The Æ‘Tallo, Chonkin and three other centaurs sat down with them. While the supper was being prepared and during the meal, Derrick learned quite a bit about them, the largest amount of information came from merely watching them; they were fascinating creatures to watch.
In form, their human half was human in shape far less than he had originally thought. Their ribcage was shorter than a human's was, and if the layering of muscle attached to them was any indication, the bones were quite heavy. Since they weren't there to protect a heart and lungs or even the structure of a diaphragm, their only purpose was to support the muscle and bone structure of their arms and shoulders.
Their arms looked like a foreshortened version of their front legs with a more versatile joint structure. Their hands looked like a cross between human hands an a horse's hoof. They were heavy and wide with only three fingers instead of four, the middle finger being heaver than the other two and nearly as heavy as the thumb. The thumb was more centered on the wrist than a human's; it opposed the middle finger directly across a surprisingly small palm. This structure prevented the hand from lying flat on a surface but then a human's hands are built to take a human's weight from time to time whereas centaurs almost never used their hands in that manner. Their fingernails were likely the most human thing about their hands aside from the fact that they were very thick.
Their human waist was surprisingly narrow but no narrower than a horse's neck and their human neck was rather thick topped by a very human head though the eyes looked like horse's eyes. The nose was heavier than the normal human nose but it was something Derrick noticed only because he was expressly looking for similarities and differences.
Now the ears. The elven ear was a lot like a bat's ear; it was indeed pointed but much of its structure was built directly into the head; the end result was that it lay very close to the skull. The centaur's ears were very horsey though smaller than the average horse's ears might be. They swiveled freely and independently, and Derrick had seen first hand how they could be pulled back to protect them during an attack. Chonkin's ears had been almost unnoticeable during their entire conversation the night before.
The entire human half of their structure was longer than the normal horse's neck. This structure was lengthened to accommodate the ribcage and shoulder structure adding a foot or more to the length of the spine. The backbone was different from a horse's too. The arc of a horse's back continued its curve up into the human body to support that part upright rather than forward like a horse's head and neck.
The horse part of their body had differences too though they were harder to spot. The lifestyle that included a good deal of hunting had made for a very broad chest between the front legs of the horse half and yet their horse's waist was quite trim on the average, making them look something like a greyhound dog though not quite so sucked up as that. Thickening happened there from age or pregnancy. This was likely a direct result of being omnivores rather than pure grazers.
Derrick couldn't spot much else that was obviously different aside. from the possibility that they were more flexible as they seemed to be more graceful in their everyday movements than the average horse was.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Blog Tag!
There is a fun game being played lately in the blogosphere. It's a type of 'Tag! You're it!’ I've been tagged, so now it's time to answer some writing related questions. I hope you're not too bored with my answers. At the end of the questions I will tag three more bloggers, so be sure to check them out, too. Thanks, TK http://eveningfades.blogspot.com for tagging me.
1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
My latest project is a book I’m calling Druid Derrick. It is about a Dungeons & Dragons Druid who is also a 20th century American boy. I’m having a lot of fun melding the two worlds together. It’s roughly half done.
The oldest of my unpublished stories is called To Reclaim the Throne. It’s about a prince who was raised by an evil regent bent on making him the most hated prince in history. When, as a young man, he learns the truth, he must work to undo it all and wrest his throne and his betrothed back from the regent.
2. Write poetry?
Though I like to read some poetry, I can’t write it. Me and poetry just don’t get along.
3. Angsty poetry?
Na – my efforts at poetry are truly frightening.
4. Favorite genre of writing?
My writing is all over the place under the big heading of fiction. I have touched on space travel, time travel, medieval, sword and sorcery, and magic.
5. Most annoying character you've ever created?
I’m not sure that any of my characters quite qualify as annoying but I’ve definitely had some difficult characters. One who cannot speak is hard.
6. Best plot you've ever created?
I think my best plot is by coincidence my longest story - The Making of a Mage-King. The story takes an average American boy and dumps him in a world where magic is common. While there, he must learn his own magic, unravel an ancient prophecy, and decipher the dreams that drive him.
7. Coolest plot twist you've ever created?
That’s a hard one, because I am always trying to twist things somewhat. I think The Making of a Mage-King qualifies for the coolest twist because it’s full of them.
8. How often do you get writer's block?
Ah, it happens, but when it does, I just turn to another idea or back up and read through some of what has already been written. If that doesn’t work, I sleep on it.
