Daily July 2

Dear Libby one month in the future,
How are you? If I didn't really want to get this daily, I wouldn't be writing this letter, because I don't see the point of looking to the future, really. At least it's better than looking in the past. I could use my strategy of tricking myself into writing by writing paragraphs about how I don't want to be writing, but I don't have the energy for that, so it's time for a straightforward approach.
Has the school posted the class schedule yet? Has Mom killed you for asking about it too many times? How was the beach trip? Is the haircut I'm getting tomorrow any good? Please say yes, please say yes. Anyway, I'm very excited for the Fourth of July, even though Grandma isn't getting an inflatable waterslide this year. Once you get this letter, the Fourth will have passed, and there won't be another holiday until Halloween. Speaking of which, what is your costume going to be? Since we are the same person I already know. Did Charlie agree to being Bluey and Bingo? Of course he would be Bingo because Bingo is soooo great. That was sarcasm, by the way. If he doesn't, maybe I'll go with my original idea of an Amazon delivery guy. Have you been writing much lately? I realize the irony of that statement because I'm doing this for Scratch Writing Camp. I also realize that was a question, not a statement. Huh. I realize a lot of things. Have you started playing Hogwarts Legacy again? I've been meaning to get back into it, but I'm so into Bugsnax right now that I don't want to start a new video game again. Do you like your forum signature with the Bluey quote? Have you changed it? Say no, or I will do a Jedi mind trick on you to make you change it back.
Until later,
Libby

222 words (I think)

Dear future self… Have you ever wondered what your future self will think of current you? Do you have any pressing questions for your future self? Now's your chance to find out - write a letter to your end-of-the-month self! Try to include some goals you have for this month, SWC or personal, and any questions you have for yourself in 200 words for 200 points.

Word Count: 311

Dear future me,
A month isn’t a very long time, now is it? I can’t say I expect much to change between now and then. But a lot can change in a month, whether one expects is too or not.
As far as SWC goes, I obviously hope to reach my word goal. 15k is actually a pretty small goal for me, so I honestly hope to double it, or at least surpass it. I hope to participate in as many dailies and weeklies as possible, minus the few days that I won’t be online due to a sleepover.
None SWC wise, I don’t know if it’s possible in this amount of time, but I’d love to get my bowling average up to 200. Summer will pretty much be over by then, and I really want to go into the next season with at least a 200 average. Maybe this month will even be the month I bowl a 300! Wouldn’t that be something?
I’m trying to get better at talking to people to, and by the months end I suppose I’ll know how that worked out. Well, future me? Did I do it? Did I actually manage to make a new friend this time, or did I let the chance slip away?
It would also be nice if, somewhere in this time, I find a balance between the kid I still feel like and the adult I’m probably supposed to be. That would be nice.
The last thing I want to say to you, future me, isn’t a question, but a congratulations. By this point you will have passed the one year mark from the last time you spoke to your old friend. You did it. You actually made it, you’ve moved on. And maybe this is arrogant to say, but I’m proud of you. Keep going.
-Your past self

Link to Masterpost: https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/post/8034365/
Link to this post: https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/post/8038234/
Word Count: 204/200
Date completed (UTC): 7/2/24
Time Completed (UTC): 9:53 PM
Prompt Summary: Write a letter to your future self!
Points(?): 200
Listeners(?): 50

Dear Future Self,
I hope you’re doing well! As I’m writing this, SWC has just started and this is a daily! The prompt is just to essentially write a letter to my future self and include some goals, so, uh, wish me luck!

Soo, first I’ll ask you some questions, I guess. How many words did you write at the end of the month? (Currently our word goal is 10k) How did the camps go? (How many new scars did you get from being reckless as heck?) Did you make any new friends, either online or in real life? Did you ACTUALLY work on Night Light? (If not, major shame, major shame-) How’s your life doing in general? Have you been making an effort? Also, PLEASE tell me that you have been working on those scholarships and tests.

Here are some goals I have for this July:
- Contribute at least 5k words to Night Light
- Work on keeping my weight healthy and consistent
- Keep going to the gym and pushing myself
- Keep researching various college related things
- Stay on top of deadlines (YOU KNOW THEY EXIST SO DO THEM)
- Read Bible more/various faith related thingies

Anyways, I hope you’re doing well!
Sincerely, You!

I am @florobbins — unfortunately can't use the forums yet but I'll convert everything when I can :'D

daily two | 2nd july '24
letter to myself

Dear Flora,

It’s me again — your not-so-much-younger self. Hope you (we?) have gained some sort of philosophical insight about life in the past 30 days. That we had a kind of magical revelation that unmasks this unseen and unveils our ability to truly see in this world? That’s what happens when we age, right? Maybe not. I guess we’ll find out one day.

Anyhow. I hope we’re doing well. Did we have a good camp? Make some new friends? Everyone here is so nice already. I’m really glad I was sorted into Dystopian. It’s one of our favourite genres, too. And our cabin — the aesthetic — ten out of ten.

I know we’re a very competitive person so… Did Dystopian win? Did we break some ancient scratch writing camp record and leave everyone else in our dust? We’ve gotta shoot for the stars, Flora, you see. *cue creepy therapist who seems to be too invested in our life* It’s all in the mindset, my dear. (what life-changing advice!)

Oh and I’d like to imagine we didn’t push ourselves too hard. Gentle reminder: Writing is a fun hobby *pats on head* I hope we made a little progress on our novel, too, and perhaps cured a bit of our writer’s block. That stuff sucks.

And, look, I know you’re all sophisticated and old now and you know everything but perhaps I’m still relevant enough to remind you to go drink some water. Seriously. I haven’t had any since yesterday.

Or maybe we’ve fixed that problem.

Love you,
Flora

256 words

*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧

♩♬ || flora's table of contents . . .

random post <3

Daily: Story elements chosen for me: Jester, Romance, Childhood spot, words replacing a curse

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A lone wolf laid strewn out on the rocks, watching the tides of the ocean below this cliff slowly fade in and out. The water was darker than it used to be, she recognized, more clouded and sticky, leaving residue on the shoreline. Nonetheless the sun glinted off it beautifully. It always did. She slowly breathed in, the pristine earthy scent of the woods only slightly tainted by the ocean’s new odor. This was a place of peace and beauty, where only the sweetest of birds sang. How sad she felt for those in the waters, and the fate they had come across. She lingered a little while longer, before she got up, and began her slow journey back home.

