Writers’ Circle Booklet
Term 3 | 2026
Table of Contents 1 2 3 6 9 13 18 24 31 42 49 61 64 67 72 78 83 96 106 111 117 120 130 139 143 156
Term 3 Highlights From our Lead Mentors Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition Reflections Door That Should Never Have Opened - Jimmy Thomas The Switched Globe - Teddy Denver-Fedder The Last Train - Jacob Roorda Beneath the Polished Floors - Benjamin Brandt The Mistake - One Way Mission - Jake Linde Dead Man’s Reef - Fred Wehl Into the Wild Part 1 - Ethan Di Francesco Wings of Fire - Ollie Caldeweyher Shards of Reality - Lincoln Dennis The Door to War - William Satchell 2099 - Teddy Denver-Fedder A New Life - Teddy Denver-Fedder Welcome to the Galaxy - Shabbir Bagasrawala The Merging of the Three Realms - Sterling Harman The Abyss - Dominic La Rosa The Guardian’s Fury Part 2 - Hamish Thompson Forces Divided - Ollie Caldeweyher Myserious Sewer - Hamish O’Sullivan Worlds Separated - Ollie Caldeweyher The Devil’s Express - Toby Wilson Radius of Zen - Archie Hadden The Edge of the Blade - Christiaan Du Buson From America With Love - Tom Price
1
Term 3 Highlights Mr Will Duffield - Writers’ Circle & Creative Writing Competitions Coordinator books.
Writing is, in many
us. It can transport us
ways, an act of
into unfamiliar places,
translation between
but it can also help us
Congratulations to
worlds. A writer takes
see our own world
every boy who took
something that exists
differently when we
part. At the time of
internally - an image,
return.
writing, our teams have raised more than
memory, fear, question, character or possibility
This term, we
$6,500 for The Kids’
- and finds a way to
welcomed Kahli Scott
Cancer Project, giving
give it shape on the
and acclaimed
their creativity a
page. Somehow, what
Australian author
purpose far beyond the
began in one person’s
Morris Gleitzman. Their
competition. Thank you
imagination can then
visits were engaging,
to Mrs Spicer for her
be reconstructed in the
informative, and
organisation of this
mind of someone else.
thought-provoking.
competition.
This term’s theme, From
Though, our
As you read this term’s
One World to Another,
participation in the
booklet, you are
invited our students to
Write a Book in a Day
entering worlds that
explore that process.
Competition was the
began in the minds of
Across the term,
real highlight. Our Year
our students. For a few
students moved
6 and Year 10 students
pages, those worlds
between settings,
were challenged to
become yours as well.
perspectives,
take a collection of
characters, and ideas,
ideas, requirements,
Thank you to every
discovering that a story
and possibilities and,
student, mentor, family,
can carry us far
within the space of a
and staff who supports
beyond the world
single day, transform
the program and the
immediately in front of
them into complete
young writers within it.
2
From our Lead Mentors Jake Linde & Darcy Livet (Year 10) Writers’ Circle this term
smiles and
seeing how differently
has been truly special
camaraderie.
everyone has
for me. From helping
approached the theme
the boys with their
Some of the most
From One World to
stories to developing
memorable moments
Another.
stronger connections
have been hearing the
with other mentors, I
boys explain the ideas
It’s been great seeing
have witnessed
behind their stories. It’s
the boys turn their own
incredible growth in
been interesting to see
ideas and experiences
story writing skills and
how different
into creative pieces.
confidence. It makes
perspectives can come
my day when I come
from the same theme.
into every session greeted with warm WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
Thank you to the boys for their commitment
I have really enjoyed
♦ TERM 3 2026
to the program in T3!
3
Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition Reflection In 2026, the Maggie
that might yet be. The
First established in
Shaw Creative Writing
Maggie Shaw Creative
2025, the Year 7
Competition received
Writing Competition
Competition was
180 entries, reflecting
ensures that young
created to honour
significant
voices are not only
Maggie Shaw’s
engagement from
encouraged, but heard,
enduring contribution
students across the
celebrated, and
to literacy, learning
College.
carried forward.
and student voice. In
Through their stories,
2026, it was expanded
Creative writing gives
our students remind us
to the inaugural Years
students the courage
that creativity has the
5-12 competition. Over
to imagine beyond the
power to connect,
the next few pages,
world as it is and to
challenge, and
you can read our
give shape to worlds
transform.
winning submissions.
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5
Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition Student Reflection: Benjamin Brandt (Year 12) “Entering a writing competition was one of the last things that I would have expected myself to do at the start of the year, especially with how busy school and extracurricular activities get. Suffering a torn ACL in March, I thought that this year would be a miserable one, as I was not going to be able to play rugby with my mates. However, this injury has opened a new door, which has allowed me more time to sit down and write a story. It is amazing what you can create when you put your mind to something. Boys, if something doesn't go your way in one part of your life, use it as an opportunity to open a new door and try something new. The sense of accomplishment that you will feel when you complete something that you had your doubts about is immense. I know it might sound a bit cliché, but Nudgee truly allows you to try new things, which I have certainly experienced by trying something new and entering this competition.” Benjamin Brandt, Year 10-12 Joint Division Winner
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6
JIMMY THOMAS Year 5-6 Division Winner of the inaugural Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition. Judged by: Author, Ms Rebecca Timmis
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7
The Door That Should Have Never Been Opened
Late at night in my
his room. These noises
the ceiling in place.
bedroom I woke with a
were different. What
The rumbling was
fright. I heard slithery
could it be?
getting louder and
sounds and a strange
louder. Wondering
rumble. I threw the
I looked in the
what on earth was
covers off my body and
direction of my
going on, I glimpsed
got out of bed.
brother's room. The
the hands of the rusty
Crossing my dark
sound wasn't coming
clock that was hanging
bedroom
from there.
on the wall. I noticed
and cracking my door
Downstairs was the
that it was after
open, I looked out.
kitchen and the noise
midnight.
wasn't coming from Normally there is no
there either. I crept the
The rays of moonlight
noise in the castle at
other way along the
came through the
night. It could be a
corridor.
arched hallway
chef preparing food, or
window, making the
maybe my brother is
I could smell the old
sets of old metal armor
practicing archery in
rotting wood holding
cast a shadow over
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8 me.
couldn't move my body.
and attempted to cut
I was stuck.
the vines. SNAP! The
There was gloomy
vine broke and I was
yellow light at the
Once my ears had
free. Where was the
crack of the door.
stopped ringing, I
door? I looked around
Curiously, I crept closer
attempted to move but
but I couldn’t find
and closer to the old
it was impossible.
anything. RUSTLE!
door. I was closing in
Something was holding
RUSTLE! Some bushes
when, BANG! A
me down. It wasn’t
were moving. The
crackling sound
metal that was holding
rumbling sound turned
echoed through the
me down, it wasn't
into a low growl. A
hallways. Suddenly,
rough rope, it definitely
cold shiver ran down
everything turned
wasn't a silky spider
my spine. A pair of
black.
web. I looked down at
huge pointy ears
my torso and vines
appeared over the
My vision was blurry,
were pinning me down
bushes.I looked around
my ears were ringing
to the ground.
and my eye caught
and my body was
sight of metal. It was
numb. As my vision
Straining as my body
the door handle but in
started to focus I
ached I tried to squirm
a tree trunk. I sprinted
squinted at the blazing
out of the vines. The
with all of my strength.
sun. Looking around, all
vines were tightening.
As I reached for the
I could see was trees,
More vines slithered
handle I got sucked
trees and more trees. It
towards me. I felt a
through the portal. I
wasn’t the stone we
sharp rock just next to
lay on my back in the
have back in the
my hand. Desperately, I
hallway, safe in my old
castle. Then I realised I
scooped up the rock
castle. The door shut.
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9
TEDDY DENVERFEDDER Year 7 Division Winner of the inaugural Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition. Judged by: Ms Ainsley Pavey & Mr Mark Cusack
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10
The Switched Globe: An Intense Saga
Prologue
white surroundings,
awe-inspired by the
Zinnia was cooking Dal
was replaced by a dark
beautiful white
Makhani with her Maa-
oak sign which read
landscape, handed her
Ji when she felt a cold
“North East and West.”
a Pashmina to keep her
wisp of Arctic air blow
That’s when she
warm. Zinnia had
through the ajar
realised. Zinnia was in
always been
window. Her eyes
the South Pole.
adventurous and never
searched for the
scared of anything
source, only to be met
Chapter 1: The Map is
therefore prompting
with a picturesque
Wrong
her to have the thought
mountain range
Intrigued, she left the
she did. Zinnia had to
layered with powdery
house in search of
find out what had
white snow. The fact
answers. Outside, her
happened and soon.
she was in Delhi was
lips immediately
Within an hour, she was
quite disconcerting.
turned blue; Zinnia
on the next flight to
The busy town centre,
started shivering
Whetstone
which was now
uncontrollably. Her
International airport,
replaced with starch
Maa-Ji, who was also
the east coast of
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♦ TERM 3 2026
11 America.
a chat and a cuppa.
Creeping into the vault
Luckily, the cameras
Zinnia felt the
“Hello ladies and
were off and the
presence of someone
gentlemen, welcome
security man was too
behind her. Horrified by
to...” Zinnia’s thoughts
busy to notice her
who was behind her,
drowned the airport
because he was eating
Zinnia had to gain her
announcement out as
a choc chip muffin.
composure before she
she began to think of
Eventually, she snuck
said “It was you wasn’t
other things. As she
into the most powerful
it?
disembarked, a wave
man in the world’s
“What did I do?”
of hot hair hit the girl’s
quarters.
Carrab Amabo, the evil
face. Zinnia breathed
American president,
a sigh of relief as she
Chapter 2: Map
replied with a smug
felt comfort in the
Fixing
grin.
familiar climate. It
Making her way down a
“You know what you’ve
stood to reason as all
set of stairs, Zinnia
done!” Without a
countries had swapped
came across a
second thought, Zinnia
with other countries.
stainless steel vault
threw the stubby
After a taxi ride to the
that needed a
man to the ground and
white house, Zinnia
password to enter.
said “change the map
noticed that the
Zinnia thought that the
back or you’ll feel my
brilliant white gates
President himself would
wrath.”
were wide open so
be a bit more
O-Okay y-yes mam I’ll
then she had to sneak
conspicuous but the
change it back but
past a ginormous hairy
password to the vault
please don’t hurt me.”
giant of a man who
was his birthday which
Cried the man whose
didn’t look to be up for
was 04/08/61.
nose was just inches
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12 away from Zinnia’s fist.
India with her
Cautiously, the
Maa-Ji finishing off her
president got up and
Dal Makhani and
hit a flashing red
eating it for dinner.
button that had to be
The map had gone
unlocked with a touch
wrong but Zinnia was
ID.
there to save the day and rescue the world
Epilogue
from the evil Carrab
Zinnia raised her brown
Amabo.
leather boot and stomped on the button, breaking it completely. The president cried out in agony but there was nothing he could do about it. Zinnia had done it. Thankfully, she had saved the world from the grimy clutches of Carrab Amabo. 14 days later, Carrab Amabo was fired from his position and forced to work in a map making manufacturer. Zinnia was back in
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13
JACOB ROORDA Year 8-9 Division Winner of the inaugural Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition. Judged by: Mr Michael Daley & Ms Maya Linnell
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14
The Last Train
The digital clock above
in his jacket pocket so
at the train timetable,
the train platform
tightly the edges bent
though he already
flickered.
against his fingers.
knew it by heart.
11:40 PM.
He checked the time
11:50 PM — Central
Rain hammered
again.
Line.
against the station
11:45 PM.
If he boarded that
roof, leaking through
One train left before
train, everything would
cracks and splashing
midnight.
change.
onto the concrete
One decision.
If he didn’t…
below. Almost everyone
Across the tracks,
His phone buzzed
had already gone
advertisements glowed
violently in his pocket.
home. The city felt
in blurred colours
Mum.
hollow now, like it had
through the rain.
Again.
exhaled and forgotten
Somewhere in the
He let it ring out.
to breathe back in.
distance, thunder
A second later, another
Eli sat alone on the
rolled over the city
message appeared.
freezing metal bench,
skyline. Eli pulled his
Please come home. We
gripping the envelope
hood lower and stared
can figure this out
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15 together.
thousand dollars.
was fine.
Eli laughed bitterly
Stolen.
And suddenly the
under his breath.
Not from some rich
envelope was in his
Figure it out? There
stranger or giant
backpack.
was nothing left to
company. Worse.
Now all he had to do
figure out. His father
From Mr Moretti, the
was catch the train to
had lost his job three
old mechanic who
his cousin’s apartment
months ago, the rent
trusted Eli enough to
across the city, lie low
notices were piling up
let him clean up
for a few days, and
on the kitchen bench,
around the garage
give the money to his
and tonight Eli had
after school. Earlier
parents anonymously.
overheard the
that evening, Eli had
The problem was the
conversation he wasn’t
found the money
guilt clawing through
supposed to hear.
hidden in a toolbox
his stomach.
“We can’t afford to
while locking up. Mr
A train screamed past
keep the shop open,”
Moretti had probably
without stopping, wind
his mum had
been saving it for
whipping rain across
whispered.
years.
the platform. Eli
The shop.
Eli hadn’t planned to
flinched as the
His grandfather’s shop.
take it.
announcement
And tomorrow morning,
But then he thought
crackled overhead.
it will be gone.
about the shop.
“Final Central Line
Unless Eli did
About his mum crying
service arriving in
something.
quietly in the
twenty-five minutes.”
His hand drifted to the
bathroom.
Twenty-five minutes
envelope again.
About his dad
until midnight.
Inside was fifteen
pretending everything
Twenty-five minutes
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16 until the point of no
Rainwater dripped
His heartbeat
return.
steadily from the edge
quickened.
He rubbed his face
of the roof beside him.
This was it. The easy
hard. Is stealing for the
Drip. Drip. Drip.
choice stood right in
right reason still
11:54 PM.
front of him.
considered wrong?
He imagined tomorrow
Run.
His phone buzzed
if he ran.
Protect the shop.
again.
Police questions.
Save his family.
This time it wasn’t
His parents finding out.
But suddenly another
Mum.
Mr Moretti looked
memory surfaced — his
It was Mr Moretti.
disappointed instead
grandfather’s voice
Eli froze.
of furious. That
from years ago inside
The message was
disappointment hurt
the bookstore.
short.
most. Because Mr
“Character,” he’d said
I know you took it.
Moretti had trusted him
while stacking dusty
His chest tightened
when nobody else
novels onto shelves, “is
instantly.
really had. He’d taught
what you do when
Another message
Eli how to rebuild
nobody is watching.”
appeared.
engines, how to shake
Eli swallowed hard.
Come back before you
hands properly, how to
The train roared closer.
make a mistake you
admit when you were
Doors sliding open.
can’t undo.
wrong.
Warm light spilling
Eli stared at the words
And Eli had repaid him
across the wet
until they blurred.
by stealing from him.
platform.
No anger. No threats.
The approaching train
People stepped off.
Somehow that made it
lights appeared faintly
Others climbed on
worse.
down the tracks.
without hesitation. The
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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17 conductor blew his
distant rain.
whistle once. Eli stood
Then Mr Moretti sighed
slowly.
softly.
Every muscle in his
“Good,” he replied. “I’ll
body screamed at him
see you soon.”
to board.
Eli looked up at the
Instead, he reached
station clock as it
into his jacket, pulled
ticked forward, inching
out the envelope, and
closer to midnight.
stared at it one last
For the first time all
time. Then he turned
night, he felt like he
away from the train.
could finally breathe.
The doors shut behind him. The train disappeared into the darkness. 11:59 PM. Eli pulled out his phone with shaking hands and dialled Mr Moretti. The call was answered almost immediately. “I’m sorry,” Eli said, his voice cracking. “I’m bringing it back.” For a moment, there was only silence and
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18
BENJAMIN BRANDT Year 10-12 Joint Division Winner of the inaugural Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition. Judged by: The Honourable Tim Carmody AM KC, Dr Maria Boulton, and Mr Paul Taylor AM
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19
Beneath the Polished Floors
The Ritz smelled
Mara preferred it that
Mara slipped the
different at four in the
way. She moved
photograph into her
morning. Not perfume,
through the corridors
apron pocket. Some
polished marble, and
collecting the remnants
people collected
expensive cigars, as it
that people forgot to
stamps or pressed
did during the day, but
hide. Room 417
flowers. Mara
bleach, wet linen,
surrendered a lipstick-
collected lives.
lemon polish, and the
stained champagne
cold metallic breath of
flute and a pair of
The man from 512 had
silence. The
pearl earrings
stared at the torn
chandeliers dimmed,
abandoned beside the
photograph for twenty-
and the gold leaf
bed. Room 512 gave
seven minutes before
ceilings lost their
her a crumpled
ripping it apart. Mara
arrogance. Without
photograph torn down
imagined him sitting at
guests drifting through
the middle. A woman
the edge of the bed
the corridors, the hotel
smiling on one side. A
while the lights below
looked tired. Human.
man on the other.
Piccadilly pulsed through the rain like
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20 veins beneath London’s
and perfume. Every
itself alive - swallowing
skin.
morning, Mara swept
arguments, absorbing
through the aftermath.
tears. Beneath all the
Mara understood
crystal and velvet, The
heartbreak and
During the day, women
Ritz was a vault of
loneliness by the
glided through the
hidden things.
objects people left
lobby wearing faces as
behind: wedding rings,
polished as silver trays
Perhaps that was why
train tickets, hotel keys,
while men laughed too
she belonged.
handwritten notes
loudly over whiskey.
tucked into bedside drawers.
Before guests woke,
Nobody noticed the
Mara slipped into the
cleaners. People
Palm Court and stole
Some were angry.
looked through Mara
strawberries from
Others unbearably
as though she were
unfinished breakfasts.
ordinary. One simply
part of the wallpaper.
The rich rarely finished
read: “I wish I had told
Invisible women heard
anything. She sat
you the truth.” Mara
everything.
beneath palms and
kept that one longer
“I told her I was in
watched dawn creep
than the others.
Geneva.”
across the windows.
“She’ll leave once the Truth was fragile inside
money runs out.”
The Ritz. Behind the
For one hour, before London fully woke, she
smiles and champagne
Secrets drifted through
pretended she
glasses sat affairs,
the hotel like steam.
belonged among the
grief, and entire lives
Sometimes Mara
silver teapots and
disguised by wealth
imagined the building
piano music.
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21 Sometimes, she
melody spilled into the
Nobody was supposed
imagined introducing
room. Inside the lid
to hear her linger. She
herself to the guests.
was an inscription. “For
opened the service
“Hello, I’m Mara.”
Clara, so you never
door instead and
“I sleep three floors
feel alone.” Mara sat
disappeared into the
beneath you.”
on the carpet listening
hidden corridors
“I know which husband
to the music box play.
running behind the
cries in the shower.”
Something about it
suites. The hotel’s
But fantasies were
unsettled her. Not
arteries. Narrow
dangerous. Invisible
sadness exactly, but
passageways wound
people survived by
recognition. Because
behind walls and
remaining invisible. So
loneliness was not
kitchens, smelling of
she lowered her head
loud. People imagined
dust and hot pipes.
and continued
loneliness as dramatic
polishing glasses.
things - sobbing,
Mara slipped into the
That winter, snow
funerals, empty streets.
old laundry room where
settled over London in
Real loneliness was
she slept among folded
white sheets. Guests
quieter. It was eating
sheets and forgotten
arrived in fur coats
strawberries that no
furniture. Her real
dusted with
one knew you took. The
clothes hung beside a
snowflakes.
melody ended. Mara
backpack and cracked
realised she was
boots. She sat
One evening, Mara
crying. A knock
carefully on the
found a silver music
sounded at the door.
mattress and held the
box beneath a bed in
“Hello?”
music box in her lap.
Suite 603. When she wound it, a lonely
Above her, somewhere
Her pulse hammered.
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beyond the layers of
22 marble and carpet,
Suite 701, she found a
too observant. He
strangers slept in
diamond ring resting
smiled.
heated rooms. None of
beside an unsigned
“I don’t think we’ve
them knew she existed.
letter. The paper
met.”
It should have
trembled slightly in her
Mara lowered her
frightened her. Instead,
hands.
gaze.
it amazed her. How
“I have spent fifteen
“No, sir.”
easy it was to
years pretending to
“What department are
disappear.
love a life that never
you in?”
felt like mine.” Days passed, then weeks.
Her mouth went dry.
Mara folded the letter
The corridor stilled. For
and returned it exactly
years, she had survived
Christmas arrived at
where she found it.
because nobody
The Ritz in an explosion
And suddenly, she was
looked at the cleaners.
of gold ribbons and
exhausted by
But this man was
crystal snowflakes
pretending. She was
looking.
while choir music
tired of hidden things.
At her worn shoes.
echoed through the
As she stepped back
At the frayed cuff
lobby. Mara worked
into the corridor, a
beneath her uniform
silently through it all.
voice stopped her.
sleeve.
“Excuse me.”
At the panic flickering
On Christmas Eve, she
A man stood near the
across her face.
cleaned the top-floor
lifts. New management,
Mara understood then
suites alone. Outside,
she realised
that invisibility only
snow buried London in
immediately. His suit
worked while people
white silence. Inside
was too sharp. His eyes
chose not to see you.
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23 Beneath every polished
enough to imitate
surface sat something
daylight. But up here,
people preferred to
between silent
ignore. Loneliness.
corridors, Mara finally
Grief.
understood something.
Lies.
The loneliest people
People hiding in luxury
were not the ones
hotels because they
hidden beneath the
had nowhere else to
surface. They were the
go. The manager
ones terrified of being
softened slightly.
seen.
“What’s your name?” he asked. For a moment, Mara almost lied. She thought of the hidden letters and torn photographs below the hotel, and the guests pretending to be happier than they were. “Mara,” she said.
Downstairs, guests laughed beneath chandeliers bright
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24
JAKE LINDE Year 10-12 Joint Division Winner of the inaugural Maggie Shaw Creative Writing Competition. Judged by: The Honourable Tim Carmody AM KC, Dr Maria Boulton, and Mr Paul Taylor AM
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25
The Mistake - One Way Mission
I tighten my oxygen
my fate inside this
across her spacious
mask as the altimeter
machine.
cockpit. The steel walls
slowly climbs past
hum with restrained
10,000 feet, the needle
The Vice Admiral had
violence, the aircraft
dragging us closer to
approved a weapon
breathing around us as
the inevitable. Leaning
they believed could
it carries its cargo
back onto the
change the fate of the
toward destruction.
makeshift metal cot
war for Japan, a
behind Betty's cockpit,
weapon that
My gaze lifts toward
I steady my breathing
demanded not only
the operator. The look
and fix my mind on a
obedience, but
on his face says
single thought.
sacrifice. Betty was no
everything. Solemn.
