March 2020
Welcome to the third issue of Inklings magazine!
Hello! Thank you for reading this issue of Inklings! I can’t believe that this is the third issue already. I started Inklings Magazine For Kids and By Kids because I love writing. I didn’t think that I could find any other kids that liked writing, but I wanted to try anyway. Looking at this issue, I’m glad I did. I want to show everybody what kids can do. Don’t forget that if you are 18 years old or younger, you can write something for the next issue! Our submission guidelines are here. Thank you!
Elizabeth Hilgart, editor
Opposite Emotion Poems
By Breanna S., age 11.
Playful Puppy
Oh, how I love you, my playful puppy
You always bring such wondrous joy to me
Jumping and sprinting all day long,
Your exuberant energy is like a song
I could dance alongside, leaping and laughing
The smile you evoke feels everlasting
The Mill Donkey
Round and round again you go,
Drudging aimlessly with feet so slow
Hopeless and gloomy, your heart seems torn
Brittle, broken, bound you mourn
Where can you go? No freedom in sight
On this dreadful, lonely dark night
Round and round again you go,
Drudging aimlessly with feet so slow
Deserted
By Elizabeth Hilgart, age 11.
Chapter One
Princess Autumn woke up in the middle of the desert. She tried to raise her head, but the scorching sand that she was mostly buried in made it impossible to move. Also, there was a snake staring at her. She closed her eyes and waited for it to bite her. It didn’t. It slithered away, slapping sand into her face. Autumn would have sighed if she could, but you have to open your mouth a little to properly sigh, so she just exhaled through her nose.
“Foolish human,” the snake said. Autumn didn’t know much about snakes, but she was pretty sure that they didn’t talk. She decided that she was imagining things. She shook the sand off of her face and tried to sit up. She failed.
About 30 minutes later, Autumn was sitting up. She looked around. There was no water. She hadn’t exactly expected there to be, since she was in a desert, but it would have been helpful.
“I’m thirsty,” she said. She coughed up some sand. “I’m thirsty and I’m hungry and I don’t know what I’m doing here. Also, I think a snake might have talked to me.”
“No, that was me,” said a boy that Autumn had not noticed. “I was seeing if you were alive. I’m still not sure.”
“I’m clearly alive!” she said. “I’m talking to you!”
The boy shrugged. “I’ve heard dead people talk.” Autumn groaned and lay back down. The boy shrugged again and walked away. Autumn sat up. The boy had left his pack laying on the sand! She crawled over to it, dreaming of the food that might be inside.
“It’s not very likely that he’ll actually come back,” she whispered. “Besides, I’m a princess. He’s just an ordinary boy. My life is more important.” She opened the pack. It was full of Nintendo Switch games. Autumn sighed. “Well, these will be very fun if I ever get home,” she said. She closed the pack.
“I don’t think they’ll last that long here,” the boy said, walking over a pile of sand. “I didn’t really pack for the desert. I was going to Italy to meet Princess Autumn. I heard that she liked video games, so...”
“I’m Princess Autumn,” Princess Autumn said, “but I was going to Italy to meet Prince Gualtier. And I do like video games.”
“You’re Princess Autumn?” said the boy. “I thought you’d be so much nicer! I’m Prince Gualtier. Nice to meet you.”
“You’re Prince Gualtier?” Autumn said. “I thought you’d be worthy of the title ‘Prince’!”
“Ouch,” Prince Gualtier said. “I can’t believe that we’re supposed to get married. I’d rather die.”
“Well, we probably both will. There is NO WATER HERE, in case you hadn’t noticed! And all you brought was video games!” Autumn screamed. Gualtier reached into the side pocket of his pack and pulled out his phone. He turned it on and his eyes widened.
“What does that mean? It’s saying that Instagram isn’t working!” he said.
“There’s no service, dummy,” Autumn said. “All you can do on there now is play Minecraft.”
“Ooh, Minecraft!” Gualtier said. He sat down and started to play.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The Other Realm
Continued from Issue 1
By Madison Mertig, age 18.
Chapter Three
The morning came too fast. I rolled out of bed as Samantha pulled at my blankets, “Rise and shine, little one.” I groaned at her always cheiry voice. “Breakfast is ready, and your mom just contacted me. She will be here soon.”
