Dark and Stormy Night - MrsDoubleA - Moominbrooke - RooBaRoo - Apelser - Rottifan4 - RooBaRoo

ROUND 1

MrsDoubleA

It was a dark and stormy night, but those were the best nights for creating art. The pit-pat-patter of the largest drops on the roof calmed me, as did the roaring, rising sound of the storm getting larger and closer. It seemed that the more devastating the storm was to the surrounding area, the better my art became. The resonating boom of thunder spread through me, reverberated inside me, guided my motions. The lightning set the pace for my strokes. When it stormed, I thought less, merely created more. It made me think of the ocean, of cliffs, of mountains. The storm reminded me of the glory of nature, the beauty surrounding us.

Like lightning from the ground, I rose to meet the storm. The booms, claps, and flashes that tomorrow would leave trees split and mailboxes uprooted inspired me, sparked me to make good art. When I was a child, it started with watercolors. When it stormed, I would gather a cup of rainwater and use it to mix my paints. It felt like I had truly captured a piece of nature if I used the water supplied by the sky. As I grew older, my techniques and materials varied more - I branched out to acrylics, to oil paints, to ceramics and pottery, but I still tried to include the materials supplied by Mother Earth as often as I could.

ROUND 2

Moominbrooke

Tonight, however, was special. The storm inspired me as had no other. I went up the ladder to the top shelf of my supply cabinet and dug out a canister of a material that I had been saving for years to try. It was fashioned from green and yellow swirled glass, and organically asymmetrical. Inside were ground particles of fulgurite- the crystal structure formed when lightening hits the sand. I spilled a modest amount into a mixing bowl and watched it sparkle dully like grey-blue crushed glass.

The air crackled around me, and lightening leapt across the sky. Almost immediately a peal of thunder boomed like it was inside my studio and wondered for a moment if opening my bottled lightening strike had brought the storm closer.

I went outside with my water bowl and it quickly filled with rain. Mixing it into the bowl of ground fulgurite, I looked around the studio for an object to coat with it. The ladder. Perfect.

ROUND 3

RooBaRoo

The fulgurite powder was special. It was lightning I could touch. The outside lit up again, followed by ear-shattering rolls. It elated my spirits. What a feeling. So much to feel, such an atmosphere to absorb into myself, & into artwork! I had never made the phenomenon the subject of my art, as I am humbled by the enormity of it. I just feel blessed to be able to witness its raw energy. I love to be one with the creation, & thunderstorms give me the feeling of blending into the universe.

I understand why the ancient cultures worshipped the forces of nature. Not just because they were afraid of these, that too, but also because it is such a liberating experience, to see the method in the madness, the rhythm in the random, to be involved in it!

The ladder is old & sturdy, & trustworthy, all that you expect the nature herself to be! & it is made of cedar, which makes me think of the perfect motif for it, the Ke’et, the canoes of spirit of the Tlingit. I had not been to Alaska personally, but I had seen Orcas, as a child, on a vacation trip. These “Killer” whales mesmerized me. They are so intelligent, no wonder the ancient Tlingit considered them human. They carve them in red and black, & the hypnotizing black & white meandering curves on their bodies become other organisms, animals & fish, & the Ke’et becomes many beings, all beings, the being!

But I’m not going to carve the wood, I have the petrified lighting, in its beautiful blue-green. Will the rainwater hold it together? I climbed my supply cabinet again to get some Pine resin I had personally sapped a few years ago. There began a strange knocking on the main door of my house. Strange as if someone was knocking. I hated to be disturbed when I was painting. But this could either be the storm itself, or someone needed shelter from it. If it was the latter, I did need to go let them in.

ROUND 4

Apelser 

 

As I made my way to the front door, I looked in awe at the lovely dances and shadows the lanterns in the hallway made against the walls. It looked so lovely and it truly mesmerized me. There were so many things that started to edge on the artist in me. The knocking on the main door started up again and I hurried to the door.

As I looked through the peep hole, I couldn’t see anything. Surely I was not mistaken, but maybe it was my imagination. I turned around and started making my way back to my sanctuary, but only gave two steps and then……… I turned my head. Yes, yes I am sure of it………there was indeed a knock on the door. Once again I looked through the peephole……nothing! Was I imagining this?? As I stood there with my hand on the door, I could feel it…… I felt it through the door. There was someone there…I peeked through the peephole again……no one, but how??

