Analysis of "A Clean, Well Lit Place"

In the story the man at in the café was in the corner, underneath the shadows of the tree. But in the video he was not. This annoyed many people and I’m sure it would not be smiled upon in the eyes of Ernest Hemingway. The whole symbolism is about how he is in the shadows. What’s the point of symbolism if it’s not even portrayed?

Another thing that was different in the video than the writing was the location and language. In the story it takes place in Spain, which is easily noticeable by some of the slang that the waiters use. Words like hombre and nada are used commonly in the story while in the video they are completely void.

Something that was hard to notice yet true to the story was the way the older waiter sat in the video. He slouched in an uncomfortable way that only could have been for symbolism. He always talks about how he wants a well-lit place with no shadows and the way he is sitting makes it so that no shadows are on his body. The younger waiter, however, slouches forward and his entire front torso is covered in shadows. A clever little symbolism by the director of this film. All in all the film made the point the story made while unfortunately changing a couple of important things. 

A clean, well lit place

The two waiters are different in a way. One has an outlook on life that is quite positive and respects the café, while the other really only cares about himself and really has no respect for any customers or people that annoy him. The café symbolizes a place that is away from the bad things in life, a place to escape it all. 

Compare and Contrast

Author's Note: This is a writing piece that I wrote for Language arts to demonstrate my understanding of the compare and contrast skill. 

Deborah Sampson is a war hero, like all veterans. Katniss Everdeen was a hero to her district. They’re both heroes in their own ways but have many other similar qualities. Both Deb and Katniss have sort of dysfunctional families.  Deb’s mom gave her up to be an indentured servant, the equivalent of a white slave. Katniss’  mother went into sleep mode when Katniss’ father died and stopped providing for her already small family. A way they are different is that Deb’s mom had very strict control over her until she ran away, pretended to be a man, and joined the military. On the other hand, Katniss’ mom is very loose about her, mainly because she doesn’t like to have anything to do with her. The reason for this is the mom has become very bitter about the way Katniss’ treats Prim. Katniss is like a second mom to her, better than the real one, and for this, Katniss’ mom disapproves. The one major thing that makes them so similar is the fact that they both had to leave their families for what seemed like a death sentence. Even though one chose to leave and the other wanted to they still had their lives on the line while far away from home. 

Deborah Sampson

Author's Note: This is a piece I wrote off of the book Soldier's Secret. I wrote this to demonstrate my proficiency on Theme Analysis.

A brand new country and freedom, this is what the women of the revolution wanted to fight for, yet they couldn’t. This was the case with Deborah Sampson in Soldier’s Secret, a brave woman, who wasn’t allowed to fight. Raised kind of like a boy, she was allowed to learn, she was allowed to read, and she hunted. Although she still couldn’t help her country in the conflict with England. That’s when she became determined to deceive everybody by dressing, acting, and talking like a man.

Deborah’s determined to be a man, not to actually change her gender, but to act like a man to prove she will fight for her forming country.  The way that even after she can’t perfectly deceive the guards the first time, but changes her name and tries again just proves that she wants to fight. All of the adversity just makes her want to prove herself even more, the only problem is she can’t tell anyone. It’s not just that Deborah wants to deceive everybody, it is just that she wants to prove that women aren’t weak and they should be allowed to make their own choices. Deborah wants to prove that she’s tougher than most of the guys in her squad.

Just like Deborah wants to prove she can be a better man than some, she is also determined to show her mother that she can make her own decisions. Throughout Deborah’s life her mother had control, and whenever Deborah would do something, more often than not, mom would disapprove. Even when Deborah was working for a family her mother promised a man to her without consulting the bride. It wasn’t just any man though, it was a man with the IQ level of a rock. This enraged Deb and helped her make her decision to seek out the military.

Deborah wants to prove she can be a man and make her own decisions, kind of like Katniss Everdeen. Katniss was trying to prove she could survive the Hunger Games and was determined to win for her family. Both of the characters have mothers that don’t take care of them very well. Deb’s mom only takes care of three of her children, Deborah no included,  and is always disapproving while Katniss’ mom never provides anything for her family. Katniss is determined to survive and protect her family while Deb is determined to protect her country.

Deborah Sampson was a brave soldier who fought harder than any man. In the end she suffered more than some, through loss and injury. With a striking resemblance to Katniss Everdeen, Soldier’s Secret is a novel built upon determination entirely, as Deborah Sampson was one determined woman. 

Uncle Peter

Author's Note: This is a piece I wrote for Language arts to show my proficiency on the skill Predicting. This is written about the main character of the book "Touching Spirit Bear" 

Cole took a nice relaxing breath. It was either make it or break it here. He didn’t want to end up like his father, he grew up being beaten so why shouldn’t he beat his own son? Cole realized it was wrong. He had a tough day at work and stopped at the bar on his way home,  his brain had been in a haze and he didn’t know what he was doing. One moment he’s opening the door to get home, luckily he didn’t crash being the drunk driver he is, and the next he’s got his son on the floor his belt raised high. The anger he had hidden inside was rising up to the surface. He didn’t even do anything. Cole thought. Cole’s son, Ed, was crying on the floor. If I start now, I’ll never be able to stop.  He extend a hand to help his sobbing son off the floor. “Dad? What was that all about?” Six year old Ed asked.

“When I was a kid, I was very angry at the world, mostly because I was beaten by my father. That’s why I’ve tried to make you as feel as loved as possible.” That’s when Cole proceeded to tell his son his life changing journey and the people who helped him through it.

Almost as if on cue, right when Cole finishes speaking the doorbell rings. “Looks like your Uncle Peter is here!” Exclaimed Cole with a grin on his face. 

Prediction for Touching Spirit Bear

Authors Note: This is a prediction written  for the book Touching Spirit Bear. This piece is used to demonstrate my proficiency in predicting. 

Cole took a nice relaxing breath. It was either make it or break it here. He didn’t want to end up like his father, he grew up being beaten so why shouldn’t he beat his own son? Cole realized it was wrong. He had a tough day at work and stopped at the bar on his way home,  his brain had been in a haze and he didn’t know what he was doing. One moment he’s opening the door to get home, luckily he didn’t crash being the drunk driver he is, and the next he’s got his son on the floor his belt raised high. The anger he had hidden inside was rising up to the surface. He didn’t even do anything. Cole thought. Cole’s son, Ed, was crying on the floor. If I start now, I’ll never be able to stop.  He extend a hand to help his sobbing son off the floor. “Dad? What was that all about?” Six year old Ed asked.

“When I was a kid, I was very angry at the world, mostly because I was beaten by my father. That’s why I’ve tried to make you as feel as loved as possible.” That’s when Cole proceeded to tell his son his life changing journey and the people who helped him through it.

Almost as if on cue, right when Cole finishes speaking the doorbell rings. “Looks like your Uncle Peter is here!” Exclaimed Cole with a grin on his face. 

