What you can do with a needle and thread.

1. Make a teddy bear.
2. Repair a rip in your jeans.
3. Attach a piece of tatting to something.
4. Provide stitches to an injured person while on a deserted island.
5. Make a fancy hat.
6. Bind a book.
7. Sew on a button.
8. Needle tat.
9. Knit.
10. Use the needle to undo a knot in the thread.

The creature in the closet

A scary creature lived in the closet.
Angie didn't know what it was exactly, but it was there. But her parents didn't believe her. They said that there was nothing to be afraid of in the closet.
Clinging to the blankets on her bed, Angie peered through the darkness toward the closet door. The creature would wake up any second. It always got up at 11:15. Though Angie was tired and this was way past her bedtime, she was determined to get proof of the creature's existence.
Looking away from the closet, Angie picked up her father's fancy digital camera. Fiddling with the buttons, she got it to turn on. Clicking a little switch on the side, Angie almost jumped as the flash popped up. Swallowing, Angie hesitantly crawled out from under the covers and toward the closet. She could hear a faint scratching noise now. A thin fog was pouring into the room now from the bottom of the closet door. Aiming the camera, Angie closed her eyes and pushed a button. The flash lit up the room as the camera gave a soft click.
The scratching stopped. Shivering, Angie stared at the closet. She hoped the creature wasn't upset about having its picture taken. There was a tap-tap, and Angie let out a squeak as the doorknob began to turn.
Abandoning the camera, Angie scrambled up the bed and under the covers.
The closet door began to open.
Cree.
Creeee.
Eep. 
Squeezing her eyes shut, Angie covered her head with her stuffed elephant.
Tap-tap. Came the creature's footsteps, though Angie tried her hardest not to hear them.
Tap. The bed sank a little as the creature sat down. Angie stopped breathing as the blankets covering her began to shift. There was a suddenly chittering.
"W- would you like to play?" A young voice asked. Angie frowned and hesitantly opened her eyes, lowering her elephant as she did so. A bird-like creature was on her bed, its head tilted slightly as it studied her. Its wings fluttered open, then closed. "Do you?" It asked, beak clicking as it turned to look toward the closet.
Angie turned to look. She gave a gasp of surprise.
For a foggy world had replaced the inside of her closet.

Places to find a magic sword

1. Within a dragon's hoard.
2. Stuck in a stone.
3. At the bottom of a lake.
4. For sell at a antique shop.
5. Inside the hollow of a tree.
6. In the middle of a forest.
7. Near a volcano.
8. Buried in a box.
9. High in a tower.
10. From a mysterious stranger you meet on the road.

Door in the Stone: part one

I watched as my brother lifted the bow and took aim. He released the arrow and it flew through the air, embedding itself into the center ring on the practice target next to the other arrows he had shot.

"Congratulations Ahriman, you are still the the best archer in tribe." Faraz said with a friendly slap to my brother's back. Ahriman just shook his head, then went to retrieve his arrows. Faraz shrugged and walked over to where I was sitting on a boulder. Like the other hunters in our tribe, his dark auburn hair was neatly braided.

"Here to see your brother?" He asked, looking at me with his pale blue eyes. Two years older then me, Faraz was my brother's new hunting partner.

"Yes, I was just waiting for him to finish training." I said as I stood. With Faraz matching my stride, I walked over to my brother.

Ahriman mostly took after our father in looks: long legs, a muscular torso and dark burgundy eyes framed by ash blond hair.

"Nadira, what are you doing here?" My brother asked in his normal soft tone. At times I was surprised by how skilled a warrior my brother was. He preferred to avoid battle, but would do whatever was necessary to protect our tribe. It was yet another way that he took after our father.

"I was sent. Father wanted to see you." I answered. Ahriman bowed his head.

"Very well."

After they had gathered their weapons, we began walking back to the tribe. Faraz whistled a tune while he walked beside me.

"How is your training going?" My brother asked. I ducked my head.

"Ladarius wants to initiate me as an Oathkeeper at the next full moon."

"That's wonderful. Normally apprentices aren't initiated until they're sixteen." My brother replied warmly.

