As you can see, I've made some changes. I'm only going to post quizzes when I come on them, instead of every time. It's part of what was keeping me from posting as often as my readers (all 4 of you!) might like. I'm also abandoning the whole rants and raves theme because it was keeping me from posting too. Please be warned, I'm posting often, and horrible, and angst, and whatever else I feel like from now on. If you don't want to hear me whine, you know where the door is. But that shouldn't happen TOO often.

Part of my resolve this year is to write. I consider posting to the blog writing, so that should really get me posting in here more freqently. But I'm also going to post other writing. Things like really GREAT Amazon posts, or writing prompts from Sunday, or old stories maybe.

Speaking of, here are the prompts I did at Sunday Brunch over at Toasted Cheese. Yeah, it's Amazon stuff. I'm on a roll with the Amazons right now, so I went with it. Got a problem? Comment.

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Tell the story of an outdoor encounter between two or more characters.

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She stood precariously on the log floating in the water. Both arms went out instinctively as the log rolled and turned beneath her booted feet.

“You can’t fight with your arms that way,” Samsara commented.

“And I fall in with them down.”

“Then you get back up and try again. Here,” the Teloan turned the staff lengthwise and threw it at the Priestess who managed to catch it on her way down into the shallows of the Thermadon.

She came up sputtering, water streaming from her long dark hair. Choking, she coughed as she scrambled to her feet and ran for the riverbank. “You . . . you did that on purpose!”

“I did, yes.”

“I can’t swim!”

Samsara sighed. “You can’t swim either?”

“What did you think? I could magically see under water, but nowhere else? I was blind! I can’t do much of anything!” Deoris shouted, her usual respect for the Queen’s niece vanishing in her anger.

“I suppose we’ll have to learn you that, as well, then,” the Amazon advanced on the Priestess, who was still wringing water out of her hair. The Teloan hefted the smaller figure easily and strode into the water until she was waist deep, then she lowered Deoris. “Swim,” she said, shoving the girl.

Deoris staggered, stumbled over the slick river stones under her boots and tumbled into the water. Her heavy leather gear dragged her head under instantly. Her eyes and mouth opened, sucking water inside her mouth and stomach, nose and throat. Bubbles escaped her and floated away toward wavering sunlight and the air her body now demanded.

She pushed her legs, following the bubbles, her hands flailing around in the water uselessly, trying to grasp hold of anything that would pull her back up. Her body moved enough to shove her head over the edge of the river, allowing her to gasp, choke, and suck in precious air before she went back down.

She shoved with her legs again and pulled with her hands. She cleaved through the water, her body moving into position lengthwise. She shoved again with her legs and pulled with her arms, and moved faster and easier this time. One more, and her knees scraped the river stones and she stood up out of the water, coughing water and sucking down air.

“I . . . don’t . . . like . . . you . . .” she choked, her eyes on Samsara.

“You’re going to like me less when you learn to use a sword.”

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Now, tell a similar story, with completely different weather.

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She was sure she was going to drown. Rain poured down from the heavens in great sheets, lightning flashes illuminated the ugly black clouds over head.

Artemis was unhappy with her Priestess’ chosen activity. Deoris chose to ignore it.

“Left!” Samsara ordered, swinging her mother’s sword hard to the right. Deoris brought her up from the left to counter, wincing as the blow jarred through her arm and up into her chest. “Right!” came the next command. “Up! Down! Left!”

Her arm began to ache as she countered blow after blow from the Teloan. She put her other hand up on the pommel of the sword she’d been given and Samsara stopped.

“You can’t do that, Deoris. You tell your enemy that you are weak, failing. He is winning the battle! He will press you harder and faster than before and he will win,” she circled around the panting Priestess. “Instead, grasp it with both hands often. You will balance the pain of the blows between both arms. Eventually I will teach you to use both hands, so you can move the blade from one to the other in battle, confusing your opponent and giving you the advantage.”

“Both hands?” Deoris sighed. “You mean after you build up the muscles in this arm I must do them in the other?”

Samsara nodded. “And then I teach you to jump, roll, tuck, spring, dodge and weave. And your sword will never leave your hand.”

Lightening flashed overhead, a blue-white light that dazed the Priestess. “Can we go in now? The thunder,” which rumbled from the east to the west as she mentioned it, “is giving me a headache.”

“No. You must learn to fight under all conditions. Storms can happen at the worst time,” she looked up at the glowering sky. “And your goddess sends you many signs of her displeasure at inopportune moments, doesn’t she? You must be prepared.”

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I'm not sure why I used Samsara in these. Valkyra would be more likely to teach young Amazons to fight. But Samsara was more likely to toss me into the river than Valkyra is, and she and I have this really troubled relationship. As in, I'm in trouble and she gets me out of it. Okay, and she was online when chat started and the name was fresh in my mind. LOL.

I like the first one better than the second. Not sure why. Haven't ever drowned and I rarely go swimming anymore. But it flowed a lot easier than the rain one. I also didn't feel I got the storm across good enough. I did like Samsara's advice and warning for the future. It does take a lot of training to learn to wield a sword. :)

That's all for today. As I mentioned, comments welcome. My little comment pop-up still isn't working right, however. Just post in the forum, okay? Comment.

Until next time, keep your sword sharp and your bow strung! Herete!