first day.”
Yarey turned at the sound of someone making a rude noise. The boy she now faced was the same age, dressed in a similar fashion to Yarey, but his clothes were slightly more threadbare and worn than hers were. His skin was darker than any she'd ever seen before—but this school admitted students from all across the country. He could easily be from the Artasurn region down in the south.
The boy made a face at the girl to Yarey's left. “Some people,” he announced boldly, “have their nose so far in the air that they'll drown if it rains. And will they look down to save themselves?” He shook his head. “Of course not—after all, all their friends are drowning, why shouldn't they?”
Yarey couldn't help herself. She giggled, and then ducked her head. The tutor Isdel had hired to teach her to be a lady had proclaimed that Yarey's giggles were coarse and unrefined and ordered her to never allow one to slip in public.
She saw the boy grin and his teeth flashed white against the dark of his skin. “Nice ta meetcha,” he said extending a hand. “My name's Ban'cha.”
Not entirely certain why he was extending a hand, Yarey mimicked the gesture. “Yarey,” she said. “It's pleasant to meet you as well.”
The boy shook her hand and then gave a low whistle. “You sure speak high,” he commented. “Yer pa's a noble?”
She shook her head as a tall, white structure came into view. “I am not entirely certain what my father was,” she said. “I do not recall meeting him.”
“Well, this school does allow anybody to take the entrance exam,” the girl to Yarey's left commented. “I suppose that means it also allows those who are not properly pedigreed.”
Yarey was far too used to insinuations that she was a ******* to take insult to the comment. The girl was clearly not going to respond to friendly overtures, but Ban'cha had made one of his own. “What do you think the entrance exam is going to be?” she asked him.
She had asked people on Isdel's estate what the entrance exam was—but no one knew. There were all sorts of wild rumors and speculations from a sixty-seven page written exam (unlikely as one did not have to be literate to take the exam) to battling the headmaster's pet monster (also unlikely as the exam was open to those with physical ailments that made conventional battle impossible). The exam was likely not magical in nature, as there was no requirement for magical abilities. Still, all of that was merely conjecture on what the exam wasn't—there wasn't anything to giver her a clue as to what the exam was, and she was afraid of failing. She did not want to return in failure.
Ban'cha chuckled. “I've heard rumors, same's you,” he said amused as the group came to a stop in front of the tall white building. “Nothin' concrete.”
Yarey nodded. She was a little disappointed, but she understood. It was the same hurdle she herself had come across after all.
The orange star floated over them. “You'll want to stop talking and pay attention children,” it chided. You're about to enter a new phase of your lives.” It laughed and flew back over their heads, towards the young woman.
“All right everyone,” she said. “I'm sure all of you can see the large brown doors behind me, unless you can't see anything.” Yarey understood the sentiment; the brown doors were large, and took up almost half of the width of the building. “When these doors open you will file in. The graduating students will hand you an orange ribbon, and you will hold on to those as long as you're here. They get handed to the next group of students, when you graduate. Assuming, of course,” added the young woman thoughtfully, “that you pass the exam.”
“What happens if you fail?” asked Yarey timidly.
“What was that?” asked the young woman, and a student repeated the question louder. “Well, if you fail one of two things will happen. You will either get sent back to your parents—or you die.” Before anyone could respond to that grim comment the doors opened to reveal a spacious interior. Yarey followed the students in front of her as they filed into the room and she stared in awe.
All of the buildings on Isdel's estates, all of the buildings that she'd ever seen, were built in layers. This building looked as though someone had placed a giant crate on the ground and gave it a door for entrance and exit. The floor was made of hardwood, much like the dancing room back on the estate, and it was polished and waxed. Under the wax were circles. Some of the circles looked large enough that all of the students could stand in one, but some of them looked barely large enough for a person to stand in. As she passed over the circles she felt the tell-tale residual vibration of magical energy in them. What were they? What could they be for?
In front of them was a group of adults. The adults (who had to be the graduating class) were standing and each was, as Virik had claimed, holding an orange ribbon. They were wearing dark blue robes that contrasted greatly with the ribbons. Yarey couldn't help but notice that there seemed to be far fewer of the graduating class than there were of the new students ready to take the entrance exam.
Beyond the graduating class was a stage. On the stage was an older, battle-scarred man about Isdel's age, a giant box filled with what appeared to be giant chicken eggs, and a monster. She stared at the scaled red and black monster with horror. “Is it dangerous?” she whispered.
“Only if it's hungry,” a voice behind her said. She turned slightly to see a woman wearing a long white robe. The woman grinned at her. “And never people. We're almost certain that boy ran away.”
“Students!” barked the man on the stage getting their immediate attention. “I am the headmaster at this school, and my name is Zachi. Graduates! Pass on your ribbons, and choose wisely.”
The graduating class moved among the new possible students with searching eyes and multiple ribbons in their fists. None of them said a word. The new possible students didn't say a word either. Suddenly one of them stopped and made eye contact with Yarey. The gaze of the light brown eye felt heavy; almost as if the person wielding it was seeing into her very soul. Suddenly the person (impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman) nodded and handed the ribbon to Yarey.
“Thank you,” said Yarey, startled.
