(#flash friday) And the River Ran Sliver-Pt.1

Quick Silver Creek, just another boom town on the dusty edge of a dry river bed…


Not even a big one at that.

But, As Ezrah knew all too well, that’s where bad days and sleepless night were born. The trouble with life on the Borderlands is that they border on crazy. You never know what sort of beast or man you’ll find there. To a few that’s the joy, seeing giant spiders scurry across the plains, or play host to the few wild elves left for a night. To the rest it’s a nightmare, full of ghost and ghouls and other beast much worse, all gnashing teeth and angry eyes. It’s a wonder the Hex-guns can keep up. Yet, that’s what stoked the fire deep inside making Ezrah shine bright and true; a beacon of light in these unforgiving lands. Well it didn’t hurt that Tesla asked a favor of him.

As the settlement grew closer the ground changed from grey featureless rock and cracked earth to something that felt like crushed limestone, yet red as dried blood and soft enough to crumble to dust at the slightest touch. As the vermillion sand fell from his hands a gust of wind carried the specks away.

“Looks like a storms acomin’.” grunted Ezrah to the darkening west.

Ahead was the river bed from which the place got its name sake. A handful men, women, and children were gathered round the trickle that ran out of the mine, bottling the liquid metal in cast-iron flask to be shipped to Tesla and used on all kinds of odd experiments.

“Why’ve you gone and chawed up the land here you crazy old coot? I’d bet ol’ Isabella here that that’s where your trouble’s from.” muttered Ezrah, caressing his revolver as he tightened the strap, smiling. “No need for hostilities just yet, m’lady. I’m sure before it’s all over you’ll have some fun.”

Through the red dust came a shadow of a boy running from person to person, pointing to the coming squall. With that the lazy pace changed to a fever pitch; everyone chucking bottles in crates and crates on wagons almost as if the storm itself is the problem.

“Hey, you there,” a voice calls from behind the open gate, now only about an acre away, “You better hurry up and get on in here. Thingis ‘bout to get rough…”
“What ya mean by “rough”?” asked Ezrah, hiding his surprise at being called out from so far away.

“No time! Just get in here Hex-gunner”

“That easy to spot are we?” asked Ezrah, adjusting his belt so his coat hid Isabella better.

“Naw, not usually, but we knew you was coming ‘Gunner, and your hand cannon’s marked. Makes it easier to tell you apart from the rest of us. Now hurry up and get in here, we need to close the valves holdin’ the door open, unless you’re volunteerin’ to clean them when the storm passes.”

“No, no I’m not at that.”

As the distance closed the body behind the voice showed itself. He was a portly man, weathered by time and trials unknown; and they didn’t leave the man unmarred. Where his left eye should be was a glowing orb of electricity, crackling out at the edges singing what hair was left on the wizened man.

“Name’s Jed. Thank you for coming ‘Gunner.”

“Ezrah.” Replies the Hex-Gunner shaking Jed’s outstretched hand. “Now, why the panic here over such a small dustup figured you guys’d be used to it out here on the Border Lands”

“Oh, it ain’t the storm, my friend, it’s those little buggers that come out of the mine when it hits.” Declared the overweight gentleman, his enchanted blue orb staring off in the distance as the gate slammed to. “Gremlins, things used to just muck up our gears, nothing new there, right? Well, that the men and I could handle ‘till they started draggin’ ‘em off. Like nothin’ I’ve ever seen.” Pausing to look at his pocket watch, “Well, friend, lets head on over yonder I’d like a rest before the cow patty plops down.”

As the large brass valves swung the gate shut Ezrah finally saw what a ghost town the ‘Creek was. Not a soul in sight down the lane of shacks, most of which look to have seen better days with windows boarded up and roofs caved in from disrepair.

“Used to be so nice out here…”Sighing and scratching his eye-socket. “…Damn thing ain’t, never gonna heal, works a sight better though. Ha! Sometimes I even surprise myself with my wit.”

