Because it is way late (no six minute close-shaves tonight), I'm going to keep this short.
A) We are back with Vena now, after a fairly lengthy time skip. As usual. You know how I love those time skips.
B) Tonight's scribble is completely, and I mean completely, lame. It's called four hours of sleep (that's including a nap) and trying to multitask telly at the same time. Let's just say, it doesn't work very well.
Without further adieu...
Drabble Challenge: Day 16 - thanks
Word Count: 961 Minimum Goal: 960
They veered around the corner of a brick building, narrowly missing a man sleeping against the wall. Vena could feel her heart pounding in her chest even as Astarot moved beneath her, his muscles bunching and stretching as he raced in the direction she guided him.
In their wake, Vena could hear the shouts of her men, her spies that’d been lingering in the city waiting for anyone like her to show their face. It’d been an accident; she’d brushed up against someone, felt their mind, only to have that man – she’d assumed he was just an ordinary monk – turn on her.
Go, Ast. She urged, the message wordless but no less urgent. It’d taken months to perfect their bond, but now that they had, there had never been another team like them. Of that much, Vena was certain.
She checked back over her shoulder as they rounded another building corner, winding deeper and deeper through the alleys. She only hoped that she wouldn’t get lost. These large cities were too large for her to remember exactly where every road led.
Wind rushed past Vena’s ears, but the shouts were starting to fade behind her so she let Astarot ease up to a long-strided lope. His lungs heaved between her legs. They’d been going easy for weeks and hadn’t had to do an escape and evade like this in a while.
There weren’t many people once they got away from the main streets, something the mindpath was thankful for. The more people, the more easily they were followed. No one just sauntered through town on a Greater Wolf without anyone taking notice.
“We need to get out of here,” Vena murmured to herself, looking up at the sky through the buildings that surrounded them . One of Ast’s ears flicked back her direction but there was no forthcoming rumble in reply. Not that she always expected one, but sometimes he would manage some form of a response if she chatted at him.
When Vena turned in her makeshift saddle to look behind them once again, a shape was hurrying through the shadows towards the unlikely duo.
“Wait! Wait!” A woman’s voice, faint but growing stronger, reached her.
Astarot tensed beneath her and Vena felt her own hands tighten in the wolf’s thick fur. Let’s go. He responded in moments, pushing off with his back legs to give himself a boost to take off on.
“Please! I know a way out of the city!” The voice continued behind them even as distance began to carry it away.
Really. There’s no way, lady. No way. Nine out of ten chances, you’re working with her and are just another trap. Stop wasting your time, so, no thanks.
The mindpath and her mount had soon wound their way deep into the hard of the steam-powered metropolis, until she had no idea where they were any more. Even encouraging Ast to try and sniff out a path didn’t work. His nose was full of smoke and garbage and wouldn’t get cleared out until they were back in the mountains.
His claws clicked on the cobblestones, an unusual noise to Vena. She peered ahead of them, then jerked when a figure skidded into view up ahead, seeming to gasp for breath, leaning against the wall while holding one hand out.
“Just—wait—one—second—“ the middle-aged woman managed to speak even as Vena brought Astarot to heel, golden eyes narrowed with anger.
“Don’t bother,” she snapped, shoulder brushing the brick building as Ast turned in the narrow corridor.
“You don’t understand. I can help; I know a way out of the city without having to go through the main streets. I know that you’re not like other people, that those men are looking for you, and that you have to get out of the city.” The woman’s dark hair was tied back, her dress rumpled and unkempt, and her long, thin face didn’t seem to have gotten sunlight too recently.
Vena turned her gaze forward. Go, Ast.
“Don’t walk away, please! I’m just trying to help.”
Twisting in the saddle, the mindpath pinned the still wheezing woman with a look. “Forget it. We can get out of here ourselves.”
“There’s an entrance to the sewer just down this alley. It’s large enough for your… wolf… and it’ll get you out of the city. I’ll help you get there.” She took a few steps forward, closer to Vena and Ast.
The wolf sidled away, bristling before Vena calmed him with a thought, studying the other female. “How do I know you’re not with them?”
“You don’t; not for certain. But if you’ll believe me, I’m not with them. I never would be.” She struck Vena as being a nervous talker.
“What’s your name?”
“Hillary. Hillary Vaughi.” Looking over her shoulder, the frumpy-looking woman shifted from foot to foot. “We need to go. Those men have been hanging around the city a long longer than you’ve probably been here and know their way around.”
Vena wanted so badly to just be able to walk away and not worry about this strange woman, but they needed a way out and if worst came to worst, she did have a Greater Wolf on her side.
“Alright, fine.” Sliding to the ground, she stepped closer to Hillary, keeping herself between Astarot and the other woman, just in case. “Lead the way.”
A bright smile lit up Hillary’s face. “You’re both going to be safe again. I’m here to help.”
Vena didn’t return the expression, her mistrustful heart dictating her responses, though only because of her own poor judgment in past experiences. Too many people have stabbed me in the back for me to trust you, Hillary Vaughi. “The sooner the better.”
See? I told you. Lame. Best I could manage with a quarter a brain, though. I'll attempt to do better tomorrow.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Showing posts with label Vena. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vena. Show all posts
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 13
Oooh, forty-five minutes early. Aren't you all proud of me? I had intended to work this afternoon, but that didn't really work out because I was trying to sort out birthday gifts for my bestie and that tends to be time consuming. And then the cousins were over for dinner along with the grandparents and heavens knows that nothing really gets done on my agenda when there are tv shows to discuss. Heh.
Also, I'd like to issue another thanks to Daebeck. He brought me the Nectar of Life (aka, Mountain Dew) this morning at church when I felt like I'd been hit by a semi. So, many thanks again, cousin. I'm still wired from that thing.
As for the drabble, I almost did, but not quite, forget the prompt. I didn't have to throw it in at the last minute, let's put it that way. I really hope that it ends in a more or less satisfactory way, because words and words are hard. (Though I still went way over my minimum goal. Funny how that works.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 13 - denial
Word Count: 895 Minimum Goal: 780
Nothing made sense. Not by human definition. There wasn’t any particular order, no discernible pattern of thought, just instinct and vagueness, cause and reaction. The wolf had determined, from its own limited senses and impulses based on experience, that she was a threat and had reacted as such.
Vena tried to remember that fact as his bite-hold remained tight around her hand. Her arm was starting to tingle with blood loss already and she didn’t want to even start imagining the damage that was being rendered to the delicate structure of her hand.
Drawing herself together, she focused on the Great Wolf’s mind, trying to form her thoughts into images and impressions that it might understand. The hard part was finding something that wasn’t a threat to wolves—or prey. She did not need to be either of those things. Neither would keep her alive.
I’m just as alone as you are. I’ve been betrayed like you’ve been. Vena drew on her own memories, her own pain and how people—hunters—had hurt her as they’d hurt him. The trauma had been emotional for her as opposed to physical, but she wasn’t under the impression the wolf would understand the difference.
Wind blew, taking with it snow and scent, the smell of the forest being carried along past them. Almost unconsciously, Vena breathed it in, letting the familiar fragrance of pine and midnight wash through her and distract her from the pain, the fear.
