Category: kids

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN: CHAPTER FOUR

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

“The Kingdom of Marcaydas will fall under their shadow
Students will stare in a trance at the new school’s glow
Our schools have fallen into dreary darkness and decay
Our teachers who were once great have lost their way
Their arrogance is masked by a confident appearance
Their greed is hidden by their constant heroic stance
Our leaders have deceived themselves into a new low
They believe they need to be flashy, putting on a show
Our students are being deceived with bright dreams
Yet what they think they will become is not what it seems
They have a great desire to be on stage, the only star
When they begin to fall short, they will fall so far

You will first appear to them during the misty debate
You will know at first, who you can trust for your fate
Two teachers will stand strong against the popular force
They have a mysterious power of strength to stay on course
They have discovered the secret truth to spark the fire
They shine with the brilliant light revealed by Carolmire
Because of her strong direction and awesome song
His hope will not disappear or fade
Because he leads him to the mountain peak despite being so long
He believes in the dream of Cade
The revolution will truly begin in the eerie dark hallway
You and your friends must be inspired, yet not by what they say
You see, the two teachers will not be seen in the fight
But the true elite students will follow them to the light
They’ll be heard singing; notes strong and bright
Despite the challenge, the danger, they’ll stand for what’s right
Their true worth will be revealed soon, in the Silent Night”

The next night Cade and Blake moved up the slope toward the CANDLES Path. A bizarre blue light flashed just beyond the hilltop. Cade started up the slope, but Blake pulled him back.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “I heard something.” The kids got down low, staring up the dark green slope. Birds called out from the heavy forest of Dence Evergreens in the surrounding hills. Chilling winds rushed through. The slanted, dark blue trees swayed in circles looking like ghosts dancing in the night. Dark spirits lined up across the top of the hill. “What we do now?” Cade stared up at them for a few moments, then turned to Blake with a calm smile.

“We play a game.”

“Are you crazy? This isn’t the time for a slide race.”

“I think it is.” Blake stared at him in disbelief. “Slowly go over to the far left and stay low. Wait for my signal, then follow me.”

“I don’t know…”

“Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“Seriously?”

“Just trust me.” Blake sighed heavily, then with a shrug he crawled across the hill.

“Such a convincing argument,” he muttered on his way to the far side. Cade took his blue glowing shell out and held it low by his side. He whispered to himself with eyes closed, then shot up the hill directly toward the dark ghosts. They glided down toward him. Just as they closed in on him, he stopped. Blake watched with raised eyes as Cade dove, sliding down the slick grass with his shell lighting him up. The dark spirits rushed down after him. Then Cade flashed his light down the hill, stopped, and shot up the hill to the left, hiding his light. He waved for Blake and the two kids sprinted up the slick hill. The ghosts kept rushing down the hill past them.

“You know they won’t want to play with you next time,” said Blake.

“Yeah, they’re sore losers,” said Cade, flashing a smile as they reached the top. A few minutes later they reached Carolmire Mountain. Cade gazed up at the bright alien lights shooting up from the mountain top. Eerie organ notes pounded from the high steep ridges along both sides of the rocky path.

“Sounds like the show’s already beginning,” said Blake. Cade glanced up at the dark clouds powering across the night sky. Breaking moonlight began lighting up the dark stone slope ahead of them. “So where are they this time?”

“It’s midnight,” said Cade. Then with eyes lit he added, “We’re about to find out.” He shot up the dark stones, flying up the relatively steep slope.

“I hate it when he does that.” Blake charged up after him. Dark shadows moved in quick bursts along the ridges. Wide, triangular evergreens called Candle Evergreens began appearing in wavy rows going up the slope in the distance far ahead looking like blurry colourful flowing sheets. The kids moved fast up the slope slowly curving to the left toward the distant glowing peak. The Candle Evergreens started coming in clearer ahead with their star shaped dark green leaves. They held candles in various bright colours. “I don’t hear any dark spirits yet.”

“Maybe they fell asleep,” said Cade still flying ahead. After about fifteen minutes the kids made their way around the bend. Chilling winds rushed up from behind whistling through the Candles Evergreens. The rows of lights flashed in waves to the rhythm of the strong mysterious organ chords. There were seven rows in colours of white, gold, green, red, blue, purple, and orange. Blake looked back to see dark shadows creeping up the slope.

“I think they’re after us.”

“Let the games begin.” The kids moved fast up the dimly lit stones. “Stay in the shadows, stay low.”

“We could climb one of them,” said Blake pointing to the evergreens. Cade nodded.

“Let’s get ahead.” The kids pushed hard. Chilling winds pushed harder down on them, now from up the slope. Deep organ chords playing an eerie, roaming melody pulsed through the seven rows. The kids felt the strong rush through the white candle rows directly ahead. They got down low, struggling ahead. Ghostly shapes of white, gold, and green danced in the chilling winds. Cade started angling to the right. “We’ll head up that one,” he added, pointing ahead to the far right.
“Which one?” asked Blake. The mysterious pounding song played a sad, dream-like melody. This music floated through the night.
“The awkward looking one.”
“They all look awkward.”
“The one, this one right up here, see?” Cade pointed as they pushed further right.
“The one with the half-moon shape branch?” Chilling winds kept driving them back.
“What?”
“That one?” Blake pointed ahead to the first Candle Evergreen in the row of completely still triangular shapes under a red glaze directly ahead. Cade sighed dramatically and shook his head. He glanced back momentarily. Dark shadows crept closer towards them. Cade took another sharp turn to the right. Ghostly shapes of blue, purple, and orange danced in the hard driving winds.
“Be ready, almost there,” said Cade with a half-smile, half-concerned, twisted expression.
“Almost where?”
“THE TREE.”
“I STILL DON”T KNOW WHICH ONE!”
“Why don’t you just climb the one I start climbing?” Dark mists started swirling ahead.
“Why didn’t you just say that in the first place?” asked Blake. Cade just hung his head for a moment.

