Finally, something from me...

[Falconer]

A knight on horseback
A dragon breathes fire
The horse is now toast.

Okay, maybe something more serious...

Beneath the cold, frostbitten skies
Above the Arctic plain
Flew the last of that proud race
Of a kind not seen again.

Across the pale lands of ice
A young knight walked along
His heart raced fast within his chest
Yet he breaks out into song.

The dragon's eye spots a shape
moving across the fallen snow
It swoops down low to examine it
The knight deals the first blow.

Fire blazes in the night
as man and beast do battle.
A sword shines bright, a fang gleams bright,
Each with a score to settle.

A poisoned sword, the fight does end,
the dragon falls before him.
The knight rejoices, then succumbs
to death, noble yet grim.

The bloodstained snow lasts for years,
a marker of ruination.
How sad to know, this fight was caused
through miscommunication.

Dragons and men have fought for years
for land and food and life.
Yet the dragon's love for maidens fair
is their chief cause of strife.

[Blue Tiger]

That is a wonderful poem Falconer, (the second one, lol, the 1st was short, sweet and hillarious ) Youve dome well with the rhyming which is constant all the way through, same as the beat. Really good, and true too...

[Falconer]

Another one, in a different meter this time:

Above the core,
beneath the moor.
Secrets held
in finite store.

A twisted realm
in shadow lay.
The fairy lands
Where good holds sway.

Once a mighty
force of Earth.
A power
undenied from birth.

With armies great,
they ruled the land.
Extending all
a helping hand.

But with the rise
of short-lived men
Their glory fades
from tree and glen.

Reduced to a
cavernous life
Protected by
their magic life.

Some seek them,
to no avail.
Their scepter holds
within the veil.

Guarded by
protective fields
Magical and
reflective shields.

A world of awe
and wonderous lore
The fairy land
Holds much in store.

[Blue Tiger]

Yes, thats really good, it gives a perfect feel of Fairy folklore and magical lands!

[Falconer]

And a song I've been trying to find a tune for...
Forget Your Fear

Staring out
the night calls to me
I know it
will never lie to me

*instrumental*

Steady yourself, for I am near.
For I know myself, and lend my ear.
Brace yourself, the time is here.
Reveal yourself, you forget your fear.
Forget your fear...

Working the mood,
Reliving the time
When life was hell,
With all the dirt and grime.
I know to forget
would be a true crime.
But we turned our descent
Into an upwards climb.

Steady yourself, for I am near.
For I know myself, and lend my ear.
Brace yourself, the time is here.
Reveal yourself, you forget your fear.
Forget your fear...

Promises that
We made in vain.
Kisses left
OUt in the rain.
I know that life
Can be mundane.
But know that I
Will see you again.

*guitar solo*

Steady yourself, for I am near.
For I know myself, and lend my ear.
Brace yourself, the time is here.
Reveal yourself, you forget your fear.
Forget your fear...

Steady yourself, for I am near.
For I know myself, and lend my ear.
When you left me, you realized my fear.
And showed to me what I held dear.
Forget your fear...

[Corva]

I know someone who would probably be able to work out a tune to it.

[Falconer]

Really? Could you have them take a look at it?

[Falconer]

This is a poetic version of the opening prologue to my novel, Stars of Legend, which will hopefully be finished at some future date.

A frozen lair, on barren plains,
Underneath a darkened sky.
An evil smell, a chilling wind.
A nightmare in disguise.

The land of dreams, material
of incarnate sin and hate.
Realm of Brinnaeus, shadow's queen.
Whose thirst your blood can sate.

Storm clouds gather on horizon
A spell lingers in the air
The sun hides its burning eye
For fear of what it will see there.

From a dead man's bones and broken soul,
Her hands, seductive, weave their spell.
The cruelty of the world she draws
From a seemingly endless well.

At her door two shapes appear.
A brilliant flash shines in the night,
Can it be? She sees it is
Two Guardians, born of truth and light.

The Older, male, raises his blade.
"Your reign ends now, evil one!"
He charges forward recklessly,
Backed by his lover's wand.