There was someone there but I couldn’t see them……Was I loosing my mind? Was things getting to me that I was imagining sounds and feelings? Any sane person would ignore it, turn around and walk away. They would wipe this out of their mind, but I couldn’t…something was edging me on to open the door. The next moment I was unbolting the latches and started turning the keys - when did I pick up the door keys? I cannot remember, but somehow I did it without another thought. I turned the door knob and opened the door……

As I opened the door, the was a loud thunder crack sounding if it was right in front of the door, trying to come in. strangely it didn’t scare me. I opened the door wider and then a movement from lower pulled my eyes down to the porch floor. Could I truly be seeing what I was seeing? Or was I imagining things……How? What? Where? Who? Why? All the questions popped into my head at once as I stared down and saw the most beautiful, loving eyes looking up at me.

ROUND 5

Rottifan4

They were a mesmerizing ocean blue. It wasn't unusual to occassionally see a dog wandering around the forest, but that was usually during open hunting season or when vacationers were in town. But, this dog was different. He was mostly black with a white belly and small white patches near each eye. Of course he was drenched but he appeared to be smiling. I looked around outside for a possible owner who had maybe gotten lost on a hike. My only glimpses of anything were during bouts of lightening but I only saw thick rows of trees. I called out for someone but got no response. 

"Well, what do I do with you?" I asked my visitor whose tail began to wag. He remained seated at the door politely while I grabbed a towel from the hall closet. I invited him in and dried him off. Perhaps someone will come looking for him tomorrow after the storm lets up I thought. "Until then," I addressed the content canine at my feet "I'm going to get back to work. You can come along if you'd like." I gave him a welcoming smile and headed back to my waiting studio.

Stepping up to my muse I tried to get back into my zone. The ladder was waiting for me. I pictured in my mind where I would begin. I reached for my materials but caught something out of the corner of my eye. I turned just in time to discover that this was no ordinary dog.

ROUND ??

RooBaRoo

  

It must have been some kind of illusion, a trick my eyesight played in this darkness seasoned with lightning. The strange visitor seemed suddenly luminescent. Had somebody painted him in Phosphorescence like the Hound of the Baskervilles? For the first time tonight, I was truly afraid. He was cocking his head to one side, his eyes closed in luxurious comfort. He stretched & yawned, & it happened again. He lit up! & by some coincidence, the sky lit up too! I was now not sure whether I was scared or excited! It’s cats which have mainly been linked to the extraordinary, the supernatural. & yet, here was a proud beauty, who seemed to be able to “sync” to the skies, he was truly electrifying!

 I was wishing more and more that no one came to claim him the next day! He seemed to enjoy the wild ecstasy of the weather as much as I, & he did not particularly mind being wet either, he had dried up as a gesture of courtesy to me! He seemed like an ideal companion for me, who had never felt the need for one, human or animal, before.

But more than anything, I was dying with curiosity, was the lightning really sympathetic to him? Was it even possible? As if on cue, my new companion made himself more comfortable, gurgled, & I witnessed the same strange “glowing dog” effect &  a low rumbling thunder swept across the sky which blinked several times! I was delighted at the possibility! If what I think is true, we will have many, & frequent “nights of the lightning”! What a night, I suddenly shivered. I realized that the heightened sense of creativity, & one-ness with the nature outdoors, had been in preparation to receive this new phenomenon in my life.

There would now be many, many, arty nights, & endless inspiration. I wondered what he would be like on a bright warm morning. I wondered what had led him to me. It gladdened my heart to think that he had claimed my home as his.  As he had settled himself comfortably, & appeared to have no further demands as of now, I turned back to the masterpiece which was now impatiently waiting for me to release it, searching my mind for the perfect name for my art-mood-bringer.

Dark and Stormy Night - BooBaRoo - Apelser - Fever - ??? - BooBaRoo

ROUND 1
RooBaRoo
 
It was a dark and stormy night...& it was the night that the Grrr-Gmmm started speaking to me. I was alone at home, & the power had shut off, even before the Sun had set, I had a Glass-chimney lantern by me. Well, not all alone, actually, my Grandpa was there somewhere in the house, which is strange, because I was 6 years old. He should have been with me, but then, maybe he thought I was sleeping. I was clutching my brand new doll to my chest. Everyone was at the hospital - my Ma, Paa, Granny & Aunt, & when they return, they'll bring me a baby brother...

Every now & then, the Grrr-Gmmm roared. They called it the thunder. I liked it, as the power cut had made the light & the fan useless, & the Grrr-Gmmm flashed like a tube-light for a few seconds, & I could see around me again. I didn't find the noise very unpleasant either, sometimes it cracked in my ears, & sometimes it made me afraid that something seriously heavy - like the cement roof - will fall down on me. But mainly, it sounded like a language that I did not know. But I wanted to know. I really wanted to know what the Grrr-Gmmm was saying to his friends.


