Jan Grab Bag 2016

All right - so one from each month for Jan 2016 submission! Picking one from each month - Choices are:

The elements for May 2015 are:
New Beginnings
Metamorphosis
Blooming
A storm
Rain

The elements for June 2015 are
Distraction
A Broken Weapon
A New Home
Confusion
A Thief
schizophrenic

The elements for July 2015 are
a cavern/cave
coming of age
a bruise
hope
empathy/compassion
Independence

The elements for August 2015 are
Fire
A spider
A vision
Spinning
Resentful

The elements for September 2015 are
Blue
A bee
A healing (subject to interpretation)
A surprising bond
A nut

The elements for October 2015 are
A Frightful/Scary Event
Inverted
love interest
Something Odd

The elements for November 2015 are
Preparing for Whitecold
Going Full Circle
Being thankful for someone/something
Warmth, of any kind; both physically and metaphorically

The elements for December 2015 are:
A Gift
Freedom
Waiting
Bonding
First Snow (Can be either first snow of the year, or someone experiencing snow for the first time)

Wait... now we have to make a choice for which elements we wanna use?
That's hardly fair...

Just this month. Next month is back to normal.

Hmm... I might do it a slightly different way.

Redhead Ember wrote:

Hmm... I might do it a slightly different way.

I don't have a problem with that! I think what's important is being creative. (And making sure it ties to the World of Two Moons/ElfQuest in some way!)

Tymber wrote:

Redhead Ember wrote:

Hmm... I might do it a slightly different way.

I don't have a problem with that! I think what's important is being creative. (And making sure it ties to the World of Two Moons/ElfQuest in some way!)

Right. Here's how I'll do it:
I'll write six (!) poems. The first will use the first element from each month, the second element, and so on. This of course will mean that the last two poems won't have elements from each month, in fact the last poem will only have two elements, but since I'm actually using all elements I hope that's okay.




Here's my first poem:

Elements used for this poem are:

New Beginnings
Distraction
a cavern/cave
Fire
Blue
A Frightful/Scary Event
Preparing for Whitecold
A Gift

Searcher Found

When whitecold arrives,
how shall one human-girl fare?
She can’t stay warm, without fire bright.
Fire gives smoke, which brings humans here.

An idea was made;
she would live in troll-caverns.
Build a home of her own
deep underground.

But one horrid day
she was distracted by murmurs.
It scared her out of her wits,
and into the storm.

Friend sensed her danger,
and found his own gift.
Ran to her aid;
carried her home.

Who was this stranger,
who thus saved her life?
Astonished she saw
how magic took form.

It was her friend,
sweet blue-clad boy.
Thus began a strong friendship,
which lasts to this day.

You have a true talent, Redhead! Quite the endevour, cant wait to see what else comes from your mind!

Im having a hard time placing the reference... I only read SaS once, and dont remember much more than Treestump's experience, was Shauna with him,or is this a whole different story?

It does sort of parallel Tymber's storyline too, if you change a gender and use some imagination.

Question, for those who want to do art instead of writing, do they sit this one out or does this mean 8 images?

Rule for "normal" grab-bags:
Picture artist can use only ONE element (out of 3 to 6) for their contributions. Or make an illustration to a story/poem.

I'd say this means the same for the "yearly special":
ONE element already counts or an illustration. Of course you can set your bar higher. ^^

Startear wrote:

Question, for those who want to do art instead of writing, do they sit this one out or does this mean 8 images?

As Embala said; you just need to do ONE element.

Creativity (to me) is the most important thing. With this month's you could probably post any ElfQuest related image you did; and ONE of those elements is bound to be in there; if not more.

You know... we could turn this into a game!
Someone posts an image, and the rest of us then have to find as many elements as possible in it.

Bit like TrollHammer - at least I think it was TrollHammer - did with Shadowpath's December picture.

Ah, thank you guys! I think I get it now.

Red, that sounds like a lot of fun! I'm game!

And with that, my art contribution. It is apart of my "Trinket gets left behind ij time and is raised by the wolfriders AU." I might make more images, I'm buzzing with ideas right now.

Right... Let's see how many elements we can find it that lovely picture. The first one I can think of is a surprising bond between Moonshade and the troll.
Suppose they're also bonding.

In the meantime here's my second poem.

