Inari

Greetings everyone from the frozen desert of Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA! Yes, IF is borring at times, but I don't hate it here. I love the mountains (snowboarding baby!), the awsome whitewater kayaking, the backpacking in real mountains, and being so close to Yellowstone. For those of you who don't know much about Idaho (which is probably almost everyone), Idaho is home to conservatives, Mormons, potaoes, and more potatoes. (A small town near Idaho Falls has a fair every year called Spud Day, where they give out free baked potatoes. :laugh: ) Anyways, Idaho is probably the most consistantly conservative state in the USA. Our senators didn't even have Democratic opponents to worry about!!! Kind of freaky! Anyways, probably one of the most shocking thing for anyone visiting parts of Idaho (and Utah) is how religious/Mormon it is. I don't mean any offense to anyone who is Mormon, my best friend is Mormon, but I'm going to rant for a while. Idaho Falls is about 50% Mormon, so they have a lot of influnece on the city. It's crazy here! Nothing is open on Sunday, because Mormons don't believe in doing anything accept worshiping on Sundays. We also don't celebrate holidays on the correct days. Independence Day (the fourth of July) became "The Freedom Celebration" last year because it fell on a Sunday. We even cellebrate Halloween on the wrong day if it's on a Sunday. School is also vary different for non-Mormons. Even in elementary school Mormons and non-Mormons separte themselves. When my friend was in 1st grade a Mormon girl asked her what Ward she was in. Dana had no clue as to what she was talking about, and after that the Mormon girl never talked to her again. The also do seminary "dress up days" where good Mormons dress up on Wendsday to point out who is Mormon and who isn't. Yeah, being a Diest in this state sucks, but I still love Idaho.

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Hmm... Last year I decided to dye the tips of my hair [COLOR=Red]red[/COLOR]. Not the hair color red, but [COLOR=Red][I]real[/I] red.[/COLOR] It looked pretty cool for a few weeks, but then it faded and turn a blond color. My ends were so fried that I had a friend cut them off. It looked pretty bad, and was uneven. My word of advice is never let your friends cut your hair unless they really know what they're doing. Also, I permed my hair about a year and a half ago, and it is still curly! I can tell where my hair has grown since then, but bellow that point my hair still curls. It sucks! I just want my straight hair back! I was thinking about chemically straightening it, but with all the chemicals I put in my hair, my beautician thought it would be a bad idea. Has anyone else had a never-ending perm that just wouldn't die?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][quote name='Corry][SIZE=1']Our lives ARE cakewalks. Just wait unill you get to college. No one will teach you how to do things. You are given a book, an assignment, and are expected to learn it on your own. None of this guiding through BS. You are responsible completely for your actions in every way shape and form.[/SIZE][/quote] Welcome to my AP Biology class, in which the teacher is more of a figurehead who is only there to hand out the assignments and I have to learn it without any help from him. You learn to read the textbook and absorb information on your own. I agree with ScirosDarkBlade. Your perspective on how hard college is depends on your high school and how you challenged yourself with the courses available. By the end of this year I will have taken 8 AP courses, and I don't perceive that my undergraduate work will be too difficult. I have lots of friends in college who can verify that taking AP Chem. or US History from our great teachers was harder than any college course. They all said that compared to High School, college is a cakewalk. I would just say that you should enjoy your High School years. This is your time to find out who you are and who you want to be. Have fun, and don't let your parents or anyone else force you to do more than you can and still function well. I honestly don't think that parents can fully relate to the pressure that their children are under. It's hard being adults and teenagers, but in different ways. All you can do is your best.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][quote name='DeathBug']On the other hand, I've never understood the logic behind saying, "Vote, even if it's not for my guy". If I'm voting for my guy, why would I want to encourage people to vote againat him. So, in the futre, please clear your choices with me, and I'll let you know if you should vote or not.[/quote] Hehehe... Of course Death Bug... Bush all the way. *falls over and dies of heart failure, because she has no health insurance* (j/k) Good point, but as an Idaho citizen, it doesn't really matter who you vote for. The Republicans always win. Our incumbent senator Mike Crappo won his reelection with 99% of the vote. Most of the Republican candidates just go unchallenged. (Or challenged by an even more conservative Republican, God help us!) [QUOTE]You know, it's funny; that's the only reason Kerry-supporters ever give me for wanting him. =P[/QUOTE] I'm sure that this is also true. I just see more blindly Republican, straight ticket voters than Kerry "just cus" people. Neither candidate is perfect or even anywhere near perfection, this election is defiantly the lesser of two evils. Both candidates have good and bad aspects to them, and I just respect people who go out and learn the issues and then make an educated decision based on that. Well, since Florida went for Bush it looks bad for Kerry, though he could still pull through. