J Says (Pt. 9)

     Beaming from the uncontrollably uplifting life high that now overwhelmed his entire body, the thought of fear had never even peaked through X's skull, for he was an adventurer now, the leader and sojourner of his sole, self appointed metaphorical, yet all too physical journey. Rummaging through the wooden fortress in search of any sign of mere inhabitants, he found himself in an awkwardly warm state of fascination. No, there was no sign of life as we think of it, but  it was almost as if he had stumbled upon an enchanted museum filled with a plethora of unimaginable artifacts, the kind of items one never expects to experience first hand, in their entire existence. 


     Bracing himself for a moment of solitary rest from his exuberant state of awe and wonderment, he managed to lean back upon an old, cob web laden, dust cloud covered, chest conveniently tucked just beneath the bend of his knees. Before succumbing to the innate notion of enjoying a rechargeable sit down, he glared downward to read what appeared to be an inscription placed just above its' crest. Wiping the exhaustive amount of debris with the back of his outstretched right hand, he could almost get a grip on the wording. Leaning closely, he attempted to make it out. 


     Initially, what he thought was a line filled with incoherent gibberish, suddenly smacked himself right between the eyes. He then realized why it had taken him a moment to gain his sense and calculate  the strange wordage. It was Latin, but fortunate for the travelled adventurer, he had taken a few linguistic courses involving such, during college. Regaining himself, he then began to make out what appeared to be read, "Pro bellum pro diligo pro nex pro vita pro prosapia usquequaque." Naturally puzzled, X began to pace to and fro, dissect the mysterious phrase over and over, repeating it under his breath. "For war for love. For death for life. For."  He froze. What was the last bit of wording? "For war for love. For death for life. For." Like a bewildered broken record, until something finally clicked and he jolted in excitement. "For war for love. For death for life. For family always." 


     Feeling quite accomplished, he focused himself back to the task at hand, the chest. Slowly stepping forward and positioning himself squarely in front of the equivocal wooden container, knees cracking, eyes securely locking in, he reached downward to separate the two sections of the caged fortress...


-J.Sawyer 

J says (Pt. 8)

Now cleansed physically, mentally, and even a bit spiritually, X delved onward with an overwhelmingly antithetical mindset than that of the beginning. The realization that when necessity transforms into voluntary enjoyment and recreation, had overwhelmed and lifted his spirits to the point of youthful jubilation. It truly proved as the most effective of remedies to the broken wanderer, now turned adventurer.

As X excitably continued his journey, vigor filled with each passing romp. He seemed to take in even the smallest aspects of nature that before had been so miniscule.  Almost as if he were befriending each creature that graced him along his purpose-filled path. While caught in the midst of an in depth conversation with his new found furry friend, X managed to nearly walk directly into what appeared to be an old decrepit and abandoned log fortress.

Of course, being engrained with the masculine sense of adventure and oozing testosterone from his pores, X was forced to investigate the situation at hand....

J Says (Pt. 7)

The refreshing and even cleansing aspects of the water surrounding his broken and battered existence seem to be more than a literal washing away of dirt and blood and stain. Although X had already maneuvered his most significant transition, the next step appropriated solidified its longevity. Upon resurfacing to land, his mind became affixed on that of the celestial. A time of all merited praise and adoration due to those beyond his own power. Not so much an outward overwhelming sense to come to life throughout his bones, but to whom he owed, the message was surely received. 

Being that his journey was now self appointed and not of a force fed nature, X pondered on the timing of his return to his dear loved ones. Even if remedied to perfection, other issues may still linger and need be addressed, basically for self cleansing to ensue. With thoughts swarming and the remnants from his emotional high still lingering, he decided to pursue himself deeper and continue his excursion.

J Says (Pt. 6)

The laborious struggle now flipped into an adventure of wonderment, the man set off down the steep path toward what he hoped to be a spring or some sort of body of water. More so embracing the solo aspect of his journey, he now moved from time of reflection to moments of pure enjoyment and even goofing off. Running and leaping into the air with all his might, he grabbed onto a branch that stuck out just above his reach. Unsuredly what the sole purpose of the act was, he simply swung to and fro for a bit with a childish grin upon his face. When he released his grip from the tree, almost instantly he found himself transfixed on a glistening spot just in the distance. He hit the ground with feet immediately churning and was off in a dead sprint. Shedding all of his burdens if you will, along the way the leach-like pack was the first to come crashing to the ground, followed by his cap and his jacket, then one shirt, two shirts. The next articles were a bit more challenging however, so hopping on one foot in hopes of releasing his feet from his boots that were so tightly fastened to his feet, he found himself tumbling to the ground and began barreling down the hill as if a snowball gaining momentum. Almost unaffected by the minor setback, he continue to lighten his load and strip the remaining remnants from his rejuvenated body. Just in time, he gathered himself back onto his feet, took three big foot size steps and one Jordan sized hop onto a bolder that sit three feet high, then launched his freed spirit, mind and body included, into the air to find himself splashing into the most luxurious body of water he had ever seen.