That had me up and going, “What?! I thought she was gone until next week!” I ran to my closet and stripped within seconds, grabbing a red dress from the hanger. I began to pull the dress over my head, and toppled over. Samantha rushed in and helped pull the dress over my head, “Well, she came back early, because Savannah gave birth and Annie wanted to give her some alone time. Even though she wanted to spend time with her and the child. Savannah sent her on her way, and she and Ronan could celebrate with her region.”
I sighed as the dress slipped over my head and over my curves. I ran a brush through my hair quickly, and assessed myself in the mirror. I looked presentable, I think. Samantha looked over my shoulder and made eye contact with my reflection. “You are perfect. You look just like your mother.”
I looked at myself, I couldn’t see it. My blue eyes stared back at me. “I don’t know about that Sam. I’m not like her.”
She rolled her eyes and pulled me away from the mirror, shoving me out the door, “Of course you aren’t like her; you’re you. Now hurry.”
I nodded and hurried down the stairs, I would have taken the banister if it was any other day, but Mom was home and I was in a dress. I took the steps two at a time, speeding to the dinning hall. I stopped in front of the doors. I took a deep breath and pushed them open. Samantha was right, she was home. “Mom.”
She turned around, her long long hair flowing with her movements. She looked like a goddess, but this was hell; not heaven. “Morgan, my little girl.” She rushed over to me, still managing to be graceful, “I’ve missed you.”
I hugged her, “I’m not a little girl anymore, Mom.”
“Ah ha, but you are. You aren’t 18 yet. You are my little girl until next week.”
Oh that's right. She was supposed to come back when I was 18. “I guess you are right. Speaking of that, I have something to talk about with you.”
“After practice.” she pinched my cheeks. Boy, nothing like being treated like a child to make you feel like one.
“Of course.”
Breakfast flew by. My heart pounded, I had to have that talk with Mom, but she said after practice. I sighed and made my way down to the practice room. General Ryder was already there. He raised his eyebrows at my flushed cheeks, “You’re late, Morgan.” I didn’t know what to say, so I just shrugged. “Fix your stance,” he barked. I yelped and straightened my shoulders and put my feet shoulder length apart. I held my head high and looked right at him. “Good. Now, what would you do if--”
A ball of fire zipped towards me. I squeaked and stopped it right in time. I threw it away easily. General stood right in front of me. He grabbed my shoulders and threw me forcefully to the ground. He growled and held a lightning bolt next to my face, “Not fast enough.” I growled right back at him. I bucked him off and he rolled to his feet, not without throwing the bolt.
I turned and caught it, throwing it back at him. He dodged and ran at me. I couldn’t just freeze him, because he was too strong, and not to mention; aware that I could do that. I looked around quickly. What could I use? General always said, “Use anything and everything as a weapon.” The only thing in the room was a rope. That’ll have to do. I looked back to the slowly moving General. I slowed us down. I was moving slowly too, but my eyes were free to roam. I let my power loose and kicked off of the wall right over Generals head.
I was about to mentally congratulate myself, when a hand grabbed my foot and pulled my down. I held my hands out in front of me, so I wouldn’t land on my face. I was flipped onto my back and was pinned under him before I could even pinch the guy. I bared my teeth at the General. He held my arms above my head, “Got you,” he said triumphantly.
I smirked as I realized he forgot his own rule: don’t celebrate too early, make sure your opponent is down first. He realized too late as I formed a lightning bolt on his chest and sent him flying across the room. I bolted to the rope I saw earlier and grabbed it. I ran over to General, who was on his knees, panting rapidly. I tied him up, and stood over his bound form, “Got you,” I mocked.
He scowled, “Good job, now get me out of this.”
“I’m not sure if I want to do that. You know because, ‘Don’t celebrate too early’?”
“Morgan, I’m not asking.”
“Or else?”
A booming voice caused me to jump five feet in the air, “Morgan! Untie your mentor.” I turned around quickly to find Mom watching from the doorway. “I’m not asking,” she said menacingly, but I could see a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Of course, I was only joking.” I twirled my fingers around and the rope fell uselessly to the ground. “It was fun, Sir.”
“That it was. Good job out there.” He patted me on the back. A huge smile on his face and an approving wink. He walked away with a slight limp. Did I do that?
I skipped over to Mom, “That was awesome!”
“You have improved so much. Now, I think we need to talk.”
Chapter Four
“Wasn’t I the one who wanted to talk?” I followed Mom out of the practice room. Trailing behind her, I watched her black heels hit the floor. Suddenly she stopped and I ran into her back. She glanced back at me from the corner of her eye.
