The alarm went off about the time that Nikki felt the morning light brushing across her eyelids. She slapped the alarm absently and stretched. A deep groan escaped her lips. Nikki stopped mid stretch and looked at her arms.

A chill ran down her spine. If she could only see two, where was the third? Could he be behind her?

Savage, bloody scenarios began playing through her head. Should she call security? She had a direct line to their office. A small button under the piano alerted the security department of trouble. During Christmas she was even fitted with a small ear piece and mic. So that she could help them catch shoplifters. At this time of the year shoplifting wasn't as prevalent so she didn't have use of the ear piece.

"Who's the cute guy over there?" Nikki asked.
T. J. and Sarah's heads swiveled abruptly to follow Nikki's line of sight to a good looking guy with a golden tan and long blonde hair loosely tied back. He had a sexy surfer kind of vibe going for him.
"A little less obvious next time?" Nikki rolled her eyes.
"New kid, just transferred in." T.J. answered. "He's in my Biology class. Dreamy isn't he?"
Nikki smiled as the new guy's eyes fell across her and her friends. "He's gorgeous." Nikki agreed. "He have a name?"

She turned to see the fire red sky with gold touching the hills in the west. She felt him wrap his arms around her. She loved being in his arms; when they were younger, she would spend hours wrapped in his strong arms. She turned from the sunset and looked up into his strong face. She stood up on her toes, closed her eyes and puckered her lips. His course beard tickled her face but his firm lips melted her heart.
A sharp pain in her back drove the wind from her body. She stepped back and felt her husband grab a hold of her. Surely he’d take care of that horrible pain. Another sharp pain stabbed through her ribs.
“I’m sorry.” He said to her.

A full two seconds later, Nick flinched. Then the world seemed to snap back into real time. Sounds suddenly roared. The radio seemed to blast. Nick jumped out of the car, not even taking time to turn off the engine. The car rolled forward and bumped into the curb before it stopped. As Nick raced towards Vic, he fumbled out his mobile phone and punched in 9-1-1.

She was so busy looking at the massive vessel that she over looked her Captain on the black and white painted Horse Lord riding a long side.
She gaped in wonder as the large vehicle slowly rolled past. She was even more surprised to find seven more of the land ships trailing behind the first.
Men and women, like spiders climbed up and down the masts and net like ladders. Tonya found it confusing picking out which was which. The males of Blaire all had long hair tied back at the nape, while all of the women had very short hair. All of them wore trousers. The women tended to wear blouses with lace and ruffles around the neck and down the front where the men’s were just laced.

Cavalrymen having heard the alarm and noting their Captain’s tense posture, began forming up behind him.
The Captain turned towards them. “We don’t know what may be out there, but we need to hold them off so that the princesses can get across the river.”
::We should get going.:: Mi’tana suggested.
::Let’s stay here. Just a bit longer.:: Monyka protested.
“Monyka.” Grymm’s words were a bit slurred from his wounds. “We should head down to the river.
“Captain!” a call went up. “Look!”
Monyka looked north and saw a swirling cloud of black coming straight at them.
“What is that?” a voice asked.
Monyka squinted and strained to make out what the mass was.
“Everyone, if you have face guards, put them down.” Rikki ordered. Those who don’t cover your faces with what you can. That is a murder of crows.” The Captain looked to Monyka wide eyes. “Can you do something?”

I came so close. I was only able to wite 48,500 words for NaNoWriMo

It was the week of Thanksgiving that killed it. I had to spend so much time with family and food that I wasn't able to write.

My spouse would kill me if I suggested that I try again next year. I guess I was missed.

I did get a LOT written. 8 chapters of HaP are done, but not exactly edited. and I finshed off Nano.

Hope you give 'Healing a Princess' a chance. I see that some people are reading it. I just wish that they would give a little feed back even though it isn't a TG story.