I smiled. Ladarius was the tribe's shaman. As a master of the old magic he could bind a person to their word, capture memories, and many other things that I was still learning about. Ladarius had been my teacher since the moment I traced a shadow rune in the air.

The shadow runes are one technique used to direct the old magic that was called Newiderr. Unlike the more common single talent; which is a certain ability that anyone can be born with and have an instinctive knowledge in its most basic use, the old magic is only accessible to those few who have the aptitude for it.

Faraz stopped whistling and looked at me. "That's in three days. You'll have to leave soon to reach the cavern."

I nodded and looked down the path, imagining what the Cavern of Oaths would be like. Only Oathkeepers and chieftains were allowed to enter the cavern, but the tribes had a few ideas as to what it was like. The only known fact was that there were crystals that would contain the Oath of Keeper; a binding ceremony that each Oathkeeper was required to take. Each Oathkeeper carried a piece of their crystal, which glowed to signify that they were truly an Oathkeeper.

After five minutes of traveling through the woods we reached the outskirts of our village. Faraz lifted a hand in farewell as he broke away from us and began walking toward the eastern warrior lodge. All the unmarried warriors lives in one of the four lodges on the outskirts of the village. This allowed them to quickly come to battle against any raiders that may attempt an attack.

We walked through the village, heading toward the chief's cabin. Located in the center of the village, the chief's cabin was one of the larger buildings: doubling as the tribe meeting house, it was quite busy during the day.

When we neared the cabin, I glanced at my brother. At eighteen, my brother did not live in one of the hunter lodges. As the next chief of our tribe, he continued to live in the chief's cabin. My brother tried his best to make up for this alteration of warrior life by working harder then any other warrior his age. Another strain of tradition was the fact that my brother would marry whoever my father chose for him. This woman would likely be the daughter of another tribe's chief.

Entering the cabin, I saw Ladarius and my father deep in conversation. Heads together, they did not notice our entrance. We waited at a respectful distance until they finished speaking.

In appearances, my father and brother were nearly identical. The differences were very minor: while my father had a large, flat nose, my brother had our mother's slender button nose. The angles on my brother's face were also slightly softer then our father's.

Ladarius looked toward us, and father gave us a nod to approach. My teacher was old. A wisp of gray hair lingered on the top of his head, while light crimson eyes peeked out from his wrinkled face. His slight frame had an appearance of frailty that led one to question how he could continue to travel around the village without a cane.

Ahriman removed his hunting knife from his belt and offered it to father hilt first. This was the traditional greeting of a warrior to his chief. Father took the blade, examining it.

"Continue to care for the tribe as you do this blade." He said, returning the knife.

"What do you need of me, chieftain?" Ahriman asked as he sheathed the blade.

"The Oathkeeper will be taking his apprentice to the cavern. They will require an escort."

Ladarius looked at my brother. "Chief Xerxes has chosen that I introduce you to the cavern during this journey in preparation for the day you become chief."

My brother bowed his head. "I am honored."

"As I would expect. You may go prepare." Father replied. With a dip of his head, my brother left the main room.

Now the attention turned to me.

"Nadira Shiningfeather, your progress with Newiderr has impressed me. If you continue to study and experiment, I believe that you will accomplish many things." Ladarius said, offering me a rare smile. I laced my fingers and bowed my head.

"Your praise is valued, as I have valued your teaching."

"The old magic is a strange beast. It has been forgotten by those outside of the remaining tribes. This magic has run through the veins of our world for far longer then the singular talent." Father began, meeting my gaze with his burgundy eyes. I recognized his words as the beginning of one of the tribe's legends. "For generations, the Oathkeepers have used their knowledge of this magic to benefit our people. It has kept many of the tribes at peace with one another, along with binding together individuals. Tomorrow you will leave for the cavern, wherein you will join the ancient order that has served alongside chieftains." He placed a hand on my shoulder. "You have made me proud."

I smiled, looking up at my father. As the chief, my father was quite busy. He rarely had time to spend alone with my brother or I, and normally treated us as any other tribe member. So to hear that he was proud of me sent warmth coursing through me.

"Thank you, father." I said softly.

He smiled. "Now go prepare for your journey."

