the-stray-storyteller - Tumblr blog

[the-stray-storyteller]

Find the word

Thanks to my very dear @gracehosborn for the tag!

I am very slowly catching up on these - I have way too many saved

But the good news is my drafts are slowly starting to clear

My words: run, blood, clear, realization

Your words: intense, devote, sign, bare

Tagging @writernopal @writeintrees @ohnomybreadsticks @oh-no-another-idea @the-stray-storyteller @pluppsauthor @orphanheirs @memento-morri-writes @rjcopeseethemald @revenantlore + anyone else who wants to!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

Keep reading for:

Lexi looks for Ash

Meet Wade and Parker

Lexi and Ash discover the gateway

Gwen gets a mini-lesson in Alii powers

Run - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

I gave Carla Baxter a half-smile back, turned around, and headed in the direction she had pointed. As I walked away, I couldn’t help but wonder if she told the truth about Ash’s whereabouts. But what choice did I have? It was the only lead to find Ash. Unless Carla Baxter took Ash herself. But that was a worst-case scenario, and if true, I’d run back and rescue her myself. I reached the forest’s edge, frantically looking around. The brilliant colors that captured my aesthetic attention upon my arrival were now nauseous and overstimulating. I closed my eyes, reaching my hand up to pull and twist my braids. I took a deep breath before opening my eyes. “Ash!” I yelled as I cupped my hands to my mouth. I was met with silence. Obviously, I scolded myself. Why the frick would she be here? The forest was dense and vast—she could theoretically be anywhere. Clues. Maybe there would be a sign of the direction she went. I looked down to see if there were any imprints where she may have stepped. Most of the ground appeared untouched, but my eyes rested on a patch of flattened red ferns a few yards away. I ran toward them, then kept looking at the forest floor. The colorful leaves covering the ground appeared crunched, like someone had staggered through them shortly before I arrived. I followed the path they appeared to make. “Ash!” I called, hoping I was closer. Still, there was nothing.

Blood - from The Secret Portal Part One (Gwen POV)

“Do it!” Parker said to the blond without missing a step. “Man, I don’t—” “You gotta practice, Wade.” Parker reared back his arms over his shoulder before thrusting forward, his arms out and stance strong. A strong wind blew across the room, and I could feel it from where I stood. Wade’s hair blustered around his face, and he held up his arms in a protective “X” in front of his face. He pushed forward against the wind. Once close to Parker, Wade punched the kid in the face, sending Parker over the barricade. I let out a squeak of alarm, bringing my hands up to my mouth as Parker crumpled beside me. As I wondered if I’d have to perform more first aid, and despite the blood on his face, Parker laughed. “Finally,” he said as Wade leapt over the barricade and went to Parker’s side. “Yo, it’s been years and you finally give it your all.” “That wasn't my all,” Wade said, holding his palm over Parker’s face. A white light glowed around his hand. “I’ve tackled people much bigger than your string-bean self to the ground.” “Yeah, but they were wearing football gear.” “Stop talking,” Wade instructed. “You’re gonna mess up the healing.”

Clear - from The Secret Portal Part One (Lexi POV)

“It seems weird,” I said looking at her as I turned around the corner of the school. “Like—ah!” My boot got caught on the grass, causing my feet to slip. I tumbled onto the ground and dropped my violin, the “oof!” that followed indicating Ash tripped over the sturdy case. It was eerily quiet and the smell of the exhaust was gone. I became hyper-aware of the grass I lay in and shot up to a seated position, jumping when I realized nothing was in sight but a dizzyingly-clear horizon. Ash groaned beside me. “Since when does Falcon have grass—” She cut herself off as she pushed herself upright, taking in the sudden new scenery. We sat in the middle of a seemingly endless field. The grass that stretched in each direction appeared freshly mowed, though it lacked the smell that usually came with it. Instead, a chillingly sterile air hit my nose. “Ash,” I asked, low-key freaking out, “where are we?” Ash looked around. “Where did—how did we get here? Where’s the school?” I couldn’t answer. The sun that had been burning in the late afternoon was no longer casting a deathly heat paired with Houston humidity. In fact, looking up, the burning mass seemed to be missing, despite the sky being a soft periwinkle.

