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Entry #1 by ShinyYoshi

The sound of gentle waves crashed on the shore of pale sand, making little noise. The only other sound he could hear was the faint chatter of the nearby villagers. He loved sitting at the dock on sunny days when the air was hot but the breeze was sweet and cool on his skin. Summer had always been his favorite season since he could remember. Business was usually booming this time of year and Kapp’n could tell this summer was going to be a busy one. He didn’t mind, of course. His favorite thing in the world was sailing and now that he was getting paid to sail his ship, nothing he could ever imagine would make him happier.

The summer sun beat down unforgivingly and Kapp’n was forced to wipe the sweat that began to form on his forehead. This day seemed hotter than the any other day of this summer so far. He noticed the nearby villagers weren’t as active as they had been the last few days and he watched as smoke billowed in the distance from the rooftops of the beachfront houses. Surely someone was going to want to take a trip today, it was way too hot to stay on land. Who wouldn’t want to sail to the island and spend all day diving in the clear blue waters of the ocean on a day like this? Kapp’n really began to feel the heat as the sun reached the middle of the sky, his body had become drenched in sweat and he hadn’t realized it. Luckily, Kapp’n always packed his cooler with lots of drinks and snacks for when the boat needed to stay at the village’s dock. As he turned to open his cooler, he immediately let out a sigh of agony. The cooler wasn’t there. How could he have been so stupid? Kapp’n recalled waking up late this morning and rushing to his boat to make it to the dock on time while Leilani, his wife, was yelling something after him.

Kapp’n was really kicking himself over this incident, wondering how he was going to survive in this heat, when he heard footsteps in the sand nearby. He quickly turned and was greeted by a silhouette of someone with a large hat on and quickly recognized him or her as someone from the village. The mayor of the village noticed how distressed Kapp’n was about not having anything to drink and shook down a coconut from a nearby tree. Mayor Majora took it upon herself to crack open the fresh coconut and offer it to Kapp’n as a drink. Kapp’n smiled with delight and thanked Majora for her kindness. Before she went back into the village, Majora removed the straw hat from her head and offered it to Kapp’n, insisting he take it because the sun was only going to get hotter throughout the day. Kapp’n thanked her once again for being so kind and offered a free round trip to the island as a token of gratitude. Majora smiled and ran off back to the village leaving footprints in the sand on her way.

The hot summer day continued as any other workday would for Kapp’n, villagers took trips to the island and Kapp’n got to sit inside the cool cabana and visit with his family while the villagers enjoyed some time in paradise. Sailing to and from the island was the best part for Kapp’n. He got to do what he had always loved doing and he got to sing some sea shanties along the way. He knew his voice wasn’t as smooth and appealing as that city slicker, K.K. Slider, but his passengers seemed to really enjoy his songs. He would sing, and villagers would sway back and forth to the music. Sometimes he thought it was just the waves and the motion of the boat making the passengers sway, but even on the calmest of days they still seemed to move with the music.

As the sun set over the village, Kapp’n took in the beautiful view from the dock. The sky was lit up with colors of fiery orange and bright yellow and as time passed, the colors faded into a summery, light purple with deep blues that reminded him of the deep ocean he sailed upon. The view was so breath taking, Kapp’n sat back and drank it all in. He could feel his eyelids getting heavy and a warm, salty breeze gently lulled him into a light sleep.

Booming, quick, thunderous sounds came out of nowhere and Kapp’n was so startled he fell over in his ship as he was awoken. Panic filled his body as he peeked over the edge of his boat to see what was happening. Everything was quiet for a moment, and then the booming sounds were back. Kapp’n let out a sigh of relief, and even felt a little silly when he realized what startled him so badly was the fireworks show the village held every weekend in the summer. He laughed at himself a little and went to take his seat back on the boat when he heard footsteps coming toward the beach. Mayor Majora’s figure was coming into view and she made her way down to the dock. She greeted Kapp’n with a smile and informed him the village was celebrating the wonderful season of summer with fireworks at the plaza. Everyone in the village was already there and she wanted to make sure Kapp’n attended as well. None of the mayors from other villages had ever invited Kapp’n to the local events and he felt a sense of belonging with Majora standing there, asking him to celebrate with the village. Kapp’n cheerfully accepted and followed Majora to the plaza.

Kapp’n was greeted with smiles and hugs from all the villagers and even Majora’s assistant, Isabelle, whom he had never met before. There was plenty of food and drinks for everyone there and Kapp’n felt so at home with these villagers who he was sure only knew him as “the guy who drives the boat”. He watched as fireworks lit up the night sky and he even sang some songs for the villagers, who in turn sang along with him.

The night came to an end and all the villagers returned to their homes. Before she turned in for the night, Mayor Majora thanked Kapp’n for being such a great captain and ferrying the villagers to and from the island. Kapp’n felt like he really belonged in this village, like he was a part of the community, and it was a feeling that was new to him. He made his way back to his boat and prepared to set sail for his home until the next day. As he sailed across the dark water, Kapp’n thought of a new song to sing. The stars shone bright and reflected off the sea like twinkling lights and Kapp’n sung his heart out with his new favorite song.

“This world spins ‘round, but I be here to stay. And I got dreams I’ll follow some fine day.”

Entry #1 by ShinyYoshi

Entry #2 by Murray

Ninarjah was engrossed in the machine. Back and forth her father ran the bow; he could have been playing symphonies for all she cared. With each movement the string would spin the drill below, summoning an ever growing phantom of smoke from the tinder. It was rhythmic. Yet as Ninarjah lay there in a trance, a shiver traced her body, starting at her toes. As the trees above began to sway the leaves on the ground, too, began to tumble. Ninarjah’s father looked up in panic as the fire pit gave shelter to the natural tinder.
“Clear these leaves,” he said, “we don’t want gili lady here.”

Somewhere far away, the earth was drying out. One by one the desert blooms would shrivel into nothing, their colour drifting off into the sun. Even the trees would hunch over. Once baring grand trunks, they became twigs; pins piercing the red sand. The new season swept over the landscape, sucking every bit of life it could as it did. Yet there was one tree that stood out, the great gili tree. Even though it stood hundreds of metres tall with leaves as sparse as stars, it was still no match. With each convulsion it would constrict around its own emptiness. Choking on the lack of water it would strangle itself until it was thin and brittle like charcoal. The sun was relentless. Soon enough the heat in the air was so immense that the bark began to peel off, revealing a pale, fleshy skin. It was alive. Birthed from the dying tree was a beautiful woman with wispy hair and a dress made of soot. Her lip quivered. For when she looked over the land all she could see was death.

“But she found a single flower didn't she?” Ninarjah said to her father who was sitting adjacently.
“It took her fifty days,” he replied, “and some versions of the story say that she was driven to madness after being alone for so long.”

Sheltered by a fallen eucalyptus branch the wild flower stood in solitude, just like her. The sudden burst of colour in the desolate landscape sent tears gushing down her face. Yet when she went to wipe them, there were none there. The sun had taken all that was beautiful in this world, even her tears, but it had not taken her. So what was she then but an old twig from a dead tree? But she couldn't resist. Reaching forward to touch the flower her head started to spin. She had collided with a wave of nausea as if she were a mosquito on a windscreen. As her fingers edged closer her stomach started to convulse. Her throat, now a cauldron of bubbling liquid began to spill has she leant closer. And she touched it. In what seemed like an instant each delicate petal folded in on itself as the plant shrivelled into a dusty brown nothing. Swallowing the vomit she swiped at the branch almost uncontrollably. “Ugly! It’s all ugly!” she screamed at the earth. But a new odour was surging through the air. Turning around she saw the branch that she had just attacked, alight. Laughing at the sudden power she now possessed she clawed at the earth sending wave after wave of inferno across the land. Licking forwards, the flames consumed all matter in its path until only an ocean of soot remained. “Where is the beauty in this world?” She asked herself, heaving whilst she held one hand against her stomach.

“So she burned everything because she couldn't find what she wanted?” Ninarjah said.
“Right.” Her father replied.
“But why didn't she just wait until the spring?”
“Because she was sick.”
“Like mother?”
“Right, like mother.”