Cole Mathews

Author's Note: This is a piece I wrote for language arts to demonstrate my proficiency on the character analysis skill. This is based off of the book "Touching Spirit Bear". 

A teenage boy is angry with the world. He blames all of his mishaps on other people, never himself. This the case with Cole Mathews, the main character of the book Touching Spirit Bear. He is a self-centered individual with no care for others, including his own parents. On one hand, his mom is a puppet who never stands up for him, and for that, he hates her. On the other, his dad is a drunk who is probably the one who Cole get all of his traits from. This man doesn’t know his only son’s birthday, and beats him frequently, just as frequently as he denies it. Cole gets into some trouble and is banished to an island whose only other inhabitants are animals. During the book Cole’s anger gets the best of him and he attacks the bear, possibly mortally wounding him.

Cole’s view of the world changes. While Cole is subdued but conscious with his injuries, he starts to reflect on life. He starts to realize that life is precious for him and he doesn’t want it to end. Cole doesn’t particularly like his own, but he wants to hang on. Lying in his own filth, Cole watches some baby birds and loathes, he notices they have a mother that cares about them, brings them food when they can’t, and provide them shelter. During a storm the storm a tree is knocked down and the babies are killed. Sadness wallows up inside Cole as he realizes that life is precious and he doesn’t want to die.

Garvey’s view of Cole changes as well.  Before the banishment Garvey likes Cole, but doesn’t totally hop onboard with the fact that he wants change. After Cole is injured by the bear Garvey starts to believe that his angry is starting to wither away. The way that Garvey believes that Cole wants a second chance to prove himself is enough proof that Garvey is starting to become friends with Cole, Cole’s only friend. He tries to help Cole in every possible way but in the beginning he didn’t try to hide the fact that he knew Cole was lying about change.

Touching Spirit Bear is similar to another story called Thank You Ma’am written in the 20’s. They both feature a teenager that isn’t cared for by anybody and come home everyday to a non-loving home. Cole is similar to Roger in the fact that they are both helped by almost complete strangers in the beginning, tried to deny their help, but in the end both coming out as different individuals. Roger was a poor boy who tried to steal stuff for his own benefit, Cole hurt people. Stealing from people is like hurting them in the sense that you are taking something that may help them get through times, while hurting them is like stealing in the sense that you are stealing some livelihood and happiness from someone. They both ended up kinder and gentler folk.

Cole changed in many ways on the island with the Spirit Bear. The most being the way others, specifically Garvey, viewed him, and they way that he saw the world and life. Cole finally recognized beauty on the island, and that showed same on the inside for him. 

Mr. Mason's Jars

Author's Note: This is a prediction that I have for the ending of the 3:15 story Mr. Mason's Jars. This also includes whether I was right or wrong. 

I think that Troy will never be the same again. When he opened the jar, a bug came out and possessed him,  he became a zombie, like Dave. I think that Mr. Mason had something in the jar that sucks the life out of unruly students. Molly will be angry that her new boyfriend is now a vegetable and will want revenge.

I was mostly right with my prediction where I stated that Troy would become a zombie and no longer have a personality.  Although it wasn't a bug and you can't really be sure of he was possessed or not. I thin that Troy and the other unlucky students will be stuck like that for the rest of their lifetimes because it doesn't seem like that you can regrow or regain your personality back. As for Mr. Mason, nobody will ever be sure of what he is doing and he will keep getting away with it, every time. Molly will keep her head down and try not to end up like her boyfriend. In her spare time she will try to nurse Troy back to sanity but to no prevail. 

Cole Mathews

Cole Mathews is a very violent individual. He gets in fights all the time and damages other kids body's. Instead of going to prison Cole decides to go to an island where the mythical Spirit Bear is supposed to live. During the stay on the island Cole is wounded by the animal. He changes his attitude greatly. At the beginning he doesn't care for any others bu towards the end he is kinder and helps other people. He also changed Gary's attitude towards him. Gary believed that Cole could changed but wasn't very fond of him. When Cole goes through his drastic change he is more friendly to the juvenile. The third change is that Peter, the one who Cole damaged permanently, starts to become friends with Cole. He starts to do things with Cole and trust him more as a person. The fire that burned in Cole's heart at the beginning of the book is no more.

What would I tell our founding fathers?

Author's Note: This piece was written for the Patriot's Pen essay competition, which the prompt was what would I say to our founding fathers.

What would I tell our Founding Fathers?  I’d ask them why they didn’t give up. It’s purely amazing how nobody gave up. During and after the war things looked hopeless. Sure we might’ve had the beginners luck, but where would we go? That is a time where I think I might’ve given up.

During the Revolutionary war it looked like we didn’t stand a chance. The British had some of the best naval ships in the world, not to mention an intimidating crew. If I looked out over the horizon and saw a massive vessel with cannons protruding out of its sides, I’d probably run in terror. Our founding fathers didn’t back down.  We weren’t completely helpless, although it seemed that way. The British had to cross the Atlantic where  many of their ships were sunk or robbed by murderous pirate crews.  That may be a reason, with the Founding Fathers knowing that they had some help, over in the Atlantic.

Soldiers were another problem they had. Unfortunately for them only one third of the colonists were patriots. The two other thirds were either people who didn’t care or people who would stay true to the redcoats. The British soldiers were well trained and well equipped while the colonists weren’t trained and didn’t know how to perform in battle. The only way we won was because we had a great leader, who, didn’t give up. Most people in his position would, and I would love to have a helping hand in encouraging George Washington in not giving up.              

Finally, the constitution. That took awhile to make and while it didn’t turn out perfect, it was still a hassle to write. For starters, everybody was fighting and they couldn’t seem to agree on anything. Some people might’ve been able to hear the yelling when they walked outside of the building where it was taking place. Both sides couldn’t agree on anything, that’s why I think it a miracle that nobody gave up.

                So, what would I say to our founding fathers? Never give up, no matter how improbable or impossible the problem seems. There wouldn’t be an America if they had given up. Just think, our great country wouldn’t exist if our founding fathers had given up.

Appliance

Author's Note: This is a personal memoir I wrote for language arts class. It takes place when I was about three.

It was mid-July and my grandparents decided to come to my hometown of Cincinnati, mostly to come and see “Baby Carson”. My parents and grandparents were big shoppers so of course, we had to go to the mall. My parents always split up because the women liked clothes and the men liked cigars and ice cream.  Although for some reason today my dad decided to go with my mom and grandma. So it was just me and my grandpa.

I begged him to take me to the toy store and normally he would’ve taken me, and then to the candy store, and then back to meet up with the rest of the gang. Although today, we went to some appliance store. My grandpa was walking around the store looking for a new radio for his bathroom.