J Says (Pt. 5)

"So how do you think dad's camping trip is going? It's not really his cup of tea, ya know... the outdoors and all," the youngest of the two daughters questioned to her mother as she hurriedly scurry around the kitchen. Mom, still making her rounds around the table didn't even lift her head as she responded, "I'm sure the boys are having a good time."Almost as if she were avoiding the conversation all together, as she merely brushed the question from her memory. The daughter would not let it go, however. "Mom, do you ever wonder why he never commits to an outing like that with us? I mean, he hates the woods and trees and tents and lack of civilization, and yet he's doing this with his friends. He couldn't suck it up and plan something halfway more tolerable for his own family even? Finally taking a rest from her morning motherly duties, she lifted her head and walked over to her little one. "I don't question your father's motives, just as you shouldn't. You know he loves the three of us more than anything. His priorities are never at question in my mind. I trust his judgement." Tuning out pretty much all of what her mom had just told her, she gets up from the table and without one utterance of response she slipped off to her bedroom.

J Says (Pt. 4)

Considering the most recent realization that even while his conscious lay at rest, his mind may still be seamlessly at work against him, the feeble traveler had no choice but to pick himself up, dust all debris and leftover residue from his previous days slaving and press onward. With what seemed to be his entire life's journey, the bad far exceeding the good, on his battered broken down back, the man haphazardly pressed the lids over his burning eyes, outstretched his bloodied yet brazen right arm, and somewhat aimlessly turned around and around until he felt something inside him gently urge him to stop. "There! That is the path best suited to continue my laborious campaign," he uttered triumphantly. Not exactly the premier model example for decision making 101, but the fellow had indeed come a long way to even continue all by his lonesome.


An all too aberrant, overwhelming sensation and youthful blanket of confidence had suddenly wrapped itself around the journeyed warrior almost as if to frighten him initially simply for fear of the unknown. Could he have been so affected by the merciless reel that played for him just hours ago during his slumber? Nonetheless, for better or for worse, he had been stirred a bit, but finally in the opposite direction from where he had been quickly spiraling. Rejuvenated life, could the wilderness' most recent and preyed victim be experiencing such a gift? His steps seemed to be taken with greater purpose, his eyes now fixed on that even of the unseen, his heart as it were now taken off life support. Was crisis now averted?


Swiftly and all so craftily maneuvering his re-engerized mass of self existence, what were basically a corpse just a time ago, the traveler noticed even his thought process had managed an assured 180. "My wife, the kids, my beautiful black labrador, there will indubitably be some changes taking affect when I reach my sweet place of rest. I know I have driven them further and further from what should be their rock, their figure of fortitude. I just hope that I am not too late." -JSawyer


*Stay tuned from week to week as "J Says" is updated and I delve deeper and deeper into my creative story that has been developing. Also, to read the previous entires of the story, simply click on the "J Says" label on the right side of the page. 

J Says (Pt. 3)

