Mood:  caffeinated

It was in early fall when the leaves were beginning to fall from the trees, when a family of five was driving down a back road to avoid the heavy traffic of the highway. They were a happy family, Joanne, her husband Mark and three children Karen, Ricky and John who was the eldest. As the drove along the desserted road, they passed a man sitting on a tree stump smoking an old serpentine pipe. Whoa! What is he doing out here alone? Who honey, asks Joanne. "The old man we just passed." Mark looks into the rearview mirror and begans to back up. He was sitting right there on that old stump, Mark was confused.

Joanne looks at her husband with a concerned look on her face. "Honey you're tired, we've been on the road now for about 10 hours we all need some rest let's get out and get some air." Mark gets out of the car slowly still confused about seeing the old man. Kids don't go far! We're not here to explore. "Honey I'm sure I saw an old man right over there." Maybe he wondered off Mark, he probably lives out here. Come on let's take a walk, it's so beautiful out here and smell that air. Suddenly John and Rick comes running over to their parents,"look what we found, a real human skull." Where did you boys find that? Over on the other side of that path, come on we'll show ya. Joanne misses Karen, "boys where is your sister?" I saw her over there behind that big tree a moment ago. They all begain to call for Karen as loud as they could, but she did not answer back. Joanne walks over to the tree and looks down, she screams to top of her voice, "Oh no! Something has my baby! There's blood all over here. In shock she starts running through the forest screaming and crying with her husband and sons after her. Mark catches her and holds her close to him, "honey that blood could have come from anything, there are animals out here you know." Finally Karen comes from an opposite path, "what's wrong with everyone, why is mom crying?" Where have you been, we were worried about you.  I was up on the hill looking out over the lake, see over there, she points to the hill. As Mark looked to the hill he saw the old man again and takes off running to the hill. Dad! Where are you going, wait for us. He stops suddenly, "this path does not lead to that hill, Karen are you sure?" I think so.

John interrupts, mom, dad, I heard people over there. Joanne looks back, "Oh no Mark, we've lost our path everything looks so different I could have sworn we came that way." Let's go ask those people, maybe they can show us they way back to the road, something is not right here. Rick replies, "I agree with you mom there are no animals here, not even birds." They goes cautiously out into an opening and is surprised not to see anyone. Hey! The voices are coming from over here. What is this thing Mark asks, "everybody let's get this wood off of it." As the family lifted the wood off the well, the smell of burning flesh and ashe came from it. They all backed up in fear, and Mark was knocked to the ground by an unseen force that also left a large scratch on his face. John goes over to help his father up he too was attacked and an errie voice told them to leave.  Very frightened the family runs through the forest not knowing where they were going.

They ran until they could no longer run and decided to rest. Where is Karen? "She was right behind me says Rick." We better get moving it'll soon be night, we have to find Karen. Suddenly the old man appeared, in an evil voice he spoke. "Your daughter is right here," he holds up a huge clear bottle which carried Karen's body. She had been ripped to pieces and parts of her had been eaten. Nooooooo!!!! her mother screams in fright. The old man transforms into a hideous creature with long huge horns, and fangs that could rip the largest elephant in half. The forest begin to fill with heavy fog as he stood there laughing, from with in the fog came creatures hungry for human flesh. Mark grabs his wife's hand and tells everyone to run with the creatures following close behind. From out of nowhere Karen appears. She is floating on air as she approaches what use to be her family, her body is wizzled and pale with eyes of darkness and maggots in her hair. "Come....join us and live forever, I can just taste the sweetness of your blood as it fills my veins." They family tries to run again, this time Rick is snatched up and torn apart by the other creatures, he screams for help as they tear open his stomach and starts to devour his insides.

Stunned and unable to move Joanne and John was attacked by Karen who had unbelivable strength. She tore off their heads and drank the blood as if they were small birds, afterwards she followed her fathers trail but could not harm him. He was atop of the forbidden hill, a hill that all evil could not go near. She and the other creatures including the devil did everything they could to get upon the hill but failed. Almost out of his mind Mark clung to a tree jumping at every sound he heard. It was now daybreak and the sun had come up, Mark heard the sound of birds chirpping, there was even squirrels playing in the tree below. That made him feel safe so he came down from the hill, to his surprise he saw his car on the road where they left it. Crying and laughing at the same time he started towards it, as he got closer he saw two cars approaching. He waved his arms trying to stop them, but was gobbled up by a tree as he passed it. The only thing left was an eyeball and a blood stained ground.

As the two cars passed the old man was once again sitting on the tree stump smoking his serpentine pipe. So beware of taking short cuts through wooded areas, because man believes in what he sees. Unbeknown to him though, there is a dark side.