I tugged on his shorts and whispered that I had to go to the potty. He just responded by saying in a few minutes. I really had to go and I tugged again, my grandfather impatiently replied “In a little bit”. I was shaking my legs like I do to hold in. I had to go number one so I was squeezing my legs together. I tried with all my might to hold in the flood that was about to happen. All of a sudden, I let it out.

            I wasn’t just standing in the middle of nowhere, I was facing the high-end products, the fancy televisions and electrics. Even thought I was wearing pants, my urine had so much force it burst right on through and sprayed just about everything in sight. With an embarrassed face I went up to my grandpa and told him what I had just done. His face hardened and he pulled me out of the store.

            Luckily, no one was in the bathroom when we arrived and my grandpa grabbed some paper towel and started scrubbing my pants. He was saying some harsh words, not necessarily directed towards me, and some of them I had never heard before. Certain words starting F or S.

            After we were done we went back around to the appliance store and there was the manager. On his cell phone. Furiously dialing a number. My grandpa quickly tugged us out of there and we decided to go meet up with the others.

            I shared my story and they all decided to go to the store and check out the situation. I never thought that emptying my bladder could be such a big deal, but the cops had shown up. They were checking around, and my parents must’ve realized they would have to pay for the damages, so we all just decided to leave.

            It almost seems like this has been forgotten. The car ride home was pretty silent. I vividly remember the awkward feeling in the car. My parents were mostly angry at my grandpa, and my grandpa was mostly angry with me. 

Conflict and Resolution

Eragon is a very fascinating book that takes place over many locations, that don't exist. This book is a fantasy and action that takes place in about the middle ages. Except that there's dragons and magic. The main conflict is that the main character, named Eragon has found a dragon and is now being hunted by the corrupt ruler of the kingdom. Before Eragon found his dragon egg they were thought to be extinct, the last one in the king's possession. And he wants that last one.

Eragon is continuously on the run from the government during the book. At one point he is captured, and during his escape, he discovers a elf princess and decides to rescue her. She is badly injured and tortured, but gives Eragon the location to the only place that will be safe for him, and the only place where she can be saved. On his journey to the safe haven he is chased by the strange race called urgals, and attacked by slavers. After long restless nights of running and fighting he finally makes it to the underground city that will be his safe haven.

Retelling

Authors Note: This is a retelling for the book "The Maze Runner" that I did for Language Arts. This is to show my proficiency of retelling.

When the main character wakes up inside a facilty with  eyes of many others watching him, and all of his memories are erased,  no one seems to know whats going on. All they know is that they have to escape. When he discovers a secret way out, he must use his wits to help the others get to it, and defend them against the deadly robots that have already taken so many lives of kids in the maze, and win the affection of the only girl to ever enter it.

Porter Hall

Authors Note: This is my fall DWA which is a fiction story, I really tried to work on my organization.

 “You need to go, your behavior has been an issue and I think this will straighten you out.” Those were the words that had come out of his father’s mouth when Toby refused to leave. His parents had wanted an excuse for him to go for some time now. They were tired of the daily routine, in which they had to take care of their son. Toby wasn’t a bad kid, but his parents desperately desired for him to leave. His mother and father wanted to live a life of luxury, not parenting, so they decided it was time for him to get the boot.

A four year long boarding school. Meant for kids with behavioral issues. A naughty kid would go in, four years later they would exit as a mature adult. Nobody knew their methods, except for the people who worked there. Rumors say that the man who built Porter Hall, the name of this institution, eventually went insane a couple years before his death.

Toby was sitting on the cold benches inside the ferry. The school was on a small island. Almost as if it were a prison. He felt as if he was trapped, that Porter Hall would be his death. He was freezing.  A small windbreaker above a t-shirt was all he had on. The ferry ride was supposed to last three hours. It had only been forty-five minutes.

Toby was an interesting kid, very shy, and very quiet. Back in his hometown he had only two friends, they were probably the only thing keeping him sane. He went to a public school, kind of a dump, where every kid seemed to be in a gang. He had been picked on a lot and sometimes beaten up, yet every time he got blamed for it. His parents knew their kid well enough that he wouldn’t do it, but they never stood up for him. Most parents care for their kids and are there for them when they’re down, but not Toby’s. One of his friends, Greg, was small, a nerd, but he could never keep his mouth shut and that’s why Toby liked him. Greg always seemed to have another joke. Toby’s other friend Jamie would always protect him from bullies. He was a giant. Could’ve been a bully himself but instead always stood up for Toby.

Desperation was overwhelming Toby on the ferry.  The other kids looked alright, almost as if they were just normal kids, except they were going to an institute for behavior. The ferry suddenly came to a stop and the hatch above the room that Toby was located in opened. Him and the others hopped out and looked at the sight.

The rumors were wrong. Porter hall was beautiful, shining. Toby noticed a change in the temperature, for it was now warm. Not uncomfortably so. A glistening ray of sunlight shimmered over the island.  The island looked so perfect, a paradise. Toby could see kids playing a game of football in the courtyard. There was even wildlife on the island.

In his parents haste they must’ve had a mix up. Instead of sending Toby to Porter Hall they must’ve sent him someplace else. Toby didn’t know where, and he didn’t really care.

“This is not what it looked like in the brochures” said a kid behind Toby, he was medium height with dirty blonde hair.

“What is this place?” Toby asked

“Porter Hall, right?” The blonde said

“ISI. The name’s Nate, yours?” Answered a taller boy

“Toby”

“Brody” said the blonde “What does ISI stand for?”

“International Study Island. How could you not know?” said Nate

“My parents brushed me off to some dump called Porter Hall” Brody said

“Same!” Toby exclaimed. The ferry was slowly pulling them closer to the shore. When it finally docked a plank stretched out of the starboard side. The three boys walked out and onto the shore. A path stretched up to the higher parts of the island where a large building stood. As the boys neared they stared to hear many voices of kids eating food. Toby, Brody, and Nate all entered the building and were quickly ushered to another room. Thus started the best four years of Toby’s life where his best friends where Nate and Brody. After those year Toby emerged a man and hastily left his parents. The rest of his life he led a successful business man.

A quotation

"As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use"
- William James

I believe that this quote is describing that we, as humans, take information that is meaningless to us and immediately think it is a lie. This quote says it is a rule, certain people may be like this, but not all, so I do  agree with this quote.

I will occasionally will disregard facts and theories that I have no use for, but someone who does have a use, will believe it and think of it regularly. So I do not disbelieve it, although I discard it. Many facts I have learned in previous years of school I have forgotten or lost in my memory because the have absolutely no use in my life, and I do not believe I will need to know it in the future.

MInecraft part 8

I ran until I felt I was about to explode. I didn't want to end up like Tim, abandoned. I stopped running and caught my breath. The others had kept on running without me. Even Tom looked like he could've gone a few more miles. "We need to put as much distance between us and them" Randall wheezed.