Memories of training
longer an aircraft; she
Regretful. Almost
flicker through my
had become a tomb
pitying. His expression
mind. Each command,
carried through the sky,
becomes a final prayer
each movement, each
and I was already
neither of us are willing
lesson has become
sealed inside it. My
to speak aloud. For a
another rivet sealing
heavy eyes wander
moment, I remain on
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
26 the freezing metal cot,
armour, never
silence, I wait. Again
clinging to the last
questioning the honour
and again I strike the
traces of peace before
they promised us. But
button. Nothing. A
his voice cuts through
as the ocean races
violent thought tears
the silence. “We’ve
beneath me, the
through me. What if
made it,” he says.
illusion finally
they have forgotten
collapses. God help
me?
Fletcher-class
me, I’m only nineteen.
destroyers have been
My whole life should
If I am not launched
spotted below. I
still be ahead of me. I
soon, I will lose sight of
scramble to the devils
swallow that thought
my target. The hours of
gate, the steel mouth
and force it to stay
training, the speeches,
of death, the trapdoor
down. The sting of that
the promises of honour
that seals my fate.
truth is unbearable; I
and sacrifice, all of it
Taking a deep breath, I
understand it fully only
will collapse into
pass through the door,
when my death has
failure. My breathing
descending into the
already become
shortens. Despite the
narrow, choking pipes
inevitable.
bitter cold, my helmet
below. Reality hits me
absorbs the
like a frozen tide,
I reach for the Ident
accumulation of sweat.
shattering against my
button, a small device
Every movement is
face in a single,
buried deep within the
mechanical, drilled into
ruthless sweep. Only
controls. My fingers
me so deeply that even
now do I grasp the full
hammer against it,
fear cannot stop them.
cruelty of it all. For
translating fear into
Yet beneath that
months, I had worn
code: I’m ready.
conditioning,
their propaganda like
Helplessly suspended in
something raw and
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
27 human claws its way to
washitsu, my knees
least one parent alive,
the surface. I do not
pressed gently against
raise your hand.” Hands
want to die waiting. My
the white woven tatami
rose eagerly around
face tightens as dread
mat. Looking back, we
the room from officers
crawls through my
had become products
desperate to prove
body, its tentacles
of the army’s relentless
their loyalty. Mine
reaching from my gut
propaganda machine;
remained motionless in
to my fingertips. The
our patriotism twisted
my lap, as if death had
aircraft trembles
until dying for our
already claimed me.
around me, engines
nation felt less like a
Takahashi surveyed us
growling impatiently,
sentence and more like
gravely. “All men with
while the ocean spins
an honour. Beyond the
your hands, leave
far below. Seconds
paper walls, the
now!” Silence
stretch into eternities. I
orange sun sank
swallowed the room.
press the button once
heavily across the
Confusion spread
more, harder this time.
Taiwan mainland, thick
across their faces,
Then, without warning,
humidity clinging to the
quickly replaced by
the aircraft violently
evening air. We had
disappointment. Then
drops. The world
been summoned for a
Takahashi revealed the
disappears beneath me
top secret undertaking.
truth: the war was
as I plunge downward.
Captain Junsaku
failing.
Takahashi entered
“Only one weapon
It was not long ago I
silently, his face
could be the answer,”
found myself seated
solemn. “If you’re
he said, “one capable
amongst twelve Junior
married, the only
of destroying an
Officers in a
surviving male heir in
American destroyer in
traditional Japanese
your family, or have at
a single strike”. Around
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
28 me, men stared in awe.
rehearsals that left my
Before dawn, we
This could change
body aching long after
climbed Tornado
everything. Except
dusk. Days blurred
Mountain together. At
there was one catch. It
beneath the roar of
the summit, we
was a one-way
engines and the sting
watched the first light
mission.
of salt air. Salt crusted
break across the
on our uniforms and
horizon. I raised my
I was determined to
skin, a constant
glass and shouted into
serve the nation,
reminder that the
the freezing ocean
prepared to fight until
ocean was never far
wind. My four
the end. I raised my
away.
comrades joined me,
hand in silent approval.
The cold ocean wind
Four other Cadets did
Twas the new year,
cut through us as the
the same. Together, we
December 31, 1944. We
sun ignited the horizon
became the 721st
were granted leave to
in gold and fire. In that
Naval Air Group.
reflect on our values
fragile stillness. T’was
and life. Gathered
the freest I had ever
Training commenced
around a low
felt. Now, I skim twenty
promptly the next
chabudai, we drank
feet above the ocean,
morning. We were
sake, shared special
the roar of the craft
introduced to a small,
rations, and waited for
deafening my ears.
stubby aircraft - little
midnight. Silence
Two thousand metres
more than a winged
settled over us as the
ahead, the destroyer
torpedo. The regime
deep temple bells
turns its main battery
was relentless:
echoed through the
toward me.
sleepless nights, brutal
night.
For a moment, I think it
drills, endless
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
is over. KaBoom.
♦ TERM 3 2026
29
WRITING STIMULUS Through the selection of "setting," "theme," and "word parameter" stimulus, we have encouraged our young writers to explore their creative boundaries and craft engaging stories.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
30 5 WORDS
SETTING IMAGES
1
Portal
2
Threshold
3
Compass
4
Bunker
5
Eclipse
6
Signal
7
Ruins
8
Disguise
9
Gravity
10
Forgotten
11
Crossing
12
Stranger
13
Kingdom
14
Return
15
Transform
THEME PROMPT
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
31
FRED WEHL This story follows Joe Kerrman as he discovers an ancient book that leads him and his friends to the mysterious Dead Man’s Reef. What begins as an exciting search for a lost civilisation quickly becomes a dangerous struggle for survival.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
32
Dead Man’s Reef Rattle, rattle, rattle.
smelled of aged wood
dating back to the
The wind was howling
and worn leather, with
Vikings.
a war cry in the
towering shelves of
breathtakingly heart-
ancient books which
Joe went to turn the
stopping chill of winter
had been untouched
light of the attic out,
in the cold isles of
and cared for for
but then he noticed a
Norway. It was late at
centuries. He had
large book wedged
night in a lone old
spent all day reading
fiercely into a hidden
cabin in the small town
the books, trying to
corner of the attic.
of Pinewood. There
find out what his
Curious, Joe went to
was one lone light
grandfather was hiding
investigate the book.
glimmering in the
in the vast maze of
The first thing Joe
house, where a curious
books. Thinking of
noticed about the book
man named Joe
going to bed, he had
was the title. It was
Kerrman was in the
only found old family
barely readable,
dusty attic of his
photos and stories of
covered in dust, and
grandfather's old
the ancient myths and
some of the letters
house. The room
legends of Norway
were scratched out,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
33 but it read, “The Great
end, with writing in
who go in never come
City of Nerevia.” The
hasty scribbles, as if
back out. Heart
book had a deep-sea-
something terrible was
pumping, Joe closed
blue cover with a
happening and they
the book and called his
symbol of a giant squid
did not have time: “The
friends to meet him at
above the city.
city has been attacked
the harbour the next
Opening the book, it
by beasts long
morning.
said on the first page,
forgotten. The king is
“Ye who read this book
dead and the city is
Early the next day, Joe
beware of the beast of
falling into the ocean
rented a fishing boat
the blue as it protects
sea.” “The empire is
and told his friend,
what all seek.” Flicking
doomed to be
who was a marine
through the pages of
forgotten. The only
biologist, to bring his
the book, it showed an
fragment of a clue the
SUOE, which is used
ancient civilisation
empire ever existed is
for sea bed
bristling with treasures
this book.”
exploration. When his
of gold and diamonds,
friends came to the
entire rooms full of
Scratched-in
harbour, he showed
treasure. But later in
coordinates on a map
them the book and
the book, it showed
showed that the
what it had said,
grim images of the city
supposed civilisation
saying that if the book
submerging into the
was near the
was true, they could
sea and giant beasts
mysterious islands of
uncover a lost
of great size attacking
“Dead Man's Reef,”
civilisation which had
the city. Now unable to
which were greatly
been lost for centuries.
look away from the
avoided by fishermen
Although he did not
book, Joe came to the
and merchants, as all
mention the treasure,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
34 because deep inside
as the ship wobbled
and barnacles. There
him he felt something
further into the fog,
was a ship which
he had never felt
they stopped talking.
looked like a Viking
before: “Greed.” If he
All around them, high
longship, which had its
shared the treasure
cliffs towered over the
sail broken off and
with his friends, his
boat and jagged rocks
dangling in the water.
secret would be gone.
emerged out of the
The entire ship was
fog. There was no
pierced right through
When he was done
sound in “Dead Man's
the middle by a jagged
explaining, his friends
Reef.” It was like
rock. There were
had excitement
walking into a
hundreds of ships
gleaming in their tired
graveyard of silence.
surrounding the now
eyes like a bright star
uneasy crew, as if the
in the night sky.
As the boat kept
ships were telling them
Boarding their boat,
sailing, the men started
to leave or they would
they cast off the ropes
to see the wreckage of
meet the same fate as
and sailed out of the
the unfortunate sailors
they did.
harbour and into the
who sailed into the
unforgiving churn of
reef and never
Joe looked at all of the
the ocean sea,
returned. The corpses
vessels in the water
disappearing into the
of boats were
and his heart turned to
fog that had claimed
everywhere. Some
stone with dreaded
many ships over the
looked new, like the
realisation because, on
years. When they set
fishing vessel they
all of the ships, there
sail, the men were
were on, but others
were marks of
chatting excitedly
were corroded and
tentacles. But not small
about their journey, but
covered in seaweed
tentacles like the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
35 normal squid or
stop, the boat swayed
feeling that they were
octopus—these marks
in the now menacingly
about to walk into a
were gigantic, large
calm waters. Joe, now
breathtaking
enough to sink entire
looking at his crew,
experience of
buildings. Hands
explained to them that
excitement, the men
shaking, Joe reached
this was the spot
felt like they were
into his pocket and
where the city was said
climbing into their
brought out the book.
to be. Everyone was
grave. “Flick, click,
On the front page,
now looking into the
swish.” The lights and
there was the symbol
murky blue water with
power in the submarine
of the giant squid,
grim determination.
lit up like Christmas
which looked more
Now getting the
lights, and the
menacing than he
submarine ready to be
submarine slid into the
remembered. Now he
launched into the misty
water. Down they
knew what it meant by
ocean depths, the crew
went. The light from
coming to the
were moving around
the sky vanished from
submerged city at your
the boat with deadly
sight and was replaced
own peril. The squid
silence, as every crew
by the cold darkness. It
must guard the city,
member had the awful
was like going to
and that was why there
feeling they were
another dimension.
were so many
being watched.
Faster and faster they
shipwrecks. It meant
went down until,
that the submerged
After thirty minutes of
finally, they came to a
city must be in the reef
working in silence, the
stop at the bottom of
somewhere.
submarine was ready
the deep blue. Turning
to be launched into the
on the spotlights, a
ocean. Instead of the
vast desert of sand
Coming to a bubbly
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
36 spread out as far as
middle of the city,
glided through the
the eye could see. But
which seemed to
water, right into the
as they started to
convulse with energy.
submerged castle,
churn forward, mighty
All of the eyes of the
where the men now
statues of men and
men stared at the
pushed their faces
gods stood in the sand
castle, popping with
against the windows,
like kings on their
excitement. Nobody
staring at their
thrones. Not believing
seemed to see the
surroundings. The
their eyes, the ice in
shadow which seemed
castle was ancient and
their stomachs melted
to be half the size of
covered in deep green
as the excitement set
the entire city itself,
seaweed. Giant marble
in like wildfire, as more
and the shadow
pillars were crystal
and more statues
seemed to be moving
white, with beautiful
appeared and
slowly towards the
images carved into
beautiful cracked tiles
small submarine like a
every centimetre of the
sparkled like jewels in
shark looking at a tasty
pillar, each image
the sunlight. Old roads
little fish. But this
telling a different
bent in all directions
shadow had tentacles…
story. The carvings and
until entire buildings
They had disturbed the
words embedded in the
emerged out of the
slumber of the beast
marble were an
dark, appearing in the
which had slumbered
ancient form of Norse,
thousands, and massive
for a thousand years,
which meant before
shrines of religion
when it had brought
the Vikings explored
towered over the
the city to the bottom
the vast oceans and
kingdom. But the
of the abyss.
lands of France,
massive eye-catcher was the castle in the
England, and the deep
The small submarine
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
Atlantic Ocean, they
37 had made a city.
stood. Flicking on their
Almost hypnotised, Joe
flashlights, the men
walked into the room
As they went deeper
split into groups of two
and froze in place. The
into the castle, they
and started exploring
room was gigantic, as
came to the main door
the eerie halls of their
large as a cargo ship,
of the castle entrance,
ancestors, while the
and the carvings on the
which was completely
others sprinted off to
walls showed the great
sealed off, meaning
explore. Joe brought
beast of the squid
that when the city went
out the book and saw a
destroying the city as
underwater, the door
corridor that the book
the terror unfolded,
was sealed and there
said would lead to the
entire buildings
would be no water
treasure room.
collapsing and the
inside the castle.
desperate people
Turning the submarine
Sneaking away from his
fleeing in terror. Inside,
and releasing the
partner, who was
the room was filled
anchor, the men
frozen in his thoughts,
with piles of the
climbed into the small
Joe crept into the
remains of the people
rover and made a small
corridor, navigating his
who had sought refuge
hole in the wall, just
way through the
inside the castle. There
big enough for the
beautiful carvings on
must have been
rover to fit in. Then
the wall and crumbled
thousands of skeletons
they closed the hole so
marble. As Joe kept
in the room.
that water didn’t
striding into the cold,
engulf the entire
dark, and deathly silent
Joe’s palms were sticky
inside. Opening the
corridor, he saw a
with sweat and his
hatch and climbing out
room with a mysterious
heart was racing.
of the rover, the men
glowing blue light.
Finally gaining control
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
38 of his senses again, he
of the kingdom.
stumbled to get out.
Two heavily armed,
Joe slipped over some
very dead guards stood
Joe's eyes twinkled
of the scattered bones
outside the entrance of
with wonder and
on the floor, getting a
the door. Whatever
excitement as the
deep cut in his
was in there, they did
mountains of gold
shoulder. Shooting out
not want people
seemed to be smiling
of the exit of the room,
seeing. Walking into
upon Joe with massive
clutching his bleeding
the room, Joe forgot
diamond teeth. But
arm and the book, he
about the pain, the
soon after he told his
ran to a nearby pillar
room full of skeletons,
friends that he had
before coming to a
and the fearsome giant
found the treasure,
stop. Tearing off a part
squid. Towering in vast
excited talking
of his shirt and tying it
piles covering the room
sounded down the
tightly around his
were shining treasures
hallway, and in a few
bleeding, numb arm,
of gold, diamond,
seconds his friends
stopping the bleeding
emerald, silver, and
burst into the room.
but stinging like a
beautiful jewelled
Sprinting up the
venomous bite, Joe
statues. After a long
mounds of treasure,
winced in pain and
and traumatising
they picked up
kept going, using his
adventure, Joe had
beautiful cups covered
map to navigate
found the treasure
in gold and glimmering
around the labyrinth of
room. Reaching into his
sapphires, and
hallways, looking for
pocket, he brought out
beautifully carved
the treasure room until
the radio and signalled
crates stuffed full of
he found where it was
to his friends that he
gold and emeralds,
supposed to be.
had found the treasure
shining so bright it
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
39 blinded anyone who
said already knew that
into their pockets,
looked at them for
there were intruders. If
bringing out something
more than a few
it caught them with the
small and black. They
seconds.
treasure, they would
both grasped the black
never exit the city
objects and pointed
alive.
them at the others. Joe
Joe was cautious around the treasure,
realised what they
picking up beautiful
The friends slowly
were with rising fear.
vases and examining
processed this
Joe realised they were
the ancient writing,
information, and the
holding guns and
looking at his friends
twinkle and glimmer in
pointing them at the
who were swimming in
their eyes started to
others.
silver coins. Joe looked
evaporate into
into his book and then
disappointed but
“You see, Joe, we can’t
at the treasure in front
fearful looks. They
simply walk away from
of him and called his
nodded their heads, all
this. We will be taking
friends over. He told
except two of his
the treasure and, most
them that the city was
friends, Marcus and
unfortunately, killing all
not destroyed by an
Toby, who seemed to
of you, starting with
invading force, but by
be entranced by the
you, Joe. Nothing
a giant monster, and
shining treasure. Then
personal.” But just as
that same monster now
they looked at each
Toby was about to pull
guards the submerged
other, locking eyes,
the trigger, a
city. If they took the
then looking at the
ginormous tentacle
treasure, they would be
others. They both said
smashed through the
disturbing the
one word: “No.” They
wall of the room,
guardian, which Joe
both quickly reached
snatching Toby, and
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
40 another tentacle
behind him to see if
spaghetti until he
grabbed Marcus,
the squid was still
finally exploded into
hurling both of them
there, but the only
the main hall, seeing
out of the room.
thing that remained
his friends already in
Letting go of the gun,
was a crater in the
the submarine,
Toby desperately tried
wall, with water
beckoning him to
to escape the tentacle,
flooding into the
come.
but in a flash got
castle. Water
dragged out with
screamed through the
Almost choking on his
Marcus, leaving the
now-open hole,
own breath, Joe leapt
friends clambering over
engulfing the riches
onto the submarine
each other to get out
once again. The walls
and retreated into the
of the room. Joe knew
started to shake and
hull. As the submarine
that what took Toby
crumble, vibrating with
lurched backward, they
and Marcus was the
force as the guardian
frantically ran around
guardian, and now that
tried to cave in the
doing their roles, trying
it was hunting them,
walls around them. An
to get out as fast as
they were in deep
echoing moan from the
they could. As the
trouble.
ancient creature sent
submarine floated
Joe into a frantic
forward, Joe snapped
Forgetting about the
sprint. Joe sprinted in
off the lights to avoid
treasure, the only thing
the direction he hoped
detection, and as Joe
that blazed in each
was where they had
looked outside,
person's mind was to
docked the submarine.
scanning the area and
get away from that
His eardrums popped
searching for the
room as soon as
and fizzled as Joe's
guardian, he expected
possible. Joe looked
legs shook like
that at any second
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
41 they would be
and the submarine
lighter as they got
snatched and
glided past the shadow
closer to the surface.
destroyed. But the only
of the beast. Letting
With one last swipe at
thing that was with
out a gasp of relief,
the men, the guardian
them was the deathly
the men inside
howled as the stinging
presence of the chilling
clutched the floating
sun beamed onto the
silence. Then a shadow
coffin, beckoning it to
beast and the
appeared above them,
continue. But as they
submarine breached
and its tentacles
continued, one of the
the surface waves.
flicked around the
tips of the tentacles
Climbing out of the
water, searching for
tapped the submarine.
submarine, with one
the intruders. The
A war cry of glee came
last cry, a tentacle
guardian looked like a
from the guardian, and
screamed out of the
monster from the worst
it fixed its beady
water and grabbed the
nightmares, with
yellow eyes onto the
submarine, bringing it
glowing yellow eyes,
pathetic presence of
down to the depths.
old and fiery.
the men. Now spotted,
With fear-stricken
the men had no need
faces, the men couldn't
The only thing that
to go slow and
care less about the
could save them was
screamed forward as
treasure anymore, as
their prayers and luck.
the guardian gave
they were thankful to
One touch from the
pursuit, with its massive
get away with their
tentacles and they
tentacles swiping at
lives. Turning on the
would never see the
them.
engine, the boat gave
light blue sky again,
a happy burst of the
but their prayers
Up, up, up they went,
motor and drifted away
seemed to be heard,
and the water became
to the mainland.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
42
ETHAN DI FRANCESCO This story follows Splash, a determined fox who dreams of escaping life in the zoo and discovering what lies beyond its fences. After finally reaching the wild, he encounters BreezePack and is given the chance to begin a completely new life. The story explores adventure, determination, belonging, and the challenges that come with stepping into the unknown.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
43
Into the Wild Part 1 Chapter 1
the rough concrete not
human guards yelling
Mission Not So Possible
making a mark or a
out something he didn’t
sound but what was it?
understand. Not that
The lights gazed over
A fox. A medium,
humans were able to
the animal-filled zoo,
reynard (male) fox.
be understood anyway.
watching in the night
Surely they won’t
“Until next time,
for any unusual
capture me this time!
Splash!” He cried out in
contents. Of course,
Splash thought to
annoyance.
nothing was seen. A
himself. I have
He yelped in sudden
dark eclipse of the sun
mastered the arts of
pain as a human
looked over the zoo
stealth. Just as he said
grabbed his tail and
and no light was
that, his tail hit the
pinned it to the ground
emitted. Nonetheless,
fence, creating an
so he couldn’t escape.
something was
earsplitting, clanging
“Get off, no-pelts!” He
crawling and creeping
sound. Sort of.
roared, kicking the
through the zoo. A
guard in the hip. The
bushy, orange tail
Suddenly, Splash heard
other guards tried to
slowly slithered across
the voices of the
grab him but failed.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
44 Splash slipped through
times will I have to say
jump, can’t I?” He
and sprinted away. “So
it?!” Bracken yelled.
asked himself.
long, suckers!” He
“You won’t need to,
“No,” a new voice told
laughed before
because I’m stealthy,”
him, “did you not hear
colliding with the
Splash laughed.
Bracken? Only wild
fence of the lions.
“Uh-huh, I see. That
foxes can do the wild
Splash! “You okay?!”
moment clearly proves
jump.”
he heard one of the
it… and just so you
“Shut up, Ricky. You’re
lions ask just before he
know, you can’t do the
not making it better,”
collapsed into
wild jump,” Bracken
Splash sighed.
darkness.
chuckled.
The small and ugly-
Splash wanted to cuff
looking (that was
Growling at the pain in
him around the ear. “I
Splash’s interpretation)
his head, Splash slowly
can jump if I want to. I
frog was staring at
awoke to see his
just… don’t,” he said,
Splash with large
friend, Bracken
awkwardly.
orange eyes, tilting his
standing in front of
Bracken shook his head
head. “Look Splash, I
him.
and sighed. “The
reckon maybe just take
“So dummy, how did
amount of times I have
one day off, you know,
that work out?”
to say it pains me, only
not trying to escape
“I’m okay. Thanks for
wild foxes can jump!”
the zoo. It won’t make
asking!” Splash
Splash snarled and
you feel better,” he
sarcastically whined.
leapt over to the other
explained
“When will you learn,
side of the paddock
emphatically.
mousebrain?! Don’t try
and looked at his
At least Ricky has a
to escape the
reflection in the water.
little empathy. Splash
paddock! How many
“I can do the wild
told himself.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
45 “If you want me to be
he would make it.
No going back now! No
able to do the wild
Fence by fence, he
returning!
jump, why don’t you
leapt in happiness. The
The fresh air of the
want to be a wild fox
exit to the zoo never
wild was greater than
so I can do the wild
seemed closer. I’m
any air Splash had
jump?”
going to make it! He
breathed in before.
“Splash, that’s not
exclaimed in his
Sunlight peered
what I’m sayi-!”
thoughts. Just a few
through the towering
“It’s fine. You’re right,”
more pawsteps and I'm
canopy, torching
Splash interrupted.
there! Goodbye zoo!
