Writing Prompt 45: The Nightmare

Prompt: January 8- Magic in the Details
"Imagine being inside a scary place. Use specific sensory descriptions of  smells, sounds, images and physical sensations.)

I walked along the cavern wall. My hand never left the rock as the gritty substance scratched my palms and made a buffed scraping sound. I knew what was waiting at the end of the cave, but I tried not to think about it. Letting fear take over would not be wise. I focused instead on the light in the cavern. It was dark, but not dark enough to see the glittering webs that now surrounded me.
Steps. Small steps.
I heard a scuttle in the distance, but I knew that nothing would come near me. Although I was lonely in this cave, I knew I wasn't alone. Every step I took was watched by more eyes than I would dare count.
The weavers, some called them. I focused on facts now. Anything to avoid the stench of rotting flesh and poisonous barbs.
Focus.
Focus.
I stopped. So did the scuttling. The ground was changing around me, but I could not see how flat or smooth the surface was. My eyes, now aware in the darkness, noticed patterns on the walls. Faded, but obvious. Patterns of the weaver, and her story.
More time. I need more time.
But there was no time, even shrouded in fear, my mind could pull the logic that I was not the only one depending on this mission.
Rocks, small rocks.
I slipped but caught myself with a large scrape on my knuckles.
I must do this.
Finally I was there. The scuttling stopped, and I heard large doors swing open. I was expected after all.
I noticed a wave of moving blobs crawl along the ceiling and into the doors.
"My children escorted you here."
The voice was a hum, with a strange slithering sound mixed in.
I knew that I should bow.
"Lady Arachne." I tried to sound normal, but noticed a squeak at the end of my words.
She laughed. A strange sound that buzzed and echoed through the cavern.
"Welcome to my home." Spite echoed in the voice. Spite that I recognized.
"My children will only harm you if I command them."
Something was coming. The doors swung shut behind me and I tried to focus on the dim light, that now grew. I wished and did not wish it would grow brighter and reveal the monstrous creature that addressed me.
"So you are here to see my collection."
I saw the tapestries before I saw Arcahne.
They were beautiful. Spun with a delicacy and detail that I had never seen before. The colors were bright and vibrant with a silky sheen.
"You made all of these?"
My voice sounded more normal as I stared at the extravagant works of art.
"All of them." She replied, and I heard loud taps on the floor in front of me.
"Some of them were made with the help of my children."
Her children I could now see, hanging from webs with eyes staring at me.
A shiver ran through me as the tapping grew closer.
"But you have come for something far more valuable than my work."
The tapping sounded faster.
"Actually I find your work to be beautiful."
The tapping stopped. I took a breath.
I knew that she was still advancing toward me. This time on a web.
Inches from being poisoned, I clenched my fist, and looked my fear straight in the face.
A face that was upside down, twisted and stretched. Her pointed teeth were smiling, in a shape that looked like a frown. Long wiry hair fell from the forehead, pointed like pincers with a large red mark glaring between them. Her barb, poisonous, deadly and terrifying.
"I'm here to see Athena." I said, proud of my words.
"Brave demigod." She taunted, swaying her head back and forth in a mocking way.
Focus.

(Inspired by fear and a chapter in Rick Riordan's Mark of Athena)

The Imagination

There's a place
where stars don't grow old.
The world is bright
and not so cold.
Life and love
are side by side.
People have no reason
to run and hide.
With each shooting star
a wish is made.
Dreams will never
disappear or fade.
The imagination will always be
an artist's humble sanctuary. 

Confronting Pain

I just finished the Kingdom Hearts Re:coded game and there is a very interesting message during the ending portion of the game. Sora is told that he has two choices, to forget everything and throw his hurt away, along with his memories of the past, or to face his hurt and conquer it. Sora struggles with this for a long time. He asks himself how he should react to hurt and he wonders what type of hurt it is. The interesting thing is that Sora chooses to keep his hurt, and learn from it, even when he has the option to throw away, what feels like a void in his heart. This is where Mickey steps in and tells him, that even if his memories are painful, he still treasures them. Mickey also explains that you may forget the identity of someone from the past, but you will never forget them in your heart. Sappy? I don't think so. This makes sense because hurt is forgotten, and it is also not forgotten. The experience is still remembered, but the details are jumbled up in your mind. I was told this weekend that I don't get over pain, and I think that is true. Maybe instead of feeling like I have an option to run away from painful memories, I should confront them within myself and improve my experiences in the future.
The point of this idea that Sora had a choice to let go of hurt, or confront it is a comment on the way people cope with painful situations. In the case of Kingdom Hearts, it is more courageous than running from darkness or allowing it to control you. Confronting pain or darkness is not an easy task, which is the point. In the case of Riku, he had to accept the darkness within himself in order to confront it. Sora has to do this with pain. It is a good lesson. In order to cope with pain, you must accept it, and understand it. Only then can you confront the pain and conquer the experience. Both Sora and Riku learn this lesson with the help of King Mickey, and discover that they are stronger than they thought they were. Their battles and challenges are symbolic of the personal battles and challenges that someone has within. These internal lessons are an important part of pain.

Haley, Dingo and the Thunder Monster

The thunder crashed outside as Haley, a fourteen year old black lab, lifted her head. Not too far from Haley, sat Dingo, a three year old bundle of energy.
"What's that?" Dingo asked while he perked up his ears.
"Thunder." Haley replied with a yawn. It was usually best to take a nap during a thunder storm. Dingo had a different plan. After a good scratch, he wandered around the room, sniffing and listening. Haley sighed. Where did he get that energy?
The humans were out for the day, and Haley had hoped to take a snooze before they returned.
"Aren't you coming?" Dingo asked while he stopped at the door.
"No thanks," Haley replied, "I've done that plenty of times."
Dingo titled his head.
"And?"
"I never found the source of the thunder. Whatever it is, it's not in the house."
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
Haley yawned again, while Dingo walked out the door. He searched upstairs, downstairs and even watched the door, but the thunder monster was nowhere to be found. Once the sound stopped, Dingo wagged his tail and went back to Haley.
“I scared it away!” he proclaimed with pride.
“Nice job” Haley said while she rolled over.
Dingo yawned and stretched, all energy spent.
"Now I'm kind of tired" Dingo said, while Haley closed her eyes.
Both dogs curled up for a nap while the rain pattered against the window.
Finally, after all the excitement, a nice moment of peace and quiet.

Fantasy Fridays 1

The Moon Sands

I came up with the idea for this place when I took a road trip with my mom and watched an entire field covered in snow fly by. It looked like a desert at the time because the sun was setting, and no buildings, hills or mountains could be seen. This scenery reminded me of a story I was working on and I decided to have a desert with pearl white sand surround the main city. It would be called the Moon Sands because the color of the sand would reflect moon light, and the desert would look like the landscape of the moon. The desert was also next to the ocean and stretched out until it came to a forest. The Moon Sands desert is a vast, pearly white landscape that stretches for miles and plays an important role in the folklore of Rothla, the great city surrounded by it.