Blinding light meets depths of dark,
The battle rages in the sky.
In the chilled and swirling air,
Echoes the dark queen's battle cry.

Blood is shed as blade bites flesh.
The twins retreat and apply their balms.
Turning back to face the threat,
They extend their hands, and unite their palms.

A sphere of power accumulates,
Charging with a holy light.
Brinnaeus tries in vain to shield
her eyes, to reassert the fight.

An explosion reverberates within
the haunted, shadowed castle wall.
The Guardians flee for their lives.
As the Queen begins to fall.

Escaping as Her final scream
shatters the illusions and the lies.
The castle ramparts burst asunder
To mark the darkness' great demise.

Fleeing to a nearby hill,
The female's husband succumbs to death.
She cries in sorrow, and calls for help
As he breathes his final breath.

Victory, but at what cost?
The darkness will someday return.
But the lives of many innocents
Have been saved from evil's burn.

Wiping her face, the young girl stands.
Bearing the sword of her best friend.
Vowing to protect her world,
She knows that this is not

THE END

[Falconer]

Ah, here it is, the opening to my other book, "Dragonslayers".

As the sun descended below the horizon, the forest's daily activities came to an end. The birds returned to their nests, turtles to their stream, squirrels to their homes. The nocturnal animals began to emerge, bats disappearing into the night to hunt insects, owls to search for and perhaps catch some careless mouse. All was quiet and peaceful, even at the nearby palace. At the river's edge, a raccoon was busily washing a stolen ear of corn when it stopped, sniffed the night air. Something was wrong. Clutching the corn, it began to climb a tree. A dark shadow passed in front of the moon. Terror, fear, and a smoldering anger emanated from it. Dropping the corn in its fright, the raccoon raced to its burrow. The shadow passed.

The raccoon poked its head out to see if the thing was gone.

With an earth-shattering roar, a massive creature blasted into view. Fire spewed from its mouth as it lit the castle aflame. As the villagers came running out screaming, the dragon jerked its head forward, sending fireballs streaming through the night, each exploding as it impacted the ground and buildings. Five warriors clustered atop the keep, and the raccoon recognized the royal standard on their armor. They fired a hail of arrows at the dragon, piercing its wings. The dragon roared, but was forced to land. Throwing away their bows, the warriors drew an assortment of axes and swords and charged forward. Brilliant flashes indicated magic at use. One by one the dragon torched or tore apart each and every one of them without any apparent injury.

Until the last one stabbed it in the unarmored side with a massive two-handed sword.

The dragon reared, screaming, before blasting the man. But the damage had been done. Even as the dragon took off laboriously into the night, the raccoon could tell that the wound was serious, perhaps even deadly. The raccoon retreated into the forest, leaving the town to burn.


Back at the palace, the last of the knights lay dying on the ground. The alarm bells were still tolling in the distance as he raised himself up on one elbow. A man came rushing out of the keep, his royal robes flapping behind him. The knight tried to speak, but the prince hushed him, kneeling at his side. "Who did this?" the prince asked softly.

"My lord, it was a dragon... it killed the others... I have failed you..."

"No," said the prince softly, looking into the horizon. "You did well. Rest in peace, knowing that the dragon will not survive the wound you inflicted." As the knight slumped back onto the ground, the prince straightened. "So, dragon, you try to kill me?" He rubbed his forefinger and thumb together, dragon blood still on them. "Your time will come. The end of your race fast approaches, and you have no prayer of victory." Using the blood, he drew a symbol on the knight's forehead. "May your soul find rest, Dragonslayer."

[Falconer]

Some lyrics I rewrote for the song "This One Goes Out To the One I Love" (because the existing ones practically beg to be replaced):

This one goes out to the one I love
This one goes out to the one I left behind.
A girl that I had known, who occupied my mind.
This one goes out to the one I love.

Fire! Fire!

This one goes out to the one I know.
This one goes out to the one I used to see.
The thought of you has always made me smile.
This one goes out to the one I love.

Fire! Fire!

