RicoTranzrig

Well, if you're looking for a book of poems, look in "Today's Poem" there's a stack of precious ones in there already.

Just one more hour until the show starts...I'm going up to the Hills nearby my home where the entire bay area is pretty much visible when there's no smog around. I'll be catching 2 displays taking place at the same time in different locations...plus all of the illegal ones. Not really exciting though since all I'll be doing is pretty much watching (since I'm kinda sick...*cough*). Ah well, probably after, I'll hit the PS2 and play Silent Hill 2 all night.

Breath of Fire is identical to the SNES version so if you have a SNES and find one, it'll probably be better. Tactics Ogre is like Final Fantasy Tactics, a traditional turn-based strategy game, and Golden Sun really throws you back to the good old 16-bit RPG era (or at least the early 32-bit RPG's) with great mode 7 battles, an good storyline, and impressive overall quality.

They never really stole it, they only took an idea that would have died and made it into something very successful. Nintendo approached Phillips because...the company co-founded the compact disc a long time ago and they were confident that their drive technologies would be a lot better than Sony's. The archetecure was planned by both companies, Nintendo and sony, but the devices inside are completely different...mostly consisting of LSI logic's ultra small components and Sony's own parts.

*small spoiler*I have the SNES version and I think they're pretty much identical...from what I recall...Gant is the mechanical town where Ox is from? (Sorry it's been a while.) Back in Prima go to the dragon shrine if you haven't already and go to the second floor of the inn and battle the spirit. Ox will awaken, join your team, and you can enter Gant since he's their kind.

It's kinda funny how they released it though...it already came with thes strategy guide and those scratch-n'-sniff cards in the back.

Most of my friends went to summer school...it was a breeze for them but the teachers kept them busy with one quick break from 8 to 2...but the teachers aren't as harsh. It'll be easy.

For me, I'm just staying home and using the vacation money to buy a bunch of new things. Most of my friends are moving away for college so it'll be a good time to catch up and stuff.

Well, I guess everyone's entitled to their own opinion...those fees are for keeping the servers in good working order...because they're just starting out and they need some hefty tune-ups to be stable. A lot of dot-com companies are starting to charge people for what they usually presented for free (IE: Gamespot)...

Both of them still exist....but I don't think there's really much to talk about the sites contents, with substance anyway...I'll have to close this.

It might be able to lengthen it's life a tad bit...but online multiplayer isn't really the key to a console's success...espeically with a hefty price tag. The Dreamcast did a superb job on it's online features with a 56K or broadband modem and the ability to connect to your own ISP without any extra fees. If I have to pay any extra fees just to play an x-box game...it'll probably turn up on the computer sooner or later where you can play for free.

Yeah, around the mid 8's pretty good. True to the heart.

[color=indigo]Hmm...not bad :) Maybe you could put some of your poetry shorts in the "Today's Poem" thread...there's a pretty good collection going on right now.[/color]

That song's pretty emotional and the Evil Pokey with Giagas(sp?) were pretty cool too! Looking and hearing the songs in SSBM's Onett and Fourside really brought back memories. And who can forget the Saturn men and the burping blob (forgot his name)? :) The only thing that was kinda bad about it was the battle system...you never really see them fight...

I'd say "soap" shoes came and went in about a year or two...the real big thing now over in California is those "wheelies" with the one wheel on the back of each shoe.

Yup, once the debt is paid off, then they'll give you a free ride on their bus to Threed. I'm not really clear on this one...but the guy jumps down because he's mad that you've rescued Paula since he's the one who kidnapped her?? That game was kinda cheesy overall, but it was a pretty good RPG in it's time.

[color=darkblue]...and price it at a higher bracket...I'm not really sure about re-making the x-box just for that feature. I'm thinking they couldn've engineered a new A/V cable with a coaxial input and made a software upgrade avalible for purchace to the already existing x-box. Usually, a couple of TV shows don't take any more space than 10Gigs in DVD format. But that's never gonna happen...[/color]

Heh...I'm picking it up today (hopefully the brick 'n mortar shop isn't sold out on the game)...can't wait :D I think I'm going to play the solo component before going online, even though it its 80+ hours.