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Oh man! I wish that I lived in a swing state like Ohio! Idaho has been republican for so long that no one cares about us at all. Hell, we don't even care about the election! Damn those Idaho hicks and religious fanatics! (j/k) Anyways---- I will turn 18 twenty-two days after the election and it sucks! *sigh* Well, today in the most republican state out there, I wore a Kerry-Edwards yards sign as a mini skirt to school. (I wore pants, because it kept falling off.) Anyways, I got the most interesting looks and comments. That was exactly what I was going for. I just want people to care and get out there and vote if they can. It really pissed me off when a senior in one of my classes said he could vote, but wouldn't. I chewed him out so bad, oh well. It was interesting to notice that in this increasingly Republican state, the only people that I saw wearing button/shirts/yard signs/etc. where Democrats. It just goes to show who actually cares in a non-swing state. We're so Republican that no one cares anymore. See, I respect people who want Bush for good reasons, but "Kerry blows" is not a good enough reason for Bush to be president. As for the election, I'm pretty sure we won't know who is president until well after tonight. I'm kind of hoping that Bush wins the popular vote and Kerry wins the electorate, a reverse of 2000. Maybe then we could abolish the out-dated Electoral College, and standardize voter registration and polling procedures, but that's just me. Hmmm.... Gay marriage.... Personally I'm pro-gay marriage. Gay's should have the same financial benefits of being married as straight people do. Gay marriage is the is twenty-first century issue paralleling the interracial marriage issue of the mid-1800s. The country has typically headed towards increasing liberty, especially with the constitutional amendments. (Think about the ban on alcohol and how it was repealed, women's voting rights, etc.) Anyways. To anyone who can vote, GO OUT AND VOTE. I don't care who you vote for (mostly), but I would like the voter turn out rates for young people to increase, so our issues would be considered up there with health care, and social security for the old. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Interesting subject! I know that I could never develop and keep a relationship with someone I met over the internet. It would just be too hard. I would need to meet them in person first, or it would never work out. Right now I'm dating a freshman in a college close to my home. (He still lives with his parents.) We've been dating for about nine months now and things are going great. (We even went to Europe together, it was so much fun!) And now the subject of a long distance relationship has come up as I decide what college I want to apply/go to. I want to go to college far away from here, as in I live in Idaho and would like to go to college in the northeastern United States. He, for mainly financial reasons, will probably be going to University of Idaho next year, a relatively good school, but not the school for me. Now I have to decide between going to my dream college and trying to keep a long distance relationship or staying near the man I love. In the end I will probably end up close to him in Washington, Oregon or Montana, just to keep the relationship going. Talk about a dilemma... I guess that we're both a little weary of long-distance relationships and college because of the nasty break up our friends just had when one of them moved to Pennsylvania. So in the end I just don't want to risk loosing him in a long distance relationship.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]I love it! It was very deep, and I had to read through it a couple of times to make sure I understood the thoughts that went into it. (As best I could.) I like how you used your references to musical rhythm measurements along with the biological references. (Too much AP Bio? ;) ) These really added to your word choice. Also the references to color and sound were very powerful. These added to the chaotic sense and "staccato" beat. This also has a philosophical feel to it. "Humanity / The other side / Divinity" This was powerful and it open's the reader's eyes to the mortality of human life. Death is a natural thing, and this poem truly captures the chaos of death. When I first read it, the poem was fast and slightly confusing until the end (and the lines mentioned above) which added a rational, thoughtful, reflective (?) touch to this poem. The last line truly pulls this work together. It's very free flowing and doesn't have that forced sound. I loved your use of words ending in -nity or -ity. I'm not sure if it was planned or just happened, but it was very affective. It gave a sense of balance to the chaotic feel to the poem. As far as changing it goes, I wouldn't change anything. This came from you and your own soul. By following others' suggestions, you will lose some of its uniqueness and personal flare. Good luck in the contest, and I hope its not a scam to make you pay them lots of money to publish it, but oh well! This poem is brilliant regardless of what other critics say. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]It snowed today! Those big fluffy flakes that get caught in your hair and eyelashes. It was so magical. At lunch I went out and ran around in the snow. (IN flip-flops of course! :D ) It all melted by the time school ended so I didn't have to drive home in the snow, but it was so cool. This was the first snowfall for this year. I'm so excited to break out my snowboard and hit the slopes. Yeah! :wigout:[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Drix basically outlined this pretty well for you, so I'll be brief: To initiate the kiss I would suggest putting your hand behind their head and pulling them close to you before the kiss. This helps your aim (missing her lips is never good, but don't freak, just adjust your position) and this also helps to warn her that your going to kiss her. I would suggest eyes closed first, and after that I think it's a preference thing. As far as hickies go... I'm not much of a fan for these... Just giving little kisses on her neck or blowing in her ears can do wonders. I personally would get too board while my boyfriend was giving me a hicky... But I think it depends on the person. Last just be open with her about this. Don't be afraid to ask her what she did and did not like, as well as tell her when she is doing something undesirable. Communications skills are the basis of any strong relationship.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Hmm... As for the last poem I never thought of the redemption aspects, but I like it. I suppose I was thinking more along the lines of Midnight Rush's interpretation, but their both good. It's good to know that people can pick out my metaphors, while I struggle to make them very secretive and deeply embedded. What the title says three? Oh well, here's another poem. [CENTER][B]My Black Pool of Misery[/B] Standing on the edge of the darkness, I enter, The opaque surface parting to pull me inside, Slowly slipping under the deep pool of misery, Gasping my last breath and holding it within. Floating in misery far from the light, Lost in confusion, pulled under by pain, Like quicksand it consumes my soul, Losing myself in the murky water. From the surface there comes a light, A pebble breaks the surface and enters in, Ripples resonate across the dark surface, Through perfect circles the silver pool clears. Under the surface I spy the light, It lingers for me to follow it out, Hungry for breath, I eagerly swim upward, Emerging from the pool with new hope. Shrinking from the blackness of the pool, I start my new life away from pain, Releasing the all encompassing sorrow, Living in this world full of light.[/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Wow! wrist cutter wrote a post longer than two lines! I'm impressed. (J/K :D ) [quote name='wrist cutter']I suppose we should have the liberty to kill people too?[/quote] I agree that liberty is a dangerous thing and that as we destroy the laws already in place we risk shaking the foundation that organized society is based on. With that said, I don't feel that legalizing marijuana will lead to the crumbling of our society and or legalizing murder. [quote name='wrist cutter']I don't get what your point is. Having a law against substances that will kill you is a bad thing??[/quote] My point is that marijuana should be legalized because people should have the right to judge for themselves whether or not to use this substance that [I]can[/I] kill you [I]if used incorrectly[/I]. [quote name='wrist cutter'](though I agree we need more laws regarding who can and cannot have sex).[/quote] I never meant or said that. I don't agree, accept in cases of people purposefully spreading AIDS to unknowing victims. Other than that it's not the government's job to regulate the sex of consenting adults. We have the liberty to choose for ourselves just like we should be able to with marijuana. [quote name='Zeta']Just this week I found out that about 71% of the people in jail are there for first time offenses with drugs.[/quote] That's interesting, and with the overcrowding in prisons this is an important issue. I'm not saying that abolishing laws is the answer to overcrowded jails, but legalizing marijuana would be beneficial to the situation. These people are only criminals according to unjust laws, so according to Thoreau these people are justified and hopefully can make a loud enough statement to change that law. Civil disobedience yeah! :wigout: [/COLOR]

[quote name='Baron Samedi']What if we look at this from another side: aside from medical uses, what good does marijuana do?[/quote] [COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]What good do cigarettes or alcohol do? Not much aside from the claim that red wine helps with lower blood pressure. The real question is why should these potentially harmful products be legalized and the one word answer is [B]LIBERTY[/B]. We have the liberty to get in a car when the death rate due to car crashes is tremendous. We have the liberty to live in polluted cities and ruin our lungs. We have the liberty to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol even though these habits are unhealthy. We have the liberty to have unprotected sex between consenting adults, even with the threat of AIDS and other STDs. People should be able to choose for themselves what "risky" they want to participate in and should suffer the consequences of their actions. If marijuana was legalized I personally would choose not to use it because of the harmful side-affects, but I feel that I should have the liberty to decide that for myself. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]I feel that marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes. Marijuana has many positive effects on patients with tremors and other neurological ailments. It can also be used in place of morphine a highly addictive pain medication with side effects just as bad as marijuana. We can also learn so much from working with marijuana to create better medications that are less harmful, but with the same medicinal qualities. As for allowing people to use marijuana for non-medicinal purposes I would still have to agree with its legalization. I don?t feel that marijuana is more of a gateway drug than alcohol or cigarettes. Generally people don?t start taking cocaine or other ?hard? drugs with out trying other things like alcohol, cigarettes and tobacco. This ?gateway? argument has blown itself way out of proportion and I don?t feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of ?hard? drug usage. If anything legalizing marijuana would lead to safer use of marijuana. This would standardize the dosage and purity of a joint so that people using marijuana aren?t subjected to some of the more dangerous marijuana forms sold on the streets. I personally feel that people should not use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or any other drug irresponsibly. A drink now and then or an occasional joint isn?t that bad for you. It?s when people abuse these things that there are problems. I also feel that if marijuana were to be legalized there would have to be ?driving while high? laws such as the various blood alcohol level laws across the country. Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous and should be illegal. In short, marijuana for medicinal purposes should defiantly be legal, while the widespread legalization of this drug should be handled responsibly.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Great topic Chibihorsewoman! It's kind of interesting to me when I think of what my mother has done with her name. When she married my father she dropped her middle name and changed it to her maiden name and kept his last name. (Coincidently they gave me her maiden name for my middle name, but not my brother.) After my father died she remarried and kept my father's name. She is a published, respected microbiologist and didn't want to lose her professional prestige because she remarried later in life. As for me, I will probably just keep my maiden name or hyphenate it according to what my husband and I decide to. (If I get married of course.) If we hyphenated my name, then we would give our children the hyphenated name, but if I kept my name and he kept his, I would let our children be named after him. I would do this so that all of my children have the same last name, and it would be less confusing that way. My history teacher did this. His wife kept her maiden name because she had a PHD in Russian History and is a feminist, but their daughter is named after her father. I think that there are lots of non-feminist reasons to keep your maiden name; I think that it has more to do with gender equality. Well that's my two cents on this subject. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Well here it is my last poem for now. I wrote this the other day durring and english lecture. I tried to follow a rhythmic patter, but I'm not sure if I like it so much. Try and figure out all of my symbols/metaphores. It should be interesting. [CENTER][B]A Rock in the Sea[/B] In the midst of the swirling dark ocean depths, Waves rising and falling in their own time, Turmoil and chaos in the moon?s design, A rock stands firm, struggling in the dark. Waves crashing down, thrashing the rock?s face, Crumbling away into the endless sea, Smothered and soaked, swept under by great waves, Revealing fresh scars only time can heal. The sun?s bright rays pierce the dwindling storm, Glistening in the light, comforted by the warmth, Though the waves broke the stone, it has survived, Chasms run deep, but yet it still lingers. Water left remnants of its destruction, Minerals and debris stranded on its face, Changing its surface, allowing new life, Seeds creep from the crack and reach for the sun. [/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] Well here's my theory: 1. Something tragic happened, like a car crash or a burglary gone wrong. (Reference to keys.) 2. An "angel" died. This angel was probably just a really good person whom the speaker cared for. 3. The speaker survived the incident with scars, and is blaming himself for the death of the angel. 4. The speaker is about to commit suicide, to end the guilt. 