This one goes out to the girl I love.
This one goes out to the girl I left behind.
I never thought you could ever care for me.
This one goes out to the one I love.

Fire! Fire!

Fire! Fire!

[Falconer]

And another song...
Welcome to Disturbia

Can you look out on the street?
Can you see the shadows meet?
Can you see who I often greet?
The darkness’ own souls.

Can you take a look inside?
See the void that is my bride.
Smell the fumes of herbicide
That rise from flowered bowls.

Welcome to the world I know
Where logic ceases steady flow
Where nothing strikes the hardest blow
A land I call Disturbia
Disturbia! The darkest knoll
There runs a river through my hall
Carrying the twisting fate of all
Who dare to tread Disturbia.

See my thoughts all float away.
I grasp, but they can never stay.
Disjointed is my mind today,
No difference from tomorrow

Through the mask, the darkness drains
All that sanity maintains.
And if I can manage to abstain
You will not know the sorrow.

Welcome to the world I know
Where logic ceases steady flow
Where nothing strikes the hardest blow
A land I call Disturbia
Disturbia! The darkest knoll
There runs a river through my hall
Carrying the twisting fate of all
Who dare to tread Disturbia.

Can you see it?
Can you see it?
Can you feel its presence closing in?
Can you feel it?
Can you feel it?
No one can save me from this sin.

Welcome to the world I know
Where logic ceases steady flow
Where nothing strikes the hardest blow
A land I call Disturbia
Disturbia! Watch your efforts stall.
There runs a river through my hall
Carrying the twisting fate of all
Who dare to tread Disturbia.

[Corva]

Got a melody yet? If not, I could make one. It sounds like it needs a deep, male bass voice to sing it. Well, that's my impression.

[Falconer]

Pretty much... I sing "deep male bass", so that's what I styled it for. The tune I envisioned is something like "Inside of Me" by Starlight Mints.

[Falconer]

Another song... I should think about finding a musician. Nah...
With Me
I’m standing out here,
With the one I hold dear,
Crushing my fear
Deep inside of me.
I want to speak now
If you will allow
But I don’t know how
To form the words I see.

Oh baby will you spend
The rest of your life with me,
Short as it fleetingly will be
I’ve got to know,
Which way you will go,
Oh say that it’s so,
That you’ll spend your life with me.

Spend your life with me!
All I have imagined will be
Exactly as I see
Because you agree
To spend your life with me.

I take you in my arms
To tell you the harms
That I fall to your charms
When I see that look so serene.
As heaven’s angels sing
I hold out a ring
And say “I’ll be your king
If you will be my queen.”

Oh baby will you spend
The rest of your life with me,
Short as it fleetingly will be
I’ve got to know,
Which way you will go,
Oh say that it’s so,
That you’ll spend your life with me.

Spend your life with me!

A fate beautiful and free!

I know that that I will see

Because you'll spend your life with me.

[Falconer]

In an impressive display, this one's in Spanish. Something I wrote for a character I play in an RPG.
Cale's Song:
Me gusta momentas con tu, mi amor
No quiero sentimentos que no son criador.
Yo tengo disputas con otras chicas,
Pero tu eres mi amor único.

Ay, ay, ay,
Adonde me voy?
Y porque no recuerdo
Algo de quien soy?

No tengo recuerdas,
De mi vida aqui,
No recuerdo momentos
Que me pase con ti.
Porque los hombres
con fusiles
me desean que muerame.

Antes de su nacimiento
Fui un soldado
En el año dos mil
Atravesé el portico.

Ay, ay, ay,
Adonde me voy?
Y porque no recuerdo
Algo de quien soy?

And yes, it's a little shaky on the rhythm, but I had trouble finding rhymes that I could translate.

[Falconer]

Okay, enough Spanish stuff. Back to English.

Beyond the faded Ethereal Realm
The dancing light illuminates
A lonesome spirit's beckoning
To those on whom he concentrates.

The flickering lights of Avalon
Reflect the star’s antiquity.
The lighted realm in heaven’s sky
A cosmos packed with mystery.