This had to work.
“Please,” she whispered after a moment, wishing her voice hadn’t cracked over the word. “Let me go.” Vena put force behind the words pushing the feeling, the emotion, what she wanted, through the tenuous connection she had made with the animal.
Her effort made a detectable impact, the impression rippling through his mind. The wolf’s jaw loosened a fraction and it snorted, the warmth of the breath rushing along her skin, causing her to shiver.
The lessened pressure, despite how little it was, still brought the mindpath enough relief that she felt a fresh rush of tears fill her eyes. Exhaust was beginning to catch up now that the initial rush was fading and Vena knew that she didn’t have long before she wouldn’t be able to even keep kneeling where she was. The wolf, too, was beginning to show signs of fatigue, his ears drooping for a few seconds before perking again as he struggled to remain strong.
“Let go,” Vena said again, putting force behind the words again, as much as she could manage. Please, please, please, we’re both going to die out here if you don’t let go.
Her hope was beginning to flag along with her strength now. If it ended here, she would’ve been very pleased to know the fate Vena had met. When Vena’s denial of her ability had ceased, it seemed like some barrier had been unlocked and now someone—someone powerful that all the under-worlders just called she or her—had been sending out her soldiers and spies to find and eliminate her.
She was just as hunted as the black wolf before her and that knowledge did very little for her courage.
And then, he let go.
There was a wave of relief and a new pain that seared through her simultaneously as Vena snatched her injured hand to her person, near unable to look at the deep bite marks that stretched from above her wrist across her fingers. She didn’t dare try to move anything, but knew instinctively that her appendage would never work the same way again.
Taking in a strengthening breath and making sure to keep her undamaged palm on the wolf, the mindpath pushed her bleeding hand into the snow at her side to numb the pain. She still had something she had to do.
When Vena depicted to the wolf what she wanted him to do, she wasn’t even sure he’d do it. It’d felt like he’d let go of her hand merely because the fancy struck him, not necessarily because of anything that she had done.
Blue eyes bored into hers, unwavering, for what felt both like a moment and an age, then the wolf heaved a breath, and took a step forward. He nearly collapsed on top of her when his injured shoulder wouldn’t take his weight, but he managed to turn himself so that his side was neatly presented to Vena and then settled on the ground, not a moment too soon.
Once he was settled, Vena carefully slide her hand from between his ears, along his neck and his ruff of fur, then to the injured shoulder that was facing her. The torn material from her former shirt was still nearby, mostly dry, just cold. Fetching it to herself and settling it in her lap, she worked to wad a part of it up to apply to the wolf’s wound with one hand.
It was only a few moments after the fact that she realized she had no way to secure it to the injury.
“You must be joking…” the woman muttered, settling aside the makeshift bandaging. She couldn’t afford to cut her cloak and there was no way that she was ripping up the shirt she was wearing now.
“I guess we’re headed to Dunlark tonight, pal.” I’ll work out how to explain you when we get there.
So, good? No good? Need more on this arc? Okay-ish with me moving on? Looking especially at you, Hannah. You've been my deciding factor in pushing on with this arc.
Really though, the most difficult part is knowing that today's scribbles are only about half of what I'll need to do daily for NaNoWriMo. Daebeck gave me a hug last night in sympathy when he learned the amount of words I'll have to write daily. (Too bad I was too much of a blithering idiot to properly thank him for said sympathy.)
Anyways, I blather and digress. Has to do a bit more work, then head to bed and see about an episode of telly before I have to get the sleep that I didn't get last night. Au revoir.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Also, I'd like to issue another thanks to Daebeck. He brought me the Nectar of Life (aka, Mountain Dew) this morning at church when I felt like I'd been hit by a semi. So, many thanks again, cousin. I'm still wired from that thing.
As for the drabble, I almost did, but not quite, forget the prompt. I didn't have to throw it in at the last minute, let's put it that way. I really hope that it ends in a more or less satisfactory way, because words and words are hard. (Though I still went way over my minimum goal. Funny how that works.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 13 - denial
Word Count: 895 Minimum Goal: 780
Nothing made sense. Not by human definition. There wasn’t any particular order, no discernible pattern of thought, just instinct and vagueness, cause and reaction. The wolf had determined, from its own limited senses and impulses based on experience, that she was a threat and had reacted as such.
Vena tried to remember that fact as his bite-hold remained tight around her hand. Her arm was starting to tingle with blood loss already and she didn’t want to even start imagining the damage that was being rendered to the delicate structure of her hand.
Drawing herself together, she focused on the Great Wolf’s mind, trying to form her thoughts into images and impressions that it might understand. The hard part was finding something that wasn’t a threat to wolves—or prey. She did not need to be either of those things. Neither would keep her alive.
I’m just as alone as you are. I’ve been betrayed like you’ve been. Vena drew on her own memories, her own pain and how people—hunters—had hurt her as they’d hurt him. The trauma had been emotional for her as opposed to physical, but she wasn’t under the impression the wolf would understand the difference.
Wind blew, taking with it snow and scent, the smell of the forest being carried along past them. Almost unconsciously, Vena breathed it in, letting the familiar fragrance of pine and midnight wash through her and distract her from the pain, the fear.
This had to work.
“Please,” she whispered after a moment, wishing her voice hadn’t cracked over the word. “Let me go.” Vena put force behind the words pushing the feeling, the emotion, what she wanted, through the tenuous connection she had made with the animal.
Her effort made a detectable impact, the impression rippling through his mind. The wolf’s jaw loosened a fraction and it snorted, the warmth of the breath rushing along her skin, causing her to shiver.
The lessened pressure, despite how little it was, still brought the mindpath enough relief that she felt a fresh rush of tears fill her eyes. Exhaust was beginning to catch up now that the initial rush was fading and Vena knew that she didn’t have long before she wouldn’t be able to even keep kneeling where she was. The wolf, too, was beginning to show signs of fatigue, his ears drooping for a few seconds before perking again as he struggled to remain strong.
“Let go,” Vena said again, putting force behind the words again, as much as she could manage. Please, please, please, we’re both going to die out here if you don’t let go.
Her hope was beginning to flag along with her strength now. If it ended here, she would’ve been very pleased to know the fate Vena had met. When Vena’s denial of her ability had ceased, it seemed like some barrier had been unlocked and now someone—someone powerful that all the under-worlders just called she or her—had been sending out her soldiers and spies to find and eliminate her.
She was just as hunted as the black wolf before her and that knowledge did very little for her courage.
And then, he let go.
There was a wave of relief and a new pain that seared through her simultaneously as Vena snatched her injured hand to her person, near unable to look at the deep bite marks that stretched from above her wrist across her fingers. She didn’t dare try to move anything, but knew instinctively that her appendage would never work the same way again.
Taking in a strengthening breath and making sure to keep her undamaged palm on the wolf, the mindpath pushed her bleeding hand into the snow at her side to numb the pain. She still had something she had to do.
When Vena depicted to the wolf what she wanted him to do, she wasn’t even sure he’d do it. It’d felt like he’d let go of her hand merely because the fancy struck him, not necessarily because of anything that she had done.