ROUND 2
Apelser

I could imagine the Grrr-Gmmm sitting around with his friends. But then again, maybe the Grrr-Gmmm and his friends were playing a game while they chatted away and that was why they were so excited. Would my baby brother and I also be chatting like that? I wish that the Grrr-Gmmm would come and speak to me as I felt a bit lonely tonight. It would be terrific if I were the only one who could speak Grrr-Gmmm-ish as we would be the only one that could talk for hours. The people from far and wide would come to me and ask me to tell them what the Grrr-Gmmm was saying to them. Wecould speak about so many things and share so many secrets and no one would know what we were saying. The only down part would be that the Grrr-Gmmm doesn’t visit every day. Sometimes it is gone for a while and then comes back I wonder where it goes when it isn’t here?

As I lay in my bed with my brand new doll clutched in my hand, I tried to listen if I could figure out where Grandpa was in the house. I couldn’t hear him so I assumed that he was on the other side of the house. The Grrr-Gmmm and his friends myst be really having a great chat and a great time and lots of fun, because he started becoming louder and louder and it seemed as if he was becoming very excited about something.it felt as if he was coming closer and closer - maybe he was going to coma and visit me… I wondered if the Grrr-Gmmm had a family? Does he also have a ma and pa? What about a Grandma and Grandpa? Does he have a baby brother? Or maybe a sister? I wondered…

ROUND 3
Fever

I could hear Grandpa's heavy steps up the stairs somewhere in the house – not too near, maybe on the stairs to the green bedroom. Lucky for me! For some strange reason I didn't want my grandpa to come look after me. Not right now, when I was excitedly waiting for the Grrr-Gmmm to stop by.

I couldn't keep still in bed any longer. I took a deep, deep breath, as mum had told me to, before I jumped into a swimming pool, grabbed my doll firmly (I didn't have a name for her yet – the poor thing! I needed to come up with one soon.) and swung my legs out of the comfortable warmth of my blankets. 

Carefully, step by step, I moved towards the window. The curtains were closed, but through the gap between them I could see the Grrr-Gmmm and his friends light up every other moment. Their chatter had become incredibly loud – they must have a blast up there. I became a little jealous: Why was I left alone down here with my nameless doll and Grandpa roaming around the house somewhere else, while the Grrr-Gmmm and his friends were merry and happy and probably eating chocolate cookies in bed. I was never allowed cookies in bed! 

And when mum and dad and auntie came home, they would probably let my baby brother have cookies in bed, because they didn't leave him alone in this dark, dark night after all. 

Another flash of light lit up my room and the skys. There, way up there, what was that? I dropped all thoughts and the welling up of my tears and stared at a spot between the clouds. There had been something. Surely! I looked up to the spot strained. Then, another light! And I could see very clearly a big, friendly face in the clouds. The Grrr-Gmmm had appeared! And I was invited to chocolate cookies in bed with him and his friends!


ROUND 4
???

I leaned out the window & wondered if I could simple leap out, the same way as Mum had told, with a deep breath – but I was too afraid. I started wondering how I’d reach them. They looked pretty far up. They could fly, as I could see, though not too fast. They all looked quite the same, but a little bit different! They were all different blues, pale blues. & now, lot of them were very close by! They were huddled near my window. They were very big, & now that I think of it as an adult, they couldn’t all possibly fit in my room! But they did. I saw Grrr-Gmmm, I knew it had to be the friendliest one , with the sleepy, comfy grin. There were cookie crumbs around their smiles, & whenever they talked to each other, or to me, the room lit up, & they looked a soft golden, rather than pale blue.

I saw no hands. So how were they having those cookies? I really wanted to try one. They gave me some cookies. Just as I had guessed, those were chocolate chip cookies, one of the yummiest I ever had. They were all chattering so much that now there was a constant rumble & continuous white-golden light lit up my room. They had the manners to keep their voices low enough not to hurt me. They looked like they were made of (pale blue) cotton candy, but they felt like really soft, squishy pillows, with a little bounciness. I was laying my head on their shoulder. They were all brothers & sisters. & they had to work! Like grown-ups. They were having a particularly busy night tonight, & they still had a lot of towns & villages to water.

They were taking a break, & having some cookies, because they had really worked hard that day. I knew that too. It had rained without a halt all day, & not once could I go out. I was cross with them for that. But they just laughed like silly puppies, & started rolling over each other. This was their game. They rolled over me too. It was ticklish, & I could not see, but they were so comfy to lean against, I liked it. It was like being wrapped in cool comforters & quilts. Oh! Then they told me they didn’t have beds. They did have cookies, but never in bed, as there were no beds. But then how did they sleep? Hanging in the sky, poor things. So, now, they had come to me with the cookies, when they heard my thoughts, to have cookies in my bed.