“Let’s move, move, get ahead.” The kids hurried up the stones toward the last row of dancing ghostly orange Candle Evergreens. “Be ready, it’s just ahead.” Blake just shook his head. He glanced back at the distant dark spirits. Then Cade scrambled up the branches of a swaying orange-lit tree. He flew up the wide branches looking like shelves. He got down low as Blake stopped and looked around. He turned back. Dark spirits were approaching fast.
“What are you looking for, a ladder?”
“Do you see one?”
“NO! HURRY UP!” Blake looked around anxiously, then hurried up toward Cade. The kids got down low, huddled near the trunk. Dark spirits rushed past them gliding up the row. Sour horns blared out. Alien lights shot out, lighting up all the colourful dancing ghost-like trees in the chilling winds.

“I think they see us,” whispered Blake. The kids strained to see in the blinding green lights. More horns blew from the upper ridges. Slim, tall dark figures appeared standing in the lights at the top of the ridge across from them. “It’s them,” Blake said quietly. The orange lights kept flickering to the pounding song. The candles around them swayed in a sad, dream-like melody floating through the night. As they watched, dark spirits turned back heading in their direction. More dark spirits rushed up the slope toward them as well.

“Do you think they see us?” asked Cade.

“What does that tell you?” asked Blake pointing to the tall, slim figures on the high ridge. One of them was pointing directly at them.


Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: WHEN STUDENTS DISAPPEARED

In Year 50, something mysterious started happening across the kingdoms of DarkCorner Land. Cade Mayson and Blake Candade were in the fourth grade at the time. Every weekend they would go exploring in the mountains outside of Cashes Dade. Sometimes, despite their parents giving them stern warnings about not staying out in the mountains after dark, they would still be out there well after sunset. It was usually Cade’s fault. He has a terrible sense of time and tends to wander, getting kind of lost. Blake is good at figuring out how to get them back on track. One September night in Year 50, the two kids were coming down from the top of a distant mountain when they saw a bizarre green fire appear within the forest up the slope of a mountain they were about to pass. The kids quickly crept through the forest of towering evergreens called Dayshowers. They were really tall with perfect cone shapes holding bright blue leaves that glowed brightly at night. They would flash rhythmically in the night to some silent music. On this night they were flashing in a bizarre rhythm, never seen before. As the kids drew closer, they could see the fire seemingly burning in the forest, yet the evergreens remained unharmed. Dark spirits appeared, forming a line across the entire slope. The kids crawled further up the slope, hiding down behind a long, flat black stone. Within the fire they saw a triangular blue craft with small flashing gold lights. Cade and Blake watched intently as several tall, slim dark figures appeared suddenly near the craft. Another shorter, dark figure appeared momentarily before they rushed onto the craft. Just then, a violent thunder storm overtook the mountain. Hard driving rains fell with constant flashing lightning. The kids hid down while the storm raged on for several minutes. In an instant the storm stopped and the forest went completely silent. When the kids looked up, the craft was gone. The next day, the two kids read the newspaper, because they were grounded. In the Cashes Dade newspaper, they reported that a student in the sixth grade was missing.

DarkCorner Land has always been mysterious. The land has unusual minerals, plants, and trees and is constantly rocked by storms. Dark spirits haunted the land from the beginning, but then an event happened that would change the world forever. In the year 50, bizarre green lights appeared across the sky. The clouds churned, the air grew static, and all the land vibrated with the sound of a distant hum. Citizens in every kingdom gathered outside on the streets, balconies, and rooftops gazing up at the neon green sky. In an instant, the sky went dark. Then they heard incredibly loud screeching sounds coming from the sky. They grew louder and louder until a sonic boom exploded out across the sky followed by complete silence. Slowly, bright greenish-gold triangular shaped lights appeared in the dark sky.

They hovered just below the green clouds flowing like heavy sheets in the sky. Every country sounded the alarm. Bells rung out through the cities. Horns blared out as the armies took their positions in the outer rings of the cities and in the forts. Everyone waited tensely in the silence for what seemed like hours as the ships just hovered in the sky, their lights flashing to a slow, booming rhythm coming from the sky. Intense meetings were being held between kingdom leaders while the rest of them just stared at alien ships hanging in the air with some eerie music booming above them. Then sour horns blared out from the ships. Every kingdom reports some windows shattering under the intense pressure of the horns. Soldiers held up their weapons, prepared for their first war.

Bright, intense lights shined down, covering entire cities in strong heat. Green mist shot out in powerful waves down on the citizens, knocking them off their feet. The soldiers’ weapons were knocked out of their hands. They tried to stand in the driving waves, but couldn’t. Then they heard it, in every corner of every kingdom, a young student speaking in a solemn, elevated voice that sounded bizarre. The people still couldn’t stand up in the strong waves. The students had a message for the people. They were relaying a message directly from the aliens declaring that they were from a planet called Dairockneye and would be establishing their city called Arapreshday where the Kingdom of Caderias once stood. They told the people that they were now the leaders of every country and every school. When they finished speaking, the waves stopped. The ships were no longer in the skies. No one knew where they landed, but they saw aliens all around them, carrying large shining weapons. The students who spoke for them were the ones who had mysteriously disappeared, taken by the aliens to be their messengers on the day of their invasion. The students were returned to their families, the only bright spot of a dark day.

The aliens took over the schools. Every school would have an alien called the Supreme Leader, basically the principal. Every teacher would have an alien assigned to them to watch their class at all times. The aliens set up really strict rules for behavior and really high standards for grades. Students are now expected to sit completely still and learn in the way the aliens believe is best, by listening to lectures and taking notes. They don’t believe in using pictures or doing activities. Students are expected to learn challenging subjects fast and are given massive amounts of schoolwork. The aliens also established a ranking system for the students.

