Editing Cliffhangers 18/09/12

= Cliffhangers =
'''Cliffhangers'''


Hi! Welcome to Cliffhangers. I’m Brianna! This year I will be writing this column. Cliffhangers was previously written by Carolyn Sie and, continuing in her fashion, I will be interviewing a writer, writing a cliffhanger with them, and offering a prompt at the end. I hope you enjoy this article and don’t forget to leave feedback!


'''This month’s writer is… Samuel Hauser! :D'''



'''Brianna Harpel:''' Hi! Are you ready for our interview?

'''Samuel Hauser''': Yes. 

'''Brianna Harpel''': Awesome, so first question: how long have you done creative writing?

'''Samuel Hauser''': I have been doing creative writing for a long time. I think I started when I was about six or so. I was pretty young. 

'''Brianna Harpel''': Cool. ^-^ Is there anything you hope to do with your or through your writing? 

'''Samuel Hauser:''' Yes, there actually is. I love acting and when I think about novels or stories I am writing, I actually act them out. It helps me make the scene more real.

'''Brianna Harpel:''' Oo, that’s cool! Have you ever joined any writing classes, contests, or workshops? 

'''Samuel Hauser:''' I have taken a thing (I’m not sure if it is a class or course or what) called IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing). I don’t think I have been in any writing contests, but I set one up for some of my friends. 

'''Brianna Harpel''': Nice, I’ve heard of IEW. I think my brother did it. So, what is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing so far? Or one tip you would give to aspiring writers?

'''Samuel Hauser:''' Uh...let’s see. Well, first of all, you can never make too many plot twists! Those are my favorite. Secondly, writing is fun and it should always be fun. If it becomes not-fun, you’re doing something wrong. 

'''Brianna Harpel:''' Awesome :) Yes - you are good at plot twists ;D So, what do you most enjoy writing? 

'''Samuel Hauser:''' Um, probably the plot twists. XDDDD I also like putting some of myself into characters. Sometimes I will put struggles or emotions that I hide in real life into the people in my story or book. I love the sense of control though. You can do anything you want in books. Anything at all. And while that might sound like some kind of evil bad-guy, no matter what is going on in your life, you can control what happens in your book. 

'''Brianna Harpel''': Mhm, yep. Have you ever co-written a story before? 

'''Samuel Hauser''': Um, well, kind of. I am doing one right now with Brooke, but it is my first one. 

'''Brianna Harpel''': Awesome. Alright, so you ready to write this month’s cliffhanger? >8D

'''Samuel Hauser''': Totally! I can’t wait! >8D Hehehehe!  


'''On My Honor'''



Voulrin gazed from the crest of the hill, eyes wide. The ground below him smoldered and smoke rose above a still silently burning town. In the center of this gray ocean, a castle stood silhouette against the pale gold horizon. 

''No. No!''

He quickly mounted his horse and charged into the village. The scorched earth crackled under the hooves of his steed; the sound was sucked into the silence.There were no villagers, no signs of life. Just silent fires eating away the cottages. 

''What could have happened here?'' 

His eyes burned as he moved his horse in a circle, gazing around him. Being a knight meant that he had been in battles and seen many deaths. However, this was different. There was nothing. No one. Only smoke and fire. There had been a massacre here, he was sure, but there was no evidence to support his. 

''Where are they?'' 

He snapped the reigns and galloped through the village, calling aloud. His voice rang emptily through the thick smoke that sank into his chest. He coughed and cried out more. The haze parted and a castle eased into view. 


Recklessly, he urged his horse over the drawbridge and yanked it to a sudden halt. The courtyard was barren. The grass was charred, and the the walls were black from fire. Large sections of wall tumbled out across the dirt and some of the ramparts were crushed, but there were no boulders or signs of catapults. A soft breeze stirred the ashes up like a ghost that brushed past Voulrin. The hair on the back of Voulrin’s neck prickled and he urged his steed onward at a steady pace. He was being watched; he was sure of it. Subtly, he glanced about, looking for whoever was watching him, but his vision could not penetrate the darkening shadows beside the walls. 

