Creative+Writing

__//Question 1//__
__//Pros//__ 1. Young forever 2. You have more time to do things, like travel 3. You can watch the world evolve around you 4. More chances to love 5. You can amass money to buy more things __//Cons//__ 1. You watch your loved ones die around you 2. You could die a more painful death (sun blowing up) then a quiet one. 3. You have to work forever. 4. Loneliness (After the periods your loved ones die) 5. Insanity (from knowing you are immortal)

__//Question 2//__
What do you know about this character now that s/he doesn’t yet know? That he's more of a breve soul then he knows. What is this character’s greatest flaw? He never stands up for himself. What do you know about this character that s/he would never admit? //﻿//
 * 1) What is this character’s greatest asset? His ability to listen and watch.
 * 2) If this character could choose a different identity, who would s/he be? A normal boy living with his parents in a happy home, which he never had.
 * 3) What music does this character sing to when no one else is around? If he could sing, he would sing " Total Eclipse of the Heart" because he adores a girl he knows he will never get.
 * 4) In what or whom does this character have the greatest faith? It changes, but at first, the captain.
 * 5) What is this character’s favorite movie? Forrest Gump because it shows how even a total nobody can become somebody. Movies weren't invented in his day though.
 * 6) Does this character have a favorite article of clothing? Favorite shoes? His favorite article of clothing is his leather belt his father gave him before he disappeared.
 * 7) Does this character have a vice? Name it. He doesn't respect himself.
 * 8) Name this character’s favorite person (living or dead). Leonardo da Vinci, because he taught him how to use your mind, not your words to make things.
 * 9) What is this character’s secret wish? To find something worth liking in himself.
 * 10) What is this character’s proudest achievement? He joined the voyage to the fountain of youth.
 * 11) Describe this character’s most embarrassing moment. Back in his grade school, he was blamed for stealing things, but he couldn't say anything.
 * 12) What is this character’s deepest regret? To himself, he believes his father leaving was because of him.
 * 13) What is this character’s greatest fear? To have absolutely nothing.
 * 14) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s most devastating moment. When his father left him.
 * 15) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest achievement? When he was young, he once saved his father from drowning.
 * 16) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest hope? That his father will return to him one day.
 * 17) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Does this character have an obsession? Name it. Yes, the captain's daughter.
 * 18) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s greatest disappointment? When he got fired from his job.
 * 19) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s worst nightmare? That he has nothing, everyone ignores him and he is just floating in an endless void of blackness.
 * 20) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Whom does this character most wish to please? Why? He wishes to please himself so he can gain the confidence to do things, like engage in sign talk with the captain's daughter.
 * 21) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s mother. His mother died in childbirth leaving him with his father.
 * 22) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s father. His father always blamed himself for his son's sadness and isolation, so he left him in an orphanage to try to please his son. Could be dead.
 * 23) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If s/he had to choose, with whom would this character prefer to live? He would want to live with his father because he wants to know if his father loves him.
 * 24) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Where does this character fall in birth order? What effect does this have? No, he is an only child. This can add to his feeling of loneliness that he has.
 * 25) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s siblings or other close relatives. He has none, except his father.
 * 26) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe this character’s bedroom. Include three cherished items. It's a small room in a orphanage with a belt from his father, a bed frame from his deceased mother and a sword from his old blacksmithing job.
 * 27) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s birth date? How does this character manifest traits of his/her astrological sign? He is a pisces and born on February 28th. He is extremely talented, but is confused about his path in life.
 * 28) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If this character had to live in seclusion for six months, what six items would s/he bring? The belt from his father, an anvil, paper and pens, his bed frame, and a pictures of his cherished ones, like the captain's daughter and his father.
 * 29) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Why is this character angry? He's angry because he's so frustrated with himself.What calms this character? Getting acknowledged, praised, wanted etc.
 * 30) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Describe a recurring dream or nightmare this character might have. He constantly dreams of having a family that loves him.
 * 31) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">List the choices (not circumstances) that led this character to his/her current predicament. He chose to blame himself for his father's dissapearence, he chose to hate himself, he chose to get on the galleon going to the americas.
 * 32) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">List the circumstances over which this character has no control. When his father left, where they go on the journey.
