Expert's e-Village. Wow.

Have you ever wanted to learn something fancy that'll catch someone's eye, or simply just to know something you've taken an interest in? Then if you haven't know about this, here's one place that may help you attain some knowledge through watching videos - and no, I'm not talking about YouTube. No, actually, its Expert Village.

YouTube was never my cup of tea, since most of the videos I've seen there didn't leave much of a meaning to me - but that was for another post entry. Back to Expert Village. Why is it special to me? For one basic reason - you get good-quality videos from people on any topic under the sun, from keeping scores in tennis, to hip-hop dance moves, to organising beauty pageants. Yes, you didn't get the last one wrong. How cool is that?

Another reason, is that those videos are really produced, uploaded by, and approved by, professionals. If you doubt it, there's an article below every video that shortly describes the experts on the video, such as their occupations, their academic achievements, and such.

Unfortunately, I can't find a way to embed a video or two onto this post entry, due to problems with the HTML scripts. So instead, try to visit the site yourself when you have the time. Trust me, its worth taking your time to sign up to the site, then search for videos on any thing that came accross your mind.

Currently, I'm watching its featured video on how to do a magic pen trick. Anyway, this goes on to show us that the Internet has a treasure trove for us if we presevere. Sometimes, we simply have to look under every nook and cranny, until we looked into the right place, and voila, there it is for our taking.

That, I think, would be one of the many good things about the Internet - when you have a sense of adventure as you dive into the sea of knowledge.

"Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get on your next bite." I guess the same goes for the Internet.

The Blue Wolf (Part 6)

Dusk. Ryanne sat resolutely in front of the cave, the place where she had met the mysterious rogue, Iatn. She sat, with patience she'd learned from him, determined to wait for him to appear and tell her the truth he promised her.

She was just about to give up when his voice rang out.

"So you're still here."

"Iatn!"

Ryanne couldn't help but cried out in joy, seeing him coming out of the shadows. She was close enough to hear him muttering, "Too bloody inquisitive for her own good." She didn't mind that.

"I suppose you want to hear my story now, so make yourself comfortable and listen carefully, because I'd only tell this once." That got Ryanne's ears pricked up. Se took her usual place, lying beside Iatn, as he started recounting the his life to this future fellow Traveller.

* * *

"I am once an Alpha-" Ryanne gasped, not out of surprise, but rather out of awe, "-I led my pack with my mate for some seasons. We had a good life - food was plentiful, the neighbouring packs were respectful to us as we were to them, and such. "

"Then, they came. Who they are, not one of us knows. They are not natural. These - monsters -" Iatn spat the word with absolute hatred, "- They destroyed our homes. They held me, watching helplessly as my mate, my brood was slain before my very eyes. Then, they release me, and vanish without a trace. "

"Ever since then, I've been travelling, moving from one place to the next, searching for them, wanting to avenge my pack or die in the process. Yet, I have found no scent, no trace, no sign of them. But during my travels, something happened to me. This had grown on me."

As Iatn spoke the last words, he reared up. Ryanne gasped as she saw a mark on his body, so familiar because she wore it herself on her right paw. On Iatn's stomach, lined in blue fur of lighter hue, was a newborn moon, under which a river of stars flow. Even though Iatn lay perfectly still, the flowing stars seemed ever undulating moving in front of Ryanne's eyes as patches of blue fur on Iatn's body changed hue to suit the movements of the celestial bodies. Ryanne's own symbol was much smaller, but it shared the similarity that the symbol moved too.

Once Iatn had laid down, he continued, "Wit this... symbol on my body, I found that I slowly became stronger, faster, physically better. There are other changes," He added when he saw curiosity in Ryanne's eyes, "But theos are for each Bearer, each Traveller to find out."

"What-" Ryanne began, but Iatn cut her short. "Now, let me finish my tale first. All will be told in time." When she fell silent' he continued, "At last, I found the desecrators of my pack in a faraway and desolate place. With my newfound strength, I defeated them, though not without undue effort. Since then, I have been wandering around, searching for you."

"For me?"

"Why yes, Ryanne. Now that I've found you, I now know that you are, not yet ready. For now, your life will not be troubled - trust me, that I will come for you again, and take you to the place where you will truly belong."