“If you would like to go first. You certainly can.”
She was playing a game with me. I smiled at her, “No, no. You can.”
“Are you sure? I can wait. I really would like to hear what you want to say.”
“I’m sure it isn’t as important.”
She laughed. I had won the mind game. “All right.” She picked up the pace and we rounded the corner instead of going into the sitting room. We were going to the throne room. That was interesting. This talk must be very important.
We entered the throne room and I noticed that Dad stood in the middle of the room. He was looking into the portal. His eyes stared off into the human forest longingly. Mom looked at him with a sad look. She cleared her throat and broke his concentration. “Oh, hello, my Dears. Glad we could all make it.”
“What is all of this about?” I looked between them both.
They shared a smile and both turned to me. Mom took my hand in hers, “Well, Morgan. You are almost 18,” my eyes widened. I glanced at Dad, he was still smiling. “And your father has told me that you have some concerns about going into the mortal realm.” I nodded, “Since your birthday is a week away, we figured that you should start learning how to transition.”
I gasped. I was going to learn how to go through a portal. But, that’s what I’m afraid of. I shivered, “I-I don’t know what to say.”
Dad took my hand that was already in Mom’s and held them both, “You don’t have to say anything. If this is what you want to do, or don’t want to, this is your time to say so.”
Of course I wanted to be a Reaper. I wanted to be a warrior like Mom. A Reaper like Dad was. A Reaper was both. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well not that I have an immortal lifetime, but that wasn’t the point. “I want to.”
“That’s my girl.” Dad pulled me into a hug and pulled Mom in with us. I couldn’t help but laugh.
I could almost not breath. “Dad, I think you are killing me.”
He let us go, “Oh, sorry. Now let’s get this show on the road.” I followed Dad to the portal to the human realm. It was day and the forest glowed with golden rays. “First we will practice realm jumping.”
My jaw dropped. I was going to learn how to go through a portal?! Oh, man. I am not ready for this. I jerked my arm out of Dad’s grip, “I don’t think I can do this.”
Mom placed her hands on my shoulders, “Of course you can. You are our daughter, you can do anything your mind tells you.”
I took a deep breath and let Dad take my hand again. He slowly brought us to the portal. I looked into the portal harder than I have ever. The green trees swayed against the soft wind that ran into them. The small stream ran over rocks and fish gilded within its water. A small animal scrambled beneath fallen leaves and a bigger reddish animal followed after it, hot on its tail. “Are you ready?” I tore my eyes away from the animals. Dad soothingly rubbed my arms. I shook my head.
Mom took my hands out of Dads, “I’ll go with you.” I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I won’t be alone. I watched as she stepped through. Holding my hand in hers the entire way, just so only her hand stuck out of the portal. I sucked in a breath and placed a foot inside. Mom tugged me all the way in.
I dropped.
I screamed as I immediately began to fall to my death. I clamped my eyes closed. I wrapped my arms around my rolling stomach. I think I am going to be sick.
Arms snaked around my waist and Mom’s voice filled the void of silence, “You’re fine, Morgan. There’s nothing to fear.” I popped open one eye to look around me.
We were in the forest. I gasped as I looked around at the trees. They were so tall! I took a step towards one, I felt the bark. It was rough, nothing like the smooth gray bark of the roset trees back home. They also were all different. I stepped on a soft spot and looked down to see a soft lump of green hair. A troll? “That’s called moss.”
“Moss.” I tried the word.
“And these are hardwood trees like maple and oak. We are in a hardwood forest.” I looked away from the trees and into the sky. A golden ball sat up there, hidden behind soft white clouds, there used to be clouds in the underworld, before Reapers cleared the skys of the rotting souls that created them. Now the only time we see clouds are when someone enters the underworld. But here, they were everywhere, and there were no bodies stuck in them.
Suddenly I was blinded. Golden rays attacked my eyes. I covered them and bent down. I heard Mom’s laughter behind me. Then she pulled me to my feet, “That, Mo, is the sun. Don’t look right at it.” She wiped away a stray tear. She held my face between her hands and looked at me closely, her bright green eyes flicking around as she looked at me, “I forget you were raised here. You never got to experience this beauty. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Mom.” I gave her a big hug.
“Let’s go back. I’m starving and Dad made food.” I nodded and allowed her to take me back through the portal. It was so much easier the second time.