J – Jump

Posted on April 11, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part I – Idea: 

Rowan discovered King Yarek planned to kill Adriana, not just to have her dissuaded from her quest. Now, Yarek also had his sights on Rowan. Knowing that Adriana and the chimera had survived the deadly fire Yarek had created, Rowan destroyed the trackable watch that Yarek had given him, hoping he would think all three of them had died in the fire. Rowan uses his knowledge of tracking to follow the chimera. He needs to know whether or not the chimera is working with Yarek before he tracks down Adriana to warn her. 

————-

Destiny – Part 10 (jump)

 

If someone is not expecting to be followed, they don’t care whether they leave clues about where they are going. Following the chimera was easier than Rowan expected. Its talon footprints, even on hard ground, were easy to see.

Most people who enter the forest for the first time without guidance never find their way out, which is why the Forest was declared Forbidden; too many lives were lost. With guidance and time, one could learn the Forest’s ways. Rowan was such a person, as it would seem the chimera was, too. The chimera’s path led directly to the exit nearest the kingdom of Tirea. 

This concerned Rowan. He didn’t want to jump to any conclusion, but it certainly was strong evidence that the chimera’s allegiance was to King Yarek. 

As Rowan got closer to the forest’s exit, the tracks disappeared. Where could the beast have gone? Rowan became very alert. Unfortunately, not alert enough.

Rowan felt strong vise-like pincers grab him around his neck. Without having enough time to catch his breath, Rowan fell to the ground, unconscious.

 When he awoke, he found himself lying on his back, looking up at the cat-like face of the chimera, and she wasn’t looking very happy. 

“Why were you following me?” Springbounder wordlessly said into Rowan’s mind. “I saw you there at the field just before the fire came. Are you the one that caused it?”

Rowan had hoped that it would have been the other way around, that the chimera would be the one caught, and that he, Rowan, would be doing the questioning.

“I am Rowan,” he said. “And I would ask you the same: Are you the one who created the fire? Who are you, and what is your connection to King Yarek?”

“I am Springbounder, loyal subject to Queen Isolara of Glandisol. I connect to no king, especially not the usurper King of Tirea! I have answered your questions, so now answer mine, Rowan the Rogue, as you are known by most. Why are you following me?” it said quite emphatically.

Rowan was torn as to what to say. Springbounder certainly said the right words; however, was she to be believed? But, Springbounder had recognized who and what Rowan was. Springbounder was capable of knowing whether or not Rowan was telling the truth. And, in Rowan’s position, Springbounder was certainly a danger to his health. He decided to play it safe. 

“I was hired to find Adriana and try to dissuade her from completing her quest. At the time, I had no idea who she was or what her quest was to be.”

Springbounder’s sharp eyes stared deeply into Rowan’s eyes. “Continue.”

Taking a deep breath, Rowan went on. “I found her and helped her on her way. Later on, I discovered more about her birth and followed her here to the Forbidden Forest, hoping to fulfill my task. That’s when I found both of you in the field of blue flowers. Before I could approach her to try and convince her, the fire appeared and destroyed everything. I didn’t know if you both had survived or not.”

Springbounder seemed to accept Rowan’s explanation. However, he still hovered over Rowan with a glaring eye. “That may be well and good,” Springbounder’s voice came in Rowan’s head, “But that doesn’t explain why you followed me, and not her, as she went along a different path. EXPLAIN!”

There was no getting around it. Springbounder held all the cards. With one swipe of its legs, Rowan was a goner. “I have since discovered that the one who hired me intended more than just to have Adriana dissuaded. He meant to kill her, and probably me, too. We all were supposed to be caught in that hellfire that destroyed the field. Having survived, I hoped that if Adriana had survived also, I could warn her of his intent. I may be a rogue, but I’m no murderer. I found both sets of tracks but chose to follow you first because I didn’t know your intent, for if you intended her harm, I might have reconsidered my morals about killing anyone.”

Springbounder smiled for the first time. “It would appear we have the same goal. Having seen you in the distance at the field, I purposely took a different path from Adriana, leaving plenty of trail markings, hoping you would follow me. For you see, I do not have the same morals as you say you have. I would have no hesitation in killing you if you intended to harm her.”