ROUND 5
BooBaRoo

As the rain danced a pitter patter on the roof, and window, I drifted off to sleep with thoughts of cotton candy, puppies, and cookies.   My tummy felt full, and my heart felt lifted.   I had new friends in the wind and the rain, thunder and lightning.    As I dreamed, they whispered the secrets of the universe in my ears, but teased me when they also told me that I would not remember these secrets when I awoke.    I flew in my dreams, as I drifted over the town, the trees were changing colors,  birds were flying south with me.   I smiled at the cows below, cowering from the storm.    I came to a stop over a grey brick building.   I flew down to peer into small window.  Inside I saw my Maa, and Paa, and some people dressed in long clothes, the color of green puke.   All these people were gathered around my mother and she was smiling.  In her arms were 2 wrapped bundles.  One pink one blue.   I didnt understand the meaning of this but I knew it was time to fly back to my bed.   The raing told me it was time.  The wind lifted me up, as I swept back to my warm bed.   

I awoke to the sound of my grandpa, opening the bedroom door, as it squeaked on its ancient hinge.   Pop Pop, smiled and said.  Your dad called.  Your mother is tired but resting, she had some complications and will be staying a few extra days at the hospital.    But you now have a new baby brother and a sister.  It was twins.  She named the boy Thunder, and the girl Rainey.     I smiled, and said to myself.  I know the  Grrr-Gmmm told me.

Dark and Stormy Night - anwaname - Rottifan4 - Junemoon - Laurina

ROUND 1

anwaname

It was a dark and stormy night. The rain lashed against the library windows and helped to drown out the din of the party going on downstairs. The lights would flicker occasionally as the wind gusted outside. It made it difficult to read, but Sean liked it. It added atmosphere to the evening.

Sean had hidden himself away in the massive library in an effort to avoid his uncle's horrid guests. They were like brightly colored gnats, swarming throughout the estate. Even in here, a floor above the goings on, he could still hear the gentle buzz of conversation and shuddered. He would be the topic of many of those conversations. 

He thought guiltily of his uncle, who had thrown this little soiree in honor of his coming to live at Greenbrier. He should be down there attending to their guests. The thought of eligible young daughters and their mothers quickly squashed any feelings of obligation and he sank further into the leather reading chair with a book of local legends. 

He had made his way through about a third of the book as was beginning to contemplate returning to the party before he was missed, when a sharp keening interrupted his thoughts. He jumped, dropping his book to the floor. The keening broke off for a moment then resumed, louder than before. Sean hesitated, debating whether he out to investigate. 

ROUND 2

rottifan4

Stepping to the closed door he pressed his ear against it to determine if it was right on the other side.  As the keening continued Sean thought it sounded like it was coming from down the hall to his left. Slowly he opened the door and peered out looking both ways. As he walked down the hall to the left, away from the stairs leading down to the party, the keening seemed to become quieter the closer he got to the last door at the end of the hall. It was as if who or whatever was on the other side knew he was approaching. Sean thought it sounded like a girl’s voice but it was hard to tell.  Sean had no idea what was behind the door. The estate was large and he was still discovering new rooms and passageways everyday. Slowly, he reached for the door knob and turned it cautiously to the left.

Peering through the widening gap he saw that the room was dark inside. He waited for his eyes to adjust to the blackness. As things were coming into focus he began to see the outline of something towards the back of the room. Then suddenly he heard his uncle's voice calling from the bottom of the stairs. Sean had been so intent on learning what was in the room that his uncle's voice had startled him. Quickly, he closed the door and headed back down the hallway. The room would have to wait. "Yes, Uncle Caleb. I'm coming" he answered as he took the first two steps down the stairs. Getting no reply back he realized it had suddenly become completely silent downstairs. The music and the buzz of conversation had ceased. He paused halfway down to listen more intently. He wondered if the guests had left and he hadn't noticed. It was then that he heard what sounded like a clicking sound. He descended the final steps and rounded the corner towards the kitchen and the next thing he knew he was lying flat on his back.

ROUND 3

Junemoon

The lights were all out. Sean couldn’t see a thing, he might as well be locked in a casket. The clicking noise… Yes, he heard a clicking noise, getting more distant.  Ah, yes, it must be his uncle’s cane as he climbed the stairs.  He managed to sit up and feel around; his head hurt, something had hit him hard at the back of his head. Moving his head hurt.  He leaned against the wall trying to gather together all the events of this evening.  What happened to the guests?  Oh, but then he heard distant voices coming closer, a door – surely the massive front door – opened.  “Lights!” a man’s voice cried.  Light came on down the hall where the huge living room and dining room were, but the lights at this end of the hall were still out.  People were pouring in, voices were talking, laughing.  The group seemed to have been on a scavenger hunt with only flash lights, they were exclaiming about who had won the grand prize. 