I started posting this as a daily entry, but the short postings bothered a lot of the readers so I decided to make it a finished short story. I hope you enjoy

Journal of a Transformation
By Anistasia Allread

Test Day minus two

Ch. 40

The Captain and Horse Lord followed the last person of the retinue down the slope to the bottom of the ravine. Just as they reached the bottom, So’ryn’s ears pricked up then laid back.
::Elves are here.::
::Where?:: Rikki began glancing around.
::Up top there.:: So’ryn tossed his head towards the wall that they had just decended.
::How many?::
::I can’t sense any horses, only blood mages. There are about a dozen of them.::
“Captain! Elves!” one of the rear guard warned.
A fire ball erupted at the top of the trail that they had come down.
“How many?”
“Twelve. Could be scouts?”
“Lets get a move on it!” Rikki called to the people before them. Some were mounted some were walking their horses.
A fireball exploded off the south wall causing a couple of screams.

Maskalah took a sip of wine and savored it as he savored the upcoming victory over the Riponian Captain who seemed to be a thorn in his side. He pondered what he would do to the Captain. Sacrifice was too quick and his blood not as powerful as some of the others, but breaking his will and creating a slave might be fun. That kind of task would be especially enjoyable after they conquered Blaire.
The blood mage flicked his fingers at the fireplace. Instantly a blaze erupted and burned warming the room.

“Thank you.” Tonya leaned closer and looked into his eyes.
Rikki found her soft pink lips brushing against his. He closed his eyes and kissed back, enjoying the taste of her despite the wine. Tonya’s arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer, her lips hungrily kissing his.
Rikki was surprised to find his hand caressing her cheek, his fingers stroking her silky tresses, his tongue probing her mouth, tasting her tongue. He broke away and began caressing her cheek and neck with his lips.
“Why didn’t you come last night?” Tonya asked.
“I had things to do and I needed to get some sleep.” Rikki kissed the small of her throat. The scent of her was intoxicating. He pressed his nose into the hair at the base of her neck and breathed deeply as his lips enjoyed the softness of her skin.

NaMoWriMo is this next month. (I hope I have that right)

I have never particiapated in it, but I believe this year I will give it a try. 3 years ago I had a good writing spell during Nov. and ended up writing 35,000 words. So I hope with a little bit of planning I can make the 50,000 word goal.

I've finished editing the first 37 chapters of HaP and am working on a detailed outline for the next 10+ chapters. I also have Princess and the Jock to re-write since the first few chapters were disasterous with errors. I could also work on Rock,Paper,Scissors.

“It’s okay, Dear. Let the others sing him to the heavens.” Gemma wrapped Monyka in a motherly embrace.
“It hurts so bad.” Monyka sobbed. “why does it have to hurt so bad?”
“The greater the love, the greater the hurt, Dear.”
“Can’t you do something to make it hurt less?” Monyka begged. “Something with the Gift?”
“If I did that it would diminish the person you have lost. It is better that you feel the pain so that you remember him and how much he means to you.”
Monyka answered her with a cry, and held tight to her.

wanted to update you as to why there hasn't been any new postings. I have been in the middle of starting my own business. I have left corporate America and am now leasing a space in a salon to do hair. Once things die down a bit I'll get back to writing.

Woohoo! I broke through my writers block on HaP thanks in part to P&J. I've written a very important scene of the book and have another coming up maybe later in this chapter.

The down side to this break through is that I haven't written the next episode of P&J yet. but don't fear, I hope to have it written and up this Sun. Monday at the latest. (for those not too pissed at me to read it).

A.A.

Princess and the Jock Cautions

I have received many comments and PMs from readers that are disappointed with where the story ‘The Princess and the Jock’ seems to be going. I am not hurt or angry, in any way with these comments. I get great enjoyment out of the reader’s ideas, discussions and arguments over these characters and story details.

I am in need of a good pic for the title page for 'the princess and the Jock. If you have suggestions please pm me with them.

Thanks
A.A.

The Princess and the Jock Ch 2
By Anistasia Allread

“Do you have any questions?” he asked.

“Its kind of stupid.”

“I’m sure it isn’t.” he assured absent mindedly.

“Can going under anesthesia cause long term memory loss?” She asked hesitantly.

The surgeon stopped writing in the chart and looked at Erika. “Do you think you have memory loss?”

My latest posting of the "Princess and the Plague" saga has sparked new interest in my "Healing a Princess" story. it's nice to see some of you trying my non-TG story writing. I hope you all are enjoying it. please don't be shy about sending me a PM or leaving a comment. I know there is still work to be done on it.

Thanks for reading, enjoying and commenting,

A.A.