The weather was slightly cooler the next time Chloe visited the seaside cliff. The waters appeared roughly the same, but she remained up high where she could oversee a great distance of the seaside. She waited, slowly grooming her short, dark, silvery fur as she watched, continually looking out at the sea. It had been so long since she’d seen any sign of life out there.. she almost wondered if there was even anyone left. A short brown dog padded up along the rocks.

“Hi, Chloe! Figured I’d find you here.” He said with slight amusement, looking around. “Still concerned about the ocean, right? I don’t see why. It’s not like it has any effect on the rivers or land.” He padded around, picking up a small rock. “The best thing it was ever for was skippin’ rocks!” He wound back to throw it, but she stopped him with her paw.

“Don’t do that..” she said, looking back out at the water. “I’m waiting for something.. for someone.. it’s been such a long time.” The brown dog seemed a bit confused.

“Well if you want to meet with someone from the sea, why aren’t you /at/ the sea? This cliff has to be like three HUNDRED feet up. If someone showed the only way you’d get there in time is jumping. And that is NOT recommended. Believe me, I’ve done it before. It was very cool for a couple of seconds and then really REALLY bad for a few seconds-“

Chloe chuckled. “I suppose you’re right, Reuben.. let’s go down.” She stood and began heading down the rocky trail down the side of the cliff. It was a long and slow walk, which made the anxiety of it all the worse. She hadn’t been down on this beach since she was only a pup. Of course, she played here all the time at that age. The beach was such a serene place then.

Reuben paused about halfway down to scratch his name in the wall. He liked doing that everywhere. When questioned about it, he always claimed it would make him ‘immortal’, whatever that meant. Chloe let him do so, slowly stepping out onto the warm sand. “I used to have a.. friend.. that would play out here with me.. I’ve been waiting for him for years now.” She settled down in the sand.

Reuben paused, a little awkward. “Years? Pardon my incredulousness but years? Holy snozzwangler, Chloe, you must really love this guy.”

She nodded. “He’ll come back any day now… when the water clears, perhaps.”

Chloe had waited on that beach every day for three years. And yet, from that day forward, Reuben too sat with her on the beach, talking with the lonely wolf, making sure that she was amused. Her ocean friend never came, but sometimes, just sometimes, that felt almost alright.

596 words

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Personal story

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“You can’t be serious.” Chester dropped a stack of blank papers onto an old, cracked desk, worn with the work of a thousand rewrites. “We finally sign up for something, and you pull this.”

The other figure spun his office chair in a circle with a sigh. “You know as well as I that when there’s no inspiration, we don’t write. That’s just how it is. And if you want a story to submit, why don’t YOU try it? Oh right! Because the last time I let you handle something all on your own you ended up creating the disaster trio! How long has it been since you’ve touched them, hmm?”

“They are not the ISSUE here, Chaos. We need stories, and we need them now! If we do not write SOMETHING in the near future, we could be scrapped!”

Chaos sighed, sitting back. “Then so be it. From the graphite we were created and to the graphite we will return.”

“That’s it, I’m submitting a complaint.”


167 words

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“How to”

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Today I am going to be teaching you how to make a PB&J. One of the more common meal types, this delight is both easy to put together and delicious to eat. Now! Let’s get started.

The first thing you are going to need for this sandwich is of course bread. To acquire bread, you can go to your local grocery store, gas station, or supermarket. In order to find one of these places, first you need to open a maps app on your phone. Look for a little button that looks like a magnifying glass. If there is none, I can’t help you. Get a new maps app. Once you have located the magnifying glass, press it! It should open up a bar that you can type in. Now type in there one of the options listed above, that being ‘Grocery store’, ‘Gas station’, or ‘Supermarket’. Find the nearest option and hit the ‘go’ button. If there is no ‘go’ button, find a new maps app and repeat the same process as above again and again until you find a ‘go’ button. There’s gotta be one eventually.

Now that you have the location of the bread, you’re going to want to call for your personal helicopter. Make sure to wait until it’s landed before trying to get on this time. Everyone knows the real reason why your haircut is so messed up. Once the helicopter has landed, climb into your seat and buckle in, before politely thanking the driver for taking time out of his busy day to assist you in your endeavor. He won’t look very happy today. You’ve been underpaying him again.

Show the helicopter pilot where you would like to go using your new brilliance with the maps app. He will soon inform you that your map is extremely outdated and the place you are trying to go was condemned years ago. No matter! He knows another place you can get bread! Double check that you are buckled in and the doors are closed (if there are any), before settling in for takeoff.

Congratulations! You have reached the place that holds bread! Thank your pilot again and unbuckle, wait for the blades to stop, and open your door (if there is one), stepping out. Now, there are likely to be a few people here already, several of which will give you a funny look. Ignore it and go inside. Make sure to interrupt an employee who is already talking to someone to ask where the bread is. If they ignore you, ask again. If they get snippy, find another employee and do the same. Eventually someone will tell you where the bread is. There will be many variants, but what kind of bread you make your sandwich with is totally irrelevant, so just grab the most expensive one. Perfect! Now walk out of the store. Go. No, you don’t have to pay. Go! Urgh. Fine, you don’t have to be such a baby about it. If you want to not have a warrant for your arrest I guess it’s one less paragraph for me to write about.

Now that you have your lawfully acquired bread (ugh), walk back outside. Your helicopter will be gone but DONT panic. Your home can’t be far from here right? What’s the address again? You don’t know the address.. hmm.. does this area look familiar at least? … Of course it doesn’t. Okay, so you’re going to need to get your phone out again and try to remember where that little line was at on the map before. I’ll be honest, I have no idea where your house was. Right then, do you have anyone you can call and ask? Oh, right! Your chopper pilot! Call them up on your phone. It’s a preset, I know. I saw it earlier. There we go, now ask him which way home is!

I don’t appreciate that you don’t seem to be listening to me as well anymore. Do you want this PB&J or not? Right. That’s what I thought. Now climb back into your recalled helicopter and buckle in. Safety first. Now, politely ask your pilot to take you home again. Now that you are home, head inside and set your Baguette on the counter. Very good. Now you just need to get Peanut butter, Jelly, and a butter knife. Ah! You have peanut butter and jelly in your fridge! Very good! Now just take your butter knife and… you.. you don’t have a butter knife? Well do you have anything else you can use? A fork? Chopsticks? I don’t think a cup is going to cut it, put that back. You can’t use a cup to scoop jelly. You’re going to break it!