Okay. Sean still wasn’t interested in them. But what about being knocked down.  Had it been Uncle Caleb with his ebony cane? Why?  Oh,  he remembered the room, the dark room where keening came from. He listened, he couldn’t hear any keening now, just the  party guests, as always oblivious to everything but their enjoyment. Could he stand?  Sean pulled himself up, his head hurt so much he was almost nauseous but curiosity was stronger than the lurching stomach. He began to climb the stairs, very slowly, step by step. As he advanced the slight amount of light from the living room faded; the stairs and the landing above were dark. He heard–or did he only imagine it?–a high pitched voice, “No, no.” With one hand on the back of his head, and one hand on the wall, Sean quietly climbed the stair.

ROUND 4 

Laurina

As quietly as he could, Sean reentered the library. Turning his head to the right, he saw a moving figure dressed all in black. Obviously, this wasn’t one from the party from downstairs. This burglar looked slight, but it must be the person who knocked him out, as well as made sounds to get him to leave the library.

“Stop!” Sean yelled to surprise the burglar. “What do you have there?”

As the burglar spun around, Sean noted the terror on her face. This is not what Sean had been expecting, a female burglar ransacking his uncle’s library.

With a seductive smile, she answered back, “Just reclaiming something that was stolen from me. I won’t bother you, if you let me go now.”

“What are you reclaiming? Show it to me,” Sean demanded.

As the woman lifted a handful of papers up, Sean snatched them from her hand. Then he felt the knock on the back of his head and all went black.

When Sean opened his eyes next, his uncle was standing over him fanning him and even slapping his cheek. “Wake up.”

“Uncle, I didn’t faint. I was knocked out. You don’t have to wake me up like that.” Sean wasn’t sure who he was angriest at right now, his uncle, the mysterious burglar, or her accomplice who knocked him out. What a night! He would have been better off just attending the party downstairs and then none of this would have happened.

As soon as Sean could stand up again, he decided to go downstairs. Enough of this nonsense with burglars, getting hit and hearing noises. It was safer to face the horrid guests who had come to meet him.

The noise and bright lights stunned him as he first entered the party. It took several minutes for his senses to adjust and then he saw her, the burglar. Without even considering his actions, Sean walked straight through the crowd to see her. Yes, it was the same woman who had been stealing from his uncle’s library not long ago. With a knowing smile, he greeted her and waited for her response.

“Ah, we meet again.”

“Really? You must be mistaken,” the woman replied. “And it would be safer for you to forget whatever you think you know about me.”

Sean heard the warning in her voice and realized that here was a woman who knew how to catch his interest. “So, what is your name?”

With that the woman turned and threw a smile over her shoulder. Quickly, she headed to the front door and exited the party, before Sean could do anything to stop her. He was intrigued and would make sure he found the mystery woman again. Now this was better than just reading; it was living.

Dark and Stormy Night - Skydancer - libertylithium - anawaname - Sakubik - Moominbrooke

ROUND 1

Skydancer

It was a dark and stormy night – just the way Michael liked it. He smiled as he watched the storm from his library window. At times the wind was so wild it drove the rain horizontally across the plains. But what he liked the most was the lightening and thunder. The pure energy of it was amazing. It never failed to excite him! But then he was born during just such a storm.

His parents had told him that the storm had begun in the early evening. And while it was not yet time for him to be born (as if we alone determined the time!) his mother had gone into labor with him. With each lightening strike her labor quickened, and it was not long before he entered this life. He did not cry; rather it seemed to his parents that he was laughing. He smiled at the memory of his parents telling him of it. And telling him also of how he had found his way out of the house during another storm when he was 14 months old. They said they found him waddling quickly around the yard, sans clothing, joyfully laughing up a storm of his own. During his childhood he continued the practice of exiting the house during storms, much to his parents dismay. He used to call himself a storm-rider and credited the thunder to the galloping of horses chasing after the lightening. To this day he still enjoyed going out into the elements when storms raged across the plains. But now he had his own stallion to chase after the lightening with him.

Michael remembered that when he had turned 15 his father had said, “You are a man now, fully responsible for your own actions. Though you are welcome to stay here under our care for several or more years, it is your own choice what direction you take. As our gift to you, you may choose any of the horses on our estate, except of course for our top breeding mare, Dancer's Delight. Or you may choose from another family of horses in the community. What say you?”

He had responded, “Thank you for such a great gift. I will take the next foal that Dancer delivers to us.”

