Inspiring-Stories

The dusty streets of Windbreak Village were as busy as a beehive. The villagers drove their carts to the market in the square. Draft dogs dominated the landscape alongside a scattering of horses. Then there were those who had no choice but to draw their carts themselves. Like thirteen-year-old Tommy Mall.    Every week, Tommy pulled his cart loaded down with firewood and furs to the market. Every trip found him leaning upon the railing at the Deerhound Race Track. Arms folded and chin resting on them, he watched others live his dreams. One day, if his luck held with his trap line, Tommy would own one of those graceful dogs.    But of which

    “Just a little further,” Jim called over his shoulder. Jana trudged through the snow after him, shivering in the cold.            “I feel like I’m going to freeze to death,” she grumbled. The trail had been going on forever, and she still had no idea where Jim was taking her. Still, she had to admit, it was an adventure. Anything she did with Jim was an adventure.            “Alright, we’re here.”            Jana looked around.    “But… there’s nothing here! It’s just a big, empty clearing.”    “Exactly,” he smiled, “listen. ThereR

The thrum of the Songspinner's web signals the coming of the umuvi. They will shriek from the sky and take us, one at a time. Their fangs will drip with the stilling-poison. Their bellies will be fat with eggs. The Songspinner says that the umuvi will take any bucabu they find back to their nests, paralyze us, and lay eggs in our stomachs. We will still be alive when the starving little umuvi hatchling makes its first meal of us. From the days before my first web, I remember these stories. As all young bucabu, I thought they were told only to frighten us. So I thought, until the Songspinner's thrum one night many star-turns ago. The next mor

INTRODUCTION: Enchanting entrees. So it’s early Sunday evening, you're sitting at home, tuning your broom or watching the new episode of "Witches' New Wardrobe". Suddenly you get a text from your boyfriend saying he and his parents will be there at seven, and he cannot wait to see you. We've all been there! You've just forgotten about the most important dinner of this century, and you only have two hours before your guests arrive. Well, I can't help you clean the eye of newt out of your hair, but I know an easy entree that will put the future in laws in your good graces. Chunky Mushroom Brew Start with a simple mixture of water

When I was 10 years old, I started doing swimming lessons. (Yes, I didn’t know how to swim until I was about 10-11 years old. I’m a New Yorker who’s never owned a pool, so sue me. ) I thought it was fun because I was taking it with my friends. However, problems arose when it came time for everyone to jump off the deep end and swim on their own. I was always too scared. Then, on graduation day, I was so excited that I, Hilary Flit, was to graduate from a Guppy to a Minnow with all of my friends. But then, when everyone else had gotten their graduation certificates, I had stood and waited for my name to be called. “Pat

Once in the time of very long ago, there was an awkward young man.  Not only did he not fit in as a “normal” young man, but he didn’t want to.  He liked to live his life his way, even if it was different than everyone else’s way. There were many spirits who inhabited the lands in those days.  They could bring mischief, punish or reward, or even grant wishes.  With some town’s people, they would even make pacts.  The town’s people honored the spirits, and the spirits would transform them at the end of the term. The term was about to end and the people of FreeSpirit were throwing one last festival in honor

In the beginning the Joke wasn’t a Joke. It was simply a little Story. One day the Teller called the Story to her and said, “Little Story, you’re big enough now. It’s time for you to go out into the world and search for your Ending.” So the little Story set off. It hadn’t gone far when it came across an Ending that had been abandoned by the side of the road and left to rust. The little Story polished it up and found it was a beautiful Classic: And they all lived happily ever after. It quickly tried it on but unfortunately it didn’t quite fit. And so the little Story travelled on until it reached a

“I am the dragon queen,” she whispered, stepping out into the crisp fall air. She exhaled into the cool afternoon air, eliciting a smoky fog from her mouth. Just like dragon’s breath, she thought, smiling to herself. A faint breeze swept through the trees, fiery colored leaves raining down in response, glowing like embers in the sunlight as they fell to the ground. All around her was a sea of crisp foliage in all shades of gold, orange, and crimson.  Her long, brown hair swayed with the wind, dancing around her face like the air itself. Her mouth twisted into a grin as a large shadow passed over her. She gazed up at the sk