BlackStar is the lowest ranking, meaning failure. If students are at this ranking for too long, they will be punished and assigned tough jobs working for the aliens for long hours. Cade and Blake are BlackStar.

BlueStar is the next ranking meaning average.

GoldStar means you are succeeding, doing good, but not at the elite level. There are some basic rewards given for this ranking, but they are still challenged to aim higher.

WhiteStar means you are elite. This is the highest ranking and comes with great rewards.

Cade Mayson believes the way the aliens run their schools is unfair and keeps many students from succeeding because they aren’t allowed to learn in the ways that work best for them or be creative. What is your school like? Is your school run like the aliens in some ways? What ways is your school better than the way the aliens run the DarkCorner Land schools? Leave a comment below. Cade is ready to fight to restore their schools back to the way they should be. He believes there must be a reason why the aliens are so focused on running their schools, why they drive the elite students so hard, and he’s right…

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS: CADE MAYSON’S PROPHESY SKILLS

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

Cade Mayson says he doesn’t believe he can see the future. He just believes he can predict what people are going to do and what major events are going to happen in the future. He has an interesting routine, but first, it’s time to reveal the answer for the last mystery challenge. If you haven’t read the bonus story, MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN, check it out. You can find it by clicking on the page, LIST OF POSTS. See if you can solve each mystery challenge. The mystery for Chapter Three was, what word do the aliens have for the LANTERNS PATH? This will give another clue to the greater mystery of which path can the students take past the alien defenses? Here is the answer:

WAY: The aliens see the Lanterns Path as the Way.

You’re walking with Cade to school. You’re talking about what loads of schoolwork you still have to do and arguing over whether the big Science Test is today or tomorrow, and then all the sudden he just stops. He gets down on one knee, closes his eyes with his hands forming a triangle in front of his face. He’ll probably start whispering quietly to himself. It might even sound like he’s arguing with himself, and maybe he is, no one really knows for sure. It could last for a few minutes or even a few hours. One time he did this on the way to school with Blake three years ago when they were in third grade. One minute they were arguing about which one of them would win in a fight if they had to tie their hands and feet and had to stay ten feet apart. The next minute Cade was in his trance. Blake tried to talk to him, but he didn’t hear anything. Blake even started yelling about bears attacking and Cade still kept still, whispering to himself. What unusual dreams, interests, or abilities do you have? Leave a comment below. Cade once saw something mysterious in the hills west of Cashes Dade. He saw mysterious lights flash. After three hours, he finally stood up, and made this prediction:

“It will begin with mysterious disappearances in the field

Look at how all the farmers are getting the same yield

The colour white will soon be worth so much more

Wearing the colour black with pride could start a war

Look for the glittering ripples flashing across the sea

Soon all the students will wish they could become free

Aliens will invade our world in time to save us from illness

We will place our hope in them to relieve our distress

Dark storms are coming for us in glittering, flashing waves

They’ll overpower our schools sending failing students to the graves

Students with intense determination will have dark dreams at night

Yet they will give aliens nightmares about the mysterious distant light”

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN CHAPTER THREE

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

“The aliens have deep pools to keep away the citizens of Carolmire
Cade Mayson will have strong determination fire”

Cade and Blake are about to try another path up the mountain to try to discover what the aliens might be hiding. Can you solve this chapter’s mystery? The mystery is what word do the aliens have for the third path called the Lanterns Path? Clues for the answer will be revealed in the chapter. The answer will be a single word. The answer will reveal more about the mystery in this story about which path can get past the alien defenses? One of them has a weakness. If you have a guess for either mystery, leave a comment below. What do you think the aliens are hiding?

CHAPTER THREE:

The howling winds died down. The active forest went quiet behind them. Heavy darkness closed in on them from all sides in the silent chill. All they heard was the crunch of small stones under their shoes, slowly moving up the hidden slope. Dark shadows rolled across in slow roaming waves.

“I can’t see the time,” said Blake.

“It’s cool,” answered Cade. “At midnight, the lanterns will light up. The party will begin. The show will start. The…”

“I think I get it.” They felt a sharp chill rush past them.

A voice whispered, “It’s almost time. It’s almost time to find the way.”

“Was that you?” whispered Blake.

“No, was it you?”

“Why would I ask if it was you if I knew I was the one who said it?”

“I don’t know,” Cade answered, “just making sure.” Footsteps moved quickly ahead. “We need to get over, this way.”

“OW! You hit my head.”

“Sorry. I was trying to pull you in the right direction.” More voices started whispering around them as they hurried toward the hidden wall.

“Who are they?” asked Blake.

“Just some friends I invited.” Fast-paced, excited whispering continued on all sides.

“Seriously.”

“They must be dark spirits.” Just then dark blue glowing light appeared from lanterns in a wavy line along their wall and the far wall. The lights dimly lit the underground pass up the mountain along the walls. Dark heavy shadows roamed down the center. The kids glanced around at the towering blackstone walls rising to high dark ceilings. Different groups of citizens appeared standing in various points along the walls. They glowed soft blue and appeared to be somewhat transparent.

“Who are they?” asked Blake.

“They’re ghosts,” Cade answered quietly. “Let’s head this way. Stay low.” The kids crept up the slope to the center, moving just past a group of ghosts talking quietly. Chilling winds whistled through the tunnel. The lanterns swayed left and right, flickering up the wall on the right. The ghosts started talking louder as the kids started running up the steep, steady slope. “This might be easy,” said Cade with a confident shrug.

“They have to have defenses in here.” The kids breathed hard, running up the long slope until they saw a high massive circular wall ahead made of shimmering blue glass, lit by many rows of lanterns. Just then fast-paced, whiny fiddle music started up around them with a booming base rocking the walls. More lantern lights lit up at various points with the ghosts dancing to the music. They glided around smoothly. The kids reached the wall, looking up the two halls splitting left and right. The left hall was dark with only a few lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The right hall was wider and well-lit, with a small circle of dancing ghosts. “We should take the darker hall.”

