Traditional Showcase Writing Competition No. 2 [Voting]

Kitty · Apr 5, 2010

1. Your submission must be your own work.

2. Submissions must be private messaged to me by the due date, or they will be disqualified.

3. Your submission must be related to the theme- if it is a task to include a certain phrase, the phrase must be in there, if you're supposed to write about a certain topic, you must do so, etc.

4. Submissions should be around 1000 words. I won't automatically disqualify you if you go a little over, but try to keep it around there. If there are a lot of submissions, I want everyone to be able to devote enough time to really read all of the entries.

5. Submissions will be posted as they are sent to me. I won't check for grammar or spelling, or anything like that.

6. One entry per person.

7. First place prize for now will be a rep, and having your work placed in the Hall of Fame. First place will also choose the next theme.

8. Keep it PG-13.

---

Since we had a tie, I flipped a coin to choose one of the themes the two winners had suggested. It was the easiest way I could think of to pick one. ^_^

So, the task for this next competition, as chosen by Shadow*91, is to write about something medieval.

In his words, "castles, knights and the like. The theme would simply be anything in the medieval period."

Entries can be submitted over the next TWO weeks, not three as previously. Submissions must be turned into me, via private message, by April 18, 2010, 11:59 pm. Voting will begin April 19.

Comments should be made in the suggestion thread. I will reopen this thread when I am ready to post the entries for voting.

Kitty · Apr 19, 2010

On to the voting...

Entry 1

Tral bobbed and weaved as the throng of people moved along. His breath was coming to him in heavy pants and his legs burned as if they were on fire. The small bundle of food that he had stolen was huddled in his arms, close to his stomach, and anyone who got in his way met the blunt force of his shoulder. It didn’t matter where he hit them so long as they got out of his way.

The city guard wasn’t exactly after him, however the baker’s wife certainly had a mean swing with a rolling pin, and he did not want to be on the receiving end. So he ran. He ran as fast as he had ever run in his whole life. Probably the fastest he would ever run.

His feet slid across the gravel, and his worn cloth shoes caught the tiny bits of rock like a net did fish. He hated being a poor. Stealing for his food, his clothes and even his shelter some days. But he didn’t want to die more. So he stole. If the gods had a problem with the way he wanted to live they could send him to oblivion later. Right now he had to live.

Pushing off on the balls of his feet, the alleyway was a blur. The noise of the crowds on either end of the way deafened his ears to his own foot falls.

From behind him he could hear the huffing voice of the baker’s wife as she yelled, “Get back here you maggot covered filth!”

He didn’t dare look back. Looking back meant fear and he didn’t want to admit he was afraid. So he ran on. Jumping small crates as they presented themselves and even toppled over a few barrels in hopes of slowing the woman down. It didn’t seem to work.

Gritting his teeth, Tral ran up a tower of boxes and jumped onto the low roof of a nearby house. Luckily it was a sturdy building and the roof was well thatched. Turning around he jumped once more, on to the opposite building and ran. A jump again to the building on his right took him away from the main streets and even further away from the crazed woman. Early on in his life he had learned the value of running roofs. They were a place of menace to those walking below, and a high-way for street rats like him.

Having lost the baker’s wife, Tral leapt into a new ally and ignored the stench and filthy water at his feet. The important thing was that he had gotten away with enough food to feed his sister. If only just his sister.

Sagging against wall, he liked his lips and tried to catch his breath before pushing on. His entire body ached and his legs pleaded for mercy. A kind of mercy only met when asleep, or dead. He couldn’t sleep, and the latter choice was out of the question. Before too long, the red-head was back on his feet, ignoring the protest of his body and fueled by the drive to live. Now that he had gotten away he would be free to work his true element.

The crowds.

It didn’t matter what city, town, or even a road way, people would ignore him unless he gave them a reason to notice. Blending in with the menagerie of people was easy enough because of that, and with his short stature no one could spot him quick enough before he saw them.

Oh the advantages of being a kid.

Solemnly, Tral wove his way once more through the stream of people. Being careful to stay away from the edges and even more careful not to bump into others. There was no telling what the actual bums of Ectelo would do to a child with food – just to save themselves.

When he grew up, he would be a knight and make sure to never act like one of them.

As the sun began to sink from its zenith, the short boy found his way to the very edge of Ectelo. The food in his arms would be enough for the day, and only for his sister but so long as she was alive he would wake up tomorrow – starving or not – and make sure she lived.

The small shack of rags they had made was sinking again. What with all of the rain it was no surprise really. Before the night came most of it would be dry, but he knew already that Elyse would be sick come morning. Unless he gave her his shirt. Again.

Before he entered the hut, he stopped and took several deep breaths. He wouldn’t look the greatest but he had to at least show her that he wasn’t tired. That he hadn’t just run the Aervo marathon. “Elyse,” he called out as he dropped low and shuffled in, “I’m back!”

The moment his gray eyes came up from the cold cobble stones, horror washed over him. Inside their small hut was a strange adult with unruly black hair, and a beard as scraggly that came down to his chest. Fierce brown eyes locked with his and a small grin split the man’s grimy face. “How do you do, Tral. My name is Cral. You’re going to be my squire.”
Click to expand...

Kitty · Apr 19, 2010

And our second entry...

Entry 2

Knight's Devotion

I continued wandering aimlessly, all alone
A faint sigh painting a stroke of white
In the ephemeral nature of the changing seasons
Tears overflowed without any reason
"Even now I love you..."

The continually falling sadness changes into pure white snow
Through it all, I raised my head to the sky
Before this body disappears now, if my wish reaches you
Please hold me tight just once more

I cut myself on the suddenly surrendered ring
As our promises to each other were not granted
"Even now I remember..."

The fading memories are too brilliant as always
I wanted to be closer by
We can't meet again but you were always close to hold me up
Just you, don't change yourself

I can't erase those last tears you showed me

Even if I disappear along with this white snow
I want to always bloom in your heart

We held each other close
don't forget that warmth
Even if you love someone else
I'll never let go of the sound of your voice

I want to fall into a deep sleep
The falling sadness changes into pure white snow
Through it all, I raised my head to the sky
Before this body disappears now, if my wish reaches you
Please hold me tight just once more
Click to expand...

VOTING IS NOW OPEN! Votes will be counted on April 25.

Keyblade Master Roxas · Apr 19, 2010

I really like the first entry. To me it had a lot of feeling, and it had a lot of mid evil in it too. It reminded me of the book Pagans Crusade, it made me want to read that book again. I loved this entry.

Beloved · Apr 22, 2010

I enjoyed the first quite a bit myself. xD

Kitty · Apr 22, 2010

I enjoyed both, so, it's hard to pick one. >_<

I'll follow the herd and vote for entry one as well. It made me think of Disney's Aladdin (which is a good thing).

But, I really did like entry two as well.

And while I'm posting, I better see some more votes, or I'm gonna think no one cares and stop bothering with this. <_<

Kitty · Apr 26, 2010

With three votes, entry one by Haresuno is the winner. Congrats!

And thanks to Dark Riku for also competing.

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Traditional Showcase Writing Competition No. 2 [Voting]

Kitty I Survived The BG Massacre Staff Member Administrator

Kitty I Survived The BG Massacre Staff Member Administrator

Kitty I Survived The BG Massacre Staff Member Administrator

Keyblade Master Roxas Shake the Core.

Beloved Azure's Beloved

Kitty I Survived The BG Massacre Staff Member Administrator

Kitty I Survived The BG Massacre Staff Member Administrator

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