In The Mind of Thaddeus
a Short Story
Julia Crane
Copyright © 2011 by Julia Crane
Smashwords Edition
Published at Smashwords
By Valknut Press
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Table of Contents
In The Mind of Thaddeus
I see dead people. Not really, but I can see the future. I also think I’m quite funny even if no one else gets my humor. My dad is making me keep a journal as part of my homework. Personally, I think it’s a REALLY lame idea. It’s bad enough I have to live with the thoughts in my head. Why should I have to put them down on paper? Well, let me write a little about myself to start. I’m 12 years old, an elf; also what we call a seer. I have visions of the future. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that somehow I am supposed to save our kind from extinction. That part I have yet to figure out. Below is the prophecy that I am mentioned in. I am not mentioned by name however; I am what the elf world considers very rare. Not only was I born with the gift of sight, I was also born a warrior. My father’s linage of warriors goes back to the start of the elfin world. There has only been one other warrior with the gift of sight in the history of the elves.
Prophecy: An elfin child on the side of the light will be born with the gift of sight. The son of a great warrior. His father will lead the great battle, his son by his side. This child is the only chance the elves have to avoid extinction.
“The Book of Elfin Prophecy” Compiled 112 BCE
My first vision at the age of 6 was of my sister Keegan dying. Needless to say, I was a little freaked out. I ran to tell my father who happens to be the baddest elf warrior out there. (I just put that in hopes to get a better grade.) He realized I was the elf they wrote about in The Book of Elvin Prophecy. The elves have been waiting generations for the prophecy to come true. The Army of the Light has been training for the Great Battle everyday for hundreds of years. Quite a lot for a six year old to take in. Although, I have never been a normal child. At least that is what my mom says. I have no idea what normal is. I only know what I am. I am an elf, a warrior in training, and a seer. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a normal human boy. However, I would not trade my place in the elfin world for anything. Being born an elf is a great privilege. It’s getting late so I am going to call it a night. Till Tomorrow... Peace Out.
Evolution
Through evolution elves have been able to blend in amongst humans. There are slight differences of course, but it is hard to pick an elf from a human. The main difference is we still have pointed ears, however the point is not as dramatic as it once was. We still tend to be on the smaller size especially the female elves. Also elves have flawless skin, and tend to be very attractive, not that I’m bragging or anything. It’s just the way it is. So if you see an attractive petite female check out her ears, I bet they are pointed. If you hear about a heroic soldier in the news check his ears. And let’s not forget our magical powers. Every elf has at least one main power, and they often have several other secondary powers. One of the cool things about elves is we can visualize someone in our mind and locate them. Elves are not the only super natural creature that has evolved. Humans would be shocked to know how many creatures blended in their world on a daily basis.
My Family
Today I wanted to write a little bit about my family. My father is the leader of the Army of the Light. He spent twenty years in the human army in the Special Forces. Once he retired he came back to lead the Elfin army. I’m pretty close to my father. I think he’s pretty cools as far as dad’s go, and I’m not just saying that to get a better grade.
My mother is a powerful healer. She’s ok I guess. It’s pretty neat that she can fight as well as most seasoned soldiers. I like to train with her when I get the chance. She’s not a very good cook but that’s alright, she does try. My mom still babies me at times and that can be annoying.
I have an older sister, and her name is Keegan. She’s usually a pain. Once in awhile we get along. I also have a little brother named Warrick, he’s almost two years old. I like being an older brother most of the time. I can’t wait until he is older and I can teach him how to fight. Right now he just likes to play with blocks and run around screaming for no apparent reason. My family is quite important in the elfin world. We are deeply entwined with the outcome of our kind. I will get to that more later. We have a large extended family of many aunts, uncles and cousins. Family get-togethers can get out of hand.
A Typical Day
I figure I’ll describe a typical day in my life. My alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning. I wouldn’t say I am a morning person, but I have adapted to this schedule. After getting out of bed I drop to the floor and do some push ups, pull-ups (yes, I have a pull-up bar in my room), and sit-ups. Like all elves that are born to be warriors, I’m home schooled after sixth grade. This is my first year of home schooling. I have to say it’s not so bad. I can pretty much do my schoolwork on my own schedule. I have more time to play Xbox, which is, of course, awesome.
