BY:DEVON SEYBOLD Wednesday, 15 January, 14
“Daddy! I wanna be karate chop girl! Not scratchy tutu girl!” I yelled at my dad. It must have been 11 or 12 years ago? That doesn't matter anymore. This time, I am serious..... My name is Cossette St.Clair. I am 15 years old and I live on planet Katon. I live in 14 and 28 KZ Katon time. Each planet has a different time period. Katon is measured by KZ, or lifetimes. For example, on planet earth it is the year 203, BC. In two months I will be turning 16, when my father will FINALLY let me join the army. About 2 weeks ago, The Mantuans started invading the most Northern part of Katon. My father is head of the army and all of his troops are going to defend Katon. Late at night I hear my mother and Father talking about how none of Katons troops are capable enough to fight. The Manturan’s are fighting machines. Hearing my mother and father talk about that keeps me awake at night. You might think I am weird, but hearing that, makes me have the urge to be a fighter even more. I dream about coming home a war hero, and making my family proud. The next morning I put on my robes and walked down the winding marble staircase leading to the kitchen. After I sat down and poured my cereal I calmly brought up the agreement with my father about becoming a fighter. “So! Daddy, I am SO excited to start training in 2 months!” I said and took a bite of cereal. “Hmmmm” My dad grunted while reading the news paper. I could tell he wasn't interested in this conversation. “I got to bounce, new recruits coming in today, got to get them set to head to Manturan by September.” My dad said and walked away from the breakfast table.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
After about a month and a half of watching new recruits for my fathers army come and go, the Manturans were coming closer and closer and my birthday was coming nearer and nearer, I noticed something. My father wasn't talking to me about becoming an army recruit . What I mean is that, he usually gives pep talks before you do something in your life. Like when about 3 years ago my dad gave me a pep talk about going to a summer camp for a month. But this was different. So, at about 8:00 I called him up to my room. “Hi hon whats up” My father said and sat down on my bed beside me. “Umm, dad, I well..... want to talk to you about becoming a warrior.” I answered. My father took a few seconds to process that thought. He began to go pale in the face. “Hon, me and your mother were talking about that and we came to a conclusion that we, aren't going to let you join the army.” My father said and took a big breath in relief. “WHAT!!!” I yelled. I felt destroyed and angry. “hon, I...” “don’t hon me!” I interrupted, and stormed out of my room, firey with anger. I ran out the door and rushed out of the house straight past my mum and sprinted to the beach. I had to get away from my parents and think. I layed down on the moist sand, tears streaming down my face. I held my head in my hands and wept. I wept until my eyes were swollen like donuts. I rested my head on the moist sand and thought about how my dreams would never come true.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
About 2 hours later I heard someone's footsteps in the sand coming closer, it was my mom. “Honey, it is dinner, time to come home” She said in her soft voice, that could make a raging tiger fall asleep. “Why won’t he let me?” I protested to my mother and put my head in her lap. “Well maybe it is because they are the fiercest group of warriors Katon has ever seen, Also you are only 16 and you are a girl.” she answered and gave me the ‘I just proved you wrong’ look. “How does that make a difference! Dad said himself that I am tougher than half of the troops that come in every month!” I said and raised my arms in the air in protest. “Well honey, sometimes fathers say things but they don’t actually mean it.”. I gave a huge sigh and so did my mother. “You know what? I will talk to him about it.” she said and started to get on her feet. I did too and we both walked back to the house without saying another word to each other.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
It was 2 weeks after my birthday that my father finally let go and let me fight. It was in the morning, I just woke up, and my father came into my room to tell me. I was so excited that I was jumping in the air. Anyway today I would be starting training. My Father and I walked through the great oak doors leading to the legendary gym where all the warriors trained. It was a huge room with maybe 4050 people. There were people boxing, benchpressing, doing sit ups, kick boxing and using samurai swords against dummies. There were about three quarters men and only about a quarter of women, and they all looked at least 10 years older than me, and a lot tougher. I guess my mom was right, sometimes dads say things, but they don’t actually mean it. “So hon, what do you want to do?’ . My eyes surveyed the area to find an activity that suited me. “Oh I don’t know Dad I...” “Stop! Hon can you actually not call me dad here” My dad interrupted. “Then you don’t call me hon!” I shot back and walked away. I felt like that was kind of cruel, to say to your own daughter to not let me call me him dad. I thought to myself and didn’t notice as walked straight into the man who I had seen earlier that had the samurai sword. “Hey!!” he bellowed. The whole gym fell silent. The man looked at me with pure anger and fury. I heard a man that looked like he was in his mid twenties whisper to what looked like his friend “Oh no! That girl just walked into Maltat!”
