I have some IRL no context quotes, and I want y'all to make context for them. you can do any number of them, I'm just looking to see what y'all think -Sometimes people need to be stabbed -oh no, I made her think too hard -c o m e c l o s e r -they're talking pigs I think they could eat you -I don't think i'd fit -don't ask the dead people! -ohph, you dropped the cow

Prev. chapter “Esben! Where is Esben?” Artham thought as the castle came into view. He slowed to a jog as he rounded the wall and froze. Three ships floated on the water, waves lapping against their sides. One ship was departing, and it seemed that someone was looking back at the Isle—at him. Another boat approached, but he only cared about the one docked nearby. A limp body was bound in ropes, while creatures stood guard over it. Artham slowed down slightly, careful not to draw too much attention. He stepped out with his sword drawn, expecting them to charge. One of them called out instead. “Throne Warden Wingfeather,” they shouted, “Your king has been taken. Come with us peacefully, and there will be less suffering. Fight us, and you'll face ten times worse.” They lifted the chained person's head from the ground, their face toward the castle. Artham didn't look at their faces; he focused on the person's hand, where doodles were faintly visible beneath dirt and blood. He took a deep breath, lowering his sword to his side. He kept his head high, though he stumbled. Before he stepped onto the dock, he thrust his sword into the ground, the Warden’s final stand. He stood as they bound his hands. They were tighter than he thought necessary, but at least they were scared. Artham reminded himself of his vows; to protect the king, putting his brother's safety before his own. He focused on his breathing as the boat left the dock, not even a glance when Esben woke. ___________________________________________________ Esben opened his eyes, feeling the boat rocking beneath him. Rain poured down around him, but he couldn’t move his hands. The only thing he could see through the flickering light of what appeared to be a fire was Artham's dark hair. How is there a fire on a boat, it's pouring rain, and Artham is doing nothing about it? He thought until he realized where he was and struggled against the bonds. “Esben,” Artham hissed, “Esben, stop fighting!” Esben realized his brother had yet to look at him but at the driver. He stopped struggling against his ropes and strained to see the person steering. -I don't remember their capture in cannon, so is this good or does it actually tell us?

-I actually really like this part, it was pretty fun to write. -I think something may be . . . out of cannon? but I couldn't find anything wrong throughout the book (1st) Previous chapter I glance out the window to make sure the other three are far enough away, “Aunt Nia, when I’m done helping Mr. Oscar, can I stop by Papa’s?” “Make sure he doesn’t see it,” she tells me, glancing at my arm. “Is there a better way to hide it than pulling my sleeve down?” “I’ll see if I can find one while you’re gone.” I give her a hug, grab my bag, and head out. Going out the back door, I walk just inside the woods. I pause for a moment and watch my cousins chasing each other around. Janner, even after nine years, still seems shocked how fast Leeli is. I guess it’s because he never managed more than a few steps the couple times he's tried with her crutch. I adjust my bag and go a little deeper into the trees. It’s your-no it’s not-but you-he doesn’t-but you knew-I was five-it doesn’t change anything-yes it does-nope-yes-you knew better-so did he-you’re blaming him? I pause, halfway between town and home. I want to close my eyes, but it only makes it worse. Instead, I lace my fingers behind my head and press the heel of my hand behind my ears. I pull my hands out and apart, forgetting the tips were sharp. “Ow,” I mutter, not really feeling it. I’ve scratched myself too many times to be bothered by it anymore. I wonder if it bothers Papa? I glance at my hands and continue on the path. There’s a little blood, but it usually scabs over pretty quickly. I hear the bell as I open the door to Oscar’s, but don’t pause this time. I weave my  way back to his desk and piles of books across the floor. “Hello, Maddie,” He greets. “Hello, Oscar.” I respond. I smile and he hands me the list of expected books. One of them catches my eye. “The journal of Bonifer Squoon?” I manage to keep the bitterness out of my voice. “Ah, yes. There is to be one crate from . . . “ he glances around, “Across the sea.” “I’ve read Pembrick’s Creaturepedia. I tink Think would like that one.” “They’re supposed to arrive the day after the Festival. Would all three of you be available?” “Yes sir. Well, we should be. I’ll have to check with Mama.” “Read off the titles and we’ll figure out where they go.” “Ridgerunner Rhyme: Poetry of the Mountains” “Ah, Zouzab has been expecting that one. Once he finishes, shall it go in ‘Poetries Across Aerwiar?’” “Seems like a good fit. Nasal Dysfunction in the Woes of Shreve?” “‘Noses, Eyes, and Other Body Parts?”’ I continue reading out books from the page and we work through them until the sun sits at midday. “Mr. Oscar, Mama wants me home not too long after lunch and I hope to go somewhere else before the cottage,” He waves a hand in dismissal and I head to the door. Luckily, I only get lost once. Finding Peet is easy. Even after years, people still watch him like a street performer. I follow the sound of laughter to the side of the jail. I lean against the wall, closing my eyes. When the people leave, I walk up to him, opening my bag. I pull out the knitted socks with a smile at the obvious improvements to previous ones. “Hello Mr. Peet. I made you some more socks. They’re a little thinner since it’s getting warmer.” He doesn’t say anything. He carefully takes them from my hands and nods. He turns to Glipwood Forest and runs into the trees. I want to follow him. I want to talk to him like a daughter should. I climb most of the way down the old tree. I swing my legs over the branch, only a few feet above Janner’s head. I let go and fall on top of him, careful to watch my head. “AA–” His yell is cut short. I roll off him, me and Tink laughing.