The graduate grinned, but took off in silence. Soon all the graduates were gone from the room leaving only the potential new students. The doors closed again and Zachi looked around at the potential students, who now each had a ribbon. “You,” he said grimly, “are not yet students. If you pass your entrance exam, then you will be students. All of you, however, are blank slates. Your future is not yet written, and for some of you it will be very short indeed.” He looked around the potential students again. Then his hand suddenly shot into the box and pulled out an egg. “This is your exam,” he said. “You will carry this egg around with you until it hatches. You will have it with you eating, sleeping, and bathing. Inside the egg will form a creature that is created from your personality. That creature is known as a soulling. Should your soulling not, or not attempt to, kill you or any of your fellow potential students you will become a student.” He put the egg back in the box and pet the red and black creature on the head. “This is my soulling, Shynn.” The creature's yellow eyes traveled over the room.
“If you pass,” Zachi continued looking around the room again, “you will graduate. Some of you have no magic. You will learn to battle those who do. Some of you have magic. You will learn to battle those who don't. All of you will learn how to battle. Some of you have never learned to read. You will learn. Once you are students your teachers will work with you to create a curriculum that is tailored to you.
“As potential students, and later as students if you pass,” Zachi said with another warning glare to the potential students, “you will live on campus. We have a mess hall to feed the students, teachers, and cleaning staff. Punishments are chore duty. The gates open to admit new students and to allow graduates to go out into the world.
“Your soulling egg will hatch in three to seven days. We will give you two weeks for your soulling to develop, and the teachers in charge of you will be learning about you to better coordinate your curriculum. Now, in single file, come and get your eggs.”
A man about Zachi's age stepped onto stage and whispered something in his ear that made him scowl. “While you are here we will provide you clothes, shoes, and shelter. You will not starve; we do not restrict food as a punishment.” He looked at the man irritably. “All right?” The man nodded and stepped back. “Now, single file, get eggs,” said Zachi.
Last edited:
I'm going to dig through my drawer of discards and look for a mouse. Yes the undersized keyboards are horrible. But your fingers will adapt.
@Rhondalee
OK,,,so, I'm back on Computersaurus Rex, but only because I got frustrated with the itty bitty keyboard and the not-a-mouse, This morning a very nice lady at Acer tech support actually listened to me when I told her I had never used a laptop, and while I was certain that the answer to my question was in the manual, I couldn't get online to GET to the manual, and that I've been, apparently, piggybacking off of my neighbors. She had me restart both Punk and the router. Immediately, I connected under my login name! By the time we managed that, I was totally frustrated, so I switched back. I cut my nails off short, so at least they won't be skidding on those flat keys. Tomorrow I am determined to use the Punk for most everything!
Happy Birthday @Rhondalee
@Handsome Kitty cool kayak. Do you live where you can walk it to the water ?
Sorry to hear that your insomnia is back; that's incredibly hard to deal with. Um, "kibble maze"?
I'm so glad to hear Roger is coming home.I bet he'll be delighted to finally be "free" again.
It's 3:45 am here and my insomnia is back. My apartment is completely silent except these little crunching sounds coming from the kibble maze in the next room. There's something wonderfully peaceful about such quiet little night noises.
I had some kind of dream right at the edge of waking up this morning that had little crunching noises, which made no sense at all in the dream. When I realized that, and that it was, in fact, a dream, instead of turning it into a lucid dream it woke me up and I realized that the little crunching sounds were Jasmine in her litter box. Still don't remember what the dream was actually about, though.
Roger called this morning to say that checkout time is 11:59 p.m., so I'm taking my time with food, coffee, email, TCS, and a shower. I'll call when I'm ready to leave and let him know that I'm on my way.
Margret
I hope Roger's checkout and homecoming went smoothly. How is he doing?
"Kibble maze" Ha ha! I couldn't think of what to call it. This thing: Catit Design Senses Treat Maze. Well, I got the word "maze" right. View media item 354379
"Kibble maze" Ha ha! I couldn't think of what to call it. This thing: Catit Design Senses Treat Maze. Well, I got the word "maze" right. View media item 354379
Mercy loves hers. She'll choose to eat her kibble out of that before a bowl. I have caught her just knocking the food through and Mook sitting there eating the fallout. I have a lifelong sleep disorder. The one thing that works consistently is Benadryl. And it has far fewer side effects than the sleep aids the doctors have prescribed. Ambien gave me a bout of amnesia years ago. It took days for me to function again.
Last edited:
@Rhondalee Happy Birthday!! What kind of cake or birthday treat will you have?
@Margd @kittens mom The closest whitewater is 3 hours away. I will just play with it in the pool. Our other kayaks are too long, 12 or 14 feet, this one is only 8 feet long. The pool is 20 x 40 feet. There are a couple of lakes nearby that I can take it too as well.
@Tallyollyopia What a cliff hanger!
@Margd @kittens mom The closest whitewater is 3 hours away. I will just play with it in the pool. Our other kayaks are too long, 12 or 14 feet, this one is only 8 feet long. The pool is 20 x 40 feet. There are a couple of lakes nearby that I can take it too as well.
@Tallyollyopia What a cliff hanger!
White water. I'm not a coward but I promise me and a kayak in white water would equal yellow water.
- Status