The fire was kind of beautiful, she had to admit. But like the flower, it was doomed a short life. Even the trees, as small as they may have been, had their own sort of beauty. But now there was nothing. There was nothing to burn. She needed to see the flames again. The flames of the deepest red tipped in the most lustrous gold. They were alive.

For days upon days she walked towards the horizon, setting fire to every twig and leaf she could find, all to catch one more glimpse of the beautiful flames. But her morning sickness was getting worse. She would frequently have to stop, and would often spend the whole day walking in circles. Things became harder to burn, too. After spending hours holding out her hands to burn a newly grown shrub she had begun to sweat. She hadn't sweat before. Her skin was drying up. Holding one hand over her stomach as if it needed protection, she stood under the sun. She felt her body begin to tighten. She was strangled by her own skin.

“For nine months she waited in that spot for summer to come again. She saw the rain flood the desert and new plants grow from nothing. And she grew too, you know.”
As Ninarjah listened to her father for the rest of the night, she watched the fire. She watched how the smoke drifted towards the stars, twisting and dancing as it did. She watched each flame peck at its wooden banquet, until nothing remained.

Entry #2 by Murray

Entry #3 by mdchan

SNAP!

A short boy with brown hair and matching eyes, no older than eleven, jerked a moment from the sudden crackle of the campfire and fell off of the log he was seated on to land on his back.

There was a chuckle from his left. "Zoned out again, Danny?"

Danny rubbed his head and sat up with a sheepish grin. "Eh...it's getting late, Ben. We've already had dinner and roasted marshmallows." He dusted off his khaki cargo shorts and red t-shirt, then sat back on the log.

Ben was average height for twelve, with sandy blond hair and blue eyes, and wore a pair of gray shorts and a navy blue tee. "Oh, come on...we didn't even get to tell a single scary story, yet!"

Danny shrugged. "That's Ruben's job...where'd he go, anyway?"

Ben rolled his eyes. "He said he was asking our parents some questions, remember? He's at the next site over."
Danny squinted, but it was difficult to see past their own tents in the dark. So, he just shrugged. "Ruben's still better at scary stories. Oh, well!"

"You just don't want to hear any." Ben grinned.

Danny stuck his tongue out in return. Scary stories really weren't his thing, so he figured this was as good a time as any to try to convince Ben to retreat to their tents for the night...

"I suppose I'll have to tell one, then." Ben mused.

"You stink at scary stories. Yours don't even scare me," Danny reminded the boy.

Ben pouted and crossed his arms. "Then..."

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice interrupted them. "Sorry...I couldn't help but overhear that you're looking for someone to tell a scary story. Mind if I have a go at it?"

Danny yelped and, for the second time that night, fell off his log.

Ben jumped a bit, as he hadn't heard the stranger approach, but looked up.

A boy stood there in a typical Scout uniform. He appeared to be somewhere around their age, and his blue eyes shone as they reflected the firelight while a hat covered his black hair.

Ben squinted. "Troop '31608'? Aren't troop names like...only two numbers or something?"

The newcomer shrugged. "I suppose we're an exception. We're camped out just past that row of trees over there in the other clearing, and I heard your conversation while using the latrine."

"I don't see a problem. If your troop is fine with it, of course..." Ben trailed off.

"They wouldn't mind." The boy sat quietly on the unoccupied log as Danny sat back down on his own.

The boy leaned his elbows on his knees, then laced his fingers together and smirked over them as his tone took on a light yet eerie note. "What better for a campside story than the tale of the Doomed Troop?"

Danny subtly moved over to sit next to Ben. "Erm...aren't you in the Scouts, too?"

The newcomer smirked. "All troops hear this story. Are you ready?"

Ben nodded eagerly, while Danny swallowed nervously but also bobbed his head.

"Not too long ago, on this very soil, a newly established troop was on their way to a campsite just north of this one."

Ben and Danny nodded, as they were aware of this particular campsite having another camping ground higher up in the hills which had been closed off for quite some time.

"Before they could reach the location, the bus they were on blew a tire. With no spare, the troop leader decided that he and the six members of the troop would hike the rest of the distance to the wooded camping spot."

Danny shivered.

"The troop wasn't unused to the activity, as many of them were fit enough to hike up a hill for an hour or two despite the growing darkness. Oh, there were complaints, and as the light waned, some tripped over tree roots or rocks. However, they finally made it up to the open space amongst the trees."

Danny let out a sigh of relief, while Ben remained silent.

"As they began to set their packs down and prepare their tents, the leader took a headcount...and came up with one short."

The two boys froze.

"The trail had been fairly straight-forward, so where had Derek gone? The leader didn't know, but he wasn't about to leave a troop member stranded in the woods while the sun had nearly set. Modern technology being what it is, he decided to call down to the ranger station in the cabin area...only to find that he had no signal."

Danny paled, and even Ben's eyes widened. After all, their cellphones worked...

"Leader Arnold was a fresh leader, only a few years older than the troop he was commanding. He ordered everyone to finish setting up while he went in search of Derek."

The two boys hung on every word.

"The sun finished going down, and the troop had set up their tents and began to figure out how to divvy the chores to get dinner going. Yet, neither Derek nor Arnold had returned. The night brought noises which caused the troop to jump. Strange chirping, owl calls which sounded twisted somehow, and one of the boys swore he heard the howl of a wolf."

The fire snapped again, which caused Danny to nearly fall off his log again.

"Nobody really knew quite what to do, except to keep doing as Arnold instructed and hope that they returned. They decided that, if they got a fire going, it would solve the problem of dinner and a beacon to the location in the dark. Lucas stated he would go get more firewood, and took John with him. The rest of the troop were too shaken to tell them that they didn't have to go far."

Danny whimpered.

Ben's eyes were wide. "Did...did they...?"

A nod. "An hour went by. Aiden and Ryan had managed to start a fire, while Blake kept an eye on the time. The strange noises around them seemed to multiply, and once in a while, the troop swore they heard unearthly howls. Every whisper of the wind, or crack of a twig in the forest made them jump."

The fire chose that moment to make a SNAP noise again, which caused Danny to whimper.

"It was nearing ten at night. None of the missing troop members had returned, despite flashlights and the fire as a beacon. Were they being hunted? Picked off one by one? Lucas and John had even gone together, and vanished together. Or perhaps...something more sinister."

Danny whimpered again. Even Ben was slightly pale as he asked what happened next.

"Well, the three newly minted troop members couldn't recall a single rule at that point, as they were overwhelmed by fear. The smart thing probably would have been to stick together, but there were too many questions. It was then that Blake decided they should look for their lost companions. Aiden protested, but Ryan agreed. Blake and Ryan got their flashlights and went off into the woods."

Ben and Danny huddled together.

"Aiden stayed by the fire, and armed himself with a large stick. It felt as if the entire woods had come alive, and was about to bear down on him or produce a monster which would drag him off to his fellow troop members.Dinner was forgotten as he constantly looked around with every howl, every hoot, and every movement from the underbrush. Neither friend nor monster jumped out at him as the time ticked away."

The fire crackled again.

"Aiden felt like they were being picked off, and he would be next since he was all alone. He swore he saw the shadows move more than once...creature, real or imaginary, on the boarder of the campsite ready to jump out at him. When one shadow moved unnaturally and made a strange squeaking noise, he ran.

Fueled by fear, he barreled through the underbrush. He could almost feel the eyes on him, watching, waiting...could hear the sounds of the forest coming alive to go after him as they had his friends. Suddenly, the ground shifted under him, and he became aware of a strange sensation where it felt like his stomach had shifted, then something solid...and then nothing."

Danny opened his mouth, then closed it. When he tried again, only a strangled squeak came out which sounded like "monster?".

Ben swallowed. "Was...was it...?"

"The troop, nor even the rangers, knew that the mountain top was rich with limestone...a 'karst' region. Though it's safe down here, up on the mountaintop all those years ago, the very ground was made of natural landmines called 'sinkholes'. By the time someone investigated, it was too late for the troop members who managed to survive the fall.

So it's said that the ghosts of the troop members often come down from the mountain to warn other troops and campers not to attempt to enter the closed off mountain, lest they fall prey to the natural monster of the mountain."

