The Story of the Wolf

Sabina Montalva, age 12

Beach Middle School

Hey, I’m, umm . . . a tough wolf with no name. Ever since I was born, my family never really liked me, they just forgot me. So, when I was nine years old, I was so tired of all of the loneliness and hatefulness, that I left home. I spent hours sprinting through the forest, trying to get as far as I could. After about six hours, I sat on a log to rest. That is when I noticed a small girl in a red dress, skipping down the path, holding a basket that smelled of angel cakes and blueberry muffins. I found myself smiling. Humans had always been a real treat for me. Tip­toeing her way, I stopped in front of the girl.

“What are you doing?” I said, smiling and speaking in my sweetest possible voice.

“Umm . . . just taking some food to my grandma. She’s very sick, I think she has the flu.”

“What are you taking her?” I said, noticing that the way I spoke was a little weird.

“Some food that I don’t think I want to tell you about,” she answered. I nodded my head and told her that some flowers would also be really nice to bring to her grandma. She listened and walked off to pick some daisies and violets. While I talked to her about her grandma and where she lived, after a while, I snuck off toward her grandmother’s house to unleash my plan.

When I got there, I immediately knocked on the door, and two seconds later, a small frail voice called, “Is that you, my darling, Ruby?” I smiled a wide toothy smile, and answered in a small childish voice.

“Oh yes grandmother, it's me!” I was feeling very pleased with myself for sounding so great, and being so clever. The frail voice told me that I could come in, so I did. I stepped into the cottage, then, everything seemed to go really quickly; I went to her bedside, she screamed the heart out of herself (gosh, I hate how humans scream!) After that, I grabbed her by the neck, and stuffed her whole body in my mouth (wow! I didn't know I could do that!!) She was the best human I had ever tasted in my life! She was everything: juicy, sweet, a little salty, and some strange lemony taste that really tasted delicious. I grabbed some clothes from her closet, which took a while to find, and I hopped into her bed, then pretended to fall asleep. After ten failed attempts to close my eyes and relax, finally, the little human knocked on the door three times.

“Oh Ruby sweetie! Come in!” I called to her from the bed in my best voice possible. She came in and smiled pleasantly at me then ran to the bedside, (she obviously couldn't tell I was wolf). The girl took out the food from her basket and set it on the foot of the bed. Then she surprised me!

“Oh grandma! Your ears look so big!”

“All the better to hear you with my dear” I smiled cutely. After that, things seemed normal.

“Grandma, What big eyes you have!”

“All the better to see you with my dear.” After I said that, we began eating the angel cakes together, until . . .

“Grandma, why are your teeth so pointy?”

“All the better to . . . ” at that moment, I took her by the shoulder, and gobbled her whole. I heard her small voice shrieking in surprise.

“All the better to eat you with my dear!” I laughed in victory. Unfortunately, I heard footsteps walking through the door, but I was so tired that I didn't notice a man walking up to the bed. I was so exhausted that I just collapsed on the pillow and fell asleep, dreaming about how tasty little pigs are. I honestly don't know what happened after this, all I can tell you is that I woke up in the middle of the forest feeling really heavy, I stood up, but as soon as I did so, I fell back down again. After that, I swore to myself that no matter how delicious humans were, I would never eat one whole again. The end.

The Blaziers

Mateo Palomares, age 10

Eberwhite Elementary

It was another stormy day. Work, eat, work, repeat, for Ivy. His evil parents making him do all of the work, not his five siblings. He had just found a map leading to X, the actual evil overlord, who is planning to enslave the universe. But, Ivy does not think he is strong enough—until, knock, knock, knock! Usually, Ivy would never be allowed to answer the door, but somehow, nobody seemed to hear and he was, well how should I describe it? Willed to open the door. So, he walked over to the door and opened it. There was a strange old man that looked strangely like X, so Ivy screamed, but nothing came out.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I know many people mistake me for him, but I am not, I am fighting against him.”

“So why are you here?” Ivy questioned.

“You have a map, do you not?”

“Yes,” said Ivy.

“Come with me to destroy X.”

“But, I can’t do that! It said that he is magical,” said Ivy.

“I am too, I will help you,” said the man.

“Fine. Let’s go,” Ivy said. So, they were off. Over the mountains and forests and jungles and deserts, until they came to a stop. Ivy discovered a great new talent, using the resources around him, something that even the stranger, whose name apparently was James, couldn’t do. James said, “See! You’re useful.”