Blue eyes bored into hers, unwavering, for what felt both like a moment and an age, then the wolf heaved a breath, and took a step forward. He nearly collapsed on top of her when his injured shoulder wouldn’t take his weight, but he managed to turn himself so that his side was neatly presented to Vena and then settled on the ground, not a moment too soon.
Once he was settled, Vena carefully slide her hand from between his ears, along his neck and his ruff of fur, then to the injured shoulder that was facing her. The torn material from her former shirt was still nearby, mostly dry, just cold. Fetching it to herself and settling it in her lap, she worked to wad a part of it up to apply to the wolf’s wound with one hand.
It was only a few moments after the fact that she realized she had no way to secure it to the injury.
“You must be joking…” the woman muttered, settling aside the makeshift bandaging. She couldn’t afford to cut her cloak and there was no way that she was ripping up the shirt she was wearing now.
“I guess we’re headed to Dunlark tonight, pal.” I’ll work out how to explain you when we get there.
So, good? No good? Need more on this arc? Okay-ish with me moving on? Looking especially at you, Hannah. You've been my deciding factor in pushing on with this arc.
Really though, the most difficult part is knowing that today's scribbles are only about half of what I'll need to do daily for NaNoWriMo. Daebeck gave me a hug last night in sympathy when he learned the amount of words I'll have to write daily. (Too bad I was too much of a blithering idiot to properly thank him for said sympathy.)
Anyways, I blather and digress. Has to do a bit more work, then head to bed and see about an episode of telly before I have to get the sleep that I didn't get last night. Au revoir.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 12
Wow, and here I was thinking I wouldn't be able to write 720 words today. Look who broke the bank today.
I have no idea if today's drabble is going to be the last I can manage of the Astarot introductory arc. That'll have to be decided tomorrow. But if you guys are dying to know the rest of the story, I can aim to do tomorrow's for this arc as well.
Also, as a trivia note, I very nearly forgot to add today's prompt into my scrawling. So when you do find it, know that I went back and just threw it in there after the fact.
Drabble Challenge: Day 12 - knowledge
Word Count: 852 Minimum Goal: 720
It took her a moment to realize that she was holding her breath, hardly daring to breathe so close to the wolf. If she looked down at his muzzle, she could see long canines that had no doubt been used to kill more than once.
A gust of wind brushed past her, blowing her hair into her face. Vena grimaced when the strands obscured her vision. Carefully, she retracted her hand from the wolf’s side to tuck her hair back behind her ear and out of the way. She’d broken her last tie, else she would’ve tied it back.
The Wolf shifted, blowing out a puff of air as he did so.
“Be patient,” Vena said under her breath, moving her own position so she was angled closer to the arrow wound.
Proximity to a Great Wolf, unless it was dead, was never advised, but now that she was close, she was struck by how large they really were. She’d never been good at lengths and distances, but she was pretty sure she’d be able to stretch out on his back and not have the top of her head reach the end of his nose.
The wooden shaft of the arrow was rough, her skin catching on small splinters as she wrapped her palm around it. Golden eyes flicked to watch the wolf from her peripherals. He was still calm, for the moment.
It wasn’t likely he would remain that way for much longer.
Holding tight to the shaft, Vena clenched her teeth, took a breath, and yanked as hard as she could as straight as she could, hoping to the heavens that it would give on the first try. There was a sickening squelch and it sounded like something was tearing before the arrowhead came free, and the wolf snarled, its claws digging deeper into the snow.
Vena felt her heart hesitate in her chest at savage noise, the sound of an animal in pain. She scrambled backwards, forgetting about her side. The arrowhead, covered in blood and small pieces of flesh, glinted dully in the moonlight and she knew her mistake in holding onto it the moment that the wolf’s blue eyes caught sight of it.
It straggled to its feet, nearly falling back down, but the Great Wolf tightened its muscles and stood, its head low and gaze now pinned on the mindpath. Panic closed her throat.
Moon above, save me. The plea was thought before she had any time to think about it.
The wavering canine took one step forward. Then another. Vena struggled to compensate, unable to get to her feet without the wolf reaching her and so she scrambled backwards, using her hands to drag herself backwards.
“I was trying to help,” she tried, her voice shaking almost as badly as she was. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Please, I’m not trying to hurt you.”
A low growl was the only answer and Vena would’ve closed her eyes if she’d had any control over her body at that moment. Any beyond the basic, fight-or-flight instinct that was. So the mindpath will die hunted down, just as has been promised since the beginning. She’d be glad to know it ended this way for me. She’d just regret losing the chance to expand her knowledge on my kind.
Even thinking about her left a bitter taste of her tongue and then Vena felt her thoughts seize up as a realization swept through her.
“I’m a mindpath. And an idiot, apparently.” A surge of courage swept through her. She hadn’t tried to influence the Great Wolf earlier for fear of setting it off, but it had a consciousness, and that meant she could push her will on the wolf. She just had to be close enough to touch him.
With a plan in mind, Vena stopped trying to escape the prowling beast, forcing back her fear and holding her ground. Sureness in her ability brought her chin up and defiance into her manner.
When he got close enough for her to be uncomfortable, the mindpath held out one hand, palm up, and waited. She just hoped that he wouldn’t try to take off her hand.
When the Great Wolf did make its move, it felt like time slowed down to Vena. He lunged in a blur of dark fur, jaw opened wide. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep from throwing herself out of the way even as she took in a breath to prepare herself for the pain.
Sharp teeth tore into the soft flesh of her outstretched hand, sinking into the muscle, impacting the bone. Vena felt the warmth of the wolf’s mouth on her fingers, then burning pain tore through her hand, up her arm, and throughout her body. She choked on a cry, tears welling in her eyes. I can do this.
Her free hand, clenched in the snow, shook badly enough that she almost couldn’t control it enough to lift it towards the wolf’s head. But she did, reached out to him and placws her palm on the black fur covering his head.
Aaand, yeah. I suppose you all are ready to murder me now. Me and my veritable Cliffs of Insanity, as lovely follower Hannah commented at one point. I do give my apologies for all those. Perhaps there'll be less cliff hangers as the word count keeps getting expanded.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
I have no idea if today's drabble is going to be the last I can manage of the Astarot introductory arc. That'll have to be decided tomorrow. But if you guys are dying to know the rest of the story, I can aim to do tomorrow's for this arc as well.
Also, as a trivia note, I very nearly forgot to add today's prompt into my scrawling. So when you do find it, know that I went back and just threw it in there after the fact.
Drabble Challenge: Day 12 - knowledge
Word Count: 852 Minimum Goal: 720
It took her a moment to realize that she was holding her breath, hardly daring to breathe so close to the wolf. If she looked down at his muzzle, she could see long canines that had no doubt been used to kill more than once.
A gust of wind brushed past her, blowing her hair into her face. Vena grimaced when the strands obscured her vision. Carefully, she retracted her hand from the wolf’s side to tuck her hair back behind her ear and out of the way. She’d broken her last tie, else she would’ve tied it back.
The Wolf shifted, blowing out a puff of air as he did so.