Realization - from The Secret Portal Part One (Akash POV)

I turned my head to see Gwen crouching down beside Robbie. “What’re you two doing here?” “Following you,” I admitted. “Do you know what the freak-out is about?” I shook my head. “Probably a Class Four.” Gwen furrowed her eyebrows. “Class Four?” “The rarest powers,” I explained. I gestured to Robbie. “Like energy conversion. Or dimensiokinesis, like your friend Rosalinda.” “Is that a power?” Gwen asked. “It sounds like you smashed a keyboard.” “Dimensio-kinesis,” I repeated slower. “Basically Rosalinda can sense other universes and dimensions and probably cross to them.” Gwen’s eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped in realization. “I think that’s how she managed to get us to Alium! Rose saw a mirage before anyone else, she heard a hum no one else heard!” Gwen smiled. “Oh my gosh, this all makes sense now!” “Hey, will you two please stop jabbering?” Robbie hissed. “They’re talking!”

[the-stray-storyteller]

What do you mean "going through someone's blog without a reblog is rude" Hello??? I'm so confused, how is that rude and why do you care?

1)It keeps this site functional. Reblogs determines what posts get recognised.

From 1): You like my posts but deny to spread them; I have made a secondary profile just to share them. You will probably soon find a post about it.

2)If you reblog you are a lot likely to actually engage with them, you can comment or tag it and that makes me happy

[the-stray-storyteller]

I am in the middle of fucking nowhere. It's pretty as hell

[the-stray-storyteller]

[the-stray-storyteller]

Havenpoint

Warnings : Strong Language

Prev Chap Next Chap First Chap

Taglist : @holdmyteaplease @anonymousfoz(tell me if you want to be added or removed)

______________________________________________________________

Chapter 15 : The Ghost Aidene Rayners

I pushed my lockpicks back into the pocket of my hoodie. I could feel Penelope’s questioning gaze leaving scratch marks across my back. My hand gripped the cold metal tools, taking in a sense of comfort from them. 

“Neat trick, huh?” I quipped.

“Yeah-” she stepped closer to me, “You are pretty good at it.” I could feel her breath on my neck.

I forced out a playful chuckle that fooled even my own ears. 

“A boring day, a couple of youtube videos and a serious online impulse shopping issue.” I lied. 

“Why did you carry it to school?”

“Well to get into some boarding school trouble of course.” The answer was stupid just like the lie I had told Anne on the first day. However, I felt myself winning. The answers I gave weren’t for satisfying  Penelope. She wouldn’t be satisfied by anything but the truth. However, she wouldn’t get anywhere with this conversation and she was realising that. 

I breathed in the damp mouldy air of the corridor. The dust tickled my nose. The warmth in the place was suffocating and heavy. I softened my footsteps, yet still they sounded too loud in here. 

“Are there any rats over here?” Valentina asked, her voice shaking at its glass shattering pitch. 

I felt my mouth stretch to reveal my teeth, smiling into the darkness. I stopped at my spot waiting for Valentina to walk up beside me. When I heard her mutters I leaned towards her ear.

“Rats!” I said in a harsh whisper. Valentina inhaled sharply and a screech gurgled past her lip. I clamped by hand down onto her mouth before the screech could turn into a scream.

“Sorry,” I whispered, still  holding her close to me, “I couldn’t resist.”  I let her go when I was sure she wouldn’t scream.  Valentina said something in a language I did not recognise but none of those words sounded kind. 

“Keep it down if you don’t want to get caught,” Anne chided from ahead. 

“Yeah, someone might rat us out,” Penelope chuckled out.

“Don’t ever make a pun again,” Anne threatened from ahead. 

We mostly walked in silence, occasional shrieks and complaints from Valentina. I looked around for the large windows which were all over the school but they were none over here, or maybe they were just covered.