Mood:  don't ask

As Shana mingled with the CEO's of different companies and well-known restaurtuers she noticed a tall, dark and handsome man starring at her from a distant. She walked over to the table next to where he was standing and prepared herself a small plate of vegetables and dip. As she left the table the man approached her and offered her a drink. Shana looked at him with a smile on her face and replied, "I'd like that very much." I see you're a vegetarian. "No, I'm just not that hungry right now." They walks over to the table and Shana sat down as the handsome man went to get their drinks.

After a while he returned, and they sat and talked for a while. What brings you to the party? Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Alan Brooks of Brook's Restaurant Furnishings & Decore. Really! I bought my furnishings from there, I own the Cordon Blue in Mellville and the Shady Cat in Collierville. I heard you're opening another office in California. Yes I am, this will be the fifth store, I have two in New York and one in Texas and the one here. As a matter of fact I've had dinner at the Cordon Blue, it was very delightful, great service.

Finally music began to play. Oh, I love that song, my first time hearing it was in the movie "Love Story." Alan smiles as he gets up from the table, "shall we dance?" Shana takes his hand as they slowly walks to the dance floor, he pulls her close as they begin to dance. The night passed as if it was a dream, they dance well into the night as Alan held her close and pierced her eyes with his. "You are a very beautiful woman, your eyes are as blue as the heavenly sky, and the vivacity of your face pulls me closer to your soft red lips, he kisses her." Some men wait a life-time to meet a woman like you, but I met you tonight. The seductive power of his words tugged at Shana's heart, her eyes clung to his. As he slowly slides his hand down onto her perfectly rounded but, and pulls her closer Shana's body ached and craved for the love of his. She wanted him despartely, but the fear in the back of her mind demanded caution.

The two of them walks back to the table, Alan sits down but Shana did not. "Will you excuse me for a moment, she asked." I have to call a taxi, it's rather late and I'm a little tired. Alan rises from his seat,"you don't have to call a taxi, my car is out front I'll be glad to take you home." Well, I guess it's alright I just didn't want you to go out of your way. It's worth going out of my way for you, he puts her wrap around her shoulders and kisses her on the neck gently. As he pulls his car in front of her house, a smile carved his sensous lips, "I don't want this magic to end but you don't believe in it do you?" There was a tight constriction in her chest that made it hard to speak. "It's.......it's been a great evening as she struggled to reply." The first of many Alan said as he stroked her cheek with his fingers. He leaned over to her, his mouth met hers and she was shaken by the passionate kiss which almost drawn her to surrender.

She slowly steps outs of the car not really wanting to leave the strong handsome face that was scanning her body. In a blind decision Shana walked to the doorway of her home as Alan drove away into the night. The words silently screamed across her mind,"Don't go! Come back!" Then she thought maybe tonight was just a dream and she needed to wake up. She leaned against the door as she closed it behind herself thinking what a fool she was. At twenty four, she was too old to retreat into virginal timidity at the flare of sexual desire. It had been three years since she felt desire for a man, but then she thought tonight was just a beginning. There will be a better place and time for she and Alan to explore the deep channels of her love. A week had come and gone Shana was busy hosting and catering dinners for weddings, CEO's and personal settings. But her mind never strayed from Alan, suddenly the phone rang it was Alan. "Hi baby, I'm in Paris I had to leave the next day. I'm visiting an investor who wants me to open up a store over here, why don't you join me?

Alan I have so much to do. "I'll see you here tomorrow evening, you tickets will be at the airport tonight, I can't wait to hold you." Shana's body was on fire, she quickly looked through her address book and made a phone call. "Antonio! I need you and Phillip to run the restaurant for a few days, can you manage it?" Of course we can, what's the hurry? I have to go to Paris, this means a lot to me there will be a big fat bonus for the two of you when I get back. She immediately started to pack her clothes as she danced around the room. While in route to Paris pictures of she and Alan crowded her mind. When the plane landed and everyone parted their way, Shana saw a chauffeur standing holding a sign with her name on it. She happily followed him to the limo and got in. There was Alan with plenty of red rosies, she threw her arms around him and kissed him.