"We can't take a break?" I asked. Randall didn't answer but instead ran. I'll take that as a no. We kept running, no breaks.Everybody started to slow down. We kept a steady pace and jogged through the forest. The thickness of the trees became a brush and soon we were in a long clearing. It's risky to run through an open space like this but as long as we run I guess we are safe. I pushed myself like I never had before I felt as if my legs would pop off. Obviously the others are all in better shape than me.

Patrick's body jerked awake. Tom didn't notice and kept on running. Patrick started clubbing Tom in the head, I don't think knew who it was. He looked up and saw me and instantly stopped. Tom lie him down and jokingly said "You might have given me a concussion" Patrick grinned. But it disappeared quickly when he got his bearings.

"Where are we. What happened?" Randall then explained how we had been attacked and ran. He didn't miss much. Except running. After a few minutes of silence we moved again. We were all prepared to run faster and made good time.

"For once in a long time, I finally feel lost" Announced Patrick. He didn't admit it, but I'm pretty sure that Randall was too.

"This is good" Randall said. We stopped on the top off a long cliff overlooking the way we came. "They'll be able to track us, no doubt, but when they do come we'll either be gone, or, be able to see them."  Unfortunately, that didn't work out because a thick fog rolled in. The sun was beginning to set. "Patrick and I will begin to make camp, while Patrick and Jeff defend us from the forces of night."

"I'll get the East side" Patrick pointed in the left of the cliff "You get the West" He pointed to the other side. I pulled an enchanted sword out from my backpack. I stood ready and waited. Since seeing an enemy wasn't a good option, I mainly relied on my sense of hearing. I didn't dare look back since I might alarm some zombies or whatnot of our location. After a while I got tired, I started to become lazy. I was halfway to being asleep when a rustling awoke my senses.

I jumped, prepared to fight anything, expecting the worse. The noise was advancing towards me I was prepared. When the figure advanced out of the fog I literally jumped. I raised my sword above my head and then saw what was standing in front of me. I was expecting a zombie, or worse. But it was only an ocelot. I pulled some fish out of my pack and stuck my hand out. The cat edged towards it until it was within eating distance. It just stared for a few moments, then nibbled at the fish. Eventually once it was finished it started purring.

The cat had long black stripes running along it sides while it was topped in gray. The cat looked young, yet battle worn. I was trying to think of a name when Chirpy popped into my head. I started petting of it, instantly claiming it my pet. I assumed it was a guy, it was a 50% chance, although, if I was wrong that would be very awkward for me and my pet, Chirpy.

A creeper walked out from the fog maybe half an hour from when Chirpy came around. I held my sword in a defensive stance and prepared to swing. Before my arm was released in a forward motion the curious side of my brain caught me and wondered, why wasn't the creeper doing anything? I studied it in awe. It wasn't looking at me, but Chirpy. They had their eyes locked onto each other. The creeper wasn't ticking, which was odd, normally once you were within a few feet of their body it would explode. I was easily two feet away from it and wasn't blowing up or anything. The creeper blinked, turned around, and started walk away.

I just stood there trying to comprehend what just happened. The simple part of my brain was hooked on the thought that the creeper had just decided it wasn't interested. But the other half had strayed upon the thought that the cat had to do with the creeper's disappearance.

A few seconds later I hear Tom's bellowing voice saying the camp is ready. A moment I hear loud growling and the soft riddle of noise coming from the spiders. I raced into the tent with Chirpy where Tom and Randall were waiting. I zipped the door closed. "Where's Patrick!" I ask anxiously.

"Open the door!" Randall screams at me. I open it and look out. At first I think it's okay but I quickly changed my mind after I heard growling.

"Patrick!" I scream hopelessly looking through the fog for him. I trudge towards the East side, where he said he'd be. I don't see anything but bloody, sticky grass. I start sprinting farther in that direction. A noise stops me. It's a meow. Chirpy runs up beside me and I'm comforted that I'm not alone. Chirpy starts to trot ahead of me. I know dogs can sniff out people, maybe cats can too. I'm starting to follow him when I hear a clink of a sword. It's in the direction Chirpy is headed . I start following that cat. Maybe cats have good hearing instead of smell. I see a faint silhouette of three figures. Two are oddly deformed and attacking the third which is carrying a weapon. "Patrick!" I shout.

When I arrive I notice three dead zombies on the floor and a spider having spasm beside them. Patrick is obviously exhausted, which is showing by his sluggish movements and  his weak swings. Just as it looks like the zombies have won I jump into the battle. I charge at them at stick my sword through one's stomach. It follows through until the other side where it sticks out of it's belly. The other zombie tries to claw at me but I dodge. Just at that moment Chirpy jumps onto his shoulder and starts tearing the bone out of its socket. He's a fighter.

"Good job boy" I yell in praise. I swing me sword and it connects with flesh. There's a soft tearing sound as the zombie's head is sliced off of it's body. The headless zombie stands for a few seconds and then it's lifeless body falls towards the ground.. I pick my cat off of the zombie and start petting him. Patrick is on the ground, his stomach rising and falling to his breath.

I throw his body around my body and head back to camp.

Waterun

Author's note: This story is a story written for literature group to see who could use certain words (highlighted) in the most meaningful way.

 Living in his least favorite place to be wasn’t easy. Jon stood apart from almost everybody at school, couldn’t play any sports, and was constantly picked on by his fellow classmates. After every day at school he come home to his Manhattan apartment to his step dad abusing his mom. Jon hated his step-dad, the one who forced him to move to New York. The exact place he promised himself he would never travel to, but, there he is living now. His cousins used to live here and he would celebrate Hanukkah with them here. Jon previously lived in a cottage in northern Vermont and he loved it. His best friend and him would always play in the forest and chase animals around. Sometimes he would go swimming and find platypuses, and bring them home as a pet. All of that fun came crashing down on top of him when the fires hit. Everything he knew and loved, including his father, was destroyed. He and his mother were forced to move in with a slop of a human.

“Rosalie!” He would call from his room. She would come over to see him wearing one of her tank tops and mocking her. Jon always asked his mom if they could move out but his mother would shake her head and say that this was a good place to stay. Jon particularly hated it because Mike, his step-dad, would only have two chairs at the kitchen table at night. The only other Mike claimed to be his lucky poker chair. Jon just cried the first night, but he quickly became accustomed to sitting on the floor. Mostly

 because of  Mike’s beating. But this night was different, Jon decided he had enough.

            Jon regretted leaving his mom, but he had to get out of there. His legs were getting tired as they carried him down the stairs and out into the streets. He ran and ran until he hitched onto a pickup truck where he rode out of the city. Jon got out of the pick-up truck at a rest stop and stole an orange that was sitting in the cup holder.

            He strode into the rest stop and looked for food that he could take. He saw a little box of cookie crisp, and realized that he should  try it. He snatched it up and stuffed it down into his pocket. A scraggly man was watching him and noticed this.