“Then, if we have the same goal, we have both made the mistake of leaving her unprotected. We must get to her before something bad happens,” Rowan said. 

“Agreed.” was Springbounder’s reply.

To be continued in K – Kind

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I – Idea

Posted on April 10, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part H – Happy: 

We learned a little more about Rowan, the man who helped Adriana climb the mountain in D – Dance. His assignment was to convince Adriana to discontinue her quest. After, hopefully, gaining her trust on the mountain, he planned to confront her in the Forbidden Forest and persuade her to quit. Unfortunately, when a fire destroyed the field of blue flowers, he never got to meet up with her. Now she is gone, as are all the flowers and Springbounder.

————-

Destiny – Part 9 (idea)

Rowan’s idea to convince Adriana to quit her quest had failed. What had happened to her when the fire destroyed the field of flowers? Was she still alive? If she was, where did she go? These were all questions he could not answer – Yet. 

While pondering these thoughts, Rowan felt a vibration on his wrist. It was a message from Yarek, the one who had hired him.

———–

—- Rowan, You have surpassed my expectations. You did what I would have done and eliminated the girl completely. Granted, my fire blast assisted you, but you led me to where she was, and she has been taken care of. Now return to me, let me know what information she has passed on to you, and you can accept your reward.—-

———–

How was the King able to follow him? Of course, the wristband, a gift from him, must have some magic tracking capability. 

What did the King mean when he texted, “You did what I would have done” 

Adriana was gone, possibly dead. Was that her fate, all along? 

Something was definitely wrong here. Rowan knew of King Yarek’s reputation of getting rid of those opposed to him being self-appointed King of Tirea and of those with knowledge that might bring his reign down. But when he took on this job, Rowan never believed that Adriana’s quest fell under that category. 

He had to find her again, if she was still alive, and warn her. He had more knowledge that might pertain to her birth. He certainly wasn’t going to include King Yarek in sharing this information or go to the king to seek his reward. Once any information about Adriana was shared with the King, Rowan knew his life would be forfeited.

But first things first. Rowan took off his wristband, placed it in the middle of the field of destroyed flowers, and set the wristband ablaze, making it look like he had been killed along with Adriana in the fire. 

Rowan was a tracker; he searched the surrounding woods for any signs of entry or exit. He found two potential paths to take. One was clearly Adriana’s footprints. The other must have been the hoof prints of the chimera she had been conversing with. 

He needed more information about what the two of them had been discussing when the fire blaze hit. Was the chimera another agent of King Yarek? Rowan chose to follow the chimera’s trail to get that information. He could be very persuasive.

To be continued in J – Jump

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

H – Happy

Posted on April 9, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 7 – Grow: 

Adriana ventured into the Forbidden Forest to find the field of blue flowers where she had been left as a baby. She finds Springbounder ther, who explains that she needs to pick three flowers for her journey, but only the right ones. A blazing flash of light ignites the field, destroying all of the flowers, but not before Adriana grabs three of the closest flowers to her. Springbound runs away, as does Adriana. Questioning whether or not to continue this quest, she chooses to continue. 

————

Destiny – Part 8 (happy)

Rowan thought that he had accomplished his task. He was to find the girl when she arrived and then befriend her. With her trust won, he was to dissuade her from completing her task. He didn’t actually know what her task was or given any specific instructions as to how to convince her not to complete it. He decided that the first thing he would do was to find her and find out what she hoped to accomplish. 

It took him a while to find where she was headed, and once he saw her enter the path going up the mountain, he followed her. Rowan made his move as she reached the end of the path where the mountain became steep and would need expertise to climb. He approached her and said, “Interesting place for you to be. Do you climb these hills often?”

After conversing with her (see D – Dance), he helped her climb up to where she could find some shelter and possible directions. He hoped that she would begin to trust him, allowing him to use that trust at a later time to complete his assignment. 

Rowan was known under another alias in these parts and needed to make a hasty exit, as the villagers here might question why he was with her.  He did not want Adriana to know who he worked for.  He did, however, stay close enough to follow her again. 