“But you will not know whether it is male or female, and it will not be ready for your immediate use.”

“That is of no consequence. This is the right decision for me.” And so it had been.

Michael thought back on the birth of the fine colt that would grow to become the stallion that was his alone. Like Michael, the colt was born during a raging storm, lightening illuminating the sky and the thunder of galloping horses following behind. The colt seemed to know that it was quite special from the moment it dropped from it's mother's womb. It gained its feet immediately and began to prance around the stable area, showing no fear whatsoever of the storm, or anything else for that matter. He was a shining black that was almost blue and would become a magnificent horse. He asked the colt what his name was. As answer, the wind blew by outside, heralding the arrival of the thundering sky horses, and whispered 'Dark Thunder'. And so it was that this amazing colt that grew to be his stallion, his companion, had come to be called Dark Thunder. And they often rode the plains together, sometimes chasing the lightening at the head of the other thundering sky horses.

Ah, but so much reminiscing was no substitute for joining the storm for a night of wild running. He would go and saddle up Dark Thunder now, and they would go where ever the moment took them, and find whatever was to be found this night.

ROUND 2

libertylithium

Michael climbed onto the back of his beautiful horse Dark Thunder. The feisty horse almost managed to knock him off but Michael managed to stay balanced. Dark Thunder pranced gracefully but fiercely through the stormy country side as Michael held on tight to the reigns. He sure was enjoying this adrenaline rush. It was almost as if the horse was testing him- proving Michael worthy to be his owner. On and on through the fields they pranced until finally they reached the woods on the other side. Michael pulled on the reigns and tried to stop Dark Thunder from continuing, but the horse had a mind of its own. It continued down the trail into the woods. A thick wave of fear came over Michael as he remembered the dangers of lightening near trees. If they continued into the forest, lightening could strike one of the trees and they would be as good as dead.

On and on through the vast forest they galloped. The smell of rain and evergreens filled the air as the thunder roared in the sky. Suddenly, Michael heard a loud snap in the woods. Dark Thunder shook in fear as Michael tried to steer him away from the woods. They needed to get out now and they were already pretty far into the woods. As they continued the path back in which they came, Michael paused in horror. A large tree had fallen in their path. They had no idea which way to go...

ROUND 3

anawaname

Michael scanned the surrounding forest searching for a marker to tell him where he was, or even just a way around the uprooted tree. The woods here were too thick and too dark with the storm to try and make that jump. Dark Thunder fidgeted under him, not enjoying the claustrophobia of the woods at all. Michael patted his flank and made soft, absentminded shushing noises.

He remembered the time he had gotten lost a child, out in the great plains. He had gone for an exploratory walk but had panicked when he realized he had lost sight of the house. He had wandered around for hours trying to find his way back to his home. His father, after crushing him in a relieved hug, had swatted him across the back of the head and told to him to start using it. That was the day he learned the value of stopping to think about what he was doing. His father had pointed out, none too gently, that he had been walking southward. If he hadn't gone wandering in looping circles like an idiot, he could have just turned around gone north and would have been in view of the house within a few minutes.

"Always know where you've been," he muttered aloud, echoing his father's advice.

But that was the problem. He didn't know where he had come from. He could barely make out the ground a few feet in front of him, much less trace the trail they had surely left through the underbrush in this weather. The thunder came again, followed by another loud crash further off in the forest. Under that, low enough that he had first mistaken it for the sound of the rain, he could hear water running nearby.

There off to the left. He dismounted and led Dark Thunder towards the stream he thought he could hear. A good drink of water and a clear path to follow would be nice. The stream turned out to be more of a river. It had swollen with the rain and crashed across the rocky bottom throwing up spray and foam. Michael knelt and drank great handfuls of the water. It was cold and crisp and made him shiver.

When he straighten, he noticed an odd depression off to the right in the soft mud of the bank. Leaving Dark Thunder to drink, he wandered over to investigate. What he found there puzzled him. At first it didn't seem to have any shape at all.

Then he realized the depression was much larger than he had originally thought and the shape of it became obvious.

There, in the mud was an enormous footprint. It looked like one of his own, except that he could lay down in it and still not touch the edges along the tallest part.

The storm rolled on above him and the thunder shook the ground. Michael was reminded of all the stories about the far woods that he had heard. Dark stories about men who went missing and creatures that lived there.

ROUND 4

Sakubik

He couldn't believe it at first, yet he saw it right there. Just what creature on earth could leave a trail like this? Maybe it was best not to think about it..

Michael hastily turned around. It was foggy. He called for Dark Thunder. His friend replied. He found him, led him on to turn around. But he Michael heard a noise. Was it the thunder? The storm? Please let it be the storm, he thought.