“Be patient,” Vena said under her breath, moving her own position so she was angled closer to the arrow wound.
Proximity to a Great Wolf, unless it was dead, was never advised, but now that she was close, she was struck by how large they really were. She’d never been good at lengths and distances, but she was pretty sure she’d be able to stretch out on his back and not have the top of her head reach the end of his nose.
The wooden shaft of the arrow was rough, her skin catching on small splinters as she wrapped her palm around it. Golden eyes flicked to watch the wolf from her peripherals. He was still calm, for the moment.
It wasn’t likely he would remain that way for much longer.
Holding tight to the shaft, Vena clenched her teeth, took a breath, and yanked as hard as she could as straight as she could, hoping to the heavens that it would give on the first try. There was a sickening squelch and it sounded like something was tearing before the arrowhead came free, and the wolf snarled, its claws digging deeper into the snow.
Vena felt her heart hesitate in her chest at savage noise, the sound of an animal in pain. She scrambled backwards, forgetting about her side. The arrowhead, covered in blood and small pieces of flesh, glinted dully in the moonlight and she knew her mistake in holding onto it the moment that the wolf’s blue eyes caught sight of it.
It straggled to its feet, nearly falling back down, but the Great Wolf tightened its muscles and stood, its head low and gaze now pinned on the mindpath. Panic closed her throat.
Moon above, save me. The plea was thought before she had any time to think about it.
The wavering canine took one step forward. Then another. Vena struggled to compensate, unable to get to her feet without the wolf reaching her and so she scrambled backwards, using her hands to drag herself backwards.
“I was trying to help,” she tried, her voice shaking almost as badly as she was. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Please, I’m not trying to hurt you.”
A low growl was the only answer and Vena would’ve closed her eyes if she’d had any control over her body at that moment. Any beyond the basic, fight-or-flight instinct that was. So the mindpath will die hunted down, just as has been promised since the beginning. She’d be glad to know it ended this way for me. She’d just regret losing the chance to expand her knowledge on my kind.
Even thinking about her left a bitter taste of her tongue and then Vena felt her thoughts seize up as a realization swept through her.
“I’m a mindpath. And an idiot, apparently.” A surge of courage swept through her. She hadn’t tried to influence the Great Wolf earlier for fear of setting it off, but it had a consciousness, and that meant she could push her will on the wolf. She just had to be close enough to touch him.
With a plan in mind, Vena stopped trying to escape the prowling beast, forcing back her fear and holding her ground. Sureness in her ability brought her chin up and defiance into her manner.
When he got close enough for her to be uncomfortable, the mindpath held out one hand, palm up, and waited. She just hoped that he wouldn’t try to take off her hand.
When the Great Wolf did make its move, it felt like time slowed down to Vena. He lunged in a blur of dark fur, jaw opened wide. It took every ounce of her willpower to keep from throwing herself out of the way even as she took in a breath to prepare herself for the pain.
Sharp teeth tore into the soft flesh of her outstretched hand, sinking into the muscle, impacting the bone. Vena felt the warmth of the wolf’s mouth on her fingers, then burning pain tore through her hand, up her arm, and throughout her body. She choked on a cry, tears welling in her eyes. I can do this.
Her free hand, clenched in the snow, shook badly enough that she almost couldn’t control it enough to lift it towards the wolf’s head. But she did, reached out to him and placws her palm on the black fur covering his head.
Aaand, yeah. I suppose you all are ready to murder me now. Me and my veritable Cliffs of Insanity, as lovely follower Hannah commented at one point. I do give my apologies for all those. Perhaps there'll be less cliff hangers as the word count keeps getting expanded.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 11
Gosh, that was a close one. Nine minutes away from midnight. My excuse is that we're watching Iron Man 3 in the background, plus, again, not having arrived home from the cousins' house until ten. As usual.
We're nearing the end of the Vena and Astarot introductory saga, but I think there'll be at least one more after this one. We'll have to see, though. Those words are really starting to pile up.
Drabble Challenge: Day 11 - prepared
Word Count: 660 Minimum Goal: 666
Vena had been prepared for a lot. She’d been prepared to have to fight for her life, to try to fend off a savage wolf with little else but her bare hands and bruised body.
She hadn’t expected to feel tugs on her heart strings, taking in the laid back ears and the second whine that the wolf let out. Mangy, bleeding, covered in snow, the Great Wolf wasn’t much to look at. He probably looked worse than she did at the moment.
And he was asking for her help. Going against all his ingrained instincts and seeking relief from his greatest enemy. A human.
“Don’t do this to me, please,” she whispered, one arm pressed tight against her side. She kept her distance from the world for a reason. Because she couldn’t handle getting her heart broken by everyone who passed her by. Or everything.
It clawed at the snow, trying to drag itself along to little avail. Vena looked behind her, towards the North Star, Dunlark, and safety. Then back at the wolf, with its black fur and frosty eyes, that couldn’t even find enough strength to stand like she had.
It only took her a couple more moments to know that she wasn’t going to be able to leave. Digging through her bag, the mindpath searched for the remainder of her extra shirt. It wouldn’t be enough, but she had to try.
Once it was in her hand, she dropped her bag in the snow and limped towards the large canine, moving slowly so it wouldn’t get startled. Even at her rate, its ears still flattened further against the curve of its skull.
“Calm down,” Vena whispered, carefully getting down on her knees to get down on his level. “You wanted my help, I’m giving it. If you decide to rip out my throat, you are going to die.”
By now, her pants were already soaked through, but kneeling in the snow sent a fresh wave of cold through her.
Her molten gold eyes flickered to the side, where the white was getting stained red with blood. At this proximity, she could see the shaft of an arrow protruding from the wolf’s shoulder. The end of it had broken off, leaving only a small section of it to use as a grip. She could only hope that only the arrowhead was embedded in his shoulder, not several inches of wood as well. There were more gashes along its side, but she didn’t think that they were enough to be life-threatening. Not yet, anyways.
When Vena looked down at her hands, they were shaking, the scraps of her garment wrapped loosely around her bloody fingers. I’m scared. I’ve always had the advantage over people, but animals are things I can’t control.
The Great Wolf was silent a handful of paces away, as if waiting for her to make up her mind.
“Alright, come along, let’s do this.” She said at last, taking in a deep breath and starting to walk on her knees towards him.
It watched her, wariness in its blue eyes. But it didn’t try to escape her beyond drawing its head back a small space. Vena stopped when she was still a couple of paces and reached out with one hand, her fingers curled. She’d seen children approach strange dogs this way—she could only hope that it would work the same way here.
After a long moment, the wolf sniffed. Once, twice, then it sneezed.
When there was no retaliatory bite, Vena felt a flame of hope ignite in her chest. Maybe.
Scooting forward a small space further, she reached to touch its head. Still nothing. Her fingers traced soft hairs and scarred skin and she felt it. Him. A consciousness, a spark of life.
Vena let her touch trail down, towards the arrow, to inspect the wound. She could feel the Great Wolf’s breath against her front, feel his wariness towards her, then there was wood against her fingertips.
We're nearing the end of the Vena and Astarot introductory saga, but I think there'll be at least one more after this one. We'll have to see, though. Those words are really starting to pile up.