5. The speaker is also praying to his "father" or God, and is asking to be taken into heaven because his own suicide is justified in his mind. I don't think that's "right", but oh well. It's a great song regardless![/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] As far as the music goes I love this song! I like a lot of Greenday music, but I would say that this one is up there with there best music. As far as the lyrics go, I don't mind being called an American idiot. I think that right now there are a lot of stupid Americans out there, and this song is just meant to point that out to us. My boyfriend really disagrees with me here, and finds it very ironic that the same people going out and buying their CDs are the American idiots in the song. Oh well. I love music with a political message. These kinds of songs are thought provoking and show that the artist is somewhat intelligent. (Intelligent enough to think about politics or to find creative ways to make money, depending on your point of view.) [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] I'm going trick-or-treating, Hell yeah! I think that I'm going with a few of my friends. We did it last year and it was so much fun. Well, I not going to be weird and stop at everyone's house, just the people that I know. I think I'll even visit a few teachers. This will be so much fun! I completely understand the snow on Halloween issue Chibihorsewoman. I can't remember the last Halloween we had in Idaho when there wasn't snow on the ground, or the temperature was above freezing. One year it was so cold, we went trick-or-treating in our car because it was too cold to walk. I don't quite know what I'll dress up as. I probably will wear one of my prom dresses with a flowery wreath on my head and some glitter, and be a fairy...princess...thingy... Of course I will have to wear long pants and a coat over my costume. *Shakes fist at Idaho weather.* Also, Halloween is on a Sunday. This sucks because the Mormons here in Idaho refuse to pass out candy on Sunday, and force the rest of the town to trick-or-treat on Saturday. I suppose it's not too bad because you can trick-or-treat twice, but I still hate that we have to move Halloween just for them. Anyways, have fun trick-or-treating everyone![/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Wow, what's with all of the love threads? Homecoming or something? Well here's my advice: First: Don't tell him you love him just yet. If he's not ready to hear it, this could ruin any hopes of a relationship. It puts him in an awkward position of "do I say I love you back, even if I don't mean it?" That's never good. Second: Try just asking him out, and dating him for a while. You both can become much closer, and if it's meant to be great, but if not you can still be friends. If you still feel the same way about him after going out for a while (A couple of weeks or more) then you should tell him how you really feel. Third: Love is a very powerful word. It should only be used if you truly mean it. [quote name='PainfulLife'] I have a crush/ am in love [/quote] Having a crush or an infatuation is very different from love. Incredibly different. I know that you might be in love, but you don't want to say "the L word" unless you truly mean it. It entails a lot of commitment and it opens you up to the possibility of being hurt. Sorry if I sound harsh here, it just really pisses me off when people say they love people without truly meaning it. Love is supposed to be a special thing, and I hope you have truly found it.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Hi everyone! Thanks for all of your comments. I didn't think I would get to post my other poems, so thanks for replying. :D I think I will try to follow some kind of rhythmic pattern in my next poems, eternity. I suppose I should succumb to some form of pattern... Well, here is my next poem. I don't like it as much. I found that poems about pain and suffering were easier to write. Maybe pain is a stronger emotion. Meh. [CENTER][B]Captive Souls[/B] Fearfully reaching out for each other, Sacrificing all for our pure love, Uncertain as the wind blows, Yet willingly loosing ourselves. Delicately bound together, Caring deeper than ever before, Opening our lives to each other, Devotion reaching to our very core. Two souls venturing forth, Leaving everything certain and known, Daring to unite in a leap of faith, A union greater than each alone. Deep eyes piercing my soul, Filling my heart, sustaining my life, Two hearts beating together, Two souls twining as one. Nervous breaths of anticipation, The encapsulating gaze of your eyes, The lingering warmth of your breath, Your symbol of love around my neck. Pure, unchanging love, Resonating from our every fiber, Revealing the truth of our lives, We are captive souls loving as one.[/CENTER][/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][quote name='Midnight Rush']This whole question is rather.... illogical.[/quote] Humans are illogical, and love is an illogical feeling. Love is like a rose, beautiful, but covered in thorns. All humans have a desire to give and receive love. Its part of what makes us human. Lots of people are afraid of love because it puts them in a vulnerable position. You have to trust that they wont hurt you. It's a leap of faith. Not everyone is mature enough to handle the commitment that love entails, and this is why many good relationships end. Saying that you will never love again is a natural response to being hurt by one you love. The fact is that if you are truly in love, then those feeling that you feel for someone don't just go away. These feelings can be transferred into hate, for both are strong emotions, but try not to do this. Whether you are loosing a boyfriend/girlfriend, a family member or even a close friend things do get better if you let them. Grieve for your lose, but do not become consumed by it. Love is always worth it.