The Costs of Courage - My Story
Created | Updated Feb 19, 2008
The Costs Of Courage
By Christina Adamson - Wembra
Prologue
He was running. Away from the towering, unwelcoming city into the dark and uncharted forest and baron land between his country and the enemy's. To the people in the city, he was a blurred blob that looked like an animal so they did not think to report it as it slowly disappeared among the shady trees. Large animals, large carnivorus animals were common in that forest, that was why it was called no-mans land. In fact the blob was a criminal. He was innocent, but after what his father had done, his country no longer trusted him. They put him in a prison-cage and left him there, starving and thirsty, until they decided he was to be excecuted so that none of the murderous St.Westwill family still lived. But his best friend had risked being shamed by her country by saving him from his demise, as she stole the keys and freed him. She said, your only hope is to leave here and go undercover in some other place. If you stay here, you will be hunted down. So he took her advice, he fled to the only place he could think of. The very enemy of his country Liona... Spriralia. When he got there, he signed up for the Spriralite army, as an apprentice warrior, as you could be ten to train and he was twelve, changed his name and tried his best to forget that he ever was Chryll St.Westwill.
Chapter One - New Begginings
Sam walked into the army camp slowly. She held her head high and didn't listen to the sneers of the people as she went to sign up. She didn't listen when they said that girls didn't belong in the army and especially she didn't listen when they said she should be at home, making clothes and cooking. She was a proud person and didn't like to be made fun of. She also had a bad temper and a bad street reputation. No one knew where she came from, but the rumour was, she was found, dying in a street by trouble-makers and was trained-up to be like them. They were so far from the truth, Sam wanted to tell them the real story, but she knew that would mean a ticket straight back to her old, boring life. And it meant being led away from her one and only dream. Being a Warrior-Queen.
So she carried on towards that table and picked up the pen, only to be asked by the Captain who sat there if she could actually write. Girls usually had a hardly any or no education at all. But she rudely told him that she could write and wouldn't be needing his help.
But she hesitated when she wrote her name down. It looked as if her S was an E that had hastily been changed, as if she had forgotten what her name was, or she was hiding something...
On that piece of paper, in tent and group number seven, there was six names...
At the top was Mark Forrest - Age 11
Tabitha Agile - Age 11
In the same writing, crooked and shaky, it looked like the boy had signed up the girl so that she wouldn't have to face the embarrassment that Sam had.
Then there was another name, which sent chills down her spine...
Edward Bloodberry - Age 11
There was something about that name that wasn't right. There were three more names after that which to her seemed quite ordinary...
Tom Wheel - Aged 12
Jamie West - Aged 12
And then her name, Sam Errow-Willow.
So she had a briefing of her new friends, with whom she would train with for about two years, until they were warriors. She picked up her pack and headed off in the direction of tent seven - her new home, as the sun set, making her golden, curly hair shine as it became dusk.
Chapter 2 - Not A Good Start
When Sam got to Tent Seven she saw five faces loom up at her. Curious faces, faces of a person's first impression of someone they have never met but know that they will know them for a long time. Another girl walked up to her and introduced herself, "I am Tabitha Agile, nice to meet you!" and then "So we have a full tent now!" and Sam noticed that there were six beds in the tent. She was the last to arrive.
Another person, came up and looked at her. He sttod by Tabitha and said proudly "I'm Mark Forrest, I came with Tabitha here. She's my best friend!"
She said hi to Tom Wheel as well and then turned to the boy who was lying on a bed reading a novel. When she glanced at the title, it was Outcast. The boy had pure black eyes and black hair down to near enough his shoulders, which flicked at the ends. He was wearing a black T-Shirt and torn dark jeans. She sneered "A goth!" and he stood up on tip-toe because he was short and looked at her in the face and said plainly "I'm Edward Bloodberry, get on the wrong side of me and you'll regret it!" She looked him straight in his eyes, even though the jet-black colour seriously freaked her, and replied "What's there to regret?" and he just stared at her, and she felt quite shivery under his glare. "You don't want to find out. And by the way, I'm not a goth, it's just I don't have any other clothes at the moment." And then he turned away and lay back on his bed, reading his book.