The time I spend at the camp is strictly regulated. The training is brutal, but also a lot of fun. For elves, the forming of the military mindset starts from birth, but at camp it’s reinforced. I think the other kids think I get off easy, because my father is the leader of the Light, AKA the Elfin Army. This couldn’t be further from the truth. I feel like I have more pressure on me because he is my father. Not to mention the pesky little detail that I am supposed to save us all. I’ve been avoiding it so far, but my father told me I had to write about my visions or I would not get full credit for this assignment.
My visions are private. The only person I’ve really explained them to is my father. I feel strange writing about them in a journal even though no one will ever read this. My visions are hard to explain, and I’m sure they are different for everyone with this gift. I don’t think it’s a gift at all. To be honest I long for a clear mind free from visions. My visions are almost constant, which can be VERY annoying. The only time I truly get a break from them is when I fall asleep. Some people have to see someone to get a vision or touch them, but that is not the case with me. Of course when I am near a person, my visions do tend to be more vivid. Thankfully, I cannot see my own future. It’s bad enough I can see the future of the people closest to me. I know how my parents will die. Thankfully, they will be old.
An example of a vision I just had. I saw flashes of red and black; my aunt Brigid looks annoyed about something. More flashes of color and then she tripped down the stairs. I really don’t want to know what goes on at my Aunt’s private house. What I do want to do is pick up the phone and say, “Hey, Brig I’d steer clear of the stairs today.” However, I’m not allowed to. I’m not supposed to interfere in the outcome of fate. Which is ridiculous — if I could save her from falling down the stairs, why shouldn’t I? Most of the visions I get are harmless. But there are some that are much more intense. I really hate when I have a vision of someone dying, which is why I tend to stay home most of the time. For instance, something as simple as going out to a store turns into a kind of nightmare. I’ll see the death of a cashier in a car crash or an old lady taking her last breath. I feel like I should stop it, but I can’t. The main rule of a seer is you are not to interfere with destiny. You might wonder why I don’t anyway. To be honest, I’m afraid of the outcome if I did. What if I really messed up fate? I did break this rule once. I couldn’t stand the fact of seeing my sister dying. We fight a lot and all, but still she’s my sister. If I can save her from dying I must try. I’ll save that story for tomorrow’s entry.
Vision of Keegan
First I need to explain what a chosen is. In the elfin society our mates are predetermined. We each have a perfect half and we bring them together once they are both of age. Elves do not divorce, it is unheard of. The bonds between chosen’s are so strong that a divorce has never happened. That is not to say that partners never fight. My parents argue, but they always make up. My mother has such a bad temper, and my father compliments her with his easygoing personality. By the end of most arguments he has her laughing.
Ok, so I broke the rules once. When I saw Keegan dying in my vision, and I was told I was the child in the prophecy, a whole world opened up to me. I have access to all things magical in the elf world. I can speak to other seers, I’m able to read the books of prophecy, I have access to wizards etc. I pretty much have the elfin world of magic at my fingertips. It took me a couple of years before I made the decision to interfere with the outcome of the vision. I talked it over with my father. He was uncertain at first. However, when you are talking about someone’s flesh and blood, it’s easy to persuade them. I decided to make one simple change. First I should explain what the vision was.
I can still picture the vision as clear as day. Visions are strange; they do not always show the whole picture, usually just snap shots. She was on the ground, an arrow through her heart. Blood was everywhere. People screamed. Swords clashed. Then there was total blackness. As quickly as that vision ended, another one started. In this one, there was a fork in the road. Keegan, laughing, ran to the right. Behind her came a tall boy with reddish hair who was also laughing. He grabbed her by the waist and swung her around.
My take on the vision was if Keegan was with the boy with rusty hair, she could live, and if not, she would die. Well, in the vision she didn’t look old enough to be over 18. It took a while to figure out who the boy was. Once we found out it was Rourk, my dad was OK with the whole idea. He was a warrior, and not just any warrior. He was a GREAT warrior. The Army of the Light had already noticed Rourk; he was a natural.