[COLOR=darkblue]This is one of my older writing that I found lying around on my HD...enjoy :D [b]I-1 INT / SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR?S ROOM ? DAY[/b] [I]Benjamin Mclane Spock is filling out papers. His face is grim and determined, bathed in the flickering light of a green lamp next to him. All the windows are closed with drapes blocking the sunlight. On one of the papers is his Trigonometry note he is reading over diligently on. He is wearing the standard summer camp staff uniform, slacks and a white collar T-shirt.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Ok, time to hit the books. Hmm?if I plan to be an architect?then this stuff seems pretty boring. [I]Spock gathers all his notes and straightens them, twice. He then stashes it in his black leather bag. He looks over the other papers, which are the records of the children who are attending the summer camp. He looks them over to pass the time. He grabs his mug of coffee on the corner of the desk and takes a sip, puts the mug down, then sighs.[/I] [b]SPOCK (CONT?D)~[/b] I don?t know why I even signed up for this camp. I could of spent this time doing other stuff. [I]He puts his head down over his crossed arms on the desk where the records of the children in an attempt to take a short nap. Suddenly, he hears three taps on his door. He looks up slowly. He hears the voice of a young lady.[/i] [b]LADY~[/b] Hello, Benjamin? You in there? Hello? [I]The lady knocks three times again; Spock finally gets up and opens the door, only a crack. He notices it is one of the summer camp staff he was working with, Jane Cheney, a Yale college student like himself. Spock looks her over from head to toe. She is wearing the same outfit as Spock. Spock finally opens the door and greets her with a smile.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I thought it was one of those damn yuppies, spooks that hide in the woods and scare people dead straight. Here, come in, have a seat. [I]Spock gives a small chuckle and lets her in. He closes the door, softly behind her and takes a seat on his desk. Jane takes a seat on the right chair on the opposite side of the room.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] The heck do you mean by yuppies? This? the first time I?ve ever heard of that kinda stuff happening in the camp. What, you hear something at night? [I]He looks at Jane for a moment then shrugs.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Actually, this is the first time I?ve ever been in the woods. You never know, something might drag you in under one of these houses?god knows what might happen under there. [I]His comment amuses her and she looks at him a moment before responding.[/I] [b]JANE[/b] I?ll ignore that [I]He pushes back from the table and stands.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I?m just saying, you never know what can happen in a spooky place like this. So whacha come here for? [I]Jane gets up also.[/i] [b]JANE~[/b] Well, it is lunchtime, wanna get something to eat? You?ve been in here since ten o?clock this morning; never seen you come out, I was afraid the yuppies your talking about got the best of you. [I]Spock laughs lightly and tries to open the door but the door is jammed shut. He pushes the door but it doesn?t move. He rams the door with his shoulder. Nothing. He steps back.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Damn! I guess my hunch was right then, Jane, I guess we have to go through the window then. [I]Jane walks past Spock and takes her try at the door, ramming it with her shoulders. Nothing.[/I] [b]JANE[/b] The hell? Aww, no! Benjamin, if I find out you did this on purpose; you?re a dead man. [I]Spock pushes a small shelf out of the way and grabs on the control rod. Spock then opens the drapes covering the window and sunlight floods the room, forcing them to squint their eyes. Spock finally manages to open the window. Spock gets out of the way to let Jane go first.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Ladies first. [I]Jane begins to climb on the windowsill and then stops.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] You better not be checking me out! Perv! [I]She lets out a small giggle, and then jumps out onto the dead leaves in the back of the building. Spock looks at Jane?s backside just as she jumps out. Spock follows and jumps, nearly hitting Jane. She slaps Spock on the cheek hard and runs off to the dining building.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] What the heck was that for? [I]Spock begins pursuit of Jane. Camera pans out permitting view of the entire camp, enclosed by woods, children are playing on the right side of the camp while Spock and Jane are chasing each other in the left side.[/I] [b]Intro:[/b] A Day In the Life [I]Followed by credits (If there are any).[/I] [b]I-2 INT/DINING HALL ? DAY[/b] [I]Jane enters the dining hall running and stands just inside the door next to the self-service line. She is breathing heavily and all motion has come to a complete stop, everyone is looking at her. Finally, one of the older staff members goes up to Jane.[/I] [b]STAFF MEMBER~[/b] Please don?t run around the camp, accidents are bound to happen so, be more careful in the future. Well, just sit anywhere honey. Food?s right over there. [I]Moments later, Spock walks in and meets up with Jane. They find a table nearby and sit. [/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I have a rule about people I work with. [I]Jane recalls what took place back at the counselor?s office and laughs softly.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] Oh? And what might that be? [b]SPOCK~[/b] Yeah, I?uh..I don?t fight with em. [b]JANE~[/b] Really?well, it is a good rule, keeps everything on a professional level. [I]There is another silence and they continue to hold each other?s gaze. A waitress working in the camp comes up to them and takes their orders.[/I] [b]WAITRESS~[/b] What can I get for you this morning? [b]SPOCK~[/b] I?ll have a chocolate donut and a coffee. [b]JANE~[/b] Yeah me too. [I]Jane smiles and shrugs.