Drabble Challenge: Day 11 - prepared
Word Count: 660 Minimum Goal: 666
Vena had been prepared for a lot. She’d been prepared to have to fight for her life, to try to fend off a savage wolf with little else but her bare hands and bruised body.
She hadn’t expected to feel tugs on her heart strings, taking in the laid back ears and the second whine that the wolf let out. Mangy, bleeding, covered in snow, the Great Wolf wasn’t much to look at. He probably looked worse than she did at the moment.
And he was asking for her help. Going against all his ingrained instincts and seeking relief from his greatest enemy. A human.
“Don’t do this to me, please,” she whispered, one arm pressed tight against her side. She kept her distance from the world for a reason. Because she couldn’t handle getting her heart broken by everyone who passed her by. Or everything.
It clawed at the snow, trying to drag itself along to little avail. Vena looked behind her, towards the North Star, Dunlark, and safety. Then back at the wolf, with its black fur and frosty eyes, that couldn’t even find enough strength to stand like she had.
It only took her a couple more moments to know that she wasn’t going to be able to leave. Digging through her bag, the mindpath searched for the remainder of her extra shirt. It wouldn’t be enough, but she had to try.
Once it was in her hand, she dropped her bag in the snow and limped towards the large canine, moving slowly so it wouldn’t get startled. Even at her rate, its ears still flattened further against the curve of its skull.
“Calm down,” Vena whispered, carefully getting down on her knees to get down on his level. “You wanted my help, I’m giving it. If you decide to rip out my throat, you are going to die.”
By now, her pants were already soaked through, but kneeling in the snow sent a fresh wave of cold through her.
Her molten gold eyes flickered to the side, where the white was getting stained red with blood. At this proximity, she could see the shaft of an arrow protruding from the wolf’s shoulder. The end of it had broken off, leaving only a small section of it to use as a grip. She could only hope that only the arrowhead was embedded in his shoulder, not several inches of wood as well. There were more gashes along its side, but she didn’t think that they were enough to be life-threatening. Not yet, anyways.
When Vena looked down at her hands, they were shaking, the scraps of her garment wrapped loosely around her bloody fingers. I’m scared. I’ve always had the advantage over people, but animals are things I can’t control.
The Great Wolf was silent a handful of paces away, as if waiting for her to make up her mind.
“Alright, come along, let’s do this.” She said at last, taking in a deep breath and starting to walk on her knees towards him.
It watched her, wariness in its blue eyes. But it didn’t try to escape her beyond drawing its head back a small space. Vena stopped when she was still a couple of paces and reached out with one hand, her fingers curled. She’d seen children approach strange dogs this way—she could only hope that it would work the same way here.
After a long moment, the wolf sniffed. Once, twice, then it sneezed.
When there was no retaliatory bite, Vena felt a flame of hope ignite in her chest. Maybe.
Scooting forward a small space further, she reached to touch its head. Still nothing. Her fingers traced soft hairs and scarred skin and she felt it. Him. A consciousness, a spark of life.
Vena let her touch trail down, towards the arrow, to inspect the wound. She could feel the Great Wolf’s breath against her front, feel his wariness towards her, then there was wood against her fingertips.
Well. I hope that that meets expectations. Don't expect everything to be smooth sailing next bit, though. Just FYI.
And with that, I will see you all tomorrow.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 10
One of these days, I am going to get these things done before 11:30 at night. But that's going to have to be after we stop getting home at 10:00. On the bright side, though, my laptop should be back with me by Saturday. And there was much rejoicing over that fact, let me tell you.
We're continuing the adventures of Vena and Astarot today, as I was hoping. I did make it through my scrawl without breaking down crying over any fanvideos. (Granted, I did steer myself away from the ones I knew would make me cry.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 10 - silver
Word Count: 612 Minimum Goal: 600
Vena didn’t black out, but she couldn’t summon the willpower nor the energy to do anything other than turn on her back so she could breathe. Snow in the face was also unpleasant, not to mention numbing.
Up above, the moon, silver and white against the midnight blue sky, shone down on her. It looked cold; pitiless towards her situation. Not that that surprised her – it was the moon, after all – but sometimes she hoped that maybe there was someone up there, looking out for people like her. Apparently not.
What brought her back to reality this time was a shuff, then a whine. Great Wolf. Just a short ways away.
Craning her head, the mindpath caught glimpse of the dark fur, rising up out of the snow, not having moved, but it was clear to her that it was trying. Not that she blamed it, but she just didn’t want its being up and about to mean that she would be left as a bloody stain on the snow.
Her knapsack was within reach now, though. Vena reached to grab it and saw her fingers wrap around the strap, but couldn’t feel the familiar leather against her skin. The movement should’ve caused pain to rocket through her, and yet it didn’t.
Not good.
At least her mind was clear now. She was functioning in that capacity, if in no other.
Melted gold eyes went to the sky again, looking for that distant, unfeeling moon. If she died tonight, it would be the only witness. Never to tell of what it had seen.
…Or maybe my mind isn’t in such good working order. Vena shook herself to rid her mind of the thoughts, pushing upright so she was sitting in the melting snow-pile. She dragged her knapsack to her, too tired and cold to care about the wolf behind her anymore, and felt for her extra shirt. Her only extra, but if it would keep her from bleeding out – if she even was; she hadn’t really checked yet – then she was willing to sacrifice it.
It cost her several minutes to pull the garment out, tear it into long strips with shaking hands, and start wrapping it around her middle. There was blood—not a lot of it, but enough to be concerned over.
By the time Vena was finishing, the Great Wolf was starting to kick up a fuss again behind her, floundering in the snow, trying to get itself moving again. She managed to get to her feet. Only just, but she was standing again.
The darkness, even pierced by faint moonlight, made it hard to see very far. Even the wolf was blending into the shadows with his raven black coat. Slightly unnerving, because if he did get up and moving, she might never see him coming.
Vena turned to walk away, determined to reach Dunlark. The North Star was easy enough to locate through the trees and all she had to do was follow it until she reached the large settlement. Her loose hair was toyed with by the light breeze that had replaced the gale from earlier, and caused chills to run up her spine. Once she got her blood moving again, she was going to be very cold.
She was almost completely engrossed in her thoughts when a longer, pleading whine rose from behind her, followed by a hoarse bark that likely echoed through the forest to anyone nearby. Fear clawed at her throat. Was he trying to summon his packmates?
Risking a glance over her shoulder, the mindpath realized the wolf wasn’t looking off into the trees, but that its blue eyes were watching her.
Not very much progress, I know, but she's rather disoriented and thus a bit ambly in the head. We're getting there, though. There will be blood and friendship before the end, I promise.
Thanks for reading and see you guys on the morrow!
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
We're continuing the adventures of Vena and Astarot today, as I was hoping. I did make it through my scrawl without breaking down crying over any fanvideos. (Granted, I did steer myself away from the ones I knew would make me cry.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 10 - silver
Word Count: 612 Minimum Goal: 600
Vena didn’t black out, but she couldn’t summon the willpower nor the energy to do anything other than turn on her back so she could breathe. Snow in the face was also unpleasant, not to mention numbing.