The comet streaks across the sky
Pulled by a great and unseen hand.
Sign of death, or a great change
For those who witness it to land.

The dying stars collapse inside
Some with great explosive force.
Or form the blackest hole there is
Trapping light straight from its source.

A pattern thought to be from "Them"
The pulsing light from quasars far.
Beautiful nebulae spread thin
Those brilliant clouds, each once a star.

When I gaze in awe at nighttime sky,
In amazement, yes, and even fear.
I am strangely thrilled, for then I know
The hand of God is always near.

[Blue Tiger]

Beautiful! I keep telling myself to write that star poem that I keep saying that Ill write, but I always end up saying "Ah, Ill do it tomorrow,"
Yours is really good, It captures all the amazing details, the aspects that are awe inspiring when you look at the stars. Welldone indeed!!

[Falconer]

Thank you, thank you. *bows*

[Falconer]

Another song, imagine a fast-paced tune on the chorus and third verse.

I look in your eyes and hear a scream,
Death and the lonely river stream.
Chaos swirls, around we whirl,
Caught up in a waking dream.

You and I, we share a glance,
I disengage, holding your hands.
Spinning ‘round, can’t touch the ground.
As we move on, caught up in dance.

And we will dance now!
Let all your worries go,
So we can dance now!
Swing your partner low,
Come on and dance now!
And let a free wind blow,
So everyone can know,
That they should dance now!

With my partner waiting by my side,
A space on the floor will open wide,
Separate and congregate,
We take acquiescence in stride.

Your hair, so beautiful, flies past
The music plays, our beat holds fast.
Words like stars, yet not afar.
But right by me, within my grasp.

And we will dance now!
Let all your worries go,
So we can dance now!
Swing your partner low,
Come on and dance now!
And let a free wind blow,
So everyone can know,
That they should dance now!

Come on, everyone, now here it goes!
You gotta move your whole body from head to toes.
Do the robot moves, or clap your hands,
Just move in time when you hear the bands.
Now dance with your partner, hold them tight.
You gotta do what you do, and do it right!
If you do it freestyle leave plenty of space,
And if you dance like you mean it then you’re an ace!

And we will dance now!
Let all your worries go,
So we can dance now!
Swing your partner low,
Come on and dance now!
And let a free wind blow,
So everyone can know,
That they should dance now!

[Falconer]

Find Me Again

I'm basking in the dawning sun,
But light can't cure the pain
Of knowing that I've failed you
Put you on the Love Lost Train.
See it now, my heart's own tears
May be enough,our love to mend.
But I have no doubt,that whatever the route
You'll someday find me again.

Lost in love, oh what a cause!
My feelings for you run deep.
Yet all my heart don't give you pause,
Or hold you from your sleep.
I can only hope, and blindly grope
For a chance you'll find me again.

I'm standing in the pouring rain
Outside your front door.
No matter how many times you turn me away,
I'll always come back for more.
I hope you'll forget the pain that I caused,
For now is now, and the past was then.
For I have no doubt,that whatever the route
You'll someday find me again.

Lost in love, oh what a cause!
My feelings for you run deep.
Yet all my heart don't give you pause,
Or hold you from your sleep.
I can only hope, and blindly grope
For a chance you'll find me again.

Here I stand at mercy's door
Gave all I can, and then some more.
Your rejection chills me to the core
Turns rich man, makes him poor.
But who knows what fate holds in store...

Lost in love, oh what a cause!
My feelings for you run deep.
Yet all my heart don't give you pause,
Or hold you from your sleep.
I can only hope, and blindly grope
For a chance you'll find me again.