Ben and Danny were too stunned to say anything as the boy stood up.

"Well...my friends will be wondering where I am. I do love telling that story. Enjoy the rest of your camping."

Ben stammered out a 'thank you', while Danny just nodded.

The boy walked away, though Ben and Danny nearly screamed when there was the crunch of feet on grass.

Ruben, tall for his age of fourteen with copper-blond hair and green eyes, stared at his two brothers in surprise. "What was the screaming for?"

"Uh..." Danny flushed.

Ben fidgeted. "Scary story."

Ruben raised an eyebrow as he came closer. "You two?"

"No...it was someone from a Scout troop. He heard us talking about not telling scary stories yet, and......what?" Ben trailed off when he saw the odd, confused expression on Ruben's face.

"A Scout troop?"

"Yea..." Ben started

"I remember cause he had a really weird number! Troop 31608!" Danny added.

Ben nodded. "They're camping just east of us, past the line of trees by the latrine."

Ruben gave Ben a strange look again.

"What?" Ben demanded.

"Guys...the only thing past that line of trees is an area for campervans. No Scout troop would use a campervan."

For a moment, the two younger boys stared at their brother blankly.

Then, looks of dawning horror began to fill the faces of the two youngest.

Ruben looked thoughtful. "31608, huh? Interesting. You know, if you punch those numbers into a calculator and flip it upside down, it spells 'bogie'."

The screams of Ben and Danny could probably be heard all the way to the top of the limestone mountain, where the restless soul of Aiden had come down from to share the tale of his doomed troop.

Entry #3 by mdchan

Entry #4 by Chipped-Teacup

A group of teenagers sat around a campfire, on one of those hazy summer evenings. Their whole town was practically a forest, so it wasn't difficult to set up a fire and a cozy atmosphere. They weren't the rowdy kind of teenagers you see in reality TV shows and films. No, they were the toasty-marshmallow and giggles kind.

For the most part anyway.

There were six of them. They all worked and lived in the same town: some had been riding the town rails since 2002, others since 2013. But they all shared the same earnest hearts and loyalty, and enjoyed spending time together despite their different personalities.

"Isn't this a beautiful night? I'm so glad that we picked the meteor shower to camp under," the blonde girl babbled. Her locks were bunched together with pink ribbons, with little bells to keep it all intact. As she moved to grab another marshmallow, she jingled.

The scruffiest member of the group smirked, grabbing the easel and paints he had bought earlier. He then started to sketch the sky. "Perfect for a picture, cousin. I can see it now. Starry Night, Van Gogh, three thousand bells. The villagers will lap it up."

After scanning the picture briefly, the red-eyed boy Rover piped up, "But that looks nothing like Starry Night. I've travelled loads, and believe you me I've seen way better counterfeits than that, Redd."

"The villagers aren't going to know that," he shrugged, continuing to work on his masterpiece. "At least I'm doing something creative, unlike Tom over there."

Sure enough, Tom was fiddling with his phone. When he realised all of his friends were staring at him pointedly, he awkwardly explained, "I left my nephews in charge of the family shop you see..."

"I can feel your stress energy from all the way over here." Katrina glanced at Tom from underneath her eyelashes. The boys all grinned hazily. They hadn't got over her recent transformation yet. "Tell him, Izzy."

The pink-ribboned blonde, Isabelle, huffed a little. She didn't like being told what to do by anyone but the mayor of their town. "Tom, we all came out here to have a good time, okay?" She slightly smiled at him. "I'm sure the boys will be fine."

"...yes, yes," Tom murmured. He tucked his phone into his trouser pocket, and turned towards them all. "So what are we all going to be up to this summer, hm?"

Isabelle tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Busy, busy. The mayor is going on holiday, so she has extended my internship. I have to make sure that the bug-off goes off without a hitch, as well as the fireworks." She beamed brightly. Then, sparked by an idea, she swivelled towards the pale boy in the corner. He was nodding his head, strumming his guitar gently. "K.K.? I could really use your DJing skills for all that."

The guitarist stopped abruptly. "You know I dislike DJing, Izzy. I can't afford my rent without it, that's the only reason I do it. Those fat cats don't understand how difficult it is for us students to survive."

A melancholy feeling swept across the group. It was an unspoken fact in the group how lucky Isabelle, Rover and Nook were. When the town was all but tumbleweeds, Tom's family had moved in and started to control the local economy with their degree-level minds. Rover was one of the few villagers that didn't suffer from travel sickness. This, along with his charisma, allowed him to become a permanent tour guide. Even Isabelle had simply bowled over the Town Hall executives, practically having the internship given to her on a golden platter.

Katrina, Redd and K.K. though?... They were free spirits. But free spirits don't tend to do well in the real world.

"Yes, well, bad times are only times that are bad. You'll be a full-time musician soon enough," Katrina purred. "Now this negativity is really throwing off my senses. Could you play us a little camping tune?"

K.K. started to say something in retort, but he stopped as he saw Katrina looking at him pleadingly. Although she acted like a cool cat twenty four seven, he knew she was a sweetie really. So he began to play one of his own songs, K.K. Forest, humming and clicking merrily. The other five all knew this song, and they soon joined in. Rifts in the group never lasted too long.

Briefly exiting his groove, K.K. opened his eyes to watch his friends. His heart sunk. Katrina was swaying her hips, and her waist was gently being grasped by Redd. After strumming the final chords, K.K. muttered, "I'm feeling tired, you guys."

"Ho ho, cousin," Redd grinned. "The fun is only just about to start." He hopped over to his backpack and slid out a bottle of white chocolate and raspberry vodka. "Bought it from the market this morning."

Rover inspected it, his red eyes scanning the label intensely. He knew what was the best of the best, including with alcohol. The perks of being a tour guide. "Not too shabby, Redd. Are we going to be glugging it from the bottle or have you blessed us with shot glasses?"

"I think it'll make a nice little truth or dare bottle. A glug for the spinners. You guys in?"

"Of course."

"Sure!"

"Sounds fun."

"Yes, yes."

Isabelle bit her nails. "I...I guess..."

They all gathered around in a circle, just on the edge of the campfire. Rover handed the bottle back to Redd, who placed it in the middle precisely. "Alrighty. I'll spin first, and then we'll each take a turn clockwise to spin. Whoever spins gets to set the dare or truth for who it lands on. So it'll go me, Rover, K.K., Tom, Kat and then Izzy." With that, he sent the bottle whirring.

After a dizzying few moments, it landed on Tom. He chuckled, took the bottle into his hands, and unscrewed the top. When he started to 'drink' it, Isabelle noticed he stuck his tongue in the neck of the bottle so he didn't have to taste it all. She made a mental note to do the same.

"Dear Tom. Truth or dare?"

Tom knew how mischievous Redd was. He had nothing to hide, so a truth would have made sense. But something about the night and the excitement around the circle made him say, "Dare."

Without hesitation Redd said, "Chuck your wallet and phone into that swamp over there." He indicated with his thumb.

A sickly-white colour crossed Tom's face. "But my wallet has my credit card in there, and thousands of bells. Plus I have an iPhone 6S, and Timmy and Tommy might get out of control if I can't badger them."

"First off, iPhones are ****. Second off, live a little." Redd winked. "Be the rebel your parents never let you be."

Something about that sentence rung true with Nook. All his life he had been told he had to grab bells. Whether this was through fair or illegal means, his parents didn't really care. Bells were the centre of his life. To throw them away...sounded sort of fun. He stood up, scrounging in his pockets for his phone and wallet. Once they had surfaced, with all his might he threw them. Just like that they were gone. Tom Nook, the most promising entrepreneur in town, collapsed into a heap of childlike giggles. The rest of the group joined in.

It was Rover's turn next, and with a flick of his wrist, the bottle soon landed on Isabelle. When she opened the bottle, she was suddenly torn in two. She had initially wanted to stay sober, but just by watching Tom she knew what difference a leap of faith could make. So she tilted it and swallowed. It tasted amazing. "Dare!"

Rover laughed. "Eager beaver. Hmmm. I dare you to dance."

"That's not much of a dare," Katrina snorted. "Anyone can dance."

"True, but I haven't seen Izzy dance. Like ever. She's always too busy and uptight. Hit us with a tune, K.K.?"