As the passion between them grew stronger, Alan began to take off his shirt and Shana her blouse. Soon afterwards the sounds of esstacy was upon them. The limo pulled into the drive of a beautiful home out in the countryside, Alan took his lady inside where everything was laid out for her. For now this is our home he said,"feel free to do as you please I have some calls to make." Shana looks around the lavishly furnished home, then went out back to lay by the pool. She was so exhausted from the flight that she feel asleep, only to be awaken by the tender kisses of Alan covering her breast down to her dripping wet virgina. It was as he promised her, a vacation of sharing each others essence, and Shana did not want it to stop, she was in love. After closing the deal with his investors Alan returned home very happy, swooping up Shana and swing her around. "You and I are going to live happily, but first I have something to do." He had a concerned look on his face, and Shana wanted to know why. I haven't been completely honest with you because I didn't exspect everything to happen so fast. He walks out onto the balcony with Shana behind him, "Shana, I'm in the middle of a divorce." I have two children a son Kalep, and a daughter Jessica, they're with my wife."

Shana's heart feel to her feet as tears flowed from her eyes. "How could you?" Why didn't you tell me in the beginning? Alan replied in discontent," I didn't want to loose you, I knew you were the one when I met you." He pulls her close and stares into her eyes," I love Shana, I love you with all my heart." She pushes him away and walks off. Later that night Shana packed her clothes and left her luggage at the front door as she went to see Alan who was out by the pool. "I can't stay here with you, I'm going back home." I love you, and if you still love me when the divorce is over, you know where to find me." She turns and walks away with tears streaming down her face as Alan stands frozen in time.

Mood:  chillin'

Long ago in the mountains of China there lived a family of people known as the Cat People. They were called Cat People because of their uncanny looks and ways of hunting. Their leader was a big tall strong man called Tabby Sheba. Tabby Sheba was born of royalty, his mother Felina and his father Manx was king and queen of Emerald Mountain, the largest mountain range six miles to the North. Ten years ago chinese warriors invaded the mountain range by surprise and killed everyone within the royal realm accept Tabby Sheba, who was put into a large basket and sent down the mountain stream. There he was found by a young chinese woman named Jade.

Jade took young Tabby Sheba and raised him as her own, but as years pasted he grew so fast and strong until Jade could barely keep food to feed the both of them. One day Tabby Sheba went out to hunt on his own and saw standing in the forest a beautiful feline woman. Tabby Sheba was stunned at her beauty yet very cautious to approach her. What do you want in these woods, who are you? She turned to him and said," I am Katonna daughter of Thomas, I have come down from the mountain to looks for berries." You shouldn't be alone, this valley is dangerous. Maybe I can be of some help, what type of berries you seek? They are called China Berries, we use them to make juice for the young and wine for the old elders whom are weak from age. Come I know where there's a whole field full of the fat juicy berries. My mother uses them to keep herself beautiful. Katonna stares at Tabby Sheba," you are very strange looking, your stripes are that of the Emeral Mountain Clan." What is your name?

I am called Tabby Sheba, I know nothing of my mother nor father just the one who raised me. She walks around him admiring his strong physique. You have the markings of royalty, why don't you come to Cat Mountain with me my grandfather can probably tell you who your parents are. Is your grandfather a warrior, or sharman of the clan? Katonna laughs," he was a warrior many years ago, but he knows about all royal clans and their families." Our clan on the mountain is of mixed breeds and humans that escaped the Emperor's warriors during past battles, come we must go now. In the meantime Jade is home preparing a meal for she and Tabby Sheba. Suddenly a loud voice calls from the path," you woman who are you? I am Jade, I live here. Not anymore! Get your stuff and get out of here. They kicked over her food and tore down her hut as she stood watching with a frightened look on her face, "why do I have to leave my home?" The warrior replied, " this is the Emperor's land now." Jade wondered through the valley not knowing where she was going.

Barely able to carry herself any further she came upon a path that took her to the top of Cat Mountain, once atop she saw the huge fortress and made her way to the gates. One of the look-outs came running into Katonna's grandfather's hut," a traveler is at the gates, she looks to be hurt." Grandfarther, Katonna and Tabby Sheba rushes out to see the traveler. Open the gates replies grandfather, as the gates open Jade falls in. She sees Tabby Sheba and weakly calls his name, he pulled back the scarf that covered her head and was shocked. Mother! Mother! What has happened to you, how did you get here? Jade had passed out from wondering in the valley and mountains to escape the Emperor's warriors.

Grandfather orders her to be put in the empty hut to rest and recover. Tabby Sheba sensing something was wrong, walked to the edge of the mountain and looked out over the valley. With his ears moving in the direction of the sounds he was hearing, he let go of a faint growl as his muscles twiched on his majestic statue. Grandfather watched him from a distant, the picture of his father came into his mind, it was then he knew who Tabby Sheba was. All of a sudden the warning bells began to rang,"warriors coming, warriors coming." Women and children went into hiding as the cat warriors prepared for battle with the Emperor's soldiers.