 * 33) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What wakes this character in the middle of the night? The image of his father.
 * 34) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How would a stranger describe this character? Strange, inclusive, lonely, heartbroken, depressed.
 * 35) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What does this character resolve to do differently every morning? Try to make a new friend every day.
 * 36) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Who depends on this character? Why? The captain's daughter, since he protects her, and the captain. For his services in the field of weaponry.
 * 37) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If this character knew s/he had exactly one month to live, what would s/he do? Tell the captain's daughter his true feelings, make one last attempt to find his father and to try to like himself.
 * 38) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How would a dear friend or relative describe this character? Smart, caring, brave, self-disciplined, lonely.
 * 39) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character’s most noticeable physical attribute? His deep blue eyes and the scar by his lip.
 * 40) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What is this character hiding from him/herself? The realisation that people would care about him if he would open up, and his father leaving was not his fault.
 * 41) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Write one additional thing about your character. He is mute.

//__Question 3__//
Time: In the mid 1700's, about half a century since the start of the Renaissance Place: Starting in Spain, In the port town of Rianxo, Ending in Florida, In what was to be St. Augestine Mood: Adventure, Understanding, Mysterious

__//﻿Question 4//__
The main conflict would be described as man/self because our protagonist, who shall not be named at this point in time, joins the expedition to forgive himself for what he thinks he has done and to finally look inside himself to find something to love about himself, and escape his drowning pool of self-pity. The other lesser conflicts are man/man between the captain and our protagonist and man/wild, which is basically fighting the hardships of the new terrain.

__//Plot Outline//__
Set in the beginning of the renaissance, a young blacksmith, named Rupert joins an expedition team in search of the fountain of youth. He does this to prove to himself that he is worth something, because he blames everything bad that's happened to him on himself, leaving him wallowing in a pool of self pity. What caused this was the abandonment of his alcoholic father from him, whick Jack believes to be his fault.On the vessal he falls in love with the captain's daughter, finds someone who understands him and becomes an apprentice of the captain, who is bent on finding the fountain for his own personal game, so he can start over (why of this is a secret). When the get to Florida and enter the jungle, they are faced with struggles of the environment, it's natives, and most dangerous of all, themselves. The story sends a message of greed, understanding, and the ability to listen, which are powerful things if underestimated.

//__Question 5__//
At the beginning of the story, the character is a shy mess drowning in a pool of self - pity, but as the story progresses he changes into a brave, confident explorer. At the finale however, he is in the middle of these two personas. He feels that he doesn't need to worry about himself anymore, but he doesn't feel as cocky and confident as before.

__//**Question 6**//__
Along the course of the story, people complain about the Captain's greed and how it will drive them to their deaths, everyone but the mutinist ignores the point, and the mutinist is killed. It is Ironic because in the end, the Captain does let his greed take over him, leading to the death of his daughter.

__//**Question 7**//__
The fountain of youth represents desire, since desire can drive men crazy. The note represents a omen for the events to come. GIles represents the soul of Rupert on the exterior, underapreciated, but it improves over time. The cave represents the time after Rupert's father had left him, cold and isolated. The bridge represents the leap into Rupert's new life, it is thrilling and so many things could go wrong.

__**//Question 8//**__ The theme of my story is self-respect. If you let a power greater then you take control of your life, like the fountain took over the Captain, it can ruin you. As in the case of Rupert, he didn't let the grief of his father ruin him, and he turned into a great, prosperous man.