Splash’s fur as he
Then the idea came to
It was hard saying
stepped further and
his head. “Say, can you
goodbye to Bracken,
further into the forest.
teach me how to do a
even after their
Then a growl echoed in
jump?”
argument but life at
his ears.
Ricky sighed and
the zoo was getting
“Wh who’s there?!”
nodded.
worse and worse. If
Splash yelled.
any time was needed
“What are you doing
Chapter 2
to make an escape, it
here? This is
This Escape Better
was now. Before
BreezePack territory!
Work
Splash left, Bracken
Move on!” Growled a
wished him good luck
large dark Reynard,
Splash had spent days
and a good life.
just like Splash, who
practising the jump
Splash took one last
pounced out of
that frogs do in hope
step and into the wild,
nowhere, pinning
of leaping over each
he was. I don’t believe
Splash to the ground.
fence and not being
it! I’m in the wild! His
“Redheart! What are
captured but this time,
thoughts yelled at him.
you doing? This is just
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
46 an outsider!” Another
“I’ve never had this
Nor do we know
fox, this time a Vixen,
scent before. Where
anything. My
snarled at the Reynard
are you from?”
apologies.”
whose name
“I’m from the city,”
“I say we take him to
apparently was
Splash replied.
our Packland. See what
Redheart.
“What’s the city?”
Kestrelmoon has to
“Reedfur, how many
Redheart growled.
say,” Redheart
times do I have to tell
“The city, you know, the
growled.
you? An outsider is an
big area with the
Finally, not an R name!
outsid-!” Redheart
humans?”
Splash thought to
replied.
“Never heard of it,”
himself.
“Stand down,
Reedfur said.
“Good idea, Redheart.
Redheart! This fox is
Splash shook his head
Let’s take him to
not a danger!” A third
in annoyance. What fox
Kestrelmoon,” Rockwing
fox interrupted.
doesn’t know about the
exclaimed.
“Rockwing! Surely you
city? Then the Reynard,
Splash gazed over at
don’t side with
Rockwing, figured out
Redheart who quietly
Reedfur!” Redheart
what he meant.
growled in his ear. “Be
growled.
“Oh! You mean the big
careful. I am right
How many of these
area out there? Is that
behind you!”
foxes' names start with
the city?” He asked.
the letter R? Splash
Splash nodded. “Yeah,
Chapter 3
asked himself. The fox
we didn’t know that it
What am I doing here?
known as Reedfur, the
was called ‘The City’.
Vixen, stepped over to
We don’t know too
Splash and the three
Splash and sniffed at
much about things
BreezePack foxes
his fur.
other than the wild.
approached a large
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
47 cave, embedded into
smaller cave
“Uh… well…” He shook
an even larger hill. A
swallowed by the wall.
his head. What am I
large number of foxes
“Rockwing,” he started.
doing? So he just went
searched over him,
“What is the meaning
off the first things in
sniffing and tilting their
of this?”
his head. “Well… life in
heads.
“He is a fox from the
the zoo isn’t good. The
“What kind of fox is
‘city’, Kestrelmoon. He
humans treat us poorly
THAT?!” The tiny,
left that place,”
and they lock us in
pipsqueak voice of a
Rockwing replied.
small cages while other
fox cub cried.
That’s Kestrelmoon?
humans look at us. I
“Hush, Stagtail! He can
Splash asked himself.
left because… I
hear you!” The mother
“Uh huh,” Kestrelmoon
couldn’t handle living
ordered firmly.
responded. Splash
there anymore. They’d
“So what is this
gulped. “So… what do
locked me away for my
place?” Splash asked.
you think of this
whole life,” then the
Redheart sighed and
place?”
idea came. “Could I
replied. “This is
“It’s uh… fascinating?”
join you perhaps?”
BreezePack territory!
“Why?” Kestrelmoon
Everyone in BreezePack
Show some respect!”
asked.
gasped. Not surprised.
“Well, I was not aware
“Why what?”
“Kestrelmoon, surely
this was your area.
“Why leave the ‘city’.
not! He is not wild! Not
Sorry for annoying
Why change your life?”
at all!” Reheart
you!” Splash growled.
Splash wasn’t sure how
complained.
What was Redheart’s
to answer that. No one
“Well… how devoted
problem?
had ever asked him
will you be to come
One large and white
that question. What
here? And don’t just
fox walked out of a
could he say?
say it… mean it!”
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
48 Kestrelmoon asked.
laughed.
“Endlessly!” Splash
“And your new name
pleaded. “I will be
will be… Nightclaw!”
devoted! I promise I
Everyone in the Pack
will be infinitely
screamed out his
devoted to
name.
BreezePack. I promise!”
“Welcome to
“Well, I suppose you
BreezePack,
can try and prove it.
Nightclaw,” Rockwing
You may become one
happily said.
of us but you will prove
I’m a member of
your devotion!”
BreezePack! Now all
Kestrelmoon ordered.
that’s left to do… is
“Of course. I promise! I
succeed in my training.
will not let you down!”
Splash’s story… had
“Well to begin with, you
only just begun.
must have a mentor. As a mentor you will be given…” Splash hoped for Rockwing. Rockwing, please Rockwing! “Redheart,” Kestrelmoon ordered. NO!!! Splash screamed in his thoughts. “Good luck!” Redheart
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
49
OLLIE CALDEWEYHER This story follows Amethyst, a rare CrystalWing-LaceWing hybrid who grows up feeling different from the dragons around her. After witnessing a shocking murder and meeting three mysterious dragons from another land, she is drawn into an unexpected journey beyond the Crystal Caverns.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
50
Wings of Fire Prologue
Crystalwing tribe was
hatchery. Why would
located.
you put it there?”
Gemstone was up ages
As she walked back to
“I hid it there for a
before the rest of the
her home, she saw out
reason. No-one can
Cyrstalwings. She
of the corner of her
see her hatch.”
scrambled through the
eye, her best friend
“Why can’t anyone see
courtyard and left the
since dragonethood,
it - sorry - her hatch?”
tribe’s camp and
Diamond , stroking an
“Do you promise you
searched behind all
egg. Her egg in fact.
won’t tell a single
the crystals in the
“Diamond, what are
dragon my secret?”
tunnels. “Where is my
you doing?” whispered
“I promise. I won’t tell
egg?” she thought,
Gemstone.
anyone.”
aggressively. Worried
“I found this egg in the
“Ok, I was in love with
about her egg, she
tunnels.” replied
two dragons before
trudged back to the
Diamond.
she came as an egg. A
heart of the Crystal
“That’s my egg.”
Crystalwing and a …
Caverns, where the
“But, I found it in the
Lacewing.”
whole of the
tunnels. Away from the
“So, your dragonet
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
51 could be a hybrid?”
she would be the most
spread throughout her
Gemstone nodded
dangerous dragon on
wings. She was a
slowly.
Panthardia, maybe
hybrid. Oh, no!
“My dragonet could be
even the world, if the
Gemstone thought. Ok,
taken away or killed.” It
Outer Continents really
just deal like this like a
was the number 1 rule
exist.”
normal dragon. She
for Crystalwings, don’t
“Oh.” Gemstone
needs a name.
have eggs with other
clutched her egg
“I think I will call you
tribes. And Gemstone
tighter and quickly left
Amethyst. For the
probably broke it. “No-
the home. As soon as
colour of your scales,
one else can see it
she got to her home,
which you will have
hatch. And please
she saw the egg shell
forever, unlike a normal
don’t tell the others.”
crack a small bit. It’s
Crystalwing.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
hatching! she thought.
“Yorble.” exclaimed
Gemstone gently
Gemstone gently
Amethest, pointing out
grabbed her egg and
placed the egg on the
of the doorframe.
dashed out of
floor and crouched
“I’m sorry, Amethyst. I
Diamond’s home.
down to make the egg
can’t let you go
“Wait.” exclaimed
eye level.
outside, it’s too
Diamond , when
More cracks appeared
dangerous.”
Gemstone got to the
in the eggshell. The top
Amethyst dropped into
doorframe. “Was the
of the eggshell finally
a sitting position and
LaceWing a flamesilk?”
broke off. A small
started playing with
“Yes.” replied
dragon popped her
her claws. Gemstone
Gemstone, calmly.
head out. It had
turned around and
“Oh, no. If your
purplish-blue scales
grabbed a small lamb
dragonet is a hybrid,
with stripes of green
for Amethest to eat.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
52 When she turned
palace pavilion,
Gemstone.
around again,
Amethyst let out an
“Gemstone. Here
Amethest was trying to
amazed gasp at the
again? What is it now?
grab her tail. She fell
beautiful looks of the
Not getting enough
on her belly and when
palace. There was
food? Getting too
she sat down again,
emerald pillars with
much food?” exclaimed
she finally grabbed her
lapis lazuli wrapped
Gold.
tail. Amethyst started
around it like a vine.
“Hang on. That
playing with each
The floors were
dragonet is not the
individual claw on her
covered with lazulite
normal colour. Is it a
tail.
and the walls were
hybrid? You know the
“Amethest, stop
made of gold, with
rules.” stated Emerald.
playing and quickly eat
small flecks of
“That’s what I am here
your lamb. We have to
diamond.
to talk about. My
go to the queen.”
“I know, Amethyst. The
daughter.” replied
Amethyst obligingly ate
palace is beautiful, but
Gemstone, sternly,
her food and stared, in
we have to go see the
“Just let me through
an unresistable look, at
queen.”
and I will have this
her mother. Gemstone
“Yorble…” muttered
situation done quickly.”
picked Amethyst up
Amethyst, sadly.
“Ok, just don’t take
and flew her over to
Gemstone hurried
too long.” Gemstone
the giant palace of
through the doors to
held on tighter to
Queen Lazilute at the
see the guards
Amethyst, who was
back of the heart of
standing at the
busy trying to reach
the Crystal Caverns. As
entrance of the throne
out to Gold’s scales.
Gemstone’s talons
room. “Emerald and
She walked in and saw
touched onto the
Gold, I think…” thought
Queen Lazulite sitting
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
53 on her amethyst
“Queen Lazulite, I was
‘Queen Lazulite’. Since
throne. Amethyst
in love with two
you are my daughter’s
looked at the throne,
dragons before my egg
best friend. Just call
to her own scales, and
came. A CrystalWing
me Lazulite. Same as
back again. She
and a LaceWing. I had
your daughter, she can
pointed at the throne.
no hope of telling
call me Lazulite too.
“Gemstone,
which tribe my
Ok, we are a bit off
Gemstone, Gemstone.
dragonet would be
track from the point.
What do you wish for
from.”
The promise you have
now?” exclaimed
“Actually, that is a fair
to make is that you will
Queen Lazulite.
reason.” muttered
never have eggs
“I’m here to talk about
Queen Lazulite to
again.”
my newly-hatched
herself, “Ok,
“Thank you, Lazulite.
dragonet. She was
Gemstone. You can
But, just to let you
hatched just a couple
have that dragon and I
know, I never even
of minutes ago.”
will tell the rest of the
wanted to have eggs.
“A hybrid. Breaking the
tribe. But, there is a
Not for a while, that
rules and then asking
promise you have to
is.”
for forgiveness?”
make.”
“Thank you for telling
“Please, let me
“Yes, I will do anything
me, Gemstone. Now
explain.”
you want me to do,
leave. But first, what is
“But why? You don’t
Your Majesty.”
your dragonets name?”
need to explain. We
Gemstone bowed low,
“Amethyst.” Gemstone
have the explanation
in an elegant way.
replied.
right here.” Queen
“Oh, Gemstone. You
“Such a beautiful
Lazulite nodded
don’t have to call me
name,” muttered
towards Amethyst.
‘Your Majesty’ or
Queen Lazulite.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
54 Chapter 1
tunnels.”
“It’s almost time for
Amethyst was crouched
“Amazing! That’s my
your transformation
low behind a crystal in
little daughter.” It has
into an adult
the tunnels. Her target,
been three years since
Crystalwing. I mean, an
a fox, was walking
Amethyst was born. As
adult Crystalwing-
closer and closer to
promised, Queen
Lacewing hybrid.”
Amethyst’s hiding spot.
Lazulite told the tribe
“I don’t need to be
Amethyst pushed
about Amethyst,
reminded that I’m not
herself around the
however some people
normal.” thought
crystal, leapt on top of
still don’t like her and
Amethyst, angrily.
the fox and killed it
still believe that she
“Amethyst, sorry I didn’t
with a swift slice of her
isn’t part of the tribe.
mean it that way.”
claw. She quickly
“The fox tasted really
apologised Gemstone,
devoured the fox and
good. I wonder what
after realising
hurried back to the
other animals taste
“It’s fine, mum.”
tribe home. When she
like, like a bird, a pig,
Amethyst walked away
got to the tribe home,
or a cow. I bet cows
into her room and
Amethyst slid back to
taste amazing.”
curled up.
her home.
“Luckily, Amethyst. I
“Oh, three moons.
“Hi, mum!” Amethyst
just caught a cow for
What have I done?”
called to her mother.
you.” Gemstone sliced
muttered Gemstone,
“Amethyst! How was
the cow in half and
accidentally just
your first hunt?” replied
pushed half towards
audible for Amethyst.
Gemstone.
her daughter.
Amethyst opened her
“Really good, mum! I
“Amethyst, I just
eyes, barely, to see her
caught a fox
realised something.”
mother walking
wandering in the
“Yes, mom. What is it?”
towards her.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
55 “Amethyst, I’m sorry. I
Chapter 2
great powers, but
didn’t mean it like that.
Amethyst woke up,
Amethyst believed it
I just wanted to say
stood up, and
was just a myth,
that you are taking
stretched her legs,
created by the
your time to transform
before walking out of
teachers to get their
into an adult…”
her room. Quietly, she
students to be
Amethyst cut of
took a lamb from the
interested in the topic.
Gemstone.
food pile and walked
“...to transform into an
out of the house,
After staring at the
adult hybrid. I get it.
eating while walking.
Echo Crystal for a
You don’t want me.”
She didn’t know
while, Amethyst
“Amethyst, I do want
exactly where she was
decided to go to the
you. I wanted to say
going; she just wanted
tunnels to help fill up
that it is almost your
to get away from her
her family’s food pile.
time to become an
home and her mother.
As she was passing
adult dragon. Please,
Amethyst had ended up
Diamonds’ home, she
don’t think of yourself
at the Echo Crystal.
felt her legs crumble.
like that.”
From what she could
“I’m sorry, mum. I just
The Echo Crystal was a
sense, three other
over-reacted. It’s fine.
crystal found by
dragons had landed on
I just need some rest.”
CrystalWings ages ago
top of her.
“Ok, darling. I’ll let you
in the tunnels, when
be.” Amethyst watched
the CrystalWings first
She pushed them off
Gemstone leave her
found this location and
her and looked at
room and she closed
made it their tribe's
them. They were not
her eyes.
home. It was said that
anything what
the Echo Crystal held
Amethyst was
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
56 expecting. The one at
had no way of knowing
pulled out Diamonds’
the bottom of the pile
what was inside it. Her
heart, and crushed it.
had rainbow scales
ground-sense couldn’t
Diamond was dead.
with white stretching
work because the box
Amethyst just caught a
throughout the
was made of metal.
glimpse of the
underside of his wings.
Amethysts’ ground-
attackers’ face. It was
The one in the middle
sense instantly perked
Azurite. Queen
of the stack had red,
up. Someone was
Lazulites’ other
orange, and yellow
moving very slowly in
daughter. Azurite never
scales. The one on the
the direction of
knew that she was the
top of the pile was a
Diamonds’ home.
daughter of Queen
light blue and aqua
Amethyst sharply
Lazulite, but it was
colour with a few
turned towards
common knowledge for
brown scales here and
Diamonds’ home. As
the tribe.
there.
she expected, someone
Amethyst watched in
“What the…” thought
was creeping up on
horror as Diamond
Amethyst, “Who are
Diamond.
slumped to the ground
these dragons?”
Amethyst opened her
and as Azurite grabbed
The rainbow scales
mouth to call a
Diamonds’ egg and
dragon suddenly
warning to Diamond,
slithered away.
groaned and slid out
but it was too late. The
“No.” muttered
from under the other
dragon grabbed
Amethyst in shock,
dragons. Amethyst saw
Diamonds’ neck and
before remembering
that the rainbow scales
her tail snaked around
the other dragons who
dragon was holding a
Diamond. The attacker
had landed on her. She
box. It was locked by
stabbed her tail into
turned around and saw
chains, so Amethyst
Diamonds’ chest,
that the other dragons
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
57 were starting to stand
MudWings? SeaWings?
Caverns, in the north of
up.
What are those?”
Panthardia. If you were
“Who are you?” asked
“They are four of the
to ever leave here, you
the dragon with the
seven tribes of our
would need a
box.
home.”
CrystalWing to help you
“I am Amethyst of the
“Four of the seven
get out of the twisting
CrystalWings. Who are
tribes? Your home?”
tunnels. The Crystal
you?”
“The seven tribes in our
Caverns are a maze.”
“I am Grapefruit, that
home, Pyrrhia, are
stated Amethyst.
is Inferno,” said the
RainWings, SkyWings,
“Hmm, I wonder which
dragon with the box,
SeaWings, NightWings,
random CrystalWing,
motioning to the red,
MudWings, IceWings,
who is willing and
orange, and yellow
and SandWings. Where
knows where we come
dragon and then to the
are we?”
from to lead us out of
brown dragon, “, and
“You are in my home,
the Crystal Caverns.”
that is Amphibian.”
Panthardia.” answered
muttered Amphibian.
“What tribes are you
Amethyst
“I’m right here!” stated
from? I’ve never seen
“What tribes do you
Amethyst.
you around here
have here?” asked
“See! No-one gets my
before.”
Inferno.
sarcasm.” stated
“I am a RainWing,
“We have CrystalWings,
Amphibian to Inferno.
Inferno is a RainWing-
MetalWings, and
“We have to get
SkyWing hybrid, and
LaceWings.”
home!” exclaimed
Amphibian is a
“But where are we
Grapefruit.
MudWing-SeaWing
exactly in Panthardia?”
“Fine, there is a secret
hybrid.”
questioned Grapefruit.
cavern below the Echo
“RainWings? SkyWings?
“We are in the Crystal
Crystal – that’s the big
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
58 crystal in the centre of
began streaming out of
from the tribe. The only
our tribe's hideout. I
their caves and
explanation is that the
found it as a dragonet
gathering below the
murderer wanted to
and I’m sure no other
palace pavilion.
wipe out all of the
CrystalWings know of
heirs to the
it. I will take you there
“I have called you for
CrystalWing throne.”
and I will get my stuff
terrible news. My
Amethyst took her
from my cave. I will
daughter, Diamond,
chance with all of the
come back immediately
has been murdered.”
outraged shouting and
after.” assured
Queen Lazulite
slipped into the secret
Amethyst.
continued, despite the
tunnel.
Amethyst led the trio of
murmurs from the tribe.
“Grapefruit?
strange dragons to the
“From the marks on her
Amphibian? Inferno?
secret cave and ran
body, we can tell that
Where are you?”
back to her cave. She
she got murdered by a
whispered Amethyst,
grabbed a few animals
CrystalWing. We
using her ground-
from the food pile and
couldn’t find her egg,
sense.
put it into a bag. As
but we also couldn’t
“We’re right here!”
she was leaving her
find any signs of a
exclaimed Inferno.
cave, she heard Queen
destroyed egg. We can
“Lets get out of here.”
Lazulite call out to the
only guess that one of
replied Amethyst,
tribe. “May all dragons
you murdered my
hurriedly.
old, who have hunted
beloved daughter and
“Whoa, whoa! Why so
at least once, gather
stole her egg. Or
fast? Just a few
beneath the palace
another CrystalWing
minutes ago, you were
pavilion for a tribe
killed her, stole her
reluctant to leave.”
meeting.” Dragons
egg, and is now fleeing
stated Amphibian,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
59 questioning.
light was coming from
her first time outside.
“You don’t want to
the end of the tunnel
“It’s a tribe secr…”
know. There is no-one
they were currently in.
Amethyst cut herself
around, let's go now!”
Amethyst stepped
short, not wanting to
commanded Amethyst,
forwards and felt a
talk about her tribe,
rushing out of the
soothing sensation on
“CrystalWings have
secret tunnel.
her feet. She took
something called
another step and saw
ground-sense.”
Chapter 3
the hills and mountains
“What’s that?” asked
“Hurry up!” forced
around her. She was
Inferno.
Amethyst, “We need to
out of the Crystal
“CrystalWings can
get out of here!”
Caverns for the first
sense through the
Different crystals flew
time.
ground. We can tell if
past them as the ran
“Are you ok?” asked
something is there,
through the Crystal
Amphibian.
where they are, and
Caverns. Amethyst’s
“Yeah, it’s just that
what they're doing.”
ground-sense told her
this is my first time
“So that’s how you
that they were nearing
outside.” murmured
knew that it was safe
the entrance to the
Amethyst, still in shock
to leave the secret
Crystal Caverns.
by the beauty of the
tunnel.”
“Are you sure this is
world taken away from
“Yes.” replied
the way?” asked
her by her tribe.
Amethyst, turning
Grapefruit, “We’ve
“Really? How did you
away. She spread her
been going for ages.”
get us out of here
wings and flew to the
Amethyst didn’t reply
then?” asked
highest boulder
and hurried forwards.
Grapefruit, not
nearby.
Suddenly, a blinding
convinced that it was
“The sun is moving
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60 towards the mountains.
wouldn’t be here.”
going or not?” asked
That means that the
stated Amethyst,
Amethyst, turning
mountains are west
overhearing their
away.
and the hills are east.”
conversation.
thought Amethyst. She
“What do you mean?”
flew back down and
“I am a hybrid. A
told the others about
CrystalWing-
what she figured out.
LaceWing.”
“I noticed that we got
“WHAAATTTT?????
sucked out of Phyrria,
REALLY?????”
we were going east a
screamed Inferno.
bit when we got
“Geez. Calm down.
transported here.” said
Calm down. Didn’t you
Inferno.
notice how my scales
“We can’t be on
were different to my
Pantala, Amethyst said
tribes? Normal
herself that we were
CrystalWings’ scales
on Panthardia.” replied
change by the month.”
Grapefruit
replied Amethyst,
“But, this is her first
calmly.
time being out of the
“So, that’s why
Crystal Caverns.
everyone’s scales were
Maybe the HiveWings
a light blue-ish colour.”
didn’t find her tribe.”
muttered Grapefruit,
replied Amphibian.
audible for everyone to
“If this was your so-
hear.
called Pantala, then I
“Come on. Are we
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61
LINCOLN DENNIS This story follows Agent Heavenstrike as he is thrown through a series of strange and dangerous realities filled with mysterious creatures and terrifying challenges. As he struggles to understand where he is and why he has been chosen, the story explores fear, survival, uncertainty, and the blurred line between reality and illusion.