He heard it again, he could not make out what this noise is. Dark Thunder was anxiious. He wanted to run, but Michael held him. He turned around, slowly, scared. He could not see anything through the fog. Just the noise.

The noise came closer.

Dark Thunder struggled free. Michael shouted after him! Stop! Don't go! Michael was scared. He ran after Dark Thunder. He ran and ran, faster and faster, but his feet wouldn't run fast enough.

He could barely see. And he had no idea where he was. Know where you are.... he took a second, looked around. It was no time to be scared, fear will not help him. It was so dark. So foggy. Thunder rolled in. He looked at the ground. Tried to see a tree a stone formation he might recognize.  He wandered around. It was a while. Then, he heard Dark Thunder. He ran towards the sound. Dark Thunder was just standing there. Next to a stone ruin. It looked like an … entrance?

ROUND 5
Moominbrooke

The portal was colossal, and faced by immense flat stone posts carved with rustic reliefs of snakes wound around each other and biting their own tails. It was capped by a heavy lintel of dark granite that glittered with each flash of lightening. All around the entrance were growing the plants that Michael knew were the most tasty and succulent to horses. Even an apple tree stood but a few paces from the monumental threshold. Dark Thunder munched contentedly while Michael looked around. The doorway was large enough for the maker of those outsized footprints. He shivered at the thought. Another thunder crash rent the air, and Michael looked to see where the flash would be, but when he turned around – Where was Dark Thunder? He heard a faint click of hooves on stone and knew that his horse had gone into the hillside. Quickly, but as quietly as his soft boots could make him, he scampered into the cavern. 

After several twists and turns he saw a glow. Michael crept close to the wall, close to the floor and marveled at what he saw- a spacious chamber with nearly twenty horses in stalls, and two roasting on a spit. The room was furnished with gargantuan tables, chairs and shelves made from what Michael suspected were horse bones and leather, and the walls and floors were covered in black, chestnut, dun and skewbald hides. There, among them all, was the giant mountain troll. He hoisted Dark Thunder and placed him gently into an open stable, and returned to tend his spit. It took all of Michael’s strength not to make a sound or to rush at the giant troll. But what could he do? 

Suddenly he had a thought. While the giant was noisily sucking down the horseflesh and cracking the bones with his massive molars, Michael scurried up to the entrance of the cavern and gathered up an armful of wet branches. Carefully, he came back down to the giant chamber and waited in the shadows until he could hear the giant snoring. He threw the branches onto the flames and hid inside one of the empty stalls. When the smoke filled the cave to the point where the giant’s head was on his pillow (but far above Michael or the horses), he awoke with a snort and a cry of consternation. He ran up the passageway to head out to the river for some water to quench the fire and Michael leapt into action. He threw open the horses’ pens and leaped onto Dark Thunder’s back. Off they galloped up the passage. 

The giant troll was returning with his water when he saw a stream of horses, with Michael herding them, part at the cave entrance and flow past him in the stormlight. He was too burdened to chase after them, so he stood bellowing in the night, then returned to his cavern to quench the smoky fire.

 

Once turned towards home, Dark Thunder knew the path home. Michael returned home with Dark Thunder and 20 other horses besides.

Dark and Stormy Night - Laurina - Skydancer - Danushaj - Liberty - Sakubik

ROUND 1

Laurina

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was howling, and the trees were shaking with fury. Inside the two were warm and cozy in front of the TV. They sat on either end of the vintage red velvet sofa as they watched a movie. The bowl of popcorn was emptied first. Then their tea cups ended up dry. Although their voices were low, the emotion ran high between the two. It was a mutual decision, they both said. They were both ready to let go and move on. But their body language didn’t quite agree with their words.

After 28 years of marriage, they had finally decided that “enough is enough”. Both of them wanted a new life now, something different.

“I am sorry it had to end this way”, Tracy said.

Matt felt tired and sleepy now; he had no strength left in him. What was left to fight for? He didn’t want to struggle to keep the marriage afloat anymore, and they had no children. That was the last thought he had before his head fell over into the empty popcorn bowl. Tracy smiled.

ROUND 2

Skydancer

Sleep was turbulent for both Tracy and Matt that night.

At some point in Matt's dreaming, he found himself afloat a raft upon the sea. There was nothing but the sun glittering on the waves in all directions; no land was to be seen. But the sea was gently rocking him and he seemed to be comfortably reclined in a lawn chair with a colorful umbrella providing shade for him. In his right hand was a drink and to his left was a small table with a book on it. He picked up the book and decided to take advantage of the peace he felt here. He began reading.

