Arrows zip past us, aiming to kill. We run through the woods, dodging trees and vines. “Run to the cliff!” Zane shouts, throwing knives at our attackers. I look towards the east and spot a cliff. I can hear the rushing of water just below. Zane surely won’t make us jump? “Vera, we are going to jump!” Zane yells, the arrows getting closer to hitting us. My breathing gets heavy as we run closer to the edge of the cliff. The mist above the rushing water below will give us cover from the arrows. Zane runs beside me and we interlock hands. We make a straight shot to the cliff and then jump. As I suspend in the air, a large aching hits my side. I ignore it as I free fall into the rushing water below. In a second, we break into the cold water. My lungs fill with the icy water, but I manage to follow Zane to the shore. Wet and cold, I drag myself onto the riverbank and cough and cough. My side suddenly aches with intense pain. I grab my side to find an arrow stabbed into my skin. Red blood flows down my side, warming my shaking hands. “Zane…” I breathe with worry. Zane look over at me, his face turning concerned at the sight of the arrow in my side. He rushes over and examines it immediately. “It isn’t too deep, but I need to be careful when removing it to prevent further damaging the wound,” Zane says, gathering his wet medical supplies from his soaked bag. I sit down, my side burning immensely. My breathing becomes short. “It hurts Zane, it hurts really bad,” I cry, trying to contain the pain. “I know, I know.” He grabs ahold of the arrow and I hitch my breath. He slowly pulls, the pain become agonizing. “Just pull it out,” I yell. The pain becomes unbearable. “Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can,” he says. I close my eyes and in a moment, the arrow is out. I release a breath and slowly relax as Zane stitches my wound. I am so cold I can barely feel it. He wraps a cloth around the injury and then helps me stand. “We made it,” he assures. And then we walk through the forest looking for firewood to warm ourselves.

“Maddy! Maddy! Hurry!” My little sister’s voice was accompanied by giggles as she watched me work.

I sped up, carefully moving the metal with my hands, almost breaking the fragile material, “You’re gonna break it, Maddy.”

“Then don’t rush me, I’m being as careful as I can.” There was a smile in my tone and plastered on my face as I finished crafting the dress.

Mother had asked me to make Lily’s dress and Lily had asked for it to be steampunk. The dress was made of greys but it still looked as if it radiated color.

She looked gorgeous in the dress with her pigtails and rainbow goggles, “Thank you, Maddy.”

She hugged me and I kissed the top of her head, “Anytime, Lily. Anytime.”

I was alway interested in my Father’s work, he was a Archaeologist and would travel the world looking for lost artefacts. He had a museum named after him. He liked to call himself the real life Indiana Jones. My mother would always tell me his stories were always exaggerated and to not get to obsessed with them. She would say his stories did not really happen like a movie.

I remember when I was little he and I would play out his adventure, this usually involved me running around with a sword yelling catch the swine Daddy he has the stone.

My father’s favourite story to tell me was always about the Kali Stone and stopping it getting into the wrong hands. He always told me it could bring forth the Goddess of death and destruction. He would tell me how he had found the stone and had to fight off a cult of deadly assassins who believed the goddess could change the world in to a place that was ruled buy evil. Death would come to the people that did not worship her.

My mother would give him strange looks and tell him tho stop filling my head with junk.

When I turned 10 my father went on one of his artefact hunts and never returned. Her has now been missing for 20 year. The night it happened I remember hearing my mother yelling down the phone begging him to leave it alone and run home and then she screamed noooooooo. I remember hearing her sons for the rest of the night.

20 Years Later ........

My name is Elli Smith and I am 30 years old and I am an Archaeologist and I work at the museum that is named after my father. My mother begged me not to become an Archaeologist but how could I not follow my fathers passions. I did have to promise her I would not travel and I would work in the research side of things in a museum so yes not as exciting but definitely interesting.

Last night I received a phone call saying my mothers body has been found dead in her home. Her throat had been slit. Sadly since my father had died my mother and I have not got along. His disappearance caused her to become depressed and turned to alcohol and cigs, she became abusive and hard to live with. I spent 6 years caring for her and as soon as I was accepted into Oxford University I left and never looked back. This phone call was the first I have heard anything about her in 15 years.

I was not looking forward to going home and was hoping my older brother Alex was dealing with it all. He was 6 years older and looked a lot like my father. He had dark brown hair and blue striking eye. He had no accomplishments and spent most of his time as a game designer and liked smoking pot. I remember him being fun to be around but the last time I saw him was 12 years ago.

The taxi pulled up to the house just as the sun had started to go down. The house looked dark and cold, not the home I remember. The garden was barren not a single flower grew the Rose bushes were long dead. I walked slowly to the front door and saw an envelope on the door, I dropped my bags by my feet and read the note. It was from my bother it told me that the key was under the the plant pot and that a strange man had come by and dropped a package and it was waiting in the kitchen for me, he also said he would be back with in the hour.