So I kinda have writers block for both stories . . . I know what has to happen in Singing Stones and what I want to happen in Warden's Daughter (Lia trying to have a conversation with Peet). But I'm not sure if I just lost motivation at the moment, forgot how to write, life's too busy, or I'm just full blown stuck. If y'all have any ideas on where to go or how to-brain lag- um, write it or whatever, please tell me. (I need a better starting point than just before we get a story) I mean, unless Warden's daughter skips to the Dragon Day Festival and I can use the book more, my brain needs help braining. And it definitely needs some assistance in Singing Stones because I'm trying to do it how Esben saw it and would rather not go to Artham or someone else's perspective. (well, maybe Arundelle's.) Ideas for either story would be liked. Please comment any ideas no matter how strange they may be.

-The first part is a dream, just making sure that's clear. -The poems are not mine. They came from a poem generator and I changed some of the wording though it is still mostly theirs Chapter 1 Chapter 2 “Sing, Lia.” She hums. “Sing the Song and I’ll set you free. Don’t you want to see your mother again?” I surprise both of us by looking up at her, “Mama’s dead. I saw your snakes take her out.” I spit out the words like venom, wishing it would sting her like it does to me. “No,” she tells me, whispering. “No she’s not. She’s free, and on the winning side.” I can’t watch her any longer. I look down, staring at the puddles that formed during the rain. “No. I-I won’t,” I can hear my voice getting shaky though I try not to. The Stone Keeper. The one who holds the power to heal, but only uses it for harm. “They left you Lia. They could have stayed, but they left you.” “They-they needed to live. I-it was, It was my choice.” “Lia, they’re not coming back. Sing the Song and I’ll set you free. Then maybe, you can see the rest of your family again.” I close my eyes, trying not to cry. I don’t know how, but I find my voice. “No. All you give are lies,” I look up at her, into her sunken eyes, “My choice. My way. I remember, and that makes me stronger than those you’ve changed. They didn’t want to. They gave up. I’m still fighting. I’m still winning.” She sighs and starts to walk away, but I have a question. “What about Papa? And Uncle Esben?” “They chose the winning side, my dear. And you can join them.” “With what?” I know I shouldn’t ask, but I can’t help it. She gives a smile at the edge of her lips, “A bird like your father? A tree like your mother? Which would you rather?” I shake my head, “No,” but I can’t even hear myself. I feel tears hot on my face. I start the song, barely aware of the sound. Suddenly aware of what I’m doing, I cover my mouth and squeeze my eyes shut. My hands are a sharp cold on my face like a bird's talons. I sink to the floor of the cage, no longer caring about the tears streaming down my face. I hear the lock open and I glance up. The Stone Keeper stands at the entrance, hand out for me to accept. “Come now, Maddie, I’ll show you the sky.” I stand on shaky legs as she leads me through tunnel after tunnel. Up and down. Left and right. I can see sunlight. I let go of her hand. “Th-Thank y-you,” I tell her. Thinking nothing of what she caused. She disappears into the dark hole and I follow the side of the mountain until it falls away, curving into the forest deeper ___________________________________________ Eventually I’m back to the cave. I hear movement inside and look through a bush. They look familiar, but impossible to place through the missing chunks of memories. “Papa!” I shout, running out to hug him. He screeches and throws his arms around like he’s trying to stop a swarm of bugs. I hiss and pull my arm against me, feeling blood through the cloth. His eyes clear for a moment, looking at me instead of through memories. _____________________________________________ “Maddie?” I wake up with a gasp. “Yeah?” I ask the Kalmar head beside me, putting on another smile. “You started yelling, are you okay?” He looks genuinely concerned. “I’m fine, just a dream.” I pull out my journal to end the conversation. Their words may sting, their action hurt But the heart still yearns for them To mend the wounds, to heal the scars A love that won’t condemn It’s a battle of the soul  To forgive and to forget To let go of the pain they caused And move on without regret Loving someone who hurt you Is a test of strength and grace But in the end, love will prevail And bring peace to our troubled place So we hold onto the hope That love will conquer all And heal the broken pieces Of a heart that took the fall. I turn the page gently and start another. Whispers through the heart Echoing through the night A symphony of love’s art Igniting a radian light Tender moments shared Cherished memories to hold A bond that can never be broken A story to be told. You know, ending on a lighter note.

