Wordcount: 408
Rating/Warnings: PG
Summary: Written for a WordWar: Blue, Sara, Nathan, and Horn go on a field trip to test out Blue’s powers.

NOTE: This is a very rough draft with no editing at all (per National Novel Wiriting Month rules) and is presented for amusement value only. Think of it as a periscope into my writing process rather than a coherent story!

There will most likely be spelling and grammatical errors afoot as well as flat out bad writing, info dumps, plot holes, contradictions/retcons, uneven characterization and pacing. These snippits are also posted out of order, so please refer to the Outline to figure out where it’s supposed to fit.

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Practical Applications

At the edges of the outer rings the city is eerily empty of buildings and the sky seems lower, even if the distant blue never really changes. It’s as if she’s spread so thin that there are only the small creepers of tunnel between this world and the next.

They find a door easily enough, although it takes them three dead end tunnels.

“Those are worlds that aren’t there yet.” Said Nathan, “we’re hoping that she’ll stop at some point that the city will stop closing the old doors and keep them open without open any others. We wish we knew of a way to make them door s stay open or to tell what happens to them once they are gone, but so far nothing.”

“It’s not like you have a lot to work with,” said Blue, “there’s a long way between doors now too.”

The doors were closer together on the inner rings, but the empty doors dominated those rings. Most empty doors were marked with bright red paint so that no one tried to open them. There’s something about looking into the void that sends people mad if they aren’t expecting it.

The sound of drums indeed.

They find a new door, per Nathan’s maps and it’s time to test Blue’s powers. Nathan and Horn stay on the inside of the door and Blue and Sara go through, the door opens easily enough but that is normal for the tree, at least per what they have been told.

On the other side of the door it’s spring or a very temperate zone and the sunshine is a pleasant change from the endless sameness of the city. It’s in a forest again; all doors are in a forest for one reason or another. They think it’s because of the city and her affinity for wood or wood-like growths.

They step away from the door and wait for the bright blue arch to fade away leaving on the trunk there.

“Try it now” said Sara, rubbing the bracelet with her key card fragment on it nervously. “I’ve never been out on my own before, this is sort of nerve wracking, I mean what if something goes wrong and we can’t get back?”

“Then Nathan will come out and get us,” said Blue, “just calm down.” He walked over to the tree and looked at it for a moment, then reached out a hand and touched the trunk.