I found the key and opened the door, I was shocked to see my mother had left the house to wither, it looked dark and dusty and the paper was peeling from the walls. At least my brother left the heating on and it was warm. I walked in to the kitchen and straight to the package. It looked old and the paper it was wrapped in was stained. It looked like it was packed years ago. The journey was long so I decided to pop to the bathroom and then make a cup of tea.

Whilst I was making the tea, thankful she had kept everything in the same place at least that was something. I stood staring at the strand package it was a square about the side of a small jewellery box. Is this package maybe a reason my mother was dead or will it be an answer to why my father had disappeared. I’m feeling nervous about opening it. I pour my tea and sit in front of it, it feels like the box is pulling at me to open it, like the table it is on is buzzing and I look at my tea and I can see it slightly rippling.

I unwrap the box and under the wrapping is a hard wood box, varnished but fading and I decide to lift the lid. The first thing I see is a letter written in my fathers hand writing and a box underneath I lift them both out and my ears start ringing. I open the letter first and start reading it.

To my dearest Elli,

If you are reading this letter than I am no longer here and your mother is dead. I asked for my lawyer to hold on to this until this time. What I say now is very important. DO NOT open the box, hide it, bury it and forget about it. As your mother is dead it is no longer safe with the lawyer and they must have found out about your mother and believed she had it. They do not know about you. So please My dearest Elli hide it.

I love you Daddy

I could feel the tears running down my face. What the hell is in this box? I can hear it ringing it’s vibrating on the table, how can I not open it. I lift the lid and I shut it fast in that one glance I saw a Red Stone it was a smooth looking as a pebble. I stand up fast and start pacing the room and I am completely lost in thought, it can’t be it can’t be I keep saying over and over again, it can’t be the Kali Stone. I hear myself say don’t rush, be as careful as I can. I gently grab the box.

I open the box and I place my hand in and I touch the stone. The air around me starts whizzing faster and fast then bang...... I wake up on a cold floor. I’m sweaty and shaken and my hand is hot when I look at it I can see the red stone in my hand. A voice speaks Elli no what have you done. Daddy is that you? It’s dark I can’t see you.

I look up and there he is and I am shocked to see he has not aged a day. He looks somber and warn out he has beard and his blue eye are striking in the dark. I could see tears in his eye and he kneels down and takes the stone from my hand.

Elli I told you not to touch it, you have no idea what you have done. I ask where we are? He tells me I am in her realm and time passes a lot slower here. She knows I am here and she is coming.

Have I destroyed the world by just touching a stone?

Dad I’m afraid. He takes me in his arms.

I am too my dearest Elli.

don’t rush me as I can I’m being as careful as you I’m crushed looking for exits too I’m silent just like you

Love

I’ve experienced it in a relationship before, Gotten loved by my family, Even by the pets.

I’m not on the prowl for such a thing though. I shall keep striding on, hand in hand with my life. Won’t turn my gaze nor a glance backwards, for I am yearning to move forwards.

I refuse to waste my days, months, and years for a such thing that could rip me to shreds in the end. Being the cautious bunny I am, I will tread carefully along the path of love, but only after I reach the end of Dream’s path.

One day, I shall meet love and look upon the situation with glory, but for now...

“Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can.”

“Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can,” I said, silently annoyed- though I could never stay mad long at her-, slowly working my calloused fingers through her beautiful silver-blonde mane of hair. She was so lucky.

She sighed. “I know, I know...”

I stared absently at the shafts of gold that danced in from the open window, illuminating her features. She looked nothing short of a goddess, queenly and timelessly pretty.

Beauty. It’s a dangerous thing to possess.

My hands deftly wove without me even thinking; an elaborate braid, snaking twice around her head (her hair was so long, it caressed her ankles at times). I ran a hand ruefully over my own cropped style, longing.

“Well, I’ve never exactly cut it,” she laughed, listening with ease to my ponderings. “Not that I’ve ever particularly wanted to,”

I was startled.

I kept forgetting about her.... let’s say.... abilities.

I hoped she hadn’t been tuned in for long: I hoped no one ever knew. I hoped with all of my young and free heart that it wasn’t obvious. What kind of a maid falls in love with their master anyway?

“Hurry up, Xyle!” shouts Darlene. “Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can,” the purple alien retorts, “you know how fickle humans can be.” He keeps sewing at the man’s forehead. Thank Jupiter they brought the first aid kit.

Darlene and Xyle didn’t have many expectations for their first date, but they certainly didn’t expect to accidentally hit an astronaut with their space car. The penalty for having an illegal human in your possession is 1,000 Starcoins, and neither of them want to pay that.

“Dammit Xyle, why is he still unconscious?” Darlene is getting restless now, running all six of her fingers through her tentacles, getting everything tangled together. “Didn’t you pay attention in Universal Anatomy class?” Xyle lifts one of his heads to face Darlene, “wait, I think he’s coming to!” The astronaut sits up.