The next day, as she wended her way through the paths, it became apparent that Adriana was heading towards Queen Isolara’s palace. He witnessed her meeting the queen, and as they entered the palace, Rowan made his way to the one guard he had used before. With a quick exchange of money and promises, the guard would secure a place to overhear the queen’s conversation with Adriana and report back to Rowan. 

Rowan now knew who she was, at least as much as anyone else, and where she would go. He planned to continue following her, but when she stopped and looked around, Rowan stood still and remained hidden.  When he appeared, he planned to explain to her that the Forbidden Forest was named as such because anyone who entered it never came out, the same, causing all the kingdoms that surrounded the forest to ban anyone from entering it, and that she should give up her quest. It never dawned on Rowan that there was no reasonable explanation for why he was there.  It certainly would not have engendered her trust in him. 

Regardless of his plan, he never had a chance to attempt it. As she arrived at the edge of a field of flowers, he noticed a chimera waiting there. They appeared to know each other. This was an unexpected development.

Adriana seemed to be doing all the talking, as no sound was coming from the chimera, yet the chimera was communicating with her somehow. Rowan debated whether or not to go forward and talk to both of them. He could be very persuasive at times. He hoped to convince them both not to complete her quest. It sounded like a good plan. 

But that was not to be. Before Rowan could step forward, there was a blazing flash of light, and the field of blue flowers burst into flame. The flames were too great and hot to pass and allow Rowan to do anything. When the fire died down, all the flowers were gone, as were the chimera and Adriana. 

Rowan was not happy. His plan had been disrupted.

 

To be continued in I – Idea

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

G – Grow

Posted on April 8, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 6 – Forest: 

The queen revealed the truth about Adriana’s birth. Adriana chooses to find out for herself whether she is a princess or not, starting at the Forbidden Forest. Though offered a royal guard escort, Adriana decides to go alone, concerned about what the queen said: “There are those that still seek your demise. Should they find you, all may not go well.”  

———–

Destiny – Part 7 (grow)

The directions to the Forbidden Forest were not hard to follow. The queen had replenished her supplies and gave her one more piece of advice. 

“Be cautious of those you are willing to trust on your quest to help you. Loyalties can change. There is much deceit in our land,” the queen said.

Once she found the Forbidden Forest, she had to decide her next move. In all the conversation, Adriana neglected to ask the queen why it was named the Forbidden Forest. 

She decided to start by trying to find where she was discovered as a baby – the field of blue flowers. The difficulty this time was that the forest was very dense, with no clear paths to follow. 

Again, she marked trees with arrows pointing in the direction she would go using her carving knife. When she came upon one of her markings, she carved a line through it and chose a different direction to mark and go in. 

This went on for some time. Now and then, she would look around behind her. She had a sense that someone or something was following her. They were very good at it, if they were, for she could spot no one. 

At last, she reached a part of the forest with an open glade. In the middle of the glade was a large patch of blue flowers. 

Standing at the edge of the patch was Springbounder. 

As she approached, he called out, “I see things are going well.”

“You know about me,” Adriana said. “What can you tell me that might help?”

Springbounder replied, “I know pieces of your story; at least, those Queen Isolara chose to share with me. As I said before, I was tasked to start you on your journey to find your destiny. The queen was the one who could plant the seeds in your mind to allow you to move forward. You must have found your way to the queen yourself. Otherwise, you would not be here now. I guessed you might come here to seek guidance, so here is where I waited.”

Adriana accepted Springbounder’s explanation but was still unsure of his trustworthiness. 

“So now I’m here,” she said, “what is it that you advise?”

“I believe the blue flowers are important to your quest,” he said. “Some are believed to have special properties, though I know not what those might be.”

“So what should I do?”

“Pick three,” Springbounder said. “But make sure they are the right ones, for all flowers are not the same.”

She was about to ask how they were different since they all looked identical and how she would know the right ones from the wrong ones when there was a blazing flash of light whereupon the field of blue flowers burst into flames. 

Adriana hastily grabbed the first three flowers near her as Springbounder turned and ran away, shouting, “RUN!” and disappeared back into the woods. 

