Advent Drabbles: December 6th (part 3 10:41)
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The CBB -> St Scholastika's House

#1: Advent Drabbles: December 6th (part 3 10:41) Author: Advent Drabblers PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:08 am
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There was something wrong, Biddy thought. She was cold, even though she felt as if she was bundled up in hundreds of layers of clothes. She opened her eyes and looked around her at the mountains that loomed up towards the sky. Mountains were right she thought, but then she looked again. These mountains were huge, covered with snow, which accounted for the cold. The trouble was more than that, the trouble was that she was riding a pony of some sort, and she’d never ridden one in her life. In front of her was a long line of other ponies, with people riding on some of them, and bundles of something on the rest. Behind her was one more person, also bundled up in layers of clothes so that all she could see was the grey eyes - eyes that looked familiar somehow. Biddy began to be afraid, as she had no idea where she was or how she had got here. But there was nothing she could do but go along with the rest of the train and see what happened.

It was starting to get dark when they finally stopped at a stone-built building set beside the trail they had been following. Biddy slid off the pony and her legs nearly gave way under her. She watched what the others did with the tackle on the ponies and copied them, not wanting to give away the fact that she hadn’t the least idea what was happening. Once the ponies were safely stabled, everyone went into the main part of the building, where there was a large fireplace, kindling, and someone busy lighting a fire. As the room warmed up they all started taking off the layers of clothing. A savoury smell began to rise from the big kettle swung over the fire, and Biddy began to feel hungry.
“Spread the rugs out along the wall please Biddy, so that we have something to sit on,” said a familiar voice, and Biddy turned round to see Miss Wilson smiling at her. Only it wasn’t Miss Wilson, it just looked a lot like her, down to the chestnut hair and grey eyes.
Biddy nodded, not able to say a word for the moment. No one else looked anything like anyone she knew.
The meal was wonderful, a thick stew made of some sort of meat, with lots of vegetables and some sort of flavouring that even the Chalet School cooks would die for. Biddy felt a lot better with that inside her, and she settled down to sleep wrapped in the rugs as if she did it every day. Just as she was drifting off she heard a blood chilling scream far in the distance, but she was so tired that she fell asleep without asking what it was.
The next morning everyone was up early, before it was really light. Breakfast consisted of a warming porridge-like mixture, and then they hurried out to saddle up the ponies again.
“We must be across the pass before nightfall,” said ‘Miss Wilson’. “It’s dangerous after dark.”
“Why?” asked Biddy, opening her mouth for about the first time since she’d found herself there.
“Banshees!” came the terse reply, and Biddy could only stare in horrified amazement. Banshees were Irish folktale beings, and not real at all.
The trail wound upwards, twisting and turning along the climb to the pass. Biddy could feel the air getting thinner as they climbed, and began to feel a little light headed from the altitude. She remembered to breathe slowly and deeply, and gradually she acclimatised. They stopped briefly in the middle of the day to water the ponies and grab a bite to eat, and then they were off again. Biddy could see that the others in the party were getting worried about the time it was taking, but she really couldn’t take the talk of Banshees seriously.
As they reached the top of the pass the sun was still shining though it was sinking low in the sky. Parts of the trail were in thick shadows, and Biddy could see caves and cracks in the rocks on either side. Just as they started down the other side Biddy heard again the scream she had heard in the distance the night before. This tie is sounded just behind her, and she turned in the saddle to see what had made it.
“Banshees! Don’t look!” yelled ‘Miss Wilson’. “Run!”


Last edited by Advent Drabblers on Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:43 pm; edited 2 times in total

#2:  Author: RosalinLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:27 pm
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Can't wait to see what follows this!

#3:  Author: JackiePLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:15 pm
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Nor can I, especially as I think I recognise the Xover in this one.

JackieP

#4:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:00 pm
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Darkover and Free Amazons. My favourites!

#5:  Author: Advent Drabblers PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:28 pm
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Joey Bettany walked down the path to the lake deep in thought. There had been some odd things going on lately and she was for once at a loss as to how to deal with it all. Naughty middles she could take in her stride, but this was something more. Something that made her uneasy. Obstructionist staff she could deal with in her sleep, but this disturbed even her nightmares. Troublesome new girls were a piece of cake, but this was no new girl.

That was the trouble. It wasn't a girl. It was a boy. Sort of.

Boy Trouble at the Chalet School.

She had never expected that. Chalet Girls didn't do boys.

Of course once they had left school they were expected to find one shaprish and marry quickly so they could have lots of girls to ensure the future of the school, but while they were actually at school boys were shadowy creatures who rarely impinged on their thoughts, never mind on the actual premises.

Joey was sure she had seen a boy. Last night, creeping in and out of the dormies. But; and this was the very odd thing...when he walked into the moonlight he had no shadow. Joey had been able to see where his shadow should have been, and she could see the shadow cast by the window, but this boy had no shadow.

Joey had never met anyone without a shadow before and she wasn't sure how to deal with it, especialy as the boy was walking around school at night. She had seen him the previous night, and the night before. It was as if he was looking for something. Joey wasn't sure if she should tell Matey, or deal with it as Head Girl, or help the boy, or just ignore it.

Well, she knew she wasn't going to just ignore it. The boy had something, some wild look, some magnetism, something that just drew her and she knew that she would be on the prowl tonight to see if he came back. The question was what she would do when she saw him.

#6:  Author: PaulineSLocation: West Midlands PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:51 pm
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Peter Pan is the only one I know without a shadow.

With Banchees in high places!! Glad i do not have to link them!!!!