Only one more person left to greet. Jamie West. She couldn't actually see him until she noticed the silent, sullen, red-headed boy sitting hunched on the bed. "Hello, my name is Sam. Nice to meet you" and he looked at her with those sad eyes and replied in a slightly shaky voice. "Hello Sam, it's very nice to meet you. I'm Jamie." Quite formally but still friendly and nervously. She sat down next to him and started to talk about what he thought about what he thought about everyone. He didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. But Sam was very good at telling people for what they really were, and she suspected that this wasn't what he really was like, scared and quiet, but he would come out of his shell when he knew everyone better. Sam said goodnight to Jamie and found the spare bed where she would sleep for her whole training time. She was obviously annoyed when she found out that it was the one inbetween Jamie which was alright and Edward which seriously made her angry. If only she hadn't been so late for sign-up then she wouldn't have him giving her the evil-eye with those dark, evil pools from his bed all the time.
Chapter 3 - Uniform and Options
When they were abruptly awoken by a soldier with a gong everyone slowly got out of their beds and put on their old clothes. When they were all ready, the soldier, who was Warrior-Captain Smear was to be their mentor until they were qualified Warriors themselves. He took one look at them and looked disapointed, and he was. He had wanted a team that would actually last two weeks, and right now it looked like only one was fit enough to last that. At least he had the boy, Tom Wheel, he thought, he'll be a good warrior. So he said to them "Well first I'll get you all some uniform and equipment and then I'll talk to you about your options." So he found them all something to wear in the uniform and equipment tent. Edward didn't seem that happy that the uniform was black, but was happy in a T-Shirt, trousers and an over-tunic. Mark and Tom were happy to just wear a shirt and trousers. Jamie wasn't at all comfortable wearing black at all. No one knew why, he just wore a T-Shirt (lohg-sleeved) and black jeans. The girls just wore black dresses and leggings. He talked to them about their options "Well, judging by you lot, I think the best path for some of you to follow would be medics of cooks." and he looked at the girls "Or cleaners." he added. "But some of you probably want to be normal warriors, don't you. Put your hand up if you want that!" And they all put up their hand. "But..." he gasped and reluctantly gave them a jacket each which had a small badge sewn on in the corner. It stood for Apprentice-Warrior. They all put them on and smiled. Warrior-Captain Smear sighed.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
By Christina Adamson - Wembra
Prologue
He was running. Away from the towering, unwelcoming city into the dark and uncharted forest and baron land between his country and the enemy's. To the people in the city, he was a blurred blob that looked like an animal so they did not think to report it as it slowly disappeared among the shady trees. Large animals, large carnivorus animals were common in that forest, that was why it was called no-mans land. In fact the blob was a criminal. He was innocent, but after what his father had done, his country no longer trusted him. They put him in a prison-cage and left him there, starving and thirsty, until they decided he was to be excecuted so that none of the murderous St.Westwill family still lived. But his best friend had risked being shamed by her country by saving him from his demise, as she stole the keys and freed him. She said, your only hope is to leave here and go undercover in some other place. If you stay here, you will be hunted down. So he took her advice, he fled to the only place he could think of. The very enemy of his country Liona... Spriralia. When he got there, he signed up for the Spriralite army, as an apprentice warrior, as you could be ten to train and he was twelve, changed his name and tried his best to forget that he ever was Chryll St.Westwill.
Chapter One - New Begginings
Sam walked into the army camp slowly. She held her head high and didn't listen to the sneers of the people as she went to sign up. She didn't listen when they said that girls didn't belong in the army and especially she didn't listen when they said she should be at home, making clothes and cooking. She was a proud person and didn't like to be made fun of. She also had a bad temper and a bad street reputation. No one knew where she came from, but the rumour was, she was found, dying in a street by trouble-makers and was trained-up to be like them. They were so far from the truth, Sam wanted to tell them the real story, but she knew that would mean a ticket straight back to her old, boring life. And it meant being led away from her one and only dream. Being a Warrior-Queen.
So she carried on towards that table and picked up the pen, only to be asked by the Captain who sat there if she could actually write. Girls usually had a hardly any or no education at all. But she rudely told him that she could write and wouldn't be needing his help.
But she hesitated when she wrote her name down. It looked as if her S was an E that had hastily been changed, as if she had forgotten what her name was, or she was hiding something...
On that piece of paper, in tent and group number seven, there was six names...
