On Adam Detweiler’s signal, given at the permission of Adam the witch, the circle broke into an awkward dash towards the foliage barrier at the edge of their urban encampment. The low-hanging branches grew close together, forming a network the tribe members had counted to give them some privacy.
Now, they seemed even more tightly knit than before and provided more resistance than would have been expected. Brenda, in the lead, almost pulled her hands free to force them aside.
“Keep the circle intact,” the witch said, tightening his grip on her hand. “We’ll push through the branches. Everybody just remember to keep focusing on whatever you were focusing on, where ever you were facing before. Concentrate.”
He began moving pulling the group towards the designated area, but the rest of the circle was conflicted and Brenda wasn’t helping. She felt panic rising up within her.
“Oh, God… what if it’s not just branches?” she asked, and then it seemed like it wasn’t just the branches pushing back, but something more… an impenetrable wall of force.. “What if something’s keeping us here until we…”
“Please,” Adam said. “Let’s not give each other ideas.”
“C’mon, what’s the hold up, magic man?” Detweiler asked.
“There’s something here,” Brenda said. “Stopping us from getting through.”
“The hell there is… rotate the circle, everyone,” Detweiler said. “I’ll get us through.”
“Um, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Lee said.
“No, it is,” Adam said. “Let him do it.”
“Right. Everybody, move to your left,” Lee said, and the group obeyed, turning until Detweiler was facing out.
Detweiler went forward, pushing the cold and brittle branches aside, snapping some off in the process.
“See?” he said. “Nothing.”
“There was a wall,” Brenda started to say.
“You panicked,” Lee said. “It’s okay.”
“But there was!” Brenda said.
Detweiler pushed his way through the thicket of trees with a pace that kept the others stumbling to keep up, but at last they were out and in the open park.
15 Responses
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Wow. I’m really liking the idea of a world where magic is completely based on belief and perception.
Hm. I’m starting to wonder what the distinction is between a witch and an ordinary human, then. Maybe it’s more of the “secret knowledge” sort of thing – they know that in the underbelly and edges of the world, things are shaped by perception, so they shape their perception.
As opposed to having some sort of mystical connection.
I’d be so dead in this world, it isn’t even funny.
But I’m really enjoying the story.
Oh, man, lovin this. I love the idea that perception can shape magical reality. Mwah Ms. AE, you make my day.
So gooood!
Really loving the Granny Weatherwax style magic here. It’s awesome.
Damn it, I’m like a junkie… I just finished reading all of the archives and I almost cried when I realized there wasn’t another chapter to go to after this one. I love your writing AE!
Morrrrre? Please? Wonderful!
Wow…. Just…
GAH!
I love this story! More than ToMU!
The 333 words, the understandable references, the witty banter, the amazing and expressive characters…. *cries*
I’ve laughed, I’ve cried (once), and I keep coming back for more.
Your writing is a spectacular thing to behold, something which shall be treasured, and in the days when the internet is no more, people will look back and say, that was one fine web-artist. Now, hook yourself back into virtual reality. We need to do some kickboxing.
I’m just wondering if I missed the memo on why no updates. Is this just a real-life cut in or am I out of the loop?
No, you didn’t miss anything. It just updates really infrequently compared to he other stuff. Which I think is a pity, because it is by far the best story she writes.
Ah. I noticed Void Dogs hadn’t updated either, which is why I was wondering. I do love this story. Actually, while I was waiting for it to update, I made the mistake of reading Star Harbor Nights. Now THAT is addicting. I dont know what possessed me to start a story thats on hiatus. I’m DREAMING about Perfect and Allison now. Its quite ridiculous. But the jist of that little tale is that I actually prefer it to Tribe of Void Dogs. Although ToMU is the most popular, apparently, I really like it the least.
I started reading Star Harbor NIghts. I know what you mean.
Hey, sorry for the starts and stops, folks. I’ll admit that I’ve let this story get interrupted so many times that I’ve lost the plot a bit (as Michael and Stephen seem to have noitced). I’ll pick it up tomorrow, tying off arc 3 as soon as I can and go into arc 4 better prepared.
Thank you for your patience.
It seems that witches are those that recognize the magic around them and utilize what nature is giving them. They make themselves more perceptive to it and can therefore recognize it for what it is. Everyone else is either too stubborn or too afraid to truly grasp it and utilize it to their advantage.