Despite being a bit reluctant to play again after what happened with Katrina and Redd, K.K. did what his good friend asked. The melody to K.K. Ragtime soon echoed across the forest, and Isabelle stood up shakily. After side-stepping awkwardly for a few moments, Katrina grabbed her hands and danced with her. The rest of the group clapped them along as they swayed and shimmied. Isabelle's shoulders lost their tension, and she jigged carelessly. Once the song finished, they both collapsed onto the floor, exhausted.

The next three turns turned the game of Truth Or Dare into simply Dares. These involved skinny dipping, ant-eating and a ten-minute-non-stop guitar session. The last turn eventually arrived, and it was Isabelle's turn. She had had a few more cheeky swigs, and her cheeks were flushed. But she still had a sound mind as she thought through the dare for K.K.. She still felt bad about the incident earlier, and wanted to make it up to him. "I dare you to kiss Katrina," she stated matter-of-factly.
K.K. and Katrina both showed flecks of nervousness briefly, and Isabelle smiled. It just confirmed that K.K. liked Katrina, and she was happy Kat liked him back.

As K.K. pulled himself together, Katrina nimbly made her way across the circle. She then sat herself opposite him, and leaned forward. He cupped her face as if it were china, and met her lips. The group held their breath, expecting it to be a brief peck and a few laughs. But K.K. soon had his hands entangled in her hair, and Katrina was in his lap.

"Get a room!" Redd laughed, chucking debris from the ground at them. The others followed suit, giggling hysterically.

After a few final moments, the two pulled away from each other. Katrina did not return to her place in the circle, though. She stayed put, snugly wrapped in K.K..

His eyes glowed, in a way none of the group had ever seen before. "I am genuinely super tired now. Shall we all call it a night?"

They all murmured and nodded, grabbing their respective sleeping bag packs and rolling them out. Before he climbed into his, Tom Nook said, "You know, I am very happy we did this. I have learnt so much about myself, and all of you tonight. Thank you."

"Agreed," Redd chipped in. "We should do this every summer. Whether Nook becomes a hotshot, or Isabelle becomes mayor, or Rover finds somewhere perfect on his travels, or K.K. starts a worldwide tour, or Kat's fortunes actually start coming true... Ow!" He rubbed his head from where Katrina's heel had hit him. "Or even if I become a proper artist! You guys in?"

"Of course."

"Sure!"

"Sounds fun."

"Yes, yes."

Isabelle yawned, smiling. "I'll put it in my diary."

Entry #4 by Chipped-Teacup

Entry #5 by Lucanosa

Trea was walking down the beach, looking at the cascading ocean; it’s sapphire waves flowing over each other, like an ethereal chalice filled with ambrosia. A salty scent fills the air as she looks up from the sand at the setting sun. The blazing disk of intense fire was fusing with the horizon, with its burning orange turning into a deep sanguine red. Time seemed to freeze, as the sun did not move, and it stayed the same temperature: undeniably hot. It was unbearably hot even though it should have cooled off by now.

Trea walked from the beach to her small beach hut. The minuscule island she lived on was remote, but she didn’t mind it. She lived there all her life, with her parents and a few others in their own huts. They all slowly died from disease, malnutrition, lack of civilization, but she seemed to not mind it. She was made for that kind of life. As the only inhabitant that remained, she found ways to stifle her boredom, such as shaking trees, catching fish and bugs, decorating her hut, and gardening the rare and unique varieties of flora the isle possessed. It was a quiet life, a lonesome life, a life like that of the sun. She would rise each morning, with a new feeling of freshness, slowly glimmer across the afternoon, heating up her day, and at dusk she would slowly settle, letting darkness take over. Her parents used to called her “The Sun Goddess”, with her long bright hair that would blind anyone who saw it in the sun, along with her cheery and sunny attitude.

After she steps inside her hut, she flops onto her makeshift palm bed, and falls asleep, thinking of what it would be like to be the sun. Rising into the sky, giving brightness and light to all across the earth. Then, falling back down, letting the moon take over to bring darkness, knowing she made million of plants, animals, and people happy and healthy with the intense sunlight.

She jerked up in bed, hearing a thump outside of her hut and on the shore. After quickly donning her favorite spear with a sun carved on its end, she runs outside and raises it in a threatening demeanor. Outside, stepping onto the sand from the boat, is an Indian man, wearing a brightly coloured turban, adorned with a rainbow feather. Trea lowers her spear, and raises her eyebrows at this new sight. She’s never had a visitor on the island, let alone someone who clearly doesn’t look like he was from around here.

The man begins, with a spicy authentic accent, “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you know where your parents are?”

Trea responds, a trilled Caribbean voice slowly ate away by the salt, “Yes, I’m fine. All is well. May I ask what you have come here for?”

“I have come here seeking the great Summer-Stone, all alone as my shipmates died from starvation.” Trea then notices his skinny stature, along with an apparent appetite. “By the way, do you have any extra food, maybe coconuts?”

Trea sighs and nods, leading him to her hut. As he walks in, he glares around, half-astonished, half-asleep. Within her hut, were many pieces of makeshift furniture, including her palm-leaf bed, a table, chair, and nightstand made of dried palm leaves and wood, and a little clay bowl sitting on the table filled with coconut shavings, next to a couple freshly picked coconuts as well. He glares over at the food and looks inquisitively, and she nods. As he devours the food with a ravenous attitude, she looks out, and sees the sun, half-way up the sky. She goes back in and uncovers her empty windowsill, and lets the pure beams of aether light flow into her home. The man looks back, startled at the light, and returns to his feast.

“I have errands I must do, please stay inside until I return,” she asks. The man turns around and nods, and then returns to his food. Trea goes outside, seeking the warmth and happiness of the sun; oddly she’s found that as of late, she cannot stand being cooped up in her home, so many a day she sits outside, staring at the folding ocean waves, letting the summer warmth give her hair a glimmer, enjoying the blissfulness of the moment.

After a short while, she hears a bang in her home, and looks behind to see the man running outside with her prized possession: her spear with the sun carving on its end. With a gasp, she gets up and runs to him, letting the summer breeze glide her to the thief. After easily surpassing him, she snakes the spear from him, and presses it against his cotton tunic. Seeing himself wedged between a half-dead palm tree and the spear he’s been searching for, he gives up, and plays a ruse.

“Please! Don’t hurt me! I was simply admiring it, and wanted to see it in the sunlight!”, he begs. Trea shakes her head, golden hair flipping back and forth, “You came to this island to try to find the Summer-Stone, and realized my spear is the key to it.” He gives her a startled look, as she sees through his ruse. “When my parents handed down me the spear, they said I was to protect it with my life, and to allow no one, no matter what, to ever use it to unlock and see the Summer-Stone for the sake of their very being. My great-great-great-great grandfather died from opening the secret chamber on the far side of the island and looking at it. For the sake of your life, I expect you to not follow in his foot steps.” She lowers the spears, sharply grabbing him by his wrist, and starts to drag him back onto the beach. Once they get to his boat, she lets go and throws him to the ground.

“Leave the island now! I want to never see you again!” she yells. The man, unbeaten, gets up, and realizes that this is his final chance to obtain the Summer-Stone. He reaches out and takes the spear from her, and makes off again into the bushy jungle terrain on the island. She sighs looking at her feet. Since he won’t give up so easily, she’s gonna have to capture him and put him in a jungle-wood cage.

She runs into the deep jungle, noticing the dew drops falling, cascading off of leaves and onto the earthy soil. Bushes filled with multicolored vibrant fruits let off a buzz as the insects in them scatter and scuttle away upon her approaching. The sun is halfway set, still giving brief light within the deep trees. Trea looks up, to see the sun, in its pristine glory, giving light across the horizon. Like the sun, she must not give up when darkness attempts to succeed it; her heart beats faster and faster, like a lion about to attack its prey. She feels the immensity of the moment. The man reaches the tiny cavern, where the Summer-Stone is sealed by ancient druids’ fire and light magic. At the end of the small tunnel is a giant stone with three sun glyphs drawn in charcoal on it, each successive sun smaller than the other, drawn within themselves. In the center, is the third and smallest sun. He turns the spear around to the dull end, with the sun carving on it, and matches it up to a similar looking sun on the stone. Just as he is about to press it into the stone, Trea comes into the entrance of the cave.