9. Write fan fiction?
Not fan fiction. I think the closest I’ve gotten to such a thing is using the rules and spells from a computer game my husband was playing at the time. However, the story does not resemble the game in any other ways.
10.Do you type or write by hand?
My first book started out being hand written. Back then I didn’t have a computer and the ribbon on my typewriter was faded. It was just a ‘fill my empty time’ thing. It was never going to be anything more. Then my son gave me an old laptop. That changed everything.
11. Do you save everything you write?
Oh yes. I have copies on discs and on storage sticks. The fun part is keeping them updated.
12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
No idea is ever abandoned, merely shelved for a while.
13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
My favorite I think is The Making of a Mage-King, but that’s completed now so I think Druid Derrick is my new fav.
14. What's everyone else's favorite story you've written?
Having only one out there makes this question very hard to answer, but so far, all my reviews have been good ones.
15. Ever written romance or angsty teen?
I don’t even know what one writes for an angsty teen but I have dabbled in romance. Romance is everywhere to a certain degree.
16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?
I love warhorses, swords and magic so if I can put my characters in the middle of all that, I’m happy. Then again, I also like the mysteries of outer space so that’s a cool setting too. Try a staff fight in a weightless environment.
17. How many writing projects are you working on now?
Right now my current writing project, Druid Derrick, has been shelved in favor of a little polishing on my other works. It’s been a while and I’ve learned a lot since I’ve had internet.
18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Nope, not even. I never even dreamed of being a writer. I always thought I’d raise horses and teach kids how to ride. Then I moved to the wilderness of Alaska where horses are bear-bait.
19. What are your five favorite words?
I know you’re talking about what words I use most, but I really think I like to hear “I just bought your book” the best. It always sends a thrill up my spine.
20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Almost all of my characters have a piece of me in them, but then they get a life of their own and all resemblance ends there.
21. Where do you get your ideas for your characters?
He, he, he, he – read on.
22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
As a matter of fact, most of my writing comes from dreams. It’s usually a scene or a germ of an idea if not the whole thing. When I get one, I sit down at the computer and type like mad for – however long it takes to get that scene or idea down. Then I think of the characters and wrap the rest of the story around it. The story The Making of a Mage-King is riddled with dreams and 99% of them were dreams I had while writing the story. This one really took over my life at the time.
23. Do you favor happy endings?
Yeah, I like happy endings or at least proper culminations, but at least one of my books ends with tears.
24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Thanks to that nice little thing computers do with the squiggly green and red lines, I pay attention to the spelling and grammar. It was my first learning tool when it came to writing.
25. Does music help you write?
I don’t mind music so much, so long as it’s not something loud and obnoxious, but mostly I prefer quiet. I’ve been known to get up at 3 in the morning, write for about 4 hours and then crash until noon (or until it gets light out – about 10am). After that, life has many distractions and in the afternoon, my husband must have the TV on *sigh*
26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops in your head.
“When they were all seated, Sean laid his hands on the table and drew all of their magic to the center, lighting the crystal like a light bulb, thus lighting the room brightly, but not so brightly that it couldn’t be closely studied as everyone did now. With the light lit, if anyone in the room used magic for any reason, all of them would feel it and know exactly who it was and what they were trying to do with it. No magical slight of hand could happen within this room.” (Near the end of The Making of a Mage-King)
And now the three blogs I will tag are: (be sure to visit their blogs, too)
1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
My latest project is a book I’m calling Druid Derrick. It is about a Dungeons & Dragons Druid who is also a 20th century American boy. I’m having a lot of fun melding the two worlds together. It’s roughly half done.
The oldest of my unpublished stories is called To Reclaim the Throne. It’s about a prince who was raised by an evil regent bent on making him the most hated prince in history. When, as a young man, he learns the truth, he must work to undo it all and wrest his throne and his betrothed back from the regent.
2. Write poetry?
Though I like to read some poetry, I can’t write it. Me and poetry just don’t get along.
3. Angsty poetry?
Na – my efforts at poetry are truly frightening.
4. Favorite genre of writing?
My writing is all over the place under the big heading of fiction. I have touched on space travel, time travel, medieval, sword and sorcery, and magic.
5. Most annoying character you've ever created?
I’m not sure that any of my characters quite qualify as annoying but I’ve definitely had some difficult characters. One who cannot speak is hard.