            The man yelled out and Jon ran out of the store. He noticed a bike sitting on the wall and he took it. He rode it deep into the forest until he got too tired to ride the bike anymore. The month was march so spring was begining and certain flowers were sprouting out of the ground. This gave Jon more hope as to keeping food. Some animals would be coming out of hibernation and he could hunt them. This largely improved Jon’s chances of survival. All of his running caught up to him and he just lie down to rest. He woke up chilled and sweating, he realized he was having a nightmare. It was him in his old house and the ghostly version of his mom was haunting him and he ran away but he still felt bad about his mom.

            Jon stood up and realized something was wrong. He was dizzy and felt sick. A fever. He started panicking and tried to light a fire but things were to moist from the night. They would only get more moist as it started to rain. He started in a random direction and kept going. Is that a house? He thought as he approached something with light coming out of it. It was and his hopes arose. Just his bad luck, a lighting strike drove in through the sky and hit the tree next to the house. It toppled onto the house, flames quickly sprouting their way up through the roof. Jon was emotionally crushed, but still looked on the bright side and looked through a tool shed near the house. It contained a bunch of trash but it was mostly useless. He spotted something glinting  and inspected. It was a hammer. This might come in handy. He thought.

            Just then a lightning strike hit the shed and fires surrounded Jon. He knew his life was over but as soon as that thought passed his brain, he passed out.

           

            Warmth was in the air and he saw a woman in white feeding him. The whole room was white. The woman was Asian and looked like a nurse. Jon fell back asleep.

            The second time he awoke the same women was there feeling his heart. She noticed he was awake and her eyes opened wide. She ran out of the room and Jon overheard her saying something to a male and he came in the room. He started talking but Jon couldn’t understand it because he was speaking in a different language. He noticed this and tried again, this time a different language. Jon thought he said something about a Krabby patty but Jon guessed not. The man tried once more and finally got it right.

            “How are you feeling?” The man asked, but with a strange accent.

            “Good” But as Jon said it he quickly noticed the burning he felt on his chest and legs. The man must’ve noticed distress and said

            “You were burnt in the fire but we rescued you. Stay in bed for a few days, then we will let you out”

“Where am I, who are you?” Jon asked but the man just shook his head and said

“That’s for another day” Once Jon was alone he looked out of the window and saw a weird sight. Some people outside, were washing a fluffy alpaca under a waterfall.

The next morning Jon was feeling well enough to get up and explore. He found the man and asked him the questions asked earlier.

“This place is called Waterun, although I have no idea how you got here. By the way, my name is Helgen. Anyways, that house you came to, no normal human can see it, unless,” Helgen snapped his fingers “The lightning, yes. That allowed you to see the house. The house was our portal between here, and Earth.”

“Wait, so this isn’t Earth, how am I supposed to get back?”

“I don’t know, the portal is gone, but you are welcome to stay” So Jon did, he loved living in Waterun and learned their language. He had a family, and shared his stories of Earth with his fascinated family. He died at the age of ninety-three, never returning to Earth.

Marshmallow

I’m always excited for this time during fall. I go on a camping trip see my friend Joel and his family. Joel has read hair that covers his head and he is at least a head taller than me.We arrived at the camp thirty minutes late as usual. My friend Joel had already set up his tent while we were pulling in. It was a campsite in door county that we go to every year.

 There we meet up with my friend Joel and his family, he has a step-dad and he came along to. He has a dog named Rufus and it barks so much it drives me insane. That's why I requested a campsite that wasn't next to theirs. I feel pity for their neighbors.

 We set up our camp and we all drove down to the beach. Me and Joel went swimming and he pulled out a dead lobster and started chasing me with it. I ran ashore and we played in the sand awhile with his little brother. His step-dad started making jokes about how the sand looked like poop. After it started getting dark we started to go back to his camp and make smores. They were really yummy, then we all had some and me, Joel, and his siblings all played ghosts in the graveyard. We had so much fun I was disappointed when my mom told me that I had to go back to bed.

We went back to our camp. And oddly  enough we all fell asleep right away. I was sleeping soundly until the sound of Joel's dog barking awoke me. He sounded really close and I noticed I could see his silhouette outside of our tent. My parents both woke up and tried to take the dog back to his own camp. When we started heading towards Joel's he just ran as fast as his large legs could carry him.

 When he had noticed we weren't following he started barking a lot and we quickened the pace. Once we arrived at Joel's campsite I had a feeling something was wrong. Rufus was nudging at their tent door so my mom sort of knocked on the tent to wake somebody up. There was no noise. My dad became impatient and just opened the door himself to look in. He took a short gasp and turned pale. My mom looked in and started shivering to. It wasn't anywhere near being cold out. It was my turn to look in and the sight made me turn numb.

Everybody was missing. We wanted to find them, but as closer inspection to the tent it looked like there had been a struggle. My dad noticed it was quieter and we realized that there was no more Rufus. He was gone. My mom called out "Rufus!" and barking started coming from the east woods. We all ventured out into the woods to find him until we realized we were lost. Something bumped into me and I yelled out in shock.

My parents both turned and looked but it was only Rufus, I patted him. I scrunched my eyebrows and strained my ears. In the distance  I heard a peculiar dripping. I asked if my parents had heard it but they both shook their heads. I asked them if we could search out the noise and they said sure.

I traveled along but then it stopped. I kept going in the direction but it started up again. It was now coming from a different direction, I crept along that way until I came to a clearing. A flashlight was in the center with a piece of paper by it. I picked up the flashlight and turned it on. I then read the note, it said "Shine the light up if you please, but the sight will surely bring you to your knees." I shined it up and I fell in horror.

All of Joel's family, including him, were hanging from the trees by a rope. Their necks were all bent at a funny angle with their mouths wide open. I closed my eyes and wished this all away but once my eyes were back open nothing changed.I figured out that the dripping was coming from a water bottle hanging on Mrs. Esveldt’s fanny pack. A rumbling sound came from the bush and I turned. A large man came tumbling out of the brush and started sprinting our way. He kept on running and I was frozen to the spot. My legs finally came unfrozen when he was just about face to face with me. I ran away as fast as I could and a started following my parents.

We kept going. Then we hit a highway and hitchhiked our way back to camp. We packed up and left as fast as we could. And now, every night, I have dreams with Joel and the creepy man chasing me with large knives. Every time I see someone or something that resembles him, I quickly turn around or hide in a crowd or something near, because as much as I hope he isn't, I think he is Joel's deceased Dad

Literary Analysis

Every year a poll goes out in the United States asking what the participant fears. In every single one of these the number one fear is spiders.  One serious thing very little fear is isolation. In Ray Bradbury's short story, "All Summer in a Day", the main character, Margot, is very isolated from all of the other children. They even invited her to play, but she didn't even respond. The author left the ending open for the reader to decide what happens to her. Insanity? Suicide? Whatever it is, it isn't good. Scientist even conducted a cruel experiment on monkeys relating to Isolation. They wanted to see what a monkey would do if it was never touched, ever, in its lifetime. They gave it fresh food and water, but kept it in a cage and completely by itself. Eventually the monkey would just sit in a corner and starve. The scientists saved them, but if not, the monkey's would've committed suicide. All because of Isolation.