The best plan I could come up with was to remove the cloak for Rourk. So, we had Keegan’s cloak removed. He would know her, but she was not supposed to know him. You see, chosen’s are cloaked from each other until they become of age, just in case they happen to pass each other in the street. The main reasons chosen’s are cloaked from each other is so we can enjoy our childhood. The bond to your chosen is so strong it would be hard for children to focus on living a normal life without them. I know that sounds dramatic, but it is true. I also decided to plant his name into Keegan’s mind. This was easy enough to do. She was always begging me to tell her about her chosen. I finally agreed to tell her his name and nothing more. I told her if she ever felt in danger to think his name. I have to say I feel kind of bad for Rourk. It must be hard for him to resist the pull she has over him. I know for a fact she thinks of him all the time. I’ve caught her in her room talking out loud to him or making their wedding plans. Girls are so weird.
Keegan Ruined my Day
Keegan is really getting on my nerves lately. Don’t get me started with her singing. I swear she thinks she is good. News flash: she sucks and it’s beyond annoying.
Today she really crossed the line. We got called down to a family meeting. A family meeting in my house is something we all wish to avoid. Thankfully, they don’t happen to often. It seems Keegan went to a new age fair, and my parents freaked out. Keegan has been kept in the dark about everything. She had no idea about the war going on between the light and the dark. She had no idea that her life hangs in the balance and has something to do with the great battle. (She still doesn’t know about her possible death in battle.) Today she found out about the war and the consequences of allowing a psychic to read her. Our family is deeply entwined in the fate of our kind. There is a reason for our secrecy, and walking into a place and saying, “Here I am, look into my soul and tell me what you see,” is not a bright thing to do. I can understand why my parents were upset.
There was also a dark elf at the fair, which is really odd. Dark elves tend to stay up north and they don’t intermingle with humans as much as we do. Because of this my parents are convinced the battle is quickly approaching. I hope it’s not too soon. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do.
Now let’s get to the worst part. I have to train her! She is a walking mess, how am I going to turn her into a soldier? She can barely make it across the room without tripping. I’m supposed to teach her how to fight. Sounds like loads of fun to me. Headed to bed so I can get these visions out of my head. Night!
Day 1 of Keegan’s Training
Since she sucks so badly, we started with basic kata moves using a training sword. I have to say I was surprised she didn’t complain. She actually seemed to zone out and get into the movement. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I expected. It’s actually fun to teach someone. I’m usually the student so it’s cool to have the roles reversed for a change.
I love training. We train several hours a day at the camp. There are so many techniques to learn, it’s amazing. I have a photographic memory so I can memorize books. I’ve read every book on combat training I can get my hands on. It’s pretty cool to be able to flip through my mind and see the pages. My favorite training is close quarters combat; you have to be able to make split-second decisions or you will more than likely die. I love the high intensity of it. Of course, so far I have only participated in training. A real life situation might not be quite as fun.
I’m going over to Sam’s tonight, which is always cool. We’ll be playing Black Ops all night. He’s my best friend. We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember. Our dads used to be in the human Army together. Actually, Sam is my only friend. That should make me feel like a loser, but it doesn’t. I’ve never felt the need to have a lot of friends.
As far as visions go, nothing of real interest today. I’ve had the flashes all day as usual, but nothing substantial. I wish I would have more insight into the battle. It can be so aggravating. There’s a prophecy and yet no one knows the outcome. Are they just testing us? Why would they know there was going to be a battle, but not know who will win? That has never made any sense to me. Although, like most things dealing with magic, they rarely make sense.
I’m starting to like keeping a journal. It’s kinda cool to write down my thoughts. Hopefully no one ever gets their hands on it. I’ll just delete the account once the homework assignment is done to be on the safe side. Can you imagine if this got into the hands of a human? Although, I guess they would just think it was a joke.
