Survival In The Black

What we remember from childhood we remember forever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen. ~Cynthia Ozick *Ten Years Ago on Blackburne* Bel kneeled down, the weight of the backpack shifting to the side a bit while she leaned in between two rocks to grab at a shiny green plant. The leaves were tipped in purple and she knew that if she ground it down in her mortar it would make a great pain reliever. She grumbled when her hair fell in front of her face and she swore that she was going to get Nina to cut it. Why she didn’t cut the waist long fiery locks before was beyond her. She clasped the plant and tugged, ripping it from its home with a triumphant sound of glee before standing up and looking at her prize. Enough to make enough pain reliever for half the village her Sayasi was in. Perfect. She put the plant in her hip bag and tilted her head up to let the warm sun beat down on her face and body, the sharp smell of desert air filling her lungs. She could smell ...

Go your way to the land of the Ancestors, where they wait for you with open arms, there on the edge between this world and the next. See; there they stand. Ancestral spirits, welcome this one to the place where we all must go. - Ceisiwr Serith Bel stepped out of the hut and took a deep breath, her red hair braided close to her head and the long blue tunic brushing against her knees as she stepped into the sunshine. She blinked a bit but did not cover her eyes as she moved over to the small circle of people surrounding the fire. She turned and nodded to the elder, Grandfather, her eyes closing as she folded her hands and bowed. “Asche.” She spoke softly before turning to his wife, the woman dressed like her, a large gold necklace draped around her shoulders to show her status in the tribe. “Asche che.” She bowed to her before turning to the new head of the fighters. A young man who’s eyes looked older than his years. She smiled at him and nodded before bowing towards him. “Gaunte.” She ...

Let us learn our lessons. … Never believe any war will be smooth and easy or that anyone who embarks on that strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events… incompetent or arrogant commanders, untrustworthy allies, hostile neutrals, malignant fortune, ugly surprise, awful miscalculations. - Winston Churchill Bel stood in Sea’s office, her arms crossed as she looked at her sister. She was sitting behind the desk, reading over something on the cortex. Her usual zen calm even calming the usually fiery medic. She had called Bel up there on a professional capacity and since it rarely if ever happened, Bel was curious to know what happened. Maybe they know about Miley… maybe someone was looking for him? She had told Sea everything about the man and Sea had promised to let her know if word got ba...

A relationship is like a rose, How long it lasts, no one knows. Love can erase an awful past, Love can be yours, you'll see at last. To feel that love, it makes you sigh, To have it leave, you'd rather die. You hope you've found that special rose ‘Cause you love and care for the one you chose. - Rob Cella Bel busied herself with the flowers, turning them this way then that as she talked to herself about the list flashing in her head... Cake? Check. Champagne? Check. Flowers? She leaned back and then turned the red roses again before smiling in satisfaction. Check. She looked around Fook’s and sighed a huge sigh of relief. She used her money mostly on others. The tribe, Blackburne, Hale’s Moon, her new adopted family. And this time she was using it on Seana and Sabrina. Was it really almost a month since she witnessed them marry on Ariel? It seemed like yesterday standing there in the blue dress and watching as the two of the most important people in her lives declared their...

A family is not just blood and bones. A family is the people that never betray you, share your laughs, your tears and your achievements and your downfalls with open arms. They embrace your quirks, accepting they make you so individual you are unique in the universe. But most of all, they are the people that give you hope on a daily basis that you will have that moment. That moment to shine and prove to the world that you are indeed worth every moment and every instance of love, hope and happiness. Your family is who you embrace into it, and if you are lucky enough, your family will be there for the end of times. - The Voice Bel wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his neck as she took calm breaths. Her eyes squeezed shut while she tried to top her racing heart. She didn’t want to let go, and she knew he didn’t want to either with the way his arms tightened around her while he pressed his face into her hair. After her tears subsided, she reached up and caressed over his...