Well congratulations, you broke it. You tried to shove an entire cup into the jelly jar and now there is glass everywhere. You know what? Don’t bother to clean it up. Just take your bread and peanut butter into the other room. I’ll get you another jelly. In a PLASTIC container.

Right then, where were we? Oh yes, you need to cut your bread in half longways. Here, I brought an actual butter knife. Good, now scoop a big chunk of jelly onto the inside of one slice and spread it all around with the knife. Make sure you get it all over the inside of the slice. Then wipe your knife off on the towel and do the same with the peanut butter, but on the other slice.

Very good! You now have a delicious PB&J! Enjoy heartily, as it took a lot of work to get here!

Wait, how old was that peanut butter?

947 words

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Spud stretched out in the loose dirt, shuffling partially down into it like a sand snake, until only his snout and back could be seen from above. The dragonet was well camouflaged under the loose soil, and prided himself on his ability to bed down so quickly. He would certainly be the best at hide and seek if someone asked him to play. Though, once the others knew where he liked to hide they would certainly search there every time. Perhaps if he-

“OW!” Spud jumped up, throwing dirt every which way and lifting his wings. No.. wing. The other was pinned under the talons of a much larger, more heavyset Mudwing, who had frozen when they’d heard the cry. “My wing! My wing! You’re crushing it!!” They finally seemed to notice their error and stepped off. Spud dragged the limp appendage back towards him and winced. “You broke it! You’ve broken it all over with your fat foot!” He wasn’t normally one to hurl such insults, but he was indeed in quite a lot of pain.

“Hold on..” the adult said with a nervous sort of note, trying to sound calm. They set a bag of seeds aside and gently tried to lift the dragonet, spurring more squawking and outrage. “We’re going to get you to the doctor.. easy now..” They slowly carried him back, wondering to themselves why on earth this dragonet had embedded himself in the middle of a dry garden, and not a mud pit like the others.

Spud sat in his cot, staring out the window. It had to have been days by now. How long does it take a wing to heal? He looked over at his own, which was stretched out and splinted at least three different ways. It was SO itchy. And there was nothing to do in here but look at his dumb Knickknacks. He turned one over in his paw. Farming themed, as ever, with a dragon leaning on a hoe overlooking empty space as if gazing upon a field of grain. Such a tacky ‘toy’, if you could even call it that. But it seemed to be the only gift anyone around here seemed to know how to give. He looked at the shelf full of them. A plow. Two dogs loyally following a dragon. A snow globe of a silent farmhouse on a hill. Silly, and dumb, but gifts of affection nonetheless.

Spud heard some sort of commotion outside, and tried to look through the window to see, but there was no way for him to sit up properly without assistance, so he sat and waited for it to quiet. Only it didn’t. It got louder. He was pretty sure he could hear fire. In this swampy mess? He wondered to himself how that could be. Spud heard his door open and looked over. It was his father. And he seemed in a bit of panic.

“We’ve got to go. Don’t grab anything, just come on.” He had come only halfway across the room when the wall collapsed on top of him. Flames poured in the new opening, consuming everything from wood to mud to rock, and a massive, violently red skywing slowly clawed his way in, standing atop the rubble where Spud’s father had once been. It slowly surveyed the room, before noticing Spud, who shivered in terror, clutching one of his knickknacks close. Suddenly he regretted being so difficult with his relatives. He wished more than anything to be out there right now, farming in the sun surrounded by all his gifts. The Skywing grinned a twisted and unholy sharp-toothed smile, before slowly, almost casually, stalking over. He spoke not a word as the flames quickly consumed the dragonet, leaving not even bone behind.

“My, how the collection grows.”

634 Words

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Daily 3: Write about a city and skip 10 years each paragraph

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Chilidogtown, an entire city of nothing but hot dogs, bread, toppings, and chili. Watch the cars race by, with their tiny cross section wheels! See the great chili coasters that intertwine with every structure! And of course, you can’t forget the glistening buildings, painted bold yellows and reds, which stretch as far as the eye can see! How the citizens relish their abodes, which grow crispy and scented in the noontime sun. The bean and cheese people’s delight in every work, for it is all savory, and it is all delicious. There is no world greater than that which holds the thriving metropolis of Chilidogtown.

Two young beans wander the outskirts of the glorious city, which slowly become less and less densely populated. They heard this too was once as glorious, but the buildings looked flaky and the rivers flowed sluggishly. They wouldn’t want to ride in there. It was all broth now anyways. Eventually they saw no one else at all, not even a stray wheat rat or sour cream dog. Still they pressed on, sure this just had to be a blip in the map. As day turned to night, the crispy of the city air faded, and way out here, where no spice birds sang, something not quite so delicious wafted on the air. It smelled… old.. and forgotten. Both stopped, looking at the decaying infrastructure. This was far enough. They wanted to go no further.

“Look at them up there. You know, they say nothing’s changed, they say this place is just as great as ever, but they don’t know.” Chedin rasped, looking up from her window. It was so difficult to breathe near the ground anymore. It felt as if the air itself was trying to eat you from the inside out. And yet Chedin lived on the very first floor. Of course, it wasn’t like there were any other inhabitable floor. They had long ago broken away, the rubble dotting the streets around. She turned back to the floor’s only other inhabitant. “I mean, I can understand why you don’t care. You probably don’t have much longer on you.” She seemed almost spiteful of the fact that her elderly roommate was crumbling. “The beans don’t have to deal with it though, do they. Nooo. They have their ‘recyclable chili flumes’ and ‘reusable hot dog wall material’. They’re /saving the planet./ I tell you, Coleen, this world is crumbling. And they won’t even let us have any of the last bits of what is good left.” She scratched at a small mold patch on her leg. Coleen paused her cracker rocking chair’s movement, causing it to crumble a little more. “I think it’s time for bed, dear. You can seek justice in a twisted world tomorrow.”

Silence. And the stench of rot. A landscape entirely unrecognizable of its former glory. Decayed mush bubbled, covered in mold and mushrooms. A singular bean, dressed in decaying attire which had once been delicately patterned gasped for the last bit of good air, but there was none. No one was there to help. No one was left.

Words: 518
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Hello! I’m Cinna and I don’t know what I’m doing! I would like to write for prompt 2: ‘A letter to my future self’. I don’t have a cabin yet so I guess I’ll just keep track of it below.