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62
Shards of Reality Chapter 1
words on a wall. Warily
flickered. As he turned
Psychological Pain
striding toward them,
the 5th corner, the
his eyes caught the
lights turned off.
Agent Heavenstrike, a
words etched into the
Slowly turning his
walking, robed
wall. “Those who enter,
head, a slim, black
creature, woke from a
may they be wary and
shape, staring at him
deep slumber in an
tread with caution, for
through the flashing
illusion maze.
this region isn’t for the
lights. It looked like a
Surrounding him was a
faint of heart.” Agent
twisted black vine
perplexing maze of
Heavenstrike was
standing. Petrified,
blue stripped halls and
confident in his skill,
Agent Heavenstrike
rowed lights. Dragging
but not aware of his
dived to the right of
his limbs up,
arrogance, strode
the outstretched arms.
Heavenstrike glared
forward past the
Sprinting away from
around the mysterious
caution-filled words.
whatever that entity
complex. Cautiously,
Further in the maze, a
was. Whilst he was
wobbling forward, he
whirring noise started,
glancing behind
noticed a group of
and the lights
himself, a countdown
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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63 started. Not knowing
scratching noise
time to react, Agent
what was going to
started approaching
Heavenstrike clenches
happen at the end of
him. Agent
his eyes shut and puts
the countdown, Agent
Heavenstrike picked up
his fists forward as a
Heavenstrike launched
his pace. Scrambling
final effort to survive.
his body to the floor.
into a random
A few seconds passed
“Shvoomp.” Good Job,
abandoned store, the
though nothing
candidate. You have
noise crept closer.
happened. Cautiously
completed the first
Outside the door was a
opening his eyes,
shard of reality.”
tall white figure that
Agent Heavenstrike
was facing away from
saw the jaws gaping a
Chapter Two
him. Its neck had
few meters away from
Action Detected
bulging parts every
him. “You shouldn’t be
now and then. It was
here!” said a strange
Blinded by the light
unnaturally tall. Its
figure behind him.
that seeped into his
claws were as long as
Turning and facing the
eyes as he teleported
Agent Heavenstrike's
figure lasted only a
to the next,
entire body. Whilst his
few seconds before
“Dimension, reality,
head was turned
everything went white.
universe?” thought
looking for a weapon,
Light seeped through
Agent Heavenstrike,
the monster's head
his eyes as Agent
though he didn’t know.
turned to stare at him.
Heavenstrike lay on an
All he saw was an
Only the head twisted
ED hospital bed.
underground city. As
to face him. With split
he slowly walked
second precision, the
around the floor of the
head lunges forward at
strange city, a
him. Not having enough
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64
WILLIAM SATCHELL This story follows Eliseo as he accidentally steps through a mysterious portal and finds himself 200 years in the future, in the middle of a war. With the help of Evander, he must survive an unfamiliar world before finding a way back home.
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65
The Door to War Eliseo stared towards
The man was wearing
slumber. He walked
the glowing portal. The
old navy armour.
over to the man he had
portal was blue and
“Are you okay?!” he
seen earlier.
gold, with stripes of
said.
“Oh good, you're
pink running down it.
The man looked over at
alright. If that poison
Behind it, he could see
the bullet and looked
bullet had impaled you,
buildings floating and
shocked.
you would be dead. My
cars flying. He began
“We’ve got to get you
name is Evander, by
to walk in a trance
to the rebel base.
the way.”
toward it.
NOW!!!”
“Where am I?” asked
“Stop this!” he yelled.
Dizziness flooded over
Eliseo.
On the other side,
Eliseo and the man had
“You’re in Devious Soul
Eliseo could hear
to haul him to their
City,” answered
gunshots. Suddenly, a
base. He was put in a
Evander. “Come on,
bullet grazed Eliseo’s
pod and everything
let’s get you set up.”
shoulder and he yelled
went dark.
Eliseo and Evander
out in pain. A young
Two hours later, Eliseo
walked past hallways
man rushed up to him.
awoke from his deep
of cool gadgets and
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66 animals Eliseo had
day, Eliseo was rushed
shouted Eliseo in
never seen.
out of his room and
response.
“Here you go,” said
given his gun.
“That can be
Evander, handing
“It’s time to go,” said
arranged.”
Eliseo a rifle.
Evander.
“How?”
“What are we doing?”
“Fine!” sighed Eliseo in
“We use the
asked Eliseo.
reply.
interdimensional
“Going to war,”
He took his gun and
portal.”
answered Evander.
walked out of the
The next day, Eliseo
“What?!” screamed
building. Outside,
got ready to go. He
Eliseo, shaking the
there were lots of men
went to the portal and
building and causing
armed and shooting at
stepped through. For a
dust to rain from the
lots of other men. He
second, he was in 1900.
ceiling.
ran away and started
Then he was home.
“Yeah, we’re at war.
shooting at the tanks
You should know that.”
coming towards them.
“No, I don’t, because
They imploded and he
there is no war in
continued forward.
2026.”
Eliseo continued
“Hey, buddy,” said the
forward and he came
guy who was loading
across Evander.
his rifle. “It’s the year
“Come back,” said
2226.”
Evander.
After that, Eliseo was
“No,” yelled Eliseo.
shaking and kept
“Why not?” asked
extremely quiet. When
Evander.
dawn came the next
“I want to go home,”
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67
TEDDY DENVERFEDDER This story follows a 17-year-old living in a broken future who sets out to find a purpose and change the world around him. After being pulled into a strange alternate reality filled with time loops and impossible events, he must find a way back and confront the person responsible for destroying society.
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68
2099 The year was 2099 and
peoples' waste
government. Often,
the world was broken. I
celebrating with a
you’d come across
had just celebrated my
birthday cake made
entire streets which
17th birthday… if you
out of food scraps
had been ripped out of
could call it that. My
found in the huge pile.
the ground just like
friend and I lived in a
I had to find my
happiness had been
small bin town called
purpose. I had to save
ripped out of
Wastetown. Life was
the world.
everyone's soul. My
fine up until 30 years
parents had been alive
ago, when he arrived.
Walking out of town,
before the world went
He ruined the world.
the first thing I came
evil but had died
We were now living in a
across was a giant
young. Normally, the
world where there was
burnt down factory.
sound of crying would
no democracy,
This had happened
fill my town which
happiness, or good
when he took power,
seemed like the worst
future. What was my
destroying everything
noise in the world. But
purpose if I was just
that had anything to
here, the touch of
sitting here in the rich
do with the past
silence felt deathly and
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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69 depressing like the
light flash banged my
touch of cold metal on
eyes and I fell through
a Winter’s day. My
a bright blue hole.
pace slowed and I
different.
These people around the lake… I knew them.
stared at my feet with
Falling and falling, a
These people were my
a hollow look. It felt
lake came into view
friends before they
like I was being
and life diving through
disappeared 5 years
watched. Suddenly, I
rubbish and escaping
ago. When he started
was grabbed from
police or finding
his dictatorship. Now,
behind and all I felt
something would finally
they were living in this
was the cloth covering
come to use. I held my
alternate world which
my mouth before I was
hands above my head
seemed perfect but it
knocked out cold.
and braced for impact
was a paradox. I
and then… CRASH! I
thought that it couldn’t
I woke in a dark musky
looked around the
be true. Was it? Was
cellar and the scent of
deep blue lake rapidly
where I was right now
chloroform was
losing my breath.
a reality or just a
overwhelming. My
Surging upwards for
figment of life, what
blood was pumping
what seemed like an
was happening to life,
and my heart was
age, I burst through the
a non-existent unreal
beating fast. I looked
water's surface only to
place where unreal
for a door only to come
be blinded by a bright
people went to do
up empty handed. I
yellow sun. As I
unreal things? What
kicked at a small stone
regained my
was life? Was I being
on the floor in
consciousness, I
controlled by this
frustration only to hear
noticed that everything
unreal force and unreal
a grating noise. A
seemed to be
people? Was anything r
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70 eally happening? What
loop but then I
I was back in the dark
was an unreal life if
realised… What if I stop
and musty cellar after
unreal things and
time? Could I not
my unexpected
unreal people were
effectively delete the
rendezvous. How had
real. I needed to leave
fabricated time in the
all the laws of space
this unreal paradox.
world to make my
and time broken and
How had this man who
actions different to go
taken me to a world
had taken over our
back to the real world?
which was looped
lives 5 years ago been
Every time I went back
infinitely? It must have
putting me in a fake
to the time machine I
been him, the man who
life that was
made sure to kick it
had started this all so I
paradoxical. I had to
until eventually when I
had to finish it. Hunting
leave this place.
fell the time machine
even harder, I put my
was so broken that I
hand through the hole
Walking along a non-
couldn’t get back
in the floor reaching
existent pavement, I
there. Suddenly, on my
around and finding a
stumbled across a non-
101st time of falling
button. A grating noise
existent building. I
instead of landing in
filled my ears and a
walked in and all of a
the time machine, the
wall to my left parted
sudden I was falling to
fabrication of time
revealing a long dimly
the lake again but this
broke and I was able to
lit corridor. About 30
time I smashed through
get back to the bright
minutes later I saw
a roof that wasn’t
blue hole. I fell
light and eventually
there. All of a sudden, I
upwards through the
came out into a thick,
was back in the time
hole and then…
dense, and dark forest.
machine. Life in this
CRASH!
I trudged through it
realm was an infinite
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eventually reaching a
♦ TERM 3 2026
71 floating building and I
everyone? I grabbed a
knew immediately that
cold flannel and
it was his.
begrudgingly threw it in his direction then
There was a small
found the control room
helicopter style ladder
which was adjacent to
that I scaled and
the throne room. I hit a
finally I reached the
button and a huge
top where I strolled
bang sounded. A huge
into his house only to
thunder strike sounded
find him sitting atop his
outside and instantly
throne thinking that he
the air felt cleaner.
deserved to treat all
Walking outside, the
the people in this land
piles of rubbish had
like filthy animals.
been erased and the
Immediately, I walked
people were with
over to him and
healthy food, clean
punched him right in
water, and the
the middle of his face.
beautiful nature that
Hearing his cry of pain
had surrounded this
reminded me when he
land a long time ago. I
came to my small town
had done it. I had
and wrecked me. Then
saved the world from
I stopped. Was revenge
the evil man who had
really the best
cast a wicked spell on
pathway? Was I doing
this land creating
this for me or for
alternate worlds and
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portals to other times.
72
TEDDY DENVERFEDDER This story follows Jack as he struggles with painful memories of the life and family he lost under a cruel dictatorship. Determined to bring change, he confronts the person responsible and helps restore hope to those around him.
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73
A New Life What had happened?
out. The cold touch of
engine drifted through
Life seems so different
life was like metal on a
the ajar window.
now. 50 years ago a
winter's day. Hard,
Immediately, I shot out
horrible person ruined
cold, and lifeless.
of my seat and raced
everything and
out onto the driveway
destroyed everyone.
“Mum, when do we go
managing to grab an
Everyone was there
and buy the turkey?” I
ancient faded red coat
physically but mentally
yelled from downstairs
that had once
and emotionally; they
in our old Edwardian
belonged to my
were gone. I was gone.
house.
mother.
seemed remotely lively
“Soon darling. Once
“Papa, you are finally
was him himself. Living
daddy gets home he
home!” I shrieked with
in Khartoum, Sudan
will take us to Mrs
a cry of delight.
before the dictatorship
Weber’s house.” Just as
“I have missed you so
was bad enough but
she said this the
much, daughter!” He
now it was an absolute
unmistakable roaring
said in his thick rusky
hellscape with no way
of my father’s ford
accent. “I have a little
The only person who
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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74 present for you.” He
Waking with a start,
ever give up though. I
knelt down on one knee
the sun pierced my
will push and push until
and handed me a small
eyes and I instinctively
we win… win.
box with a warm smile.
squinted them. I
I opened it and gasped
slumped down feeling
On the cricket field,
seeing a beautiful
more defeated than I
the opposing team
golden bangle studded
ever have. What was
needed 4 runs to win
with diamonds.
my life if I didn’t have
with 6 wickets in hand.
a purpose? Dragging
It was a lost cause. The
I opened my eyes, a
myself up, I felt more
142* I had hit earlier
lone tear dripping
determined than ever
hadn’t mattered due to
down my rough cheek.
to right wrongs and
the rest of my team's
My heart ached for
bring the world back to
collapse. Mother and
them so badly every
its original state. The
father had been so
day that I often
last time I tried the
proud of me. I was
thought it would give
dangerous feat though
chucked the ball by my
out completely.
I was put back in my
coach and he told me
Suddenly, many tears
‘place’. I had to be
to just bowl at their
poured out of my
sneakier and quieter
toes. I marked my 22
cornflower blue eyes
than last time. I
step run up and eyed
and I curled up in a
couldn’t be given up by
down the flat wicket.
little ball on the ground
the squeaking of the
Charging in, I bowled
wishing the rubbish
ancient and noisy
the ball too short and
riddled floor would
building. There were
was smacked but
open up and let me fall
people who were never
somehow the man on
forever.
awake but always
the rope took the
asleep. No way would I
catch. Running in again
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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75 I bowled the perfect
middle stump. We had
yorker hitting him right
won…won.
in the middle of his
“Hello.” I called from the door. I felt fancy in
shoe. HOWZAT!? The
I shook my head and
my London cut suit.
umpire raised his finger
found myself standing
Opening the door, a
for LBW. It was the
in a rubbish filled
lady in towering high
same story for the next
gutter in front of the
heels and a plunging
2 batsmen. We now
evil dictator’s house. I
back dress welcomed
needed 2 wickets to
felt so deflated. That
my mother, father, and
win with them still
match was one of the
I into the beautiful
needing 4 runs to win. I
best moments of my
house with its towering
bowled a brutal
life. It was just a few
ceilings, elaborate
bouncer to the next
days after that they
cornices, 1000kg
person who put his bat
had… no I couldn’t
chandeliers, and fancy
up in defense and the
think about the past I
curtains. I sat down at
ball went to the wicket
had to push on.
the beautiful
keeper. 5 wickets in a
Walking up the bland
mahogany table and a
row. I could hear my
and miserable cold
glass of sparkling
father cheering me on
stone steps I entered
water was placed in
as I raised the ball for
something akin to a
front of me.
my 5 wicket haul. I ran
palace with its high
in gritting my teeth but
ceilings, elaborate
I suddenly opened my
instead of bowling
cornices, 1000kg
eyes and I was in the
extremely fast as the
chandeliers, and fancy
kitchen of his house
batter expected I
curtains. It was a taste
helping myself to the
made it loop and spin
of my parents' boss's
bottles of sparkling
crashing into the
house…
water in the fridge. I
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76 smiled to myself
I dragged myself out of
in the nose and he
thinking that I should
this memory somehow.
doubled over. My face
have whatever I want
It had been happening
went red and I was
whilst I was here. I
a lot more lately my
ballistic. “How dare
made a pitstop at the
heart ached so hard
you do what you’ve
fridge grabbing several
for them it felt like a
done. You horrible
high end chocolate
fresh wound was
person. You don’t
bars, then I made my
always being opened. I
deserve happiness, you
way to the cupboard
found the red carpet
deserve what innocent
where I grabbed
that led to his
people have had for
several bags of chips. I
bedroom. This man had
the past 50 bloody
didn’t really care what
the audacity to take
years. I hate you. We
I ate considering I was
me and every other
have been living in
as thin as a rake…
child away from our
some of the hottest
rake.
parents, forcing us into
ever conditions in the
slavery while he made
middle of a rubbish
Raking the leaves off
our parents his
dump while you swan
the drive way, I
servants. HOW DARE
about up in the palace
mopped my brow with
HE? I found him lying
like Lord Muk you
a handkerchief which
on his bed like it was
despicable person.
was in my top left
like any other bloody
pocket. Mother had
Wednesday. He
I pushed him to the
just sent me out to
glanced up and an evil
floor and suddenly
sweep the endless
and smug grin spread
people from the dump
leaves off of the
over his face. “Hello
rushed in and
driveway.
Jack.” I walked up to
surrounded him. He
him and punched him
stood up and was
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77 escorted down to our dumptown and was shown the conditions. I was amazed by this. People must have followed me to his palace. Walking back to his palace, he was thrown in the vault with bread and water and no way out. We had done it. We had saved our country from this pathetic little man who had ruined us. For once everyone walked around with a purpose and with happiness.
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78
SHABBIR BAGASRAWALA This story follows Lucy, Max, Tom, and Sam as they become the first people to travel to Mars. Their mission quickly turns dangerous when a powerful storm separates them and they encounter a mysterious alien.
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79
Welcome to the Galaxy 5…4…3…2…1, launch.
you those few minutes
moment of their lives
The rocket soared into
were the worst few
and NASA’s history. The
the sky. The rocket
minutes of their lives.
crew members' names
rumbled, and the crew
Sometimes they felt ice
were Lucy, Max, Tom,
members started
cold, and sometimes
and Sam.
getting adjusted to
they felt like they were
their environment. It
just set on fire.
was a little scary, but
They were near Mars and were about to take
they started to feel
Finally, they ended that
their first steps on it.
better. They started
horrible experience
Thud! They had finally
experiencing the
and reached space. In
reached Mars after
dangers of the
a few months, they
months of waiting.
troposphere,
would be the first
They started going
stratosphere, and
people on Mars. They
deeper and deeper
mesosphere before
were now properly in
into Mars. Suddenly, a
reaching space. There
space and in the
loud noise came, and
were 4 members on the
galaxy. This was about
Mars started to rumble.
rocket, and I can tell
to be the biggest
That only meant one
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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80 thing: a huge storm
NASA.
rocket? Sam was the
had set across Mars
one in the rocket.”
and was going at 120
On Mars, the storm was
miles per hour.
getting better. All the
“Where am I?” Sam
crew members were
pressed the control
Luckily, according to
sitting in the tent,
button to talk to NASA,
NASA’s rules, they had
hoping for it to go
but he could not
to carry something like
away.
connect.
survive in for as long as
“Those were the
“Where am I? What
their oxygen lasted.
scariest moments of my
have I done?” he
The storm carried all
life,” one said.
thought to himself.
dust, rocks, and even
Finally, the storm
On Mars, they were not
small piles of mud.
stopped. They figured
having a good time. All
Sam was still on the
they should probably
of their oxygen masks
rocket taking care of
get out of Mars as
had only 5 minutes left,
it, not knowing that a
soon as possible
and the crew members
storm was heading
because they had
were panicking,
straight towards him.
already secured their
worried about whether
names as the first
they would survive or
Blast! It shook the
people to be on Mars.
not.
rocket, and he went a
So they got out of the
long distance away
tent and looked
Curiously, Max left
from Mars. The storm
outside.
them, not knowing
a tent which they could
sorts of things like
was so powerful that he lost signal with
what he was doing.
“Hey, where is the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
Suddenly, he saw a big
81 white figure, almost
enough to realise that
cherish their last
like the rocket. He
the alien was not
moment until Max
could not tell its size,
friendly but was in a
touched his oxygen
though. He screamed
really bad mood
mask. Then he saw that
out to everybody,
because it thought
his oxygen mask had
“Guys, over here!”
they were usurping his
increased by a minute.
land. With 2 minutes
He told the others to
The crew members
left on their oxygen
copy him.
rushed towards him,
masks and having to
“Max, you are a
hoping to find Sam in
deal with a mad alien,
genius,” said Lucy.
the rocket. They
they also had to rely on
They pressed their
reached Max and said,
Sam to come back for
oxygen masks 100
“Where is the rocket?”
them.
times, and now they had 100 minutes, which
The figure was coming
Sam finally realised
was 1 hour and 40
closer and closer.
what had happened.
minutes, on them.
Suddenly, it came into
He opened his GPS,
The alien finally spoke,
eyesight, and they
but it did not connect.
“IF YOU LEAVE MY
figured it was an alien.
He figured out he was
LAND, I WILL DO
This was an astonishing
washed away by the
WHATEVER YOU
sight. They had never
storm on Mars.
WANT.”
thought they would see
“What!!!! It is going to
The crew members
an alien. The alien
take me 2 months to
thought, and they
casually dawdled
reach back to Mars.”
figured that Sam had
towards them.
Back at Mars, things
got swept away with
were not going well.
the storm.
People were trying to
“Do we want to trust
It took them long
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
82 him?” said Tom.
whole story, and then
The crew members
after she finished, she
agreed, and luckily the
told Sam to go back to
alien could fly. They all
the USA.
jumped onto his back.
As they were coming
The alien was really
down to see the USA
tall.
flag, they were so
They were travelling for
happy to finally be in
about an hour when
their home country.
they saw something
They shared hugs and
white. They rode
excited looks.
towards it, and it was
“Wow,” said Max’s son.
the rocket. Max told
“That is so cool.”
the alien to steer left,
“I know,” said Max. “I
and finally they all
know.”
were at the rocket with Sam. They thanked the alien and, to their surprise, Sam was asleep. Sam woke up. “Ughhhhh,” said Sam.
Finally, he woke up and said, “You guys came back! How and when?” Lucy explained the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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83
STERLING HARMAN This story follows Nathan, a curious boy whose love of reading leads him through a mysterious book and into a world of magical realms. After accidentally breaking the boundaries between them, he must work with Charlie to stop the dangerous ShadowSkulls and restore balance.
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84
The Merging of the Three Realms Chapter 1
WORLD! Okay, I know
Nathan was a 12 year
The Mystical Library
that doesn’t sound very
old boy that was
exciting, but for
always very curious
“Come on, it is time to
Nathan, that’s heaven.
about the world, with a
go!”
Instantly he leaped off
passion for reading.
Mum yelled from
his bed and sprinted
And had a big heart for
below Nathan's
down the stairs, and
reading books, so that
bedroom.
before he knew it he
is why he loves his
“Yes!”
was jumping up and
local library so much.
He responded
down excitedly in his
Soon enough Nathan
excitedly at his
seatbelt. His heart was
and his mother Gaby
mothers call. He had
racing faster than the
had arrived, instantly
been waiting for this
speed of light, it was
without thinking
moment for an eternity,
almost like his brain
Nathan zoomed out of
and now the day had
wasn't linked to his
the car faster than
come, Nathan was
body,making him feel ill
lightning. Nathan
going to go…… TO THE
on the inside (though
always had a good eye
BEST LIBRARY IN THE
still very excited).
for books and spotted
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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85 some very quickly
DOOR’! He looked
second thought he
which took his interest
behind him before
leaped over to read
. But while he was
sneakily sliding through
this mystical book , but
galloping along to the
the mysterious door.
suddenly as soon as he
borrowing desk, he
The door revealed a
opened the book
spotted something
long spiral staircase
pages flew out and
unusual with the corner
that had torches on the
formed four shaped
of his eye. There was a
wall all the way down,
ovals in an instant.
giant poster on the
eventually Nathan
Then soon after
wall, but actually, it
made it down the
pictures were formed
was covering
never ending stairs to
in the ovals, ‘ Wait this
something behind it. It
reveal a circle of
isn’t an oval! This is
looked like……. A door!
bookshelves with
multiple portals!’