    "Get up, you worthless piece of existence!" Awaking sheepishly from his slumber and obviously startled to the point of scrambling to his feet, the man begins to frantically turn around, managing to accomplish a complete 360. As he uncontrollably rubs the resulting residue of his night's slumber from his still weary eyes, the voice calls yet again. "Get it together. We've got to get going." Utterly confused because the man was sure that when he laid his head to rest on the sheet of dust beneath him, he was all alone in the world, just him and his own conscious thoughts that plagued him so. "A-a-a-alright, just let me grab my pack," he hesitantly responded to whoever was out there amidst the abyss. The rustling of leaves tickling his eardrums, he began to witness a figure bobbing closer and closer toward him. Fortunately, for the poor man’s sanity sake, he recognized the mysterious one who had startled him so, just moments prior. “I thought you guys had abandoned me for good?” the man questioned intently. “I just knew that I was going to rot here in this wilderness all alone. Where are the others?” Now the two men, once so close as a part of the same adventurous foresting team, meet face to face yet again, this time under a menacing set of different and slightly awkward circumstances. His afore mentioned confidant managed to gather himself first, in attempt to ease the escalating tension. “Uh, yeah. The rest of the fellas are up ahead, just past the creek. We expected you to find us, not the other way around.” Scratching his brow in confusion and noticeably peering down towards his feet, he began to wonder to himself. “Could I have been so exhausted, so starved, so in need of water, that I had it backwards all along? Did I, in fact, leave the group myself?” Nonetheless the weary traveler regained his composure and with the comfort of his reunited mate returning, he perched an estranged and foreign smile to his lips. “I’ve been so out of my mind these past couple days that I don’t even remember what happened anymore. I’m just glad to see that I haven’t completely lost you guys. Let me grab my bag, and we can go find the others.” As he bent downward and feebly grasped his pack with both quivering hands, an eerie wind came gently grazing across his body. Immediately frozen with an untimely sense of foreignness, the backpack released itself from his grip, falling to the dirt below. He sheepishly turned himself around, to see no one. Had his friend taken initiative and in haste, left without him? His mind seemed to be forming stronger and more off the wall opinions of its own as the journeyed labored on. He began to question his sanity, along with the sanctity of his own life. A dream perhaps… Yes, could it all have been a dream? -JSawyer

J Says (Wk. 2)

The once figurative crossroads that plagued the poor soul so intensely, was now more of a literal predicament. Trudging through the brush and debris of the forest, his boots as cinder blocks being drug by his quivering legs, he lifelessly stumbles into an eerily open corridor. At the point of the halt, he shrugs the clinging backpack from his shoulders as to be freed from all his burden. Falling to his knees, the man's head seems to be on a swivel. Taking in all of the new, possible directions. Which way shall he tred? Which path will lead him to the next check point along his journey? Which way will take him home? The abundance of possibilities only proved as more anxiety for the man. His thoughts, looming around in his head like fish amongst bread, immediately reverted back to his fleeing comrades. The decision makers they were, so heady and full of confidence, just the opposite of him. Yet he has no choice. All responsibility lay on his beaten and bruised shoulders. He may as well throw them in his overflowing backpack, which itself seems to be taking its toll on him step by step. He began to float off, deeper and deeper in thought, just as if his mind were spiraling down a dark and bottomless well. One bird, two bird, three birds looming awkwardly overhead, but as if they hold an untold message for the fellow. Just as he peers up to take in what the birds have to offer, he notices the day beginning to break right before him. Should he choose to pull his beaten body and spirit together, continue on before nightfall and possible play victim to the ferocity of the unknown or is it better he stay put, rest on his looming decision, and leave out first thing in the morning? As he braces his body for lifting with his right hand gingerly planted onto the dirt, he begins to quiver. Gasping for breath, his stomach starts to shake as if blending an abundance of materials. With little warning, vomit begins spewing from his lips, acting as if his entire body were volcanically erupting without his consent. Uncontrollably projecting heave after heave, the man slumps over to his side, glares upward, and notices now even the buzzards have abandoned him as well... -JS

*Stay tuned for the third installment of J Says coming next week. I plan to update the segment each Monday, so be on the lookout! Also, if you missed last weeks entry, click here.

J Says (Wk. 1)

I'm starting a new segment for relentless dynamics, in which I will be giving you guys a taste of my creative writing work. The story will be connected week to week, and will hopefully gain a following along the way. If you guys have any suggestions or input that you would like to see implemented, feel free to let me know. Hope you all enjoy!! -JS

The weary traveler, with sleep still encrusted in the corners of his yes, laces his boots up once again for the days journey. A new day full of mystery, anxiety, as well as wonderment. Exhausted to the point of retreat, but hard pressed to reach his destination, he knows he must tred onward. His feeble body rises amidst the lifeless leaflets that made up his bed just hours prior. The black backpack which now seemed to obtain ten times the weight as at the beginning of his trek, has now become quite a nuisance to the fellow. He knows however, that without its components, his odds for survival are slim to non existent. If only he hadn't agitated his fellow journeyman to the point of mutiny, he would have someone to share in the lifting. Yet now, all alone and overflowing with thoughts of abandonment, he is caught at a crossroads...

*To be continued... Stay tuned in as it will be updated weekly! -JS