Without thought, she ran into the woods, clutching the flowers she had picked.

 Springbounder was gone, as was the field of blue flowers, which was totally destroyed. 

Adriana sat alone in the forest, wondering about what just happened. She had flowers that might mean something, but she did not know the meaning or how they should be used. Something caused the field of flowers to be destroyed. Was Springbounder involved? Was she supposed to be in that field when it burned up? Should she have taken the Queen’s guards with her on this quest? Should she just give up her quest?

A familiar voice spoke to her in her mind, “Once the seed is planted, you must wait for it to grow.” It was Queen Isolara’s voice.  

Adriana stood up straight and strong. “So be it,”  she said out loud to whoever might be listening. “I won’t let this stop me. I shall continue on!”

 

To be continued in H – Happy

 

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

F – Forest

Posted on April 7, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 5 – Elegant: 

Following the clues provided by the dancing birds, Adriana made her way to a grand palace where she was met by the Queen, welcoming Adriana on her return, which confused Adriana, as she had never been there before. The queen said that they had much to discuss. 

———–

Destiny – Part 6 (forest)

The queen led Ariana to a royal chamber. The guards remained outside.

Adriana admired the plush carpeting, the ornate embroidered curtains around the large windows, the tapestries covering the walls depicting historic events, and the doorway to the balcony. A sitting area with comfortable chairs was by one wall near a grand fireplace. A picture of a much younger queen hung over its mantle. Adriana was overwhelmed.

The queen motioned Adriana to sit down, then sat opposite her. 

“It is you,” the queen said emphatically as she gazed into Adriana’s eyes, “we welcome you back. What do you know about yourself?”

Adriana didn’t know what to say. How was she known to this queen? How could she have returned to a land she had never been to? The most perplexing question was why she felt that she was home.

“I’m guessing I know very little about myself,” she started. She went on to talk about her family, her mother and father, older sister and brother, where she grew up on Glendan, reaching the age of nineteen and choosing her destiny to be a princess, where there had not been any royalty for years. She talked about biting the apple and ending up in this land, about the help she had received from a chimera and a mountain climber, and how she followed clues to end up at the palace. 

As she explained all of this, the queen continued staring at her. The queen’s facial expressions showed multiple emotions – compassion, astonishment, pride, and love.

When Adriana stopped talking, the queen addressed her. “My dearest Adriana, you do, in fact, know little of your origin. But the story of your life touches my heart. We now know the decisions made at your birth were the right ones, for you are here, strong and wise. It is time for me to fill in the gaps and set you on the course to discover who you are.

You were born here in Glandisol. You were found in a field of blue flowers in the middle of what is now called the Forbidden Forest. The peasants that found you brought you to this palace, as a note attached to the blanket you were swaddled in read, “Please save my little princess. Don’t let them find her.” The queen pulled a tattered paper from her robe and shared it with Adriana.

We did not know whether the term “princess” was a term of endearment or a royal title. 

Then, when news of your finding got out, came rumors of marauders seeking your death. We needed to act fast. I engaged the services of a soothsayer and a wizard. The soothsayer foretold that you would return when you reached the age of nineteen but could offer no explanation of your birth. The wizard was charged with transporting you to another land and fostering you to, what I must assume, were the parents that raised you. He was also instructed not to reveal anything about you other than that you were an abandoned baby. Your parents were told never to reveal how you came to be in their family. 

Though the queen’s story explained how Adriana got there, all the information shared gave her many more questions. Why didn’t her brother and sister share any of this information? Were they sworn to secrecy also? Was her desire to become a princess connected to her birth? Was she already a princess? 

That was the question she asked out loud. “So am I really a princess?”

“That I do not know,” was the queen’s reply. “In my heart, I sense royal blood in your veins. However, without proof, there is nought I can act on. You must find that out yourself. You must go to the Forbidden Forest to find what you seek. But beware, there are those that still seek your demise. Should they find you, all may not go well.”

Adriana had lots to think about. She was fed well that night, given a chamber to sleep in, and the next day was directed on the way to find the Forbidden Forest. The queen suggested that some royal guards escort her. However, Adriana refused. She felt that she’d be safer if she went on her own. 