Obviously Nathan
ancient books filling
Nathan figured out,
dashed over to
them. And in the
weirdly Nathan's skin
investigate this strange
middle of it all, was a
felt a pulling motion
sighting, slowly and
giant book that had a
like he was being
carefully, Nathan
title that Nathan had
sucked in by a giant
pulled the poster off
never seen before
vacuum. And again
the door. Nathan's eyes
reading, ‘’The Three
another strange thing
widened to see an
Realms'’.
happened. Nathan's
ancient old mysterious
‘This. Is. Epic!’
eyes felt extremely
door that looked like it
Nathan thought, he
dizzy like he was going
was made from some
gleamed proudly that
to vomit, he could feel
sort of dark wood that
HE was the one who
himself fall and lift into
had a sign that read
discovered this place.
the air. And then
‘DO NOT OPEN THIS
Without thinking a
everything went
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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86 Black……
“Ummm yeah you're in
peacefullest realm of
Phyrria,”
them.”
Chapter 2
Great now Nathan
“What do you mean by
Phyrria
was even more
them?”
confused and had a
Nathan questioned,
“Umm hello…”spoke in
bigger headache.
now the boy looked a
a faded voice,
Nathan thought hard
bit frustrated with him,
Nathan's head hurt
about it and there was
as he slapped his hand
immensely as his vision
definitely no place
onto his forehead in
came into view whilst
called Phyrria in the
annoyance .
the sun shone into his
world. How did he get
“ Okay look my name is
face. “Uhhhh!” said
here when he was just
Charlie and there are
Nathan in confusion, a
in that secret library
two realms in the book
blonde haired nervous
area? The boy must
that contains us. The
boy came into view as
have seen his
first is the haunted
he rose up. “Oh thank
confusion and
realm. And second, is
god you're not dead!”
responded to it.
the golden gate realm.
The boy exclaimed,
“You're obviously not
And lastly you're in the
Nathan's eyes were still
from around here are
medieval realm.”
a bit blurry when he
you?”
Nathan took a while to
asked
as he looked him up
process the words that
“Do you know where I
and down.
came out of Charlie's
am?”
“Look, this is one of
mouth, Suddenly
The boy's eyes
the two realms trapped
Nathan had an idea of
widened in shock as
inside the book that
how he got here.
the words came out of
bears us in here, and
‘What if I actually did
his mouth.
this is by far the
get sucked into that
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
87 book that I opened,’
“Ummm right, well hello
unlike the others.
the thought didn't
NATHAN you should
Eventually the two had
seem possible. But
probably come with me
made it to the solid
there was a picture of
as the king would
steel gates of the
a medieval ancient
probably like to
castle. While Charlie
castle on the cover.
question your
murmurs to the guards
“Ummmm would you
appearance.”
Nathan takes a peek
like to tell me your
Charlie quickly spun
through the bars to see
name….”
around and gave a
a busy village with
Charlie asked politely.
signal to follow him. It
markets and carriages
There was silence for a
was quite a long hike
everywhere.
while Nathan wondered
to get to the castle
‘There must be a lot of
whether to trust him or
and Charlie explained
people that live here,’
not,
that he looked a bit
Nathan thought. At the
“Oh uhh sorry, my name
concerned when
top of the little village
is Nathan,”
Nathan had said his
was the huge ancient
Weirdly Charlie stared
name because all the
castle. It looked like
him directly in the
names here were
something from a
face, did he have
named after the past
fairytale. Stained
something on his eyes?
kings that had ruled
glasses, mossy stoned
Nathan was a pretty
here. He also told
buildings, red velvet
normal kid for his looks
Nathan that the king's
carpets on the inside,
he had hazel brown
name now was King
and creepy skeleton
hair and little freckles
Richard and was a very
figures….. Wait what,
across his cheeks, on
peaceful king that's
creepy skeleton figures
his face. So he must
why the mediaeval
are not a part of a
have looked fine, right?
Realm lived in harmony
castle, especially a
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
88 peaceful one. Though
blurry but Nathan was
first made it to a horse
maybe Nathan was just
sure that he could see
first and Nathan
hallucinating these
people running and
hopped on behind him
skeletons, after all he
screaming with
since he didn’t know
does have a huge
destroyed and burnt
how to ride a horse.
headache. But soon
houses in the
Without looking back,
after the figures smoke
background.
Charlie immediately
rose out of the doors
“C,mon get up, we
lashed the horse to
and windows and by
have to leave NOW!”
speed it up while
the looks of it he
screamed Charlie,
Nathan untied it and
wasn’t the only one
carefully Nathan stood
soon enough they were
who was seeing this
up to see Charlie
off. Nathan turned
because most of the
already sprinting away.
around to see the
villagers looked up to
Quickly Nathan
crumbling village
see this strange sight.
followed out the gates
burning in the roaring
And there was silence
and away from the
fire, ‘wait is that.’
before a BANG…..
chaos and out the
Thought Nathan as he
gates. Up above
saw something in the
Chapter 3
Nathan could see there
fire, IT WAS THE
To The Golden Gate
was a stable further up
SKELETON GUYS! Each
Realm
the track, the owner of
one of them were
the place had already
roaming the place
Red sparks and flying
run away and the
smuggling things and
rocks flew past
horses were frantically
by the looks of it they
Nathan's eyes as he
trying to break free of
were definitely
came crashing down to
the chains that held
searching but what?
the floor. His vision was
them in place. Charlie
What possibly could
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
89 this thing be? Nathan
as he thought they had
shoot them. Charlie
turned back to see
escaped. But soon
hesitated for a bit but
Charlie's back,
after the skeletons
then turned in to where
suddenly Nathan heard
came speeding around
Nathan had directed
something whizz past
the corner now too on
him. Skillfully Charlie
his ear something that
horses, and as if things
seethed the horse
was small and fast. It
couldn’t get worse
through the trees and
almost sounded like it
instead of plain arrows
bushes and eventually
was a…… ARROW, there
they had arrows that
they lost them in the
were skeletons
were on fire! Nathan's
thick forest.
shooting arrows at
eyes widened in fear
“I think we lost them.”
them! Charlie must
as he could already
Nathan said nervously,
have noticed it too
see what was going to
they rode for about an
because he started
unfold in front of them.
hour before finally
speeding up and had a
If they didn’t act quick
stopping for a break.
worried look on his
they probably would
Now they were well
face. Though luckily up
have their heads
clear of the chaos in
ahead there was
burning to ashes! There
phyrria castle and
another dusty track
was only one option for
stopped to catch their
that led into a luscious
this situation, “Go
breaths in the thick
pine forest that
through the forest!”
bushy forest.
seemed like it led away
Nathan yelled in
“What on earth were
from this chaotic main
panic, the only way
those things?”
path. Sharply Charlie
they would escape was
Nathan gasped, sliding
steered the horse to
if they went off track
down off the back of
the other track, Nathan
then it would be harder
the horse. His knees
let out a sigh of relief
for the skeletons to
felt like jelly as his feet
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
90 touched the soft moss
stopped pacing and
got sucked into the
of the forest floor. He
stared directly at
oval portals.”
slumped against the
Nathan with wide,
Charlie gasped,
trunk of a giant pine
frantic eyes.
stepping back. “You
tree, resting his aching
“Unless… unless
opened it? Nathan,
head in his hands.
someone opened the
that book holds the
Charlie dismounted far
Master Tome.”
balance of both
more gracefully,
Nathan felt a cold
worlds! When you
though his pale face
shiver run down his
opened it, the
was soaked in sweat.
spine. The memory of
boundary shattered. If
He began pacing back
the giant book in the
the Shadow-Skulls
and forth, running a
hidden library room
cross over into Phyrria
trembling hand through
flashed in his mind. He
completely, they’ll
his blonde hair.
was the one who
destroy the medieval
“Those were the
pulled the poster. He
realm and turn
Shadow-Skulls,”
was the one who
everything into a
Charlie said in a low,
walked down the spiral
wasteland!”
trembling voice.
stairs. He was the one
“I didn’t mean to!”
“They belong to the
who opened *The Two
Nathan pleaded,
Haunted Realm.
Realms*.
standing up quickly.
They’ve been trapped
“It was me,”
“I just love reading! I
on their side of the
Nathan whispered, his
didn’t know it was a
book for centuries! The
voice barely audible
magic trap! How do we
seal was never
over the rustling
fix it? There has to be
supposed to break. It’s
leaves.
a way to close the
impossible!”
“I opened the book in
book!”
Charlie suddenly
my world. That’s how I
Charlie took a deep
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
91 breath, trying to calm
And it might be your
the safety of the thick
himself down. He
only way to get back to
pines, heading toward
looked toward the
your world, too.”
the glowing horizon of
northern canopy where
Nathan’s heart
the Golden Gate,
the trees grew sparse
leaped. He desperately
knowing that the fate
and a faint golden
wanted to go back to
of two worlds now
light shimmered in the
his mother, to his
rested on their
sky.
bedroom, and to his
shoulders.
“There is only one
safe local library.
place where the realms
“Then we have to go
Chapter 4
can be reset,”
there. Right now.”
The Edge of Darkness
Charlie explained, his
“It won’t be easy,”
expression hardening
Charlie warned,
As the sun began to
with determination.
turning back to their
dip below the horizon,
“The Golden Gate
weary horse. “The
the lush green scenery
Realm. It sits right in
Golden Gate is
of Phyrria slowly began
the middle of the two
guarded, and we have
to fade. The leaves on
worlds. Legend says
to cross through the
the trees turned from
the Master Tome’s
Edge of Darkness—the
vibrant emeralds to
heart is kept at the
border between Phyrria
ash-grey, and the air
center of the Golden
and the Haunted
grew bitterly cold. A
Spire. If we can reach
Realm. But it’s our only
thick, ominous fog
the gate and use the
chance.” With a new
rolled across the
Master Key, we can
purpose, Nathan
ground, clinging to the
lock the realms back
climbed back onto the
horse's legs like icy
up and send the
horse behind Charlie.
fingers. Nathan
Shadow-Skulls home.
They trotted out from
wrapped his arms
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
92 tightly around his torso,
huge set of golden
Golden Realm!”
shivering
doors embedded into
Charlie yelled.
uncontrollably.
the side of a towering
“Hang on!”
“Is it always this cold
mountain.
Charlie kicked the
near the border?”
“The Golden Gate,”
horse into a full gallop.
“No,”
Nathan whispered in
The horse leapt over
Charlie said grimly,
awe.
the ancient rocks,
pulling the horse’s reins
“We made it!”
charging straight
tight as the animal
“Not yet,”
toward the golden
whinnied in fear.
Charlie said, pointing
bridge. Arrows began
“The dark magic from
down into the chasm.
to rain down from the
the Haunted Realm is
Crawling up the sides
sky, whistling past their
leaking through faster
of the rocky canyon
ears. One arrow struck
than I thought. Look up
were dozens of dark,
the ground right next
ahead.”
bony figures. The
to them, bursting into
Nathan peered over
Shadow-Skulls were
blue fire.
Charlie’s shoulder.
everywhere, their eyes
“Nathan, grab the
Spanning across a
glowing like red
reins!”
massive chasm was a
embers in the dark.
Charlie shouted
narrow bridge made
They had tracked them.
suddenly. “What?! I
entirely of shining,
At the front of the
don't know how to
golden stone. It
army stood a massive
steer!”
glowed with a soft,
skeletal commander,
Nathan shrieked.
warm light that pushed
holding a dark iron key
“Just keep us straight
back the creeping fog.
in his bony fist. “They’re
for the bridge!”
On the other side of
trying to breach the
Charlie urged,
the bridge stood a
gate to invade the
reaching into his
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
93 satchel and pulling out
like an hourglass, but
defend the bridge.
a small, gleaming silver
there was no keyhole.
“I’ll hold them off!”
mirror. He aimed the
Instead, there was an
mirror at the setting
inscription carved into
Chapter 5: The
sun, catching the last
the gold: ‘Only those
Master Tome
ray of light and
who seek knowledge
Nathan stared
reflecting a blinding
may turn the wheel of
intensely at the
beam directly into the
fate.’
glowing inscription on
eyes of the skeletal
“A riddle!”
the door. Beneath the
archers. The skeletons
Nathan realized, his
words were four
howled in pain,
library instincts kicking
circular stone dials,
dropping their bows as
in.
each carved with
their glowing eyes
“It’s not locked with a
ancient symbols
burned. The horse
key, it’s locked with a
representing different
clattered onto the
puzzle!”
elements: Fire, Water,
smooth golden bridge.
Behind them, the
Earth, and Air. ‘Seek
The dark fog couldn’t
skeletal commander
knowledge… turn the
touch the bridge’s
began marching up the
wheel of fate,’ Nathan
surface; the light was
golden bridge,
thought rapidly, his
too powerful. The horse
unaffected by the
brain racing through
skidded to a stop right
light. He raised his
every book he had ever
in front of the giant
heavy iron sword,
read. ‘In the library, the
Golden Gate. Nathan
roaring a battle cry
portals were shaped
slid off the horse, his
that shook the ground.
like ovals, and the
heart pounding against
“Nathan, hurry!”
pages flew out in a
his ribs. The gate had a
Charlie yelled, drawing
sequence! First was the
massive lock shaped
a small dagger to
blue breeze, then the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
94 green earth, then the
A blinding light poured
Gate. Inside was a
red flame!’
out from the crack
magnificent room that
“Charlie! Which
between the doors,
looked identical to the
element represents
illuminating the entire
hidden library Nathan
Phyrria?”
chasm. The heavy
had found back home—
Nathan screamed
doors swung open,
except this room was
over the clashing of
creating a massive
floating in a sea of
swords.
wave of pure energy
clouds. In the center of
“Earth and Air!”
that blasted backward
the room sat a massive
Charlie yelled back,
down the bridge. The
pedestal, and resting
blocking a strike from a
Shadow-Skulls shrieked
upon it was The Three
skeleton’s blade with
as the light swept over
Realms book, glowing
his dagger.
them, dissolving them
with a soft blue light.
“The Haunted realm is
back into harmless
The book was wide
Fire and Ash!”
black smoke that blew
open. Nathan slowly
“That’s it!”
away in the wind.
walked up to the
Nathan shouted. He
Charlie fell to his
pedestal. He looked at
grabbed the dials. He
knees, panting heavily,
the open pages. On
turned the Air symbol
as the skeletal army
the left page was a
to the top, followed by
vanished into thin air.
peaceful drawing of
Earth, then Water to
“You… you did it!”
Phyrria’s castle, now
cleanse the darkness,
“Come on!”
safe and restored. On
and finally Fire at the
Nathan said, helping
the right page was a
bottom to balance the
Charlie to his feet.
drawing of his own
realm. With a loud
Together, they walked
local library.
CLICK, the giant
through the grand
golden doors rumbled.
entrance of the Golden
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
“If I close the book,
95 the realms will be
closed, the oval portal
dust off his shirt, a
sealed safely forever,”
appeared right in front
huge grin on his face.
Nathan said, looking
of him. Nathan took a
He carefully replaced
back at Charlie.
deep breath, stepped
the poster over the
“Which means I have
into the swirling light,
secret door, keeping
to go home.”
and slammed the book
the magical world safe
Charlie smiled
shut. SNAP! Nathan
behind it.
warmly, stepping
blinked. The blinding
“Coming, Mum!”
forward to shake
light vanished,
Nathan called back,
Nathan’s hand.
replaced by the warm,
sprinting up the stairs
“Thank you, Nathan.
dim glow of torchlight.
two at a time. He had
You saved Phyrria. You
He was standing in the
a million stories to tell,
might just be a kid
hidden basement room
but for now, he was
from another world,
beneath his local
just happy to know that
but around here, you’re
library. The giant book
the greatest adventure
a hero.”
The Three Realms lay
of his life was resting
“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll
completely closed on
quietly right under his
never forget this
the central desk, quiet
favorite library.
place,”
and still.
Nathan said, a proud
“Nathan! Nathan,
smile spreading across
where are you?”
his face. Nathan
his mother’s voice
stepped up to the
echoed down from the
pedestal and reached
top of the spiral
for the heavy leather
staircase.
cover of the book. As
“It’s time to go home!”
he pulled the cover
Nathan wiped the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
96
DOMINIC LA ROSA This story follows Kai and his crew as a historic journey into Challenger Deep becomes a terrifying fight for survival. After being pulled into a strange hidden realm, Kai encounters dangerous creatures, a mysterious spirit guardian, and secrets buried deep beneath the ocean.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
97
The Abyss Chapter 1
climbed inside the
world as our long
Into the Deep
tight cockpit and
descent began. Within
clicked my heavy
minutes, the sunlight
The applause and
harness into place. My
faded into twilight
cheers of my
hand shook violently as
blue, then total
colleagues filled the
I reached for the start
darkness.
air, but my heart
button. Smiling
Bioluminescent
hammered so loudly I
reassuringly, my
creatures drifted past
could barely hear
crewmate whispered,
our windows like
them. Midday sunlight
"Hey, it's okay. We've
glowing stars. Sinking
sparkled across the
trained for this." Their
lower into the abyss,
golden hull as our
confidence steadied
anxiety crept back in. I
submarine rocked in
my nerves. I nodded
swallowed a pill before
the waves. We stood
and pressed the
taking my turn to rest,
on the brink of history,
button. The heavy
closing my eyes in
about to become the
hatch sealed shut with
hopes of waking up at
first people to descend
a pressurized hiss,
our destination.
into Challenger Deep. I
cutting off the outside
Suddenly, alarms
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
98 blared, metal
relaxing me. Suddenly,
trembling hand. "Did
crunched, and panic
Jake interrupted, "Oi,
you see that?" Isabel
seized the cabin.
you kids, we've got a
didn't look up. "It’s
job to do!" Before
deep-sea silt. Keep
anyone could speak—
your eyes on the
Chapter 2
CRASH! The ambient
scanner."
Leaving light behind
hum of life support usually offered
Chapter 3
Wake Up, Kai. A metal
comfort, but now it
The Impossible Call
pipe pierced my
only amplified the four
stomach, and crushed
thousand meters of
"Silt doesn't have a
debris pinned my leg.
black water pressing
spine," Jake muttered,
"Am I going to die?" I
against our hull.
pale in the green
whispered. Then I
Beyond the thick
monitor glow. Isabel
snapped awake,
viewing port, the abyss
sighed. "Let's stick to
covered in cold sweat.
was absolute. Then the
mission parameters.
My friend Izzy sat
darkness shifted. A
We're behind schedule
beside me, gently
colossal, jagged
on core samples." I
trying to calm me
shadow swept past our
tried forcing a breath
down. "Kai, did you
exterior floodlights. It
into tight lungs. "Yeah,
have a nightmare?" she
blotted out the light
let's just focus on..." A
asked softly. "I'm not a
entirely, displacing a
high-pitched, rhythmic
baby—you don't have
heavy wave that made
chime shattered the
to watch me sleep!" I
the hull groan.
room. Ring. Ring. Ring.
snapped. "It's okay,"
"Guys..." Jake’s voice
I pulled my phone out,
she replied, her
cracked, gripping the
the screen glowing
mesmerising blue eyes
console with a
brightly: Unknown
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
99 Caller. "That’s
me. When I tested the
the void. The mystery
impossible," I
copy by asking about
speaker urged me
whispered. "We’re four
our childhood hiding
onward, explaining
miles down without
place, it gave the
that this realm was
satellite signals."
wrong answer. "Damn
literal hell. To escape, I
"Don't touch it," Isabel
it, Kai, you're smart,"
had to travel forty
warned in a harsh
the entity hissed. Just
kilometers across the
whisper. Before I could
as I scrambled to
terrain and destroy the
answer, a violent
escape, my phone rang
realm's frozen heart
THUMP shook the sub,
again.
with an iron tool
plunging us into
before time ran out.
darkness. A deep,
Chapter 4
"Break the ice and free
echoing roar filled the
The Mysterious Guide
us both," the voice
cabin. When I opened
instructed before static
my eyes, we were no
"Kai… don’t trust her," a
cut the line. I set out
longer in the sub. We
crackling voice
immediately, but
had arrived in a
whispered through the
disaster struck. Thick,
strange, pink biome—
phone speaker. "How
rubbery vines burst
colourful, pressurized,
do I get out?" the fake
from the ground and
and completely alien.
Izzy asked. "You don’t,"
wrapped around my
Overcome by nitrogen
the radio voice replied
legs. With a sickening
narcosis, I hallucinated
grimly. "Run!"
snap, one vine broke
wildly, facing a
Suddenly, the pink
my left leg in half.
terrifying, shape-
ground split wide open.