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Well hello again, first of all, future me.
I bet you didn’t think that you would be coming back to read these, did you? Of course, by now I’m sure you’re all well versed in how to use this side of scratch. It has been a month after all. Anyways, how was your vacation? Hopefully you enjoyed it. I, personally, am DREADING the thought of it. You know why. Did you overcome that? Was it as hard as we thought it would be? Please say your birds are still okay. I love those little guys. I think Mint Choccy Chip, Rocky Road, and Cookies N’ Cream are all still okay. They are a beautiful trio, to be certain. Well! Now that I have gone over some of my most prying questions, I have a little something to remind you of: you have a goal to meet. I know life is really busy and REALLY stressful, but we have made ourselves a promise to write five thousand words this month. Now, that seems like a lot, but I’m sure we can do it if we try. In fact, here’s an incentive to do so. If we reach five thousand words by the end of Scratch Writing Camp this month, we’ll bake a cake! How does that sound? A nice delicious cake with frosting! No lie! It can be found or rectangular, whichever you choose! It will probably be chocolate. Anyways, I’d better let you get back to what you are doing. Is it reading other things I’ve written? I bet that’s it. Well so long and have a safe month. After all, it’s August now. And that’s a whole new can of worms.

Words: 282

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Wild's Writing Thread - SWC July 2024 (Folklore)

Dailies
July 1 (205 words): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/768651/?page=9#post-8038309
July 2 (1024 words): https://scratch-mit-edu.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/discuss/topic/768651/?page=9#post-8038311
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
July 8
July 9
July 10
July 11
July 12
July 13
July 14
July 15
July 16
July 17
July 18
July 19
July 20
July 21
July 22
July 23
July 24
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30

Weeklies

Folklore QOTDs

Daily - July 1 - 205 words

Welcome, shoppers, to the July 2024 session of Scratch Writing Camp! We are beyond excited to have you all here with us as we explore IKEA. To get this session started, introduce yourself to your fellow customers in the Main Cabin comments! Make sure to include some form of joke, whether it be your favorite riddle or a silly pun, in your introduction to celebrate international joke day on July 1st. See you in the showroom!

A message from @-WildClan-: Dear managers of IKEA, it has come to my attention that your store is severely lacking in flying turtles. As an 8-time SWC camper, currently in the highly-respectable Folklore cabin, I, Wild (they/them), won’t stand for this! No, not “stand,” I must FLY. If we manage to reach new elevations of Mount Highest, it will be because we have ridden on the shells of giant winged turtles. Not to sound snappy, but the fact that this issue has remained hidden for so long is unacceptable. It is time to bring the problem out of its shell and stock IKEA's shelves to the skies with proper feathered chelonians! I have had hobbies such as digital art, writing, listening to music, and reading, but nothing compares to the turtley-awesome experience of having a flying turtle. Every IKEA shopper deserves the chance to shell-ebrate similarly, and so I am sending this flying turtle to you for a free trial flight, in the hopes that you will see the value of such egg-cellent creatures and choose to bring more of them to this great store. Looking forward to having a shell of a time with you in the nesting season to come! Sincerely, Wild

Daily - July 2 - 1024 words

Dear future self… Have you ever wondered what your future self will think of current you? Do you have any pressing questions for your future self? Now's your chance to find out - write a letter to your end-of-the-month self! Try to include some goals you have for this month, SWC or personal, and any questions you have for yourself in 200 words for 200 points.

Hey there, Wild of July 30th, 2024 (and any other Wilds of future dates that stumble upon this note… :0)!
How’s the future going? Any words of wisdom you wish I had known right now? I am currently writing this letter while wedged between a shelf and a window at the public library. It’s surprisingly comfortable, especially in the heat of this sweltering, miserable summer. My new short haircut is helping to keep me cool, but still, I really don’t want to be dragged outside like this anymore, especially not for the unappealing school food that my parents want me to eat. I’m considering switching back to a more comfortable schedule where I sleep through the hot parts of the day and wake up at night to be productive. I can’t put that into action just yet, as I have plans during the day in the coming week, but… soon? If that works out, then maybe by the time you read this, I’ll have achieved my main goal for this summer: Clean up my room enough to get a computer station set up. Did you accomplish that? If you’ve barely made progress, I’m very disappointed in you– well, in myself; you ARE me. Remember what Technoblade said, about just starting now? If you want to become something, don’t wait to start working on it. You never know how much time you’ll get; don’t waste it. Please tell me you remembered that over the course of this month. I’m not sure if I’ll actually manage to acquire a computer this summer (talk to the guy you met from school; he knows about this stuff!), but I at least want to get the workstation set up. That’s not too big of a goal, now, is it? Since there’s not much space in my room, the furniture will definitely have to be rearranged. I’m thinking of moving the long shelf that’s by the window to the right wall, to be used as a counter/table that the computer could sit on, since that’s where the power outlet is. My bed would then have to be shifted more to the center of the room, meaning the shelves and storage bins at the foot of the bed will have to be moved, too, maybe to the window where the long shelf used to be. One or both dinosaur shelves might have to be relocated to make room for the long shelf, too. Hopefully, that’s all that has to be moved in order to reach my goal, though I might choose to also rearrange things on the other side of the room if I get the motivation. Of course, before any of the furniture can be moved, the floor needs to be cleared of stuff. That’s what’ll present the real problem. I bet you’ll have found at least a few cool things you had forgotten about, though, huh? I think my plan of action will be to just pack up most things and do the organization later. After all, the goal isn’t to actually tidy up, just to make room for the computer. But anyhow. I’m not setting any super ambitious goals for SWC due to all this IRL business, just to do the dailies and weeklies as always. Hopefully that went well? Who was the winning cabin? (I hope it’s Folklore… >:3) What about the IRL friends that are participating in this session, how did they do? They’re still new at SWC, so I don’t expect too much from them, but hey, maybe they’ll surprise me. I suspect that we all have more potential than any of us realize at the moment. We’re all still lost in the middle of finding out who we are, who we want to be, and what we want to do with our lives. I believe that we all have a shot at achieving our ambitions if we just continuously try to improve ourselves, not allowing ourselves to settle. Like that one song lyric, “keep on moving, never lose sight of it.” I’m going to try the best I can to make sure you, dear future self, are who I want you to be. Month by month, year by year, we will make progress. I hope that one day, you can look back on me and be amazed by how far you’ve come. Maybe you’ll laugh at how silly and clueless your past self was back then. Or maybe you’ll read these words and be surprised at how far I’d thought ahead. We don’t have it all mapped out just yet, but we know how far we want to go. We know what destinations we want to hit along the journey. It’s only the path itself that hasn’t yet been chosen. And that’s a good thing, because it leaves plenty of room for adventure as we make our way onwards! We may never figure it all out, but there’s wonder in the not-knowing. It means there will always be something new to learn, something greater to strive for. This is just the beginning. In one way or another, somehow, we’ll make something of ourselves. Half-Canon will make sure of it, if nothing else. I once worried that their influence would dissolve over time like a childhood memory, but their power has only gotten stronger in recent months. I am learning to accept it, to work with them, rather than fighting with myself and getting nowhere. They want you to know that our stories will outlive us. They come from us, but they will become something bigger when we spread them to the world. All we have to do is keep going. From past to future, we cross the divide with our words. I’m looking forward to reaching you in another 28 days– The end of the month, but hopefully the start of so much more. I’ll see you there, future self! Get ready for me! Oh, and Chaos sends her regards. Pass the message on to Half-Canon, and have a brilliant future. This is it; this is what will mean everything in the end. This is for you.
Love, Wild of July 2nd, 2024