“Yeah, I agree, darker is better. I can’t sleep when it’s too bright for one thing. Although, I like bright shells. You know when you see it, when it catches the light?” Blake stared at him, confused. “Wait, see that? Let’s check that way. Have you ever seen when it does that?”

“Seen what?”

“You know,” Cade answered heading for a tall blue crystal door, barely visible in the blue glass wall. Dark shadows of the dancing ghosts reflected in the dimly lit glass.

“No, I don’t,” said Blake, shaking his head as he ran after him. Cade slowly opened the door and peered inside. The wide hall was circular, sloping up steeply in shining blue light from bright glowing lanterns. Cade turned back, smiling. “I guess this might work,” Blake said, glancing back at the ghosts dancing in circles. “I mean…” He looked ahead to see Cade running up the slope. He sighed heavily as he ran to catch up.

“Stay in the center, there’s more ghosts ahead.” The fiddle music began to play faster from all sides. The instruments sounded like they were playing right with them. A small circle of ghosts danced to the rhythm right ahead. Cade and Blake swerved to the left, running low to the ground. A fast chilling wind rush whistled up the tunnel. The hazy lanterns swayed back and forth. Blake watched the lights flickering in rapid waves shooting ahead.

“Follow the way. Follow the way.” The kids turned to see the ghosts gliding up the slope behind them.

“Go, go, go,” said Cade.

“Do they see us?” Blake glanced back. The ghosts’ faces were mostly blank with only their eyes showing. They just stared ahead with sad, empty gazes. “I’m not sure they do.”

“Follow the way. This is our chance. Follow the shooting waves.” Another massive wall appeared ahead with numerous glowing lanterns. A large glowing green door appeared straight ahead, with halls splitting left and right.

“Hurry, hurry, we need to get ahead so they don’t see where we go. Which way?”

“The door,” answered Blake. “The winds can show the way in the mines. The way the lanterns sway and flicker shows which way.”

“Sounds good enough to me.” They both glanced back. The ghosts were far behind. Lantern lights began swaying to the fast-paced booming music on all sides. Blake opened the door while Cade dove in.

“Was that necessary?”

“What do you think?” Cade flashed a smile before looking ahead up the steep dark tunnel. Just then three rows of blue lanterns lit up on narrow shelves along both sides. A crowd of dark spirits appeared, blocking the entire way ahead. Blake looked back. Dark spirits entered the tunnel behind them.

“What we do now?” Cade just smiled, with eyes lit. “I should have known.” With that Cade shot ahead right toward the crowd. Blake ran directly behind him. The ghosts reached out with chains in their hands. Just as they moved in, Cade turned, and jumped up on the shelf along the wall. He and Blake ran along the narrow shelf, then jumped back down up slope.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

“We’re out of time,” said Blake, glancing at his watch: 12:53. The kids sprinted up the tunnel until reaching a door on their left. They quickly slipped inside, hurrying down a long curving slope going down. The fiddle music started playing slower and sadder as they made their way out of the mountain. On their way down the mossy slope under a dark blue sky, with moonlight spilling through the breaking clouds, a dark bench lit up in an open meadow of soggy, dark green short grass. The kids stopped cold. A blue glowing ghost sat there, staring directly at them. He looked like an old man, wearing a dark gray suit.

“Let’s go,” said Blake.

“I have a message for you,” he said. Blake shook his head. The kids began to leave as they heard him again, saying, “I have a message for you, Cade Mayson.”

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS: BLAKE CANDADE

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

Blake Candade is probably Cade’s best friend, also in the sixth grade. Blake is one of the most interesting soccer players you’ll ever see, but first, it’s time to answer the last Mystery Challenge. This is for the post: MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN: CHAPTER TWO. What name do the aliens have for the STARLIGHT PATH? This will be a clue revealing more about which path the students can take to get past the alien defenses.
The answer is: Dancers.

Blake’s dream is to become a great soccer star for Cashes Dade and lead them to many Grand Soccer Cup Championships. Cashes Dade has only won one in their history in Year 35. It’s currently Year 52. Blake is determined and has a quiet intensity. He is fast, but more than that, he’s tough. He has really good control of the ball. He might not be able to fake you out and dribble past people, but you’re going to have a hard time getting the ball away from him. He likes to just power through defenders. He’s had some crazy moments playing for the elementary school soccer leagues in Cashes Dade.

One time Blake’s team was down 1-0 with less than a minute left in the game. Blake’s team had been struggling to move the ball on them all day. His team had the ball and they set up the next play. They kept passing it sideways trying to get someone set up to have an open shot, but they were down at the other end of the field. Now, Blake’s a team player, for the most part, but at this point he’d had enough. Not once could they get the ball away from him all day, so he took the ball from his own teammate, and drove it down the field, pushing past every defender. He got past the last one, didn’t try anything fancy, but just kicked it as hard as he could, right past the goalie, and scored. In overtime, his coach gathered the team together and said, “We’re running the Blake play again.” So Blake took it again, drove it down field, and scored in the first minute of overtime.

Blake is really into mountain climbing and exploring in the mountains around Cashes Dade so he came up with a bunch of plays named for different mountain events. There’s the Avalanche-in this play the team lines up and rushes up field, passing the ball quickly back and forth, advancing fast for the goal. There’s the Cave In-in this one when a player from the other team is advancing up field with the ball Blake’s team suddenly rushes in on him from all sides, overwhelms them, and steals the ball. Then there’s the Rock Slide-this one is basically just Blake advancing the ball up field by himself, powering past everyone and scoring.