“Stop! You don’t know what you’re doing! Stop before you hurt yourself!” Trea yells. But it’s too late. He already pressed the butt of the spear into the tiny glyph. The man steps back as the sun glyphs slowly glow to the brightness of a lifetime of summer sunlight. The man, blinded by the rays, falls to his knees as he grimaces in pain. Within seconds his body evaporates into ashes as the blinding light reaches the outside. Trea turns around, covering her eyes. She peeps open one eye and in the corner she sees the sun, setting in the distance, filling the ultramarine sky with rosy hues. As the light inside the cavern fades, she lowers her hands from her face, and sees something amazing at the end. In place of the stone with the glyphs carved in it, is a tiny cobblestone pedestal. And resting on it is a stone that makes one think it is the pure definition of summer. It’s perfectly round and spherical, and glows a constant white-yellow, bright enough to make you think you were staring at the sun, but not as so strong as to blind you. As Trea slowly creeps up to it, she starts to feel warm and happy. When she gets to it and picks it up, she for once in her life starts to feel like a true Sun Goddess.

Entry #5 by Lucanosa

Entry #6 by LaBelleFleur

It was tradition for the graduate class of Middleton High School to break into the town’s public pool on the hottest day of the summer, and this year was no different.

Anna was not a party person. Crowds? No thanks. Drunken crowds of people she sort-of knew? Even worse. The only reason she had agreed to go was so her best friend Casey would get off her back about it. The girl was relentless when she wanted something, and she had wanted Anna to go, if only so the entire graduating class could be together one last time. Casey was a sucker for sentimental junk like that. So here she was, towel in hand, walking the streets of Middleton at 12:30 in the morning, about to commit a B&E with fifty-odd other students.

Whispered giggles echoed through the calm night as tipsy students headed towards the Middleton Public Pool, lugging coolers full of ‘juice’ and inflatable rafts. The boldest of the group were already climbing over the fence, ready to pick the lock for the rest of the teens looking on from below. Trailing behind, Anna watched the faces of her classmates. They were all smiling, happy, excited. Wasn’t anyone afraid they were going to get caught? As if reading her mind, Casey grabbed her sleeve.

“Just try to relax, Anna, seriously. We’re not going to get caught! You know all of the teachers know this happens every year, and nobody ever tries to stop it. It’s tradition! I bet they all did it too. So have fun!” Without waiting for a response, Casey took off sprinting towards the gate. Anna let out one last sigh before giving chase.

Anna was still worried. There was a first time for everything, and if they were going to be caught, with her luck this would be the year it would happen. Anna wasn’t about to forfeit her future for a pool party she didn’t even want to be at. And yet, here she was. Too late to back out now that everyone had seen her. She wasn’t about to leave her classmates with the impression she was a flake.

The Middleton Public Pool was the pride of the tiny town. Spanning half a football field, with bridges, diving boards & slides, there was no better place to cool off in the summer months. Nestled in the middle of lush Abbey Park, it was also totally isolated, making it the perfect place to hold a party. The whispering turned to shouting, whooping & splashing as she drew near, tugging on the shoulder straps of her one-piece. One more night, and she’d be done with high school forever.

By the time Anna caught up to Casey, she had already shed her clothes and grabbed a drink from one of the many coolers lying around. Once again, Casey echoed her thoughts.

“Come on, slowpoke. One more night and you’re free to do whatever you want with your life sans high school friends.” Handing her drink to Anna, she ran through the now-open gate, diving gracefully into the pool to join the swarm of students dancing to some song with a booming base.

Anna took a deep breath. Everything was going to be just fine. She stuck the can in Casey’s sneaker, stripped down to her bathing suit, stepped through the gate, and jumped.

Eyes closed, completely submerged, Anna took a minute to absorb the muffled thundering music and the sensation of dozens of bodies creating slow-motion waves underwater before breaking the surface. Floating away from the crowd, Anna saw a few of her friends and started swimming towards them. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be so bad after all.

She spent a somewhat enjoyable hour chatting with her friends & floating about on pool noodles. The pool was spacious, so they weren’t crowded; it was only the nagging worry of being caught that prevented her from having fun. With a quick goodbye to her friends, she got out of the pool. Maybe some air and a drink would help calm her nerves. Searching through the coolers, she found a pop and wandered over to an empty corner in front of the changing rooms. She’d only been there a few minutes when Randy approached her.

“What’s up?” He asked. She shrugged. “Can I sit with you for a bit?” She gave him a one-over. He didn’t seem that drunk, and he didn’t seem to be trying to hit on her. She gave a small nod, and he took a seat beside her.

Randy was the guy you pictured the head cheerleader dating. He was athletic, handsome & popular. He’d been in a few of her classes, and they’d talked occasionally, but they weren’t exactly friends.

“Having fun?” He asked. She shrugged again, sipping her pop. ‘Fun’ seemed a bit too extreme for the emotions she was feeling. “I noticed you before the party, you know. You looked… uneasy.”

“I wasn’t… I mean…” Anna faded out as she attempted to save face, failing miserably. “I just hate parties.”

“I know what you mean.” Randy said, leaning back against the wall. “Crystal loves parties, but I just feel weird and uncomfortable, y’know?” Crystal was Randy’s girlfriend. Not the head cheerleader, but pretty & popular, as you’d expect. “She’s an extrovert, I’m an introvert. But I try to go with the flow, yeah?” Anna nodded once more. “I get the feeling that’s not the only thing bothering you, though.”

How could he tell? She barely knew him. But she wasn’t exactly hiding her anxiety all that well. “I just don’t want tonight to ruin everything I’ve worked for, that’s all.”

He looked at her for a long moment, then started to laugh. Maybe he was more intoxicated than she’d thought at first glance. “So you’re a worrywart, then.” She started to protest, but she’d barely opened her mouth before he interrupted, waving his hands as he spoke. “Anna, the future hasn’t even started yet. This is still high school. Do you think the graduating class has been able to break into the pool every year without anybody getting suspicious? It’s just another game, a controlled event. Like everything has been in our lives up until now. If you can’t take a risk even when there’s a safety net below you, what future is there to protect?”

She pulled her knees up to her chest. “So you’re a risk-taker, then. You and I just have different perspectives. To me, if I take a risk and fail, I could lose it all. At least this way, even if my future isn’t quite as exciting, it still exists, no?”

“To me, that’s not an existence worth living, but that’s just my two cents. We can agree to disagree.” He turned to look at the crowd still dancing away, Crystal in the middle of it dancing with her equally pretty & popular friends.

“I bet I can predict your life right now. University, job, marriage, kids, retirement, death. Not bad things, but where’s the adventure? Where’s travelling, meeting new people, experiencing different ways of life? You don’t just learn at university, you know. You’re at a turning point in your life, Anna! Make it count.”

OK, he was definitely drunk. Anna was saved from responding by Casey flopping from the pool in front of her.

“You ready to go, Anna? I promised you I’d only make you stay for a couple of hours, and I’m keeping my word!” She stood up, saying a quick goodbye to Randy before leaving.

She pondered his words while they got dressed outside the gate. “That’s not an existence worth living.” Was it really that bad to be cautious, to not take risks, to always play it safe? Was she missing out? Was she going to miss out her entire life? But she was only seventeen. She had lots of time to explore… but what if time wasn’t the enemy?

She didn’t know if she could change who she was, but she could certainly try to be a bit more daring… right?

Casey turned to face her. “Ready to go?”

Anna smiled, then did a cannonball into the pool, clothes and all.

Entry #6 by LaBelleFleur

Entry #7 by Kendal

The Zipper. Every summer, this and other amusement park rides would arrive at the park, just in time to celebrate the town's anniversary. The midway was crowded with people, the scent of roasted corn and deep-fried dough filled the air, the Ferris wheel climbed high above the treetops, but it was the Zipper that claimed the main attraction. The tall metal arm stretched fifty feet up into the air, decorated with bright colors and flashing lights. It spun clockwise, than counterclockwise, with twelve open-fenced but claustrophobic cages rotating around the length of its arm. Each cage spun about freely on its own axis, allowing particularly daring occupants to shake it and flip even more. You could go upside-down twenty or more times in the longest two minutes of your life. It was a dreadfully magnificent machine, and now only a flimsy chain stood between me and it.