chapter 1 As I open the door to Oscar's, I take a moment to pause, just like I always do when we visit. I look up at the higher shelves filled with books, those  I used to see in Anniera's bookstores. Whenever I went with Papa, he always made sure we stopped by. It didn't matter what town we were in; they all had a bookstore. I realize Janer and Tink are waiting for me, so I gently close the door and run my hand along the side of the wide shelves.  “Mr. Reteep? We managed to pull Tink along this time, too,” I think I hear him somewhere nearby, but I'm not sure.  Tink sighs behind me—loudly.  “Maddieeeee,” he whines.  Finally paying attention to his noises, I turn to face him, holding back a laugh as he trips over a book. I pick it up and scan the shelves, catching a glimpse of Tink running by at the edge of my vision, but I think nothing of it.  Without meaning to, the beginning of a poem starts to form in my head: Once woven together, now frayed at the seams,   In echoes of heartbeats, we drift from our dreams. “Come on, bind a fook and let's go,” I urged, hoping not to leave Leeli alone for too long. I glance out the window to see Peet crash into the sign between Main and Vibbly Way. As I watch, he stands up, brushes off some dirt, and begins talking to the sign. Papa, really? You have to make a scene, don’t you? I think, smiling as I remembered how Esben used to pull him into conversations to keep him from “turning into a book with all the books he reads,” as Uncle Esben used to say. “Well, your mother makes mediocre pies!” he shouts. “How dare you? I challenge you to a fight!” He pauses, waiting for a response. Then he attempts to punch the sign, misses, and ends up spinning around a few times before falling over and laying there. “How about this?” Tink asks, holding up a book about different animals. “Do you want to?” I responded. He nods, so I pull myself away from the window and head through the maze of books to Oscar’s desk. “Ah, hello Igibys. Find everything okay I hope?” Oscar asks once we finally find the office. “Yes sir, like alway,” I tell him. He glances over at Janner then back at me, asking a silent question. I nod slightly, impossible to tell unless you’re looking for it. Can you help sort books tomorrow? Yes. “So, ‘The Many Animals of Skree and Dang’. Found that pretty interesting myself. In the words of Beatriz McGillicutty, ‘A fine book I tell you.’” As we leave Books and Crannies, I realize Peet is gone. Either moved by some Fang, or awake and back at his tree house. I tug my sleeve down over the scars just in case. Seeing a group of Fangs by the path back to the cottage, I take off my rings and put them in my pocket. Mama’s with the silver heart, papa’s band of blue, and mine squiggling up and down like waves. I pull Kalmar closer as we head out of town past the Fangs. Lucky, I think for a moment. Lucky enough to forget. Lucky enough to be on the winning side. I remember mama’s words from our carriage ride through Blackwood. Remembering is the one thing they don’t want us to do. If they take the memories, they’ve already won the fight. I tap Tink on the shoulder, “Race?” He nods. “Three, two, one, Go!” I easily let him get in front of me, knowing someone needs to keep up and Janner would never manage. He runs up on the porch and almost into the door. I’m only a few paces behind but breathing easier. I smile, “Well done Little King,” I tell him, hitting him lightly on top of his head. When he catches his breath, he opens the door and heads in to get a drink. I sit on the steps and watch Janner’s small form running and stopping as he travels up the lane. Kalmar walks back out with an extra cup and offers me one. I place it down until Janner is close enough to be heard if he had the breath. I stand and walk over with the water, hugging him lightly. “Stay strong, Little Soldier,” I mutter just loud enough for him to hear. He tenses when I call him little like I knew he would. He nods as he takes the water, still out of breath. Somehow, I manage not to laugh while leading him to the porch. Janner sits down and I go inside to try and find my yarn. I grab some orange and blue out of the bucket with some needles. Climbing up to my bunk, I start at the end of one sock and keep going. I didn't even realize Leeli came in and was fingering her whistle harp. __________________________________ < Time gap Tink’s head appears at the foot of my bed. “Mama says come and get you before the food gets cold. She’s called you a couple times already.” I glance out the window, surprised to see the shadows long until I realize the new socks are done.  Oh, I realize, How long have I just been sitting here? “Then let me get down,” I tell him and he disappears over the edge of the frame. I climb down, taking multiple steps at once to the kitchen.