[Falconer]

FanFic For Halo 3: ODST

The remains of a cigar hang from my fingers, the ash falling on one of many corpses spread before me. I lift it and puff deeply, savoring the sharp, tangy taste of the smoke.
The smoke from the cigar intermingles in the air with the smoke from the battlefield. Thousands lie dead in New Mombassa, human and non-human alike. I stand and begin walking, my boots scuffing against scattered weapons and broken equipment. One catches my eye- kneeling, I pick up an alien weapon, the Needler. The glassine quills protruding from the weapon glow iridescent purple in the failing light. Turning the weapon over, I toss it back next to its former owner, a short squat alien whose air tank has been shattered by bullets.
Picking my way through the bodies, I climb up a hill, blinking as the setting sun shines in my face. Placing my helmet back on my head, I tint the visor and gaze down on the field, looking for any vehicle that might have survived.
I see one; a Mongoose, a modern ATV. Holstering my M7 and mounting it, I set off in search for the rest of my squad. We must finish this fight. I know no other option.
For I am ODST.

[Falconer]

ODST - Tales from Hell

Time/Date Stamp: 9/19/2552

Location: UNSC Pillar of Autumn, in orbit around unknown alien construct

Lance Corporal Michael Quinn vaulted over the railing, M6D clutched in a death grip. Ahead of him, dozens of other ODSTs were climbing into their pods in preparation for a combat insertion. Behind him, Quinn could hear and feel the explosion of a plasma grenade reverberate through the floor; the whine of plasma fire accompanied it, along with the stuttering noise of assault rifles.
Running past the loaded pods, Quinn climbed into his own and closed the hatch. As he ran through the checklist, Major Silva's voice came through the radio, giving the old“Feet First” joke. Having heard it before, Quinn chose to ignore it while he ran through the pre-drop checklist.
The ODST pod shot down and out of the tube like a bullet, accompanied by the others from Quinn's squad. The HEV shook like a thing possessed as it plummeted downward -a stray thought caused Quinn to crane his neck down. “What is that thing?”
“I don't know,” someone replied, “but we're landing on it.”
Shrugging as best he could in his armor, the ODST withdrew a tiny data chip and connected it to the comm. Two clicks later, the Helljumper anthem blasted out across the entire ODST frequency. Strictly non-regulation, but for some reason the Major chose to ignore it. Which was fine with Quinn, as for some reason the tinny music always helped him loosen up.
The chute slowed the pod down, along with the booster jets, but it still landed with a heavy thud. Kicking the hatch open, Quinn yanked out his rifle, ammo, a field pack, and the data chip, which he tucked in his pocket. Around him, his fellow troopers were grabbing their own gear. As the squad's sniper, Quinn got to forgo the standard MA5B assault rifle in favor of the S2-AM sniper rifle, which he held cradled in his arms as he caught up with the others.
The shrieking sound of an incoming Banshee turned heads. “Incoming bogey, keep your eyes peeled,” Sergeant Graham hollered.
As the alien aircraft came up over the crest of the hill behind them, two ODSTs turned and fired. The 'shee ran into a hail of 7.62mm rounds and flipped over, plowing into the
ground. “Let's get a move on, people, there's more where that came from!” Graham hollered again. The sergeant had only two tones: holler and higher. “Quinn, take Wolfe, I want the two of you on that ledge over there.”

As the sergeant continued giving orders, Quinn and Wolfe, another ODST, scrambled up the hillside. The sounds of small animals scurrying around mingled with the distant rush of a waterfall. The place seemed less like an alien construct and more like Quinn's backyard on his homeworld, Beta Centauri. As they reached the crest, Quinn knelt and sighted through his sniper rifle. “Sergeant? We have two Covenant dropships landing a half a click north of our current position.” He switched to maximum zoom. “Count one shiny gold Elite, two red, a few blue ones, and a decent contingent of Grunts and Jackals. No Hunters.”
“Have we been detected?”
Quinn checked again. The golden Elite was waving his arms and yammering about something. “I don't think so. Want me to take out the leader?”
“Negative. Our first priority is to rendezvous with the Major. As soon as we make contact, be ready to move out.”
“Roger that.” Quinn switched off the zoom and shouldered the rifle. “We got an ETA on that contact?”
“Should be any minute- What was that?” The stuttering sound of an assault rifle echoed through the radio. “Who fired? Who the hell fired?”
“Apologies, sir, we ran into a Jackal and it saw us,” a soldier replied.
While the sergeant yelled at the trooper in question, Quinn watched through the scope as the golden Elite's head snapped around, and it barked several orders. “Sir, we've been detected. Permission to fire?”
“Permission granted, Quinn, soften them up. Second squad, move up on the left!”

