Author Archives: Melissa

For a reason they couldn’t quite work out, they awoke with Avery on their mind. She teased their dreams as a fairy, twirling through sky blue waterfalls and pansies, before taking their hand and bringing them into consciousness. When Cameron awoke, they patted their blankets, first for her, then for their Moeder. They found neitherContinue reading “Chapter 8: Lesson in Language”

Cameron crept to the tunnle wall and leaned their ear against the rock. As always, they heard a hum. A magical hum. An “I’m here, just find me” that all gemmes whispered when Cameron neared. Taking out their small pick axe, they chipped away at the softer dirt to gain access to the harder rock.Continue reading “Chapter 7: Friends”

The darkness had stolen away her dogs as well as the Sun. She’d totally forgotten about them. And the time. Was it still even Friday? Ever since the fall, her thoughts and emotions had gotten scrambled, like she’d been walking through a haze until she resurfaced to the surface world. She pushed the boulder backContinue reading “Chapter 6: Reality”

Whatever mood Avery had created with Cameron and his friends died when the woman walked in. She looked like a mom, so nothing like her own mother: wide hips, shoulder-length hair, and a somewhat wrinkled face. She wore a poncho similar to Cameron’s, but around her waist like a skirt, and she wore more gemstonesContinue reading “Chapter 5: The Grandmoeders’ Call”

Cameron tried their hardest not to cough in front of the girl. The chase had left them exhausted. To keep her from noticing and to stop her from crying, they’d given her one of their necklaces to wear. Parting from personal gemmes always stung, but they’d worked their wonderful magic yet again. She’d stop crying.Continue reading “Chapter 4: Moeder Ellinor”

She must’ve fallen into an elaborate medieval reenactment. Somewhere in this open cave she’d find ball gowns and knights clashing swords. She needed to. It was the only explanation for such a place existing. With her leg twinging in pain, she escaped the mud hut and ran for the tunnel where she’d fallen from. FourContinue reading “Chapter 3: The Lake”

Cameron sat stunned in the Main Exit Tunnle. They should’ve never come here. They’d tried to read their fortune before they left, but their gemmes hadn’t warned them that they’d run into trouble, much less an Autrean. Said Autrean continued staring at them, shining that frightful light in their face. She’d finally placed it downContinue reading “Chapter 2: The Autrean”

As Avery hiked up the mountain home, the leaves from yesterday’s storm tripped her up and slammed her into the mud. She reacted fast enough and saved herself from losing a tooth, but the Earth finally ripped up the last pair of clean leggings she owned. At the sound of her fall, her two huskies,Continue reading “Chapter 1: The Arkeh:nen”