My sister would have laughed at my fear. This was her favorite ride after all. According to her, she's been on it more times than she's seen her favorite movie, and she could recite the script to that. I could always hear my sister's laughter even over the roar of the machinery and the screams of the other riders. She'd ride the Zipper twice in a row, grab a sugary elephant's ear, scarf it down, then ride it again without throwing up. But this was the last time she could ride the Zipper. In the fall, she would be going off to college, and she would officially become a no-nonsense no-fun grown-up. Granted, she and I were never really close. We were five years apart, and she was far too busy doing things like camping and sports and playing with her friends. And me? I was the annoying little brother, following her around like a lost puppy dog, seeking attention and wagging my tail if she gave it. When she gave me her hat, the one she had gotten from the college when she was accepted, it became my lucky item. I wore it everywhere. It helped me ace my exams, it even helped me win a raffle at school, and now? Now that I was tall enough and had my lucky hat, I was going to do something I had never done before. I was going to ride the Zipper.

I stood by the sign, as if to ensure myself that I was indeed tall enough to ride and risk my life. My hesitation drew the wrong kind of attention.

"You're in the wrong line, retard," came a voice from behind me. Derek Stolarski, flanked by his buddies, Brian and Alex. The little errant curl in his otherwise perfectly coiffed hair swung arrogantly past his forehead as he tossed his head back. "The kiddie rides are back that way." This earned snickers from his companions. I just rolled my eyes and turned back toward the ride, apparently the wrong reaction. Suddenly it got brighter, the air whistling about my hair. My hat! Derek held it up, grinning widely as I attempted to snatch it back.

"Hey, give it back, that's mine!"

"You've been wearing that stupid hat since Christmas. It probably stinks, just like you!"

"Just give it back, that's my lucky hat! I need it to-"

"Need it for what, huh? If it's so lucky, then I may as well keep it." Derek was about to pull it tight about his ears when he hesitated, a dark look entering his expression. "Tell you what: if you do go on the Zipper, then you can have your precious little hat back. Or are you too chicken?"

"He's too chicken," echoed Brian. "We all know about the Zipper kid. You know, the guy who died on it." Before I could tell him otherwise, that it sounded like some dumb urban legend, he launched heartily into the tale. "They say the door didn't get locked tight enough. Higher and higher, faster and faster, around and around and around, and suddenly WHAM!" The loud clap he made with his meaty fists made all of us jump. "The door opened wide and he flew out at the very top! Right over the park, landing on Main Street. You can even still see the bloodstain if you look hard enough."

"Ha! I bet that's exactly what's gonna happen to you. We'll look for where you go splat so we can sell tickets," snickered Alex.

"So, do you really want your lucky hat back, or are you too chicken to ride the Zipper?" Derek concluded the dare, grinning maliciously.

Coincidence. That's all it was, coincidence that I was attempting to psyche myself up into even getting into line for the same daredevil stunt that now they were daring me to ride. My chance for survival without my lucky hat, though? Zero, I realized with dismay. It was just a dumb story. That's all. Just a dumb story made up by that dumb-

"You getting on or what, kid?" the ride operator asked, jolting me out of my panicked stream of thought. "Come on, we've got people waitin' here." With an ominous creak of protest from the hinges, the door to the cage swung open freely. I gulped, struggling to find words to reply. Why wouldn't my feet move? My shoes felt like as if Derek had filled them with cement, just to laugh at my reaction. Suddenly a familiar voice spoke up behind me.

"Come on, let's go," my sister said, and my head spun about to catch that infamous grin. As I opened my mouth to protest, to explain my situation, to beg for forgiveness, and plea for escape, she just shook her head.

"I know."

That's all she needed to say. I exhaled, not realizing until then I had been holding my breath. We stepped into the cage, and the door slammed into place, the barely cushioned bar held tight against our waists. I stared longingly outside to freedom, then glared at Derek and his cronies and stuck my tongue out. My little act of defiance didn't escape the notice of the Zipper. An angry hiss escaped from above, then suddenly the motors rumbled into life and the seat lurched, haltingly spinning up to accept its next cage full of victims. Any sense of bravado was overwhelmed by the fear that threatened to bubble up from the pit of my stomach.

Then I felt my sister's hand brushed against my white knuckles, slowly extracting my fingers from its death grip around the handlebar. She interlocked her warm hand in mine, then offered me a sheepish grin.

"This thing still gets to me too," she admitted, the shadows of the fence bars failing to hide her embarrassed blush. Wait, had she actually admitted to being afraid? She had been riding the Zipper, conquering it, laughing at it since she was my age. How could she be afraid?

And yet, as silly as it sounded, it made me feel better. Even she was still a bit afraid of this carnival ride. And maybe it was okay that I was afraid too. Maybe I didn't need my lucky hat after all. Maybe I just needed my lucky sister. As she smiled at me, I finally managed to return the gesture.

She and I were both going to laugh at the Zipper.

Entry #7 by Kendal

Entry #8 by Skyfall

The little boy ran through the woods. Where is the perfect stick? The sounds of adults calling out his name were far, far away, and becoming more and more distant, but that did not bother him. He knew his mommy and daddy well, they always end his fun. Not this time!

He loved sticks. When you find the perfect one, not too tall, not too thin or thick, there was something very satisfactory about them. You can swing it and pretend it’s a bat. You can hit the ground with it and pretend it’s hammer. You can drill the dirt with it and pretend it’s a jackhammer. They are so cool… and there were so many here! What kind of awesome place is this. He was determined not to grab just any one, but only the PERFECT one.

Ah, there it is! That’s a good one. Happiness flooded his entire body. His face broke out into a giant grin pushing out his chubby cheeks, his eyes sparkled and he felt a soft giggle escaping his chest. Now, to show it to mommy. Because all good things must be shown off to her.

Mommy? Mommy? Hey, where did she go? Wait a minute, where am I? The little boy looked around, suddenly nothing looked familiar. There was just quiet, punctuated by birds chirping and squirrels running through the branches above.

He felt his lower lip stick out and quiver. He was definitely not a baby, only babies cry. But he felt his chest tighten and breathing becoming labored.

There you are! How many times did I tell you, no running away from me! He looked up and saw his mommy towered over him. He studied her face. Definitely a bit mad. Brows were drawn tight, but not that mad though, if he continued to look worried, there will be no consequences…

Look at the big stick! I found it, it’s mine! With a heavy sigh, his mommy took his hand. The little boy held her hand and walked back to the clearing. She was murmuring the whole time. Something about how if we were cavemen, this kind of stunt would have gotten him killed. How back in the day, running away from mommy would mean a tiger would come and eat him. Blah, blah, blah. Same thing she always talks about. Safety. Lame.

Once they reached the clearing, the sun was suddenly very bright. The hills went on and on forever, and the wind was blowing in his face. The sky was so blue, and clear, it looked like an unreal color in his crayon box. And there was daddy. Also frowning. Also murmuring something about danger. Something about how running away was bad. It all just became part of the background noise, of wind, birds, and crickets.

Time to eat! If there was something the little boy enjoyed more than sticks, it was eating. Especially outside! You can make a big mess and your mommy never gets mad. And everything tasted better after a hike!

The little boy looked up at the tall trees, and the wind shaking the leaves all around. It sure made him sleepy, but he was determined to stay awake. Napping is lame! You miss out on everything!

He looked at his mommy. Hmm. Still not smiling, murmuring about how she needed a leash, make sure this one doesn’t get away from her on hikes.

He looked over to the field of tiny flowers next to the picnic table. Daisy puffs! Those are pretty. His teacher likes those and so do girls at preschool. They’re always doing something stupid like picking them and putting them in their hair. Or on their tea tables.

He gingerly made his way down from the bench and picked one. Here mommy, daisy puff! For you mommy. His mommy look the flower from his muddy hands and finally, there was a smile. Thank you sweetie, is this for me? Everything seemed all better now.