The elements are:

Metamorphosis
A Broken Weapon
coming of age
A spider
A bee
Inverted
Going Full Circle
Freedom

Fighting Darkness

Thought a male child
would be like old Bearclaw,
turns out expectations
turn quite up-side-down.

Busy like a little bee,
he’d run around and play.
Secure in his knowledge that;
“I’ll be what I will be.”

Spider caught him in her snare;
brought him to her lair.
She thought to use him for her gain
this sunny-Suntop boy.

Father chased him into darkness
won his freedom back.
Fought even the darkest evil;
broke her weapon’s sting.

Returned to the ancestral home,
the circle was made whole.
But darkness lingered deep below
the ancient weary soil.

Strong he ventured out to fight it,
came into his own.
Shone a light into the darkness;
shattered it away.

From that day forevermore,
he was no more a boy.
Below the shade of Father Tree
Suntop became Sunstream.


I've decided to add a little extra 'element', or rather, running theme to all of my poems.
Embala might be able to figure it out, since she gave me the idea.

Thank you! Those two elements was definitely a part of this illustration. Really though, in canon Trinket interacting with anyone other than Mender and Ember, anything would be game in surprising, even in my AU where she was the one left behind in time, not her family. But she and Moonshade getting along well? Hilarious

There is one more element, a little more subtle or hidden.

So the running theme is to find strength in new roles? Or... magic? Both of the poems have two magic users testing themselves against danger, Kimo as he bolts to the rescue, and Sunstream having dark magic over him, and fighting it?

Either way, I love the poems!

Nope. That's not the running theme.







It has something to do with Embala!

Here's my third poem.

The elements are:

Blooming
A New Home
a bruise
A vision
A healing (subject to interpretation)
love interest
Being thankful for someone/something
Waiting

The Lovers (3)

Town burned, parents gone,
body burned and bruised.
Healing bringing life anew
to little orphan girl.

A dream was dreamt,
a vision made.
A hope to find another place,
which could be home anew.

Everyday a song of thank,
of life that’s lived for free.
Slowly time is moving on;
through all the waiting years.

Slowly blooms the little girl
into a woman fair.
Love is growing strong today,
between two happy souls.


Maybe this can help you with the running theme.

My Fourth poem I feel like I'm spamming this thread...

The elements are:

A storm
Confusion
hope
Spinning
A surprising bond
Something Odd
Warmth, of any kind; both physically and metaphorically
Bonding

Tam's Escape (4)

Startling revelation
tore wolf-chief from his home.
He’d learned a truth about himself,
which was too much to bear.

Roaring storm within his mind
made him run away.
Away from all he ever knew;
from lifemates and his home.

Who was he now,
if no longer ‘Tam’?
His bond with the High One
was far beyond odd.

Wolf-soul fought the High One;
madness spun within.
He had to break the link away,
to be himself again.

His loved ones tried to understand,
why he had gone away.
They had to find him with their hearts;
the strongest magic still.

A helping hand was then reached out,
from quiet newcomer.
Without a word, he made them know;
he would help their quest.

Perhaps a new bond formed that day;
a little bit of hope.
For although Tam had gone away,
love might keep him warm.

I think it's mostly because you are the one who has created most. I'm still in loss of what the running theme is, is it Final Quest plot? Either way, I think the last one really captures the raw, too intimate when Tam isn't just him.  

And this newcomer... Dre-Ahn? Or the Fung-guys? Or am I taking this way too literally?

We don't actually know if the Fung-guys are gonna help. Or if they're gonna be word-less.
As for the running theme; I guess there are gonna be cartain Final Quest elements, but it's not the theme. After all; the first two weren't Final Quest related.

It has something to do with something Embala does every year. A gift you might say.

Hello again. Fifth poem.

The elements are:

Rain
A Thief
empathy/compassion
Resentful
A nut
First Snow (Can be either first snow of the year, or someone experiencing snow for the first time)


Warrior's End (5)

How did this thief
dare murder your chieftess?
Then even claim
she taught him how to?

Resentment and anger
filling your mind.
Your first-ever chieftess;
by a human undone?

Your anger is clear,
as the first snow of year.
He might fight on your side,
but he is still your foe.

Yet bigger foe might
bring compassion of sorts.
You’ll each help the other
reach their own goal.