<span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">THE RAT’S REFLECTION ** <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">By Ryley Woodland <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part 1 – The Beast __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I find myself staring into a great expanse of blue. The warm sun radiates off my skin as I listen to the sound of the gulls and watch the waves; the giant consuming waves. I’m not ready for the torrential pour of water that showers my body. My happiness completely ruined by a rogue wave, a sudden swell of water which is impossible to predict. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“That’s what you get for standing around all day sailor!” shouts the Captain. He strides up to me in a brisk fashion and starts yelling angrily. I don’t blame the Captain though; he’s just doing his job. I’m used to this kind of situation, so I stay calm and do as he says, without a word. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">My whole life has been like this incident that just unravelled, my joy ruined by something sinister in the blink of an eye. This something sinister being myself you see. At a young age my father left me to fend for myself, dumping me off at an orphanage was his last shred of kindness. I hated myself after that; I knew it was my fault. I still remember myself stealing a bit of my father’s liquor because I was so thirsty. My father caught me stealing and yelled at me for an excruciating ten minutes, half of it completely gibberish. In that same night he dumped me at the orphanage, cold and alone. I don’t blame him, since I’m, the reason he lost his true love. At my birth, my mother died, uttering only my name “Rupert.” My father fell into a pit of despair; he drank to ease the pain but he could never quench his loneliness. I imagine myself in his shoes and it makes me hate myself even more. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I remember that the only good thing in my life is having the guts to get on this boat. An open proposition was made by Captain Burnston to anyone with minor seafaring skills to join him in his quest for the fountain of youth. I remember not being interested in the fountain, which is why much of the crew around me is here. I saw an opportunity to prove to myself that I was worth something, to find something good in my pool of self-pity. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I tied a few knots and I was on the boat. As I worked on the boat though, I found another thing to inspire me besides earning my optimism back. Winning the heart of Colleen Burnston, the Captain’s daughter. I’m a fool for trying to believe that a beautiful girl, with deep blue eyes, flowing brown hair and a petite figure would fall for someone like me. I just nod whenever we made eye contact, sort of a silent “how do you do?” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">There’s no sign of her today, so I just run a dirty damp old dish rag across layers of seagull dropping on the creaky old boards of the quarter deck. I pray for nothing to give way which would send me into the dark abyss of the sleeping chambers, or in simpler terms, nets attached to hooks with a stench of rotten fish. Just as I rub the last speck of excrement I feel a warm tap on my shoulder. I turn around tentatively, expecting the Captain, but I find the face of his lovely offspring. She’s wearing her white blouse and skirt like always, and talks like a polite queen. “Um, hi” she says nervously, and then courtesies. “You are the silent gentleman, am I correct?” I nod my head, not knowing what to do, and she laughs, a beautiful, soothing laugh, if I might add, and smiles. “I’m Colleen” she says, “And you are...?” I panic and awkwardly glance around the ship, looking at the dozens of men watching the peculiar spectacle. I look back to Colleen, still waiting for a reply, I open my trembling mouth but no words come out. “Colleen!” shouts the Captain, saving my life. “Tea’s ready, come now!” “Sorry Father!” she yells back. “Well, it was a pleasure talking to you, goodbye.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I watch her walk up the stairs to the Captain’s cabin followed by the assistant chef, probably for the tea. I wish I could’ve talked to her longer. I hold in my frustration. Once again the realization sets in. I’m never going to speak, I’m mute, an ailment I’ve had since I was born. I bite my tongue to hold down the tears as I finish cleaning the quarterdeck. The instant I finish I hear a woman’s scream, and a gunshot. I rush up to the Captain’s cabin along with seven other men to see the commotion. I arrive first and charge into the cabin to find Colleen in a chokehold with a pistol aimed at her head, behind her, the assistant chef. I look to the left to see the Captain on the ground bleeding. “This is a mutiny!” the chef shouts, primarily aiming the declaration of war at the Captain. “He gets the luxuries of life, while we get nothing. He’s saving the fountain of youth for only himself! Now, who’s with me?” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">No-one moves for a second, until I notice the Captain getting ready to pass his pistol to me. I freeze. Why me? It’s too late and the pistol has slid across the floor and into my open hands. The men behind me go silent. I put my hand on the trigger, my heartbeat thumps so loud I can barely hear the Captain telling me to shoot. I don’t. I can’t endanger Colleen’s life without her permission. Hand trembling on the gun, I look into her eyes. She nods. The bullet almost instantly blows off the hand of the Chef, causing the gun to fly across the room. All of the men behind me rush for the Chef. As they’re dragging him out of the room he continues to insult the Captain. The Captain gets up and wraps a cloth around the stub where his pinky should be, thanks me for a second, then rushes out to deal with the traitor. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“You didn’t want it to be your fault, am I correct?” I realize that Colleen and I are alone in the Captain’s chambers. “That’s why you didn’t shoot; you didn’t want to be blamed for my death if you had missed.” She walks up to me still talking. “You wanted my permission.” She stares into my eyes. “You didn’t want the burden.” Suddenly, the Captain bursts into the room, hugging me and congratulating me on the rescue of his daughter. “Good sir, you have saved my daughter!”, he happily exclaims, “and myself!” I just nod and smile awkwardly. “Would you like to join us for tea?” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">After the tea is poured by the Captain, he hungrily grabs the one filled to the brim, leaving myself and Colleen with the two half-empty cups. After he has rambled on about how grateful he is, he then pops a question. “So, good sir, what is your name?” I pause again, looking now at two faces eagerly anticipating my response. With a new confidence I make a writing motion with my hand. Colleen immediately catches on. “You’d like a pen and paper?” she asks. I nod politely. She runs off to a cabinet and grabs a pen and paper and gives them to me. Immediately I start writing and after I have finished, they fight to see the note. The Captain reads it aloud. “Thank you for the excellent tea. My name is Rupert and I am mute, and you’re welcome.” He chuckles and poses another question. “So Rupert, how would you like to be my apprentice?” He then hands me the piece of paper. I write eagerly, and then he reads. “I would be delighted.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">After we have made arrangements for tomorrow’s training, the Captain leaves to finish some paperwork, leaving me and Colleen to go to our separate chambers (mine not really being one.) I get up, nod to Colleen and head slowly to the door, but her voice draws me back in. “So, can I see you again?” I turn to see she is right behind me. I nod, since it’s the only thing I seem good at. We gaze into each other’s eyes and we both kiss, a long, meaningful, warm kiss. She hands me some bread after our lips have finished embracing and she whispers, “For the road.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I stumble down to the stench of fish and the mesh of the nets. I find my way to my “bed” and plop down, very satisfied. I take a look at the bread in my hand. As I’m about to take a bite, I hear a tiny squeak. I look down to see a small rat eagerly peering up at the bread. I feel generous so I break off half for the rat. A bit disgusted, I shoo the filthy rat away. Finally, when I’m ready to eat, the ship sways violently, probably from another rogue wave, and I drop my bread into the shadows. I swear in my mind, but as I reach down to search for it, the bread came back to me on four paws. The rat was pushing it back to me with what could be a look of approval expressed in his eyes. I pick up the bread and hold my hand out for the rat. The rat climbs on and nuzzles into my chest. I think for a name for the little guy and I decide on Giles, like a butler, for how he gave me the bread. I smile and think about the future. For an instant I forget about the past. I look at the huddled ball of fur illuminated by the warm wispy glow of the dying oil lantern, think of the ship, which was now my home, and Colleen. I was happy with just this right now. As I close my eyes I still feel the oil lantern glowing, even though I knew it had gone out. The lantern was inside me, lulling me into a dreamland of warmth and contentment. <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Part 2 – The Water __** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The wet sand squishes between my toes as I jump off the old dinghy and touch solid ground for the first time in two months. The new terrain of only forest and beach makes me feel new again even though I had already been reborn on the boat. Since the time I met Giles, who by the way has become my inseparable companion, I have trained non-stop, becoming stronger and fitter. My skills with the pistol have improved, as well as my skills with the sword. Two days ago in fact, I knocked the sword out of the Captain’s hand in a practice duel. After that however, he wouldn’t let me touch a single sword on the boat. For me and Colleen however, we have grown even closer. It’s hard to find a quiet place on the boat so we spend our dates mainly in her room, me just listening to her sweet, gentle voice. I’ve been trying to figure out why she’s even here, but I haven’t found the right time. As I make the transition from the wet to dry sand, the Captain shoots me a look, and then proceeds to kiss the ground and shake everyone’s hands but mine. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">As night falls, we set up a camp at the edge of the forest and start to make plans about searching for the fountain. I pay no attention since it’s not what I came here for, but I think I might actually be close to what I did come here for. I smile, then walk lazily to my tent, a make shift tarp. Just before I enter, I’m intercepted by the Captain who escorts me into the shadows of the young saplings. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“Listen Rupert” he begins. I can see the anger in his eyes illuminated by the distant campfire. “I know that you’re mute, but if you pull a stunt like when we landed again, I’ll have your head.” I freeze. The man I looked up to most now saw me as scum. I cock my head in confusion and anguish for a reason why; what did I do wrong? I stumble blindly into my tent after the Captain leaves. I’m still trying to piece together what happened, when a familiar face enters. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“Rupert!” Colleen exclaims, giving me a giant smile. “I didn’t know this was your tent!” She darts her eyes away nervously. I can tell she knew. I stare at her without expression then look outside at the wilderness and its dangers. I take a scrap of paper and write a simple question on it. I give it to her quickly and she takes it with a confused look on her face. “Why are you here?” she reads aloud. She giggles. “I’m here for you, silly!” I shake my head and grab the paper back. Soon she reads it again. “Why did you go on the ship?” She reads, her joy slowly fading. She looks at me like I’ve offended her, but then retreats into a human ball, eyes on knees. I place my hand on her back and give her an encouraging look. She collapses into my chest, nearly crying. “My father,” she sobs “the Captain I should say, I mean he’s more a Captain than a father.” I look at her empathetically. She starts again. “He’s always seen me as trash, so I thought if I joined the ship he’d cherish me for once.” I want to say something but I can’t. I’m about to reach for the paper when I hear a scream. Colleen hears it too. We rush out of the tent to see a giant serpent swallowing one of the crew and everyone else running towards the ocean in hope of safety from the beast. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">By instinct I dash to the fire, grabbing one of the many burning logs and rush to the snake, flame held high. The snake hisses in disgust, appalled by the flame. I stare it in the eye. It expects me to do something but I can’t, the beast is too monstrous. It lunges towards me, mouth open, as I dodge. I shove the log like a dagger down the beast’s throat, causing it to go mad. It lashes out blindly, knocking me off my feet, but as I imagine my death I see the snake slowly slithering into the shadows. The remaining crew rush to my aid. As I get up the Captain strides up to the area where the snake disappeared, bewildered. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“Right then” he exclaims to the survivors. “We head to the fountain of youth immediately! Pack up your belonging – we set off in ten minutes!” We all stare blankly at the Captain. “This is a warning!” a crewmate exclaims, “We should go back or we will all die! Don’t you see Capt…” He is silenced by a gunshot to the gut. “Any other objections?” the Captain says, holding a smoking pistol. We are all silent, not wanting to be next. Soon after I head back to the tent, where Giles is waiting for me in the dim light, I smile but then see the parchment on his back as he moves into the light of the fire. I take off the note and put Giles in my coat pocket. The note is neatly folded, but on closer inspection, I find it is made from animal hide. I tear it open with haste to find the simplest message I have ever read, “Only the good.” I can’t understand where Giles could have gotten the note from. What did it mean? I don’t have time to think because I hear the Captain rounding everyone up. So I decide to think about it another time. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">We walked until dawn, then we finally rest. The Captain had a hunch to follow these strange flowers I had never seen before. They were grey all around except for the center which was an eerie midnight blue. Colleen had been spending extra time with her father, most likely to convince him that she was worth something. I understood and backed off. Giles had been nibbling on the side of the pocket. When I took him out, cloth was between his teeth, and in it, a piece of glass. I looked at it blankly, gazing into my own reflection. My reflection – it’s been years since I’ve looked at myself; my blue eyes, musky brown hair caught in my eyes. I remember that the last time I had looked at myself was after my father left, leaving because of me. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I throw the glass away angrily onto the muddy ground. I decide to look at the world through it one more time so I take a quick glance, avoiding looking into my resenting eyes. I see the transparent clouds, trees, an arrow.....I duck just in time before the onslaught ensues. The sharp blades of stone fly through the air in all directions. Giles jumps from my hand to my pocket, trying to find a defence. I watch as the crew slowly falls around me, arrow necks protruding from their bodies. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“Run!” The Captain exclaims, “Follow me!” I pull out my pistol and run for it. I see Colleen and the Captain way ahead so I ease up a little until I see the hidden archers emerge from the bushes. They are all male and they bear a skin tone unknown to my eyes. I aim my pistol as one jumps in front of me, but I don’t pull the trigger. I push him out of my path and continue running. I only do this for a second but I look up and I see the arrows shining as they reflect the sun. I pray for nothing to hit me. I close my eyes and forget the world, forget me. I open my eyes, suddenly the noise ceases, immediately, no, I shall not lose myself again. I look around to find peace. I rest, not believing what I had just overcome. I’m about to jump for joy when I feel two arms clench around me. “Rupert!” Colleen cries. “Thank the Lord you’re all right!” I hug her back and I look around to see the Captain and seven other crewmates. There are 11 of us, including Giles. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I look around. The natives were nowhere to be seen. An almost perfect silence envelops me, then I hear the Captain’s shouts of joy. I look to see that the flowers continue along a beaten path leading to darkness in the distance which I can’t make out. “Let’s head out!” says the Captain. No-one objects, not wanting to be like the last two victims of the Captain’s rage. We walk beside the path of flowers slowly and quietly, half expecting the natives to ambush us again. Giles starts quietly squeaking. I pet him on the head to calm him. I look in my pocket to see he is shaking – he’s scared. I look up as I get a sudden chill. I find the gaping opening of a cave on the side of a stone wall, which seems to have no end, just a cold grey horizon. The flowers continue into endless cave. The Captain strolls calmly into the cave with a lit lantern, telling us to hurry up. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">As soon as I walk about two meters in the cave The Captain disappears in front of me. The darkness was like a soup of consuming black. I only saw two lights in front of me, the lantern the Captain was holding, dim but sufficient, and a white light at the end of the tunnel. The cave almost perfectly forms a straight line from one end to the other, quite a marvel of nature. I admire the smooth cave walls and the tiny cracks illuminated by the oil lantern, I sigh as a breeze blows by, then I see nothing. I only hear silence for an instant, then a bloodcurdling scream from one of the crew. I hear the hurried footsteps of the crew and hear Colleen calling my name. Out of instinct I run for the small light in the distance because I knew that would be the place where everyone would be. I sprint about 50 meters before I trip, knocking my head on something before I hit the ground. As I sit up, my head reels in agony. I’m all alone. I can’t call out for someone; it would be futile. I huddle up in a ball and just lay there for a second, then the tears come. I hated this feeling of total isolation, it’s my greatest fear. I cry until I can’t stand it anymore. I should have stayed with Colleen or someone. I should have been paying attention to what was happening. I hear Giles nudge me angrily. I decide I won’t let Giles fall with me. I stand up with a new passion. I wasn’t alone anymore, not like before. As I start to run I see the light again and hear another scream. I wish I could help them but I have another life on the line – Giles. I burst out of the cave to find the Captain, Colleen and two other crew kneeling over a mound of flesh. I look at it curiously, then Colleen tells me it’s a carnivorous rat of some sort. A rat, that’s why I lived. They must have sensed Giles, the little beast and left me and Giles alone. I owe the little guy my life. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">After, Colleen and I hold each other for a while and she kisses me frequently but I can only stare at the next obstacle in our path, an old, Falling apart rope and wood bridge crossing a giant chasm. The natives wouldn’t have had the materials to build this, so who could have? The Captain looks appalled, probably because I survived the cave. I see that he’s bleeding in one shoulder but I spare him no sympathy. “Alright let’s move out!” he says. After a long pause Colleen and I arrive at the bridge first, but the Captain shoves in front of Colleen. I don’t let him pass, just to annoy him. Behind Colleen are the last two crew members, one of which aided to detain the assistant chef on the ship. We start stepping onto the bridge one by one, very cautiously, not wanting to break any of the weak boards supporting us. Halfway through our treacherous walk the bridge sways unnaturally. There is no breeze so I turn my head around to see the last thing I wanted to. The natives in their masses were there at the bridge, screaming in rage and letting arrows fly in all directions. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The Captain commands us to run just as I see one of the natives starting to cut the ropes. I run like never before. I try my best to keep light footed and not break anything but I break almost every fourth board. I feel the rope to my right snap and hear the unknown crew member fall into the black abyss below. I clench my teeth and touch solid ground. I look back to see the Captain and Colleen far behind, but then I feel a pain in my foot. I fall immediately and look to find my foot caught in an intricate root. Then I hear her scream. I turn my head awkwardly to find the Captain on his knees and staring blankly at something behind me which I can’t quite make out. Then I look to see two hands clasping the side of the chasm, Colleen. I look to see the Captain walking past me paying no attention to the screams of his daughter, leaving her to die. I try to twist and pull my leg out, but every time I try I contort in pain. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I see her hands slipping so I pull out my pistol as a last resort. I blow off the knot in one shot. I scramble to my feet, dive to the side of the chasm and reach for Colleen’s hand. I feel only her finger brush the palm of my hand before I hear the goodbye. I stick my head over the side of the cliff to see her blouse and skirt get consumed by the blackness. She was gone. I stare at the abyss with longing and hope. She was coming back, she had to come back. When I see and hear nothing, I feel the lone tear run down my cheek, off my chin and into the dark mist – a farewell gift – I think. I remember how she accepted me for who I was before anyone else. She was a light in my personal sea of darkness. I become enraged as I think of the Captain. He could have saved her. He could have ended my pain. I turn around to see more of the flowers which led to my losses, except this time they are the size of my body. I scoop out some broken stems and leaves where the Captain had entered. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I follow the trail in a hurried march. I feel like I’m going to burst at my seams. I see the Captain’s face through the bushes, staring idly at something. I hurry my stride. I’m getting cut by the twigs and vines but I don’t care. I burst through the brush into a clearing. The ground is hard and even, I look down to see tile. I look up to see the Captain admiring something. I turn my head in the direction of the Captain’s to find the thing that’s ruined my life, just as I wrecked mine years ago. The fountain of youth, in all its glory, is there in front of me. Streams of water jet out like waterfalls as the shining porcelain which holds the water is a marvel to behold. I can feel invisible hands trying to slowly draw me in. I see the Captain fall to his knees, laughing and crying in unison, oblivious to what surpassed today. I collapse as well. I think of dying in front of this pillar of life. I can’t go on. I can’t even focus on my hatred for the Captain. He led his crew to their deaths, he left his daughter for dead – just like my father left me. Then I realize that my father’s leaving was not my fault, but his. Everything that I’ve thought up to this point about myself had been wrong. I’ve been beating myself up my whole life, scrounging instead of thriving. I feel like a massive weight has been flung off my shoulders and has disintegrated, I feel like a new man. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I turn my head just in time to see a young man jump on top of me. As I hit the ground I do a backwards somersault, which launches the man off of me. I draw my pistol as I get up but so does he. The man in front of me is in his twenties or so, but he dresses like a commodore. I realize who it is. It’s the Captain but reborn. “I won’t let you take it!” screams the now obviously delusional Captain. I hold the pistol up aiming for his heart. “You can’t have it! I found it! You’ve been trying to take it the whole time!” I hold my finger tensely on the trigger, ready to shoot. “Fine, shoot!” The Captain yells at me. If you want it, you’ll kill me for it, right?” I want to pull the trigger but my heart says no. I can’t start my new life of happiness with a gunshot to the heart. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“Well if you won’t...” The Captain says calmly, “Then I will!” The pain in my leg makes me fall on one knee, the gunshot still reels in my ears. I look down to see a crimson mess of what was once my knee, shredded by a single bullet. I look up to see a gun pointed between my eyes. “Any last words?” he laughs. “Then goodb-...” The Captain stops mid-sentence abruptly, like a bird that has been shot. I feel the blood splatter onto my face as he keels over, a lone arrow rests in his back. The greedy fool has finally met his end. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">I pull Giles out of my pocket to say good-bye. Whoever has killed the Captain would probably come for me next. I look at Giles for a long while and amazingly I see myself. It’s the strangest feeling but I believe that Giles and I are more alike than I’ll ever know. I pat him on the head and let him go but he stays next to me. He wants to stay until the last moment. My blood has almost trickled to the fountain when a group of natives come out. Their skin is white like mine but they wear fur loincloths. They watch me dispassionately as I bleed, while I’m trying to apply pressure to my leg. I still have maybe five-sixths of my blood left, but I’m fading fast. The last thing I see is Giles who sits on my chest. //Thank you//, I think to him. Then I disappear into a hole of infinite nothing.

<span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">THE END ** <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: center;">