Agony radiated
shifting creature known
Jagged ravines tore
through my entire
as a skinwalker. It took
through the landscape
body. I screamed in
the form of Izzy to trick
as the mimic fell into
pain, but I couldn't
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
100 stop now. Dragging my
monolith's roots, I saw
leg buckled, bringing
broken leg through the
a fox skeleton beside a
me to my knees. The
dirt, I pulled myself
rusted satellite phone.
newly restored fox
forward using my
The voice had
grabbed my arm,
fingernails. Up ahead,
belonged to the spirit
speaking directly into
through the fog, a faint
of this guardian all
my mind. "I can guide
blue light pulsated
along. "Break the ice,
you up, but you must
from a frost-covered
Kai," the fox's spirit
take me with you."
monolith.
whispered. "Free my soul. I brought the
Chapter 6
Chapter 5
pickaxe down with all
The Green-Veined Vine
The Spirit Guardian
my strength. The heart shattered into glowing
"Deal!" I yelled over
I reached the base of
shards, and the entire
the deafening
the monolith, finding
pink abyss screeched
collapse. The fox
an old iron pickaxe
as it collapsed. The
pointed toward a wall
buried in the soil. As I
fox's skeletal remains
of writhing tendrils.
raised it, a creature
glowed crimson,
"Climb the purple vine
stepped from the
rapidly growing flesh,
with green veins. The
shadows—a fiery
muscle, and fiery fur
solid purple ones carry
orange fox with
until the spirit became
deadly poison."
glowing, spectral eyes.
real. Above us, the
Scooping the heavy fox
My phone buzzed one
ceiling cracked like
into my arms, I
last time. "I'm sorry I
glass, revealing the
launched myself onto
couldn't meet you in
flooded hull of our
the wall. My fingers
person," the voice said.
submarine. "Izzy! Jake!"
locked onto a vine
Looking beneath the
I screamed. My broken
pulsing with neon-
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
101 green veins just as the
the seams. "The sub is
against the wet
surrounding tendrils
collapsing!" Jake
bulkhead, gasping for
snapped at us. With a
shouted over the roar
air."Kai!" Izzy yelled,
final burst of
of rushing water. "We
her voice barely
adrenaline, we scaled
need to find a way out
audible over the
the vine, erupting
before four thousand
deafening groan of the
through a fissure into a
meters of ocean
twisting hull. She
flooded chamber of
crushes us!"
lunged forward,
our sub right as the
grabbing my upper
pink biome imploded
Chapter 7
body before I could
behind us. Jake and
The sound was like a
slide into the rising
Izzy hauled me out of
gunshot, echoing
pool of water on the
the water. "Kai! You're
through the cramped,
floor."I've got him,"
alive!" Izzy cried,
metal corridor as
Jake growled, his
hugging me tightly.
another structural rivet
knuckles white as he
Seeing the fox at my
blew. Freezing
sheared off a piece of
feet, Jake drew his
seawater sprayed
loose wiring with his
diving knife. "What is
across my face,
diving knife. He shoved
that thing?!" "He saved
stinging my eyes and
the blade back into its
my life! He's coming
cutting through the
sheath and slipped his
with us," I wheezed,
adrenaline that had
thick arm under my
leaning heavily on Jake
kept me moving. My
shoulder, hoisting most
to keep pressure off my
left leg buckled
of my weight. "The
snapped leg. A massive
completely, sending a
escape pods are at the
shudder rocked the
fresh spike of blinding
end of Sector 4. But
chamber as deep-sea
agony straight up my
the blast doors are
water sprayed through
spine. I collapsed
already cycling down
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
102 to contain the flood! If
deafening screech as
black water. The main
we don't move now,
the final bulkheads
path was gone.Jake
we're buried in this tin
gave way. Wrapped in
didn't argue further. He
can."At our feet, the
the fox's protective
hauled me down the
orange fox let out a
crimson glow, we were
narrow left corridor,
low, vibrating growl. Its
blasted out into the
Izzy keeping pace
spectral eyes flared
freezing, weightless
while the fiery fox
bright crimson in the
void just as the
blurred ahead of us.
emergency red lighting
submarine collapsed
The hull groaned, the
of the sub. It didn't
into a twisted knot of
walls compressing
look back at the
steel. "Jake, stop!" I
inward, narrowing our
rushing water; instead,
gasped, pulling against
escape route by the
it stared intently down
his grip. "The fox says
second. At the end of
the dark, tilting
the main path is dead!
the shaft sat the
hallway, its ears
We have to go left—
auxiliary emergency
twitching. Follow, a
into the maintenance
pod—a spherical,
voice echoed directly
conduit!""Are you
heavily reinforced
inside my mind—calm,
insane, kid?" Jake
capsule meant for
ancient, and entirely
yelled, but a deafening
absolute worst-case
detached from the
THUD echoed from
scenarios.Izzy threw
panic freezing my
Sector 4. Through the
the hatch open. Jake
blood. The main path is
reinforced glass of the
practically tossed me
already dead.
partition, we watched
inside, my broken leg
the heavy steel blast
flaring with a white-
Chapter 8
doors buckle outward
hot agony that made
The emergency hatch
like tin foil, instantly
my vision blur. The fox
blew outward with a
swallowed by a wall of
leaped in right behind
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
103 me, landing heavily on
the creature with wide,
trench. It was a
my chest. Jake
terrified eyes. "Kai...
seal.Suddenly, the
scrambled in last,
What is that thing? And
black walls of the
grabbing the heavy
how did it just put
capsule seemed to
iron wheel of the hatch
voices in our
melt away. We weren't
and spinning it with
heads?"Before I could
looking at the inside of
everything he had.
answer, the fox's
a pod anymore; the fox
spectral crimson eyes
was projecting a vision
Chapter 9
flared. A sudden wave
directly into our brains.
The violent spinning
of calm washed over
We were seeing the
slowly stopped. The
the pod, dulling the
ocean through its
pod drifted upward,
throbbing agony in my
memories.Thousands of
rising through the
broken leg. The
years ago, the vision
thousands of meters of
darkness around us
showed a vibrant,
silent, black ocean.
didn’t just feel like
subterranean paradise
Inside the cramped
empty space anymore—
—the pink biome I had
capsule, the air was
it felt alive. ''Do not
just escaped. It had
freezing, but the
fear'' the ancient voice
been a sanctuary of
orange fox radiated a
echoed clearly inside
pure energy, guarded
strange, physical
all of our minds. The
by a powerful spirit
warmth that kept the
fox didn't open its
corporation of ancient
frost from creeping
mouth, but its ears
entities, led by the fox.
over our skin.Jake
twitched as it looked
But humanity’s
slumped against the
at each of us. You call
pollution, sonar testing,
wall, his diving knife
this place the
and greed didn't just
slipping from his numb
Challenger Deep. But it
harm the surface
fingers. He stared at
was never just a
waters; the negative
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
104 energy bled deep into
pressure of your ship,
deep—is now awake.
the earth, corrupting
combined with the
And it is following us to
the sanctuary. The pink
entity trying to escape,
the surface.
paradise fractured,
shattered the final
turning into a
barrier. The phone you
pressurised prison—a
answered was my spirit
literal hell. The entities
using the residual
Sunbeams, all of us
were corrupted,
satellite tech left by
look up and see the
twisted into shape-
past sunken vessels,
sun and people as we
shifting skinwalkers
trying to find a mind
celebrate the fox feels
that fed on human
strong enough to break
scared for the first
fear. The fox had
the ice.Izzy reached
time in his life and
sacrificed its physical
out, her hand trembling
claims he sees
form, binding its bones
as she gently rested
something and gets
beneath the frost
her fingers on the fox's
spooked. I looked out
monolith to lock the
fiery fur. "So... you
the window then down
worst of the horrors
used Kai to free
into the endless abyss
away from the surface
yourself?""'I used him
there was a big pod
world. The vision
to save us both,' the
like monster. My heart
shifted, showing our
fox corrected gently,
drops with terror. It
golden submarine.
resting its heavy head
was the same thing
Your arrival broke the
on my lap." But the
when we were going
delicate balance, the
seal is broken. The pink
down into the abyss.
fox explained, the
biome is gone, but the
When we reach the
vision fading as the
colossal shadow you
surface I run to the
dark walls of the
saw outside—the first
hatch of the pod and
capsule returned. The
corrupted god of the
jump out. I breathe
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
Chapter 10
105 deep and exhale and
memory as a child was
scream LAND!!!!! When
on the street with no
i thought that it would
family. My parents and
be the end of my story.
siblings went through a
I looked back at the
door and they never
ocean and the same
came back. The worst
pod i saw in the ocean
moment of my life was
i looked back at land
discovering the truth
and ran faster than i’ve
about my life and me
ever gone before. But
dying but, maybe it
running didn’t do
was all worth it.
anything, it just ate
Because well, I have
land it was going for
friends, Jake and Izzy
me. I didn’t hesitate to
so… maybe my life was
stop, I looked it in the
worth the trouble. I die
eye. The monster stops
with a smile on my face
and opens its mouth
thinking it was all
and i walk in giving up
worth it.
on life.
I close my eyes, my brain makes me think that I'm feeling heaven but the monster gulps, my life flashes. I see my true life and know the reason why my only
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
106
HAMISH THOMPSON The Guardian's Fury Part 2 is a continuation from the Term 2 story. It is a fantasy adventure about a mysterious warrior named Lance who awakens after one hundred years with no memory of his past.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
107
The Guardian’s Fury - Part 2 Chapter 6
The pair came up on a
from Dasher’s high
The Climb
strange tent further
saddle and led him to
along the path. Atop
the front of the tent,
The darkness around
the white roof was a
where a man stood
Lance faded into the
structure made of
behind the counter
real world, as he stood
wood that strangely
waving to him. Lance
up. He slipped on the
resembled the head of
began to chat with the
chest plate. It fit
a horse. He slowed
fine fellow, his name
perfectly? Lance
Dasher down to a slow
was Arthur and he
jumped back onto
gallop, as they
worked as the keeper
Dasher and continued
approached the tent,
of the stable. He
along the path. They
Lance noticed the
offered some food to
rode along the path,
music billowing out
Lance, and also to care
through the mud,
from the place. It was
for his horse. Lance
twists, turns, and even
a cheerful tune played
accepted straight
monsters. But still
by a flute and a
away, receiving a sack
Lance knew it was
backing accordion.
filled with some water,
worth it, all for Zora.
Lance jumped down
a sandwich, and some
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
108 cheese. He thanked
behind him. It had thick
led down the stony
Arthur and began
yellow skin, decorated
tunnel into the
walking to the summit
with volcanic rocks of
mountain, the creature
of the great volcano.
all sizes. The creature
explained who he was.
And began to climb.
had two black beady
His name was Axel, and
eyes, and a wide
he was the Goron
Chapter 7
mouth. Lance put his
leader's only son. As
The Creature
hand on his sword
they reached the end
ready to defend
of the tunnel, Lance
Lance climbed up the
himself, when the
noticed a faint, warm
rocky landscape,
creature spoke. “Wait”,
glow. In the room
avoiding the pointy
“No don’t hurt me, I'm
ahead was Goron city,
rocks and burning
friendly!”, it yelled. “I'm
a place shrouded in
sulphur. After a while,
just a goron, one of the
mystery, since it was
lance reached a
many peaceful
too hot for any human
comfortable ledge to
creatures of the
to spend much time in
have a bite to eat. He
volcano”. Lance ,
at all. All of a sudden
sat down pulling the
intrigued, listened to
Lance felt extremely
sandwiches from
what the creature had
faint as the heat
earlier, out of his
to say. “Come”, the
emanating off the
rucksack. While Lance
goron said, beckoning
nearby lava washed
was sitting there, he
him into the tunnel.
over his body, his
heard a strange crack
senses then faded to
from behind him. He
Chapter 8
spun around, only to
Goron City
face a strange creature standing
black.
He woke soon after. He
While Lance was being
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
found himself in a
109 dimly lit room, lined
heat. "Why am I not still
you'll gear up with
with iron beds - all the
faint?" asked Lance.
some bomb arrows
same, with with soft
"Probably because of
provided by me, then
bedding on top. Next
the flame resistant
you'll get something to
to him sat a Goron just
elixir I made you drink"
protect you. I suggest
like Axel, but he looked
boomed the Goron
some knights' armour
different. This one had
boss. The Boss's face
and a shield from the
a huge white beard,
then changed from a
armoury. Then finally
braided at it's long
jovial, friendly look, to
you will head up the
white tips. His face
a serious, grim, stare.
volcano to face the
was similar to Axel's,
"I know where Nayru
elder guardian". The
but covered in deep
is.” His voice quietened
wind whistled around
wrinkles. He only had
as he stepped Lance
Lance's body, his metal
one good eye, with the
through the plan for
plated armour
other covered by a
the next stage of his
clattering because of
silver eye patch. "Hello
quest.
it. Regardless, no
traveller!" said the
matter how hard it
Goron in a loud
Chapter 9
would be, Lance knew
booming voice. "I am
The Final Hour
he was going to make
the Goron boss, father
it. He had to make it.
of Axel. He told me of
"Alright, you got it
"Don't worry, Nayru",
his meeting with you",
Lance?" The Goron
thought Lance, "I'm
he said. Lance stared
boss said. "Could you
coming". Relief washed
at the boss and
just run over the plan
over his body, as the
realised he was feeling
again?" asked Lance,
top of the almost-
completely fine,
overwhelmed with
vertical summit grew
despite the intense
information. "First,
near. Then with a bit of
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
110 struggle, Lance pulled
Now was the moment,
before completely
himself onto the ridge
Lance had to prove
becoming the familiar
of the great chasm.
himself. With a leap of
body of Princess Nayru.
Almost as soon as
hope, he drew his
Her body fell through
Lance stepped towards
sword and jumped. The
the air right into
the edge, a huge
impact carried such
Lance's arms. "Lance?"
robotic arm reached
force that his sword
said Nayru in a shaky
out of the lava pool
completely sliced
voice.
below, crushing the
through its core,
ledge opposite to him.
ending its life. The thud
"I'm here it's all going
Out rose a guardian so
of the mechanical
to be okay", Lance
large it could rival a
guardian hitting the
said, finally happy
dragon. The guardian
lava echoed
once again.
took aim, firing a red
throughout the whole
targeting laser at
kingdom. Everyone
Lance. Realizing he
knew that the kingdom
was about to be blown
was safe, and it was
up, Lance drew his bow
finally over.
with the guardian's eye in his sight. He
A light emerged from
released the arrow
the husk of the elder
letting it slice through
guardian, lifted Lance
the air shattering the
back to the ledge, and
blue glass of the
continued to rise.Once
guardian's eye.
his feet touched the ground, the light began
He had blinded it.
to form into a shape,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
111
OLLIE CALDEWEYHER This story follows Jack Graham as he begins a new life inside the secretive Srouis Defence Association and trains to become one of its agents. After weeks of intense testing, Jack earns an unexpectedly high position and must prove that he truly belongs there.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
112
Forces Divided Chapter 1
The five squadrons are
“Welcome to SDA,
Alpha, Beta, Gamma,
“Ah, you will go
Jack. This will be your
Delta, and Epsilon.
through a range of
new home until you
Each squadron has five
challenges, such as a
retire,” said Gail, the
ships, which have five
virtual reality flying
second-in-charge of
people in them, put
simulation, to test your
SDA, “or die.”. We were
into five ranks. The
flying and mid-air
in the SDA
normal start position
combat strengths, a
Headquarters, my new
for a new recruit is
survival island
home and work. “We
Epsilon 04 - Epsilon
simulation, to test your
are currently in the
05, so that’s probably
survival skills, if you get
Vehicle Arsenal. This is
where you will start.”
stranded and we can’t
where all five
get to you for days,
squadrons hold their
“I just have a quick
and more that I can’t
vehicles. As you might
question.” I said,
name off the top of my
know, our vehicles are
quickly, “What is the
head. Then those
hyper-technology,
test that determines my
scores average out and
spaceship-like planes.
start position?”
it puts you into a
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
113 starting position. All
answered Gail,
chucked my duffel bag
squadrons have a
pointing to a door,
on the floor and the
captain and four
"Tomorrow, you should
moment my head
leaders. The leaders
be getting a map of
touched the pillow, I
are the Rank 1s of each
the whole
was fast asleep.
ship and the captain is
Headquarters, marking
the Rank 1 of the first
all places you need to
ship, such as Alpha 01,
know.”
Chapter 2
Beta 01, Gamma 01,
I woke up after a
Delta 01, and Epsilon
peaceful night,
01.”
As she started walking
immediately got
in the opposite
dressed, brushed my
“Ok, I think I remember
direction, I headed
teeth, and exited my
that.”
towards the doorway
room.
she pointed at. Going “Are there any more
through, I noticed that
“Jack Graham!”
questions before you
the first door on the
someone from down
join the Srouis Defence
right had a sign on it
the hallway called. I
Association?”
that said “New
turned and saw a
Recruits”. I pushed the
brown-haired man,
“Yes, just one.” I
door open and
resting in a room down
replied, “Where are my
immediately noticed a
the hall. I walked
sleeping quarters?”
sign over another door
towards him and asked
saying “Jack Graham”.
him, “What’s your
“Ah, just go through
I entered the room and
name?”
that door and it is the
saw a bed with a
first door on the right.”
blanket and a pillow. I
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
“Luke Freko. You’re
114 finally here. Just to let
unlock. They unlock in
answered Luke, holding
you know for the
fire emergencies,
the door for me.
future, you have to
which barely happen
wake up earlier if you
since the HQ is
“Thanks.” I said,
want to have more free
underwater, and they
walking through the
time in the morning.
also lock in lockdowns,
door. On the way to
You have to be at
which also barely
the cafeteria, Luke and
breakfast for 8:30am.
happen, since our base
I kept talking about the
The best time to wake
is almost impossible to
SDA. We reached the
up is probably 6:00am,
find. You wouldn’t
cafeteria and
when we are first
know where it is, unless
immediately, Luke ran
allowed to leave the
a SDA agent told you
to the food area. I
dormitories.”
where it was. Also—”
quickly followed and grabbed some stuff to
“What do you mean
Luke’s words were cut
eat. We found a table
when we are first
short by a loud bell.
quickly and sat down
allowed to leave the
Everyone in the room
and started eating.
dormitories?” I asked.
stood up and headed for the door.
“The technology in here
“Why are we eating quickly?” I asked.
is insanely crazy. They
“What’s that?” I asked
have time-based locks
Luke.
“We barely have time
on the doors. But, I
for breakfast, because
think it is only for the
“Oh, that’s the
the actual activities
new recruits. And in
breakfast bell. We have
start really early.”
emergencies, they
to go to the cafeteria
Nearly on cue, a loud
either all lock or
to eat. Follow us.”
voice yelled to look at
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
115 him. He was a big
with lots of technology,
the bag, my mind went
beefy man with a big
such as VR headsets,
back over my journey
bushy moustache.
rooms with the titles
here. The amazing
“Stranded Island
mountains, bright rivers
“Attention! Alpha
Room”, and other stuff.
reflecting the
squadron is doing
The nearest person in
scorching sun, and the
border patrol, Beta and
Delta and Epsilon
beautiful flat ocean,
Gamma squadrons are
directed each of us to
stretching out to the
doing resource
our stations. I was on
horizon on all sides
gathering, and Delta
the VR headsets. I put
around the helicopter I
and Epsilon squadrons
it on and immediately I
took to get there. After
are doing new recruit
was in the sky in one of
a few more long hours,
training. New recruits
the hypertechnology
the day was over and
follow Delta and
planes. I saw a plane
as I was walking
Epsilon to the training
flying towards me and I
towards the sleeping
quarters.
immediately launched
quarters, Luke came
some missiles at the
running towards me
A group of five left
plane. It blew up and
and asked me what I
through a door, while a
immediately another
did today for the
group of ten left just
one came flying at me.
training.
after them in the same
The loop kept
door. The rest walked
repeating for a few
“I did the VR headsets
over to us and said
hours, before I got
and the punching
“Come with us.” We
moved to the punching
bags.” I answered. He
followed them through
bags to gain strength
handed me a small
the building and into
for hand-on-hand
device and told me
this ginormous room
combat. As I punched
that it was an Intellect
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
116 Communications
dropping into a chair
Device or ICD for short.
next to me. After a few minutes, my body
“It is used to
succumbed to the
communicate with
tiredness and woke up
others with one. You
a few hours later to
can either text them or
Luke bending over me
videocall them.” he
telling me to get up or
explained, “I have
we’ll miss dinner. We
already connected my
hurried to dinner and
ICD to yours so we can
we found out that it
chat easily when we
was roast beef with
are on missions if we
peas and diced boiled
can.”
carrot.
“Thanks.” I said, taking
We devoured the meal
it and pushing open
and slowly trudged
the New Recruits
back to our sleeping
sleeping quarters door
quarters. We quietly
and crashed onto the
went into our own
couch in the far corner.
dormitories and I
“Dude, I am actually so
flopped onto my bed,
tired. I can barely
falling asleep as
move.” I complained to
quickly as a fly could
Luke.
dodge a swat.
“Same.” agreed Luke,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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117
HAMISH O’SULLIVAN This story follows Bob and Jim, two curious friends whose search for their mum leads them into a mysterious sewer and an even stranger world. After discovering unsettling paintings and being transported into a place where everything seems upside down, they must face the consequences of their curiosity and find a way home.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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118
Mysterious Sewer 120 years ago
people and babies in
mum told the two
“Should we open it?”
strollers. Their hearts
friends where they
asked John.
beated out of their
were going, they
“Yes,” answered Jim.
chests. Once they
weren't listening, and
The door creaked
arrived, they started
now they were looking
open, and a mysterious
searching for their
for where the heck
figure growled from
mum. You see, Bob and
their mum was.
deep inside the large,
Jim were very curious
dark room.
and loved to wander.
Chapter 2
“AAAAAAHHHHHH!”
Today, they decided to
The Discovery
screamed the two of
follow a bird to a nest,
them, and they
and now you must be
After no success at the
sprinted away.
thinking, why is this
park, they left and
bad? Well, their mum
returned home close to
Present day…
was about to leave to
tears. They were
Bob and Jim raced to
take their younger
halfway home when
the playground,
sister, Poppy, for a
they heard a creaking
weaving through
walk, but when their
sound coming from a
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
119 sewer. At first, they just
moved on until they
and people were
ignored it, too
found the other side of
walking upside down.
distracted by losing
the sewer, when
“What the hell?”
their mum. But after a
suddenly the ground
shouted Bob, but the
while, the noise was
started to shake
words came out
getting louder, and
beneath them. What
backwards.
they could hear it from
was a gentle shake
Bob and Jim looked at
further away, and
was now turning into a
each other nervously
that's when curiosity
violent rattle. After a
and, without talking,
got the better of them.
while, it stopped, and
they both were thinking
They made their way
the ground gave out
the same thing: get out
over to the sewer and
beneath them,
of here. They bolted
crawled in. After a
dropping them into a
back to the tunnel, but
while of crawling, they
big multicoloured slide
it was sealed off.
found themselves in a
and dropping them
“What do we do?”
large room surrounded
back where they
asked Jim.
by paintings, but they
started, outside the
Then they both broke
weren't normal
sewer.
down in tears, and out
paintings. They had
of nowhere, an old man
weird creatures on
Chapter 3
walked up and said,
them. They looked like
After they turned
“Why are you crying?”
tall men with no face
around, they
“We have been
or emotion.
immediately realised
trapped,” answered the
that the world had
both of them, cursing
“These paintings are
flipped. Trees were
their curiosity.
creeping me out,”
upside down, cars were
whispered Jim. They
driving on their roofs,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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120
OLLIE CALDEWEYHER This story follows Viperpaw, a young apprentice whose curiosity leads him through a mysterious golden portal and into a dark parallel forest. There, he encounters Tigerstar and becomes caught in a dangerous threat to his Clan.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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121
Worlds Separated Viperpaw dived for the
twisting roots of the
and stood up, shaking
small mouse, caught it,
Skyoak. Carefully, he
his head.
and killed it with one
approached, and
swipe of his claw. His
where he should have
Viperpaw noticed
mentor, Cinderclaw,
seen the roots of the
immediately that he
nodded and said, “Well
trees, he saw another
had stepped outside of
done, Viperpaw. You
forest past a small
a tree. The Skyoak, to
hunt well.”
golden barrier.
be in fact. He looked at where his fresh-kill
Viperpaw picked up
Slowly, Viperpaw
pile was, but it wasn’t
the carcass and quickly
stepped into the
there. Viperpaw
ran to his small pile of
forest. Instantly, gravity
suddenly realised that
fresh-kill near the
was suspended, and he
it was darker than
Skyoak. As he was
was squished and
before. It seemed to
about to run back to
pulled, like he was
be night, even though
his mentor, he noticed
being tested on by the
it was the middle of
a small golden glow
Twolegs. Viperpaw fell
the day a few seconds
from a small hole in the
out of the glowing disk
ago.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
122 If this was the same
over it. As he was near
were killed ages ago,
forest, the lake would
the stranger cat, he
by Scourge, the
be nearby. He ran in
caught a whiff of their
BloodClan leader. How
the direction of it, and
scent.
are you here? You
after a few minutes of
should be in StarClan.”
dashing through
“ShadowClan,” thought
“StarClan banished me
bushes, he found the
Viperpaw,
into this dark forest
lake, tinted red. He
aggressively.
when I died. I am stuck
looked into the sky and
“What are you doing
here for eternity. They
saw a ring of fire.
here?” growled
are cursed, evil cats
Viperpaw.
who should be
“It’s a solar eclipse!”