To keep a chair by the window

1. As a place to read. This way, you enjoy sunlight without having to worry about allergies acting up as you read.
2. Live entertainment. Whether it be birds chirping or the neighborhood children playing, something interesting is sure to be happening outside the window.
3. For your cat. A comfortable spot in the sun is perfect for your feline. Though beware if you have a bird feeder outside the window: your cat may bump its head on the glass in an attempt to get the birds.
4. So you can rest. The house is quiet for the moment as you sit before the window. Late afternoon light shines through the sheer curtain and leaves a gentle warmth on your cheek. With a contented sigh, you close your eyes.
5. To enjoy a storm. Outside, lightening flashes and thunder roars. The wind throws dozens of raindrops at your window, which then slide down the glass. From your seat, you lift a warm mug of hot chocolate to your lips.
6. A puppet show. The sun is low in the sky, its light shining through the window and onto the far wall. From your seat, you watch as two giggling children lift their hands up and make shadow puppets. Or perhaps it is earlier in the day...
The two children stand outside and hold homemade puppets. From inside, you watch as they kneel down and disappear from sight. Then you see the puppets appear in the window, and watch as a improvised play is performed.
7. As a place to write. You glance outside, then look at your story and begin to write.
8. A place to think. A gentle breeze causes the flowers in the garden to sway. Watching them, the daily concerns fade from your mind. Taking your time, you use the opportunity to think of all the things you've been putting off for a moment such as now.
9. So you can socialize. Your friends enjoy the conversations that are held by the window. That's why you have many places to sit near the garden window.
10. So you can eat lunch. After fixing your meal, you sit by the window. The sunlight shines bright and warm. The meals eaten here are always pleasant.

Learning something new

Learning new things can be fun. It brings excitement when the project is done.
But learning a new skill takes some time. For some the time passes quickly, while others drag out each minute. The time taken to learn something new can sometimes feel wasted, but each new activity brings with it a chance to gain knowledge.
Be it memorizing hippotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia or learning to crochet, each new thing we learn gives us the opportunity to share our knowledge with others.
We should strive to learn something new each day, no matter how small that thing may be. As we use the skills that we have learned, we should take a moment to remember those who helped us. When possible, take a moment to thank them.
Then pass on the things you have been taught to others.

This ramble was brought to you by Erisnyx, who has been busy learning to crochet.
She also wanted to use the word hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia.
Because spelling long words without looking is fun.
The End.

Uses for yarn

1. Crocheting.
2. Rope making.
3. Knitting.
4. To make a toy.
5. Knot practice.
6. To entertain a cat.
7. Clothing.
8. A game of Cat's Cradle.
9. Tatting.
10. To make a rug.

Into oblivion

We were walking down an old hunter's trail; which judging by how the plants had overtaken most of it, hadn't been used in years. I looked at Brian, curious about just what he wanted to show me.

Evie, Kaite and Hector were back at the clearing, where we had decided to have a picnic. If I remember correctly, Evie had been planning this since the beginning of the new year. It was weird, having my sister try to keep this a secret from me. I mean, how do you expect to keep a surprise party a secret from a mind reader? A pretty good one too, if my teacher was to be believed. Speaking of my teacher...

“Brian, just where are we going?” I asked with my mind, smiling as he glanced at me.

“I told you that you're just going to have to wait and see.” He smiled and shook his head, before bringing our conversation back to spoken words. “But I will tell you this, there is an amazing view.”

I frowned at my teacher, but stopped asking questions as we walked down the trail. About five minutes later, he stopped and smiled.

“What?” I asked him, curious.

“Why don't you go ahead and see?” He motioned with a hand for me to continue.

Giving him a curious look, I began walking again, pushing through the thick growth. Suddenly the area ahead of me was free of obscuring growth; allowing me see that Brian had led me to a cliff. Slowly walking towards the edge, I looked around.

“They call this area Melody's Snare. According to legend, long ago, the daughter of a commander and an illusionist gained a strange mixture of both her parents gifts, causing those near her to be caught in an illusion that coincided with her desires. Unsettled by how their daughter's emotions seemed to affect those around her and fearing what the village elders might decide to do to his daughter, the girl's father commanded her to go to the mountains above their village and remain there until she learned to control her gift. Unable to disobey his command, the girl left the village with enough supplies to last for months. The girl never learned how to completely control what most people called a curse.

