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Description

The surface of the lake glowed faintly, then brighter as the emaciated monster of the Black Forest emerged. It was noon, but the sky was heavily overcast, promising a storm of epic proportions. The bright, glowing eyes turned skyward, surveying the menacing clouds. His clawed feet sank into the mud at the edge of the lake. He rarely took on an incorporeal form, as he preferred to interact with his environment like a proper creature. A living creature, as he was convinced he still was. Even though now he had abilities that he hadn't had before, no one could convince him that he was no longer alive. He knew that he could vanish from sight, but why would he? If you were unseen, you were unknown, and he did not want to be either one of those things. His mind flashed once again to the day he watched his cubs playing around their den. His mind often betrayed him this way, causing him to enter into a deeper depression than was usual. The glow of his eyes brightened, then dimmed, shrouded slightly by the emotions that coursed through him then. Even though the rain had not yet started, water continued to drip from his lanky hair and algae, causing puddles to form on the forest floor beneath him. He began to slowly move toward a hill on the opposite side of the lake. It overlooked the lake on one side and the forest on the other. He liked to go there when he was wanting to be completely alone with his thoughts, and it seemed that today his mind would be forcing that onto him. He watched as the smaller -- everyone was smaller than he was these days -- forest creatures scurry away as he approached, leaves and twigs crackling and snapping under his large, skinny frame. His clawed toes dug into the earth, crushing down the surface of the soil several inches. His weight was substantial, considering his height, although it was not as great as it could have been. His bones stretched his skin, and the water dripping from him accentuated his bony figure even more. His gait was slow and steady as he made his way to the top of the hill. Just as his mind forced more memories of his past on him and the first tears fell, the sky burst open and torrential rain poured down onto him. That was okay with him. He liked the rain, especially when it was a downpour like this. He ears flattened against his neck and his algae hung more limply than ever. His fur was instantly soaked and it was no longer obvious that he constantly dripped water on his own. Rain flowed over his dirty fur and streamed from his body to the ground far below. He looked up at the heavy gray sky and let the tears flow freely from his gleaming eyes. The sadness and regret tore at him more sharply now than it had in a while. His chest felt tight and painful and his rib cage heaved although he needed to draw no breath. The light went out from his eyes and he collapsed onto the hilltop, head laying on the sodden grass. He could no longer bear the weight of his memories, so he again began to numb his mind and heart to the world.

------------------------------

Song: I Want to Live - Skillet

------------------------------

Scoring for Art

Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)

+5 AP (Full Body Bonus)

+20 AP (Full/Scenic Background)

+10 AP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 AP (Elemental: 5 AP * 1)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

Total AP per submission: 55

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body Bonus)

+6 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+1 GP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 GP (Elemental: 5 GP * 1)

Total GP per submission: 18

Scoring for Writing

Base Score: 11 AP (Writing: 562 words)

+5 AP (Elemental: 5 AP * 1)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

Total AP per submission: 21

Base Score: 5.5 GP (Writing: 562 words)

+1 GP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 GP (Elemental: 5 GP * 1)

Total GP per submission: 11.5

Total

AP: 76

GP: 29.5

Description

The surface of the lake glowed faintly, then brighter as the emaciated monster of the Black Forest emerged. It was noon, but the sky was heavily overcast, promising a storm of epic proportions. The bright, glowing eyes turned skyward, surveying the menacing clouds. His clawed feet sank into the mud at the edge of the lake. He rarely took on an incorporeal form, as he preferred to interact with his environment like a proper creature. A living creature, as he was convinced he still was. Even though now he had abilities that he hadn't had before, no one could convince him that he was no longer alive. He knew that he could vanish from sight, but why would he? If you were unseen, you were unknown, and he did not want to be either one of those things. His mind flashed once again to the day he watched his cubs playing around their den. His mind often betrayed him this way, causing him to enter into a deeper depression than was usual. The glow of his eyes brightened, then dimmed, shrouded slightly by the emotions that coursed through him then. Even though the rain had not yet started, water continued to drip from his lanky hair and algae, causing puddles to form on the forest floor beneath him. He began to slowly move toward a hill on the opposite side of the lake. It overlooked the lake on one side and the forest on the other. He liked to go there when he was wanting to be completely alone with his thoughts, and it seemed that today his mind would be forcing that onto him. He watched as the smaller -- everyone was smaller than he was these days -- forest creatures scurry away as he approached, leaves and twigs crackling and snapping under his large, skinny frame. His clawed toes dug into the earth, crushing down the surface of the soil several inches. His weight was substantial, considering his height, although it was not as great as it could have been. His bones stretched his skin, and the water dripping from him accentuated his bony figure even more. His gait was slow and steady as he made his way to the top of the hill. Just as his mind forced more memories of his past on him and the first tears fell, the sky burst open and torrential rain poured down onto him. That was okay with him. He liked the rain, especially when it was a downpour like this. He ears flattened against his neck and his algae hung more limply than ever. His fur was instantly soaked and it was no longer obvious that he constantly dripped water on his own. Rain flowed over his dirty fur and streamed from his body to the ground far below. He looked up at the heavy gray sky and let the tears flow freely from his gleaming eyes. The sadness and regret tore at him more sharply now than it had in a while. His chest felt tight and painful and his rib cage heaved although he needed to draw no breath. The light went out from his eyes and he collapsed onto the hilltop, head laying on the sodden grass. He could no longer bear the weight of his memories, so he again began to numb his mind and heart to the world.

------------------------------

Song: I Want to Live - Skillet

------------------------------

Scoring for Art

Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)

+5 AP (Full Body Bonus)

+20 AP (Full/Scenic Background)

+10 AP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 AP (Elemental: 5 AP * 1)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

Total AP per submission: 55

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body Bonus)

+6 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+1 GP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 GP (Elemental: 5 GP * 1)

Total GP per submission: 18

Scoring for Writing

Base Score: 11 AP (Writing: 562 words)

+5 AP (Elemental: 5 AP * 1)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

Total AP per submission: 21

Base Score: 5.5 GP (Writing: 562 words)

+1 GP (Monthly Prompt)

+5 GP (Elemental: 5 GP * 1)

Total GP per submission: 11.5

Total

AP: 76

GP: 29.5