Page 18 - Horizon 17-18

Horizon 2017
18
The Singing Skull
Long ago, in a picturesque kingdom by the countryside, there was
a great wolf. The wolf terrorized the citizens in the village and ate the kingdom’s children for its supper. The wolf was also cruel, and to bring the people further pain he would eat the child on their doorsteps to stain the stones with blood as a gruesome memory of the loss of their child. The people lived in constant fear, often crying at the gates of the castle. They would use their child’s blood to leave handprints on the castle walls. This brought the king great sorrow, to see his village filled with such grief and pain. The king knew he had to protect his people, therefore, he issued a proclamation stating that if a courageous man came forth and killed the wolf, then that man may marry the princess.
On the outskirts of the village, there was an old, decrepit farm. Two broth- ers, twins, lived there. Their names were Phoebus and Orpheus. Phoebus, name meaning light, and Orpheus, name meaning darkness, were quite the opposite of each other. Phoebus was a timid lad while Orpheus was bold and narcissistic. They lived with their father and were very poor.
When they heard the proclamation, they knew they should step forward. Becoming a prince would provide enough wealth for them to support their father and the farm. If they both stepped forward, they would have a better chanceofwinningtheprincessandwealth.PhoebusandOrpheuswentto the castle that afternoon and announced themselves as champions before the king and the princess. Both brothers were taken aback by the beauty of the princess. Her long black hair complimented her fair skin and rosy lips. Phoebus was a shy man and could not meet her gaze. Orpheus, however, was a proud, arrogant man and met her stares head on, even daring to wink at her.
“We come forth to slay the wolf, m-majesty,”stammered Phoebus.
“Praise!” cried the king, “We have not had a single man step forward until now!”This took the brothers by surprise. Orpheus could not believe no one else was fighting to win such a lovely prize as this princess. He was consumed by his desire to be married to such a jewel. He decided he would stop at nothing to kill the wolf. Phoebus thought only of his father. Their mission was clear: kill the wolf and bring back the beast’s slain body as proof of its death. The king gave each of them a spear, a bow and arrow, and a sword. Then they left the castle and journeyed to the edge of the woods where the wolf resided.
“Let us split up and hunt separately,” said Orpheus.
“Oh, yes. We should do that. Well, good luck brother. Hopefully our family shall find a bit of fortune. Be safe, Orpheus,” Phoebus replied. They turned and walked in separate directions, entering the ominous wood that enveloped them in a cloak of darkness. Two days passed with no sight of the wolf. On the third day, Orpheus heard the growls of a great beast. Believing it to be the wolf, he began to chase the sound. He broke through the tangle of branches into a clearing in the woods. There, he witnessed his brother, Phoebus, with sword in hand, caught in a mighty duel with his monstrous challenger. The wolf smacked Phoebus with his paw, forcing the man back against a tree. The sword was knocked from his grip and fell out of reach. Phoebus lifted his injured and aching body up, using the tree as support, reaching for his spear. Orpheus saw that Phoebus would throw the spear through the skull of the wolf, killing the beast. In a moment of panic and selfish desire, Orpheus pulled an arrow from his quiver. He had to make the kill first to win the beautiful creature his heart longed to have.
Phoebus, bracing himself against the tree, used the last of his strength to throw his spear. Simultaneously, an arrow was shot from an envious bow and embedded itself within Phoebus’s skull.
The spear did in fact kill the murderous beast, yet the champion would not live to see the triumphant moment. Phoebus fell heavily on the decayed leaves that littered the forest floor, as did the wolf. The light in Phoebus, from his eyes to his core, the home of his soul, faded away. The forest became shrouded in darkness with Orpheus in its center. He swam deep in the suffocating emotions of grief and shame. What was their left to do? He had no choice but to return home! After all, the wolf had been slain! Someone had to claim the princess. If Phoebus couldn’t, he must! He did not want to leave the body of his brother in the woods, but he could not carry both the wolf and his brother! Orpheus hoisted the body of his brother over his shoulder and carried it to the stream near the clearing. He kissed the boy’s cheek and lowered him into the murky depths, crying for his sin. Orpheus then returned to the clearing where the creature lay dead. Hoisting the beast over his shoulder, Orpheus began the journey home alone and prepared for the glorious celebration that was not his to receive.
Miranda Dorsey ’18
The Final Fight
All my training comes down to this.
All the sweat I poured onto the canvas.
All the times my heart was pounding,
As my chest tightened and I just wanted to give up.
My vision fading into black like car lights fading in the distance. The underdog, that’s what I was.
This truly was a David and Goliath match.
The only thing I had on my mind was my father,
And his tough love mentality like my love for this sport.
My father was this sport, pushing me to be better, pushing me to com- pete.
Like my father I lost everything to this sport.
I’m ripped from my thoughts, like tape ripping off of skin, by a voice. But the voice sounds distant like an echo in a cave.
I stand up, my knees feeling weak beneath me.
Everything slows in anticipation for the fight of the century.
Zack Schloemer ’17