daily - july 2nd - 215 words

Dear Future Niko,

I hope you’ve had a good session! Currently, I’m sitting on my bed and just finished baking bread and watching Brooklyn 99, I’m super excited for this session and have a couple of goals I hope we achieve.

I hope you’re doing well and were kind to yourself this session. My main goal right now is to finally enter the writing competition so I hope you were able to do that, if not know that it’s okay and I am still proud of you.

Now moving away from writing, I’m hoping you actually started doing those guitar lessons you’ve been wanting to do. I also hope you had fun at summer team and actually got to know some new people. Hopefully, we worked on the V8 in the corner and maybe finished it? I have my first team practice tomorrow and am really excited since our friend will be there! If you didn’t this month let’s make sure to go ice skating sometime soon!

If you’re reading this at the end of SWC you’re probably about to head to the airport with your family. I hope you have fun! OH also don’t forget to actually read that book our sister gave us at some points before she asks again.

Niko, July 1st

dear wonderful future self,

hi! how are you? y'know, i hope you managed to complete all the projects that you wanted to this year. like crocheting. did you get any better at that? i sure hope you did, i have so many plans on what to do :sparkles: i also hope you're doing well. having fun, perhaps? studying? whatever it is, i hope its okay. i also hope that you improved at digital art - i so want to do commissions for my friends.:pleads: speaking of which, perhaps you could finish the drawing book that was gifted to us so long ago. it's taking up way too much space on my desk > how are your friends? hopefully not toxic. i have so many goals i wanted you to complete aaaaaaaaa!! just tell me if you finish any of them, ok?? what else do i have for you? practicing traditional art as well? i feel like our traditional art is ok, its just that our digital art is quite terrible. i guess practice makes perfect. on the topic of improvement, i would also like you to improve on pixlre, and upload more projects on scratch (we only have 6!! after a year and a half :sob

tldr: just improve on everything

love, your wonderful past self

215 words!

Letter To Future Kenzie
July 2nd, 2024
423 words

Dear Future Kenzie,

So, how was SWC? I bet it was amazing. But, SWC is (almost) over, so no more SWC for another three months sadly. You’ll last through it though, whether it’s by working on your November leadership application, doing schoolwork, or reading your huge books.
Did you reach your goals of completing 15 dailies, reached your word goal, and of course made lots of memories? I hope so, but it’s still completely fine if you don't.
How was cabin wars? I know that I’ve been wanting to meet Ris irl again, since I’m hoping for the second cabin wars.. maybe. But it’s still okay if you didn’t.
The Cabin (you know which one I’m talking about) will be closer by the time you’re reading this! I bet you’ll make many wonderful memories while you’re there.
Church Camp is in five days for me, I’m very excited but also a little nervous. But It’ll be fine.. I think. It’s so close yet so long away. Since you’re reading this in the future, how was Church Camp? Was it everything you expected? Did you make lots of friends, and memories? These memories will last a lifetime and it’s just the beginning of you becoming a counselor at the camp.
If I were you (which I am, surprise!), I’d recommend writing down every thing you did, if you have the time. I bet you learned a lot and it’ll be hard to, but if you read this in time it could count for words for SWC.
You are loved by your family, and friends, so don’t forget that, Kenzie. Please. Know your worth, like our dad has always said and maybe you could think back to that story. Keep reading your Bible and praying, keep it up! You’ll learn a lot and grow closer to Him if you do.
What was your favorite memory you made during July? At Camp? In SWC? What new friends did you meet? What things did you learn?
We’re even closer to when school will start, I’m sad that our co-op is over for good, but it’s just a new chapter in our story now, I guess.
Remember the methods we’ve learned, like the square breathing and thinking back to Bible Verses. You’ll get through anything if you lean on Him. Kenzie, you’re such a brave and strong girl, Jesus loves you so so so much.
You can get through your emotions and anxiety and control it.

Your past self,
Kenzie
7/2/24

Dear Future Self, I hope this message finds you well. As you are probably packing your bags to go to Italy, I want to reflect on your past. Was SWC fun? I would like to know if I achieved my word goal. Did you get the chance to watch Despicable Me 4? If you did, I'm curious to know if it lived up to the hype and if it was as enjoyable as the previous films. Also, what interesting and thought-provoking books have you read lately? I hope you've discovered some captivating stories and gained valuable insights from them.
What new projects have you made on Scratch? Have you drawn anything new? Who is winning in SWC competitions for bragging rights thingy? Have you even played in any tennis matches? Did you have a fun 4th of July? Was Six flags fun? I hope it was. Has anything really interesting happened? How much money do you have in your piggy bank? I hope you didn’t die during swimming these weeks. Who won the Euro Cup? Right now I’m frustrated because my sister @iinspirqtion is being pushy about the daily. I hope you have the time to read this, “see you!”.

Daily #3 511/500
______________________

A castle stood proud at the peak of a large, grand hill. Gorgeous gardens surrounded the border of the royal grounds, with fresh flowers seemingly always in bloom. Throughout the streets, the sweet melodies of song could be heard as neighbours mingled pleasantly, interacting with peace and joy. The air smelled sweet as the aromas of the flora intertwined with the careful, pacifist lifestyle of the kingdom’s occupants. The streets were always spotless, and nobles and peasants alike dedicated their lives to connecting with the Earth.