“What are you talking
punished.”
thought Viperpaw, in
about, ThunderClan
“I understand that
awe.
cat?” replied the
StarClan is mean, but I
ShadowClan stranger.
don’t think you should
As he went to find the
“This is my home. That
call them evil. Maybe
ThunderClan camp, he
evil cat, Scourge, took
we should just be
saw a stranger.
my life. And your
friends, but don’t tell
Viperpaw froze in his
leader, Firestar, took
anyone about this.”
tracks and curled his
my place as deputy
“Fine. My name is
claws, ready to fight.
when I was in
Viperpaw,” Viperpaw
He hissed and leapt at
ThunderClan.”
replied.
the stranger cat. The
Viperpaw thought for a
“You’re an apprentice!”
cat dodged and stuck
moment and
replied Tigerstar, in
out his paw to trip
remembered the tale
shock.
Viperpaw. Viperpaw
the elders used to tell.
“Yeah, when I was
saw the paw and leapt
“You’re Tigerstar! You
going to place my kill
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
123 into my small fresh-kill
and found himself back
the Clan, Flamepelt, a
pile for the Clan, I saw
at the clearing, with
warrior tom, greeted
a glow from inside the
his food pile right
them and asked
Skyoak. I went into it
where he left it. He
Cinderclaw about how
and arrived here, which
hurried back to his
well Viperpaw did.
I need to ask about.
mentor and found out
“He hunted well. All of
Where are we?”
that he was apparently
this fresh-kill was his
“We are in a parallel
only gone for a few
kill.”
forest. The same as the
seconds.
“Very well. You can put
living Clans' forest and
Maybe time isn’t
them into the fresh-kill
StarClan’s forest.”
affected by the golden
pile and go back into
Viperpaw realised that
disk.
the apprentices’ den.”
Cinderclaw would be
“Viperpaw, go get your
Viperpaw bowed his
waiting for him at the
fresh-kill pile and let's
head, put his fresh-kill
place where he killed
go back to the Clan,”
into the fresh-kill pile,
the mouse.
ordered Cinderclaw.
and entered the
“Oh, I have to go. My
Viperpaw ran back to
apprentices' den.
mentor will be waiting
his fresh-kill pile and
“Hey, what did you
for me.”
returned to
catch today?” asked
“Ok. If you come back,
Cinderclaw, ignoring
his best friend,
I will be waiting for you
the golden disk this
Redpaw.
right here.”
time. Cinderclaw
“I caught four voles,
Creepy, but okay?
grabbed half, and they
eight mice, and a fox
Viperpaw turned and
took them back to the
with its cubs,” replied
hurried back to the
Clan camp in the
Viperpaw.
Skyoak. He went back
ravine.
“A fox! How did you
into the golden ring
When they got back to
manage that?” asked
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
124 another apprentice,
“Luckily, I caught it off-
fresh-kill. After wolfing
Oakpaw.
guard,” responded
it down, he curled up
“I snuck up behind it
Viperpaw.
and fell into a
while it was nurturing
Oakpaw peeked out of
peaceful sleep.
its cubs. I slashed its
the den and noticed
When he woke up
neck and killed the
that their Clanmates
again, he silently
cubs as well.”
were starting to get
slipped out of camp
“Cinderclaw must be
fresh-kill from the
and bolted to the
amazed. You should
fresh-kill pile and eat.
Skyoak. He hurried
become a warrior!”
“We can finally eat!
through the golden disk
“She is amazed, but I
Morningheart has
and ran to the lake. As
don’t believe she is
exhausted me with
promised, Tigerstar
ready to ask Stonestar
assignments. She made
was waiting there for
yet. She is a bit
me go all the way to
him, staring at the
annoyed that I
the lake and back to
solar eclipse.
attacked a fox den. He
get ‘high quality’ fresh-
“It’s still a solar
said, ‘You could have
kill,” informed Oakpaw,
eclipse? Shouldn’t it be
been killed,’ but I
before standing up and
different today?” asked
handled it easily.”
bolting to the fresh-kill
Viperpaw.
“That is true. You
pile.
Tigerstar turned and
shouldn’t have been in
“Oakpaw and his food.
said, “Ah, you came
there in the first place,
He truly loves eating,”
back. Most cats won’t
but you killed a
muttered Redpaw,
do that. And in answer
nurturing fox. They get
barely audible for
to your question, it’s
really aggressive when
Viperpaw to hear.
always night-time here,
they protect their
Viperpaw laughed and
and it always is a solar
cubs,” stated Redpaw.
went to collect some
eclipse. Once it
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
125 becomes a solar
apprentices’ den. He
mewed a voice from
eclipse in your world, a
lay down just as
the entrance to the
great force of power
Redpaw stretched,
den.
will be released,”
waking up.
The three stopped and
answered Tigerstar.
Viperpaw sat up, and
looked. Viperpaw
“That’s ominous,”
the two waited until
already knew who it
stated Viperpaw.
Oakpaw woke up.
was from the scent.
Viperpaw turned
Oakpaw yawned and
“Sorry, Flamepelt. We
around and headed for
rose up from the
were just having fun,”
where his camp would
ground.
explained Viperpaw.
be in this forest. He
“Hello, are you ready
“It’s ok. Get your food
passed through a
for a fun day?” asked
from the fresh-kill
clearing and saw it in
Viperpaw.
pile.”
ruins. The brambles
“If you believe that a
The three grabbed
were on fire, and there
fun day is catching
their food and wolfed
were herbs burning to
food for ages as our
it down, ready to start
ashes. He stared at
mentors sit back while
their assessment.
them in shock.
we do the hard work,
Cinderpaw said,
Whoa! What has
then no, I’m not,”
“Come, Viperpaw. It is
Tigerstar done to this
replied Oakpaw,
time for your
place?
yawning.
assessment.”
Viperpaw went back to
Viperpaw and Redpaw
Viperpaw started
the Skyoak and went
tackled Oakpaw at the
following him, turned
back through the
same time and
back, and saw that
golden disk. He hurried
wrestled with him for a
Oakpaw’s and
back to camp and
few minutes.
Redpaw’s mentors were
slipped into the
“Hey! Stop fighting!”
Flamepelt and
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
126 Whiteclaw.
to camp with all of his
solar eclipse was rising
“Where is my
food. He dumped his
into the sky, and once
assessment,
food in the fresh-kill
Viperpaw saw that
Cinderclaw?”
pile and hurried into
everyone was asleep,
“It is in the forest. You
the apprentices’ den.
he snuck out of camp
are to hunt until
Oakpaw and Redpaw
and hurried to the
sunhigh and come back
were waiting there for
Skyoak.
to here at sunhigh with
them.
When he arrived, he
all of your fresh-kill.
“We're going to be
immediately noticed
You can start when you
warriors!” exclaimed
that there were dark
are ready.”
the three together.
vines sprouting from
Viperpaw leapt into
Despite all of his
where the golden disk
the forest and
happiness, Viperpaw
was. He also noticed
immediately swiped at
realised something.
that where the vines
two voles, killing them
There was a solar
were sprouting from,
instantly. He leapt at a
eclipse tonight.
the ground and
group of nine mice,
Tigerstar’s prophecy
anything they touched
killing them as well. By
stated that when it
started withering
the time it was
becomes a solar
away. Darkness was
sunhigh, he had killed
eclipse here, a great
leaking out of the
ten voles, forty mice,
force of power would
glowing disk and
and two foxes.
be released. Viperpaw
contaminating the light
“I will consider you
didn’t know if it was a
around the Skyoak.
becoming a warrior.
good force of power or
At that very moment,
Well done,” stated
an evil force of power.
Tigerstar came out of
Cinderclaw.
He waited in fear as
the glowing disk and
Viperpaw hurried back
night-time came. The
unsheathed his claws.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
127 He dug them into the
same voice.
Tigerstar slashed at his
vines, and the vines
“It was you, wasn’t it?”
side.
and darkness started
asked Viperpaw. “You
Viperpaw was too late,
spreading faster.
are the great force of
and Tigerstar’s claw
At this rate, the vines
power. You just want
caught and cut his side
and darkness could
to take over the
open. Viperpaw hissed,
reach camp within a
forest.”
jumped, and spun,
few minutes. I have to
“You finally figured it
slashing Tigerstar in
stop this.
out,” answered
the face with his hind
“Ah, Viperpaw! There
Tigerstar, menacingly.
paws. Tigerstar leapt
you are,” exclaimed
Viperpaw unsheathed
at Viperpaw, and
Tigerstar.
his claws and leapt at
Viperpaw dodged,
“What have you done?”
Tigerstar. He caught
slashing his claws at
asked Viperpaw, firmly.
Tigerstar off-guard and
Tigerstar’s chest. Blood
“This isn’t me. This is
slashed at his neck.
splurted out, and
the great force of
Tigerstar screeched
Tigerstar bent over.
power that I was
and leapt away from
The vines around the
talking about,”
Viperpaw.
golden disk retreated
answered Tigerstar.
Viperpaw came
back into Tigerstar’s
Suddenly, Viperpaw
barrelling towards
forest, and Viperpaw
heard a loud screech
Tigerstar, and Tigerstar
picked up Tigerstar in
from the direction of
dodged and stuck out
his mouth. He stumbled
camp.
his leg. Viperpaw
to camp with the extra
“Help! Some vines have
tripped over, flipped,
weight, and when he
appeared and are
and landed back on his
reached the camp
withering on the
paws. He spun around
entrance, he dropped
ground!” yelled the
and dodged as
Tigerstar’s body and
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
128 spat out the dark
I got some good
told him what
brown hairs.
slashes into him and
happened. By the time
“He was the cause of
pierced his heart,”
he had finished, they
this. He caused the
replied Viperpaw.
heard a loud call from
vines to grow,”
Flamepelt bowed his
outside. “May all cats
exclaimed Viperpaw to
head and said to
old enough to catch
the whole Clan. “It’s
Viperpaw, “May
their own prey gather
stopped, now that he’s
StarClan protect you
here beneath the
dead.”
whenever you are in
Highledge for a Clan
Stonestar pushed
danger. More of your
meeting.”
himself through the
ancestor, Firestar’s,
Cats came streaming
swarm of cats and saw
enemies will try and kill
out of the den, and
the cat’s body.
you, so I pray to
Stonestar yelled, “We
“Tigerstar!” he hissed.
StarClan that you are
are all gathered here
“How is he here? He
protected.”
to change three
died many years ago.”
Flamepelt turned and
apprentices to
“There was a separate
cleared a path to the
warriors. The first one
forest in the Skyoak,
apprentices’ den.
is Viperpaw. He has
and he was in it. He
Viperpaw hurried
shown courage,
wanted revenge on the
through and entered
bravery, and purity of
Clans.”
the den.
heart with his fight
“How did you find him?
“What happened!?”
against Tigerstar. May
Can you tell what killed
asked Redpaw,
StarClan watch over
him?” asked Flamepelt.
barrelling into
this cat as he now
“I killed him. He was
Viperpaw.
becomes Viperheart.”
going to take over the
Viperpaw flipped
Everybody cheered,
forest, so I fought him.
Redpaw off him and
and Viperheart hurried
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
129 back to Redpaw and Oakpaw. Redpaw and Oakpaw became Redclaw and Oaktail and, after a chaotic day, they finally sat down together at the camp entrance and sat vigil for the night.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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130
TOBY WILSON This story follows Phoebe Goodwin as an ordinary train journey to Bristol turns into a terrifying encounter with mysterious creatures hiding throughout the carriages. As reality and imagination begin to blur, Phoebe must survive the journey and uncover whether what she experienced was real.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
131
The Devil’s Express “Clickety-clackety,
hat at her as she
forwards across the
clickety-clackety,
strolled in. Water
rails, passing the
clickety-clackety,” the
splashed against the
station and heading
steam train went as it
windows, making
into the plains.
slowed to a stop. The
swivels and patterns of
rain pelted down hard
droplets. She sat down
“Good evening, ladies
into Phoebe Goodwin’s
in a booth and looked
and gentlemen, and
hair. She had
around. The red leather
welcome to Milton
scheduled a train that
on the chair was very
Railways. Today,
was being sent by
comfortable, and the
transport is aiming to
express to Bristol. She
soft sound of music
stop in Bristol in around
was leaving Brighton to
over the radio was
3–3 and a half hours,
visit her mother,
soothing. A few
depending on weather
Candice. Phoebe
minutes later, the
conditions. Speaking of
grabbed her small
conductor pulled on
which, the temperature
pouch and walked over
the horn and the train
is 8° Celsius and will
to the train’s door. The
started increasing
be dropping to around
doorman nodded his
speed. It moved
6° by the time we make
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
132 it to Bristol. Thank you
“Oh, no, no, I’m fine,”
and opened the door.
for travelling with us,
she replied.
She walked out and
and please have a
was horrified to see, by
lovely day,” the
The attendant nodded
a booth, a scaly
conductor spoke in a
and walked to the next
monster. It had a
calm voice through the
booth. Phoebe looked
snake-like body with
radio.
over her seat and
hundreds of eyes
thought there were
across its body. It also
Phoebe looked around.
fewer people than
had a ripped attendant
The “pitter-patter,
before, but they hadn’t
uniform on. She
pitter-patter” of the
stopped yet. She
stumbled back as the
rain hitting the window
shrugged it off and got
snake opened its
was peaceful. The blur
up to go to the
enormous mouth,
of trees whizzed by as
bathroom. As she
revealing enormous
the sun slowly set. In a
walked through the
fangs and loads of
few minutes, she
carriage, the music
sharp teeth. It
drifted off to sleep.
suddenly surged to an
consumed the man in
extremely loud volume.
the booth whole.
Three soft taps on her
The noise echoed
shoulder woke Phoebe
loudly through the
Then it slithered down
up.
carriages, a classical
to the next booth. The
“Miss, sorry to bother
violin playing.
people looked
you, we’re wondering if
Phoebe walked into the
completely unaware.
you would like any
bathroom. Loud
They were looking out
food?” an attendant in
stomping and what she
the window, reading
a light blue outfit
thought was skittering?
magazines, talking to
spoke.
She did her business
others. They didn't
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
133 acknowledge the beast
turned its head and let
a voice asked her.
at all. When it came up
out a horrible screech.
She turned her head at
to the woman sitting in
A loud hum started and
the noise and saw the
the booth, she didn't
the lights flickered
attendant standing in
even flinch. The lady
swiftly.
front of her.
continued reading her
“Argghh!!!” Phoebe
book as the beast
Phoebe opened her
screamed, pushing
gobbled her up.
eyes. She was sitting in
herself up against the
The music was
her booth, looking out
train.
intensifying. It was
the window. The rain
The attendant was
immensely creepy.
was still pelting down.
normal. Her uniform
Phoebe stumbled back,
She turned her head
wasn’t ripped, and she
pushing herself against
and saw the carriage
sounded nothing like
the bathroom door.
was normal. The beasts
what the snake did.
She ran across the
were gone? She looked
She slowly sat back in
second carriage and
over at where the man
her seat. She put a
was horrified again to
who had been eaten by
hand to her head.
see a skeletal beast
the snake had been
“I’m sorry for startling
skittering across the
sitting. There was no
you, miss,” the
top of the carriage. It
one there… She looked
attendant said.
then reached down
at the seat behind it
“No, I’m sorry. I must
and grabbed a young
where the lady was.
have had a dream or
man, eating him and
There was no one there
something.”
leaving his bones. It
either.
The attendant nodded
had long, fully red eyes
She started breathing
and walked off.
that stretched across
heavily.
Phoebe clutched her
its face. It quickly
“Miss, are you alright?”
head. The attendant
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
134 looked completely
gentlemen, we’re
a split second in the
normal. Nothing looked
about to go through a
tunnel, illuminating the
wrong… but the empty
tunnel. Please refrain
giant snake beast
seats. Maybe they both
from getting up, as it
standing right in front
had just gone to the
will be completely
of her booth, its mouth
bathroom at the exact
dark. We do not want
wide open. Then
same time, right after
you falling over and
darkness came back.
her dream. No reason
injuring yourself, so
Phoebe screamed and
to be worried, just a
please, I repeat, stay in
hightailed it over her
crazy coincidence, she
your seats.”
seat and into the
thought to herself.
hallway. She bolted
Her watch read that it
The shape of a tunnel
over the back of the
had been around an
loomed ahead. Twenty
snake, feeling its
hour since the train left
seconds later, the train
extremely slippery
the station. Only two
plunged into darkness.
scales, and ran to the
hours to go. The sun
Phoebe rested her
next carriage, opposite
was fully down now.
head against the
the one she had gone
Only the slight hint of
window, looking into
to before.
red from the sunset
the dark nothingness.
The snake hissed and
was still in the sky. The
The radio crackled and
she heard it slither
stars were out, but
the soft violin surged
down the hallway. She
they weren’t very
loudly again.
turned as the light
visible from the rain.
Phoebe got up as the
crackled again. She
She smiled as her
familiar sound of
screamed as she saw
racing heart slowly
slithering echoed
the hundreds of teeth
went back to normal.
against the music. A
and enormous fangs
“Hello, ladies and
small light crackled for
just a few metres away
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
135 from her. She leapt
“Is anyone there?
realised one of them
through the door and
Hello!!! Can you all
didn't look right. It
into the next carriage.
hear me!!” she yelled.
looked like a chicken,
No reaction. Just the
in a way. But it had 4
The hissing sounded for
sound of crackling
eyes… Her skin jumped
another minute until
filled the room.
as it made a loud
the beast slithered off
Suddenly, the train left
“cawwwww,” revealing
and back into the
the tunnel and honked
a giant mouth hidden
carriage before. It
a loud steam horn. The
in its beak. The
seemed that the beasts
light filled in and the
creature pecked at the
couldn’t cross through
beast screeched and
side of the carriage,
carriages.
crumbled to the
poking holes in it.
The light flickered this
ground. Phoebe ran
Phoebe crept by,
time and she viewed
through the carriage,
unnoticeably, to the
another monster. This
jumping over the beast
thing.
one had two giant
as it started to rise
The lights flickered
spiky spheres
again. She bolted into
again and she fell over
connected together by
the next carriage, now
as the world went dark.
a bone. It was floating
two away from the
Phoebe’s heart lurched
in the air. She heard a
locomotive.
as her head screamed
cracking noise in the
in pain. She got up and
darkness, presumably
The next carriage was
looked around. Why
the beast’s mouth
an animals carriage.
was she in the livestock
opening. It kind of
Horses, mules, and
carriage? Then she
looked like a dragon
livestock were fenced
remembered. She
fruit, she thought to
into different pens.
looked at the pen
herself.
She looked around and
where the chicken was,
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
136 but there was no
over his cheek.
squinted.
animal to be found.
“N-no, thank you,” she
“Missy, what are you
There were the holes it
replied.
doin’ here? This is the
had pecked in the side
“Well, I’m sorry, but
locomotive. Get out!”
of the carriage,
you’re not part of the
he grumbled.
though.
VIP list,” he said,
“Sir, you need to stop
Phoebe put both her
looking down at a
this train now! There—
hands to her head. This
clipboard. “You’re
you’re not going to
couldn't be real. Was
going to have to
believe me, but there
she going insane? She
leave.”
are monster-like things
stumbled into the next
“Oh, of course, I’ll
in every carriage, and
carriage. A label hung
justttt—”
they’re… eating
on the door: “V.I.P
Phoebe brushed by him
people! I know this
Carriage”.
and ran over. Behind
sounds crazy, but you
her, not one of the
have to come see. No
Inside were perfectly
passengers looked up,
one else is noticing
polished leather seats,
like they hadn't heard
except me!”
with rich men and
or seen a thing.
The lights flickered and
women and executives
Inside this one was the
the small candle blew
sipping tea and
locomotive. Standing
out. The only light was
biscuits. Soft, calming
there was a coal
from the fire.
music played as
shoveller, shovelling
“Ahh, I see… another
Phoebe crept forwards.
coal into the fire. The
one of these ones.
“Can I help you,
other person in the
Reginald, eliminate
ma’am?” a caretaker
room was a bearded
her.”
said. He had a small
man driving the train.
A shadow fell over the
beard and a light scar
He turned and
fire, and smoke blew
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
137 from the nose of a
sign was coming. She
She stood up, brushing
giant bull in the
was going to die.
herself off.
shoveller’s overalls. It
Phoebe braced herself
“Make sure to never
screeched a distorted
as the sign smashed
pass that line, okay?
roar and charged at
into her.
Do you want us to call
her. Phoebe ran out of
“Ma’am! Ma’am!” a
an ambulance?” the
the locomotive, but felt
voice yelled.
guard said.
the horns dig into her
“Hey, look! She’s
“No, no, I’m okay. I… I
back as she was
breathing!” another
think I’ll go home now,”
thrown straight into the
said.
she said thankfully.
air. She slammed into
Phoebe cracked an eye
A few hours later, on
the wall of the VIP
open. She was still at
the tracks of an
section.
the train station. A
unknown area in
Her eyes strained to
man was over her,
Ireland, a bustling
see as the bull
wearing a train guard’s
steam train trotted
grabbed her and
uniform.
through a forest. Two
smashed a window.
“Phew, ma’am, you fell
birdwatchers were
Phoebe struggled to
off the tracks as a
looking around on a
get out of its
train was hurtling
mountain near the
immaculate grip as it
towards you. Luckily,
forest.
shoved her head
this man grabbed you
“Hey, look, a train? All
through the hole. A
and pulled you out in
the way out here? I
large train sign was
the nick of time,” he
didn’t even know there
coming up ahead. She
said, pointing at a guy
were tracks out here,”
screamed and
in a trench coat on the
one said.
struggled to move out,
other side of the
but it was no use. The
station.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
The other, looking
♦ TERM 3 2026
138 through binoculars, tracked it. “Yeah, I checked the forest map before. There weren’t any tracks on it.” “Hmmmm, well, maybe it was wrong?” the one standing said. “Yeah, maybe—oh my God…” the one with binoculars said. “What! What is it?” the one standing said. “There—I just—there was a tail slithering inside it!”
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
139
ARCHIE HADDEN This story follows a survivor living in the aftermath of the Heimdall M.O.P Collapse, where radiation has transformed the world and strange “Radiation Walkers” roam the streets. As increasingly disturbing events unfold, questions surrounding Mia, Zen, and the mysterious collapse begin to emerge.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
140
Radius of Zen ONE
red glow of the wall
face. I've become
Heimdall M.O.P
outside.
accustomed to these
Collapse. 11.12.1986
I sit at my desk, rolling
people. “Radiation
I wake, my eyes
the window open. Dust
walkers,” I call them.
bloodshot and tinted. A
coats the window, but I
I reach under my desk,
metallic taste lays on
can make out the
grabbing a bat. Yet I
my tongue. I stumble
smudges of a man. He's
find myself asking this
out of my mattress,
not smiling, not moving,
man, “What is it that
crashing into the
and just asking me,
you need from me?” I
drawer. The drawer
“Can I ask you
don't really care, but
slides open, expired
something..?”