My body jerked to a stop. My breaths cut short.

I could hear music. I shut out the chatter of the group to listen. Straining my ears to listen to the night. 

The low whistle of the wind which had entered the building somehow. The soft beat of footsteps. Somewhere in the distance there were owls screeching into the dead of night. None of these were the music I could hear. There was a dull merry tune playing on a piano. It was softer than my breath. The sharp and charming sound of the keys crawled over my spine. 

I tried hard to place the composition. It sounded classical. It wasn’t balanced like Mozart’s work but it had elegance. I quickly ruled Beethoven out, the piece wasn’t strong enough and there was no contrast. It couldn’t be Brahms’ either, his music usually sounded nostalgic to me. Stravinsky, Chopin maybe?

The tune was irregular and graceful. It swept across my mind and the more I listened to it the more wrong it sounded. The tunes didn’t fit together properly. It sounded beautifully discordant and twisted. It was trying to force me into a relaxed state. It was like an angel with a wild beast’s eyes. 

It made me nauseous and cold. The world seemed to sway and dim. I felt tears sting my eyes. My breathing turned ragged. The shadows were spinning around me. Bile rose up my throat. A painful sting started to wrap itself around my head. 

“Can you guys hear that?” I asked with great difficulty. It felt like someone had sewed my mouth shut.

“Hear what?” Valentina squeaked.

“The piano.” The sound the moment I said the words. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me past the darkness. My mouth quickly let out a practised laugh. “Must have been in my head.” I hoped my words were true. 

I turned my head around, scanning the pathway behind me with the torch. It was empty. I let out a shuddering breath and continued to follow the group.           

The tune pushed itself onto my mind unauthorised. My mouth hummed the song unintentionally.  I could see Valentina’s face turn to me with confusion, her features harsh front the torch light. 

“What are you singing?” She whispered.

“No idea,” I answered and continued to hum. The tune left a bitter ashen taste in my mouth. I would have to figure out the song later. 

*****

Penelope’s torch light fell on a familiar door.

“This one?” She asked. Anne breathed out a small yes. The door creaked open. Heavy air filled with dust filled my nose and I struggled to keep in a sneeze. Valentina and Anne were coughing harshly as we stepped into the room. I shivered as my arm brushed against a cold metal shelf.

My throat was dry and my mouth felt empty like a rotting skull. A familiar hungry anticipation filled me. It craved and lusted over what was behind that trapdoor. It danced happily with the tune stuck in my head. I left the group behind, barging ahead.

My skin was feverish and heat ran up my cheeks. My mind swirled but my body functioned better than ever. Somewhere in the back of my consciousness I could hear the others calling to me asking me to slow down. I ignored them. 

My racing heart came to a stop. Metal shelves blocked my way. A writhing anger inside me died out reluctantly. I grabbed onto a metal shelf, my body shaking with a sudden fatigue.  

“Aidene, what the fuck?” Anne panted out from behind me. 

“Sorry,” I fidgeted with my fingers, “Got a little bit excited.”

“Is this the place? It doesn’t look the same as before,” Anne mumbled as she ran a hand along the shelf.

“Very sure,” I confirmed, a phantom tug pulling at me.

I heard Penelope’s and Valentina’s soft footsteps as they headed towards us.

“We need to move this shelf.” I motioned the two of them to grab hold of the other side.

“Hadn’t we already moved it? I don’t think anyone comes down here.” I could hear the soft shiver in Anne’s voice. Someone was here. Someone who didn’t want us getting in. Someone who was probably looking for us right now. 

We lifted the shelf up and dragged it away, revealing the trapdoor underneath it. I could hear the phantom tune playing in the back of my mind. I licked my lips nervously. 

Penelope bent down pulling out a set of keys from her pocket. I heard the lock click open and my body relaxed. The hinges let the door open easily without a single wh, which was odd because it looked like it hadn’t been opened for ages. I looked closer to see gleaming metal hinges completely new. 