Up above, the moon, silver and white against the midnight blue sky, shone down on her. It looked cold; pitiless towards her situation. Not that that surprised her – it was the moon, after all – but sometimes she hoped that maybe there was someone up there, looking out for people like her. Apparently not.
What brought her back to reality this time was a shuff, then a whine. Great Wolf. Just a short ways away.
Craning her head, the mindpath caught glimpse of the dark fur, rising up out of the snow, not having moved, but it was clear to her that it was trying. Not that she blamed it, but she just didn’t want its being up and about to mean that she would be left as a bloody stain on the snow.
Her knapsack was within reach now, though. Vena reached to grab it and saw her fingers wrap around the strap, but couldn’t feel the familiar leather against her skin. The movement should’ve caused pain to rocket through her, and yet it didn’t.
Not good.
At least her mind was clear now. She was functioning in that capacity, if in no other.
Melted gold eyes went to the sky again, looking for that distant, unfeeling moon. If she died tonight, it would be the only witness. Never to tell of what it had seen.
…Or maybe my mind isn’t in such good working order. Vena shook herself to rid her mind of the thoughts, pushing upright so she was sitting in the melting snow-pile. She dragged her knapsack to her, too tired and cold to care about the wolf behind her anymore, and felt for her extra shirt. Her only extra, but if it would keep her from bleeding out – if she even was; she hadn’t really checked yet – then she was willing to sacrifice it.
It cost her several minutes to pull the garment out, tear it into long strips with shaking hands, and start wrapping it around her middle. There was blood—not a lot of it, but enough to be concerned over.
By the time Vena was finishing, the Great Wolf was starting to kick up a fuss again behind her, floundering in the snow, trying to get itself moving again. She managed to get to her feet. Only just, but she was standing again.
The darkness, even pierced by faint moonlight, made it hard to see very far. Even the wolf was blending into the shadows with his raven black coat. Slightly unnerving, because if he did get up and moving, she might never see him coming.
Vena turned to walk away, determined to reach Dunlark. The North Star was easy enough to locate through the trees and all she had to do was follow it until she reached the large settlement. Her loose hair was toyed with by the light breeze that had replaced the gale from earlier, and caused chills to run up her spine. Once she got her blood moving again, she was going to be very cold.
She was almost completely engrossed in her thoughts when a longer, pleading whine rose from behind her, followed by a hoarse bark that likely echoed through the forest to anyone nearby. Fear clawed at her throat. Was he trying to summon his packmates?
Risking a glance over her shoulder, the mindpath realized the wolf wasn’t looking off into the trees, but that its blue eyes were watching her.
Not very much progress, I know, but she's rather disoriented and thus a bit ambly in the head. We're getting there, though. There will be blood and friendship before the end, I promise.
Thanks for reading and see you guys on the morrow!
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 9
I am not past the deadline. Still got a little over half an hour. But this is seriously getting harder to do. I'll have to start working on these throughout the day, instead of starting at 10:45 in the evening. Heh.
But I did it and, as usual, I reached and surpassed the word count for today. Yay!
Drabble Challenge: Day 9 - move
Word Count: 576 Minimum Goal: 540
She didn’t want to breathe, let alone move. Almost every inch of her was icy cold and yet prickling with numbness, except where her side felt like it was on fire.
Dragging in a ragged breath, Vena opened her eyes to darkness. It took her a moment to process that it was dark because it was still night out, not because she couldn’t see. The pain alongside her ribs increased when she tried to push herself up onto her elbows to take in her surroundings, sending her back into her imprint upon the snow.
Memory was slow to filter back. Dunlark. Wolves. A tree. What now appeared to be a hard fall.
Snow was melting and seeping into her clothes. Vena freed a hand to get her hair out of her eyes and then rolled onto her back, bumping into the large tree trunk as she did so. Brows pulling together, she stared up into the darkness, making out the branches from which she had dropped.
Had the fighting finished, then? She couldn’t hear anything, but a good knock to the head had proven several times before to disable her hearing for a bit. There wasn’t any ringing this time, though, so Vena hoped maybe it was still intact.
Using the tree and digging her fingers into the bark, she was able to ease herself upright, other arm held tight against her injured side to keep whatever was going on there from getting worse.
It was only after the mindpath was sitting up that she was able to see the large, furry mound collapsed in the snow only a dozen paces away. Its sides, covered in black fur, shuddered with breath still. It was alive, and if it realized she was too, Vena was pretty certain her state of health would deteriorate quickly.
When it didn’t move for several moments after she first looked at it, Vena began to think maybe she wasn’t the only one banged up. Where was the rest of the pack, though? Dead? Fled? Probably both.
Her body protested shifting, but she had to get up, and so she did, pushing to her feet even when her knees threatened to give out. Her side burned as if a torch was being held against it and a whimper escaped before Vena could help it, tears filling her eyes.
Forget the living Great Wolf, she was going to bleed to death or freeze solid before the beast would get the strength gathered to come after her.
Vena realized that her knapsack was no longer at her side. She knew it’d been in her hands when she’d been up in the tree and it would have something to keep her alive a little bit longer.
But it was…. Gold eyes searched the snow for the familiar form of her bag contrasted against white and saw it lying nearby, a couple paces closer to the wolf.
There is no way I am getting anywhere near you, pal.
Except, she needed her bag. Somewhat badly.
Finally, Vena just gritted her teeth and stepped away from the tree, hoping that she wouldn’t fall without its support. She didn’t, but the possibility lingered.
The snow covered her boots and threatened to fall over the top, and the wolf still hadn’t shifted. Standing now, she could see blood on the snow, a scarred muzzle, and a ripped ear.
Then Vena’s strength ran out and she fell to her knees again.
Should I mention this continues on from yesterday's and Day 4's? First look at Astarot! They do end up together, no worries. Should be interesting getting them to like each other, though, to say the least.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
But I did it and, as usual, I reached and surpassed the word count for today. Yay!
Drabble Challenge: Day 9 - move
Word Count: 576 Minimum Goal: 540
She didn’t want to breathe, let alone move. Almost every inch of her was icy cold and yet prickling with numbness, except where her side felt like it was on fire.
Dragging in a ragged breath, Vena opened her eyes to darkness. It took her a moment to process that it was dark because it was still night out, not because she couldn’t see. The pain alongside her ribs increased when she tried to push herself up onto her elbows to take in her surroundings, sending her back into her imprint upon the snow.
Memory was slow to filter back. Dunlark. Wolves. A tree. What now appeared to be a hard fall.
Snow was melting and seeping into her clothes. Vena freed a hand to get her hair out of her eyes and then rolled onto her back, bumping into the large tree trunk as she did so. Brows pulling together, she stared up into the darkness, making out the branches from which she had dropped.
Had the fighting finished, then? She couldn’t hear anything, but a good knock to the head had proven several times before to disable her hearing for a bit. There wasn’t any ringing this time, though, so Vena hoped maybe it was still intact.
Using the tree and digging her fingers into the bark, she was able to ease herself upright, other arm held tight against her injured side to keep whatever was going on there from getting worse.