"All Summer In A Day" has a very large amount of evidence to back up the purpose of the story. When the main character, a girl named Margot, gets bullied, she doesn't even respond. Bullying is a serious topic, but she was almost asking for it. She just would stand in the corner and when kids would bully her she wouldn't do anything. And sometimes, she would almost try to aggravate the other children by talking to herself about the sun, and when they told her to be quiet, she would continue ignoring them. Pushing them even further to the edge of bullying her.

Even when not being bullied, Margot would isolate herself. Kids would invite her to play tag with them. "Tag, your it!" A kid would say to her. She would totally ignore and not even acknowledge the child's existence of ever touching her or speaking to her. What would really annoy the kids is when she bragged about how she had seen the sun and they hadn't. She would describe the sun endlessly witch eventually led to her being locked in the closet. This story is classified as irony, it also included a good dose of it as well.

Being isolated wasn't completely her fault. She was forced to be with a mean cast of people. Her parents would've taken  her back to Earth if they didn't have to pay. Margot desperately wanted to return to earth, but her parents still valued money more than their child's sanity. After Margot was locked in the closet the teacher asked if everyone was here. The students reply was none other than "Yes". The teacher didn't even take the time to do a roll call! How could a teacher not notice that a pupil as strange as Margot was missing! What nice people these students are to lock another child in a closet so that she wouldn't see the sun that only comes out once every seven years. It's hard to be optimistic about her sanity staying in shape without seeing the sun for another seven years!

Minecraft Part 7

Tom handed out some enchanted weapons, I had a sword similar to the one I had fought Randall with. Medium in length but light, he and I both, had figured it was perfect. Once a weapon becomes enchanted it glows a certain color. They explained to me what the colors meant. Purple, the color of my sword, made it so the sword stuns the enemy and they go insane for a short while and attack anybody. I thought that was a little horrific, but they pressed on me to use it. I tried to refuse, but my attempts were in vain. I figured out that Patrick was a long range marksman, after I asked him why he was using a bow. The bow was glowing light blue, the color of ice, because whatever limb the arrow hits, the limb is rendered useless unless given an antidote. Tom was holding an axe that probably weighed very high because when I tried to pick it up I dropped it after fifteen  seconds. His axe was glowing yellow. Which makes it have a much cleaner cut. Randall was using a slightly curved sword which glowed red. When I asked him about it all he said was "It's just in case we have to make a quick escape"

 We were all waiting in anticipation in the basement excluding Patrick, who was keeping watch upstairs. I was nervous at first, but then I started thinking that nobody was going to come. Patrick even exclaiming to us from upstairs that nobody is coming. I guess that Randall knew they were coming because he kept Patrick upstairs.

"I'm gonna go outside just prove that nobody's gonna come"

Randall went upstairs and exchanged a few words with Patrick that I couldn't understand. "What do you think they're saying?" Asked Tom

"Randall's probably mad at him but I think that Patrick is too stubborn to not go outside" All of a sudden Patrick came storming down the stairs. Obviously mad. I had enough people skills to know not to ask him anything unless I wanted to risk being me the one he was mad at. Then I heard breaking glass and a thud. We all rushed up and saw a body on the ground. Tom looked over it and realized it was not Randall, where was he?

"What the-" Tom was cut off by a human jumping through the glass onto him. I plunged my sword into the small of his back. Luckily it killed him immediately so that he was not subject to the strange power of my weapon. Another jumped in onto me but an arrow was through his arm less than a second later. He rolled of me in horror of what had happened to his arm. Ice was engulfing it and he couldn't move it. He was flailing it around then fell to the ground because of the weight. Two more came through and I found Randall. He rolled from underneath a bed and through ones legs. He then thrust his sword into the mans torso. The one left was running at Tom with a rusty knife and sliced his arm. Tom then dropped his axe onto the mans foot, slicing it clean off. Patrick then put an arrow into the back of his head and he was killed. Randall immediately started tending to Tom's wound.

"One jumped at me but I fought him off and hid under the bed. I heard footsteps so but I didn't know if it was you or them." He pointed at the bodies, that were quickly disintegrating.

"What's happening to them?"  Patrick asked

"This is what happens to people on their last live. I suppose its been brought down to one now" explained Randall

"How can you tell that they weren't just on their last life?" Questioned Tom

"It's just a hunch, because people would be more cautious and smart on their last life. Anyways, it'd be very coincidental if they were all on their last life."

"Let's ask this guy" I said, standing over him. He was just laying there. Holding onto his left arm with is other. Randall walked up to my side. He crouched down low, and asked.

"How ya doing?"

He just lay there staring for a while. When I started to feel aggravated about him being so silent he finally said something "Why do you care?!" He was acting tough but in his eyes he looked scared. Tom stomped on his ribcage and the man coughed up blood.

Randall asked again, with the same emotion. The man gave up his tough guy act and said "Please d-don't kill, me, I don't wanna die, I juts wanna get out of here like you" with a whimper in his voice.

"Who do you work for?"

"Who are you people!" Asked the man

"We're asking the questions here!" Randall shouted with annoyance.

"Ok-kay. Me and the other guy had just arrived and those people from the city found us and took us in. Then they said that they needed a favor and we all agreed because they had fed us and given us shelter" He took a deep breath and continued "They told us to come here and attack you, they said it would be a piece of cake."

"So, this was your first life?"

"Yes" answered the man

"That means that we can not die! We only have one left, whoever is controlling this world has changed the rules." Randall exclaimed. Tom was dragging the man outside and left him there.

When he returned he said "What do we do with him?"

"We tie him up and leave him at their doorstep!" Patrick laughed at his own joke.

"Lets do that, we have nothing else to do" Randall said

"Really!" Patrick sounded surprised."Okay" Tom had walked over and opened the door. I heard a hissing noise and saw an explosion out of the corner of my eye. We all flew back and Tom landed on me with a thud coming from me. I pushed him off me, his extreme weight made that task very difficult for me. Patrick was obviously unconscious while Randall was already on his feet.

"What happened I asked?"

"The man decided to crawl away with one arm and walked into a creeper."  Explained Tom. The entire front side of the house was destroyed and all I saw was a crater and a bloody mass. All of a sudden a volley of arrows was landing in front of my feet. "They know we've defended against their attack force so they'll be firing arrows at us. We must go now" Tom looked at Randall for confirmation and he nodded. Randall rushed downstairs to put the weapons away. Tom threw the unconscious Patrick over his massive shoulder. And started running. He was carrying all that weight so I guess he needed a head start from the hundreds of arrows fired in our direction a few seconds later.

