Writing Contests

First Challenge Response

Name that rune!

Nathaniel looked at the pile of runes on the table. "I have 10 minutes to name as many of those as I can? And then I have to name the use of each rune I can identify?" He asked again, wanting to clarify his task. As a child runes had been something his family had taught him, they had drilled it into him so much that he felt he was decent at naming most runes. After all knowledge was one of the things he enjoyed having because knowledge was power. However if asked he would admit that he was indeed a little nervous about this task. It was supposed to be easy but he knew that no challenge would truly be easy. He was 1 of 16 young hopefuls who would be taking this challenge hoping to be the one who got to ascend and become a full shadow hunter. He took a deep breath and headed over to the pile. He would make his family proud and show them they were wrong about him.

Nathaniel walked up to the table with the runes spread out face down, he gave a nod to the shadow hunter with the timer and began his challenge. He looked at the 20 tiles that were face down on the table. He flipped the first over and recognized it. "Angelic Power." He said then flipped the next tile. "Love." He said and continued to the third tile. He flipped it and frowned. "I don't know that one." He moved to the next. He flipped the tiles. "Courage, don't know, Vision, Iratze, Friendship, Fortitude, Speak In Tongues, Talent, Defend, Unsure, Unsure, Unsure, Strength, Clairvoyant Sight, Insight, Soundless, and Wedded Union." He finished naming. The runes and looked at the timer smiling. He had been able to guess 15 out of the 20. Hopefully it was good enough to impress the shadow hunters and get him chosen. The 5 runes he couldn't name were removed from the table. His next part of the challenge was to tell the uses of each rune he's identified. He went to the first rune. "Angelic power is used as a mark to identify shadow hunters." He moved to the next tile, "A love rune is used to make the wearer fall into a deep and honest love." Nathaniel smiled as he name the runes and their meanings, he was slowly beginning to feel more relaxed as he let his knowledge guide him through the challenge. "The courage rune is used to increase the bravery of the wearer." He then moved to the vision rune and blanked on it's use. "I'm sorry I don't remember the use of a vision rune." He didn't have time to worry about it so he moved on. "An Iratze is used to heal the wearer and should be known to every nephilim."

"A friendship rune is also called a parabatai rune that once drawn on a pair allows them both to draw other runes on each other." Next the fortitude rune "It strengthens the mind, resolve, and will of a shadow hunter allowing them to enter situation of great danger or bear great pain." He looked at the pile 8 runes left, then he glanced at the timer and smiled as he still had what he felt would be enough time. He looked back to the runes "Speak in Tongues allows a shadow hunter to communicate with any species in their language without having to know the language." He looked at the next rune and frowned. "I'm not familiar with the use of the talent rune." He moved to the next one. "The defend rune fends off incoming blows but is rarely used for nephilim, it is preferred to be used on a defensive structure." 5 left he thought to himself, "A strength rune increases the physical strength of a shadow hunter."

"Clairvoyant sight allows a shadow hunter to see through the disguise that mundanes cannot and allows them to see things as they truly are." He glanced at the time nervously and continued. "Insight increases the mental acuity and creative thoughts of a shadow hunter, a soundless rune allows a shadow hunter to move without making a sound." Before he knew it he was onto the last rune. "The Wedded Union rune is a permanent mark that is placed on the back of the hand to symbolize a marriage. Once it is place the pair are recognized as married." He let out a deep breath and sighed as he finished. "Done." He glanced at the clock and smiled as he had come,eyed the challenge within the time limit. He left the room and went to wait to learn his results and see how well he did compared to the other 15 hopefuls who all wished to ascend to the world of the nephilim.