"But I belonged here-" Ryanne's protest died away when she realized that Iatn was no longer there. Not by stealth and speed - for she knew that no wolf can just slipped away beside another like what Iatn did. Ryanne had so many questions she'd want Iatn to answer, but now, she would have to wait for another time.

Looking out towards the moon, Ryanne silently made a promise. "We will meet again, Iatn. I trust you." Then, she padded back to her home, her right paw tingling as her own symbol flows.

The Blue Wolf (Part 5)

No sooner then his foe twitched his last at his feet than he'd found himself surrounded - by her mother's pack. He didn't even needed his senses to tell him that he could never break through their ranks alive.

Her mother - Shyle - stepped forward, tail high in the air, fangs slightly bared. Wisely, he kept his tail down. She watched him anxiously, hoping that he may have a chace of walking out of this contingency alive, slim chance though it seems.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" asked Shyle.

"I am called Iatn - " Finally, she'd known his name! " - And I am a rogue. The reason that I wandered this deep into your territory was because I am hunting."

"These humans?" scoffed Shyle. "They are worthy enough as your prey?" Iatn did not answer, waiting for Shyle's next remark.

Then, suddenly, Shyle's glare soften as she glanced at her daughter the rogue had saved. "While no rogue who penetrates our territory this deep should be left alive, I am not ungrateful of what you did, for you saved my daughter's life." "Yet," she continued, "No wolf that does not belong in this pack belongs here. Join us, or leave this place. " There was a murmur of growls during her proclaimation, but Shyle silenced them all with a glare,, then stared back at the rogue. "Its your choice."

Secretly, she'd hoped that he would stay, but his words dashed that hope immediately. "My apologies, but... no."

"Then, good hunting to you," Without another word, Shyle's pack retreated behind her, leaving Iatn free to go. As he turned to leave, she could not help it but pouted. "But..."

"Silence, Ryanne!" Her mother snapped. Iatn, upon hearing the name, turned sowly and gazed at the youngling's eyes, then padded out of sight. Ryanne could only watched as Iatn went in cover and disappear from sight.

The Blue Wolf (Part 4)

The tension is nearly palpable. To Shyle's thinking, they were in a disadvantage. In the open, they'd lost their best form of offense and defense. Then there's the matter of their - her - young. No matter whether they win or lose, precious blood will be spilled before the sun rises again. This could bode ill for her pack's future.

She didn't spare much time brroding about this, because the humans were inching closer with each breath she draw. Carefully, she marked each human with their scent, tagged less than a dozen, including two muzzled hounds. With a silent signal, she ordered her pack to be ready. Then, she'd pounced.

As one, half her pack leaped into the bushes, every wolf aiming for their respective targets throats. They know well that this fight has to end as soon as possible, lest they suffer casualties that proved fatal in the long run.

The hound-mastiff's were the first blood shed. Shyle's mate ripped his throat before he'd even release his hold on the dogs' rein and muzzle. With a primal growl, Shyle sent those half-cousins away, tails between knees. Her own target was similarly killed, but one of her wolves was shot through her skull.

Shyle could smell their remaining foes breaking ranks and retreating, and she barked an order to restrain them from giving chase. Too late, she sensed one left still standing. The human was now cocking his gun, aiming it at her beloved daughter, along with the other helpless young. None of her pack, including herself, was near enough to knock him down, rip his throat. Shyle watched, almost helplessly, as the human male pulled back the finger hooking the trigger.

* * *

He was waiting for this all along.

Admittedly, he'd realised soon enough that the humans couldn't have possibly win against such a large, vigilant pack. Yet, he stayed and watched, in case there was something he'd have to do.

There. That's it. The fight was won, right after it had begun. It was two wolves against one man, two wolves as determined to protect their pack as the humans were to completely erradicated the threat to their village. There was no question.

Yet, his target wasn't cowed by the odds. Their was an odd glint in the human's eye, now that he was close enough to observe. Suddenly, he realised it: the look of a creature who also had something held precious destroyed right in front of his eyes.

The human raise his gun, oblivious to the danger. Following the human's aim, his heart jolted when he'd seen the target. Her!

Without a second thought, he pounced, fangs aiming for the back of the human's neck. The force of his leap knocked the human's aim skywards, missing the cluster of young cubs and nearly grazing a wolf in the human's path. Before the human can react, he sink his teeth down on the humans neck, breaking his spine.