#7:  Author: Helen PLocation: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:11 pm
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Yes I thought of Peter Pan too. And all I can say is I'm glad it isn't me that has to link these two together! Laughing

#8:  Author: KatherineLocation: London, UK PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:45 pm
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Quote:
She had never expected that. Chalet Girls didn't do boys.

I should think not.

#9:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:35 pm
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Must be Peter Pan - looks forward to seeing what Lesley does with this.

#10:  Author: Advent Drabblers PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:41 pm
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'Well if she was going to do something it had to be tonight,' Joey thought to herself glaring at her reflection in the mirror. There were only a few days left of term - her last at the Chalet School - and if she was going to catch this boy and find out what was happening tonight was the night. She took a deep breath then opened the door and crept out. The darkness was filled with shadows, from the windows, the moonlight, everywhere there were shadows, except in one spot. Joey quickly found the boy standing at the top of the stairs, he seemed to be about thirteen, skinny, with ragged clothes and what looked like a knife strapped to his side. Yet Joey was not afraid - she had realised some time ago who the boy must be,

"Peter? Is that you?"

The boy spun round, startled. He took a few steps back and Joey laughed, "Look at you!" she said.

The boy looked down, he was standing on thin air, "You don't seem very shocked," he said, somewhat disgruntled. "Most girls would have run away screaming by now."

"Not someone that read JM Barrie's books when she was only seven years old," Joey replied, "and anyway, girls are rather more robust that Mr Barrie ever considered. Why are you here, Peter? None of the girls here will run away and keep house for you."

"I'm hunting banshees," Peter said proudly, drawing his sword. Joey stepped back slightly in alarm,

"Peter, there are no such things as banshees," she said with a rather superior smile, "they are imaginary creatures, they don't really exist."

"Neither do I," Peter pointed out, "except in imagination - and you are a writer, aren't you? You will always have imagination."

Joey thought for a time, "Alright, point taken. But the only banshees I know of are those young Biddy O'Ryan was telling stories of, Irish fokelore, is that what you are hunting?"

Peter shook his head, "No, not Ireland, somewhere much colder...with a red sun."

"A red sun? You mean sunset?

Peter shook his head, "No, this sun is always red, I think it must be old..." he shook himself, "where is this Biddy O'Ryan, then?"

"Normally she's in her dormitory," Joey said, "but at the moment she's sleeping on a camp bed in 'Bill', I mean Miss Wilson's room."

"Miss Wilson? Tallish woman? Red hair and grey eyes?"

"Well not really red," Joey mused, "more chestnut."

"I know of her," Peter said triumphantly, "she's in the land of the red sun as well. They are in terrible danger."

"Danger? How can they be in danger? You said it was all imagination." Joey looked sceptical.

In answer Peter drew his sword and poked it gently into Joey's arm, the scratch began to ooze blood, "I'm imaginary too," he said, "but that hurt, didn't it? This Biddy and Miss Wilson are currently trapped with this Banshee, we'll have to move fast. Come on!"

...

The following morning saw Joey down for breakfast early, she had almost been inclined to shrug off the night's happenings as an over-active imagination except that there was this scratch on her arm... She smiled across as Biddy O'Ryan entered the dining room, "Hello Biddy, did you sleep well?"

Biddy smiled up at the Head Girl, "I had myself some terrrrible dreams, early on," she said with animation, "so bad that I fell out of bed, look I scratched my face," she pointed to some parallel scratches on her cheek, "but later no problems."

Joey nodded, reflecting that it was a good thing the banshee had not scratched any deeper, she looked round as another figure appeared, "Good Morning Miss Wilson," she said very properly, "did you sleep well?"

"Rather unsettled to begin with, Joey," Miss Wilson smiled, "but later I managed, though for some reason I was very cold most of the night." She looked round, "It's wonderfully warm now though. And isn't that sun yellow?"

#11:  Author: JackiePLocation: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:49 pm
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Very well done, Lesley. Although the thought of being able to be hurt in dreams is a little unsettling.

JackieP

#12:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:00 pm
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Thank you Lesley.

#13:  Author: SugarLocation: second star to the right! PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:04 pm
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Thanks Lesley! I do love Peter Pan

#14:  Author: RosalinLocation: Swansea PostPosted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:17 pm
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Now that was an odd one. Thanks ADs

#15:  Author: VickLocation: Leeds, Yorkshire PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:26 am
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*Echoes Rosalin*

Thanks ADs

#16:  Author: PaulineSLocation: West Midlands PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:22 pm
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Thanks ADs

#17:  Author: Smile :)Location: Location? What's a location? PostPosted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:42 pm
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Thanks.

#18:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:53 pm
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Thanks, Advent Drabblers. It was great to see Peter Pan involved!

#19:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:17 pm
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Well done Lesley! I'm very impressed you managed to combine those two!
(also impressed by Carolyn and Pat's respective evil streaks)

#20:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:38 pm
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Vikki wrote:
Well done Lesley! I'm very impressed you managed to combine those two!
(also impressed by Carolyn and Pat's respective evil streaks)



Agrees with Vikki


Just how much evil collaberating do you do Carolyn and Pat before handing over to Lesley?

#21:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:40 pm
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We don't. I write and pass to Carolyn. She writes whatever enters her head.

#22:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:43 pm
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Pat wrote:
We don't. I write and pass to Carolyn. She writes whatever enters her head.


reminds self to be nice to Carolyn...



Wink

#23:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:41 pm
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What a combination! Definitely left me wanting more.
Thank you, Advent Drabblers.



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