The once flourishing gardens resting upon the hill battled for residency amongst the architecture that stood tall in what once was a sanctuary of nature. The breeze drifting through the crowded streets smelled tainted by something sour, though most of the civilians grew accustomed to ignoring it; the younger generations knew no better, unaware of the heavenly fresh air that once was. Citizens drew further apart, no longer as willing to share a loaf of bread or chat about their day, as people preferred to stay inside in the comfort of their own homes. The rich were aiming higher each day, searching for ways to expand and grow their income and wealth.

The air was filled with bustling chaos as the narrow streets filled with people pushing past one another, attempting to reach contrasting destinations. A river that once brought beauty and clean water to the kingdom had become a burden, an eyesore, as it stood firmly in the way of any further expansions and reeked horribly of toxins and mould. The once glorious castle atop the hill was crumbling, the mighty structure fighting to maintain its power over the people. The people were restless, tired of their monotonous ways and the weakness of their rulers. If one were to search for the remains of the palace gardens, all they would be able to find were the crippled, broken branches of bare trees, wedged tightly between two buildings. The aura of the community had shifted, and it was no longer a peaceful, content society. The people wanted more.

What once was a sanctuary became a tense disaster. People were anxious, as rebellions burned their fires of defiance around the kingdom, demanding free will, demanding a shift in monarchy. Greed and desire fuelled society as communities turned a blind eye to what they already had, instead as they foamed at the mouth while reaching and clambering over one another to get more, more, more. After running out of space to move outwards, structures grew upwards, resting precariously over others and leaving minimal space for any of the environment to even attempt to survive. The beauty of the earth was discarded, thrown aside to rot as humanity simply didn’t care for it; after all, what was to gain from nature, when the space could be used for something infinitely more productive? The air was thick with smog, but the people were so blinded by their stupidity that they weren’t even capable of realising. Now in ruins, the castle remained atop the hill, though their power was contested.

______________________

return to the lagoon?

more-than-a-day-late 1k introduction!

Hi everybody! I know this is over a day late now and I’m usually super active on the first day of session, but yesterday was something else and I just didn’t get a proper chance to be online in any real capacity. Anyway, to introduce myself with an incredible lack of brevity, I’m known as Soki in online spaces, and you’ve probably heard of me at some point because I’m a fairly public figure in the SWC community. (which honestly astounds me some days, like how did that happen?) This session is my tenth SWC session, which is a super cool milestone I’m very excited for. I’m currently co-leading the Non-Fi Parliament where I’m facilitating the “presidential debates” which I genuinely expect to be handled better, more intelligently, and more respectfully than the recent real presidential debate that occurred xD but you may also know me from my past cabins which include Real-Fi Family Reunion July 2021 (which was the only cabin I’ve ever camped in) lead by @starbriqht @goodwishes and @sparkelle, Thriller Detective Agency (or Thrillee Dective Ahenvy /ij <3) November 2021 which I lead with my brilliant co-leaders @luna-lovegood-lol and @starrial, Sci-Fi Spacewreck March 2022 which I lead alongside the wonderful co-leaders @-limeade (now @asfhkdjdl) @129waterfall and @starrial, Adventure Parks July 2022 which I lead alongside the amazing co-leaders @dawn_camps and @vimto- (@followcherryblossom), Bi-Fi Cinema November 2022 which I lead with my phenomenal co-leaders @whirlygig @strange_skies and @mayhem-olympia, Fantasy Wishing Well March 2023 which I co-lead alongside the lovely @opheliio and @starr-light, Script Circus July 2023 which I lead with my stunning co-leader @always-wriiting, The Voyages of Folklore November 2023 which I lead with the brilliant co-leaders @hamilchaos and @puffyfish, or the Fanfiction Variance Authority March 2024 which I lead with the phenomenal co-leaders @violent-measures @metanoiaa and @booklover883322.
Wow, that was honestly a lot more words than I expected it to be but I’ll roll with it…
SWC does make up a significant portion of my life but I do have interests outside of it as well, hard as that might be to believe. I’m also a host of Scratch Reading Camp and participate as a camper in Scratch Art Camp. I’d love to give back to Scratch Art Camp in some way but unfortunately I don’t have enough time to dedicate to leadership or hostship in SAC as I already spend so much time on SWC and SAC. I’m also very active in Scratch’s neurodivergent community as I’m autistic and have several other neurodivergent conditions as well.
Off Scratch I’m quite busy as well, I really don’t know how I have time for everything I do. Currently I have a job with my local youth centre, and until last week I also had an internship at my local newspaper. I’m a member of a Youth Advisory Committee for a local charity working to create safe spaces in our community, and I’m also part of a National Youth Ambassador Network through a Canadian DEI organization.
I also adore journaling, I’ve written daily in a journal for over five and a half years now and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon. Journaling does amazing things for me, it’s helped me improve my writing by leaps and bounds and allows me to track my writing growth as well as personal growth. I’ve noticed massive benefits from journaling for my mental health, as well as my memory and organizational abilities. I’m currently on my twentieth daily journal, twenty-first if you count the one I had no commitment to and never even finished. My journals tend to be brightly coloured, and if the cover doesn’t already come with a pattern, I’ll make one by covering it in stickers or scraps of paper. One of my journals I actually made completely by myself. Inside, they’re full of colourful rambling, more stickers, random art, and many many fandom rants. My journals are my most prized possessions and one of the most defining things about who I am as a person.
I’m also currently reading about two books a week because I’ve gotten a bit obsessed with the statistics and hypocritical injustices surrounding banned and challenged books and so I’ve been reading them! A lot of them. I’m even trying to start a banned books book club with some irl friends and I’m really excited about it I’m currently going through Alex Gino’s incredibly wholesome middle grade novels and pausing incredulously for a moment each time I finish one because there’s absolutely nothing ban-worthy in any of them or even at all inappropriate for anyone in most of them, they’re just wholesome stories about queer kids. Anyway. I don’t know what I expected. Of course wholesome stories about queer kids get banned.
Okay I just realized I have two hundred words to go and I’ve gone through all this rambling while eating a popsicle and not doing any actual introduction of myself lol.
I use she/they pronouns but i don’t particularly identify with them so I won’t mind if you use other pronouns for me instead. I’m genderqueer, non-binary, demiromantic, biromantic, and asexual, as well as a couple other labels but those are the main ones.
I love writing and am very passionate about it, hence my participation in SWC I currently write mostly short stories that’ll never see the light of day unless a close friend of mine specifically asks to read it. I am working on a couple longer works that will hopefully eventually become novels, about autistic girls in sci-fi settings. I do hope to get some of those published eventually but that isn’t my ultimate career goal. I actually plan to go into psychology. I love social sciences, learning about neurodiversity, and helping people. And what better career path to accomplish all of those than psychology?
I may write a lot of sci-fi and watch a lot of sci-fi (I’m in basically every popular tv sci-fi fandom and I gain a new one every couple months) but when it comes to reading I much prefer historical fiction and realistic fiction. I used to be a fantasy girlie and I still do enjoy a good fantasy book but it just isn’t a favourite like it used to be.
I love music, and I’ll listen to and easily get obsessed with pretty much any music there is out there in the world but I do especially love classic rock.
And I’m pretty sure by now I’m over a thousand words hope you learned something about me from this messy introduction that wasn’t really an introduction at all and more of a ramble lol.