Penelope let out furious curses. I looked over her shoulder to see what the problem was. I pointed my phone’s torch down to see a gaping black drop which absorbed the light from the torch.  

From its depths I could hear a piano which sounded like a caress of a snake.

[the-stray-storyteller]

𝜗˖ writeblr introduction ｡ɞ

( ˶ᵔ ᵔ) ♡ hello! nice to meet everyone. i used to be fairly active on here before taking a break, but now i'm coming back to promote my upcoming webnovel! i'd love to be mutuals & friends.

my name is qunzheng! i'm sixteen years old and a chinese-american writer. i hope to find many friends of all ages that i can gain experience from.

retail boy — incorporating elements of the myth of bai suzhen, this story surrounds a retail worker named lan feixing and the runaway girl he took in as a sister. when she falls ill, he travels throughout the city to find the woman who claims to cure all sickness, accompanied only by his sister and a mysterious man named vervain.

empty sky's memories (空的回忆) — qi mihao is a formerly fallen heavenly official who's ascended back with no memory of what happened during his mortal life. on a mission he's sent on to accompany his childhood friend & boss, aria, a cultivator named jun lin suddenly appears and claims to be his lover- what ensues is the desperation for old memories, the longing to create new ones, and the questioning of what exactly aria does for her job.

feel free to ask about my works! i love getting asks... even if they aren't about my writing! i also dabble in the occasional poetry.

don't be afraid to dm me or tag me in games! i promise i'm friendly. i don't bite! ah, and please like/repost this! i look forward to meeting everyone! ♪ ◠ ◠ )

[the-stray-storyteller]

Look who is actually getting some writing done.

[the-stray-storyteller]

i love dropping my pen putting my glasses on my desk and rubbing my face like an exhausted divorced academic in the 1980s who is greying and sexily tousled and has been up for hours digging through the yellowed pages of old obscure treatises about etruscan pots

[the-stray-storyteller]

*rubs hands and grabs knife* The time has come. They must die.

[the-stray-storyteller]

So my grandmother is a plant thief.

Its come to the point where we should be roaming around with a sign on our heads saying "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE YOUR PLANTS UNATTENDED IF THEY ARE NOT IN A NURSERY OR HOME UNLESS YOU WANT THEM STOLEN BY MY GRANDMOM"

She goes around places with a plastic bag in her purse. Any time we go outside you will find her pulling stray plants from the soil or cutting off pothos from places and putting them in her bag to take home and grow.

She has no restraint. There is this restaurant we visit quite often and they have these gardens and after we are done eating, she goes to the garden kneels down and starts steeling plants. She usually drags my brother along to help her.

Every time we go to a new place she will look at the indoor plants and see if they are fake or not. If its fake she will pout so bad and I will be delighted that she won't steal it.

Recently she went out on a walk and she found a bunch of potted plants lying around in the corner. There was news that someone moved out and left their plants outside (the latter was a rumor), so she was like 'Its their (the people who moved out) plants, its up for grabs" and we were like "No, we don't know who they belong to just leave them alone and we will buy you new plants."

Within the next five minutes me, my brother, my dad and grandmom are carrying back one pot each with a plant to our house. Those were the plants she found in the corner.

We didn't pay for most of the plants in our home.

[the-stray-storyteller]

Catnip dealer

[the-stray-storyteller]

FUuuuuuuuuuck......I forgot the think I wasn't supposed to forget.

[the-stray-storyteller]

@usernamewastaken bring the spam here i suppose

ZANY AND ANGÉ CAN YOU HEAR ME

[the-stray-storyteller]

Do sharks cuddle?

THEY SURE FUCKIN DO.

many sharks are at least moderately social, and if a specific species of shark has the ability to breathe without actually swimming and tends to have a lot of sharks in a fairly small area, well.

they are just going to Pile. and there is simply nothing you can do about it.

[the-stray-storyteller]

It is really good, its sweet but not too much and they add a little bit of spices and lemon, some vendors even add mint and ginger, and they pour it over ice so its cool. It's a summer treat

Have any of you had sugarcane juice? Like fresh sugarcane juice not the packaged ones you find in the supermarkets.