Voulrin continued and kept his hand clasped around the hilt of his sword as the feeling of being watched increased. He threw a glance over his shoulder, half-expecting something to be following him, but there was nothing. 

Motion in front of him captured his attention as his gaze moved forward again. A flash of white vanished behind the corner. Voulrin yanked his sword from its sheath and dismounted. His feet barely clapped against the stone before he was stumbling around the corner where he had spotted the movement. He was rewarded by the sight of a small figure running across the common leaving bare footprints in the ash. 

“Wait!” The figure paused and looked back. Then it slipped through a doorway. Voulrin followed cautiously. 

“Hello? Who goes there?”

There was no answer. He entered into a large room. A gap in the ceiling allowed dusk’s final glow to illuminate the space. He guessed it would have been the great hall by the large pillars that lay decimated. His eyes scanned the room’s perimeter until it rested upon the cloaked figure crouching near the last standing pillar. It looked up at him, the hood fell back. Voulrin gasped. He took a step closer as his sword clattered on the floor. 


“Kayda?” 

Kayda squinted then stood, moving toward him. “Voulrin?”

“Sister!”

Kayda ran into his arms, “Brother…” Her eyes widened and shoved him away shaking her head. “No! Leave! Run! Run as fast as you can away from here!”

Voulrin was stunned. “What?”

“Please… there… there’s a dragon.” 

“A dragon?” Voulrin scanned the wreckage, understanding finally dawning. He bent quickly and retrieved his sword. “If there is a dragon about, it is my duty to slay him, Sister. Flee for this is no place for you.” 

“No. You don’t understand. I can’t leave. It will never let me go. It will always follow.” She looked frantically about, moving back toward the pillar. Voulrin reached out and grabbed her arm gently.

“Then I shall slay him, Kayda, and you shall be free of this accursed monster.”

Tears trailed down her face now and she leaned into him shaking. “It doesn’t. Doesn’t work like that.” She hid her face and slid to her knees before him.

“I know you think that I will not survive this fight, but it is my duty as a knight and as a brother. I will slay this beast, do not fear.”

Kayda looked up at him. “I know you can defeat it. Do you promise you will? It will do more harm to others than me. That is why I stay- to keep it from flying farther.” 

Voulrin knelt in front of Kayda. “I vow it upon my honor that I will slay this fiend. May I die disgraced if I do not fulfill this oath.” 

She grabbed his hand but cried harder. “So be it. I love you, Brother. Be safe.”  

“Hush,” comforted Sir Voulrin, helping her to her feet. “You must leave now. This beast could attack at any moment. Where is its lair?”

She smiled knowingly and stood. “Closer than you may hope. It will appear at any moment. All light is nearly gone.” 

“Then flee lest you be set upon as I.” 

She began backing away into a ink black corner, as she did so she whispered, “If only I could flee.” Red glowing eyes suddenly appeared in the corner and with thin slits for pupils. A fiery glow consumed a human form; Voulrin stood in horror as he watched his sister transform into a dragon.




'''Voting Arena''' It's time to vote! Each month, a vote will be set up between the current and previous month’s story. This month, you'll be voting between: “On My Honor” with Samuel Hauser and the last article done by Carolyn And Tirzah: “A Dream of Fire.” To do that, head to the Navigator Jabber, find the "Cliffhangers" thread posted by me, and type an X next to the story you like the most!



'''Challenge''' If you are needing some inspiration, take up this month’s writing challenge and email me the story. ^-^ I always love to see new stories. Here is this month’s prompt:

''The phone rings. The voice on the other end says, "We need you again." Then hangs up.''


And that’s it for this month! I hope you enjoyed reading the cliffhanger. Big thanks to Samuel Hauser for being this months collaborator! If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments, let me know in FirstClass through email or by posting in the Navigator Jabber. I'd love to hear your feedback! Until next month!

~Brianna

[[Category:Navigator Articles]]
[[Category:Nav 18-19]]