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Siggies
Jun 4, 2008 12:50:58 GMT -5
Post by (~Silentstar~) on Jun 4, 2008 12:50:58 GMT -5
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Siggies
Jul 1, 2008 10:43:29 GMT -5
Post by (~Silentstar~) on Jul 1, 2008 10:43:29 GMT -5
Ok, I forgot to add, please, no more than two at a time! I can't make them that fast!
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Siggies
Jul 1, 2008 11:24:02 GMT -5
Post by (~Silentstar~) on Jul 1, 2008 11:24:02 GMT -5
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Siggies
Jul 1, 2008 13:55:16 GMT -5
Post by Badgerstar on Jul 1, 2008 13:55:16 GMT -5
mine is awesomer (if thats a word)
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Siggies
Jul 1, 2008 14:05:25 GMT -5
Post by waterclan on Jul 1, 2008 14:05:25 GMT -5
sure.....
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Siggies
Jul 2, 2008 13:03:09 GMT -5
Post by Badgerstar on Jul 2, 2008 13:03:09 GMT -5
you best beleve it!!!!!
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Siggies
Jul 2, 2008 17:00:16 GMT -5
Post by Badgerstar on Jul 2, 2008 17:00:16 GMT -5
well she just hasnt gotten there youll see!
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Siggies
Jul 6, 2008 11:01:39 GMT -5
Post by (~Silentstar~) on Jul 6, 2008 11:01:39 GMT -5
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Post by winterstar on Jul 7, 2008 9:24:59 GMT -5
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Post by winterstar on Jul 7, 2008 9:28:50 GMT -5
I LOVE MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Elena your awesome!
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Post by winterstar on Jul 7, 2008 9:33:53 GMT -5
Pic:# 9 Text: If there your true friends they won't tell.. Other:
Pic:# 11 Text: I don't know who I am anymore... Other:
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Siggies
Aug 31, 2013 12:32:27 GMT -5
Post by Bear on Aug 31, 2013 12:32:27 GMT -5
The gown wasn't too bad, Emen decided as she inspected herself. Her mother seemed to have tried hard to dress her in something that would suit her. It had no frills, which was all Emen cared about. She ran a hand across the black and red gown, at the patterns sewn into the sleeves and skirts with numerous buttons and gems. She even had a shawl to keep her warm. A simple silver necklace was waiting for her, laid out gently on her bed. She put it on, recognising it as belonging to her grandmother. Elocaro was a talented seamstress, as well she had to be, she'd been wearing the same set of clothes for over twenty years. She refused to dress in the warm and practical style of the north, sticking to her summer silks and delicate pastel fabrics. Suitably dressed, Emen headed out to the Point Statue where the Ender Festival would start. Already hundreds of other families were there with their children and Emen was relieved that she wasn't the only one that had been dressed up. Plenty of children fidgeted in uncomfortable outfits while parents clucked at them and wiped a spot of dust from clean clothes, as if an Ender would be granted to them base on how smartly they dressed. The Point Statue marked the place where children received their Enders every year. It stood upon a tall and wide stage surrounded by candles and decorated with flowers, gems and drawings, built to fit hundreds of people at once. The statue stood in the centre at the back. She pressed her hand against it, smooth white marble veined with blue. It felt warm, lifelike, ever comforting. Each Point Statue was different. Each forever memorialised the first Ender to Fall in that town. Theirs was a lion Fallen hundreds of years ago, grand and proud with a deep blue mane and real sapphire eyes. Aliatano had been his name. He'd lived for many years protecting Everything and had died of old age during an Ender Festival. She knew the nearest town Eytal to the west had a solid gold wolf for their statue. She'd been named Geidae, who died only days later. They sculpted a smaller statue recognising the other Ender who had Fallen with her. A lion named Cyloc, Ica and Decora who where both wolves and Lomeli the Dread, a dragon. Eytal was only a young town and small besides, Emen was sure that at least one of them still lived, the dragon who had Fallen over fifty years ago. Emen had always admired the lions but in her heart she secretly longed for a dragon. None were big enough to ride, only horses were, but dragons had always seemed beautiful to her and she'd felt a pang of jealousy with each one she saw. As she took her place beside the Point Statue she looked around, feeling lonely. There were no other nineteen year olds this year. The oldest aside from her was a girl only sixteen. It was rare for one to be as old as Emen without an Ender and not usually a good sign. It took a long time for all the children to take their place on the stage and the sun was low in the sky by the time everyone was ready. The Festival didn't start properly