The world was swirling now and the little boy felt his eyes roll back. He hated naps, but it was really hard to fight them. He couldn’t figure out quite how it happened, but he felt his head lean against the cushy part of his car seat.

As the car rolled and turned down a twisty road, he looked out and saw trees upon trees and sunlight coming through the sunroof. The air smelled sweet and fresh at the same time.

He heard the murmur of mommy and daddy speaking to each other. He couldn’t make out the words, but it comforting. His mommy then turned to him and said, feeling sleepy? No. The little boy felt defiant, even through the muddled sleepiness that enveloped him. Well, try to get some sleep. Are you thirsty? No. Hungry? No. Do you need anything else?

Anything else? The little boy puzzled over the question. What else could be wanted or needed? It was a perfect summer’s day.

Entry #8 by Skyfall

Entry #9 by Trickilicky

It was high summer in the land of Freisa, and for weeks a fierce sunshine had fallen over the Eastern Valley. The parched hills were alive with the sound of basking dragons, huffing and puffing as they fought over prime sun-bathing spots. Skinny-dipping elves frolicked in the rocky river that ran down the mountainside, wending its way quickly toward the open sea where mermaids would then take over frolicking duties. This coastline was home to a handful of port towns, the two most notable being Nopehaven and Merriton. Summertime was a very different affair in each town, despite being a stones throw from each other (and that was literal if you happened to be an ogre with a good arm).

Nopehaven was the larger of the two, but it didn’t see much in the way of seasonal visitors, even at this time of year when the summer sun lit up the surrounding hillsides beautifully, and troll maulings were at an all-time low due to their UV intolerance. The lack of vacationers was partly down to the nature of Nopehaven’s imports, which were magical items and ingredients that served the nearby Institute of Witch Doctory and General Magicine. It was also due to the high stabbing rate, and general “mob-rule” approach to most problem-solving. Down at the docks, great cases of weird and wonderful stuff were carried from cargo ships every week by tattooed pirates and surly dockhands. Large wooden boxes were stacked up in the harbor with things like ‘Albino Bat Wings’, ‘Leprechaun Repellent’, and ‘Various Tentacles’ printed on their sides. These would then be taken by cart to the Institute, local apothecaries with standing orders, and a few of the dodgier restaurants. Summertime was particularly busy down at the harbor. This was because at the end of spring, thousands of elusive lagoonstar jellyfish floated to the surface of a bay in a remote island some 2000 leagues away. There they mated, in a very boring and unromantic fashion, after which they all kicked the bucket and the local sea turtles had a whopping great feast. Interestingly, langoonstar jellyfish have amazing regenerative properties, and are highly sought-after in the magicine trade. For that reason, every year some of the Nopehaven pirates would sail to the island and fish out as many poor, dead jellyfish as they could fit into their barrels, kegs, and occasionally cannons if they had run out of room elsewhere (in fact this had actually proved useful on several occasions when they had ran out of cannon balls). Once back in Nopehaven, the jellyfish would be sold to the highest bidders, and the pirates would split the profit with the town council, who funded the voyage. That was about as civil as business deals got in Nopehaven, and even then a few people would often get inexplicably maimed during the proceedings. But it was the best income the town earned all year, and the locals eagerly awaited the return of the pirates, and their slimey summer shipment.

While all of that may actually sound quite interesting, worthy even of a day trip on the coach if you were feeling brave, ten miles down the road in the picturesque seaside town of Merriton, tanned sailors with sparkling smiles and tailored uniforms unloaded crates of Juvenile Rainbow Unicorns, Nymph Trees, and Honey-Owl Eggs. Merriton was home to the “Marvellous Magical Menagerie”, and bad alliteration aside, it was a very popular wildlife park for exotic and enchanted animals. Apparently, tourists preferred to spend their summer going on pegasi rides and feeding jackalopes, than with grumpy pirates and crates of jellyfish guts. Aside from the wildlife park, the doily-covered tea shops, and the quaint waterfront hotels, another popular Merriton site which had holiday-makers flocking in each summer, was its promenade. Boasting hourly Punch and Judy shows, ice-cream vendors every few feet, pixies drawing caricatures, and souvenir stands selling hats and t-shirts which said things like “I had a merri time in Merriton!”, it was the perfect place for families to end their day after watching the sea-serpent show at the zoo. Nopehaven’s pier on the other hand, was stacked haphazardly with leaking crates, most of which oozed/reeked/screamed/gave off sparks/or all of the above. There were no gift stores, playgrounds, or cafes to be seen in Nopehaven, and the only thing that came close to a tourist attraction was a rock that was shaped a-bit-like-a-dog, which stood in a field that grew medicinal stinging nettles.

It was no surprise why Merriton was such a big hit with tourists every summer. Coaches rolled in daily, full of wealthy visitors all eager to take in the sights and sounds of the charming town, and Merriton flourished every holiday season. It was also no surprise why on every roadmap in Freisa there was a large red skull and crossbones over the place where Nopehaven should be. But despite their many differences, both towns were happy with their lot in life. Until now. For after many years of unchanging and predictable summers, which bought smiling faces to one town and various body parts to the other, this year everything was about to go up in smoke. Literally.

This particular summer, as mentioned before, was a scorcher. For weeks the sun had beat relentlessly down upon the valley, and despite the usual frivolity that came with eating ice-creams on the beach, dropping them, and then getting chased by wasp faeries, even the tourists were beginning to wilt. For the first time in years, the wildlife park wasn’t packed with jostling visitors all trying to catch the Phoenix display, and it had been said more than once that the zoo was looking a little tired. Mayor Bunter was worried. He was a short, plump, and often snooty fellow, but he was also an animal-lover, and was well aware that the zoo relied heavily on tourists to keep it running. To make matters worse, his assistant had recently informed him that over in Nopehaven there was a surprise summer event planned. Mayor Bunter had sprayed his morning coffee everywhere when he heard that news. “Since when do the ruffians over there throw events?! My God, you’ll be telling me they’ve built an opera house next! What is it, a mud pie eating contest? An ogre-wrestling match? Mark my words whatever it is, it’s a scam!”
But unfortunately for the Mayor, the summer event was the real deal, without a pie or ogre in sight. Somehow, the Nopehaveners had got their hands on an incredibly rare pyre wyrm egg, and were throwing a Fire Festival on the night it was due to hatch, which they calculated to be in three nights time. Pyre wyrms were a type of small, wingless dragon with beautiful golden-red scales, and could roast you alive in 10 seconds flat. In traditional times when an egg was found, a Fire Festival was thrown to celebrate. Pyre wyrms were considered an omen of prosperity, despite the large number of forest fires they started. They were thought to be extinct nowadays, but the Nopehaven pirates had found this egg during one of their jellyfish runs. Their Captain, Fage, had recently been elected as a town elder, and had been working hard to turn around Nopehaven’s reputation. The langoonstar jellyfish were becoming scarce and profits had been down considerably over the last few of summers. It was with a very heavy heart that Nopehaven Town Council had decided to go down the tourism route. Well it was either that or they’d all have to go out and get real jobs, so tourism had won out. Fortunately, they had had a good start when the egg was discovered, and once rough plans were made, notices announcing the festival were put up all over the surrounding neighbourhoods. They read:

EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Nopehaven Fire Festival - see an AMAZING pyre wyrm egg hatch LIVE!
Visit the rock shaped-a bit-like-a-dog! Fun for all the family!
Nopehaven town council will not be responsible for any injuries that you may sustain whilst visiting.