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
“Oh I am so sorry” I stuttered. “Better look where you’re going shrimp.” He said and turned back to the dummy and cut its head off straight from the body. The gym resumed with their training as I started to walk the other way. Hot tears started to fill my eyes. But I couldn't cry now not after I had already got embarrassed, I walked into the girls washroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My mascara was running down my face because of the tears. It was probably just beginners bad luck. It couldn't get much worse, could it? After my first day of training and conditioning my body was stiff. My father updated me on the way home. “Hon, I saw your little run in with Maltat.” He said while we were stuck in traffic. “Yah did you also notice how you didn’t stand up for me!?” I commented sarcastically and looked out the window at the on coming traffic. “Hon, being in the army means that you have to be strong. Physically and mentally. Cossette, what I am saying is, you have to learn how to stick up for yourself.” He said and turned behind the seat. “Ya, but it was my first day! Now I am the laughing stock of the army.” I said and kept looking out the window. We both sighed and it was silent in the car for the rest of the way home.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
After about a week through training we were all asked to meet in the middle of the gym as it was time for a big announcement. “Ok everyone. You are probably wondering why we are all gathered here and have stopped training today. Tomorrow we head off on our journey to Manturan!” My dad said emotionally. Everyone cheered, but I didn’t. I was the worst one in the whole group! I probably wouldn't last a day! The rest of the day the army recruits were training extra hard but I couldn't stop thinking how useless i felt compared to the rest. In the car ride home I told my dad about how I felt and once again he told me that I was one of the best. I rolled my eyes and didn’t say anything. The next day we had to wake up at 4:30am because we had to head out before the town was awake. I did’nt know why. My father and I got into our armor and woke my mother up to say goodbye. My mother gave me a kiss on my forehead and my father a hug, tears began to roll down her cheeks. She wished us luck as we set off. Immediately the cool morning air hit my face like a pillow. We were supposed to meet the troop at the entrance to Hekman mountain pass. It was about 8:00 by the time the whole troop had arrived and we all set off in single file down the narrow pass. It was completely silent, you could only hear the rushing water of the river below, the wind through the trees and the sound of all the marching feet in unison. I was scared. No, That doesn't begin to cover it. I was PETRIFIED!! I could hardly walk! After about an hour of marching in silence I began to calm down, listening to the birds in the trees and sound of the soft breeze going through the trees, until my zen moment ended when my father said “Halt! Here is where we are going to stay the night. Set up your camps and meet me by the fire in a hour.” I hardly noticed but it was almost sunset. My father said I would be sharing a tent with a lady called Merakit. She was the head nurse of the army. I asked my father why I wouldn't sleep in his tent but he said that he was sharing a tent with the vice captain, Mantador. I nodded my head and walked to the tent. Merakit was a tall women with long brown hair and big brown eyes. She was very pretty and attractive. “Aren't you a little young to fight in the army?’ She asked. “Well my father, the captain, said I can fight when I turn 16.” I said. She had already set up our tent. “Your father is the captain!? He must go hard on you at home.” She said and flipped her hair so it would go behind her shoulder. “Ya, kind of.” I said and bit my lip. I thought it was kind of strange that she would ask me that. “Well I am Merakit and you must be Cossette?” She asked. “ya, thats me.” I replied and we both walked into the tent.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
After we both set up our stuff we both went to the campfire together and sat on one of the big logs set up in a circle around the fire. The warmth of the fire wrapped around me like a big bear hug. My father fed the fire more wood and it started to crackle happily. Across from me I saw Maltat’’s silhouette. I knew it was Maltat because he was bigger and more muscular than the other men. My father gave us announcements about when we are getting up and in what order we were to get to have breakfast. Then finally he said “Also I must remind you. The Manturans are ruthless. They are vicious and you have every right to be scared. You have a big day tomorrow. Get some rest.” We all walked back to our tents in silence. We were all shocked and scared. We knew that we would be fighting the worlds scariest beasts, but he just reminded us about it. I looked to my left and even Maltat was shaken. The next day we were off at the crack of dawn walking in single file, once again down the narrow mountain pass.