Tracy's dreams were more chaotic. She found herself shifting quickly from scene to scene with no control over time or destination. In one scene she was at the foot of a long table looking up at people who were becoming larger and angrier, all staring at her. In the next scene she was dumped unceremoniously into a pool of stagnant water. She found herself becoming fearful as each scene flashed by faster and faster. And then she was falling from a great height and realized she had no parachute. She jerked herself awake, panting hard and sitting straight up in bed. She looked beside her to find Matt sleeping very peacefully, a slight smile on his face. “Figures!”

But Matt was not to stay that way for long. He 'awoke' from reading his book to find himself still on the raft. But he was no longer reclining peacefully. The book, chair, umbrella and little table had all disappeared. The waves were striking forcefully against the raft, destabilizing it. The wind was blowing furiously and he could see something coming up from the deep below him, but he couldn't tell what it was. He knew this wasn't likely to be some otherworldly platform rising to the surface to keep him from perishing. When the form breached the surface the raft tipped up dangerously, upending Matt and the raft alike. He woke, truly this time, with a start. He reached over to feel his wife's comforting presence, but she wasn't there.

He got up and checked the bathroom and then the kitchen for Tracy. She was seated at the table drinking some tea. “Is there more tea?”

“Yes, of course there is. You'll have to make it yourself, though.” Tracy's response was brief and to the point.

“Bad dreams?” he asked.

“Yes” she replied, with no further explanation.

Matt said, “Me too.” There was no response from Tracy this time. He could see that this interchange was going nowhere at all. What should he do?

ROUND 3

danushaj

The room was awash with the glow of the morning sun, it pierced through the cute lace kitchen curtains, making a pretty elongated pattern on the adjacent wall.

Matt's head hurt from the indecision of decisions he would have to stand steadfast and make.

He thought back to a time, many years ago when Tracey and he first moved into this house. They were so excited, their first night together in the house, no sleep was had that night. Not for the insatiable desire for each other, but because this was a new chapter in their lives together, the joy of owning their own home.

Tracey and Matt had stayed up all night arranging furniture, straightening rugs and hanging curtains. They watched their first sunrise through those very same cute kitchen curtains. The sun dancing on the wall, creating the same unmistakable elongated pattern as the one Matt was looking at today.

A tear fell from his right eye. Why did this choice have to be so difficult? They had been in bad places before, making it through the other side, dusting themselves off and chalking it up as relationship troubles. But it was different this time,

Tracey held all the cards, and she wasn't being coy about it either.

Matt stumbled over to the medicine cabinet and rummaged around for some Panadol, his head just wouldn't stop aching.

Round 4

Liberty

Tracy sat in the living room, not wanting to be around Matt at all. She slumped down onto the sofa, not quite sure of what to do next. She was tired, yet knew she'd be unable to sleep. The warm glow of their fireplace could be seen from across the room, and she couldn't help but notice what was on the mantle- her wedding picture. She hadn't looked at it in years, yet it had always been right there.

Tears began to fill her eyes as she remembered how she'd felt that day- feeling his warm hand in hers as he'd put the golden wedding band on her finger. Nothing in the world could stop them. They'd said "till death do us part." She couldn't believe they were throwing it all away.

Tracy wept aloud and watched as the tears turned into violent sobs. She didn't want to throw their marriage away after they'd worked so hard on it. Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, that same reassuring hand that had rested in hers 28 years ago- a teary eyed Matt was looking down at her from behind the sofa. He walked over to the sofa, sitting down next to her.

"I'm not okay, Tracy." Matt shivered, "I can't help it. Twenty-eight years and I'm still as hopelessly in love with you as I was then. I can't forget anything. Every time I'm mad my mind won't stop drifting to how I felt 28 years ago when I made you my wife- how your gentle curls fell around your neck, the sparkle in your baby blue eyes when you said I do, your delicate hand in mine as I promised you forever... Please forgive me, Tracy. You're beautiful and there's no way I'll catch any sleep tonight until I know things are alright. I love you."

ROUND 5

Sakubik

Tracy looked at him, looked away. Her eyes were filled with tears. She breathed uneven. Tried to keep her from bursting out in tears. What should she say?

„I'm not sure I can forgive you“, she said, looking down on her knees. Matt came closer, he touched her hands gently, tried to look at her face. Matts lips were moving but he didn't know what to say.

He held her hands tight. Tracey did not move, her tears dripped on their hands. Matt started crying.

„I can't“, she stood up, swallowing down her emotions. „You need to go.“

„Please don't ...“, Matt tried to convince her. Traces turned around. They looked each other straight in the face. Silence.  Matt ran over to her, he held her tight. „I won't let you just walk out of my life“, he whispered.

Tracey broke down, she sobbed heavily. „Maybe...“