6. Best plot you've ever created?
I think my best plot is by coincidence my longest story - The Making of a Mage-King. The story takes an average American boy and dumps him in a world where magic is common. While there, he must learn his own magic, unravel an ancient prophecy, and decipher the dreams that drive him.
7. Coolest plot twist you've ever created?
That’s a hard one, because I am always trying to twist things somewhat. I think The Making of a Mage-King qualifies for the coolest twist because it’s full of them.
8. How often do you get writer's block?
Ah, it happens, but when it does, I just turn to another idea or back up and read through some of what has already been written. If that doesn’t work, I sleep on it.
9. Write fan fiction?
Not fan fiction. I think the closest I’ve gotten to such a thing is using the rules and spells from a computer game my husband was playing at the time. However, the story does not resemble the game in any other ways.
10.Do you type or write by hand?
My first book started out being hand written. Back then I didn’t have a computer and the ribbon on my typewriter was faded. It was just a ‘fill my empty time’ thing. It was never going to be anything more. Then my son gave me an old laptop. That changed everything.
11. Do you save everything you write?
Oh yes. I have copies on discs and on storage sticks. The fun part is keeping them updated.
12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
No idea is ever abandoned, merely shelved for a while.
13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
My favorite I think is The Making of a Mage-King, but that’s completed now so I think Druid Derrick is my new fav.
14. What's everyone else's favorite story you've written?
Having only one out there makes this question very hard to answer, but so far, all my reviews have been good ones.
15. Ever written romance or angsty teen?
I don’t even know what one writes for an angsty teen but I have dabbled in romance. Romance is everywhere to a certain degree.
16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?
I love warhorses, swords and magic so if I can put my characters in the middle of all that, I’m happy. Then again, I also like the mysteries of outer space so that’s a cool setting too. Try a staff fight in a weightless environment.
17. How many writing projects are you working on now?
Right now my current writing project, Druid Derrick, has been shelved in favor of a little polishing on my other works. It’s been a while and I’ve learned a lot since I’ve had internet.
18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Nope, not even. I never even dreamed of being a writer. I always thought I’d raise horses and teach kids how to ride. Then I moved to the wilderness of Alaska where horses are bear-bait.
19. What are your five favorite words?
I know you’re talking about what words I use most, but I really think I like to hear “I just bought your book” the best. It always sends a thrill up my spine.
20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Almost all of my characters have a piece of me in them, but then they get a life of their own and all resemblance ends there.
21. Where do you get your ideas for your characters?
He, he, he, he – read on.
22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
As a matter of fact, most of my writing comes from dreams. It’s usually a scene or a germ of an idea if not the whole thing. When I get one, I sit down at the computer and type like mad for – however long it takes to get that scene or idea down. Then I think of the characters and wrap the rest of the story around it. The story The Making of a Mage-King is riddled with dreams and 99% of them were dreams I had while writing the story. This one really took over my life at the time.
23. Do you favor happy endings?
Yeah, I like happy endings or at least proper culminations, but at least one of my books ends with tears.
24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Thanks to that nice little thing computers do with the squiggly green and red lines, I pay attention to the spelling and grammar. It was my first learning tool when it came to writing.
25. Does music help you write?
I don’t mind music so much, so long as it’s not something loud and obnoxious, but mostly I prefer quiet. I’ve been known to get up at 3 in the morning, write for about 4 hours and then crash until noon (or until it gets light out – about 10am). After that, life has many distractions and in the afternoon, my husband must have the TV on *sigh*
26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops in your head.
“When they were all seated, Sean laid his hands on the table and drew all of their magic to the center, lighting the crystal like a light bulb, thus lighting the room brightly, but not so brightly that it couldn’t be closely studied as everyone did now. With the light lit, if anyone in the room used magic for any reason, all of them would feel it and know exactly who it was and what they were trying to do with it. No magical slight of hand could happen within this room.” (Near the end of The Making of a Mage-King)
And now the three blogs I will tag are: (be sure to visit their blogs, too)
S.M. Carriere at http://smcarriere.blogspot.com/
Paul Mitton at http://paul-mitton.blogspot.com/
Paige Ray at http://paigeray.blogspot.com/
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Legend of the Candy Cane
Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who's sinless and Pure!
"J" is for Jeasus, My Lord, that's for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!
Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God. The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stainded it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Author Unknown
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