Current location:	Update coming from my Sidekick, in my bedroom
Current mood:	swearing pointlessly
Current music:	too many bands...

Part three
Part three of the [e][d][e][n][r][i][s][i][n][g] story.

2^nd Moon, 21^th day, 15^th year of High Lord Marius’ Reign

Journal of Atemis Woods; Highborn Child of the Master Claudis, Head of Mirtek Wolf Clan, and Mistress Ximna, Head of Zhand Vampire Clan

I was kept in hiding most of my life, as the faith in my father as a Clan Head would deflate if they knew he kept his hybrid daughter around. The only other two whom ever knew of me and were ever kind to me was the lady wolf my father married when I was 6 and my step-brother, Merrick, who was the same age as me, but would take over as Clan Head if my father had been able to retire. Merrick goes to school with me as Adriana, his mother, could not take care of him and I while running the clan until Merrick is of age. But to keep his cover a Clan Leader’s son, we both agreed that he would have nothing to do with me at school, except for the nights of the full moon.

Everyone at this school takes classes corresponding to their race, and each race has special rules attaining to them. I will tell you of the vampires and the werewolves as they are the only two I know in-depth.

Once a month, the vampires are released into the surrounding forest, called the Woods of Eden, to hunt animals and drink the blood they need to survive for the continuing month. Same rule applies to the wolves, their day being the full moon. No other students are allowed on the grounds during these nights and the doors and windows are boarded, locked, and warded. During the day, classes are canceled for the vampires and wolves respectively. The farthest into the forest anyone can travel during break on these days, is to the river that is on the south side of the citadel. The other three directions happen to be cliff, so no one can go very far in the first place.

Whether it is break or the day of a hunt, I spend my time in a small clearing I made on my first night of hunting as a wolf. It’s located on the edge of the small river, in the corner of a crevice filled with rocks, creating a mini rapid pool. I love this place because of the solitude and the water is perfect for swimming in on hot days. When it was winter, earlier in the year, and cold enough to freeze, I was able to slide across the river on the ice, like one of those Human ice skaters. I ran into several of the rocks that were jutting out, though.

There is a young willow next to the clearing, with which I have spent many hours braiding the branches together to form a sort of hut. I used this in the winters after a hunt, before the sun rose the next day. The braids prevented the snow from getting in, and made a good netting to keep the heat trapped.

My clearing. My tranquility. My little morsel of life. My piece of Eden. This is my place. Mine.

It’s the one thing that lets me feel some normality. And I’ll protect it with everything I’ve got.

I believe I’ve droned about my life a bit too long. I apologize. Ha, not really. But this writing is great reliever of stress. And I think I’ve gotten the point of the clearing being mine.

But time has flown out my window, greeting the sun as it rises over the mountains in the distance. The girls will be waking soon and I need to clean myself in the bathroom before them or I’ll never get in. Then again, there’s no need to clean, as tonight is the night for the Vampire hunt. I should probably get some sleep before tonight, or the last my blood energy will be used. Off to get dressed then. Good-day!

-Eden Rising

--Atemis Woods