Autumn cabin

Its autumn and I look out the window of my rustic vacation home. The fresh breeze blows through the orange and red trees. My little cabin home is located a few miles away from a sleepy mountain town. I am close enough to a town for convenience but far enough away to enjoy nature and truly relax. My cabin was made with the same style in mind, it has modern comforts but has a rustic that blends with the surrounding forests. I have indoor plumbing, electricity, running water, coffee maker and Wi-Fi, everything a man could need. I got heating, but rarely use it, instead I use the woodstove, to give the place that nice wood smoke smell. Flannel shirt and a wood stove is really all I need, though its nice to know if that doesn’t cut it, I still have electric heat. Its funny now that I think about it, I’m in nature, enjoying it and I bring all these modern devices with me. Its like watching animals in the zoo, I like them, but I also like those bars that keep the majestic tiger from ripping me apart and feeding my entrails to its young. I guess camping with electricity and heating is sort of like that. Some might complain that if I’m going to enjoy nature I should fully enjoy it, sleep on the ground and cook with a fire and such. I tell them if they want to fully enjoy a lions they should let one chase them and see how much fun that is.

The coffee is done brewing and I scamper excitedly across the living area to the kitchenette. The cabin is noticeably smaller than any house, its more the size of one of my apartments from college. I bring comforts with me into the woods, but I’m hardly living in the forest with a mansion and a forty-two inch screen TV. So anyway back to the coffee. I pour myself a cup, a new breeze bursts in from my open window and I sigh. I’m enjoying this too much. If I enjoyed stupid little things like wind and coffee anymore, it would be illegal or at least fanatical. So I bring my beverage to the table and sit on the couch. I have everything set up, my laptop, pen, paper, coffee, cell phone (turned off) and a comfortable seat. I start to type away, hoping to capture the feeling of the season and the nearby town for an article I’m writing about travel. This cabin is perfect for work and vacation alike.

As I enjoy the comforts of the cabin and the relaxing sounds of nature, I am struck with writers block. I sit blissfully the world so peaceful, but a nagging feeling at the back of my mind as I struggle to write a two page article. I just hope that if I can think of something little, I might be able to pad the rest out. I pace around the couch for a few minutes and scratch my face as I think. I hope some fresh air might clear my head so I go out for a walk. Its early autumn and the trees are barely green and have mostly changed into orange, yellow and some red. I need to write about the area and about travel, but I can’t help but get swept away by the fall scene before me. Even if I tried to work in the city, the cool air would find me, besides then I would be distracted by the less pleasant city noises.

Then I get an idea and run inside. I immediately begin typing on my laptop. I work for hours without stop, just trying to get the blasted work written and done with. By the time I finish its dark and I go over what I wrote. I smile at how clever I am. Instead of really writing an article about traveling in this area, I wrote about how nice the autumn was while traveling in this area. It was almost what my editor wanted, but my using autumn, I was able to fill half of the article with autumn sounding words, like warm colors and cool breeze. I figured if I wrote about the fall and mentioned enough scenery and calming environments, people would enjoy it and I could get off without writing an actual short story…I mean article. Now I think I’ll treat myself to another cup of coffee and think about Halloween for a while.

This week

No story this week. Sorry everyone. I do try to keep a steady flow of stories for everyone's reading pleasure, but i am sick this week and unable to write anything. a new short story should be up next week.

Ultimate quest

The village burns all around him as Shadowblade runs through looking for survivors. Sudden he sees an old man standing near a destroyed building. “Shadowblade, the village has been attacked by Bandits, we need to know who they were working for. Go out and kill the bandits and find any traces of who might be responsible” Says the old man. After the short transaction the old man falls silent. The young hero Shadowblade turns and leaves the village, running across the Golgari plains to find the home of the bandits. As he runs his map points the way. The bandit camp is just over the horizon. Shadowblade spots the camp and runs in, without a word they all attack on sight. A group of bandits attack swarming on all sides, Shadowblade swings his mighty sword of the volcano tribe. The bandits slashed frantically at Shadowblade with their crude weapons, but he counter attacks with a whirl blade attack, sending all of the bandits flying in different directions. Once scattered, Shadowblade deals with them individually. He cuts each one down as they approach and if they too many came at him at once, he would use his sword stun to keep the extra bandits out of the fight until he could properly deal with them.