[/I] [b]WAITRESS~[/b] I?ll be right back [I]Spock and Jane are looking at each other with playful eyes, not speaking, holding each other?s gaze. Finally, Spock breaks the silence.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] What? [I]Jane smiles and shakes his head.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] I heard you wanted to become an architect. And what do you mean by becoming a ?professional?? [b]SPOCK~[/b] Who told you that? [I]Jane shrugs and sits up.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] I heard you talking to yourself in the shower room in the morning. [I]Spock picks up his napkin and throws it in Jane?s face and laughs as she tries to get it off and throw it back at him.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Who?s the pervert now? [I]Jane looks around to see if anyone noticed his or her little flirting game.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] You still! I was just passing by. You, mister Benjamin Spock, on the other hand? [I]Jane notices the waitress is back with their orders and they hush up.[/I] [b]WAITRESS~[/b] Here you go. Be right back with the coffee. [b]JANE~[/b] Anyways, how bout you and me go take a look-see at Dr. Thornton, an orthopedic doctor in the camp later huh? [I]Spock takes a huge bite out of the donut and beings to chew. He finally swallows and begins to speak.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I guess so, oh I see, trying to change my mind about my career to a doctor so I can marry you off and rack in the big bucks. Ok, I?ll go check it out, got nothing better to do anyways. [I]Jane pushes away from the table and stands up.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] I think he?s in his office right now, let?s go; we?ll get the coffee later. [I]They run out of the dining hall.[/I] FADE TO BLACK [b]?END OF I-2[/b] [b]I-3 INT/CAMP DOCTOR?S OFFICE ? DAY[/b] [I]Spock and Jane walk up to the receptionist at the desk. The receptionist is wearing a white, nurse?s outfit with a small cap. She is filling out paper work with a quirky smile. The nurse does not notice the two directly in front of her until Spock puts his hand on the counter and rings the bell. The nurse props up and sets her papers down.[/I] [b]NURSE~[/b] Can I help you? You a patient of his? Here fill this out. [I]The nurse?s discourteous tone startles Jane as she hides behind Spock. The nurse hands Spock a clipboard with a pen and 2 forms. The nurse quickly resumes her work. Spock hands back the clipboard and steps back a bit, stepping on Jane?s shoes.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] N-no, you misunderstand. We?re not patients of the doctor; we just wanted to talk to him, that?s all. [I]The nurse walks into the room the doctor is in and they both follow her in. They see a doctor checking on a little girl who fell and broke her leg. The nurse walks up to the doctor and taps him on the shoulder.[/I] [b]NURSE~[/b] Hey doc, these people say they wanna talk to you so I?ll just leave you four alone. [I]The nurse quickly leaves the room and shuts the door with a loud thud. Jane begins to relax and goes up to the doctor.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] Afternoon Dr. Thornton, your new nurse is a bit on the bitchy side isn?t she? Anyway, I?d like you to meet my friend Benjamin. [I]Dr. Thornton turns around and greets Spock while attending to his patient[/I] [b]DR. THORNTON~[/b] Why hello there Benjamin, Jane tells me you?re interested in becoming a doctor. [I]Spock hits Jill playfully on the shoulder and walks up to Dr. Thorton to shake hands.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] Well, I?m not really sure on what career I want to take up after college. [b]DR. THORNTON~[/b] Being a physician is a pretty good career, especially when you?re working with children like I am now. Plus the pay is pretty good too. Give me a hand here, I?ll give you some insight on what being a doctor is about. [I]Spock handed Dr. Thornton a bowl of plaster to go on the little girl?s cast. Spock noticed on how the doctor was treating the child kindly and gently to keep her relaxed. Spock edged over to Jane and began talking to her in whispers while he locked his eyes at the scene in front of him.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] He?s pretty good at this, how long has he been working with children. [b]JANE~[/b] I think only one or two years, he says he?s done lots of things in the medical field, and this is the one that he enjoys the most. [I]Dr. Thornton finishes up with the girl?s cast and the girl is lying on the bed, smiling.[/I] [b]LITTLE GIRL~[/b] Thank you Dr. Thornton [I]At that moment, Spock was locked in a trance, he imagined himself treating ill children and how humbling it would be to see that child happy again. Jane who tapped him on the shoulder brought him out of the daydream.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] What were you doing? Your brain working all right? [I]They begin walking out of the doctors? office and head to the dining hall.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I got it all figured out now. [b]JANE~[/b] Figured what out? Are you ok? [I]Jane raises her palm to check Spock?s forehead.[/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] It?s just like I said; I become a doctor, rack in the big bucks, and marry a really sweet girl. [I]Jane stops Spock and she looks with a look of amazement at him.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] So then you?ll- ?! [I]Jane is filled with excitement she cannot complete her sentence. [/I] [b]SPOCK~[/b] I guess so, I?m gonna become a doctor! Thanks Jane for taking me to see Dr. Thornton. [I]Perplexed, Jane suddenly returns to her playful attitude. But not before receiving a kiss by Spock and running away.[/I] [b]JANE~[/b] Hey! You come back here you perv! [I]The begin chasing one another again as screen pans out .[/I] [b]~Fin~[/b] [/COLOR]