This last dance you dance
with joy in your heart.
Through deadly-cold steel
to cut the Warlord’s nuts off.

The end has come,
for your body at least.
Now close your eyes
and bid Rain’s son goodbye.



What? It didn't say what kind of nuts!

Sixth, and final, poem.

The elements are:

Schizophrenic
Independence


The Beginning of a New Friendship?

She was a handmaiden,
loyally serving.
Then she found her own power,
gained independence.

He was the great smith,
mind split in two.
So many years struggling
to find who he was.

Could this be the beginning
of something bright new?
A beautiful friendship,
never expected.

Just realized the month was almost over so I sat down and wrote this! I used every element from the previous months! Sometimes it was a stretch - but it was a fun challenge!

The elements for May 2015 are:
New Beginnings, Metamorphosis, Blooming, A storm, Rain

The elements for June 2015 are
Distraction, A Broken Weapon, A New Home, Confusion, A Thief, schizophrenic

The elements for July 2015 are
a cavern/cave, coming of age, a bruise, hope, empathy/compassion, Independence

The elements for August 2015 are
Fire, A spider, A vision, Spinning, Resentful

The elements for September 2015 are
Blue, A bee, A healing (subject to interpretation), A surprising bond, A nut

The elements for October 2015 are
A Frightful/Scary Event, Inverted, love interest, Something Odd

The elements for November 2015 are
Preparing for Whitecold, Going Full Circle, Being thankful for someone/something, Warmth, of any kind; both physically and metaphorically

The elements for December 2015 are:
A Gift, Freedom, Waiting, Bonding, First Snow (Can be either first snow of the year, or someone experiencing snow for the first time)
__________________________

Shadow laid comfortably on the frozen log, holding his young cub up in the air as if she were a glider, like Whitefeather and Freefall of Skymountain. As he pulled his young cub close to his chest and touched her nose to his, he briefly wondered where they might be. Snowspring enjoyed the feeling that she could one day fly. She giggled fanatically. “Lift me again!” she demanded of her father.

Shadow looked over at Windfetcher and smiled, “Your concerns are valid! Your title as Chieftess just might be in danger! Do you see how she commands me? She reminds me of you, when you were seven seasons old!”

Windfetcher shook her head, “I never acted that childish,” she beamed. Windfetcher was merely teasing, and both Shadow and Snowspring knew it; since Windfetcher loved young Snowspring as if she were her own sister – often getting them both in trouble.

All around him, everyone seemed genuinely happy. The tribe had adapted and morphed, many times, through new homes, and new tribe members; and today, it seemed the entire tribe was blooming into a new family, with new beginnings and new opportunities, despite the grey clouds and thunder from the not so distant storm. The chill winds had frozen the rain into flecks of snow that Snowspring enjoyed trying to capture and taste, whenever Shadow hoisted her into the air.

“Just because her name is Snowspring,” Foxhair’s voice grumbled from inside the wolf-head shaped, stone den. “Does not mean that she needs to be out in the snow without her proper furs! Why, look at her lips! They’re practically blue!” Foxhair, with her auburn hair, like flickering fire, approached Shadow, holding small furs that Stillbreeze had tanned. Shadow looked at Snowspring and smiled. Snowspring returned his smile with a pout.

“I may take commands from you and Windfetcher,” Shadow laughed, setting Snowspring down, “but I know better than to argue with your mother. She would take anything I say, and shove it aside. You must do what your mother says.”
Snowspring sighed and put on the fur coat, “But the cold doesn’t bother me,” she argued. “I feel warm without these!”

Shadow looked over at Buren and Stream; the most unlikely of pairings, laughing, sitting close to one another; hand on hand, their eyes so lost in one another. He was thankful for Stream; for her ability to save the young human’s life; the same young human who had stood up – not only to his father, but his entire tribe – and willingly turned away from them, in order to save Shadow’s youngest daughter, when she was just an infant. Shadow was, forever indebted to the young human; but Buren wanted nothing to do with being owed anything; he merely wanted to be accepted – and now – loved by Stream. He had watched Buren, who at the time, was still a young boy, grow up to be a man; he did everything the others did. He did not use the excuse that he was just a child to shy away from chores; he wanted to prove himself and earn the respect of the entire tribe. He had earned his acceptance the day he saved Snowspring; and through sacrifice, had also earned Stream’s admiration which developed into love.