I've found it's better to
medicine rolling down
keep them calm.
the wooden drawer. A
His body is
“Is this Mia’s place?”
box of Burana slides
proportionally wrong;
he asks me.
open. I pop two into
he has three nose
“No, wrong person.
my mouth, dry
holes, gashes across
Leave.”
swallowing.
his eyes, and an
My voice becomes
“God…” I mutter, the
uncanny look to his
irritated, not because
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
141 of the question, simply
day?” I ask myself.
His head slowly tilts
because someone is
I reach towards the
upwards until his eyes
here at this hour.
desk, searching for the
meet mine.
“Sorry,” he says,
small lamp. My fingers
“Can I ask you
ashamed of himself.
brush against the
something..?” he says
He walks away, his feet
switch.
again.
hovering three inches
Click.
I freeze.
above the concrete.
Nothing.
“You already did.”
I lock the door,
I click it again.
His mouth stretches
dropping back into my
Nothing.
wider.
chair.
“Of course.”
“Is this Mia’s place?”
“That… It's…” I stutter.
I drag myself from the
“No.”
What if I let him in? I
mattress and walk
He takes one step
think. Would I be alive?
towards the window.
towards the building.
All questions. No
Outside, the red glow
I grab the bat.
answers.
has disappeared. No
“I told you to leave.”
I cough, blood
streetlights. No
Another step.
splattering onto the
buildings. No Radiation
His feet still don't
desk.
Walkers.
touch the ground.
“Great,” I mutter to no
Nothing.
Then another figure
one.
The entire city is black.
emerges from the
I crash onto my bed,
Then I notice
darkness behind him.
falling asleep almost
something.
Then another.
instantaneously.
The man from earlier is
And another.
I slowly open my eyes.
standing beneath my
Within seconds, dozens
It's dark.
window.
of them stand silently
“Did I sleep the whole
He hasn't moved.
in the street, all facing
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
142 my window.
I stare through the
towards the red beam.
My heart begins
window.
Except one.
pounding.
The Radiation Walkers
The man remains
Every single one opens
begin turning away
beneath my window.
their mouth at the
from me.
He slowly raises his
exact same time.
Every single one of
hand and points behind
“Is this Mia’s place?”
them looks towards the
me.
I stumble backwards.
same place in the
My stomach drops.
“What the hell…”
distance.
I turn around.
Suddenly, a deafening
A huge red beam rises
Standing in the
siren tears through the
into the sky.
doorway of my room is
silence.
Then the man beneath
a woman.
WOOOOOOOOOOO.
my window turns back
Her face is hidden in
Red emergency lights
towards me.
darkness.
burst to life across the
For the first time, he
“Mia?” I whisper.
city.
smiles.
She takes one step
A voice crackles
“You should run.”
forward.
through an old speaker
A violent explosion
The emergency speaker
somewhere outside.
shakes the building.
crackles again.
“HEIMDALL M.O.P
The glass in my window
“ZEN HAS BEEN
CONTAINMENT
shatters.
COMPROMISED.”
FAILURE. RADIUS
I fall backwards,
Mia looks directly at
BREACH DETECTED.
covering my head as
me.
ALL REMAINING
pieces of glass crash
“You weren't supposed
CIVILIANS MUST
across the floor.
to wake up.”
REPORT TO ZEN
Outside, the Radiation
TO BE CONTINUED…
IMMEDIATELY.”
Walkers begin sprinting
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
143
CHRISTIAAN DU BUSON This story follows Marshall as he uncovers the truth about his identity, his past, and the mysterious events hidden within Blackwood Forest. With the help of his friends, he discovers that he is not alone and must decide where he truly belongs
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
144
The Edge of the Blade Chapter 1
like a beach ball with
immediately stopped
The Realisation
legs. One day like any
looking at his phone.
other teenager’s would
Sweat started forming
In a minute quiet town
be Marshall came
on his forehead. He
on 12 March avenue a
home with bruises and
pulled on his collar.
pale skinny boy wakes
blood dripping from his
“What do you mean?”
up from a long sleep.
head. He explained to
he asked in a nervous,
He slams his fist onto
his father he was
shaky voice. Marshall
his alarm clock. All his
shoved into a locker
replied “I know a real
clothes look massive on
and beaten until he
family wouldn’t treat
him because they are
could only crawl. He
me like I’m nothing” his
handowns from his
waved him off saying
father opened his
older brother, Jayden.
“Teenagers are like
mouth to protest but
Unlike Marshall Jayden
that you’ll get over it.”
Marshall continued. “I
is a short chunky kid.
He was shattered. He
know Jayden is your
He is around 400
looked at his father
son but who’s am I?”
pounds but compared
and asked who his real
his father immediately
to Marshall he looks
family was. His father
asked “Is it hot in here
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
145 or what?”. He realised
Discovering
he couldn’t win. He
would see the golden flame coloured lights
called his wife Victoria
Jayden and Marchall’s
and the crimson bricks.
into the room and
mouths were open
The oak door he
asked Marshall to take
wide and their eyes
opened many
a seat. He began. It
balling. Ben breaks the
thousands of times
was on a rainy day 15
deafening silence by
before was now the
years ago. While on an
asking in a studdering
last memories he would
expedition looking for
voice, "Is it bed time
have of his bed, his
more fossils he
yet?". He sounded like
home, his sanctuary. He
stumbled upon a crying
a toddler. Marshall
turned and walked and
baby. He explained
smirked. "So" he said in
rain began to trickle
how the baby was
a triumphant voice,
onto his nose. His hair
skinny, calm and tall. It
"You have no control
soaked and he
looked nothing like a
over me, do you
believed and knew he
human, he continued. It
Eugene?". Ben's father
was free.
looked more like a
nodded. As soon as he
Gibbon with no hair. It
saw his head move
Chapter 3
had glowing eyes and
Marshall bolted
Finding a new path
He said “I looked into
upstairs and packed
its shining eyes
his bags. He walked
He knew where to go.
twinkling in the
from his room down to
The next place would
candlelight. I think you
the curb by his former
be his school house.
can figure out the
house and whispered,
His most joyful and
rest.”
"Bye not so sorry." He
memorable times were
Knew this was most
in these old rusty
likely the last time he
gates. He made a list.
Chapter 2
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
146 The last people we
mountains. Mr Tyson
After what seemed like
would visit would be
was like a father to
a million years, Mr
his teacher Mr Tyson,
him. Billy Tom and Jack
Tyson finally spoke.
his friends Billy, Tom,
were like his brothers.
“Your adoptive father
and Jack. His last
The only place or
told us you were
memories of this quiet
people he could be
coming here. We came
town would be when
around and feel at
prepared.” Marshall
he decided to be in his
home he had to leave
looked at him
favorite place. He
behind to get a better
suspiciously. “Prepared
waited in the freezing
life for himself. After
for what?” Mr Tyson
drenching rain. The
what seemed like a
reached into his old
school bell rang and
million years Mr Tyson
leather satchel and
the gates swung open
finally spoke, “Your
pulled out a small
as the sun began to
adoptive father told us
metal box. He placed it
shine and the rain fled
you were coming here
into Marshall’s hands.
from the light. The old
we came prepared, Mr
“It belonged to the
familiar faces of the
Tyson was like a father
expedition your father
principal, the deputy
to him. Billy, Tom and
was on fifteen years
principal Mr Tyson and
Jack were like brothers.
ago.” Marshall stared
his friends Billy, Tom,
They were the only
at it. “Why are you
and Jack.
people Marshall could
giving me this?”
be around and feel
“Because,” Mr Tyson
completely at home.
said quietly, “I don't
Chapter 4 Saying goodbye
This was harder than
think your father told
And now he had to
you everything.”
leave them behind.
Marshall's expression
moving a thousand
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
changed. “What do you
♦ TERM 3 2026
147 mean?” Mr Tyson
day.” Marshall looked
Marshall left the school
glanced at Billy, Tom
up. “What was he
carrying the box
and Jack. “I mean that
looking for?” “A
beneath his jacket. He
some questions are
discovery.” “A
walked for nearly an
better answered by
dinosaur?” “No.” Mr
hour before stopping
seeing the evidence
Tyson looked directly
beneath an old railway
yourself.”
into Marshall's glowing
bridge. He opened the
eyes. “Something that
box again. There was
Marshall opened the
wasn't supposed to
more inside than the
box. Inside was a
exist.”
photograph. A tiny
photograph. It showed
compass. A rusty key. A
a much younger Ben
Silence filled the room.
folded piece of paper.
standing in front of a
Then Jack stepped
And something that
dark cave. Beside him
forward. “We'll help
looked like a tooth.
was a strange shape
you find out what you
covered by a blanket.
are.” Marshall looked
Marshall picked up the
Marshall turned the
at his three friends. For
paper. It contained a
photograph over.
the first time since
map. At first it looked
Written on the back
leaving his house, he
like an ordinary map of
were five words:
didn't feel completely
the town. Then he
FOUND ALIVE. NOT
alone. “Thank you,” he
noticed a red circle. It
HUMAN. Marshall's
whispered. Billy smiled.
was drawn around an
heart began pounding.
“Don't thank us yet. We
area deep inside the
“What is this?” Mr Tyson
haven't even started.”
forest. Marshall
took a breath. “Your
frowned. He had been
father wasn't simply
Chapter 5
there before. Everyone
looking for fossils that
The Metal Box
in town knew the
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
148 place. They called it
“You just gave me a
were already waiting.
Blackwood Forest.
map leading there.” “I
Tom held a backpack.
People said strange
know.” “Then why are
Billy had a flashlight.
things happened there.
you telling me not to
Jack carried a
Animals disappeared.
go?” There was a long
notebook filled with
Phones stopped
silence. Then Mr Tyson
everything they had
working. And
whispered: “Because I
discovered.
occasionally, people
just found out what
claimed they heard
happened to the other
“You're late,” Jack
something moving
babies.” The call
said. Marshall looked
between the trees at
ended.
at him. “Mr Tyson said
night.
there were other
Marshall stared at his
babies.” The room went
Marshall folded the
phone. Other babies?
silent. “What babies?”
map. He knew where
He looked down at his
Billy asked. Marshall
he was going. But
hands. Suddenly, the
placed the photograph
before he could leave,
glowing light in his
on the table. Jack
his phone rang. It was
eyes became brighter.
studied it. Then he
Mr Tyson. Marshall
Something inside him
opened his notebook.
answered. “Hello?”
was waking up.
“I found something.” He
“Marshall, listen
turned to a page filled
carefully.” His teacher
Chapter 6
with newspaper
sounded frightened.
Blackwood
clippings. “Fifteen
“What happened?”
years ago, a scientific
“You need to stay
That night, Marshall
expedition
away from Blackwood
returned to the school.
disappeared.” Marshall
Forest.” Marshall froze.
Billy, Tom and Jack
stared at him. “How
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
149 many people?”
enormous. Marshall's
“Seven.” “Did they find
eyes began glowing.
After nearly two hours,
anything?” Jack
The shadow stopped.
they found an old trail.
nodded. “One person
For several seconds,
At the end stood a
came back.” Marshall
nothing happened.
rusted metal gate.
already knew the
Then it disappeared.
Behind it was an
answer. “Ben.” Jack
Jack whispered:
abandoned research
nodded. “He claimed
“Whatever that was…”
station. Marshall stared
the others died in an
Marshall finished the
at it. “This place has
accident.” Marshall
sentence. “It knows I'm
been here the whole
looked at the
here.”
time?” Jack nodded.
photograph again. “But
“Apparently.” The front
that's not what
Chapter 7
door was locked.
happened, is it?” “No.”
The Expedition
Marshall pulled out the rusty key. It fit
A sudden noise came
They entered
perfectly. CLICK. The
from outside. CRACK.
Blackwood Forest just
door opened.
Everyone froze.
before sunrise. The
Another branch
trees grew thicker the
Inside, dust covered
snapped. Then another.
farther they travelled.
everything. Tables.
Something was walking
Marshall followed the
Computers. Research
around the school. Billy
compass. Every few
equipment.
switched off the lights.
minutes, the needle
Photographs. Marshall
The four boys stood
spun wildly before
walked slowly through
completely still. A
pointing in the same
the building. Then he
shadow moved across
direction. North.
saw something that
the window. It was
Deeper into the forest.
made him stop. A wall
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
150 covered in
cellular regeneration
that I didn't find you.”
photographs. There
and—” Jack stopped.
Marshall frowned.
were dozens of them.
“What?” Marshall
“What?” Ben
Different creatures.
grabbed the folder.
swallowed. “You found
Different locations.
The next sentence was
me.”
Different dates. And in
underlined. M-01 IS
the centre was one
NOT THE ONLY ONE.
Chapter 8
photograph. A baby.
Marshall's stomach
The Truth
Marshall. Underneath it
dropped. “Then where
was a label: SPECIMEN
are the others?”
M-01.
Marshall couldn't speak. Ben stepped
A voice answered from
into the room. “Fifteen
Marshall stepped
behind them. “Gone.”
years ago, I came here
backwards. “No…” Billy
Everyone spun around.
with six other
looked at the
Ben stood in the
researchers. We
photograph.
doorway. Marshall
believed there was
“Marshall…” He shook
stared at him. “You
something beneath the
his head. “No. I'm not a
followed us.” Ben
forest.” “What?” “We
specimen.” Jack found
looked exhausted. “I
didn't know.” Ben
a folder on the desk.
had to.” “You lied to
looked toward the
He opened it. Inside
me.” “Yes.” “You knew
back of the station.
was a report. He read
what I was.” “Yes.”
“Then we found a
aloud: “Specimen M-01
Marshall's voice shook.
chamber.” He paused.
demonstrates human-
“Then tell me the
“Inside were dozens of
level intelligence,
truth.” Ben looked at
eggs.” Marshall's eyes
enhanced sensory
the photograph of
widened. “Eggs?” Ben
perception, unusual
Marshall. “The truth is
nodded. “They weren't
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
151 dinosaur eggs. They
me.” “I was afraid.” “Of
organisation that
weren't human. We
me?” “No.” Ben shook
funded the
didn't know what they
his head. “Of what
expedition.” Jack
were.” “What
would happen if the
looked terrified. “Why
happened?” “They
wrong people found
are they here?” Ben
began hatching.”
out about you.”
answered: “Because
Marshall looked at his
they've been searching
hands. “How many?”
A distant rumble
for you for fifteen
“Thirty-two.” Jack's
echoed through the
years.”
mouth dropped open.
forest. Ben looked
“What happened to
toward the windows.
The front doors burst
them?” Ben's
“They already know.”
open. “RUN!” The four
expression darkened.
boys sprinted through
“Some died. Some
Chapter 9
the back of the station.
disappeared.” “And the
The Hunters
Marshall didn't know
others?” Ben looked at
where they were going.
Marshall. “One
The lights outside the
He simply ran.
survived.” Marshall's
station suddenly
Branches whipped past
eyes narrowed. “Me.”
appeared. One. Two.
them. Footsteps
“Yes.”
Five. Then dozens.
followed.
Vehicles surrounded “Then why did you call
the building. Men and
Marshall suddenly
me your son?”
women in dark uniforms
heard something else.
“Because I wanted you
stepped out. Marshall
A sound coming from
to have a childhood.”
looked at Ben. “Who
beneath the ground. A
Marshall stared at him.
are they?” Ben
low vibration. He
“You could have told
whispered: “The
stopped. “Wait.” Billy
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♦ TERM 3 2026
152 turned. “What?”
away. “What are
back. Neither moved.
Marshall closed his
these?” Marshall didn't
Then the creature
eyes. He could hear
answer. He could hear
made a sound. Not an
something. Not with his
the signal again. Come
animal sound. A word.
ears. Something
home.
“Brother.”
voice. A memory. Come
They walked deeper.
Marshall's eyes
home.
Eventually the cave
widened. Behind the
opened into a gigantic
creature, more figures
Marshall opened his
underground chamber.
appeared. One. Two.
eyes. “The others are
Marshall stopped.
Ten. Dozens. They were
alive.”
Hundreds of enormous
different shapes and
eggs covered the floor.
sizes, but all had the
Chapter 10
Some were empty.
same glowing eyes.
The Cave
Some were cracked.
Marshall finally
And several were
understood. He hadn't
glowing.
been abandoned. He
deeper. A signal. A
The compass led them to a cliff. Behind a
had been separated.
waterfall was a hidden
Then something moved.
entrance. Marshall
Marshall stepped
Chapter 11
stepped inside. The
backwards. A creature
The Choice
cave walls glowed
emerged from the
faintly. Not with fire.
darkness. It was tall.
Ben eventually reached
With thousands of tiny
Thin. Hairless. Its eyes
the cave. He stopped
blue markings. Jack
glowed exactly like
when he saw the
touched one. It moved.
Marshall's. It stared at
creatures. “I thought
He pulled his hand
him. Marshall stared
you were all gone.” The
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
153 largest creature
belonged.
stepped forward. “You
behind him. The hunters stopped. For
left us.” Ben lowered
Marshall stepped
the first time, they
his head. “I was trying
forward. “I don't know
looked afraid.
to protect Marshall.”
what I am.” The
The creature looked at
creature moved closer.
Marshall stepped
Marshall. “And now?”
“But I know who I want
forward. “Leave.” The
to be.” The creature
commander raised his
Marshall looked back
placed its hand on
weapon. Marshall
toward the entrance.
Marshall's shoulder.
didn't move. “Leave.”
The hunters were
“You are one of us.”
The commander
getting closer. He
Marshall smiled. “And
hesitated. Then the
thought about his old
they're my friends.” He
largest creature
house. His empty
pointed toward Billy,
stepped beside
bedroom. His school.
Tom and Jack. The
Marshall. The entire
Mr Tyson. Billy. Tom.
creature looked at
cave fell silent. The
Jack. Everything he had
them. Then nodded.
commander slowly
lost. Then he looked at
lowered his weapon.
the creatures. His
The ground began to
“Everyone…” He looked
family.
shake. The hunters
at the creatures. “Fall
entered the chamber.
back.”
For the first time,
“GET DOWN!” Lights
Marshall understood
filled the cave.
Chapter 12
what freedom really
Marshall's eyes began
Home
meant. It wasn't
glowing brighter than
running away. It was
ever. The other
Weeks passed. The
choosing where you
creatures gathered
truth about Blackwood
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
154 Forest finally came out.
injuries much faster
life?” Marshall
The research
than a normal human.
laughed. “Probably
organisation was shut
But the strangest
not.”
down. The abandoned
ability was something
A strange sound
station was sealed. The
nobody could explain.
echoed through the
government built a
He could communicate
forest. Marshall's smile
protected area around
with the others without
disappeared. He
the forest, keeping its
speaking. And they
looked toward the
existence secret from
could communicate
trees. “What?” Marshall
the public.
with him.
listened. Something
Marshall never returned
was approaching.
to his old house. He
One evening, Marshall
Something much larger
didn't need to. He had
stood on a hill
than anything they had
found somewhere else.
overlooking Blackwood
seen before. His eyes
Mr Tyson visited the
Forest. The sun was
began to glow. Billy
forest regularly. Billy,
setting. Billy stood
looked at him. “What is
Tom and Jack became
beside him. “You ever
it?” Marshall stared
the first humans
miss your old life?”
into the darkness. “I
Marshall's new family
Marshall thought for a
don't know.”
trusted.
moment. “Sometimes.”
The ground trembled. A
Marshall learned more
“Do you miss Ben?”
distant roar echoed
about himself every
Marshall looked toward
across the valley.
day. He could see in
the horizon. “Yeah.” He
Marshall took a step
darkness. He could
paused. “But I
forward. Then another.
hear things from
understand why he did
He looked back at his
enormous distances.
it.” Billy smiled. “Think
friends. “Stay here.”
He could heal from
you'll ever live a normal
Jack shook his head.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
155 “Not happening.” Tom grabbed his backpack. “We're coming with you.” Billy smiled. “Brothers, remember?” Marshall smiled back. Then the four friends walked into the forest together. Behind them, hundreds of glowing eyes opened in the darkness. And somewhere far beneath the ground… something ancient woke up.
The END...or is it?
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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156
TOM PRICE This story follows Jude Bollington and the soldiers under his command as they prepare for a dangerous covert mission against Cape Town. As tensions rise and doubts begin to surface within the ranks, the mission quickly becomes more complicated than expected.
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
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157
From America With Love Chapter 1
lieutenants nod in sync,
a strong army.” tears
The Decision
if they didn’t they knew
start to form on his
they were next. They
face. “Doesn’t mean
5:56 PM, American
still couldn’t believe
they are going to hurt
Headquarter Python
they were going in just
us, why hurt them?”
**Jude Bollington was
to terrorise the city of
Jude freezes, then a
a tall fine man, he
Cape Town. But who
smile spreads across
never smiled, even
cares, that’s all this
his face “We are going
when somebody told a
world has become at
to ‘hurt’ them because
funny joke. He mutters
this point, angry,
if we don’t we risk not
to his lieutenants
power-hungry,
taking them out.” In the
"Tomorrow at two-
monsters who will
moment, the lieutenant
hundered hours we will
never rest until the
swears he saw a snake
strike, we aren’t going
entire damn world is
tongue come out
to do this loud, we do
theirs! “But sir, some
Commander Jude’s
it quietly, safely, and I
people have families,
mouth. “Inform your
swear to god! No
friends, children! Sir,
squads lieutenants,
dropping bodies” The
just because they have
that tomorrow, we are
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026
158 sending a little gift
explaining the game
out America. The
from America!” with
plan. To be quick for
commanders continued
that he grabs a big
you reader, it was all
explaining the plan
swig of whisky and
just a smash and grab,
when one of the
stomps out of the
assassinate the
screens behind them
room. The lieutenants
general of the Army of
flickered. Everyone
look around at each
Capetown, and only
stopped talking. Static
other. A commander
the general, they
filled the monitor
walks into the room,
discovered from a
before an image
Viper squad! Alpha
previous attack on the
appeared. It was the
Squad! Raven Squad!
army that the soldiers
general of the Army of
And Blackout Squad!
have life lines, that's
Capetown. He was
You heard the man,
why they are so
staring directly into the
get your butts out the
imobile. They are
camera. “Commander
door and move! With
covered head to toe in
Jude,” he said calmly.
that the lieutenants
body sensors, if one
“If you’re watching this,
along with a few stray
dies, their heart will
then your little secret
soldiers who nobody
stop, if that happens,
isn’t a secret anymore.”
noticed started to pile
the sensors will go off,
The courtyard fell
out the door. **
and trigger an alarm,
silent. The lieutenant
they will replay the
turned toward the
Chapter 2
footage, see the
others. “How does he
The Catch
assassin, scan the
know?” Then every
face, and then realise
alarm in Headquarter
8:37 PM, Court yard
they are in Jude’s army,
Python began
**The five commanders
and use that powerful
screaming at once.
from earlier start
army of theirs to wipe
TO BE CONTINUED…
WRITERS' CIRCLE STUDENT BOOKLET
♦ TERM 3 2026