[color=darkblue]I felt such emptiness I wanted to cry. I was the one who seemed shy, not knowing what to say. The silence no longer seems intimidating. It whispers at you, never shouts. Leads you down a path hoping for more. I didn?t want to loose the change, which the light had already began. I had expected to see the same shy smile. Taken aback by the simplicity of her world. Whether you wish it or not, life extends all around you, not just from within. I closed my eyes, if I wanted to cry. A man can?t be so far without comfort from seeking his family. To be living this life, it feels like a dream. T o live normal, how good a life she must feel. We both kept silent. At that moment, I wanted to see how much I realized. A waste of time would mean nothing, They knew my words would. I decided to keep it a secret in the end. I didn?t have any choice but to follow my heart. The air began to feel different. We breathed ?I will come to you,? Her voice drifted off into the air. Seeking some where soft to hide lost. Just another phantom, sound, or vision. How could you not dream in a place like this? An empty canvas, in which you slowly begin to fill. Endured all the quiet and loneliness. The lightest nuance, the slightest sound, can?t miss. I felt a new surge of energy travel through my body. I strained to take one last glimpse. And began to write. [/color]

[b][i][u]Treasure Box[/b][/u][/i] By: Andrew (me) :D [color=darkblue]Over the hilltops of a small town, a lone house sits at the top of the hill, covered in tall grass. A middle-aged woman sat in her room looking out the window. Dark clouds began to cover the bright sky, brining light rain. ?Another rainy day,? she said with a disappointing sigh. She left the window and walked downstairs for something to eat. She opened the cabinet and took out a glass jar of homemade cookies. She headed back upstairs and sat on her bed, eating and thinking of something to do. Her bed was littered with cookie crumbs when she was done and she set the jar on the table. She jumped off the bed, some of the crumbs falling on the floor, carpet speckled with drink spills. She went into her closet and started looking at the different items that she had kept inside. Old clothes from her birth up to the clothes she wore now. Toys scattered on the bottom. An old doll in the corner with a missing eye and different pieces of a child?s train set, the rails scattered into hundreds of pieces. Her older brother?s collection of model cars lay under the blue pieces of plastic railroad, most of which are in good condition, though a little dusty. Except one car, which her brother called ?the cheap Volkswagen.? She picked up her old doll and began to talk to it. ?Hey there, haven?t seen you in a long time. What have you been keeping in here all these years I haven?t been playing with you?? She began to sift through the pile of toys, holding her doll. She noticed something sparkling at the bottom of the all the clutter and pulled it out, revealing a small chest, a small part of it still shining its golden plating. She set her doll down on the bed and held the box up over her head. ?This is my treasure box. All that it holds belongs to me.? She set the chest down on the bed next to her doll, knelt down, and opened it with a key in her drawer. ?Maybe I should tell you how I got all these things. They may not be beautiful to you or anyone else, but I treasure these with all my heart.? She sifted through the four items within the box and pulled out a dried rose. ?Here we go, my first treasure. I got this on my very first day of school. I was so scared of being left alone without my mother but I promised myself I wouldn?t cry. I was one of the first students to go inside and see my teacher, Mrs. Hammerstrom. It wasn?t long before my mom hugged me goodbye, told the teacher to take good care of me and leave the room. Tears started to come from my eyes as I took a seat on the floor and I just cried. The entire day I was crying, the teacher couldn?t even start the first game to get to know each other. They probably all knew who I was, the crying girl. I finally calmed down because I promised myself that I wouldn?t cry. But I missed my mom so much. That was when the teacher started the first game, we were paired up and we were told to do different activities around the room and outside on the playground. I was paired up with another girl to go outside and pick a flower out in the garden to give to her. So she sent us out and told me not to cry. We went into the garden where I got myself lost ?cause I was so small. I found a beautiful rose on a bush in the corner and tried to look for my partner, but I couldn?t. I started to cry again but I shook it off and wiped my eyes. I looked up and saw my partner holding a rose of the same kind, but a bit smaller. ?Don?t cry, my name?s Kirsten,? she said and she handed me the rose. I gave her my rose and we found our way out of the huge garden together. I felt a lot better knowing someone cared about me, even if they didn?t know me that well. We came back to class and I started talking with her the rest of the day with her gift in my hands. Little did I know, we never stopped talking to each other, she became my best friend. Ah, memories.? She reached into her box. ?But there?s more, don?t you worry. It looks like it?s going to be a long while