The signs had sent tongues wagging all over the place. It wasn’t just the general interest in watching a mythical fire-breathing creature hatch, it was a kind of morbid curiosity to discover what the new and improved Nopehaven had to offer. Unfortunately though, whilst Captain Fage was excellent at all things pirate-related, he was pretty clueless at civic duties and had no idea what sort of entertainment the public liked. He suspected that most people outside of Nopehaven wouldn’t enjoy goblin boxing or sponsored knife fights. Another nagging concern was the wyrm itself. No-one in town knew much about the creature other than the basics, and Fage wasn’t sure how easy it would be to control a baby dragon. As a hatchling it would be about the size of kitten, which would be manageable for one night surely. After that, he reasoned, they could probably just flush it down the toilet.
Over in Merriton, Mayor Bunter and the tourist board had come to much the same conclusion about Fage’s event planning skills, and were eager to offer their support to Nopehaven, in exchange for a cut of the profits and their town names sharing the spotlight. The director of the wildlife park was also keen to make sure that the wyrm was cared for properly. If Merriton were allowed to keep the wyrm at their park, not only would it be given a better quality of life, its popularity would then ensure the funds needed to update the zoo and keep things running smoothly. They also suspected that the Nopehaveners would try to flush it down the toilet once the festival was over. An emergency meeting between Bunter and Fage was called, and after much chest-puffing, terms were agreed and Merriton prepared to bring supplies over to Nopehaven and do the catering and PR. In return, they would be getting a percentage of the credit and earnings. Neither party was particularly happy about the deal of course, especially Fage, but the alternative was to allow a large crowd of tourists near an unsupervised fire-breathing monster, and considering the goal of the festival was to make money from them and not charcoal, working together seemed the better option.

After an awkward first day and a few non-fatal scuffles, the evening of the Fire Festival came quickly with little drama. Rock Dog field had been harvested, and paper lanterns decorated the trees. Merriton’s chefs had provided a decent barbecue selection, cockatrice drumsticks being the speciality. Games had been played and prizes won, and now there was a hushed calm as the crowds gathered around the blazing bonfire. The egg, sitting comfortably near the edge of the flames, had pipped earlier on. Cracks were webbed over the spotted brown surface, and pieces of shell were starting to fall away as the wyrm wriggled around inside. On the sidelines, park keepers wearing flame-retardant overalls were waiting excitedly, and visitors leaned forward to watch as a scaly head began to emerge. Five minutes later, a squawking wet thing was flapping around on the ground beside the bonfire, and a keeper gently picked it up. The party murmured a collective “awwwww” as it hiccuped a few sparks and took in its new surroundings. Bunter and Fage stepped forward and thanked the crowd for coming, allowing them all a good long look before the creature was taken to its new home, and the Festival came to an end. The evening was deemed a huge success by all, especially as no-one had been accidentally set alight, which was a miracle in itself. The Fire Festival went on to become an famous annual event, and consequently both towns thrived, as did the wyrm, who turned into a much-loved celebrity. So summers in the valley did change, but sometimes in life all it takes is a spark to create something better, even if that spark comes from a fire-breathing dragon.

Entry #9 by Trickilicky

Entry #10 by Oblivia

That summer began like any other. The morning dew shone just a bit brighter, the air had a mild sweetness to it that wasn't present the previous day, and the whole forest had this sort of ethereal glow that only happened after the changing of seasons. Things were exactly as she knew them to be; exactly as they had been for as long as she could remember, yet still she knew. This summer was going to be different, and all she knew was going to change. But for now, all was as expected, and there was comfort in that.

She knew not from where she came, nor how the forest had come to claim her. She didn't mind, for this was her place in the world as she knew it. While her existence was one of complete and utter solitude, it was a peaceful and idyllic one. She had never minded being alone; on the contrary, she found it to suit her rather well. There were times when she longed for even a skeletal memory of her past, as she knew there had to have been life before the forest, but she had long since accepted the fact that memories were a luxury she simply wasn't meant to have. While her past was long forgotten, seemingly erased from her conscious mind, her dreams occasionally awarded her a foggy glimpse of her future. Her dreams of late had taken on a darker, more ominous aesthetic, and that troubled her. She had dreamt of this summer, the summer that would change everything and take her away from the forest - her home, her place in the universe. Although wary of what was to come, she pulled herself out of her dwelling and breathed in a deep lungful of summer air.

The sun was warm on her face; a comforting heat that chased away the lingering nighttime chill. She felt herself relax as she took in her surroundings, reveling in the familiarity of the clearing. Everything seemed to be in its proper place, and the entire forest was aglow with life. Tall grasses danced in the fragrant wind, tiny insects buzzed happily as they pollinated the newly blossomed flowers, and the fungi that dotted the ancient trees were alight with a pink-orange glow. She took a few moments to revel in the beauty of her home, and then she was off - making her way toward the sparkling creek that ran down the middle of the forest. She absentmindedly grabbed a handful of wildflowers as she crossed through the field, bringing them to her face and inhaling deeply, savoring the scent of pure summer. The creek was a crisp cerulean blue, reflecting the sunlight in abstract waves. Cupping the cool water in her hands, she splashed her face and neck with refreshing glimmers of liquid, dampening her hair and skin. As she made her way back towards her clearing, she stopped to climb what had become her favorite tree; the one place she felt the most comfortable. With a trunk as thick as any she'd seen and ancient branches that meandered in all directions, it had become a sort of beacon to her; its wood worn smooth from her frequent visits. As she settled into the highest branches, she wove blossoms of honeysuckle and wild violets into the front of her damp hair, marveling at the way the summer had breathed life into all that surrounded her. She allowed herself the reprieve of a daydream, and before she knew it, dusk had nearly settled upon the forest, breaking her from her reverie. She headed back to her dwelling, thankful for the beauty and perfection of the first summer day, and she was entirely at peace in that moment. As expected, the moon was beautiful; resembling a blue mote of flame against the pure black sky, and she sighed contentedly as she let sleep take her.

Days turned to weeks before she knew it, yet all seemed calm. There was no obvious sign of the darkness of which she had dreamt; nothing to suggest that this summer would be unlike any other. She began to wonder if the subconscious imagery that had plagued her was nothing more than meaningless images, brought on by irrational fears of all that remained unknown. Yet still, the forest began to tell a much different tale as the days progressed. The birdsongs that she knew as a constant comfort became strained; less melodic than the calls she knew so well. The trees themselves seemed to whisper an omniscient warning with every rustle of their branches, and the hummingbirds and butterflies that would always flock to her, trusting her so implicitly as to sip sweet nectar from flowers held in outstretched hands, now fled when they sensed her presence. The forest felt lonely for the first time that she could remember, and nothing, not even days spent high in the branches of her favorite tree, seemed to fill this new and unfamiliar void. She wasn't accustomed to feeling afraid, and yet she was. There was a stirring in the air; change was becoming more and more imminent, and the cataclysm that had plagued her dreams was growing closer with each passing day. The summer was soon to end, as all things inevitably do.

She felt a deep chill in the air when she awoke this day, and she knew as certain as anything that summer would be gone on the morrow. The air around her felt charged and smelled of ozone, as though an angry and tumultuous storm was on the horizon. As she exited her dwelling, she was startled to see that the forest was cloaked in an ethereal darkness, rather than the golden pink of a late summer sunrise. There was a violent wind stirring, and phantom voices cried out to her in words she couldn't understand. Fear threatened to overtake her in that moment, yet a force stronger than her hesitation beckoned her forward. Her feet acting seemingly of their own accord, she made her way through the thick of the forest until she reached the small clearing where her favorite tree stood, a place that was as familiar to her as her own voice. Where her tree should have been, there was now a pool of obsidian water, lit by tiny flecks of rainbow phosphorescence. Glancing into its depths, she was struck by the realization that she no longer felt any sense of fear - only a burning curiosity. After only a moment of hesitation, she held her breath and slipped her body into the pool, letting the water pull her under.

As she was pulled into the depths of the oddly enchanting pool, she realized that she had lost all sense of direction and purpose; she was helpless as she flailed her limbs in a futile attempt to gain purchase under the black water. She closed her eyes as sheer terror threatened to overtake her, and it was in that moment that she was struck by an eerie sense of calm and lucidity. She began to hear voices; familiar voices, and they were the voices that she didn't know she had missed until this moment. As she slowly opened her eyes, she realized all at once that she was no longer in the pool, but standing on a warm, grassy knoll with a slight breeze tickling her skin, and two very familiar people standing in front of her. She knew these people: the woman with the warm, inviting face and the man with his kind eyes and open arms, arms she remembered jumping into during younger years long forgotten. A force stronger than anything she had ever known compelled her to jump into those arms once again, and she felt as though she had finally come home. She was back where she belonged at long last; she was filled with a sense of comfort and love, and that was all that mattered. All was well.

Entry #10 by Oblivia