It was only after the mindpath was sitting up that she was able to see the large, furry mound collapsed in the snow only a dozen paces away. Its sides, covered in black fur, shuddered with breath still. It was alive, and if it realized she was too, Vena was pretty certain her state of health would deteriorate quickly.
When it didn’t move for several moments after she first looked at it, Vena began to think maybe she wasn’t the only one banged up. Where was the rest of the pack, though? Dead? Fled? Probably both.
Her body protested shifting, but she had to get up, and so she did, pushing to her feet even when her knees threatened to give out. Her side burned as if a torch was being held against it and a whimper escaped before Vena could help it, tears filling her eyes.
Forget the living Great Wolf, she was going to bleed to death or freeze solid before the beast would get the strength gathered to come after her.
Vena realized that her knapsack was no longer at her side. She knew it’d been in her hands when she’d been up in the tree and it would have something to keep her alive a little bit longer.
But it was…. Gold eyes searched the snow for the familiar form of her bag contrasted against white and saw it lying nearby, a couple paces closer to the wolf.
There is no way I am getting anywhere near you, pal.
Except, she needed her bag. Somewhat badly.
Finally, Vena just gritted her teeth and stepped away from the tree, hoping that she wouldn’t fall without its support. She didn’t, but the possibility lingered.
The snow covered her boots and threatened to fall over the top, and the wolf still hadn’t shifted. Standing now, she could see blood on the snow, a scarred muzzle, and a ripped ear.
Then Vena’s strength ran out and she fell to her knees again.
Should I mention this continues on from yesterday's and Day 4's? First look at Astarot! They do end up together, no worries. Should be interesting getting them to like each other, though, to say the least.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 8
Well, I only have an hour until midnight. And even though the word count was looking really daunting half an hour ago, I went eighty words over. Surprise, surprise.
I returned to Vena, though. At last. Didn't get to use the prompt in the way I though I might, but I think it worked out fairly well. This drabble does continue off of Day 4 - snowflake, just as a heads up.
Drabble Challenge: Day 8 - companion
Word Count: 560 Minimum Goal: 480
Vena gripped tight to the branch of the tree she had clambered up in, telling herself to keep breathing even as the barks and bays of the wolf pack drifted to her through the still air. Heavens above, she hoped they weren’t bright enough to knock down trees. She’d aimed for one with a thick trunk and bushy branches in the hope that maybe they wouldn’t even know she was there.
She knew she should’ve left later with those monks, who’d been headed over the mountains but planning to stop in Dunlark as well.
Silence fell briefly, enough that she put her back to the tree and stood on the large bough, attempting to see, only to have a deep snarl rip the silence in half. Something wasn’t right.
There wouldn’t be anyone else out here, would there? And she hadn’t seen any tracks for animals.
Vena sat back down, pulled her cloak around herself, and wished for more common sense then it appeared she possessed. Also, for a warm fire and maybe even a bed, along with the walls of Dunlark surrounding her. And, while she was dreaming, maybe a big, strong travelling companion who could take on a pack of Greater Wolves. Not that very many of those existed, if any, but a girl could dream.
Almost comfortable in her tree, surrounding by the smell of pine needles, Vena was coming to terms with the fact that she could very well be stuck in her hideaway the remainder of the night, when a shout, a very human shout, reached her ears.
The cacophony of noises from the wolves went head to head with first one, then what must’ve been a dozen men’s voices, then the yelps started. As if the wolves were being—attacked.
Hunters, she realized, crawling around the tree trunk, balanced precariously on the other limbs, trying to see where everyone was. The villagers she assumed were from Dunlark would have torches, and it only her a few moments to spot the flickering lights through the branches.
Taking on one Greater Wolf with a passel of men was dangerous, but a whole pack of what had to be at least ten strong? Vena wasn’t sure if she was the only one lacking common sense, but it would be nice to not have to spend the remainder of what would likely be a cold night up in a tree.
Despite the service it was providing her, listening to the fight was horrifying. Snarls and shouts mingled with screams and dying whines. Vena pressed her palms against her ears, pulling her knees up to her chest. She pressed her forehead against her knees and tried to lose herself in her thoughts.
Time dragged on. The sounds started to fade, losing their intensity, but the cold was starting to seep in. Vena knew she had to move when she stopped shivered, the numbness having spread throughout, and felt her eyes begin to grow heavy.
Forcing herself to move, the young woman began to descend from the tree, struggling to get her fingers to grip. Halfway to the bottom, her hold slipped on the branch. Bark tore into her palms and she dropped, smashing against one bough and landing in the snow at the bottom of the tree.
Blackness poured in and nothing else, not even the possible danger, registered.
I returned to Vena, though. At last. Didn't get to use the prompt in the way I though I might, but I think it worked out fairly well. This drabble does continue off of Day 4 - snowflake, just as a heads up.
Drabble Challenge: Day 8 - companion
Word Count: 560 Minimum Goal: 480
Vena gripped tight to the branch of the tree she had clambered up in, telling herself to keep breathing even as the barks and bays of the wolf pack drifted to her through the still air. Heavens above, she hoped they weren’t bright enough to knock down trees. She’d aimed for one with a thick trunk and bushy branches in the hope that maybe they wouldn’t even know she was there.
She knew she should’ve left later with those monks, who’d been headed over the mountains but planning to stop in Dunlark as well.
Silence fell briefly, enough that she put her back to the tree and stood on the large bough, attempting to see, only to have a deep snarl rip the silence in half. Something wasn’t right.
There wouldn’t be anyone else out here, would there? And she hadn’t seen any tracks for animals.
Vena sat back down, pulled her cloak around herself, and wished for more common sense then it appeared she possessed. Also, for a warm fire and maybe even a bed, along with the walls of Dunlark surrounding her. And, while she was dreaming, maybe a big, strong travelling companion who could take on a pack of Greater Wolves. Not that very many of those existed, if any, but a girl could dream.
Almost comfortable in her tree, surrounding by the smell of pine needles, Vena was coming to terms with the fact that she could very well be stuck in her hideaway the remainder of the night, when a shout, a very human shout, reached her ears.
The cacophony of noises from the wolves went head to head with first one, then what must’ve been a dozen men’s voices, then the yelps started. As if the wolves were being—attacked.
Hunters, she realized, crawling around the tree trunk, balanced precariously on the other limbs, trying to see where everyone was. The villagers she assumed were from Dunlark would have torches, and it only her a few moments to spot the flickering lights through the branches.
Taking on one Greater Wolf with a passel of men was dangerous, but a whole pack of what had to be at least ten strong? Vena wasn’t sure if she was the only one lacking common sense, but it would be nice to not have to spend the remainder of what would likely be a cold night up in a tree.
Despite the service it was providing her, listening to the fight was horrifying. Snarls and shouts mingled with screams and dying whines. Vena pressed her palms against her ears, pulling her knees up to her chest. She pressed her forehead against her knees and tried to lose herself in her thoughts.
Time dragged on. The sounds started to fade, losing their intensity, but the cold was starting to seep in. Vena knew she had to move when she stopped shivered, the numbness having spread throughout, and felt her eyes begin to grow heavy.
