HeartofaWriter

Many colors, Dancing before her eyes. Wrapping, looping, Bending into her pattern. Warmth and comfort Breathed into every stitch. Destined to leave her hands, But always in her heart.

Someone once told me the sound of a train whistle was The Loneliest Noise in the world. Another told me it was the sound of Tears on paper. Or the sound of a sigh in an Empty room. Someone once told me the sound of a train whistle was The Loneliest Noise in the world. And I would agree with all of them, If I didn't know the sound of You walking away quite so well.

It doesn't always happen, But when it does, Everything is affected. It begins with a ripple, A waver. And it grows, A wave. Sound rips through the air, A shock wave. Reverberations pound my ears As the wave picks me up and Shakes me. Shakes everyone. We are all connected By the wave. One great being. The wave is our heartbeat, And it flies into the air, Til the final release, Til the last reverberation Leaves the sky. We're exhausted, Sweat drips from everything, But we laugh And shout And the shock wave burns in our hearts Til the next time.

Can I tell you a secret? Promise you won't laugh I've been carrying it around for a while And it's still the top of the pile It's not a really big secret But it's what matters most So can I tell you? Are you ready?                                                                        &

A look A touch That's all it takes From you, you with your Intoxicating smile. A  breath An ask That's all it takes And I come unraveled.

Long before the start, I feel it rise in my heart The burn. The shadow before the light, They say my name, I step into the bright And burn. A count off, and here we go Fire spreads, high and low. I rock and roll, And the burn takes its toll. Strangers peer, Enemies leer, But friends cheer As I burn.

It's not hard to begin, This bubbling from within. It lights like a fire, Of it I'll never tire. So if ever you're bored, Strike this simple chord. And laugh.

I led Annie a safe distance away and turned to face her. Her brow creased, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she tried to figure out what was going on. "I spoke to Athena." I said. The creases in her brow deepened. "Why? Where?" I told her my theory on my suddenly waking up in Margaret's house in California and skipped ahead to my vision on the way to camp. "We're supposed to pretend she's our sister. Athena's orders." She started to pace, thoughtfully rubbing her chin. I noticed a small new scar on her forearm, probably from some training exercise. "Did Zeus say anything--" "He said he couldn't tell me anything." "Hm."

When I opened my eyes again, Black Jack was circling a large grassy field near a long, low building. Below us, I could see two--no, three figures looking up at us with shaded eyes. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, Margaret," Sam said, smiling. I smiled back, squashing the ball of nerves that threatened to come up my throat. "Hail Samantha Ryder, Daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom!" shouted one of the figures below. It was a teenaged girl with long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Laughing, Sam cried back, "Hail Annabeth Chase, head of Athena Cabin, Daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom!" Humans, Black Jack snorted, and I could pictur

I leaned down, careful not to let Margaret's unconscious form from flopping forward. "Take us home, Black Jack," I murmured in his ear. The pegasus whinnied and poured on speed, legs blurring into a dark shadow beneath us. The sky and horizon bled into one, and I gripped the saddle tightly with my knees as Newton's first law took effect. A considerate camper had put a length of rope in one of the saddle bags. I looped it loosely around my legs and Margaret's before tying the end to the saddle horn. At this speed, Black Jack would get us back to New York in about an hour, giving me just enough time to catch a cat nap. I leaned back and closed