“Okay,” Ivy grunted. “Maybe a little.” Then, they heard something rumbling.

“The Blaziers!” James yelled. “Use those skills in battle, and you’ll do just fine!” So, James hid in the camp out that Ivy had made and he figured he could make a trap in the little place. Blaziers came in as quite a surprise. After the battle, James said, “You did a great job guarding the map. They couldn’t even get past the front door!” Afterward, they kept on traveling. Ivy broke out in a sweat, but James never seemed to get tired. Eventually, they got to a long bridge and James held out a blade.

“This should protect you when we are both in the castle and on the bridge. While we are there, the attacks will be much more often.” Ivy took the sword, and while they were crossing the bridge, he used it very well.

James just stared when he landed his first hit, and after that, Ivy was slashing, cutting, and sidestepping like a professional sword fighter. Then, they got to the castle and he just kept fighting the huge mobs of Blaziers. The mobs were getting even bigger because Ivy and James were getting closer and closer to the king. Every once in awhile, Ivy would make a trap and every time he made one, more Blaziers would be destroyed. He would have the satisfaction of knowing they were gone. He was getting more confident as he went, until he saw James ahead of him, falling to the ground in front of X. But, Ivy kept going.

Clang! The sound of the final Blazier being destroyed. X looked at Ivy. Impressed, Ivy said, “How dare you kill James?” As you can tell, Ivy was very confident at this point. Ivy and X had an epic duel. X unleashed magical attacks, while Ivy simply dodged them, and he realized that he was wearing X down. He kept doing this until X fell unconscious. Ivy killed X! Although he was happy that he had stopped X’s reign, Ivy mourned the death of James. Ivy settled into a nearby village. The end.

The Valley of the Forgotten

Andreanna Ulery, age 11

Emerson Elementary

Prologue

Kiana paced back and forth. Back, forth, back. The news her scouts had brought was distressing. Lady Amber had learned of her plans to find the amulet of the Valley of the Forgotten. The Lady had had her scouts knock Lady Kiana’s scouts out and find her plans. Her scouts had been found without the map.

Part One

Lady Amber read the map. Lady Kiana had planned to go down the Black Mountains and through the Cold Moor. Then she would go to the Isle of the Blest and find the map that would show the way. The she could find the amulet, which would bring her power over Lady Kiana.

Lady Kiana was furious. “HOW COULD YOU LET THEM TAKE THE MAP?” she yelled. But still she had to get the map to get to the Isle of the Blest. She called her maid.

“Yes my lady?” answered Christina, her maid.

“Go to the armory and get my armour and sword. We leave tomorrow,” Lady Kiana commanded.

“Yes, my lady,” Christina replied.

And she left the chamber. Lady Kiana walked over to the mirror. A face stared back at her. Cold blue eyes, raven black hair, and a scar running down her cheek. One Lady Amber had given her in battle. She vowed to get revenge. She would find the amulet.

The next morning, Christina woke early to put the armour on Lady Kiana. When she was done sharpening Lady Kiana’s sword, she got her horse ready. She would go across the Black Mountain Ridge and attack Lady Amber. But Lady Amber had a forest pass she only knew about. They came to the forest tunnel and Lady Amber stopped her knights. She lead and they followed single-file. All five.

Part Two

Kiana and her knights finally reached Black Mountain Ridge. They rode to the edge and looked over. They were looking at the Cold Moor. But to get down to the Cold Moor, she had to go down the side of the Black Mountains. Alone.

“Leave me. I must go alone.”

“But . . . ” her knights protested.

She rode down the side of the mountain. Later it was time for Lady Kiana to make camp. The wind howled and the few trees swayed in the fierce wing. A branch broke with a crack! Kiana gathered her wood for a fire. As she set up the wood, she heard rustling. A knight on a horse stepped out. It was unmistakable. It was Lady Amber. Lady Amber dismounted.

“Nice to see you again Kiana,” she said bitterly. Lady Amber began to circle Lady Kiana. She stood up.

“Amber, what do you want?” Lady Kiana asked.

“You should know,” Lady Amber replied.

Without warning, Lady Kiana drew her sword and lunged. Amber parried and sidestepped, then lunged and Lady Kiana blocked. She drew her shield and blocked. Kiana was getting her sword and Amber pushed her down and hit her in the head. She fell.

Lady Kiana woke up, dizzy and unfocused. Blood ran warm and hot down her neck. Lady Amber, she thought. Lady Amber picked up her sword and got up on her horse. She kicked the hose and they set off to the Isle of the Blest. To catch up with Amber she had to go full speed. But she came across a lake. It was not the Isle of the Blest. She unhooked the boat and rowed.