Fishing Trip
Today was awesome. Sam’s father took us fishing. He is so cool. He doesn’t really talk much, but he always smiles and laughs at my jokes so that’s a plus. I’m so glad it was just the three of us. Sam has a huge family that includes five brothers and sisters. And they are all pains... I really can’t stand his older brother; he is always making fun of us. We drove out to Land Between the Lakes. It took about 45 minutes. Sam caught the biggest fish and that wasn’t very big. I caught four puny fish. We got to make a fire pit and cook some hotdogs. I can’t seem to get enough food lately. I want to eat all the time. I think I ate four hotdogs and half the bag of chips. I was still hungry. Sam’s dad said I must be going through a growth spurt. I sure hope so since I’m pretty small for my age. Sam is super tall for an elf, but he’s also skinny as heck. I think I’d rather be shorter and not be a stick.
Being out on the lake in a boat is so relaxing. I wish I could have stayed out there all weekend. We didn’t head home till dark. I had visions, but nothing of significance. I think perhaps being around nature and few people might dull the visions. I can’t be sure though. I did see a few funny things with Sam’s family. His oldest sister was getting ready for a date and she was throwing a fit because her hair was messed up. One of the younger sisters was crying because she got a C on a test. Seriously, there has to be something wrong with girls’ brains. I told Sam about the vision and he wanted to piss his sister off so he texted her “Thaddeus said your hair looks like crap.” She didn’t reply, but even Sam’s dad was laughing. I’m glad I only have one sister I can’t imagine having to deal with three like Sam. Well, it’s getting late so I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another long day of training.
Fishing Trip
Today was awesome. Sam's father took us fishing. He is so cool. He doesn't really talk much, but he always smiles and laughs at my jokes so that's a plus. I'm so glad it was just the three of us. Sam has a huge family that includes five brothers and sisters. And they are all pains'I really can't stand his older brother; he is always making fun of us. We drove out to Land Between the Lakes. It took about 45 minutes. Sam caught the biggest fish and that wasn't very big. I caught four puny fish. We got to make a fire pit and cook some hotdogs. I can't seem to get enough food lately. I want to eat all the time. I think I ate four hotdogs and half the bag of chips. I was still hungry. Sam's dad said I must be going through a growth spurt. I sure hope so since I'm pretty small for my age. Sam is super tall for an elf, but he's also skinny as heck. I think I'd rather be shorter and not be a stick.
Being out on the lake in a boat is so relaxing. I wish I could have stayed out there all weekend. We didn't head home till dark. I had visions, but nothing of significance. I think perhaps being around nature and few people might dull the visions. I can't be sure though. I did see a few funny things with Sam's family. His oldest sister was getting ready for a date and she was throwing a fit because her hair was messed up. One of the younger sisters was crying because she got a C on a test. Seriously, there has to be something wrong with girls' brains. I told Sam about the vision and he wanted to piss his sister off so he texted her "Thaddeus said your hair looks like crap." She didn't reply, but even Sam's dad was laughing. I'm glad I only have one sister I can't imagine having to deal with three like Sam. Well, it's getting late so I need to head to bed. Tomorrow is going to be another long day of training.
Met Rourk Today
Training today consisted of one of the advanced instructors chasing a student during a training exercise. We used paintball guns, and whoever hit the other first was the winner. I love this type of training. As I was running through the woods, I had a flash of a vision. The instructor that was chasing me was none other than Rourk. I found humor in this. Of course, I really didn’t have a chance of beating him. However, I kept getting flashes of visions, as he would close in on me. I was able to use them to evade him for quite awhile. Suddenly, Rourk allowed me to chase him. I say allowed because it was his plan. He was leading me. I was supposed to feel I had a chance to win. I saw he planned to fake a fall that is when he would hit me. I used this knowledge to my advantage. Instead of chasing him like he expected me to, I climbed a tree and hid. I was hoping he would show himself so I could shoot him. However, he was too smart for that. It took him a few minutes, but he realized the only place I could be was up. He got me.
I couldn’t help myself. I had a little fun with him. I let him know that I knew who he was, and also that I saw he was going to fake a fall to trick me. He quickly realized that I was the child from the prophecy. I also threw in that he was going to be my brother-in-law. Rourk did a good job of hiding his surprise. As he should, a good warrior never gives away his thoughts by his expressions. He asked me my sister’s name and I told him it was Keegan. He also wanted to know why I had told her about him. I went through the process of telling him that she would someday be in danger and needed a way to pull him towards her. Rourk assured me he would do everything in his power to keep Keegan safe. Obviously, that’s why I went through the hassle of telling Keegan his name. We knew he would keep her safe at all cost. He seems like a good guy.