At the top was Mark Forrest - Age 11
Tabitha Agile - Age 11
In the same writing, crooked and shaky, it looked like the boy had signed up the girl so that she wouldn't have to face the embarrassment that Sam had.
Then there was another name, which sent chills down her spine...
Edward Bloodberry - Age 11
There was something about that name that wasn't right. There were three more names after that which to her seemed quite ordinary...
Tom Wheel - Aged 12
Jamie West - Aged 12
And then her name, Sam Errow-Willow.
So she had a briefing of her new friends, with whom she would train with for about two years, until they were warriors. She picked up her pack and headed off in the direction of tent seven - her new home, as the sun set, making her golden, curly hair shine as it became dusk.
Chapter 2 - Not A Good Start
When Sam got to Tent Seven she saw five faces loom up at her. Curious faces, faces of a person's first impression of someone they have never met but know that they will know them for a long time. Another girl walked up to her and introduced herself, "I am Tabitha Agile, nice to meet you!" and then "So we have a full tent now!" and Sam noticed that there were six beds in the tent. She was the last to arrive.
Another person, came up and looked at her. He sttod by Tabitha and said proudly "I'm Mark Forrest, I came with Tabitha here. She's my best friend!"
She said hi to Tom Wheel as well and then turned to the boy who was lying on a bed reading a novel. When she glanced at the title, it was Outcast. The boy had pure black eyes and black hair down to near enough his shoulders, which flicked at the ends. He was wearing a black T-Shirt and torn dark jeans. She sneered "A goth!" and he stood up on tip-toe because he was short and looked at her in the face and said plainly "I'm Edward Bloodberry, get on the wrong side of me and you'll regret it!" She looked him straight in his eyes, even though the jet-black colour seriously freaked her, and replied "What's there to regret?" and he just stared at her, and she felt quite shivery under his glare. "You don't want to find out. And by the way, I'm not a goth, it's just I don't have any other clothes at the moment." And then he turned away and lay back on his bed, reading his book.
Only one more person left to greet. Jamie West. She couldn't actually see him until she noticed the silent, sullen, red-headed boy sitting hunched on the bed. "Hello, my name is Sam. Nice to meet you" and he looked at her with those sad eyes and replied in a slightly shaky voice. "Hello Sam, it's very nice to meet you. I'm Jamie." Quite formally but still friendly and nervously. She sat down next to him and started to talk about what he thought about what he thought about everyone. He didn't have a bad word to say about anyone. But Sam was very good at telling people for what they really were, and she suspected that this wasn't what he really was like, scared and quiet, but he would come out of his shell when he knew everyone better. Sam said goodnight to Jamie and found the spare bed where she would sleep for her whole training time. She was obviously annoyed when she found out that it was the one inbetween Jamie which was alright and Edward which seriously made her angry. If only she hadn't been so late for sign-up then she wouldn't have him giving her the evil-eye with those dark, evil pools from his bed all the time.
Chapter 3 - Uniform and Options
When they were abruptly awoken by a soldier with a gong everyone slowly got out of their beds and put on their old clothes. When they were all ready, the soldier, who was Warrior-Captain Smear was to be their mentor until they were qualified Warriors themselves. He took one look at them and looked disapointed, and he was. He had wanted a team that would actually last two weeks, and right now it looked like only one was fit enough to last that. At least he had the boy, Tom Wheel, he thought, he'll be a good warrior. So he said to them "Well first I'll get you all some uniform and equipment and then I'll talk to you about your options." So he found them all something to wear in the uniform and equipment tent. Edward didn't seem that happy that the uniform was black, but was happy in a T-Shirt, trousers and an over-tunic. Mark and Tom were happy to just wear a shirt and trousers. Jamie wasn't at all comfortable wearing black at all. No one knew why, he just wore a T-Shirt (lohg-sleeved) and black jeans. The girls just wore black dresses and leggings. He talked to them about their options "Well, judging by you lot, I think the best path for some of you to follow would be medics of cooks." and he looked at the girls "Or cleaners." he added. "But some of you probably want to be normal warriors, don't you. Put your hand up if you want that!" And they all put up their hand. "But..." he gasped and reluctantly gave them a jacket each which had a small badge sewn on in the corner. It stood for Apprentice-Warrior. They all put them on and smiled. Warrior-Captain Smear sighed.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