Lady Amber rode through the forest about an hour before she came to the Lake of the Isle of the Blest. She had used the boat to get to the Isle of the Blest. The rowing was hard and long. But she got there before Lady Kiana. She was searching for the key, the key to unlock the amulet in the Castle of Shadows. Kiana finished rowing, and she was at the Isle of the Blest. She found a door. The door lead to an open courtyard. It was dark brick and it was falling apart. Amber was there. Her back was turned.

Part Three

Click, click. Kiana’s heels stabbed the stone floor. Amber turned around.

“Well, well, well,” said Kiana.

“Hello Kiana,” Amber snarled.

All of a sudden, a lady walked into the room. The queens turned around. She had pale skin and blue eyes and her hair was raven black. Her dress was tattered and red. It flew about in the wind. When she spoke it came out as a rasp.

“It will take the truly good lady. That is the one who will have the power. You must be truly good.”

Then both ladies felt compelled to close their eyes. With a crack, one of them disappeared. When Amber opened her eyes, she expected to be in the Castle of the Shadows, but she wasn’t. She was in The Valley of the Forgotten. Fear struck her. Legend told of: a forest that could change in the blink of an eye.

These ladies know not what they seek; they race for power. But that is their fall.

Amber knew that she was in the Valley of the Forgotten. She had to make it home by nightfall.

“I will show you the room where we keep the amulet. But with one condition.”

“What condition?” asked Kiana.

“I am Queen Nikki. I have the amulet in my care,” she said. Kiana bowed down.

“My lady, where is the amulet?” asked Kiana. She had to admit it sounded weird to call someone other than Amber or herself “my lady.”

Amber rode back into the courtyard of her castle. Her knights immediately inquired, “My lady, do you have the amulet?” And very surprisingly, Amber felt lucky. She didn’t know why, though. She jumped off her horse and hugged her very startled knights. Then she disappeared into her chambers.

Kiana found her bearings in the castle. It was quite a bit bigger than her castle. Queen Nikki lead her down two enormous flights of stairs. It seemed they would never get to the amulet room.

But then Queen Nikki stopped.

She took out her keys and unlocked the heavy iron door. For such a young woman, she was very strong. Inside the room was a case made of glass.

Amber headed out for training. Now she felt her life had so much more meaning. This isn’t how she imagined she would feel if she got skipped. (She didn’t get the amulet.) She was learning to shoot archery and throw knives. She wasn’t planning a battle or anything. She felt this really helped herself, who she really was.

Everything was going well in Amber’s kingdom and surrounding villages. She taught how to fight and horseback riding to the people so they could defend their kingdom with pride, not run to the protection of the castle walls. For the first time in ten years, she felt pride and happiness at this wonderful kingdom she helped build. This was hers, and she was proud.

Kiana looked in awe at the case. It held the amulet of Amber. Funny, just now she realized Amber and the amulet shared a name. The amulet was inlaid with silver and a ruby in the center.

This was the amulet. She took it from its case and wrapped it up in a piece of velvet that Queen Nikki gave her.

Then she galloped as fast as she could home to the castle. But she realized she didn’t need the amulet. She buried it in the Moor, where it would be at home with all the heather, and wind.

Kiana didn’t regret it one bit. The end.

Meet 16.13.0

Chiho Sung, age 10

Allen Elementary

Chapter One

He woke up, woke up in his usual house in his plain blue bedroom. He yawned and went through the white door past the white hallway, went to the right door and brushed his teeth, went to the kitchen, made scrambled bobbled-eggs and made bobble-coffee. He sighed. His name was 16.13.0. He was living in Bob Street. The president was Bob Leader of Bobble World. The rule in this world was to forget your name and the Bobblement would give you names. 16.13.0 sighed and said, “Why do people buy bobbled anyway? I just want to be normal.” He changed his clothes and shut his door, and turned on the TV. The normal ad. The ad to buy bobble toys and you’ll live. He thought it was rubbish, but he was in for a surprise.

Chapter Two: The non-bobble pizza and DJ company

He was bored. He decided to call the non-bobble pizza and DJ company to give him some entertainment. “Hello, hello, hello?” Six minutes later, “HELLO!!!!!!”

“Hi welcome to the illegal non-bobble DJ and pizzeria. Where fantasy and non-bobble things come to life!”