Tabby Sheba turned and called out to them in an authoritated voice. We must organize oursleves, strong warriors come with me. Archers! Six to a tree, smaller warriors take the second line and aim your spears low. Old ones, shoot your flaming arrows from your places of hiding. One of the strongest warriors approached Tabby Sheba and kneeled before him. "You Majesty, I am your younger brother Tiger, it will be an honor to fight beside you." Tabby Sheba looked at the clam member and replied," we'll talk later, right now we must fight." No one moves until they've all entered the gates, when the gates are closed we'll attack. How many warriors are here? About 2,000 your hindness. Good says Tabby Sheba as he looks at his brother.

As Tabby Sheba turns around grandfather is coming towards him  with the biggest sword and shield he's ever seen. These was your father's weapons, I found them next to his body on the mountain and kept them until now. You are their rightful owner now, he passes them to the mighty warrior. Tabby Sheba slowly takes them and looks at them sadly, then he and his brother joins the rest of the warriors. The Emperor's soldiers was now pushing at the gates, open the gates! Tabby sheba commanded. They poured in like a river and when the last one entered, the gates were shut tight and a fierce battle began. After the aftermath all of the soldiers were dead, except a few captives. The fierce warrior had had his first battle and won with few casualties, everyone including Jade loved and respected the warrior who will soon be king.

The Cat Mountain Range was safe now, and everyone could live in peace. Tabby Sheba married Katonna and raised 10 children. Each went on the rule over their own clans, and in each kingdom there stood statues of the mighty kings Manx and Tabby Sheba.

Mood:  chillin'

Nymphs are creatures of mythology who guarded the different realms of nature, this story is about three of those nymphs.  Oread, who watched over the hills and mountains. Neried who resided over the Mediterranean Sea and Naiad, who watched over the streams and rivers.

Oread a nymph of great power, strength and wisdom stood atop of the mountain watching for mortals who might come into his domain and do harm against nature such as starting fires, killing the animals,etc.. Next to him stood the largest animal in the forest, a black panther named Ceros whom he raised from a cub. Ceros stood as high as a seven year old child and weighed about a 1300 with eyes as white as snow, and breath as hot as hell's fires.

Suddenly Ceros began to growl and pace as if he sensed someone coming up the mountain path. Oread readed himself for battle, but calmed down when he saw it was Naiad, the most beautiful nymph there was. She too was a warrior from below in the Golden Forest. "Greetings Oread, I have come to ask for your help," the Oga Larva is keeping the human from entering the forest, and causing the animals to attack them. Their blood is running thick through our land below.

When the humans drink from my streams, rivers and brooks it keeps  the forest flourishing and inspires them to do the right things in life to keep the order of nature. Without being able to inspire the forest will die and I will no longer exist, it will become a wasteland and the mountains will crumble.

Also Larva is changing some of the humans into hidious monsters that devours other humans, some of my warriors have witnessed them eating their flesh. She drops to her knees,"please Oread, help us to fullfill the prophacies and get inspiration flowing again." It's the only way to keep the earth in it's natural balance, please oh mighty Oread! You are our only hope!

Oread looks down at her and replies, "rise woman, I have fought many a battles, some won and some lost, but this one will be the ultimate one Larva must die." Naiad gets to her feet, leans over and kisses Oread, he is surprised and stunned for a second.  He calls to one of his generals to take over the watch and lead his warriors into battle is needed. I'm going down into the land below wto see the Oga Larva, if I'm not back by morning you know what to do gather the warriors for battle. As he turns to go down the path, he calls for his mighty cat to follow.

As Oread and Naiad came upon the end of the path they were met by Zinga, a human the Naiad raised when he was desserted by his parents years ago. Zinga was as sstrong as an ape with the quickness of a cheetah. He told Oread of the terrible things Larva was doing to the humans he's recently captured. "Where is Larva now Oread asked," at the Golden Stream Zinga replied. They set out for the Golden Stream but was attacked before ethey got there by Larva's lookouts. Larva's attackers tied them up and took them to the camp at the end of the Golden Stream. Once there Larva came from his tent and approached Naiad and began stroking her face with his slimy hand. "Such beauty you have for a nymph," he then puts his finger into his mouth as if to taste her essence. He comes closer to her face and sniffs her,"lay with me and I will release your friends, if not I will kill them. No Naiad don't do it! Says Oread. Don't give yourself to that monster to save the likes of us, I----I Zinga looks at Oread in awh.