To be continued in G – Grow

 

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Falling for Limericks

Posted on April 6, 2025 by hdh

The writing spark for this week was the word – fall

Falling for Limericks

A blind date I once had at this place

Thought of me from some alien race

But try as I might

Prove that she wasn’t right

She gave up when I fell on my face

——————

I’m surprised that I fell for that trick

Looking down as his finger did flick

Poked me right in the nose

Even mussed up my clothes

The thought of it just makes me sick

——————

Ronald told me this wouldn’t take long

He promised that he’d come along

No doubt, I’ll take the fall

And get blamed for it all

What could possibly ever go wrong?

——————

Ikea instructions are clear

They are easy, you’ve nothing to fear

When complete just sit down

But you might have to frown

When it breaks and you fall on your rear

——————

Stand up straight and fall into one line

Do not talk; you must wait for the sign

Such a rowdy young bunch

Now go home for some lunch

While I stay here at school and drink wine

——————

When you fall, just get up, try again

All you need is a paper and pen

Find the words that you seek

Use them all next off-week

When you know we’ll be seeing you then

Posted in Original Poem, Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

E – Elegant

Posted on April 5, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When last we met in Part 4 – Dance: 

Adriana had followed the clues that Springbinder had given her. She found a mountain climber named Rowan, who helped her climb partway up the mountain, where villagers helped her find the place to get the next clue. Seven birds flew down from the sky onto a rock with seven sides, each facing a path that could be taken. The birds seemed to be dancing. Were they sending her a message?

———–

Destiny – Part 5 (elegant)

The birds’ dance followed a pattern. Adriana sketched out the pattern they were making in the notebook from her backpack. She sketched a picture of the top of the rock, numbering the sides from 1 to 7, with 1 being the side from which all the birds started their dance. She then sketched the seven paths that could be taken, labeling them A – G, with A being the path she had just come from. 

The sketch looked like this:

She knew the pattern involved the paths and paired each number with its respective path. 

When completed, she followed the map and went to the path she had come from at A1; the first place the birds signaled after that was C3. She headed to C3 and looked at the path. There was nothing special about it. From C3, she went to the next marker, G7. Again, there was nothing special about it. The third marker on her map was back to A1. Continuing to the rest of the paths in order, she went back to C3, then E5, and back to G7. Seeing nothing special on those paths, she checked out the birds’ paths corresponding to the ones where they fell off the rock – B2, D4, and F6. Nothing stood out; all paths looked the same. 

The next thought to her was that once you were on a path, the dance signaled the following path to take at the next juncture. Using A1 as the starting point again, she went to path C3 and began walking. The path was well defined; it went through some woods, over a wooden bridge, and finally ended up at a large, circular, open field. There was no rock in the middle of this field, but there were six other optional paths, spread out along the circumference of the field, similar to the one where she had started. Here, she had to make a choice. “Do I count where I’m standing as A1 again, or label it C3?” she thought aloud. Logic dictated to keep the numbers and their positions the same as the original ones; otherwise, her fourth move would have to return to the path she had just come from. She decided that where she was standing was position C3 and proceeded to the fourth path from where she was standing. This continued for the rest of her journey; she would find a field with seven paths and take the next one based on her original map. After six choices, she emerged from a wooded area, where an enormous palace stood before her. 

Cobblestones led up to a grand arched door made of rich, dark wood. The palace itself had seven spires, all of different shades of gold. Lush gardens were displayed on either side of the palace, and fountains spouting crystal-clear water reflected the sunlight within each one. 

Adriana approached the doors, reveling in the majesty of it all. Before she could reach them, the doors opened. Four guards dressed in full uniform stepped out in pairs, turned toward each other, stepped back, and held a salute. From inside came a tall woman, wearing a crown and carrying a scepter. This had to be the Queen.

The Queen was wearing an elegant silk dress, embellished with intricate embroidery. She looked down at Adriana with deep, piercing blue eyes. Slowly, the queen’s lips began to turn up into a smile. 

“Welcome, Adriana,” the queen spoke. “We all have awaited your return. Come join us, for we have much to discuss.”