Do you like soccer? Does Blake sound like someone you would want on your team? Do you run any plays like that on your soccer team? If you don’t play soccer, what is your dream? Leave a comment below. Check out the next post featuring a mysterious disappearance. Right after that is the next chapter of the bonus short story. Cade and Blake are about to go deep into the mountain, but they will discover a key clue about the aliens’ dark secret.

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN: CHAPTER TWO

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

The next chapter is here. See if you can solve the mystery of what secret word the aliens have for the path Cade and Blake are about to take. This will reveal another clue as to which path can lead past their defenses to the top. If you need more information, check out the post called: WHAT ARE THE ALIENS HIDING? You can find it by clicking on the page LIST OF POSTS. This post gives a list of the five paths and a prophecy that gives clues to what the answer is. Leave a comment below if you have a guess already to either mystery. Can you figure it out?

CHAPTER TWO:

Green alien lights flashed to a slow, booming rhythm from the top of the towering, slanted mountain. A grand piano played a soft, dream-like melody, echoing around the towering stones made of dark blue crystal glass, called Dencas, looking like slanted fences with many points across the top. Blake glanced at his watch: 11:59.
“Cade, it’s time.” Cade gazed up at the fast, dark clouds rushing low overhead. Faint golden lights from the distant stars flickered and danced across the chilling night sky. Streams of brilliant colours of blue and green mist started streaming across the sky, forming dream-like images, blending with the faded star lights. The flashing lights danced to a dream-like rhythm. Then the clock struck midnight. Cade looked up the steep slope winding through the shimmering dencas and various clusters of tall, slender dark blue evergreens called Dashes with numerous leaves packed together tightly.
“Let’s go,” he said with eyes lit. They hurried up the grassy slope. Blake powered through the snowy patches while Cade jumped over them. From the distant forest on their left a dark spirit whistled a rapid five-note melody, going up and down.
“What do you think that means?” asked Blake.
“It means he wants fish for dinner,” said Cade, “and a cupcake.” Cade shifted to the right past several towering dencas.
“Maybe he saw us.”
“But he didn’t say hello?” A cluster of Cashes glowed softly ahead to their left. Cade turned toward them. “Dark spirits are so rude.” He sighed dramatically. Neon green alien lights shot out just above them on the left, quickly turning in their direction. “Hurry, hurry.” They quickly slid between the trees and ducked down. Dark spirits emerged from the forest close by. “Get down.” The bright, hot alien light swept through the trees. Whistling suddenly sprang up around them.
“They see us, let’s go,” said Blake.
“Wait, draw them in,” said Cade quietly.
“Are you serious?”
“No, this is my special comedy hour. The dark spirits sit down and listen every night at this time.” The clustered leaves crackled in the hot passing light. “They’re a great audience. Most people don’t think dark spirits would be, but…”

“OKAY, I GET IT.” Cade motioned dramatically for him to talk quieter. Dark spirits appeared in the light passing away from them, lining up around the small cluster of trees on all sides.

“They have us surrounded,” Blake whispered.

“Cool.” Blake shot him a confused look. Heavy, dark shadows fell over them. Ghosts filled in around them, slightly glowing in the breaking moonlight. “Follow my lead.” Cade watched the sky. Dark clouds kept rushing across the sky, building up. Slowly, the faint star lights faded out. Heavy dark shadows fell across the small forest. Then Cade shot ahead up the slope. Blake ran after him. He watched nervously as they got close to the edge of the forest. Dark spirits started moving toward them. Cade dove for the ground. Blake slid down right behind him.

“Now what?” he whispered. Cade waited as dark figures quickly moved in from all sides. Then he shot back up, sprinting diagonally down slope. Blake followed close. Then Cade suddenly disappeared. Blake stopped and looked around. He saw Cade running back up slope to the forest edge. He shook his head and followed after. They hurried past the confused dark spirits to their right out of the forest, pushing up the slope. Tall, slender evergreens called Dancer started appearing around them. Their clusters of small, bulb-like leaves glowed in bright blue flashes in the night. Chilling winds rushed across the upper slope flattening out whistling through the leaves. They danced to a dream-like rhythm. Several massive stones called Menas appeared on the plain ahead as they sped up. They were slick and dark, reflecting the blurry faint passing sky lights.

Several dark spirits whistled a rapid five-note melody, going up and down from the steep slope ahead rising past the wide plain.

“There it is again,” whispered Blake. “Last time we got lit up.”

“From the direction of the whistling,” said Cade with a sharp nod. “Let’s get to the Menas. Wait for the light to pass.” Eerie grand piano music played out stronger as they got down behind the towering stones. The dream-like melody swept across the windy plain. Bright green alien lights shot out lighting up the entire plain.

“What we do now?” asked Blake. “They’ll sweep across the entire plain.” Cade looked up at the steep stones with raised eyes. “No, no, I’m all for climbing, but you’ve got to be kidding me.” Cade smiled. “No, no way, we’re not going up there.” Cade just kept smiling. “I don’t care what you say. I’m not going.” Cade stood up and started finding footholds. He started pushing himself up a narrow slit between two tall stones. Blake sighed heavily, then pushed himself up after him. Strong chords vibrated through the slick stones. Cade reached the top and looked out across the plain toward the steep slope slanting up and to the right toward the distant mountain top.

“What time is it?” asked Cade.

“Time to find a new friend who doesn’t get me in this kind of trouble.” Dark spirits rushed across the plain as the alien light faded out.

“Time?”

“12:35.” Cade kept gazing with his fiery intense eyes. Bright blue lights danced from the Dancer Evergreens in a heavy forest on the left side of the rocky slope. On the right soft glowing stones called Cayshes lit up the steep edge. Cade watched as the dark spirits disappeared over the edge of the slope behind them.

“We’re cool. Let’s get down.”

“If you insist.” The kids scrambled down, then sprinted toward the slope. One distant voice whistled with a dead tone. Cade turned sharply toward the glittering forest. “You don’t see any dark spirits in there?”