Naiad look at him too in suspense, Larva grabs her and kisses her, she spits on him and kicks him in the groin, I will die first. Now more angered Larva replies, "that can be arranged". Prepare three ropes on the hanging tree and boil the water to begin the skinning. I want their hearts raw to seiver the flavor of the fear that was in them when they died. As the evil Oga turned and walked away, without a sound Ceros attacked with a swing of his giant claws and fierce bites of his mighty fangs. The trees were filled with Dryads guardians of the trees, the battle went on for hours, until Nereid and his army showed up. Nereid freed Oread, Zinga and Naiad, Oread joined the warriors swinging his gleaming sword, slicing away the evil foes. Ceros, like a mother toting her kittens carried Naiad to the safety of the trees and returned to the battle.

As the warriors joined together in the opening next to the stream, Ceros drags the remains of Oga Larva to the large rock and drops it, then walks over to Oread. He raises his sword and looks to the sky, "Larva will trouble us no more, the forest can be at peace once again." Now the human is free to roam as they please and restore hominy to nature. Now my friend I must return to my kingdom, there's much to be done there, if you ever need me again my friend just send the signal. He turns to his warriors and leads the way through the path as they follows, with Oread, Ceros and Zinga watching.

Suddenly Oread noticed that Naiad wasn't there, "Ceros, where's Naiad?" She comes up behind him, "I am here my warrior." Their eyes meet and they looks at each other with great passion. I can finally say what I couldn't say before said Oread, I love you. I love you too my warrior and have for many years but could not tell you. You are a king, I'm only a mere warrior and ruler of this forest. Oh, and that makes you beneath me? I think not, you're going to make a great queen and we will rule together the mountain and the forest. The humans will suffer no more, and natures balance will forever be true. Come let us go and celebrate, they kissed and the trees began to bare nuts and fruits, the waters became purified the forest was completely safe  again and their love lasted eternally.

Mood:  chillin'

As the sun sets over the Carribbian Islands and the blue waters begain to calm, a beautiful woman strolls along the white sandy beach with the wind blowing through her long silky black hair. She is somewhat heartbroken because the man she loved had been killed in the Iraquian War. As she walked along the beach thinking of the good times they had together she began to cry. Suddenly, there appeared a dolphin in the ocean that seemed to be following her as she walked along. The dolphin would dance around upon his tail and make sounds as if to get her attention. Then it hit her, something her fiance had told her on his last visit.

Shemoria, if something should happen to me, and I leave this earth and this human body, I would return as a dolphin to let you know that I am alright and is still watching over you." I'd want you to carry on with your life because I'll always be with you in your heart".

She wipes the tears from her eyes, looks at the dolphin and smiles, with a flick of his tail the dolphin flips happily and plays around in the emerald blue waters. But that moment of happiness was disrupted by the frantic call of a man that had washed out into the deep edge of the ocean. The man is fighting to keep from drowning and sharks was coming to attack. The mighty dolphin streaks through the waves with lightning speed ramming the sharks as he pulls the man to shore where Shemoria is standing. He stands on his tail once again and flips back into the ocean and disappears. Feeling that it was the spirit of her beloved fiance Shemoria calleds to the dolphin Miko! Miko! come back! Don't leave me.

The dolphin surfaced once again as if to say goodbye, and like magic he was gone. The man he had rescued and brought to shore struggled to get ot his feet, as he tried to get up he'd fall back into the sand Shemoria went over to help him.  Being very weak he managed to set up,"what happened to me, how did I get here?" I remember being in a world of darkness, and there was a dolphin with eyes that sparkled like diamonds, the biggest dolphin I've ever seen!He told me I had a great task before me, and I end up here. Shemoria looked at the man who bore a striking resemblance to Miko. Come, you need rest you can tell all about it later.

As the two them walked down the beach, all of Shemoria's pain and grief began to fade. She looks at the man and says"tell me, what is your name, mine is Shemoria. He looks at her and replies" my name is Sias Se' ," it's an old family name my grandmother gave to me. Shemoria stopped suddenly, she was stunned, Miko's nickname was Sias Se'. It stood for "loving person" a military friend gave it to him when he first joined his batallion. This is so strange  to me, Sias Se takes her by the hand and smiles. The world is full of strange things and happenings, it's as if we are ment to be in each others lives.

I know right now I am happy. As they walked down the beach, the dolphin appears once again riding the waves on his tail. It seemed as if he had a smile on his face this time, he watch them for a while then disappeared back into the ocean and was never seen again. Shemoria and Sias Se' went on to live a happy and long life on the Islands.

Some say the dolphin was Miko that returned his alter ego to take care of Shemoria because he loved her so much.

Others say that Sias Se' is Miko that returned from the dead because God wanted them to be together, he made them for each other and Miko was unselfish with his love for Shemoria.