before the storm goes away.? She set down the dried rose to the side of her doll and reached into the box again, pulling out a large white feather. ?A few years passed and I was in the third grade, could you believe it? It?s been three long years and I got through all of them!? She smiled proudly. ?Anyway, I got this feather when we got our first pet which was a small dove. Yeah, I know that it?s a strange pet to have around the house, but it was really pretty. My mom bought it for me during her trip to a place far, far away and gave it to me on my eighth birthday. I didn?t really like pets at first, I would just rather play with dolls like you or go outside and play with my best friend or my neighbors, but I grew to like it. The dove made such soothing sounds that put me to sleep in the living room downstairs and I would invite my best friend on sleepovers so we could play with it and it would put us to sleep in no time. I decided to ask my mom if I could put it in my room so I could take care of it more easily, especially at night when it gets really hungry. My mom agreed and she had the cage hung up on the ceiling.? She points to the hole where the chain was attached to hang the cage on. ?It was really nice having it around. But once school started to get harder, I had less and less time to give it the care it needed. I tried to keep it in my room as long as I could, but it started getting angry, as if I hated it. But that was never how I felt. I loved it but it was hard to give everything it wanted or needed. My mom and brother saw that and decided to put it back into the living room so they could watch over it and I could concentrate on my schoolwork. Unfortunately, the dove was so attached to me; it was mean to my brother and mom every time they came near it. I was the only one who could take care of it, but I couldn?t. That was when my mother finally decided to let it go because all it did was make loud noises that would wake everyone up. When it flew out of its cage and out of my life forever, it left a feather, a gift to me, thanking me for taking care of it as much as I could.? She put the feather next to the dried rose and she reached into the box again, this time, pulling out a silk ribbon. ?A few more years passed and I was a little older.? She took the thin piece of ribbon and used it to tie back her hair into a ponytail. ?Nice isn?t it? My mom used it to tie my hair each morning before I left to go play with my best friend. It wasn?t much of a fashion statement, but I liked how it blended into my dark hair and they way she tied it. I never really cared about what other people thought about me before. I was with my best friend throughout my school days and we would just play together. Summer vacation and we had the freedom to do what we wanted. Since I was a lot older, all that Kirsten and I would do was talk, for hours at a time, about anything. We went out one day and stopped by the park, which had a small pond. We sat by the rocks and looked out on the pond, not saying anything. It was a strange feeling, even though we weren?t talking, I knew what she was thinking. ?Will it always be like this?? That was her question. I took my silk ribbon from my hair and snapped it in two. I have one half of it to her and the smaller piece I kept. When the summer was over she would be moving to a different town and school, which put her in silent, thought most of the time. When the day finally came, we parted ways with promises to see each other again. But I have never gotten chance to ?see? her. I?ve only talked to her through letters and, sometimes, through the phone. I do miss her. But I know that we?ll see each other again someday.? She looked through her box one last time after putting down the torn piece of silk and pulled out a small piece of paper. ?Though, the person I will miss the most is my mother. This was a letter she wrote during another one of her trips far away. I was around nineteen years old.? She opened up the letter and started reading it. ?Dear Grace, I know that you?ve worked many long and hard years to get to where you are now and I know that I can count on you to be a responsible and mature girl. But now I have to leave you. I can?t tell you why or for how long but just know that I?ll always love you and I?ll be there in your heart wherever you go. I?ll support you in anyway I can but not in the way I used to as your mother. I?ll try to make my way back to you if I can. But chances are I won?t. I?ll miss you Grace.? ?I never understood what the message meant. I keep reading it every single day and, in my mind, I could never seem to understand at the time. But I finally understood when she never came back. She gave me everything, the house, the car, enough money. But all I wanted was to her to come home and be with me. But, as time passed, I learned how to live on my own because I was old enough. I also understood what the letter meant after all this time. My mother never wrote again, she?s still here with me, but only in my thoughts.? She set all her items back into the golden box and picked up her old doll and looked at it. The rain finally stopped and the sun began to shine. ?All better now. Well, it looks like I have to go.? She heard the doorbell ring. ?I wonder who that could be.? She put the doll into the box, closed it, and headed downstairs. [/color]