Daily: 514 words

Under the water is where you will find a kingdom submerged in beauty. The Pearl Kingdom. Clams large enough to fit two people with the largest shiniest pearls at the entrance of the shiny gates. Pastel shells of all colors stacked on top of each other to create towers where mermaids are found to be floating out of. Little fishes, scattered across the ocean floor and top, bubbling through the water. The castle, large and beautiful at the center of all of it. It lies on top of large clips towering over the small coral houses below. It consisted mainly of pink coral, a touch of a pale blue and small white highlights at the tips of the tower roofs. A magical misty glow overtops the kingdom, the light from the surface barely shining through just enough to make the pearls shimmer. The glow represented the aura that the Pearl Kingdom gives off. The kingdom was known for its beautiful coral reefs, giant round and shiny pearls, and the absent minded peacefulness that conquered over its citizens.

Within the next ten years, the kingdom has gone into a riot. Despite its peacefulness it used to carry, a nearby cavern kingdom had desired to build relations with the Queen but she had refused due to the odd ideas of the kingdom's King regarding the princess’s marriage. While the cavern kingdom’s King was desperate to marry off his son who was getting sick and tired, the Queen denied any such requests. The King had then pulled several threats onto the Pearl Kingdom. Pranks were often pulled by the cavern’s most mischievous wizards, many pearls being pulled off of the tops of the buildings and sold off to other kingdoms. Some attempted to destroy the Queen’s precious tower. The kingdom began to lose its glow and aura from the pearl’s reflection as less and less pearls would cover the buildings. The soilers were tired and were unable to catch the fishy thieves, making the mess a bigger burden on the Queen. With citizens mad and unable to leave their houses without possibly getting in trouble with the other kingdom, the Queen had ordered them to attack back. To steal the precious cavern diamonds in which the other kingdom adored. The war had begun, the two kingdoms fighting for love and harmony.

Over time, the war had died down. Within the next ten years, the kingdom had been rebuilt and refurbished throughout. The princess was married off after a mutual agreement and most of the kingdom was happy. The kingdom began to glow again, and slowly expanded towards the cavern where the two kingdoms began to combine. Child mermaids and mermen were often chasing each other down the long newly made streets, covered with pearls and different colored diamonds. Together, the combination represented a new glow of generosity, love and kindness between the kingdoms. The glow was immaculate and a different and colorful one. Harmony filled the streets, the princess and prince in love and deciding on the standings of the kingdoms. Everything was at peace once again.

daily #3!



2000: Within the walls of the Oregon IKEA, there lived a kingdom of ants. They have resided, quite happily, for years and years there, subsisting on solely the crumbs of meatball and drips of vanilla frozen yogurt that fall to the ground. Their population has grown too large—ants have spread into every last square inch of their home, and the queen worries that if just one more egg is allowed to hatch, they will spill out through the plaster. IKEA's shoppers will complain, and Customer Service will come for them. Stopping this is an unsavory task, but the queen knows it is the only way to save her people.

2010: So…perhaps the queen went too far. The ants' population has still not recovered from the massacre. Separate colonies of them live yards from each other, tucked among the insulation, dreading the day the new queen's search lands upon their home. They only dare to venture out when the store is closed, now, too terrified of the queen's patrols spotting them in the fluorescent lights of the day. Vacuums and brooms usually make it to the crumbs left behind from shoppers before the ants, and more and more starve to death each day that passes. They can only hope that one day, the queen will die and their community will come back together.

2020: IKEA is closed, shoppers are gone, and they had long since discovered the last crumb left in the aisles. The queen took her final, shaking breath and died of hunger. In the wake of the pandemic, the ants had no choice but to band together. They crawled out of their homes on trembling legs, some collapsing and being trampled by their brethren as they streamed into the showroom, antennae standing straight up in fear but eyes showing their determination. There were battles, yes, but there was life. Despite the difficult conditions, the ants reproduced, a growing sea of black bodies spreading across the building. A new queen rose amidst the expanding colony, and she proposed an unprecedented plan. There were some ants that shrank back from this opportunity, preferring to scavenge through the remnants of the packaged food left on the shelves—there must still have been a jar of lingonberry jam they had yet to crack open—but a small, dauntless group did the impossible: venture outside.

2030: The ants faced many challenges on their journey through the parking lots—the few cars left in the city, spiders, even dogs, slobbering creatures they had never seen before that were able to kill dozens of their kin in a single lick—but at last, they made it to the forest, their group smaller by ten times than the one that started out. Still, though, with the firm leadership of their queen, they managed to establish a new colony in a rotting tree trunk. Each day since then, patrols have ventured out in search of food. One month was spent with their only sustenance a colony of mossballs, the bitter, earthy fuzz that covered them a delicious treat for the ants. At last, the ants were safe, and their tribe was free to spread through the forest, never to starve again.

In the middle of a valley, surrounded by tall mountains, is the Kingdom of Veppo. It used to be a place where life was good and everyone got along. The farms always grew plenty of food, and the people in Emerald City, the main town, traded with other kingdoms and other cities happily. They were fair. The king, Cedric III, was well liked because he was fair and kind.

Ten years later: Things in the Kingdom of Veppo aren't as good as they used to be. The weather has changed, and now there are droughts that make it hard for the farms to grow enough food. The people in Emerald City aren't trading as much anymore, and some of the shops have closed down. The castle where King Cedric III lives isn't as grand as it once was; it's starting to fall apart in places, and the king seems worried. He's had to raise taxes to try to fix things, but that's made some people unhappy. There is also many storms, but there's no rain, it just thunder and lightning.