“Yeah, I thought we should go talk to them.” Heavy piano chords started vibrating through the slope.

“Why do I bother?” Several more whistles answered from the other side of the mountain.

“You can’t set me up that well,” answered Cade with a shrug. They struggled up the steep slope slowly turning to the right.

“What does that whistling mean?” After about ten minutes they began to see the distant mountain top. Bright green fires shot up with flames slowly reaching for the dark rushing clouds. More whistling shot out around them. Blake checked his watch: 12:47. “We’re almost out of time.” Just ahead a crowd of dark spirits lined up across the entire slope. They looked around to see many more pour into the forest sliding down slope fast toward them.

“Here we go,” said Cade. He started running down slope angling to the right.

“What are you doing?” Blake glanced back. Dark spirits were closing in on them fast.

“Just wait and see.” Blake sighed and shrugged, following close. Suddenly Cade shifted sharply to the left, kicking up dust. They scrambled down fast. Then he shifted hard right, kicking up more dust. Blue glowing lights blurred past. He shifted back to the left, kicking up more dust again. After several more turns, Blake glanced back and smiled. Dust blurred with the flashing blue lights all around. Cade made one final sharp turn. Blake glanced back again at the dark spirits rushing way off in the opposite direction. Moonlight spilled out across the lower slope as Cade and Blake made their way off the mountain.

“Those dark spirits will be searching for hours,” said Cade with a smile.

“Their defenses are impossible.”

“Yeah, they are.”

“So we’ll meet back here tomorrow?” Cade just smiled.
Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: THE RACE

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

DarkCorner Land has a lot of awesome and crazy traditions. The Kingdom of Daymardon has the best celebration for Spring Week. All the kingdoms take a week, the first week in April, as a holiday to celebrate the beginning of Spring. They have parties in the street and have a lot of outdoor picnics. But Daymardon has a special tradition that brings in people from kingdoms all across DarkCorner Land.

Check out the page: DARKCORNER LAND to find the Kingdom of Daymardon on the map. It’s a kingdom in the center of the land where they have the full range of the seasons: cold in the winter to hot in the summer. Their Spring Tradition is pretty insane. Their City of Heyvas Cadamar is set along a wild river with crazy fast rapids. The towers are built like stacked cards made of large dusty bright red bricks. The windows have no glass but just have curtains of stringed blue lights that glow at night. The towers are built on tall mesas. Winding steps connect the towers on the mesas while shimmering blueglass bridges connect the mesas. The bridges also glow at night. On the ground below the city is nothing but fields of short light green grass and fields of bright colourful flowers. Each field has one corner with a cluster of trees called Marclays. They have really widespread branches holding bright green circular leaves that shine and spin during the days.

So what they do on the first day of the first week of April? They have a race, but it’s a race like you’ve never seen before. First, there’s a climb up their tallest mesa. It’s pretty steep so it’s difficult to find a way up the slick rocks. When they reach the top, they make their way over to the slick side of the mesa and slide down…into a boat…that’s floating down the river. It takes great timing. Sometimes they don’t make it, so they hit the water, then have to hope they can catch a boat floating by. They race down river trying to navigate the crazy rapids. The finish line is a side channel that ends in a large pool. At night they put blue-lit lanterns in the pool and celebrate all around.

Everyone in Cashes Dade knows about Jack Marsher. He was 45 years old the year he entered the Daymardon Spring Race. People say he was kind of crazy, and the way he climbs mountains is kind of crazy. When it’s steep he doesn’t really stop to make sure he gets a good foothold. He just goes. Somehow he feels the way up on the run. In the race of Year 43 that’s how he climbed up the mesa. He kept sliding back, but kept moving the whole time, so he never fell back that much. Then he didn’t even wait to get the timing right at the slide, he just slid down. When he hit the water, a boat was coming his way fast. He dove under, then got up and grabbed the back. It dragged him awhile until finally he managed to climb in. He was way ahead at that point, but like Cade, he had no clue how to drive a boat. In fact, he’d never even done it before. He had a hard time on the rapids. He struggled to keep control while the others slowly caught up. Finally he managed to catch the current. He barely made it into the channel, but he was just ahead and won the race.

Have you ever climbed any mountains or done any rafting down rapids? Would you do what Jack did? What crazy things have you done in a race or competition? Leave a comment below. Get ready to see how Cade and Blake try to get past the aliens in the next mystery challenge. Can you figure out how they can get to the top?

Posted on

CHARACTER FUN FACTS: SCHOOL ADVENTURES

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

Cade and his friend Blake used to like school, until the aliens took over. The aliens have one alien leader who runs the school while there is an alien in every class watching how the students behave and how the teachers perform. Schools now have really strict rules and high standards to get good grades. Students now take home massive amounts of schoolwork every day. Cade and Blake are in the sixth grade and have some really interesting ways to deal with school the way it is now. But first, it’s time to reveal the answer to the last Mystery Challenge from MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN: CHAPTER ONE. What word do the aliens have for moonlight? This may reveal whether this is the path Cade and Blake can take to the top.

ANSWER: EVE’S

Cade Mayson is really smart, but he struggles with every subject. He can solve a lot of tough and complicated problems by figuring them out his own way. It’s like when he’s running from dark spirits. He can’t explain where he should go or think strategically on how to get away. He just runs and uses his skills to fake them out. He figures out crazy ways to get away in the moment. Writing down what he’s learned and solving problems on paper doesn’t work well for him, so he has to get creative to get by.

One time he had an essay question about a historical event, a historical event he was supposed to read about, a historical event he did not read about, in fact a historical event he knew nothing about. He read the question three times. He stared at the blank page…for about twenty minutes. He had only ten minutes left. He sighed heavily, but then he smiled. The question reminded him about a time he and Blake had to find their way back home after getting lost on a trail in the mountains near Cashes Dade. He then wrote about that experience. He threw in a few key terms from the question to make it look like he was referencing the information he was supposed to know. He got an A.