until the sun set anyway, so there was little rush. When all the other children had lined up ready the new Elder took to the stage. He wasn't very old, only a few years older than Emen with a face that made him look much younger, but he had earned his position by saving their town the previous winter. By fixing Baard's mistakes. Emen knew the man only vaguely as a wind mage. She didn't dislike him, but wished Baard hadn't felt the need to leave. If it wasn't for this man he'd remain in Everything. Baard had never been a bad Elder, his problem just left him slightly careless. Emen turned her attention to the new Elder as he took advantage of his magic to make his voice louder, carrying it across the town. "Welcome to the Ender Festival! You know, it was only a few years ago that I stood where you are now, waiting anxiously for my Ender. But as I received mine so shall you all find yours. It has been four years since our last Sundered, let's make it five! May the stars and the spirits grant you luck," he glanced briefly at Emen as he spoke before turning to the sea of parents, families and friends. "Here we stand where Aliatano and his fellow Enders Fell, over four hundred years ago tonight. A gift from the skies and the gods to protect us from the ever lurking shadows. As you all know, every year on this very night our protectors, our Bonded, our friends Fall before the next generation of this fair town to ensure Everything's protection far into the future." Emen stopped paying attention to his empty words. Enders were not a choice, no one chose to be Sundered and banished from their homes. She didn't know anyone who would choose a life like that. The man spoke for what felt like hours before finally falling silent. The Festival officially started with a tribute to the town's first Ender, Aliatano. Several lion Enders painted black and blue took to the stage and acted out several key moments in his life. Once they were done the town fell silent for a full minute in remembrance for all who had died protecting them since Everything was formed. The sun dipped slowly below the horizon and thousands of lights and candles burst into life around them. Every eye turned to the darkening sky, waiting for the first Fall. Emen had watched this many times before, desperate, pleading with the gods to grant her this gift. For the past seven years her eyes had been glued to the sky long after every Ender had Fallen, waiting and praying for one of her own and for the past seven years she had left disappointed. Today, tonight, it was her last chance. She didn't know anyone who had been older than nineteen when they received their Ender. No one younger than twelve had either, that is why those ages had been chosen for the Festival, even though it was extraordinarily rare for a child of twelve to leave their first Festival with an Ender. For several minutes they stared at the sky, barely daring to breathe before they saw the first light. It looked like a shooting star, streaking across the sky but heading towards them and moving very fast. Shortly after several more blinked into life and shot down towards them in all sorts of different colours. Deep reds, pale blues and bright greens, yellows and silvers and whites, each colour representing one element, each colour showing the magic their Bonded child would have. Emen shivered, wondering if one of the lights belonged to her. The first light, a near total white, Fell before a young girl barely more than thirteen and for a second no one could see. When the light faded a fully grown white wolf stood in front of the girl. It nudged her with its nose and sniffed at her gently. The girl had one of the widest smiles Emen had ever seen. Getting an Ender so young was great luck. They began to converse, the wolf telling the girl it's name but Emen couldn't hear over the cheering. "We have our first Ender! Congratulations to Elasse," the Elder shouted above the noise. Fireworks filled the sky as they did for each Ender, but no one was paying them any attention. Emen could also hear music coming from somewhere towards the back of the crowd. As Everything watched, several more Enders Fell from the skies, each bursting into life in a flash of light. She saw another wolf, grey with orange markings, a black dragon with equally dark markings just visible as a shade of blue. She saw a white and blue horse Fall for a young boy and the sixteen year old girl in front of her had a large black bird that looked very much like a crow with bright red eyes, and blotches the same shade on its wings, perched on her arm. Wolves, horses, dragons, lions and birds, dozens landed in front of elated children. Every Ender took one of those forms as its own. No one knew why or how, but each one did. Their markings and colourings were nearly unique, each Ender had subtle differences whether it was simply the size and position of their markings, or horns, claws, manes or tails. No two were exactly alike. "Please..." she