My Future
In the elfin world when someone is born a warrior they have to join the human army when they turn eighteen. I happen to be an exception to the rules, because I am also a seer. Elves with the gift of sight are usually weak in body. The thought of being a warrior would be laughed at. My father, the leader of the Light, comes from a long line of warriors, and thankfully he passed that on to me. I have a choice: I can join the human army or opt out and put my “gift” to use as a seer. I don’t see why I can’t do both.
My father asked me about this the other day. He wanted to know if I’ve given any thought to my future now that I had begun my military training. He reassured me there was no pressure for me to join, and if I decided not to, he would support my decision. Let’s put it this way: I will be following in my father’s footsteps. I hope I can live up to his reputation as a warrior. People treat me like I am special because seers are regarded highly in the elfin world. It’s almost embarrassing. Some people actually bow when I walk in a room. I want to earn the respect of a warrior. I could see the pride in my father’s face when I told him I had already made up my mind to join. That made me happy. I can’t imagine being anything other than a soldier, it is literally in my blood.
Long Training Day
My body and mind are numb with exhaustion. Today’s training felt like it was never going to end. We started early and ended well after night fall. First we started with dummy training. It’s basically practice combat training. We used different weapons and try to fight our opponent blind folded. Today we used wooden dummies, the same like Bruce Lee used when he was growing up and learning Wing Chun. It’s a big log with three arms, each at different angles and levels, and one big leg that sticks out from the bottom center. Oh, and did I mention that it was hard? Imagine slamming your hands, forearms, shoulders, hips, thighs, knees, shins and feet as hard as you can into a telephone pole for hours at a time. I am going to be covered in bruises. My whole body aches. I might ask my mother for a healing so I can move tomorrow. Although, I feel like wimp even thinking of asking my mother. My father never gets healings from my mother. He made her promise she would never heal him unless he had a life threating injury. He seems to enjoy collecting scars.
After the training with the dummies we trained with partners. We were all so annoyed with the long training that we took it out on each other. There was no holding back. Normally something like this would be considered fun, however I was just too tired to enjoy it.
After the exhausting combat training we had to do land navigation. My father had set up a huge course with many points for us to find. It was dark by the time we had collected all the points. We were all beat down and ready to go home.
You know what, I’m going to see my mother I can barely lift my arms to type this. My father might be able to avoid healings, but he didn’t get his butt kicked by a wooden dummy today. And I’m only twelve years old so I think I can get a pass.
Concert
I’ve missed a few days of writing in this thing. I had a vision yesterday that has been really bothering me. It was of Keegan at a concert, some guys were pushing her against a wall, and she was terrified. The vision was so loud in my head and very bright. It killed me not to tell her before she left. I’m really struggling with my gift lately. It should be getting easier, but it is harder. I wanted to tell her badly. Instead, I followed the stupid rules and kept my mouth shut.
To help calm my nerves I went for a long barefoot run. My father must have known I was upset, because he offered to join me. We didn’t talk, but his presence is always calming to me. I think running in the woods is one of my favorite things to do. I feel at home in the woods.
I was so relieved to see Keegan walk through the door tonight. I was also completely shocked when she told me Rourk had saved her. How could she have known it was him? Perhaps a bond with your chosen is too strong to be blocked by magic? My parents were also strangely drawn to each other when they met before their time. It’s all very interesting.
I’m curious to see how my parents handle this situation with Rourk. Will they just push it under a rug and wait until she turns 18, or will they allow them to meet early? It would be easier for everyone involved if they were allowed to meet earlier. Rourk could protect her better if she was aware of him. Not to mention the added benefit of not listening to her whine all the time about meeting her chosen. We could focus more on the battle and less on Keegan’s teen drama issues.
The more I think about the vision and what took place at the concert, I think perhaps whoever put these rules in place might know what they are talking about. If I had warned Keegan not to go to the concert, Rourk would have never stepped in. I would have changed the whole course of the night, and maybe their relationship.