During really boring lessons Cade and Blake have a game they play. Some lessons in school have to be boring, but most of their lessons are boring now because the aliens give the teachers many limits. Blake is really into soccer and is a good player. He draws a field on a sheet of paper with two small goals made out of paper. They form a small soccer ball from paper of course and play games, flicking the ball across the “field.” One time, Cade and Blake were in a really intense game during a lesson about a court case involving a dispute over birds. Cade moved the ball down field, he faked several times, then flicked it through the goal to finally take the lead. He jumped up, saying “YEAH!” The teacher shot him an icy stare. Blake glanced back nervously at the alien who was watching them intently at this point. Cade then said, “This is the best lesson ever! I can’t contain my excitement about this case on boats…”

“Birds,” Blake whispered.

“Birds, yeah, birds,” Cade answered quickly.

How do you feel about your school? Do you feel like your school is run by aliens? What do you like and what do you not like about school? Leave a comment below. Check out the next Mystery Challenge to see where Cade and Blake go next. Can you figure out the secret the aliens are hiding on the mountain top?

Posted on

MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN: CHAPTER ONE

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

Chapter One Mystery Challenge:

What word do the aliens have for moonlight?

Story Mystery Challenge:

Which path can Cade and Blake get past the defenses to the top?

If you have a guess, leave a comment below. The answer for the Chapter One Mystery Challenge will be revealed in the next post.

CAROLMIRE LIGHTS PROPHECY

“The aliens will stake their claim to the towering mountain top

They use mirrors to watch for intruders they need to stop

Dark shadows flash across the sharp stones and clay

They use their grand dreams to keep them away

The aliens have deep pools to keep away the citizens of Carolmire

Cade Mayson will have strong determination fire

The aliens have their lights that shine so bright

Cade’s mysterious movements flash across the night

The aliens have great ambitions to always be the best

Cade and Blake will be relentless in their mission quest”

CHAPTER ONE:

Icy blue clouds rushed across the sky looking like sharp arrows in the night. Cade looked up at the green light flashing out five times at the steep top of Carolmire Mountain. He stood behind a line of large black marble stones. Soft white light through broken moonlight reflected across his short dark hair falling low to his intense eyes. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped. He spun around to see his friend in the sixth grade with a smile across his thin face.

“What did you do that for, Blake?”

“What?”

“You could have said something.”

Blake zipped up his black coat and ran his hand over his short, matted sandy hair before answering, “I didn’t want to startle you.”

“How is suddenly feeling a hand not going to startle me? What’s wrong with you? There’s dark spirits crawling all over this place.”

“Dark spirits don’t have hands.”

“Yeah they do!”

“Not like ours.” A sour horn blared out from the top of the mountain. Chilling winds rushed down the steep mountain slopes sweeping through the Cercas Evergreens with their widespread branches holding sharp long green leaves. They formed tall, unbalanced triangles shifting back and forth looking like they were dancing in the winds.

“It’s time,” said Cade. “We have one hour to get past the defense.”

“What you mean we have one hour?”

“We can only make it in total darkness. Moonlight lights up this mountain every night except for midnight to one o’clock. We’ll start up that path.” He pointed up a smooth curving slope between the trees spiraling around the mountain towards the top. The slope was mostly snow covered with many black square shaped rocks scattered throughout called Sonars. Winds whistled as they grew stronger around them. Cade gave a quick wave toward the slope to their left. Blake jogged quickly around the stones heading toward the slope. Then he slid to a stop. Turning back he saw Cade scrambling up the large stones, then jumping dramatically into a snow drift with his hands out like he was flying. Blake just shook his head, then shrugged. “Let’s go, let’s go,” said Cade flying ahead of him up the slick slope. They sprinted across the lower slope cutting between several Sonars. Darker shadows fell across the upper slopes. Blake glanced up to see black arrow shaped clouds rushing through the night sky. Cade stayed focused ahead with his sharp gaze. Dark shadows crawled across the forest on both sides.

“Where are the defenses?” asked Blake. Several bright green lights shot out from deep inside the forest ahead of them, shooting down the mountain slope. The kids got down flat in the snow. Cade glanced at his watch: 12:13.

“Over here,” Cade whispered. The lights buzzed loudly as they started roaming back and forth. The kids crawled over to a Sonar and hid behind it. One distant voice whistled with a dead tone.

“It’s them,” Blake whispered. Several more voices whistled from the other side of the forest.

“Let the games begin.” Cade shot out up the slope between the lights. Blake sprinted after him. “Stay low.” They struggled up the slippery slope. Dark shadowy figures began to appear at the edges of both forests. Another lone whistle shot out. Several more answered, sounding closer. Both lights switched, closing in on them. “Follow my lead.” As the lights crashed in on them, Cade dove to the left. In an instant he shot back to the right. Blake glanced back as they hurried up the slope. Several dark shadows moved quickly to the left behind them.

“We fooled them,” said Blake.

“We’re too smooth.” Cade slipped back. Blake jumped off to the left just missing him.

“You were saying?” Cade waved him off and started up again toward a cluster of tall slanted black marble stones called Eve’s. Blake glanced up at the breaking clouds at a close distance above them. They stopped at the cluster of black stones. Cade got down low and gazed down the long narrow pass between them curving far up the mountain. Dark shadows flashed back and forth rhythmically. Soft white light reflected off the shimmering Eve’s. Cade checked his watch: 12:24.

Cade turned to Blake with eyes lit and said, “Let’s go.” The kids pushed their way through the narrow pass. Green lights flashed past them. Dead whistling started up all around them. “Hurry, hurry.” Dark figures appeared on both sides. “Stay with me, if you can.”

“Are you kidding?” Cade disappeared behind a rock to his right. Blake cut through a narrow slit. He looked around seeing only flashing shadows. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped.