How did the queen know her name, and what did she mean by “her return?” Adriana had never been there before. Not knowing what to say, she bowed her head to the queen and followed her into the palace, where the royal guards followed close behind. 

To be continued in F – Forest

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , | 5 Comments

D – Dance

Posted on April 4, 2025 by hdh

This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When we last met in Part 3 – Climb:

 Adriana found food, a backpack with some items, a walking stick, and a rope. Armed with those supplies, she searched out which way to go to achieve her destiny. Remembering a clue she was given, she determined which way to go – “You must go high” entered her mind. Adriana knew she was destined to climb that distant mountain. 

————-

Destiny – Part 4 (dance)

Making it to the mountain was an arduous task. She was careful to mark things with arrows, using her carving knife, along the paths she took. Each time she reached a fork in the road, she had to stop and determine which fork to take. She did attempt some, only to discover the path taken ended, or it circled back to a path she had already been on.  She chose not to go too deep onto densely covered wooded paths as she didn’t want to lose sight of the mountain. 

She made sure that she ate and drank sparingly, knowing that the journey was long and not wanting to deplete her supplies before she could restock them.

As her canteen emptied, she managed to find small watering holes where she could refill it. When her food was depleted, she happened upon way stations that were clearly designed for travelers like herself. There, she could restock her food supplies and rest to regain strength. 

When she reached the mountain, she looked up. Its snow-capped peaks rose and appeared to touch the sky.  Springbounder had told her she must go high to reach the next marker, where she would look to the sky to find the ones to follow. Did she need to go to the top peaks to see the marker, or would there be something for her at a lower level that was easier to get to? 

The only way to find out was to climb. The bottom part of the mountain had paths that she could use. She felt confident she was going in the right direction as long as she kept going upward. 

She came to a point where the path she was on ended. Above her, there appeared footholds that she might use to climb further. However, she had never climbed a mountain before and was unsure how to proceed. 

She heard footsteps behind her, and a deep voice said, “Interesting place for you to be. Do you climb these hills often?”

Adriana turned around to find herself staring into the eyes of the well-built man who had spoken. He was a few inches taller than her, with eyes a deep shade of blue, well-groomed, jet-black hair, and dressed in rugged outdoor apparel with a backpack over his shoulder. 

She paused for a moment before speaking. “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

He looked at her and slightly smirked as he replied, “I might ask you the same. I’m called Rowan. And I’m here because this is what I do. I climb mountains. I noticed you in my travels, and seeing the path you were taking, I was curious about what you would do when you reached this point. Now I’ve told you my name, what is yours?”

Without hesitation, Adriana stood straight and said, “My name is Adriana. I’m here because I am following a quest to find my destiny. I was instructed to go high to find my next marker. I have reached this point but am unsure what to do next.”

“Then it’s good that I’m here to help. I see that you carry a rope. It is very useful when climbing. If you allow me to lead, I can guide you up part of this mountain to another resting place. You should be able to find further help there.” 

This time, Adriana hesitated. She did not know this man. Was he trustworthy? Should she believe all that he said? The problem was that she still needed to climb the mountain. “What would I need to do?” she asked.

“It’s quite simple. I will tie one end of your rope around my waist and the other around yours. I will begin to climb, and you will wait until I stop and then follow in my foot and handholds. I will keep the rope taut as you climb. Should you slip and fall, I will be anchored to stop you from hurting yourself. Once you have reached my position, I will move further up and repeat the process until we reach a safe place where I can leave you.”

Adriana agreed to try it. She suggested they practice a few times, going up partway and then back down, so she could better understand the task at hand, which they did. 

They rested a bit, and then Rowan suggested starting the climb. It was getting late, and they needed to get to a more convenient resting place for the night. 

They climbed for over an hour until they finally reached level ground. There, they found a series of small houses. There were people there, too. 

Rowen suggested that Adriana try to befriend some of the people by explaining who she was and her task. They would shelter her for the night. As for him, he had to continue on a different path. He wished her luck, turned, and left her on her own. 