Keegan’s Progress
I have to say I am shocked at how much my sister Keegan has advanced in such a short period of time. I think her reaction time is quick enough now that she has a good chance of surviving if an arrow came through the air. I don’t think I mentioned that Keegan’s main power is invisibility. My father has had me work with her so she could disappear and potentially avoid an arrow if my vision came true.
Who would have thought she was a natural? Although, I guess it’s not too much of a surprise since my parents are so skilled at the art of war. My mother could seriously go head to head with any male in the elfin army and probably kick their butt. Her father trained her since he didn’t have any sons. I can’t even imagine if Keegan had taken to the training earlier. She never put any effort into it, because she’d rather be shopping or hanging out with her annoying friends. I’ve often wondered why females are not allowed in the elfin army. I can understand it to an extent. However, my mother, and even Keegan, are proof that females can hold their own. Maybe this will change someday. I haven’t had any visions about it so probably not...
Scared
Sleep has always been my sanctuary. My visions didn’t haunt me while I slept. At least that’s until last night. I had a horrible vision last night. I woke up drenched in sweat and scared. Of course the first thing I did was wake my father. I had been waiting for a sign about the great battle. Well, it has come. I will try to explain the vision.
Looking frantically around, I tried to figure out where I was. My body felt strange as if I were watching through someone else’s eyes. Fear raced through my veins. Never had I felt this scared. Lots of blood everywhere, body parts, screams, dear god where was I? Green, the land was so green, even though stained with blood. I looked up and saw a beautiful orange moon. It looked out of place with all the destruction.
My father made me describe the dream in detail to him. He was able to decipher it much better than I could. He said he thought it was a good omen. The green rolling hills signified that the battle would take place in Ireland. The large orange moon means it would start during the Harvest moon. My parents got engaged during a Harvest moon. This year it falls on Keegan’s birthday. My mother, whose name is Emerald, was named after Ireland, where her parents met, also known as the Emerald Isle. If the vision is true, we have five months to prepare.
I am worried. The vision showed that the loss of life would be staggering. I know that’s to be expected in a battle. It just made it seem more real to see the bodies all over the place. My father made me tell the men at the private meeting that was held last night. I really don’t like talking in front of people, but I understand it has a greater impact coming from a seer. Preparations have begun. Having a time line has made me even more nervous. I have five months to figure out a way to save the light elves from extinction. My father reminded me not to put so much pressure on myself. The visions come as the gods will them to. I just hope I get a sign before it’s too late. I don’t know what I would do without the guidance of my father.
The Vault
My vision has been haunting me. I asked my father if I could take the day off and go to the vault. It’s where all the books on prophecy are kept. The vault is amazing it is probably the most beautiful building I have ever been in. It is of course spelled by magic. As soon as you walk in your can feel the vibrations running through your body. It’s almost like an electrical current. A total feeling of calmness washes over your body. The walls are made of gold and gemstones. I have no idea why they made it so elaborate. I think it might be because the gemstones have magical properties and it helps to protect the important documents. I love to trace my fingers over the rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds. I could spend hours in the vault and never touch a book. The way it makes you feel is hard to describe.
I’ve read through the books, journals and documents countless times already and with my photographic memory I could recall them all if I tried. However, I was hoping holding the books in my hand might evoke a vision or I could somehow find some guidance I missed. Sadly, that was not the case. I spent all day and nothing. You have no idea how frustrating this is to me. On a good note the woman who watches over the vault made me some tasty chocolate chip cookies. I ate the whole tray and three glasses of milk. She seemed to welcome the company. And who am I to hurt her feelings? I had to show my appreciation by eating a lot of cookies. Hopefully, I will have another vision soon to lead me in the right direction. Even though I have the gift of sight I often feel blind.
Time is flying
Where has the time gone? The battle is quickly approaching and I am still clueless as to what I am supposed to do. I fear I am going to let everyone down. I’m trying not to let the stress get to me, but it’s hard. I feel like the walls are closing in on me. I’m almost grateful for the long days at the camp at least it keeps my mind off my gift for awhile.