“See what I mean?” Cade flashed him a smile then sprinted ahead. Blake followed after.

“I knew it was you all along.” Cade turned sharp right. Then he scrambled up a slanted stone. He jumped down, faked left, then turned sharp right between another narrow pass. Blake glanced back. Dark figures darted in and out behind them. “Is your plan to make them sick trying to follow you?” Cade just shrugged. Several short whistles shot out behind them. Several more short whistles answered. The Eve’s lit up bright green around them.

“Stay low,” Cade whispered. They weaved around a sharp turn. Blake glanced back. Dark spirits appeared around the corner gliding up fast toward them.

“We need to move, like really move.” Cade nodded and sped up the slope. They turned sharp right past a towering rock. Cade stopped cold, then sprinted left. Blake followed close. They pushed through kicking up snow. Cold winds whistled through the dancing evergreens on both sides. Blake glanced back. Dark spirits were far behind. “We’re getting ahead now. Pretty soon…” The kids slid to a stop. A short distance ahead a crowd of dark spirits were lined up. Behind them stood rows of towering black stones. “We can’t get past them,” said Blake.

“In the forest.” The kids hurried under the swaying trees.

“What time is it?”

“12:42.” Blake looked ahead straining to see in the dark forest ahead. Dark figures began to appear.

“We’ve got to go.”

“Maybe, or maybe not.” Cade sprinted up slope diagonally left. “We can get around them.” Dead whistling started up behind them and ahead.

“They’ve got us surrounded Cade.” They pushed further to the left. Cade suddenly pivoted and turned up to the right. More dark figures lined up ahead. Alien lights flashed brightly at the mountain top. Sour horns blared out a short distance up the mountain. More dead whistling played out on all sides at the same time. “We can’t get there and we’re running out of time.” Cade checked his watch: 12:46. He sighed heavily.

“Let’s get back.” As they turned back they saw dark spirits rushing up slope toward them. “What we do now?”

“Follow my lead.” Cade charged down the slope toward the oncoming ghosts. He faked left, then right, then he sprinted left, faked right, sprinted further left. Dark spirits closed in together, then Cade turned sharp right with Blake right behind flying past the confused ghosts. The kids scrambled down the rocky slope under the dancing trees. Breaking moonlight began spilling in, lighting up the dark green short grass on the slope. “We’re out of time. We’ll come back tomorrow night,” said Cade nodding confidently. “They won’t know what hit them.”

Posted on

DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: CRAZY SOCCER

“YOU MAY BE THE ONLY LIGHT THEY EVER SEE”

Soccer is a big deal in the DarkCorner Land kingdoms. Every kingdom has a team made up of whoever is good enough to play no matter how old they are. They get really crazy about their teams. If you travel to another kingdom and they beat your team in soccer, they will remind you, multiple times. Their season starts in the Spring and finishes late in the Summer. They have some really cool traditions.


They always play their games on Saturdays. On Friday, all day, a band plays throughout the city. Wherever they go, you will see people look out their windows or walk out into the street waving their kingdom’s flag and cheering/screaming loudly. On Friday night they have a rally where they try to get as loud as they can and see how much they can shake the towers around them. Sometimes windows break. Then they cheer even louder. On Saturdays there are people who set up a table in the street and talk about all the games going on in the kingdoms. Fans of both teams gather and cheer as loud as they can. It is just like ESPN College Gameday but without the cameras.

In the Year 17, the Kingdom of Caderias won the Grand Soccer Cup Championship with an amazing finish. They were down 3-1 with only two minutes left against Lunas Darshes. That’s when Caderias’s best scorer, Caden Elacouy, took over. He was only 16 years old. He blocked a shot, then took the ball down field, weaving around every player until he faked three times before kicking it in. With only 30 seconds left, he stole it again, got to a crowd of defenders, kicked it up high over them, then pushed through them and got the ball ahead of them. He ran hard left, then suddenly kicked it far right, just making the goal with only 7 seconds left. In overtime, he got close to the goal, with a crowd on him he passed it to a wide open teammate who kicked it in for the win. The Kingdom of Caderias was destroyed by dark storms in Year 25.

In Year 35 Cashes Dade won the Grand Soccer Cup Championship for the only time in their history with an unbelievable comeback. They were down 0-4 against Dayascade, one of the best soccer teams in DarkCorner Land. No one in Cashes Dade will ever forget the coach, Steven Cardade, going crazy on the sidelines, screaming at his team to get them fired up. They’ll definitely never forget his famous line, “Every star is falling from the sky tonight and our city will be overrun by T-Rex because we’re coming back to win this game.” It didn’t make any sense, but it worked. The rally began with several crazy far goals by Harper Cansher. Then she made a crazy long pass across the field to Bennie Carodade who kicked it past the stunned goalie to win 5-4.

Cashes Dade’s biggest rival is the Kingdom of Daymindon. They have always gone back and forth. Last year, Cashes Dade beat them 2-1 with an amazing defensive stand at the end. In the final minutes, in their game played at Cashes Dade, Daymindon took 23 shots, but Cashes Dade’s goalie, Blake Carsher, blocked every shot. This is why in Cashes Dade if someone is asking for something several times and being pushy about it the other person will say, “You can ask 23 times and the answer will still be no.”

Do you like soccer? What amazing experiences have you had playing or watching soccer? Leave a comment below and tell us about your experiences. Playing hard with strong determination and making great plays can make a major difference in the kingdoms. Soccer is a big deal here and gives people great inspiration as well as pride for their country. Check out the next post which will be the bonus short story leading up to the beginning of the story of Cade’s revolution against the aliens. Check out the:
MYSTERY OF THE ALIENS’ SECRET ON CAROLMIRE MOUNTAIN
CHAPTER ONE. See if you can solve the mystery. What will Cade Mayson discover when he challenges the aliens?