whispered. Please let one land in front of her. The lights stopped. Emen looked up at the sky searching for more but there was nothing. Her stomach fell and she felt light-headed. It was over, no more Enders would Fall tonight and she was without one. Again. She'd be sent away. Sent to live in Rend alone for the rest of her life while her brother would be here and in a few years her sisters would get their Enders and stay here too. Away from her. "No. Please no," she whispered and sank to her knees. Tears fell from her eyes. No one saw her, at the back of the stage as she was. All anyone saw were the happy children forever safe with an Ender of their own. She took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks. It wouldn't be long before the next part of the Festival, where every new Nixling - a child who had just found their Ender - had to show some magic. She stood tall, trying not to start crying again as everyone began to leave the stage either returning to joy from their families or consolation with promises that next year will be the year. "Congratulations to all our new Nixlings! Don't worry children, your Ender will be waiting for you next year I'm sure," the Elder called. He hadn't noticed her, no one had. "May you Bond well and have a long and happy life together." At that, the end of that portion of the Festival, Emen began the slow walk back to her parents and her brother and sisters when someone shouted, pointed and then everything fell quiet. All eyes returned to the skies and as Emen's joined them for a second she was confused. Then she spotted it. Another light. Another Ender. There was complete silence as thousands of eyes traced its journey through the skies. Even the Elder was quiet. This light was different from the others. While they were bright and strong this was dark, weak, only noticeable because it was moving; and where others Fell in one direction this one kept changing, weaving through the air like it was deciding between two towns, two people. Emen barely dared breathe. It eventually seemed to pick a direction as it stopped zigzagging erratically and Fell smooth and true like an arrow to land at Emen's feet. Instead of a flash of light she just saw a lion crumpled in front of her. It stood shakily and shook itself before stretching, yawning and staring at Emen. It was nearly as tall as she was; it's head reaching just below her shoulder, with black fur the colour of the sky it had just Fallen from. It's mane was a strange, dull shade of yellow and the same colours marked its face, nose, legs and tail with several thick stripes. There was another uneven blotch of yellow across its back, it reminded Emen of the markings on a cow and the thought caused her to start giggling uncontrollably. "Hello, what's funny?" the lion said and tilted his head slightly. Emen just stared for a few seconds. It must be a dream, she decided. Enders Fell at the same time, none were ever late. "Are you for me?" she blurted. "I think so. If you're Emen Delaass then I am for you. I'm Lario," he said, looking very confused. "Do you not want me?" "Of course I want you Lario," Emen wasn't sure what to say or what to do. The whole situation was bizarre. Now she had an Ender she'd be allowed to stay in Everything. She turned her attention back to Lario. She wasn't entirely sure how Enders...worked. No one had ever explained anything to her. Somehow, they knew how to speak from the moment they Fell. They were fully grown, they knew the names of their Bonded and understood how their life worked. They seemed to know just about everything. The lion stood and looked at her cautiously for a few seconds. He didn't seem very sure about her and she couldn't blame him. Hers probably wasn't the reaction he'd expected. If he'd expected anything, she wasn't sure. She reached out a hand and ran her fingers through his thick golden mane. Thankfully the Elder stepped in, preventing her from having to think up something to say. "It seems this one slept a little bit too long," he smiled as a laugh rose from the crowd. "I think that's the last one." He gently placed a hand on her back and guided her down the stairs so the stage could be prepared for the next part of the Festival. Lario padded softly behind them, he seemed very uncomfortable and with everyone staring at the pair she didn't blame him. They stood to the side of the stage feeling slightly dazed. It wasn't long before the Elder started talking again. She wasn't safe yet, to be allowed to stay in Everything each new Nixling had to display some sort of magical ability. When an Ender Fell for a child, most gained magical abilities. There were a small few, very rare, who couldn't perform any magic, those without any sort of magic were considered Halcyn and almost as hated as Sundered. They were sent to live in Rend too. Anyone without magic was all but useless. Fear engulfed Emen once again. Her trial wasn't over.
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