This wasn’t exactly what she had planned, but it was the only thing she could do. Finding someone who would listen to her tale and provide a place to sleep wasn’t hard. Many were interested. They were also willing to restock her backpack. Interestingly, when she mentioned Rowan’s name to anyone, no one had heard of him. 

The woman she stayed with remembered some story about a large odd-shaped rock in the middle of one of the fields nearby. She suggested it might be the marker Adriana was looking for. 

Adriana thanked all of the people who had helped her and departed in search of the rock. She followed the path they had described until she came to a turnoff. Taking that, it was not much further before she found the field with the rock. It certainly was odd-looking. It had seven curved sides and a flat top. Each of the sides faced a different path. The top of the rock was flat and smooth. 

A shadow passed overhead. Adriana looked up into the sky and saw a flock of seven birds. The birds all looked like the same species – small in stature, with black and white stripes on their heads, brown wings with white stripes, and light grayish bodies. The birds all seemed to be looking down at her. They came lower and lower to the ground until they all landed on the top of the rock. They all moved to the top side of the rock that faced the path Adriana had just taken. Their backs were to that path. Then, six of them moved to another side. One stayed there, and the rest moved to another side. This continued, as one bird was always left behind. Sometimes, two birds would end up on the same side. When all was done, there were one or two birds at four sides of the rock, and three sides remained empty. Then, all but one flew up and landed atop one of the empty sides. From there, those birds fell off the rock. These actions repeated themselves (All starting together on the same spot, leaving one back flying to a different spot precisely as before, and when done, flying to an empty spot and falling off the rock). Other than picking a different one of the empty spots at the end to fall off, the pattern of where the birds went each time was identical. 

Adriana reasoned that the birds appeared to be doing some kind of dance. And their dance was meant to give her a message. 

If she only knew what it was.

 

To be continued in E – Elegant

 

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , | 8 Comments

C – Climb

Posted on April 3, 2025 by hdh

This story, “Destiny,” was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were preselected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT). Each selected word is included in the section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text.  

To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When we last met in Part 2 – Brightly:

Adriana has turned 19. On her nineteenth birthday, she has to choose her destiny. Once chosen, she can’t change it. Her decision is not supported by her family or culture. She chooses to be a princess. There is no royalty in her land. Taking a bite out of an apple that has fallen at her feet. There is a flash of light, and Adriana disappears. 

Destiny – Part 3 (climb)

Light gave way to darkness. When this cleared, Adriana found herself on a path leading to a small hut. Seeing no one around, she went to the door and found it unlocked. She slowly pushed it open and stepped inside. 

There weren’t many furnishings. What stood out was a table with all sorts of things to eat on it. There were fruits, some raw vegetables that looked like a cross between a carrot and a turnip, an assortment of baked goods, and a pitcher of a sweet-smelling liquid with an empty glass next to it. With no one there to answer her questions or instruct her, hunger guided her to pick up the food and eat. She filled the glass with the liquid from the pitcher and drank. Everything she ate was fresh and seemed to have just been picked or made. The liquid quenched her thirst. She felt newly found energy. She tried to be careful and not eat or drink too much, but she was very hungry after her journey and probably ate more than she should have. 

When she had sated herself, she explored the hut more carefully. “There must be a reason I am here,” she thought. “It can’t be just for the food.” 

Beyond the food, she found a backpack filled with assorted items by an open window – a blank notebook, some writing implements, a small axe, a carving knife, a canteen, and binoculars. Leaning against the window was an oaken walking stick, perfect for her size, and a length of rope.

She stared out of the window and thought over what Springbounder had said.  “You must go high to reach the next marker; from there, you must look to the sky to find the ones to follow.” 

She decided to take the backpack and its contents, add as much food as possible, and fill the canteen with the liquid from the pitcher. She grabbed the walking stick and rope, then returned to the path outside.

Adriana surveyed her surroundings. “There must be something here to guide me,” she thought. She decided to make a wish and take another bite from the apple. To her dismay, she had inadvertently eaten the apple while craving food. There was nothing left of the apple to be found. 

