My First Experience With Nightlife . . .

[Clarity]

_____Hi, everyone! I’ve been talking to Soph about posting, and he says I might want to introduce myself and tell everyone one of my experiences. My name is Clarity Grace, and sometimes I help Ethan. I’m going to the barbeque party on the Memorial Day and I’m so excited!
_____Okay, so my experience now. It was the first time I was out alone at night without Ethan with me you know, and that’s how I measure things, since now I actually have a direction in life.

_____Shadows drew away like recoiling hands as the group of men advanced; they were scruffy in their choice of attire, clothes unwashed and striped with tatters and grime. Just the same as me, I thought with a growing sense of detached alarm upon looking down at myself, denim jacket faded and unkempt.
_____ “Little girl,” the foremost man approached, slurring his speech as well as his step. My lips retreated behind my mouth and bunched together. A small knife was in his hand, broken-tipped and jagged within his shaky grasp. He was big and obtuse, his head shaved to the knobby, pale scalp, and his chin thicketed with unwashed stubble. His hands were soiled.
_____I took a step back and took a deep breath into my lungs, though I didn’t have to.
_____“I am not a little girl,” I warned them, though technically I was. I set aside the pessimistic thinking, getting into a position to defend myself. “Please stay away from me. I don’t want to harm you.”
_____They chuckled, not believing my words. There were seven to my one, and I wasn’t sure which way to turn as the big one with the knife waved his hand. His six cohorts fanned out to surround me, a motley crew of shorn heads, leather, knives, pipes, and brass wrapped around their knuckles. When I retreated a step, a wall of hard brick pushed against my back.
_____They laughed further as I raised my fists in preparation to make good on my word. The energy coursing through my veins caressed my thoughts, reminding me it was there; but these were not the evil creatures that justified its use. I would save my energy for those creatures more deserving of my wrath.
_____But I still had the right to defend myself against these men, didn’t I?
_____ What are you doing?
_____I paused as the thoughts brushed against my mind.
_____Up here! I looked up, and to my surprise I saw a metal ladder several feet above me. The approaching men seemed to discern my thoughts, for they too, paused just a moment, studying the scene even as I did my surroundings. I jumped as they dived for me. My hands grasped the cold metal and heaved myself up, but the scream nearly left my lungs as rough hands grasped my ankles and nearly pulled me back down. Arms straining, I lashed out, jerked and pushed, and was able to free one leg, whereupon I struck the closest man with my foot. I scrambled up the ladder the moment the other man tried to adjust his grip. Their language was foul while they gathered around the base of the metal ladder. They were too big and husky to follow me up, but the voice prompted me to lift the ladder just in case, and I did.
_____After climbing onto the roof and jumping over the parapet, I took a moment to sit down and rest my back against the rough moonlight. But these danced and revolved slowly, churned by something stirring in the air. A soft blue light descended into view, gathered most densely around a ball about a foot in size. The voice spoke into my mind again.
_____Do you remember us?
_____I shook my head, no. It hovered close to my face for a moment, bobbing and nodding. I waited for something else to happen, something exciting and fascinating, something like all the tales you guys tell. But nothing did. I got the impression that the ball of light was an eye, lidless and watchful.
_____And then like a light bulb being turned off, the light vanished, the wind of it’s disappearance kissing my face and hair. I could hear the men below wondering whether it was worth it to try and climb up and get me. I waited and thought up plans in case it was worth it. But it ended up it wasn’t worth it.
_____I’m sorry my story isn’t very exciting.
_____I can’t help but wonder if I’ll see that light again, though. I’d like to ask it some questions.

[Ethan Skinner]

_____Hi, everyone! I’ve been talking to Soph about posting, and he says I might want to introduce myself and tell everyone one of my experiences. My name is Clarity Grace, and sometimes I help Ethan. I’m going to the barbeque party on the Memorial Day and I’m so excited!
_____Okay, so my experience now. It was the first time I was out alone at night without Ethan with me you know, and that’s how I measure things, since now I actually have a direction in life...

_____I’m sorry my story isn’t very exciting.

You did fine, Clarity.

[Hannah]

Hi Clarity,

Nice to finally get to hear from you. I like the way you tell your story.

Hannah

PS: How did you get the start of your lines to move back like that?

[Clarity]

_____Why thank you, Miss Hannah. I’m so glad you liked my telling. I worked hard on it. And quite honestly, I don’t know how I moved them back. It just comes to me.

_____PS: Are you at the werewolf hunt? Ethan and I are staying away. Werewolves are dangerous.

[Hannah]

Hi Clarity,

We're at the hotel outside of town. We didn't like the idea of the hunt either.

Hannah

PS: I told Kelly that if she makes it here I'll keep her hidden.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

I just wanted to thank you for staying with Hannah when I . . . zonked out like that, Clarity. It means a lot to me. I wish I could have been awake to talk with you.

[Clarity]

_____Hi, Eilonwy! I wish you would have talked to me, too. Hannah said I shouldn’t wake you. Are you feeling better?