Bus jokes.

A woman got on a bus holding a baby. The bus driver said: "That's the ugliest baby I've ever seen." In a huff, the woman slammed her fare into the fare box and took an aisle seat near the rear of the bus. The man seated next to her sensed that she was agitated and asked her what was wrong. "The bus driver insulted me," she fumed. The man sympathized and said: "Why, he's a public servant and shouldn't say things to insult passengers." "You're right," she said. "I think I'll go back up there and give him a piece of my mind." "That's a good idea," the man said. "Here, let me hold your monkey."

 A man trying to get on an overcrowded bus was pushed off by the people inside. There's no room,' they said. 'It's full up!' 'But you must let me on!' shouted the man. 'Why, what's so special about you?' they asked. I'm the driver,' replied the man

Roger was sitting in a very full bus when a fat woman opposite said, "If you were a gentleman, young man, you'd stand up and let someone else sit down." "And if you were a lady," replied Roger, "you'd stand up and let four people sit down."

 Janet: What's the difference between a cake and a school bus ? Jill: I don't know. Janet: I'm glad I didn't send you to pick up my birthday cake !

Answer me this!

If fire fighters fight fire, and crime fighters fight crime, what do freedom fighters fight?

 If buttered toast always lands buttered side down and a cat always lands on its feet, what would happen if you tied a piece of buttered toast on the back of a cat and dropped it?


If nothing ever sticks to TEFLON, how do they make TEFLON stick to the pan?

How come noses run and feet smell?

If 7-11 is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the doors?

Sources: http://www.best-funny-jokes.com/answer-me-this-jokes-829

Minecraft Part 6

People in the Borg tribe were very short tempered, we found that out while walking through their city. The trail wasn't even close to how long we thought it would be. It twisted along a few trees and then there we were, inside the city. Didn't give us much time to plan either, the only thing Randall told us to do was "To walk quickly and keep our heads down." So we did, so much that we could see very little in front of us.

"Hey!" Screamed a shopkeeper, Tim had knocked over what looked like a merchant's cart. The merchant grabbed his arm but he easily broke free. Patrick already had his blade out and was fighting with some other people who had noticed that we were not from around here. I did my first noble action and helped Tim with people fighting him he did a jab to the throat and a body fell to the ground. As I quickly took in our surroundings we were in a long and narrow street that would most likely lead us out of town. That's good we could run away and hide inn the brush, I thought, but it wasn't that simple.

Me and Tim fought our way out of the crowd, and started running towards the end of the street. It looked like everyone was out okay except Randall. I asked Tim about him but all he said was "He can handle himself." I didn't beileive somebody could swordfight through a group of men that big but seconds after those words passed his lips, Randall emerged and started catching up to us. Suddenly, something wizzed past my ear and Tim crumpled to the floor.

An arrow fired from somewhere in the rooftops had embed itself in Tim's knee. Tom noticed and yelled "NO!" over the screams of the men after us. "TIM!" He rushed to the crumpled body. Who was laying unconscious.Tom started to say something, but a hand pulled him away, Patrick's. "NO, TIM" Tom screamed

"We must go" Patrick said to Tom. Tom struggled but his sadness weakened him "We will get him back:" Patrick whispered. And then we sprinted towards the trees. They had grown very thick and blocked out most of the sun.

"We will travel deeper until we setup a base, we must be on the outskirts of their city to help Tim escape." And once we ventured a few miles deeper into the woods, we set up base. Every one but Patrick pulled out an axe and started chopping down trees to make a clearing for the base. "Hey Jeff, you go and get firewood from the wood we chop down" I nodded my head in response. I was amazed at how quickly they were chopping down trees, it was almost in sync as the trees fell down. I turned to watch Patrick who was doing the most bizarre thing I have ever seen. Pulling chunks of wood that out his backpack that were too big to fit inside it. Then something even weirder. As he put a piece of wood next to another the sort of bonded and made one piece. I stood in awe for minutes. My peace was disturbed when someone shoved me and motioned for me to get to work.

Pulling chunks of wood of logs is exhausting, as I figured out. Tom showed me how, all you have to do is punch the wood a few times and a perfectly square wood piece falls out. After punching a few times my arm was really starting to get tired and my knuckles were starting to bleed. I decided I was done and walked over to Patrick with my pile. "Is this enough?"

"Yea, sure, just set it down somewhere and light it up."

"How am I supposed to light it up"

"Uhhh, why do I have to do everything" Patrick grumbled

"Somebody's grumpy today"

"Shut-up, fine, I'll show you" He pulled something out of his pack.

"How does all that stuff fit into the backpack?"

"It just does"

"But how?"

"You ask way to many questions, did you know that? Now this is called a flint and steel, it is made with a piece of flint, and a piece of steel. Now we put it over the wood" He rubbed the two objects together. "Bam, a fire!" I was impressed, but what just happened had made me curious to see what was inside the house. I ran around the campsite, which was just roughly a small wooden cabin, a campfire, and a large picnic table. My curiosity was going to make me implode so I went to the cabin. I opened the door and my heart missed a beat. There was five beds and nothing else was there. I was disappointed, I didn't know why I had been so excited. Until I saw a suspicious looking door towards the right corner of the building. I was excited all over again.


I opened this door and a flight of stairs lead down to a lower level. I walked down and saw a switch. I flicked it on and My eyes widened. How could he not tell me about this. I walked up to is and felt everything. It was a weapons rack with a sorcery table and a potions maker. It might not sound like much, but on top of the sorcery table was a book floating and looked like it was reading itself. I could see on it that you would combine elements on it and it could make poisons or enchant weapons.    

"Get up here Jeff, you little crap!" Screamed Tom

"What did I do?"

"Just get up here!" As I ran up the steps Tom was staring at me with a look of disgust.

"What?"

"You started a fire" Randall said as he walked into the room with Patrick.

"But Patrick told me to" I said, almost whining

"WHAT!" Randall  yelled "You know not to." Randall sighed

Patrick had a look of surprise in his face as he said "But...I"

"No butts" Randall said "Everybody go downstairs, grab a weapon, and let's hope they didn't see the smoke from the fire." I thought they didn't, we were to far away. We waited all night but there was no attack. Not until we least expected it.

Marsupials

Among the many categories that scientists use to classify animals, marsupials are among the most interesting and unique species of animals. Marsupials are  for giving birth to under developed young, and having the baby live in the pouch on the animal.

A Tasmanian devil

Different species of marsupials will live in every continent of the globe. However, the only form of marsupial that lives in North America is the opossum, which makes its home in every country north of Mexico in North America. Many types can be found in South America although many closely resemble the opossum. In the smallest continent of the world, Australia, the kangaroo, the koala, the Tasmanian devil, and the wombat can be found. The only marsupial wolf would've been added to this list but has recently become extinct.