Even as Graham was finishing his sentence, Quinn was pulling the trigger. Whether by bad luck on the ODST's part or some unknown instinct, the Elite moved at the last second and the round struck it in the shoulder. As it dropped down out of sight, Quinn was already moving the reticule over - a second round took a blue Elite through the face. As they scattered for cover, he fired his third and fourth rounds into a red Elite, sending him toppling over.
“Damn,” Wolfe commented. The younger ODST had been watching through the scope of his M6D. “Nice shooting.”
“Goldie's still alive,” Quinn replied as he reloaded the rifle. “And that's the important bit.” He might have continued talking, but one of the Grunts evidently had a fuel rod gun, and “Goldie” was definitely now nursing a grudge, because a green glowing rod arced over their heads to explode on the dirt a few yards behind them, shaking the ground under their feet.

Gritting his teeth, Field Master Sura 'Sudamee dug the human projectile out of his
shoulder. While not especially painful, getting hit made him look foolish. Worse, to be laid low by one of those aliens... it was dishonoring. However, being a somewhat practical Sangheili, he knew better than to draw his sword and charge, like many of his brethren were prone to do. “You! Unggoy! What is your name?”
The Unggoy in question looked very much like he wanted to be elsewhere. “Me Badab.”
“Badab. You see that hill there?”
It sounded like a rhetorical question, but Badab answered anyway. “Yes, Excellency.”
“I want that hill destroyed. Shoot it.”
The Unggoy looked relieved that the command was absurdly simplistic. Hoisting the heavy fuel rod gun, he sighted down the barrel, adjust the angle, and opened fire.

Watching his shields recharge, the Elite snarled deeply and moved away. He would find the human responsible, and he would enjoy killing him slowly.

“Shit!” Quinn yelled as he and Wolfe dove for cover. “What the hell is that freak's
problem?”
“I think you pissed him off,” Wolfe commented dryly. “Some history between you two I should know about?”
“I bet you think you're real funny, Wolfe.” Quinn was about to take a look through his scope, but had to duck as another explosive round slammed into the dirt in front of him. “This guy's really not going to let up, is he?” Switching on his radio, he said, “This is Quinn, anyone got a bead on the Grunt with the fuel rod gun?”
“This is Hamal,” came the voice of their heavy weapons expert, sounding as cool and calm as ever. “I got him.”


Badab was happily lining up the next shot when he heard a soft whump sound. Turning to his companion, Sayap, he asked, “You hear noise?”
“Me hear much noise,” the Unggoy replied simply, loading his Needler. “Hear noisy Leaders, hear noisy humans-”
“No, this different noise.” Badab turned around to see a burning object streaking towards them. His eyes widened as he made a hasty yet not entirely inaccurate assessment of the incoming item. “Grenade!”

A second rocket took out a Jackal and destroyed the fuel rod gun. Satisfied, Hamal began to reload the launcher. “Banshee!” someone shouted. Hamal turned to look just as a stream of plasma blasts struck him across the chest, sending his limp body tumbling down the embankment. “Someone get that launcher!” Sergeant Graham hollered, firing short bursts at the alien craft. “Quinn, can you see the Banshee?” No answer. “Quinn?”
“Incoming!” an ODST yelled as the Banshee swung around for another pass, launching a fuel rod at them that flew over their heads to blow a tree into pieces.

The sniper in question was somewhat preoccupied at the moment, having hurriedly scrambled behind a boulder as they came under heavy fire. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Wolfe grunted, peppering a Grunt with his assault rifle. “Been better.”
“Great.” The sniper moved forward and slammed the butt of his rifle against a Jackal's head, caving it in. “We need to regroup with the others - look out!!” He dove sideways as a flurry of pink needler rounds shot forward and lodged in Wolfe's side, detonating in a flash a moment later.
Slowly, the sniper raised his head. From his crouched position he could see Wolfe's body sprawled on the ground. As soon as the plasma fire stopped, Quinn started forward. “Wolfe? You still-”
The air in front of him shimmered as the golden Elite uncloaked.