“I’m sure you do Jed,” Grumbled Ezrah,looking west “but that storm ain’t gonna wait till your done slack jawing. I thought we was in a hurry now”

“Right, right. Sorry.” Stifling his laugh, and opening the door to his little hovel. “Here we are good sir. Back to point: That’s got my men spooked, most of the ones that weren’t taken off have scattered to the four winds. I’ve even overheard the old wives’ tales of dragons in the earth waitin’ to pop up again and eat us all. That this mercury Tesla is having us get is the blood coming back to the source, awaking one.” Propping his feet up on two rackety chairs the veteran continues. “ Hogwash, but the men buy it. Just don’t see how they go from these little snots to a dragon.”

“I’ve heard tell of then taking lesser creatures at thralls, if you take the stories to heart. Something has these things acting out or sorts. So, what do you need me to do?”

“Well, first off get your gun ready. By my reckoning we got ‘bout five minutes till they pop their ugly little heads outta that cave.” Declared Jed, nodding at the red shadow moving closer.

(#FlashFriday) And the River Ran Silver (preview)

A work in progress, but here's a bit of a tease:

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Quick Silver Creek, just another boom town on the dusty edge of a river bed…


Not even a big one at that. But, As Ezrah knew all too well, that’s where bad days and sleepless night were born. The trouble with life on the Borderlands is that they border on crazy. You never know what sort of beast or man you’ll find there. To a few that’s the joy, seeing giant spiders scurry across the plains, or play host to the few wild elves left for a night. To the rest it’s a nightmare, full of raiding goblins and other beast much worse, all gnashing teeth and angry eyes. It’s a wonder the Hex-guns can keep up. That’s what kept Ezrah going though, knowing he was the beacon of light to those out here, didn’t hurt that Tesla asked a favor of him.

Atlas(a poem)

On a ledge
high upon the wall
sits a statue
grand and tall

A wonder to behold by all!

With chin held high,
eyes defiant and daring,
Its shoulders and feet
set square and true

holding the weight of the world evermore!

But look close
and you'll see the flaws...

A thumb print here(to make sure it stayed in place),
mismatch tone there (really,who cares?)
and many, many more.
All hidden, not laid bare.

look closer still
and you'll see
it was damaged long ago...

Dropped without care to the floor;
Stomped,
Thrown,
Beaten as a rag doll.

Packed away unwrapped,
left in the dark to rot.
Even tossed about in a box of rusty nails.

Collecting dust
and gouges
and nicks and scraps and bruises
all along the way

Broken again...
not sure if it was a push this time
or a fall
but really its been cracked all along...

Patched with mud and straw
time and time again
It was made thick,
yet broke again
and thicker still.

It never helped-
to much clay mashed on will only make a hollow thing cave in

This time things aren't the same...

Yes, the pieces are picked up,
are glued back together again.
Yet we find parts all shattered to dust
or ones that don't fit quiet right at all.

On the ground,
deep below the ledge the Proud One lays.
Patched and dejected

A wonder to behold by all!

With teeth clinched to the gum;
His back contorted and compressed,
His knees pushed too far in,
and His legs off kilter

He holds the weight of the world Evermore!

Look closer still
and you'll see more flaws

and love him still...

I'll stand right here,
with eyes unblinking
and heart beating in my chest

and admire His reflection evermore!

My Plans in the Near Future

So, this one is pretty self-explanatory...

I plan on getting some of the poems I've written over the years on here and get some feed back(after I look up some html tags). I also plan on organizing my bullet point on a few worlds I've started creating and refine them;start digging deeper into the mythos locked in my mind(I know its there rattling around somewhere, dang it!).

I'm wanting to use this as a tool to expand my writing...to help me get better,lets face it while I love to write and whatnot, I'm not the best at getting the ideas across,but with practice and time I hope to fix that.I've no idea how to go about this but I have a friend or two on here who post Flash Friday stories...I'd like to start as well.Seems like a good chalange.

well, as late as it seems to some my day i just beginning.I've got things to do.So, once again,take care my friends. Don't forget to keep a look out for new blogs soon!

The First, Finally!

Ok, so I've found out I actually had this blog all along...

Not sure how many people know or care at this point(lol).I plan on getting on here more often.I'll add blogs as needed for separate worlds/writing styles.

This blog I'll be updating with whayever strikes my fancy from updates on other blogs to rants on the odd(and wonderfully colorful) people of Wal*Mart I see, or just pop in to say hi.

I do hope you find something enjoyable on your stop here my friends,and please, feel free to leave constructive criticism where needed.God knows I need all the help I can get!