While different species of marsupials live everywhere, most protect their young and act the same immediately after birth. The very short gestation time, 4-5 weeks, means that a baby marsupial, known as a joey, must develop extremely quickly. As small as a pebble, the baby must crawl across the body and into the pouch. To crawl the upper limbs must be far developed. From there the baby will latch onto the nipple for food. To hold on its jaw must be very strong and developed. The joey will not emerge for several months until fully developed.

Many species have different methods of protecting themselves from the harsh weather in the biome they live in. Thereafter, once developed, and emerging from the pouch, the joey must now be taught how to brave the world as a marsupial. In the higher north areas of Australia where wildfires and floods are abundant, marsupials will scrounge around remaining rivers for food. They will eat leaves and roots, as well as various forms of grass. Almost all species of marsupial grow very long eyelashes that protect the eyes as sunglasses would, shading them from the sun. In intense heat the marsupials will eat early in the morning and after dark to escape extremely high temperatures.

The extinct Marsupial wolf

Being football season, it is easy to classify animals similarly, there is the NFC North and the AFC south. There are marsupials and other animal groups. Marsupials are one of the most unique animals that will ever be found on this planet. These wonderful creatures that are losing their population, must not be taken for granted. And protected, unlike the marsupial wolf, which is no longer existing.

Minecraft Part 5

I didn't know this was possible. That the kid who was about to end it could save it. I don't know if that it was really classified as saving my life, even though that it was his fault that I was going to die, intentionally. If he done this on accident, then he would be rescuing my being. I wondered if there was a death limit, but that question quickly found its way out of my head when Randall put his hand out to help me up. More than a hundred thoughts raced through my brain-most of which said not to accept his help. I didn't heed their warnings and put my hand out and grabbed his. He pulled me up when one of the twins (the ugly one) rushed up to give me my sword.
"Why didn't you kill me?" I asked
"Because that would be meaningless" said Randall "You would have less of a chance for surviving with us"
"Umm...what?"
"We fight a lot, mostly creepers and corrupt people who want everything. If you died here you would have less lives to fight with us. If you've died hmm, I would suppose, five times?"
"Six"
"Well, the maximum deaths are at eleven right now. Sometimes they change, go down or up."
"Then why would you try to kill me?"
"That's our test for now. We used to not test. If I or one of us ever came across a person, this person would be asked if they could fight with a sword or a bow and an arrow. Even though we all lived in the twenty-first century they said yes. Those liars. The first skeleton we saw I gave hi a bow and wasted all of my arrows. Long story short, we died. Some told the truth, like those three behind me. You were the first person we tried the actual test on. You passed, if you didn't, I would've had your head. Patrick was the only one who didn't like the idea. So will you join us" Randall asked with a pleading face.
"Sure" Randall smiled, "but under one condition. We go on a manhunt for that girl you killed."
He sighed "Fine, I really want you in our group, but only for a day. If we can't find her then we leave her."
"K"
"You already know Patrick's name"He pointed to the ugly one and said "this is Tim" He pointed to the other guy "This is Tom, and you are?"
"Jeff"
"It's getting dark, let's get back to camp" And I followed as they made treacherous journey, over many mountains and around lots of bushes when we stopped.
"Camp sweet camp" said Tom. Him and Tim immediately snatched some tools and wood and made me a little hut. When I walked in I noticed that there was a bed inside. No windows and one torch was what consisted of the hut. I came back out noticed that there weren't any torches around and why no light emulated from my hut. Ask in the morning was the answer from all of them. I bid them all good night and went to bed"

 When I got up the other houses were gone. I walked outdoors, the four others were huddled around a fire pit, I wondered why they did not light a fire. I joined them. The brothers immediately got up and started destroying my hut."Next time you will have to make your own. And demolish it for that matter."
"Okay"
"Once we are on our way we will show you the reason for us not using light outside our camp."
"Let's get moving" someone said, I did not know who, and honestly, I didn't care. I had another thing on my mind.
"What about Madeline?" I asked with a rude tone in my voice.
"Later, we may find her where we are going" Randall said wisely. I mumbled some words at him under my breath. All the time we had been walking, I didn't realize that, but we were already a quite a while away from our previous campground. After about an hour of walking, Randall stopped, everyone else stopped but me. I kept on walking, oblivious that everyone else had lie down and wasn't moving.
"Get down" Patrick hissed. I dropped to the floor, not because he had said so, but because I saw light. This light was preceding from a house in the woods. About two stories high, and with a massive clearing in front of the house, none of us wanted to go near it.

"Let's get closer, maybe we can subdue the person inside of it, tie them up and take the house" Randall said "You all see that movement in there. Hopefully only one person"

"How do you know this person is one of them?" said Tim

"I don't, but it certainly seems like it. This is probably just an outpost. In that area without trees is most likely a path. One that leads to their village."

"May I ask what you are talking about?" I asked

"These people are our enemies, we are just a little group  from a large amount of people who try to survive in this world, I'm sure there are many more. But these people we are looking at now are the only ones that give us trouble."Tim explained

"What do they do?"

"Everything they can, they have superior numbers to us, but we are far more advanced. Not barbarians like them" Randall said with disgust in his voice "They rob, kill and, blow things up. Like your house" Now I was mad. These people made my house explode. "They call themselves Borg, we should go like, now" And we were on the attack, enclosing on the house.

"Follow me and do as I do" Patrick whispered in my ear. I bobbed my head up in down as a response. All five of us walked towards the left side of the house. In the front Randall's predictions had come true, there was a gravel path leading towards forest area. Tom sprinted towards the door and kicked it in. From the rest it was like slow motion. Tom jumped to the side as a barrage of arrows came towards him. None hit him but he was dazed. Next was Randall, he threw some TNT in and a trail of red dust followed. The explosion was deafening and threw us all on our backs except Tom who was built so that he could withstand the blow. The first person I saw from the house was a young Asian, perhaps in his young twenties, he was flying into the door way, he hit the wall and fell. He landed on an apparent booby trap for intruders like us, which we never triggered. Four arrows fired from each side and stabbed him in the abdomen and neck, blood spurted out and he squirmed on the floor until he died a few seconds later.

 Tim pulled out a something like a knife, except with a serrated blade and was curved. He jumped into the house and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Randall followed, but just walking, almost menacingly. I decided to walk in, carefully stepping over the trap - and the body - to enter.

Upon entering I had a sense that there was no more danger. Especially when I saw Tim with a bloody blade, staring grimly at something I could not see, and I set my mind so that I did not want to. Randall walked out of the door and motioned for us to follow. He started down the path and so did we, walking into the city where we would later lose a member of our pack.




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