**<u>Westhazel</u>**
*Winter celebrations in a fantasy town*
[[Begin]]You live in the small village of Westhazel, known for its nut orchards and pecan pasties. In winter, the whole village gathers in Bonfire Square to gossip and set up markets. It is a good time for the community as everyone warms themselves by the huge fire.
[[Warm yourself by the fire|The Bonfire]]
[[Check out the markets|The Markets]]You join the crowds by the fire and feel the warmth sinking into your bones. You feel better than before. You see your friends jumping around by the fire and an old woman, sitting alone with a thoughtful expression.
[[Go see your friends|Friends]]
[[Sit by the old woman|The Old Woman]]Pete, the maker of the finest pecan pasties in town is doing a roaring trade. You line up and manage to purchase the last one. It is warm in your hands and cinnamon-maple scented steam wafts up to your nostrils. As you turn around, you see a small girl who was behind you in line, a shining coin gripped in her hand and a single tear running down her face.
[[Give her the pasty|Give the pasty]]
[[Eat it in front of her|Eat the pasty]]Jemima waves to you as you walk over. It seems the others are playing a game involving jumping as close to the bonfire as you can without getting burned. Jemima seems to be the only one not playing.
[[Talk to Jemima|Jemima]]
[[Join in the game|Playing with Fire]]You sit on the bench beside the old woman and both of you are silent for a time. Eventually she speaks.
*“The magic village of Solstice will appear in three days in the middle of a frozen lake. I am too old to see it myself, but if you can bring a friend I will tell you how to get there.”*
You feel a rush of excitement and agree.
[[Join your friends|Friends]]Jemima smiles at you.
*“Thanks for coming to talk to me. It’s just that after… you know.”*
You remember how Jemima’s older brother died trying to put out the orchard fire 5 years ago. No wonder she didn’t want to join in the game.
[[Leave with Jemima|Leaving]]
[[Watch the game|Watching the Game]]
[[Join the game|Playing with Fire]]It’s Bex’s turn before you. She takes a running jump and lands just short of the fire. Sweat is pouring down her face as she backs away from the sweltering heat. Jemima looks nervous.
[[Try get closer than Bex|Playing to Win]]
[[Don’t jump as close|Playing it Safe]]
[[Leave with Jemima|Leaving]]The pair of you make your way over to the old woman you saw before. As you approach, she speaks.
*“Ahh, you have brought a friend, good!”.*
You both listen as the woman tells you of the magic village of Solstice, which appears for just one night in the middle of a frozen lake in winter. The old lady hands you a map and asks that you bring her back one of the magical, permanently frozen ice sculptures made by the town. You make a plan to leave the next morning.
**The end**
*Look for Part 2: The Race to Solstice*
http://philome.la/CiaranSearle/westhazel-2-race-to-solsticeTurning to face you and Jemima, Bex yells that she could do this backwards. Before you can do anything, Bex runs backwards at the fire and jumps, landing just short of the blaze. Just as you breathe a sigh of relief, Bex starts to slip. Jemima screams.
[[Run to Bex’s aid|Help]]
[[Watch]]You were always a good runner. You zoom towards the fire and leap through the air. Your landing is perfectly placed to be just inches past Bex’s record. As your feet touch the ground, you start to slip in a pile of ash. The heat from the fire is almost unbearable.
[[Grab a burning branch to steady yourself|Burning Branch]]
[[Try to push off backwards with your feet|Push Backwards]]You jump and land a good distance back from where Bex did, but no one can really blame you. Nobody else seems keen to try and beat Bex’s record, so the game comes to an end. Everyone seems to be splitting off now.
[[Leave with Jemima|Leaving]]
[[Leave with Bex|Leaving]]Without a second thought, you run to help Bex, charging towards the edge of the fire. As you reach your hands out, you slip in a pile of ash and accidentally push her over. Both of you tumble into the flames.
You wake up a week later. Your body aches all over and you feel dry and sore. You hear Bex wasn’t so lucky.
***The end.***
[[Go back|Watching the Game]]Your heart beats fast, but you see Bex catch herself by grabbing a burning branch. You can hear the sound of sizzling flesh as she steps away from the fire and lets go. You feel sick. No one ever plays the game again. Your other friends take Bex to the town’s doctor.
[[Leave with Jemima|Leaving]]Your face twists up with pain as you hear the slight sizzle, but you manage to steady yourself and walk away. Bex looks very impressed, but Jemima leaves angrily. The game is clearly over now and after your hand is seen to, you and Bex leave.
[[Leave with Bex|Leaving]]As you push your feet to leave the ground, you feel yourself slip forward. You scream as your legs slide into the bonfire. Your friends drag you off to see the doctor as you slip into unconsciousness. No one ever plays the game again. You never walk again.
***The end.***
[[Go back|Playing to Win]]As you hand the pasty to her, a huge smile covers her face. “Thank you!” she shouts and breaks it in half, handing one half back. You eat the pastry together, grinning to each other at how good it tastes. She runs off, waving to you and you feel good. Winter is the best time for kindness. The pastry gone, you are starting to get cold again and decide to head back to the bonfire.
[[Warm yourself by the fire|The Bonfire]]You grin at the crying child and take a huge bite of the pecan pasty. It tastes as good as you remember.
You find yourself thinking back to when you were no older than the girl in front of you; Pete’s pecan pasties were one of the highlights of your year. It starts to taste bitter in your mouth as the girl walks home, the tears freezing on her face. You’d better go back to the bonfire.
[[Warm yourself by the fire|The Bonfire]]