NaNoWriMo

 Hi!

As some of you may know, November is National Novel Writing Month (a.k.a. NaNoWriMo). I've known about it for some time, but it always seemed like too big of a project to tackle, especially since November is a big month for school assignments. Not to mention my side projects of training service dogs and learning Korean.

But this year, I'm trying something new! Since the beginning of the month, I've been trying to write everyday and so far my Work-In-Progress is at about 7500 words! 

I literally decided to do NaNoWriMo at 9 PM on November 1st, with no characters, no ideas, and a whole lot of blank pages. For someone like me, who needs a set plan, was a really big deal. But I've had so much fun working through each step of the story and really finding my own creative voice. 

I'll try to keep you all posted on how NaNoWriMo goes and maybe, someday, I'll post my WIP.

Hugs,

Cairn 

Summer: Time

 Summer: Time

Summer before grad

pressure, everything 

to do, seeing all

but none;

ending afternoons inside

scrolling complacent

wanting more of 

the summer idea

Fear Not, Fear Night

Fear Not, Fear Night 

A most beautiful time, filled

with moonlight and intrigue, and calm. 

But for half, also filled 

with danger and nerves. 

Dark is where most is concealed. Concealing love 

and terrifying shadows, 

shadows connected to fear

ones that disappear never 

shadows with bone and blood 

and the soul of unstoppable. 

But for half does the night carry such terror

Only for half

Unmet but Known

Unmet but Known

I didn't know you but I admire you

Chance never taken

We've existed in the same space before

Words never spoken

My friends were your friends

Names never exchanged

I learned your plans, our paths may have crosses

Hands never shaken

I know those who wear your name, always

And those who mention you often

I think throughout all, about who would have been,

could have been

Now a hero, to those who remember, who care, who know

Even if the chance to know has passed

Martial Art

Sleeves snap, thunder of heavy bags

Labored breathing of many

Individuals work and learn, instructors roam

Sharp connections of foot and hand

Crisp movements, each organized and uniform

Tradition flows through each student, 

connection to old and others

Containment (Part 2)

Kya

I was close, only a little bit more. I reached to radio for back up, but my fingers had only grazed the radio when the person I was chasing took a sharp turn. Directly into a brick wall. 

Frozen in surprised horror, I watched the figure slide down the wall, completely unconscious.

Hysterical laughter rising in my chest, my brain went into overdrive. Oh my god, I did this. I made this person slam themselves into a wall. What if I killed him?

I shook myself out of my head. I had to do something. And quickly.

Okay, Kya, think. What's the biggest problem right now? 

Duh, my brain says, it's the unconscious guy. 

"Thanks, brain," I say out loud. "Okay, after that, I need to get my cohort off my tail." I was pacing now, running my hands over my braided hair.

Right then, my radio crackled to life, "L-19, do you copy? What's your status?"

Great.

"I copy, Y-34, my status is," I breathe hard and fast into the radio, hoping to trick them into thinking I'm moving. "My status is still in pursuit of a single person, late teens early twenties. Easy catch and release. I've got this one handled, Cap."

Please buy this. 

"Copy that, L-19. Cohort 12 is moving into the Siena district, follow when able."

I breathe heavy into the radio again. "Understood, Cap. I will follow when able."

Thank the bees that we were spread thin this week, Cap would never let me go off alone normally. 

I watch my GPS tracker for a moment, making sure my cohort moves into the next district, then I pull the plug. The screen flashes, first showing a warning message, then going black. Next, I pull the antennae off and take the batteries out of my radio. Hopefully, they'll buy this.

Now, back to the unconscious guy.

Containment (Part 1)

Kya

It was so empty.

"No signs of life on the outside, Cap." My voice reverberated off the houses. Man, it never failed to unnerve me. The emptiness was suffocating, and almost scary.

I mean, I knew there were people in every one of the houses I passed, but the lack of movement was strange.

There! A shadow had shifted. Someone was outside.

"You there! By the alleyway. Stop!" I quickened my pace to catch up. "You are now under local government jurisdiction and must undergo testing. Please remain still as the team prepares," I shouted out my memorized and state-approved speech as I approached the figure. Most people didn't really mind the government testings, they figured it was better to protect the weak.

I was less than a yard away from the figure when they finally turned to face me. Most of their face and body was covered. The only thing exposed was their brown eyes. Their eyes bore into me before they turned and took off running.

"Cap, we got a loose one! I'm starting pursuit!" Keeping my eyes on the brown-eyed person, I took off running.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Milo

Oh my god, this was the worst decision of my life. I should have stayed inside. Why didn't I stay inside?

Even though I was running as fast as I could, I could feel the tears well up in my eyes.

"Milo, you are so so stupid. Mom is going to call you the biggest burro ever."

I glance over my shoulder and see the disease-control soldier chasing me. The two seconds of eye contact intimidated me so much I never wanted to see face to face again.

"Stop running!" She was gaining on me, and she didn't even sound out of breath. I don't want to admit it, but that scared me. A lot.

A little farther, Milo. There! An opening in the wall of houses.