The Rest of Chapter 1

This is the second part to chapter 1 of my novel. Enjoy!


"Who are you?" Quito demanded, stepping forward.


"I am not a who. No, I am a what." Answered the shimmering.


"Well, then. What are you? And how did you get here? The door and windows were closed."


"I have been sent here to help you. I do not need open doors and windows to get inside a building." It said, avoiding answering the question of what he was.


"Who sent you...? Quito began.


"What," corrected the shimmer.


"Who! What! Why should it matter!? You didn't even answer my question!" Quito said angrily.


"Quito, don't," whispered Adina.


"Quito, remember what happened the last time you got angry? You din't want to repeat the same mistake twice, boy." The shimmer said, gently in seemed.


Quito remembered all too well. Thinking back, Quito saw his mother, father and sister, Adina. They were arguing, his parents were. Arguing about Adina and him. Quito had been standing by the window, holding his sister close to him. Watching, waiting...


Opening his eyes, Quito said, "you're right. I don't want to repeat the same mistake twice, but please, won't you tell us what you are and where you came from and..." A groan interrupted him and he looked at Astra. She was sitting up, a confused, painful look on her face. 


"Astra! Are you all right, honey?" Quito asked, helping her up.


"Yes. Yes I am. What happened?" She asked. "Why are you all standing around like..." her eyes widened. 


Slowly, she went toward the shimmer with her hand outstretched. She looked up and whispered, "You've come. You have finally come! Oh, my dear, dear moon you have come at last..." She broke down and started to cry.


"My Start, do not cry. I'm sorry I was late, but there was some trouble I had to take care off first. But I am here now and I will help you and protect you." the moon said, shimmering as it spoke.


The others stared. no one could believe what they were seeing. It couldn't be real. It just couldn't. 


Finally, Cato asked, "Astra? Could you tell us what is going on? Why is the moon here? Shouldn't .. shouldn't it be up in the sky? 


"Astra looked at the others and then nodded, saying, "yes, you might as well know everything." 


Sitting down, they looked at her expectantly. Taking a deep breath, she began her story. 

Part of Chapter 1

I've been working on a book... very slowly, and over the past couple months a got writer's block and I was procrastinating. But now that the school year is almost over, I am going to start on my book again. It's entitled A Star Saved the World. 



 Darkness. Fear. She felt it, but couldn't see it. Slowly, very slowly, Astra turned around and stared into the cold darkness. "I shouldn't be out here alone," she thought.

"Astra! Psst! What are you doing here all alone?" Someone whispered behind her. 


Practically jumping out of her boots, Astra whirled around to face the comer. "Cato? Don't do that. You scared the goose bumps of off me!" She frowned. Something had caught her eye when she looked behind Cato. Grabbing his arm, she hissed, "Get down and follow me!"

"Where?" he started to ask, but she slapped her hand over his mouth.


"Hush, don't speak until I say so." Astra told him.


Crawling on her hand and knees, Astra finally stopped by a bush.


"What is going on?" Cato whispered beginning to sound annoyed. 


"I felt something, Cato. Tonight, when I was standing out there alone, I felt fear. And you know I never feel fear. I wasn't sure if it was real, but when you spoke to me, I had seen something, something strange behind you."


"What was it?" Cato asked, looking around as if to make sure that no one was listening. "What did you see?"


"Cato, a mist - a strange mist, but with that mist there was something else." She took a deep breath. "... it was death. Something has finally happened, Cato, Something dreadful - something that we've been fearing would, but I didn't know it would be so soon. Remember we talked about it a long time ago?" She looked at him in the moonlight.


"Astra, my Star, do you mean to say that someone or something is coming to destroy the earth?" Cato said, not believing it himself.


"Exactly. We need to warn the others! But I don't know how, Cato!" She cried.


"I know exactly what to do," Cato said, grabbing her hand and helping her up. Starting to run, Cato told her not to worry and not to be afraid. As they ran, Astra felt something grab at her. "No!" She screamed and ran faster. 


Soon, Cato and Astra came into view of the house that they lived in. Getting into the house, the slammed the door making everyone else in the room jump.


"Astra! Cato! What happened?" cried Adina when she saw them. Always the motherly type, Adina was very concerned about them. "Are you all right?" Coming closer she noticed the both were afraid. Suddenly, Astra fainted and fell to the floor.


"What is going on, Cato?" several people asked. "Is she all right?"


"No, but she will be," said a strange voice behind them all. Adina, Quito, Jade and Juno all turned around. There, standing before them was a shimmering... what was it? 

Big Scare

Yesterday, I almost got into a car crash. I was driving out of the drive-through Starbucks, when instead of pressing on the break, I pressed on the gas pedal, and ran over a curb, right into the middle of the road. Thankfully there were no cars going either way, otherwise I would have ended up in the hospital or worse yet, killing someone else. 

Miserable Days

Ever been sick? Of course you have. Today is my turn, and it is a very miserable day - even though it's very nice outside. My throat hurts like crazy, however, I don't have a runny nose or anything. My younger sister gave me her cold. How I want to feel better! 

Little Me

I don't remember how old I am here, but probably 10. 

A Joyful, Sunny Day

I am so happy! Hasn't anyone ever been so happy they could stand on top of a mountain and sing for all the world to hear? That's how I feel right now, because my uncle from Russia has written to me after a very long time of not hearing from him! And not just him! My Great-Aunt has also written to me. Oh how I would love to see my family back in Russia! I'm so happy to hear from them from time to time. Thank goodness for technology these days! A letter would take such a long time to mail back and forth. Instead, we can email and Skype. 

Introducing..... Me

I was born in Russia in 1993 and was adopted in 2005. I've lived in America for 7 years now. I play the piano - however, after this month, I will stop taking lessons. I will continue to play. When I came to America I didn't know any English. In 7 years, I did pre-school, kindergarten, and 11 grades plus some college classes. I worked all-year-round. It was really hard for me since I was 11 years old and I had never gone to school - except, of course, barely starting fourth grade before I was adopted. 


I graduate from high school next year and graduate from college in about two years. I want to be an LPN which is a Licensed Practical Nurse. 


I have three sisters - lots of family in both USA and Russia. More family in Russia than in US.  :) And one day, I am going back to Russia to visit my family. I miss them very much and I am very thankful that I can be in contact with them. 

The Pets

Jack - with a red and green eye - really his eye colors are blue and brown

My cat, Sunshine of Heavenly Blue Skies

My sister's cat, Samantha-Clever-Trouble Paws. And she really is!

The two buddies, Jack and Chase

Our other cat, Shadow

Sasha, in a tight-fitting box. What is it with cats and too small boxes?

~Sweet Dreams~

Chocolate Mice!

Do you like chocolate? How about designing cookies? Well you get to do that today!

Ingredients

• 4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
•  
• 1/3 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
• 24 silver dragees decorating candy
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 12 (2 inch) pieces long red vine licorice

Directions

1. Melt the chocolate, and combine with sour cream. Stir in 1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
2. Roll by level tablespoonfuls into balls. Mold to a slight point at one end (the nose).
3. Roll dough in confectioners sugar (for white mice), and in chocolate cookie crumbs (for dark mice). On each mouse, place dragees in appropriate spot for eyes, almond slices for ears, and a licorice string for the tail.
4. Refrigerate for at least two hours, until firm. 
5. ENJOY!!!!!

Who Are You?

If you are looking at my blog, please introduce yourself. I know it is a big world, and we all share it. Tell me about your world and what you want to change in it. 

Astra

"Don't tell me the sky is the limit when I see footprints on the moon."