“You promise you’re not mad?” Darlene asks tearfully. “Yeah. Just very... confused,” he looks around the strange environment, “my name’s Dan, by the way.” “Nice to meet you,” the aliens mutter awkwardly. “Thanks for stitching up my head,” says Dan, “my buddies aren’t gonna believe this. And to think I was pissed about being the one to have to go do jet engine maintenance tonight!” Dan laughs at himself and Xyle and Darlene chuckle too. They don’t know what a jet engine is.

“What’s earth like?” Xyle is overeager. “Meh. It’s kinda dead,” shrugs Dan. “But you have so many beings on your planet!” Darlene exclaims, “surely it’s well-maintained?” “Humans suck,” says Dan, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the galaxy. Which it is. Everyone knows that. “Can you guys take me back to the space station now?”

“Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can.”

Washington was about to intersect before he paused and considered the circumstances.

He’d much rather Tucker be careful then quick.

“Ok, ok.” He rationalized. “Just don’t hurt her.”

He could hear Tucker scoff from under the porch. “How do you even know it’s a girl?” He hissed before mumbling something Wash didn’t hear but could only assume was along the lines of ‘know it all hard ass’

Wash rolled his eyes. “Because I was a vet.”

Tucker didn’t respond and kept still and for a moment Wash was unsure if everything was ok.

Maybe their was a snake or raccoon and he fucked up asking Tucker to go down there.

A quiet purr was heard followed by quick rustling and next thing Wash knew; Tucker was crawling out, out of breath, twigs and leaves sticking to his clothes as he rushed out and leaned against the wooden frame with a huff.

“I’m not doing it.” He stated seriously.

Wash frowned. He understood where his boyfriend was coming from, but he was still disappointed. “Come on, you haven’t even tried yet.”

Tucker whined and curled his head into his knees. “Waaaaash.” He complained before lifting his head up to look at him. “I hate cats.”

“What are you dirty blues up to?!” Sarge growled from his front porch, catching the attention of both Wash and Tucker.

Donut was out of the same house a second later, playfully swatting Sarge on the arm. “Sarge, be nice.” He continued his march down the porch stairs and headed towards Tucker and Wash, leaving Sarge to follow.

“There’s a rodent under the porch.” Tucker stated, giving a weak glare to Wash.

Washington returned the look before looking towards Donut. “A kitten.” He corrected. “There’s a kitten under the porch.”

Donut smiled. “Ooo, I wanna see!” He gushed, kneeling down in front of the porch and arching his head under to get a better look.

“Donut!” Sarge barked. “Get your head out from under there! You have no idea what the blues are planning. There could be killer rats or radioactive rats or-“

“There’s no killer rats.” Wash interrupted. “And our only plan was to have Tucker crawl under and get her out, I think she’s stuck.”

Tucker pouted. “Why can’t you do it?” He grumbled.

“Because I won’t fit.”

“You’re too damn tall.”

Wash smirked. “Not my fault your so short.”

Tucker was about to argue back when Donut shot up. “I’ll do it!” He said quickly as he began climbing under.

It didn’t take long for Donut to untangle the kitten from wherever it was or for Wash to be proven right that it was a girl -even after multiple dejections from Sarge- and soon everyone, including Grif and Simmons from next door, who had come outside to see what all the commotion was, had crowded around the small creature. That was everyone, but Tucker.

“Dibs.” Grif said quickly.

“You can’t call dibs.” Wash

“Don’t rush me. I’m be as careful as I can,” I said to my friend. “But you’re sooooo slow!!” I know I am slow, but this process takes skill and care, it should not be rushed.

My friend was bouncing around, so impatient. “You are distracting me,” I stated, “can you sit down? Just until I am finished.”

“But I want this done nooooow,” he whined. Why were we friends again?

Trying to block him out of my mind, I turned back to the task at hand. True, I started to go a little slower, to annoy my friend, but that’s part of my nature as well. I’m just an ass sometimes.

My friend clearly was to impatient, or he was distracted, because he hopped off. Good. Now I can get this completed.

It’s not easy being a tortoise and trying to get the flux capacitor working again. Especially when your hare friend is hopping around like a caffeinated...well, hare.

As Markus watched from the roof through the sky light he could see the torrent of energy lashing out from the vortex. Declan found a way to use the energy created by the portal to power the city. “Malcom, I am impatiently disgusted with how slow you are going. We need more out put from the portal...you said you could handle this. Do I need to find someone else?” Declan clenched his cane. “Don’t rush me. I’m being as careful as I can.” Malcolm was sweating profusely. One wrong adjustment could either suck them into the vortex or make it expand uncontrollably.

Markus kept a close eye on the vortex waiting for something to catastrophic to happen. Suddenly, the vortex began flashing and growing until it was the size of a door way. “Malcom you genius you did it!” Declan applauded as he tucked his cane under his arm to clap. “I didn’t do anything yet...” Malcom scratched his head puzzled. The air grew still and a blood curdling growl came from vortex as a beast emerged. Markus couldn’t believe his eyes, but they were all three in the midst of a folk lore legend. The werewolf howled as every window shattered and Markus fell through the skylight.