Springbinder had told her she had to seek her answers by herself. Maybe it wasn’t an accident that the apple was gone. She had made three wishes. She needed to rely on her own resources instead of unknown magical ones, revisit the clues she did have, and move forward. 

 

“You must go high to find the next marker,” she remembered. It was clear that she would not find it at ground level wherever she was to go. She took out the binoculars and examined her surroundings, near and far. She even looked up in the sky to see if there was anything that might be a clue. 

The terrain before her was mainly level but had many twists and turns. From what she could see, there were many forks along the path. Some veered off into wooded areas, others toward bodies of water, and others just appeared to disappear. Decisions would have to be made at these junctures. But which way? 

Then, her binoculars stopped on a landform very distant, beyond many of the paths. It rose from the ground up to the sky. It was a mountain. 

Again, she thought, “You must go high” entered her mind. Adriana knew she was destined to climb that distant mountain she saw.

To be continued in D – Dance

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | 5 Comments

B – Brightly

Posted on April 2, 2025 by hdh

This story, “Destiny,” was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were preselected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT). Each selected word is included in the section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text.  

To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.

When we last met in Part 1 – Apple:

Adriana has turned 19. On her nineteenth birthday, she has to choose her destiny. Once chosen, she can’t change it. Her decision is not supported by her family or culture. She chooses to be a princess. There is no royalty in her land. Taking a bite out of an apple that has fallen at her feet. There is a flash of light, and Adriana disappears. 

———-

Destiny – Part 2 (brightly)

Adriana saw the flash of light. All went black before her eyes. It took a few seconds until the darkness cleared, and she discovered that she was not in her garden anymore, nor were any of the people attending her ceremony there.

As she looked around, all she could see was emptiness. There were no trees or bushes and no obvious paths to follow. She looked down at her hand and saw that she still held the apple she had picked up. Funny, though, she knew that before she saw the flash of light and appeared here in this desolate place, she had taken a bite out of the apple, but the apple in her hand remained whole. How could that be?

Could this be the place where she was supposed to become a princess? If so, how would that happen? Too many questions with no answers came to mind. 

Add to all this, it was late in the day, for the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the moon was beginning to rise.

As time passed, the moon shone brightly upon the barren landscape. She chose to move forward in the direction from where the moon had risen. Adriana wasn’t sure how long she had been walking when a grumbling sound emitted from her stomach. She asked herself, “I wish there were someone who could help me.” She was getting hungry. All she had was that apple. She lifted it to her lips and took a bite. 

Again, she saw a flash, and the next thing she saw was an animal approaching her, the likes of which she had ever seen before. Its head was shaped like a cat. Its body was that of a horse. Its legs and feet looked like springs with talons attached at the bottom. Anyone else seeing such a beast approaching them might run in fear for their life. However, she knew instinctively that it meant no harm.

It stopped before her and bowed its head. Adriana heard a voice in her mind, “Welcome, Adriana, the Foreseen. We have been waiting for you for nineteen years.” 

She asked out loud, “Where am I? What or who are you? How do I hear what you are saying? What do you mean ‘the foreseen’?”

Its reply was, “I understand you have lots of questions. I can answer a few, but after that, you must seek out the answers yourself. You are in the land called Glandisol. I am called Springbounder. My task is to start you in the right direction to achieve your destiny.”

“How did I get here? All I see is flat land with nothing around me. Where am I supposed to go, and what am I supposed to do?” Adriana asked.

The voice in her head became impatient, “You need to stop with the asking and start with the doing! You should have figured out answers to some of your questions already. The Queen will tell you more if you reach her. As to how to get there, the answer is in your hand. You must go high to reach the next marker; from there, you must look to the sky to find the ones to follow. Now, be off! Till next we meet.”

On saying all that, Springbounder turned and hopped off in a different direction from where it had come from. 

Adriana didn’t know what to do. All this was too confusing to her. Her stomach grumbled again. She needed to find food. She looked at the apple in her hand again, which was whole, and a thought occurred to her. “I wish to find food,” she said to no one in particular and took a bite of the apple.

There was a flash of light.

To be continued in C – Climb

Posted in A to Z Blog Challenge 2025, Original Stories, Writing | Tagged , | 3 Comments