“Return fire!” Graham hollered, his MA5B hosing down a hapless Grunt that had crested the ridge. Behind him, an overcharged plasma bolt struck an ODST in the chest, burning through the soldier's armor. The sergeant threw a grenade and backpedaled, jumping behind a rock for cover.
As he looked around, the sergeant suddenly realized that he was completely alone. Though many of the Covenant lay dead, alongside them were the bodies of his squad. They were outnumbered from the beginning, and more Covenant were showing up every minute. “Davis, Simon, come in.” No response.
As the sounds of approaching Covenant surrounded him, Sergeant Edgar Graham tossed his empty assault rifle away and drew his M6D. “Come and get me, dogs!”

Sura Sudamee swatted the human's rifle out of his hands before it even realized he was there. Drawing a sidearm, the creature got off two rounds before he ripped that gun out of its hands and, seizing it by the front of its armor, lifted in the air as his sword approached its neck. “How does it feel, human, to look death in the face?”
The human said something in its peculiar grunting language. Frowning, the Field Master switched on his translator. “What?”

“I said,” Quinn gasped, “I've got your grenade.” Activating the plasma grenade, he jammed it into the Elite's armor. The Field Master only had time to snarl before it detonated in a blue flash...

Some Time Later

A lone figure slid down the hill, coming to a stop at the bottom. Scattered snowflakes drifted past as he knelt next to the corpse of Lance Corporal Quinn and gently tugged the soldier's dog tags free. For a moment he sat there and contemplated the scene of carnage where the lost ODST squad had fallen, fighting to the last.

“Chief, we need to continue to the third pulse generator,” an insistent female voice said. The soldier nodded, traded his pistol for Quinn's sniper rifle, and continued on his way.

[Marik]

Hmm, this has been here a year and I've managed to miss it? Ah well, looks like some good stuff. I haven't read it all yet, but what I have looks pretty good. Wish I was this prolific.

[Falconer]

Adrift

A battle rages in my heart,
My soul engaged in pointless fray.
Conflicted mind in mad debate
twixt what I must and what I may.

And still the rose of summer blooms,
yet soon will fade away.

My thoughts, they drift into the night.
Invite them; lo, they cannot stay.
Speak I still of rhyme and wit?
Ask me why, I cannot say

Of why the rose of summer blooms,
yet soon will fade away.

Canst peer into my eyes and see?
The eyes of one who was a man.
Forsooth! I show it all to thee,
but never will you understand

For whom the rose of summer blooms,
yet soon must fade away.

Speaking now in foreign tongue,
a riddle that you plainly see.
Why, you ask? I will not tell.
No answer, even not for me.

Oh see the rose of summer bloom!
Yet soon it fades away.

I wander with my ill intent,
Until at last, regretfully,
we part our ways at crossroads drear.
I turn away intentionally

Because the rose of summer blooms,
and soon must fade away.

So go now, leave me here to live.
And living, die an endless death.
The torment of this broken mind
reliving loss with every breath.

I watch the rose of summer bloom,
and see it fade away.


Mourn not my passing, let it go.
I am at last in true repose.
My soul embracing heav'n's call;
the greatest joy, I must suppose.

Where rose of summer endless blooms,
and ne'er will it fade away.

[Falconer]

Wanderer

Light of night, the silver moon
reflecting shine of sun in gloom.
In dark of night, see shimm'ring eye
wax and wane in nighttime's sky.

Twinkling lights of distant stars
In the sky like dust afar.
They shine as angel's wings in space
And yet can't match your lovely face.

All the sky and all the sea
compared to what you mean to me
are dust in wind, and cannot steal
the joy your presence makes me feel.

To know the loss, you first must know
true love, then see your true love go.
I know that she will come back home
Until then I will be... alone.