[COLOR=darkblue]...I want to officially apoligize to everyone involved for letting this thread run...it borders spam and a comedy, confusing to decide, but I see it would be in my best judgement to close this thread... ~R.T.[/COLOR]

Yup...I'm getting it! I've been waiting for another Forgotten Realm's title for a while, adding it to my collection. Though it still has a strong single-player component.

I have the game out right now on a rental...It's alright for PS2, the frame rate chugs during a battle scene or explosion, which can get a bit annoying. Though it does lack a multiplayer (and blood)...the graphics are incredible, especially the 1st mission and the missions are fun. I think the PS2 strengths are in the audio, which is encoded in Dolby surround...the music is great and the sounds really make up for what the visual realism lacks on the PS2.

OOC: It's just a game...as long as you can understand the concept of where we are and what's happening...it's all good. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` [i]Dressed in modern clothing, Blair walked through the forest's main path. Quiet and serene, he took hold of a flower and pulled it up towards him from the side of the path. He far from his secluded home deep within Fardennes forest, though he could hear the voices of his family calling out to him. He would not get lost. The sun was still high up in the sky, forcing rays of sunlight through the thick greenery. He still had time to focus on his training. He diverted from the main path and took a hidden one, indicated by the slight charring of the leaves and plants at the foot of the trees. He walked towards there for a long while, until he came to an grassy field. Tall redwoods still stood around him, but he had room to move about and do what he had to do to get better at his abilities. Blair took stance and began to concentrate.[/i] Blair: I know I have to do this...I've been pushing too hard on the reach... [i]He only wished he had an instructor guiding him. All of them were on the front lines, battling against a numerous army of machines and tech. Crude weapons that had no purpose in the hearts of his family and friends, only poisoning them and destroying what they held dear. He stood, arms spread open, eyes closed. The beams of light that were cast down by the sun soon became stronger and more potent. Bits and pieces of pollen and extra foliage lifted up from the ground and flew around him until a thick mass nearly blanketed the area. He focused on an expendable tree and brought his arms forward. The steady whirlwind of the forest floor moved the old redwood. Razor sharp leaves scathed it's skin. Bent branches bruised it. Blair concentrated hard, sweat forming on his forehead...the tree began to give way...and it fell towards him. Blair's eyes were open and alert, though the wind had not disappeared.[/i] Blair: Oh god... [i]Blair ran out of the tree's path before it collided with the hard-packed earth. It created a loud, thundering sound throughout the entire forest. The tree died...Blair walked over to where it was firmly planted and saw a hundred more seedlings growing steadily. This was a special place where they could generate potent and large amounts of magic, a safe haven and a training ground. He lifted himself up and sat on the tree. He had done the first of his tasks, delved into the element of the wind and the spirit of the forest. Blair lay back and took in a deep breath...that was when he heard the call of his kind...in dire need of help...[/i] Xi??: Help! [i]It echoed throughout the forest...a telepathic plea. He didn't recognize the voice to a face or a name, but he knew it was one of his own and he knew where the poor man's location was. The sun was already setting and he had to act fast...Blair felt that he was too far away from reaching anyone else for help. But if he ran back home, the man who needed his help would surely be dead... ~Cautiously, he stood up and boosted himself up towards the higher trees and began his search...~[/i]