Once they all had been defeated Shadowblade picks their bodies for treasure and information on who really ordered the attack. The hero found a scrap of paper with battle plans on it. So he hastily took the paper back to the old man. The man thanked the Hero and said that the real enemy was ‘Arkthon the coldbringer’ evil wizard and champion of the bandits. Shadowblade then ran off to the icy mountains to find the coldbringer. He climbed up the conveniently near by mountain, dodging falling rocks and fighting lesser ogres along they way. It was a treacherous journey, but nothing he couldn’t handle.

Finally the brave hero Shadowblade reached the top of the icy mountain, the cold wind blowing and picking up snow as it went. It was difficult to see, but suddenly Arkthon appeared. Frost and cold drifted off his body and ice seemed permanently infused to his shoulders and chest. This would be a difficult battle, but luckily Shadowblade had his fire sword.

“You will not stop me, Shadowblade” The Cryomancer yelled over the sound of the blowing wind. Shadowblade did not reply. He charged at Arkthon with his heroes charge and swung his might sword down at the Coldbringer. The fiery sword struck and caused massive damage to Arkthon’s ice armor. The Coldbringer returned with an ice blast, knocking Shadowblade backward and almost throwing him off the edge of the mountainside. The hero regained his balance and ran at Arkthon, ready for another assault. As he ran he pulled a bottle from his traveler bag and drank it, his strength increased and he used his swords special attack. Having stored up enough energy from the previous fights, Shadowblade unleashed his volcanic devastation attack. He slashed in the air causing fire to launch from his sword. The flame twisted through the air, building in size as it went. Finally it hit the Coldbringer, sending a burst of fire in all directions. The flames melted all the ice in the area and brought Arkthon to his knees. “Curse you…Hero…*cough*…I will…have my revenge” Gasped Arkthon, then he collapsed.

Marvin leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. It was 3am and he had to be at work in five hours. “I better get some sleep” He grumbled. Marvin set down his video game controller and watched as his character “Shadowblade”, gained a level then the game auto-saved. Marvin took the game from his console, put it back into his box and shut everything down. He stretched, looked at the clock again and cursed himself for staying up so late trying to beat one last mission. Marvin went to bed, and Shadowblade sat, waiting to return to his adventure and save the kingdom in the “Ultimate quest”

Autumn Wishes

Branches sway on the breeze with colorful leaves, all red, yellow and orange. As I drive I look at the forest that slowly closes in on the highway, the road slicing through an ocean of gold and ember. I get images of warm baked goods and honey. The cool air and the trees, this scene alone is enough to inspire countless daydreams.

            I look out my window into the night sky, I look at the stars sparkling so bright. Wind blows in through my open window, bringing a chill and the sent of wood smoke. The neighborhood homes have their lights on, a warm orange glow that repels the darkness and the cold. It is inviting and comforting. Inside one house a family has their fireplace lit, their chimney puffing out fragrant smoke. Another house someone is baking. The smell of apple and pumpkin with various spices drifts gently from the kitchen window that’s open just slightly.

            I sit in my house and think of years past. Coffee sits simmering in the kitchen, the simple scent adding the symphony of fragrances. Autumn comes, it always starts with a cold breeze out of nowhere. Then the trees change, as if by magic, from green to a variety of warm colors, almost balancing out the chill in the air. Holidays come and go. Halloween has always been such a joy, the one time of the year I feel alive, truly. Every year, no matter how old I get, I dress up and decorate the house. These days I can do little more than turn on my plastic Jack-o-lantern and light a pumpkin scented candle, but I do enjoy the thrill I see on the faces of my grand children as they visit me wearing their costumes. I always answer the door wearing my mask of the year and scare them, they start to giggle and my daughter looks at me with a disapproving half smile.

            Music hums gently through the air, quiet, calming and a little sad. Various classical tunes I listen to every year. Of course when company comes by I have my “100 best Halloween songs” that I play. Though I would say its more of the 50 best, and 50 so-so Halloween songs. Besides the music, the cold air and even the baked goods, I love this season because it helps me reflect on the year so far. Some people might think the end of the year is the best time to reflect, but I prefer not to wait till the last minute to do things. Besides, it’s the autumn that puts things in perspective. Something in the air makes you look back and reflect.

            When I was kid it was different. The cold air gave me energy, as did all the sugar from candy and pie. The excitement of dressing up like a pirate or superman and the thought of stuffing your face with turkey on thanksgiving. I didn’t care that summer was over and school started, summer was always too hot and made me tired. The gentle air of autumn brought life into spirit.

            Autumn has always been my favorite season and I feel like I spend half the year silently wishing for another breezy fall afternoon. Gladly trading every summer just to get a little closer to the best time of the year. Seasons greetings and Autumn wishes.