In an attempt to heal Buren, Stream had pushed her abilities to the limit, and as a result, made a sacrifice of her own; losing her ability to heal. It had been several seasons now, and still her abilities had not returned, so they grew to become more cautious. Spider bites, bee stings, cuts, and bruises, were all healed with Vineweaver’s help, of growing various fruits, plants, and nuts, that all had abilities to sooth those wounds.

Shadow thought back to the darkest day; when his life had become a chaotic, schizophrenic mess, when Buren’s people first launched their attack; so many had died that night in the confusion. When it was all said and done, weapons lie broken in the snow, stained with deep, crimson, stains of blood. Buren’s people had come to steal their land and food, and if they could, their cave for shelter, while they set up camp to hunt for new food in the area, to kill, bring back to the ships, to sail back home with; for food had become scarce in the frozen north. Something had driven off most of the game; and killed even a larger portion, leaving corpses behind. Despite Buren’s attachment to his people, his own father leading the attack at Stonehowl, Shadow bore no resentment for the young human; especially after he learned the truth of Buren’s actions. There was only eternal gratitude.

Spearclaw, one of the greatest hunters of the Pridewalkers and renowned scout, frequently returned to the river to see if he saw any signs of Buren’s people returning. He would wait on the shorelines for days at a time, certain that one day they would return and seek revenge – and if nothing else, seek to kill Buren for his betrayal. Spearclaw, in the plains with the Pridewalkers, had encountered more than his share of his humans; and rarely were they ever kind or truthful. Admittedly, like Shadow, Buren had earned his trust and admiration, but there were times, late at night, when he was consumed with exhaustion, where he wondered if this wasn’t somehow all an elaborate plan of the humans somehow, to weaken their defense and alertness; and that perhaps, Buren would one day lead the humans against them, and go full circle, fulfilling his father’s legacy.

Stillbreeze, with the help of Echo and Snowcloud, built a fire as the storm drew closer, preparing to stave off the coldness, even as darkness crept over the land. Ashes and embers hissed against the gently falling snow, spinning ever closer to the stars. This would be the first snow of the season, and Snowspring who loved the sensation of the snow, the cold, was more than excited.

Shadow held Snowspring’s hand and sat close to the fire. Shadow gazed into the flames; the fire inverted, in the reflection of his eyes. He welcomed the distraction, the warmth. He saw joy and laughter in the days ahead.

And for the first time, in a very long time, finally felt free again.

REGULAR SURVIVING STONE HOWL:
• Shadow (Male Soul Name: Tyru) – Black Hair, Tanned, Green Eyes (Elder brother to Purespring, Chief)
• Foxhair (Female Soul Name: Loun) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Hunter)
• Snowspring (Female, Soul Name: Tylo – Black Hair, Green Eyes) – Seven years old. Daughter of Shadow and Foxhair.
• Spearclaw (Male, Soul name: Lren) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Scout)
• Vineweaver (Male Soul Name: Reyk) – Auburn Hair, Blue Eyes (Tree shaper, Soul Mate of Stillbreeze, Plant Shaper)
• Stillbreeze (Female Soul Name: Hewl) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Soul Mate of Vineweaver, Tanner)
• Echo (Male Soul Name: Ayav) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Cub of Stillbreeze & Vineweaver, Magic)- About Sixteen years old.
• Windfetcher (Female Soul Name: Burm) – Auburn Hair, Brown Eyes (Cub of Stillbreeze & Vineweaver, Next Potential Chief… If She Has Her Way!) – About sixteen years old
• Snowcloud (Female, Soul Name: Mill) – White Hair, Green Eyes (based off white lions)
• Stream (Female Soul Name: Vree) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Healer)
• Buren (Human, Brown hair, hazel eyes) – About 18 years old in human years

Don't have time to contribute for the month (as almost always), but have to say I love the poems, @Redhead Ember!
I believe the running theme ties with the Christmas ornaments that Embala does each year (since you basically gave that away!)

More like a happy snippet than your usual tales of Stonehowl, @Tymber. Glad to see you trying for
something upbeat! Wonder what music you used for inspiration this time?

I always lurk the grab bags and think it is wonderful to see folks keep them going!
--Nightsea

The running theme is indeed the baubles; one poem for each pairing. Mostly, guess the Tam one could be said to include several.