Coughing and choking, Keisha struggled against the smoke tendril tightening around her waist. It pulled her deeper and deeper into the body of the smoke. She couldn’t see, could barely breathe. The burnt-toast smell was everywhere. Rascal huddled against her neck, tiny body convulsing with the effort to catch a breath.
The tree roots kept heaving underfoot. If I fall down, I’ll never get up again, Keisha thought. We’ll both suffocate.
But
wait . . . was there light up ahead?
“Bring
her here,” said a raspy voice echoing through the smoke. “The kitty too.”
The
root under Keisha’s foot heaved up so she had no choice but to lurch forward,
the smoke tendril supporting her so she wouldn’t fall. Root after root
propelled her onward, until she could just make out a giant shape looming
through the haze.
Two
more steps and the smoke had almost cleared. There before her was a massive
throne, made of roots and the skulls of small animals, as well as the same kind
of stone Max had used in his garden at home. Two enormous smoky-colored dogs
sat on either side. The one on the left had a white blaze on its forehead.
Keisha
gave a gasp, which sent her into a coughing fit. Because sitting on the throne,
looking miserable and extremely uncomfortable, was . . . .
Max.
He
had on his usual vest and trousers, but also a long robe woven of fine,
rosy-colored vines. He wore a crown of twigs with a large square stone in the
center. The crown was too big for him, and looked as if it might drop down over
his eyes any minute.
Tendrils
of smoke encircled his waist, wrists, and ankles, tying him to the throne so
tightly he could barely move.
Keisha
doubled over coughing, tears streaming from her eyes, Rascal’s claws digging
into her shoulder.
“Ask
her where the boy is,” said the raspy voice. “And the big lug who came up
through the fissure.”
Keisha wiped the tears from her eyes in time to see Max furiously shaking his head at her. She straightened up. “Arty’s home.”
Max
nodded encouragingly.
“You’re
lying.” The voice said. “My dogs say all of you went into the tunnel.” Where
was that voice coming from? It sounded familiar.
“You
can never trust a dog,” Max said. The left-hand dog, the one with the blaze,
turned to give him an evil stare. “Especially the man-eating ones.”
The
left-hand dog padded over to sniff at Keisha’s knee. Rascal hissed. The dog
backed away and gave a series of yips.
“Phantom
says the girl smells of lemon,” said the voice. “So she’s been near the Haven. Phantom,
take Shadow and try to find out if the others are there.”
The
dogs loped off into the smoke.
“Now,
Max, Your Stoniness,” the voice said, “you must decide what to do with the girl
and the kitty. And I suppose it’s time I showed myself.”
A
figure, much smaller than Max, stepped out from behind the throne, wrapped in a
cape made entirely of smoke.
She
had a pointy nose, her lips pursed in a permanent scowl.
“You’ll
never step on MY grass again,” Tilley Tartmore snarled.
– Ellen
Ingredients needed for the next scene: Why is Max tied to the throne? What is Tilley Tartmore doing there? What’s been happening to Arty and Malvin all this time?
The Recipe: In the comments to THIS EPISODE, give us your best ideas to answer our questions. We’ll collect your answers Tuesday June 16, at 11 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) and will use as many as we can to write the next scene. If you want to, sign your first name to your idea so we can give you credit.
Come back Thursday June 18, to see what we wrote!
If we don’t take your suggestion this time, be sure to keep playing—we need your help to cook up a good story!
If we don’t take your suggestion this time, be sure to keep playing—we need your help to cook up a good story!
Tilly Tartmore doesn't like trolls because she thinks they are very, very dangerous and hurt people. Tilly doesn't want Max to escape and use his special power. His special power is that he can control everything in the Underside with his special stone. Rascal doesn't like Tilly and takes out her claws and swipes at her. Tilly gets scratched and runs around and screams like a crying baby and falls into a hole. Arty and Malvin are staying still and quiet so they don't get heard. The Haven is beautiful and quiet, with fireflies and soft dirt, not mud or soul sand that will slow you down. --Elijah T.
ReplyDeleteElijah, you are brilliant! Thanks so much for the suggestions.
DeleteMax is tied to the throne because he was banished from the underside for befriending the humans. Tilly is there because she has secretly been in charge of the underside this entire time. She has been keeping watch to make sure the trolls are not seen by humans. Arty accidentally dropped the stone out of his pocket. Now Malvin, who works for Tilly is trying to take the stone back but Arty continues to outsmart him by hiding in crevices of the underside. -Gracyn
ReplyDeleteWow, Gracyn! These are great ideas--oh dear, did Arty really drop the stone? Thanks for the suggestions.
DeleteMax is tied to the throne because Tilly Tartmore tricked him into sitting there telling him he would rule the underworld. Tilly is trying to get revenge on the troll world because she thinks the trolls are responsible for her father’s death. Arty and Malvin are trying to get out of the hole, by answering 5 riddles. Each correct answer takes them up 10 feet. If they get the answer wrong, they drop 20 feet and may not make it out of the hole. -Tucker E.
ReplyDeleteLove the riddle idea, Tucker. And good that you reminded us about Tilley's father. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteMax is tied to the throne because Tilly Tartmore tricked him into sitting there telling him he would rule the underworld. Tilly is trying to get revenge on the troll world because she thinks the trolls are responsible for her father’s death. Arty and Malvin are trying to get out of the hole, by answering 5 riddles. Each correct answer takes them up 10 feet. If they get the answer wrong, they drop 20 feet and may not make it out of the hole. -Tucker E.
ReplyDelete