I have to admit it is amazing to see the army preparing for battle. We have been training non-stop and I feel we are ready for the battle. However, we are all so tired and it is starting to show. I’ve seen a few of the men bicker, which rarely happens. Men are loosing their tempers easier than should be expected. I know that the training is necessary and I trust my father knows the limit of the men. You know I’m tired when I can’t even play Black Ops before I go to bed. I haven’t had time to do anything it seems. Obviously, the training is important and I feel selfish wanting time for myself. Even my studies are suffering. I just don’t have the energy when I get home. My father says I can make it up after the battle. I’m glad he is confident we will win. I’m not so sure.
Today Was Fun
Today we got to go to the range with guns. It was sort of a treat. You see we cannot use guns or any modern weapons during the Great Battle. It is one of the ways we honor our ancestors. So lately we have been training without guns and more with swords and arrows. Don’t get me wrong that is also a lot of fun. However, there is just something about shooting that I greatly enjoy. We have a huge shooting range on our property, and it’s one of the things our family actually enjoys doing together.
We started out with slow aimed marksmanship training, shooting bulls-eyes at different distances and with different types of rifles. Once we had gotten out to 600 meters we put the rifles away and moved closer to work with the submachine guns. All the drills were CQC (close quarters combat) style shooting, which is just like playing a video game. We engaged multiple targets, moving forward and to the side, shooting around barricades and deciding which targets to shoot verses not to shoot. Everyone shot at least 1,500 rounds today, which is A LOT, especially when doing structured training and not just blazing away.
I got to see Rourk in action today, and they were not exaggerating. He is like some sort of super soldier. I swear he never missed. He gave the instructions for the final shooting drill, which was a nice “run and gun” scenario, starting from one position and moving through a maze (logs laid out on the ground) and shooting different targets at different stations. Lots of reactive targets that don’t appear until you shoot other targets and several moving targets along with “no-shoot” targets. After explaining, he did a demonstration run. He ran through the drill so fast it was crazy. He did a perfectly clean run. No misses, no “no-shoot” targets hit and every round fired in the fatal zone. He was flawless, and everyone was pretty amazed. I almost dreaded going after him. All in all a great day and a much needed break from the normal grind.
Busy
I have not been able to keep up with this journal. When I get home from the camp my body is exhausted, all I can do is eat and sleep. My father noticed the men were getting weary so he gave us all the long weekend off. I’m so excited to have the down time. It feels long overdue. We’re even going to have a cookout at the camp with all the elfin families. That should be fun. We’ll get to play with the other elfin children.
My parents are going away for the weekend. My brother Warrick and I will be going to stay at my grandmother’s. I love to visit her—I think she is lonely, so she is always happy to have us around. Plus, she actually seems interested when I tell her about my Xbox games. She’s probably just humoring me but that’s ok. I have been itching to get back to my Black Ops game, and also the new game Left for Dead, there is something cool about slaying zombies. Hopefully, I get to hang out with Sam. Seeing him at camp is not the same as hanging out at home. It will be nice to be able to sleep in for a couple of days. You might have noticed I didn’t mention where Keegan was going to be. I’ve had a vision, but I’ll wait till it unfolds to write it in this journal.
Cookout
We had the cookout and it went off as expected. It’s always a great time when you get a group of elves together. We ate, played and some of the elves danced. Thankfully there wasn’t any singing. I got to hang out with Sam and I didn’t even have any disturbing visions. Sam and I played paint ball with some of the other elves. Of course we dominated. Oh, I almost forgot the big news. Rourk and Keegan have met and they are now joined as elfin mates. My father overlooked the simple fact that Keegan and Rourk would be at the camp at the same time. As gross as it was to see my sister kiss someone, I have to say it was pretty cool. It was like something you would see in one of those chick flicks. They saw each other across the camp, and then Rourk walked up to her and kissed her in front of everyone. Keegan was quite embarrassed by all the yelling and cheering going on. I saw this in a vision last week. It’s always strange when my visions come to life. I don’t think I will ever get use to it. Keegan and Rourk are going to spend the weekend with my parents. My mom said they could spend time together this weekend, but not again until after the battle. I really hope things turn out ok during the battle. Keegan is a pain, but she’s still my sister and I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.