“Can I have a non-bobble pizza with one DJ playing a non-bobble awesome song?” “00000000046 minutes later . . . kkkkk.”

“Thank you for your service!”

16.13.0 then went to his door and found the DJ man as he said, “One non-bobble pizza with non-bobble awesome song here!”

Then 16.13.0 fainted.

Chapter Three: Meeting Dumble Horse Wise Dude

He woke up (again). 16.13.0 groaned and said, “What was that??!!!” He got a glimpse of a wise dude that had a record set hanging around his shoulder with horse legs! “Ahhhhhhh!! Six minutes later hhhhhh! What is that?!!”

“Why are you screaming?” said the weird old man with horse-like feet.

“Why how rude! I forgot my manners! My name is Dumble Horse Wise Dude! D-D for short. So here’s your pizza and your song!”

Then 16.13.0 fainted again! (Don’t worry only four–five more faints!)

Chapter Four: No more fainting (until he figures out)

He woke up (for the third time!!!!) He saw what’s his name? Ol D-D and calmed down. “Everyone does that do they? Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“Come with me,” he said. 16-13-0 followed.   

You’re the Chosen One

Selene Freudenberg, age 10

Bach Elementary 

Christina lived in a completely natural town, had a completely natural family, and went to a completely natural school. The thing is, Christina was not a completely natural twelve-year-old girl. As a matter of fact, Christina was supernatural. No, Christina could not shoot lasers from her fingertips or read people’s minds. But yes, Christina was definitely supernatural.

Christina opened the large double doors of the library. As she stepped in, she got the wonderful feeling she always had when she entered a library. As she wandered among the countless shelves, a book caught her eye. It was thick and dark red with yellowing edges and no title. Christina took it off it’s shelf and walked over to an armchair. Christina opened the book.

The pages were blank, except for seven words: You are the chosen one. Enter Imaginaria. For a second as Christina’s vision blurred, she thought the words had swirled and turned into a picture of a beautiful landscape. As quickly as it had started it was over.

“Ahh, Christina. I hoped to find you here,” a voice sounded from behind her. It was Mr. Doonmore, Christina’s library teacher. In Christina’s mind, Mr. Doonmore was one word: amazing. He leaned over her chair, his bushy white beard brushing her cheek. “I see you have found the entrance,” his deep voice rumbled. Christina stared up at him with a questioning, blank face.

“I see you don’t know much. I will tell you a story to help you understand. There was once a land, where all stories exist. A land where all stories, published or scribbled down connect and form one land. The land’s name is Imaginaria. This land is beautiful, or well it was. There is a darkness that has started to cover it and is consuming the stories and imagination. The darkness is a sorceress named Malcorce. You must enter Imaginaria and defeat Malcorce. You are the chosen one, Christina.”

Christina should have fainted, should have screamed, or said this was nonsense like any other child would. But, Christina didn’t. She perfectly understood what she had to do. It was as if she were possessed by a feeling of extreme confidence. Christina nodded slowly and then turned to the book and started at the first page. The first page was the one with all the words on it. The letters swirled and formed a picture just like before, only this time Christina didn’t draw back. She focused even more on that tiny spinning dot. It grew bigger and bigger, and seemed to swallow Christina up. She was spinning and spinning through time and space. She closed her eyes tightly and braced herself for the worst. Her ears were buzzing and she screamed!

And suddenly it was over. Slowly she opened her eyes. Christina was no longer standing  in the library, but standing in a meadow. She looked down and was holding a book tightly in her arms. It was THE book. She opened it

. On the front page, she saw a map of Imaginaria. It was beautiful, but toward the edge a black blot of ink covered a patch of the landscape. Christina didn’t need to think to know that the black dot was Malcorce. On the next page the words “Good luck” glowed in neat handwriting. It was Mr. Doonmore’s handwriting. When Christina finished reading the words they erased and were replaced with the words, “Your journey has begun.”

Just then, Christina looked up in time to see someone crashing through the air in a sidecar. Christina looked closer and it was Harry Potter being chased by—Christina thought she was seeing things, but yes it was what she had thought she saw. It was Voldemort chasing Harry Potter. It was from the seventh book. Christina was in a story. In a Harry Potter story. She knew that soon Harry would crash into Tonk’s parent’s house. This was way too awesome. But then, Christina gasped. Harry didn’t crash into Tonk’s house. Voldemort got closer and closer. Christina looked down at her arm. It had a wand in it. “Expelliarmus!!” she shouted, and Voldemort evaporated. Harry crashed into Tonks’ parent’s house, just like he was supposed to.