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] I'm so happy because this is homecoming week for my school, and I actually decided to participate this year. I played powder-puff football, and it was so much fun! (Powder-puff football is basically flag football for girls, where we only play one game.) And we won for the first time in five years! The score was 22 to 16. It kicked a**! I got to shove girls around and wear that black paint under my eyes. It rocked! [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue] [quote name='Xander Harris']So, anyhow, we spent like a week studying the dude, and then one day ripping his theories to shreds. Fun.[/quote] I studied Descartes in my AP European History class, and we only spent about fifteen minutes on him, and we read an excerpt by him. We didn't even get to argue about his thoughts. Oh well... So what do you think of John Locke? He was the one that said that in our natural state humans are good to each other and it is only though outside influence that we turn to "bad" or "good" things. He also said that everyone is born with a [I]tabularosa[/I] or a blank slate, and that everyone is equal at birth. Locke said that we fill our blank slate with our experiences and these are what shape us. King Louis XIV did an experiment with his theory by isolating a bunch of babies. He only allowed nurses to go in to feed the babies, but they weren't allowed to hold them. Louis thought that the babies would come out speaking in the language of nature, but instead they all died. I like his thoughts on the [I]tabularosa[/I], and how our experiences shape who we are. I don't believe in the Calvinistic "Original Sin," and how we are all born with sin, so I side more with Locke. He used the thought that our experiences shape us to explain why the Europeans and the Asians were very different. I think our experiences are very important. The one thing I don't like about his [I]tabularosa[/I] is how he/Americans used it to justify slavery. I think that regardless of your upbringing, no one deserves to be placed in a subservient role like that. Locke also believed that government is created through a social contract in which the people all agree to form a government that will protect their natural rights, which were life, liberty, and property. He goes on to say that when ever the government becomes oppressive the people have a right to over through it. A lot of these ideas went into the United States' Declaration of Independence. I disagree that government always originated from a contract. I tend to believe more in the force and the evolutionary theories. Either government came from the most powerful person around or it evolved from the social structure of a family or society. Ideal governments should be agreements, but I don't think there are many out there that are truly social contracts. Also, on his point about securing the property of the governed, I realize this is important to some people, but it isn't necessary for government. Communism is a legitimate form of government, but no one has property. I think that as a wealthy person himself, he was looking out for his own interests after England set up its new government. Finally, I do agree in his thoughts on oppressive governments. If a government is oppressive, its people should abolish it. This power should not be over used, but it should be there. Yeah... So those are my thoughts on John Locke, what do you guys think? And if I wrote anything incorrect please say something about it.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Li stood next to Maya, and looked her straight in the eyes. ?We have to survive these monsters before we can save Canathael. Can you do this?? she asked in a very serious tone. Maya stared back into Li?s eyes and nodded. Li unsheathed her swords, and hoped that her arm was strong enough to wield it properly. She took a defensive stance as Maya pulled out her sword and braced herself as well. The raptors came at them at astonishing speeds, and were on top of the two women in a matter of seconds. Li had barely enough time to glance over at the creature approaching Sarek. It spoke to him, but Li could not make out the words. She had to focus on the raptors and pray that Maya would be true to her word. Li swung her arms out in a circular motion, slicing her opponent in several places, but only inflicting minor wounds. It recoiled from her blade for a few seconds, which was just enough time for Li to glance at Maya. She had managed to slash her raptor on its face, leaving a large flap of skin exposed. Li was thankful that Maya had been true to her word, and so she returned all of her mental capacity to her own struggle. Li charged the raptor while emitting a bloodthirsty war cry. She thrust her first sword into the belly of the creature and used her other sword to defend her body form the formidable claws. This worked and the creature's lifeless body fell on top of her.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Hmmm..... I don't go by Inari. That would be weird and hard for people to remember. I think I choose the name while flipping through a mythology book. Inari was a moon/rice goddess of Japan. I'm not even really sure why I picked this name. Oh well. When my little brother was in the first grade he insisted on being call "Capitan Kirk," like on [I]Star Trek[/I]. He had two friends who went by "Data" and "Spock." They even signed their homework papers with these aliases. It was kind of amusing.[/COLOR]