Weekend with my Grandma
The weekend was cool. My grandmother made all my favorite foods, and we baked brownies and cookies. My cousins came over for one night. I got to beat my cousin Merrick on the Xbox. He wasn’t too happy about it, but whatever.
I worry about my cousin Keara. She is the only half elf I’ve heard of, and she is changing so much as she grows older. She is already over 5’5”. Female elves never get that tall. Her powers seem to be getting stronger as well. I wonder what the long-term effects will be because of her father. He was a warlock. It will be very interesting, that I’m sure of. I will try to help Keara deal with her differences as much as I can. I wish I could see her future but I have yet to have a vision of any real impact about her. She always seems so sad and it’s as if she feels like she doesn’t fit in.
The rest of the weekend I spent hanging out with my grandmother. We went on a couple of long walks and I helped her with her garden. I also had to teach her how to read books on her computer. She is not very technology savy. She was quite amazed that she could download books on her computer. I tried to teach her how to use her phone, but that was just too much for her at one time. I think I’ll tell my mom to get her an e-reader for Christmas. I believe she reads more than my father.
After Break
The break was just what everyone needed. Spirits are high once again. The excitement is evident among the men. My father told them today that we are leaving shortly for the Great Battle. Everyone had assumed with all the training, but having it confirmed by the leader of the light makes the reality sink in. It’s funny how men get excited for battle, even though we all know death and destruction will be the outcome.
Once in awhile, I have a vision of one of our men dying. It pains me not to tell them. However, I know if I offered a warning they would still go to the battle with a smile on their face. Dying in battle is the greatest achievement for a warrior. I have had no new insight on what is expected of me to save us. My father reminded me that I needed to trust in my gift and trust in the gods. The sign will come in time. I hope he is correct. He always gives me these reminders when I need them the most. I hate that I am doubted myself. The thought of a world without light elves leaves me with a deep sadness in my soul. I hope I am somehow able to come through in the end.
We only have two weeks left before the Great Battle. We’ll be leaving soon to set up camp, which in theory should give us the advantage. At this point we can use any extra help we can get.
Leave Tonight
I’ve been too busy to keep up with this. We are leaving tonight to head to Ireland. I’m nervous. There is so much weight on my shoulders; sometimes it’s a wonder I can move at all. How am I going to save us from extinction? Why won’t the gods give me a new sign? I feel like I am going into this blind. I hope my gift of sight does not fail me when it’s needed the most. We will teleport to Ireland and arrive a week early to setup camp and scout the area. Hopefully, that will give us an upper hand.
I did have a strange vision it showed creatures of the light show up to help us it did not show the outcome. There were all kinds of interesting creatures in my vision. Some I have never had the pleasure of meeting. There were centaurs, shape shifters, fairies, and too many others to mention. It’s very odd and I also keep seeing a tiger in my visions. There is nothing concrete just a tiger walking around. I have no idea what that means. It’s so frustrating when I can’t crack the codes of my visions.
I feel like we are ready as an Army for the battle. I do not feel like I am ready as a seer. Please gods I beg you send me a sign before it’s too late. I must close this out now. I hope I will be able to come back to this journal once the battle is over. It feels strange knowing this may be the last words I ever write. I do not fear for my death. I do fear for our race. We must survive this battle. Wish me luck...
About the Author
Julia Crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.
Find Julia online at http://juliacraneauthor.com/index.html
Coexist
Book 1 in Keegan’s Chronicles
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends-she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.
In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.
Rourk finds himself drawn to Keegan's side every time she thinks his name. He wants to talk to her but remains in the shadows, silently guarding her every time she mentally beckons him. A twist of fate thrusts the two of them together when Rourk is forced to step up his protection and make his presence known.
An ancient prophecy deeply entwines Keegan's family and the future of their society. Somehow they must find a way to thwart fate and win the battle...without losing Keegan. With war brewing, and dark forces aligning, will Keegan and Rourk ever have the life together that they both desire?
Purchase “Coexist” at Smashwords
Look for Book 2
Conflicted
Coming September 2011