“Bitter at her father for making her unable to leave the mountains, the girl began to ensnare unsuspecting travelers who happened upon her; causing them to become bound to her will. Using those under her influence, the girl made all of the mountains above her former home her territory, and punished any stupid enough to intrude into her domain.”

I turned to look at Brian as he walked over and stood beside me; just a foot from the cliff edge. He stared out at the amazing view of mountains and the river below that you could see whenever there was a break in the trees that surrounded it.

“That's a terrible story. How could anyone's father be so cruel?”

“There's more.” Brian replied, looking away from the spectacular view at me.

“What else could this legend have, a happy ending?” I asked, really hoping that there was a happy ending.

“You know, not all stories have happy endings, Lilly.” Book's voice whispered in my mind. I mentally frowned at him. I knew that not all stories had happy endings. In fact, some of my favorite books ended on a sad note. But still, this girl deserved a happy ending. Yes, she snared unwitting people into serving her for who knows how long, but she didn't have complete control over her powers.

“Actually, yes. You see, a few years after the girl claimed the mountains as her territory, a foolish young mind reader traveled through the mountains. The mind reader felt multiple minds in a particular area of the mountains. Curious, he walked to that area, to this cliff.” Brian motioned around us with a hand.

“The girl was startled when this stranger just walked past the people she had bewitched and stood in front of her without falling victim to her gift. The young mind reader read her mind, and the realization of why her gift was ineffective on him hit like a boulder. The mind reader took out a piece of paper and wrote his realization down and showed it to the girl. The girl read what he wrote, and the way to control what she thought was her curse brought tears to her eyes. After a few days, those under her spell were freed. And then both the mind reader and girl left the area, never to return.”

I lifted an eyebrow giving my teacher a look. “So how come the mind reader wasn't affected by her gift, and how did the people regain their freewill?”

Brian shook his head, and smiled. “The mind reader was deaf, and the way the girl's gift affected people was by her voice.” He winked.

I laughed. “So all she had to do was stop talking for a few days and get away from anyone who could hear so her gift wouldn't trap them.”

My friend nodded, the wind playing with his hair. We took in the view for a while. I was amazed by how beautiful it was here, without cars and planes and all those things we had in the Earth Realm. A memory of camping with Emma and my sisters played through my mind, and I smiled as I remembered how silly and carefree we had been that week.

“Lilly.” Brian's voice brought me out of my memories, and I turned to look at him. “Happy Birthday.”

He pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper out of his pocket and held it out to me.

“You didn't have to get me a gift.” I told him with a slight frown as I took the package.

“I'm your friend, and I wanted to get you something for your birthday.” Then Brian smiled impishly. “Besides, Evie told me I couldn't come unless I got you something nice that wasn't a book.”

I laughed, thinking of how Evie had probably gone all princess on him about what was acceptable as a gift.

“Go on, open it.” He motioned at the present.

I looked down at the present, and began unwrapping it. When I uncovered the gift, I gasped. It was a beautiful silver necklace on a silver chain. The necklace itself was two vines entangled around a shiny black stone that I recognized as an onyx.

“It's beautiful...” I breathed, looking away from the necklace after a moment.

“Would you help me?” I handed the necklace to Brian and turned so that my back was to him. He put it around my neck, and I lifted my hair so he could do the clasp. With my necklace safely around my neck, I turned around to face my teacher and friend.

“Beautiful...” Brain breathed, and I agreed.

The necklace was more beautiful then any other I had seen. It was simple, but that simplicity gave it a certain charm. I loved it, and was glad that Evie was such a stern person when it came to what was a good gift. Not that I would tell her that, because normally her inability to compromise about gifts left me frustrated. Just this once, she had been in the right mind.

“Should we get back to the others?” I asked after a moment, a smile appearing as I thought of how Evie and Kaite would react when they saw the necklace.

“Before we head back, I need to tell you somethi-” Brian cut off as the ground beneath us rumbled. Before either of us could think to move, there was a sound like a building collapsing. Then the ground disappeared from under me.

“Lilly!!!” Brian's voice screamed. I looked up to see him at the edge of the cliff, reaching down to me as I fell further away into oblivion.