This was Malcorce’s doing. Malcorce was destroying stories that already existed and changing them. But, Christina had won this battle, but deep inside she knew there would be many more to come. Christina opened the magical book and words appeared: “Congratulations, you have saved Harry Potter. Star Wars is next.” Christina looked at the map. The place labeled “Harry Potter” was now flowing and without any speck of black on it. But somewhere to Harry Potter’s right, the black was starting to crawl over a square marked “Star Wars.” Christina knew what to do. She hugged the book and closed her eyes repeating “Star Wars, Star Wars, Star Wars” over and over in her head, with all her might. Now she was spinning, spinning again, but this time it wasn’t as dizzying as the first.

When she opened her eye, she was holding a blue lightsaber in her hands and wearing a brown Jedi cloak. Christina definitely didn’t know nearly as much about Star Wars as she did about Harry Potter. But she knew enough to know that she was in the final duel between Luke and the emperor in Return of The Jedi. The emperor was doing the Force-lightening thing to Luke now, and this was the part where Darth Vader came in to save the day. But he didn’t come. Christina knew what to do. She focused with all her might on a jagged piece of metal behind the emperor. And just like that, Christina had used the Force. The metal clanged to the ground, distracting the emperor. Christina’s vision blurred and then the emperor was at it again. Only this time, everything happened like it was supposed to.

Christina opened the magic book and the words “Star Wars” were now glowing, clean of Malcorce’s black ink. On the next page where only two words, “Oz, now!” Christina knew what to do.

Soon, she was in Oz, at the very moment when Dorothy was supposed to throw the bucket of water on the Wicked Witch. But, as Christina had predicted she didn’t throw it. Christina ran to the water and flung it onto the witch. The scene went blurry, and then Dorothy dumped the water like she was supposed to.

Now on the map, Malcorce’s ink was frighteningly close to a section marked “The Hobbit.” Christina once again hugged the book to her chest and was standing in a stone tunnel. Someone was racing past her. Yes, it was Bilbo Baggins, about to pick up the magical ring. But he didn’t. Christina raced to the ring and dropped it in Bilbo’s pocket. The scene blurred and Bilbo picked up the ring. All was well again.  

When she looked inside the book she saw the words, “It is time for the final testing of wits. Good luck.” Christina took a deep breath hugged the book and wished: “Malcorce’s fortress, Malcorce’s fortress.” Before she even realized what was happening, Christina was being carried in by two creatures much like centaurs. They were black and white with red glowing evil eyes. Christina was dragged through a large menacing arch into what seemed like a throne room. Up above, on a raised platform, sitting on a raised black throne embedded with rubies, sat Malcorce.

She had thick tangled black hair and a black robe. In her hand was a long whip with snake teeth at the end. But none of that was anything compared to Malcorce’s face. Her eye were glowing red embers. Her face was unnaturally white and smooth. Her lips were blood red. In a way she was beautiful and in a way she was monstrous. “Guards! Leave us,” her voice echoed coldly through the hall. She stared at Christina and instantly fainted. When she looked at Christina she saw what love truly was. And it was over then. With her love, Christina had saved Imaginaria. All over the land, people celebrated because Christina had done it.

Invisible Cat 1

Amelia Bertrand, age 10

Haisley Elementary

One morning, Invisible Cat woke up and heard Bobby talking to the evil headmaster, Vector the Viper. They were talking about a new rule for never going to the other world. They said that they were going to set up security cameras. Invisible Cat did not like this idea because he was a troublemaker.

Finally, all the talking stopped and he left his room to go find Bobby and talk to about this.

Bobby said, “Vector made this rule because a tiger tried to escape from our world. So now security cameras are being put up.”

Then Invisible Cat asked, “Who’s the tiger?”

“I’m not allowed to know,” said Bobby.

“Oh,” replied Invisible Cat.

Invisible Cat went downstairs to eat breakfast. There were pancakes, waffles, cat chow, bugs, fish, and carrots today. Of course Invisible Cat picked fish like every other day. She could pick tuna, salmon, or this disgusting fish soup with broccoli. So Invisible Cat picked tuna and will have salmon for dinner tonight. After she gobbled it all up, she went to find Bobby.

She reached the top of the stairs, when the cat heard Vector yelling. So as usual Invisible Cat was interested in what was happening. She headed up toward the room and noticed that Vector was yelling at a tiger. Invisible Cat knew that tiger, too, from playing bingo with him every Wednesday.