After about 2 hours of walking, we started hiking through clumps of snow and soon enough it was all around us. I saw different types of animals all around me going in and out of the bushes and trees. After another hour of hiking I saw some huge footprints in the snow. I stopped walking and looked at them. No one stopped with me. Soon, Maltat passed me and pushed me off the mountain trail! I rolled down the slope through small bushes and over rocks onto the cold snow and looked back up at the mountain pass trail. Maltat was chuckling happily to himself and no one else had noticed that I was gone. Since I couldn't climb back up to the trail I would have to go alone and find a way to meet up with the army, I noticed the same footprints again and decided to follow them not before shooting Malta with a fiery look of disgust.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
After an hour of walking through the snow, cold and alone I still hadn't found my troop when suddenly I came across a huge mountain with a castle like building on the highest peak. “The Manurans Lair” I said quietly to myself. I thought about how these creatures had threatened my people and I began to get angry and filled with rage. I could not stand back and watch them wipe out my population. I had lost many ancestors from these beasts. I had lost all feelings of worry and terror and decided to follow my dream and defeat the Manturans myself without waiting for my troop.
I broke into a run and soon enough I was half way up the mountain. The sky was a light shade of pink by the time I reached the castle gates. Two Manturans stepped outside of the castle. I quickly hid behind one of the huge boulders around the entrance. “Katun, did you hear something?” One of the Mantuans said to the other. They had grey scaly skin and huge horns coming out of there ears. They looked HIDEOUS! I held my breath waiting for his answer. “Yeah I heard it from that boulder over there!” As he came running to where I was hiding. My heart was beating like a beatbox. “Its a Katon troop! Get her” The first one yelled. They grabbed my arms and dragged me through the castle doors. I screamed but it was useless as no one could hear me. They just smiled showing their sharpened teeth. I heard one of them mutter “I love to hear them scream.” And they both laughed. They threw me in a old cellar and slammed the door shut. I broke into tears of sorrow. I will never fulfill my dream, I thought to myself how stupid and arrogant I was.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
After a month of being trapped in the Manturans lair, I completely lost hope of someone finding me. I had been kept alive even know there were immense temperatures that changed constantly in the castle. Then out of nowhere, the same two Manturans burst through the doors with someone in their grasps. No... It couldn't be. It was my father!!!!! The two Manturans through him into the cage with me. “Daddy!!” I yelled and wrapped my arms around him. “Ho ho my little girl. Why did you leave the troop!!” He asked. “Daddy It isn’t my fault! Maltat pushed me off the mountain pass, so I decided to follow the big footprints in the snow!” I said. “Yeah, Maltat has been a problem these past two weeks and.....” My father trailed off. “And what!?” I asked shaking him. “Never mind” He said and shook his head. ”We need to break out!” He said to change the subject. When two of the Manturans walked in with our dinner, My father purposely bumped into the Mantuan and stole the keys from his belt. Once they left, my father stuck his hand through the bars and unlocked the door. My dad and I did a silent high five and walked through the doors. We hid behind the big stone wall and since Manturans were almost blind, me and my father only had to bend over to blend in. We were tiptoeing closer and closer to the door when one of the Mantuans yelled “Stop! intruders!” he shot a neon green flair towards us and it went straight through my dad’s chest. “DADDY!!!” I yelled and ran over to him. “Hon when I am gone, you need to lead Katon through battle. The troops need you . Don’t be so hard on the them.” He said choking. The Manturan guard began to yell for some other guards. NO! DADDY!! YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME” I yelled and tried to cover his wound with some of his fighting robes.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
“Tell your mother I love her and not to worry. I will see her soon enough. Here is my Amulet to keep you safe” He said and handed me the black amulet with a silver swirl in the middle from his neck “ the amulet is your destiny and was made by our ancestors for a chosen warrior, I’m sorry it took so long for me to tell you”. He then rested his head in my hands and closed his eyes. My father was dead.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