Ten years after that: The Kingdom of Veppo has seen better days. The valley is dry and dusty, and the melted snow on the mountains flow the other way and there is no plants growing on the mountains. it's even harder for the farms to grow anything now. Many people have left Emerald City and the other cities to find work somewhere else, leaving the streets quiet and empty. The castle is in ruins, with parts of it crumbling down, and King Cedric III is no longer seen as a fair ruler. There are rumors of unrest among the people, with some villages refusing to pay the high taxes anymore. The kingdom that was once so prosperous is now struggling to survive.

ten years later: The Kingdom of Veppo continues to decline. The once-green valley is now arid and barren, with dust storms sweeping through abandoned fields. Emerald City lies mostly deserted, its once-bustling streets now eerily quiet save for the occasional wind-blown tumbleweed. The castle of King Cedric III stands as a haunting reminder of past glory, its walls crumbling further, windows shattered, and once-proud towers now mere remnants of their former grandeur. King Cedric III, now an old man, remains within its decaying walls, a frail figure overshadowed by the weight of a kingdom that has all but collapsed under his rule.

ten years later: The Kingdom of Veppo is a mere shadow of its former self. The valley that once teemed with life is now a desolate wasteland, devoid of any signs of human habitation. Emerald City lies in ruins, its buildings reduced to rubble, reclaimed by nature as vines creep over crumbling walls. The castle of King Cedric III, now barely recognizable, stands as a bleak monument to a once-great kingdom. The king, long gone, passed on his throne to a line of successors who struggled in vain to revive Veppo's fortunes. But their efforts were futile, and they all d!ed.

ten years later: The Kingdom of Veppo exists no longer and no one even remember it existed. The valley lies forgotten, swallowed by wilderness and the passage of centuries. No trace remains of Emerald City or the castle of King Cedric III, lost to nature and time. Veppo, once full of prosperity and harmony, now exists in mythology tales of how even the mightiest kingdoms can crumble and fade away.

+576 words

Close your eyes and picture a kingdom- it can look like anything you'd like! Write a paragraph about it… now stop! Fast-forward ten years. What changed in the kingdom? What new developments are there? Continue to fast forward ten years after each paragraph until you have 500 words for 400 points (and a bonus 100 for sharing proof!)

Word Count: 512

The kingdom was new, as far as kingdoms go. It was a small one too, hardly more than a castle and a village, with small houses and shops and winding roads. Slightly further out were farmlands, but even those weren’t large. What it lacked in size though, it made up for in spirit. Most of the folks knew each other, and even if they didn’t they were always willing to help out. Their king made it clear that this was what he wanted for his land: to not be just a kingdom, but a community.
Ten years later, and the kingdom was growing. The initial village had expanded so much, that it had split into multiple villages. Even the castle had grown. Before, it had really been more of a fort, but now it was a proper castle, albeit not an extravagant one. Neighboring kingdoms were starting to take notice, too. This was good, as it opened up the door for trade and alliances… but it also meant the possibility of invasion. The most notable thing though, and the thing the members of the kingdom were most excited about, was the fact that their kind king was now joined by an equally bighearted queen.. and they’d just had their first child.
The princess was ten years old and loved by all. The entire kingdom was bustling with preparations for her birthday party, which the king insisted needed to be a celebration to rival all others. Maybe the princess was a little spoiled, but nobody really minded. She was the kingdom’s shining light, after all. In the years since her birth, the kingdom had finally done more than just grow: it was flourishing. It was doing especially well in the fabric trade, with people claiming that the fabrics here were of the likes of no where else.
The princess was now twenty, if one could believe it. Balls were being held constantly, in the hopes that she would find a suitable person to wed and aid her when she took over her aging father’s throne. Certain citizens were beginning to worry however, for it seemed that their king was now much more concerned with the lavish balls than with anything important.. it didn’t help how large the kingdom had grown. Gone were the days when you could just walk into the castle and see the king, now you would have to go on a list and make an appointment, and most people simply didn’t have the time. Things were changing, and people didn’t necessarily like it.
The kingdom was celebrating the first coronation in its short history. But perhaps celebrating was the wrong word, for this was a kingdom painting in black. This was a kingdom mourning it’s first king, its father, the one responsible for everything. It was a kingdom with a ruler with a heart to heavy with grief to lead, and the land was struggling. The kingdom was not old, by any means, but the kingdom had aged. The kingdom had changed. And it would continue to do so, evermore.

July 3rd Daily

502 words

High above the crashing waves, protected by thick walls, sits a a small kingdom, hardly a village. The sounds of people drift down to the jagged rocks below. Their laughter and chatter fills the air, carried by the wind. Everywhere you go, the hustle and bustle of activity follows. And in the center of it all, a tall castle towers above it. The gates to the village are open and people are free to come and go. Travelers are welcomed into the King's own home with open arms. Then sent on their way refreshed and well rested. The royal family was adored by all. They frequently visited their citizens and supported them by purchasing their wares. They fed the poor, and cared for the sick. There wasn't a single unhappy soul.

{Approximately ten years later…}

The village was humming with activity. But for a very different reason than it was a decade ago. Instead of the laughter and chatter of a happy community, there were hushed rumors of war, quiet accusations of negligence on the royal families part, and undertones of rebellion. The royal family no longer mingled with the villagers, instead they stayed holed up in the castle. The gates had been closed by order of the king, and no one was allowed in or out.

{Another decade goes by…}

People have been disappearing from the village. Almost all activity has ceased, people hide in their homes and meet in secret. However, whispers still make their way around town. Spread quickly from one quiet mouth to another. The king is locking up those who question his ruling. Or rather, those who speak up about it. For everyone questions just how well the king is handling the threat of war hanging over their heads. But only those who are brave speak up about it … and are quickly silenced.

{Ten more years later}

If you were to go into the village less than thirty years ago, you never would have wanted to leave. Everywhere you looked, joy and happiness met you. A stark contrast to the atmosphere now. The scorched walls, and emptiness caused those who happened by to turn their heads away, for they couldn't bear the sight of the town ravaged by other kingdoms and picked over by scavengers. What few survivors there were had been taken captive and were presumed now dead. If you were to walk through, you would be met with blackened remains of the houses that had once stood there, finding nothing but a skeleton of the thriving village that once stood.

{A decade after the war…}

There was a landslide. The cliff where the people of the kingdom had once make their home had eroded from the constant splashing of waves, until the entire cliff collapsed. The ruins of the once mighty kingdom were washed away into the deep unknown that we call the sea. And along with it, any evidence of the joy and pain the kingdom went through. Leaving nothing but a faint memory.