Because it's really common in my country to find vendors on the streets who juice the sugarcanes right in front of your eyes. And I just want to know if its there in you country too. Just kinda curious.

[the-stray-storyteller]

Have any of you had sugarcane juice? Like fresh sugarcane juice not the packaged ones you find in the supermarkets.

Because it's really common in my country to find vendors on the streets who juice the sugarcanes right in front of your eyes. And I just want to know if its there in you country too. Just kinda curious.

[the-stray-storyteller]

who are you?

call me wizard!

i go by she/her pronouns.

i live in the mariana trench. if you wanna visit pls make sure you have the correct equipment i am not responsible for any harm or injury

this blog is for me to infodump about my interests and talk about my passions and thoughts! dw it doesnt bite :D

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

what things do you like?

dancing with the fae, singing with the sirens, swimming with the ones down below, stargazing with myself, writing about realms beyond, sketching all that i see, summoning those above, coding the divine (HTML, PHP, now learning CSS!)

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

fun facts

im not aesthetic at all im trying so hard to make this look good rn send help

im super girly :D

im not a picky eater, but put figs in front of me and i will explode

fis

i love stuffed toys, figurines, and those of the like!! i still sleep with a plushie akajjshsh (its a whale plushie i love it sm)

i collect stationary. i dont use any of it

im thinking of opening a neocities but i dont know enough CSS to do that hhhh

im in a MASSIVE book slump rn 🙏im trying to get back into it thoo

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

important!

i don't live in the USA nor Europe. my timezone is in IST, so please be patient when you interact with my posts! i may stay up late on weekends tho ;D

i do not tolerate racism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, TERFs, etc. on my blog. if you are an NSFW blog, you will be blocked.

i am a minor. please refrain from sending suggestive/graphic/violent asks.

on the other hand, please feel free to tag me in tag games!!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

some other stuff!

my favorite songs: reincarnation apple by pinnochio-p, non-breath oblige by pinnochio-p, god-ish by pinnochio-p, odo by ado, dramaturgy by eve, konoyo loading... by REOL, no title by REOL, wozwald by nilfruits, CH4NGE by giga-p, soleil soleil by pomme, hole-dwelling by kikuo, matryoshka by hachi

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

my favorite books: the midnight library by matt haig, klara and the sun by kazuo ishiguro, and tons more!

what i'm reading: the hobbit by j.r.r. tolkien!!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

my favorite shows: puella magi madoka magica, sailor moon, arcane, dungeon meshi

indie shows i like: helluva boss, the amazing digital circus, hazbin hotel, port by the sea (pilot stage), lackadaisy (pilot stage), ramshackle (pilot stage)

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

ABOUT MY WIPs!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

beneath the waves, within this soul: book 1 of the Heavenly Tetralogy

The Abyss consumes. It gives no mercy for those damned.

The dark is home for Ourra, a trench-dweller with plans of chaos. Haunted by his mistakes, he yearns to make all well again.

Atticus, a lost soul with nothing to lose, enters the Abyss to save those he loves; for a price, of course.

So, what will it be? Love, or the pain of a man turned evil?

Progress: I'm on the second draft. I'm aiming to finish draft two by the end of this year, and (hopefully) publish it before i graduate school!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

on this sunset shall i sing: book 2 of the Heavenly Tetralogy

Having magic beyond the set boundaries of the realm you live in means high expectations. And when you break those expectations, it isn't pretty.

Now, the Impyreum is stuck in a state of chaos and darkness: who's to blame?! No, no, no, Apollo did not drown the Sun. That's what he said, anyway!

The First Protector sets sail for the seas to search for the missing fragments along with the smartest, dedicated, and the top investigators and strategists. Apollo is invited, and nobody really likes him for a while.

Where's the Sun? Will the light ever come back?

Progress: Nope. Nothing. I haven't even decided the team-

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Dive in!!! It'll be fun!!

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