The guards were swarming towards me, as I spotted a loose rope attacthed to an enormous tapestry that hung from the wall. I pulled the rope and it fell onto the guards , with its great weight pinning them to the ground. I noticed a small door and ran towards it, as it opened I culd see the sky outside. I had not seen the sky for a month now and shielded my eyes. This was my way out. After escaping from the castle, dragging my father’s body, I felt destroyed, angry and alone. Hot tears were streaming down my face like a volcano. I realized I had to take my fathers place and lead the army to end this war. After days of hiking through ever changing terrain like desserts, icy planes, rain and sun, I finally found my troop. They had been walking through the Magitit forest just east of the Manturans Castle. I rested my father down and shouted to my new troop, “My father is dead!” I yelled and they all stopped walking to listen to me. I noticed Maltat wasn't there. “I am your new head warrior I announced .” After I said that everyone started talking. “Shes so young!” “we will fall immediately with her at command!” But out from the back, the oldest warrior Manadtuas had noticed something that i was wearing and saw it as a sign and came to the front and bowed. “She wears the Amulet, she is a true warrior,Bow before our great new leader.” He said in his old voice. One by one all the troops bowed down. A bunch of butterflies flew up in my stomach. “For Katon!” I yelled “For Katon!” They yelled back “For our family!” I yelled “For our family!” They yelled and we all cheered together. Before setting out for the Manturan lair the troop made a grave for my father and buried him. All of the troop respected him and he would be forever missed. The troop had grown closer together and looked more determined than ever to finish this war and go home to their families. The Manturan’s castle we heard rumbling from the other side of the mountain were the Manturans castle was. About 10,000 or more Manturans crowded over the hill ready for battle. Then I remembered my father’s words, echoing in my head. “Here is my amulet It will keep you safe” he said. I thought to myself. “You must have courage to be a warrior. Physically and mentally” I also remembered him quoting. All of a sudden it came to me. I ran down to the beginning of the mountain and thought of my father. How angry I was. How sad I was.
Wednesday, 15 January, 14
The two armies were about to met each other and I was at the front of the pack facing the large Manturan army. I held the amulet towards the army and it began to vibrate and all of a sudden a huge green spark rose out of the amulet and a wave of green light escaped and blew everything back. All of the Manturans disappeared out of thin air. My troops were blown back down the mountain also but they didn’t disappear like Manturans did. After they were gone, I stood still breathing in and out heavily. My troop started walking up the hill. Tired and broken once they noticed that the Manturans were gone they started to yell with joy and ` high fives and pats on the back. I slowly broke into a smile when I realized what I had done. I did it! I saved Katon! Once we arrived back to Katon It was grey and foggy. No people were out on the streets. It was all empty. Then a little girl who must of been five or six poked her head out of one of the village houses and cried “The brave warriors are home!” After she yelled more and more people came out of there houses and started cheering with her. “The brave warriors are home the warriors are home!” They yelled. They picked us up and carried us through the village. Soon we reached my house and my mother came out with a depressed look on her face. But when she saw me and the rest of the army, her face lit up. “Mum!” I cried and jumped down from the grasps of the villagers. “Oh my baby girl! Your ok! Where is your father?” She asked and looked concerned. “They didn’t tell you?” I asked and looked up at her. “Oh dear! What happened!” She said shocked I saw tears in her eyes. She pulled me inside the house and we both sat down at the coffee table I told her about the journey to the Manturans castle and about the green flare from the amulet and how I saved Katon. By the end tears was streaming down her face. “Mom why are you crying?” I asked “Oh Cossette! I am crying tears of joy and of sadness. Your father will be very proud.” She said and gave me a hug. Later in the evening there was a celebration at the emperor's house because we defeated the Manturans. At the end we all gathered in the huge outdoor courtyard. All the warriors were on either side of the emperor including me. “May I see the captain of the group.” He said in his old croaky voice. All of my fellow warriors turned to me and my stomach did a backflip. I walked up to the emperor and bowed down. He said “Cossette St.Clair. You have done your family proud. You are a true warrior”
Wednesday, 15 January, 14