Forcing herself to move, the young woman began to descend from the tree, struggling to get her fingers to grip. Halfway to the bottom, her hold slipped on the branch. Bark tore into her palms and she dropped, smashing against one bough and landing in the snow at the bottom of the tree.
Blackness poured in and nothing else, not even the possible danger, registered.
As a spoiler, you remember from her bio, I talked about her companion, a Great Wolf by the name of Astarot? Well, that's what this is leading up to. You can't just walk up to an uninjured Great Wolf and take it as a pet, after all. Vena being injured too wasn't in the original thought stream, though, so we'll have to see what happens, eh?
Now I want to watch some telly before I have to go to bed. Karate in a lot fewer hours than I want to consider and I'm not going to be able to watch half of what I want to as it is, so. Hope you all are at least partially interested in the Continuing Adventures of Vena Faeniran.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 5
I don't think there is a way to express how much I like this cover of "Roar" by Katy Perry. Because I am in serious love and it's just.... sorry, covers.
Seriously though, these things are getting harder. It's not a five minute scrawl now. More like ten. It's going to take me an hour to do over 1,500 words. Yaaaay. (Expression of the week, my apologies.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 5 - haze
Word Count: 319 Minimum Goal: 300
Vena lifted her head off the cold cobblestones, drawing in an unsteady breath. Memory filtered back through her semi-conscious haze. Walking back from scrounging up dinner, running across a couple of men beating another man, getting in the middle of it.
One of them had backhanded her and the brick of the building at her back hadn’t been forgiving.
Coughing, she pushed herself onto her elbows, muttering, “I hate the city….”
Something trickled along the bridge of her nose and when Vena reached to brush it away, her fingers came away dark. She assumed it was blood, despite the dark sky overhead. It must not have been too many hours ago that she lost consciousness.
A moan sounded nearby. Jerking upright, Vena tried to catch sight of the source of the noise even as her head swam, blotting her vision with black.
“Who’s there?” Her voice cracked and she wished it hadn’t. Out of instinct, she pulls one of the gloves off her hands. Being a mindpath didn’t have many good points, but protection was one of them and she wasn’t afraid to do what she had to.
Another muffled noise, then the shuffle of clothing. “Who’s….there…?”
Vena was sure she recognized that voice. “You’re that—that man, with the friends.”
“…friends?”
She is unapologetic for her term, putting her fingers to her forehead again, trying to find the source of the blood. The alley is very quiet; more quiet than she thought it should be, but it was a ways out of the way. The fact that they’d never been found also evidenced that conclusion.
There was a grunt, more shuffling, then a long breath. “Are you who distracted them?”
Male, as she’d known. Younger than originally thought. “I suppose. I was passing by and saw the party. Wasn’t sure how much more your face could take.”
He made a small noise of tired humor. “Well, thank you.”
And that is today's drabble and I want to try and get another couple episodes of tv in before I have to hit the sack. Maybe. If it decides it wants to buffer. Blasted thing has been crawling all day long. Ah well.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Seriously though, these things are getting harder. It's not a five minute scrawl now. More like ten. It's going to take me an hour to do over 1,500 words. Yaaaay. (Expression of the week, my apologies.)
Drabble Challenge: Day 5 - haze
Word Count: 319 Minimum Goal: 300
Vena lifted her head off the cold cobblestones, drawing in an unsteady breath. Memory filtered back through her semi-conscious haze. Walking back from scrounging up dinner, running across a couple of men beating another man, getting in the middle of it.
One of them had backhanded her and the brick of the building at her back hadn’t been forgiving.
Coughing, she pushed herself onto her elbows, muttering, “I hate the city….”
Something trickled along the bridge of her nose and when Vena reached to brush it away, her fingers came away dark. She assumed it was blood, despite the dark sky overhead. It must not have been too many hours ago that she lost consciousness.
A moan sounded nearby. Jerking upright, Vena tried to catch sight of the source of the noise even as her head swam, blotting her vision with black.
“Who’s there?” Her voice cracked and she wished it hadn’t. Out of instinct, she pulls one of the gloves off her hands. Being a mindpath didn’t have many good points, but protection was one of them and she wasn’t afraid to do what she had to.
Another muffled noise, then the shuffle of clothing. “Who’s….there…?”
Vena was sure she recognized that voice. “You’re that—that man, with the friends.”
“…friends?”
She is unapologetic for her term, putting her fingers to her forehead again, trying to find the source of the blood. The alley is very quiet; more quiet than she thought it should be, but it was a ways out of the way. The fact that they’d never been found also evidenced that conclusion.
There was a grunt, more shuffling, then a long breath. “Are you who distracted them?”
Male, as she’d known. Younger than originally thought. “I suppose. I was passing by and saw the party. Wasn’t sure how much more your face could take.”
He made a small noise of tired humor. “Well, thank you.”
And that is today's drabble and I want to try and get another couple episodes of tv in before I have to hit the sack. Maybe. If it decides it wants to buffer. Blasted thing has been crawling all day long. Ah well.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 4
Look who is keeping up rather well. I am quite proud of myself right now. Besides that I have a book and a chapter to read for school stuff.
OHMYGOSH, Netflix has Upside Down. The movie. With the star-crossed lovers or whatever it was. And it's a Friday. And we should be able to watch it.
Allow me to now proceed to rush through this post.
Drabble Challenge: Day 4 - snowflake
Word Count: 286 Minimum Goal: 240
It never ceased to amaze her. How one snowflake upon another could create the snowdrifts that unfortunate travelers such as herself had to wade through.
Vena stopped to take a breath, knee deep in snow and starting to feel its effects. She still had quite a ways to Dunlark and even though it was only mid-afternoon, the sky was starting to darken with more clouds, ones that looked more than a little foreboding and almost certainly promising more snow.
At least it wasn’t wolf season. They tended to move down south to the valleys during the winter months, and that was the only reason she was out here on her own. Last year, there’d been a peddler’s caravan headed towards Dunlark as well and she’d been able to hitch a ride with them.
No such good fortune this time.
Running a hand through the loose strands of her hair, Vena trudged on, humming a simple melody she’d picked up a few weeks ago to keep herself occupied. Memory was serving her well and she was able to follow the trail up the mountainside with relative ease.
The mindpath’s brows creased as she skirted around what felt like a large boulder. There was something n the wind these days that she didn’t understand. A whisper of danger for her kind. She didn’t know where it’d come from, and it wasn’t very strong, but sometimes a feeling would crawl down her spine.
A strong breeze blew past Vena and brought an eerie sound with it, one that even she had the better sense to stay away from.
The deep bay of a Greater Wolf on the hunt.
And where there was one, there were sure to be more.
By the way, did I mention that my drabble series, by the definition Penny provided, is going to break the rules for drabbles? Just as a warning. These are going to get progressively longer as the days slip past. (So long as I can keep up.)
And no, she does not get eaten by wolves.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 3
This is rather strange. I'm on my Dad's desktop currently, because, as I believe I mentioned, my baby has to go to the service center and as thus, I've set up temporary residence on the desktop. And I can actually read everything now. The text is so large!
Unfortunately, my back is to the family room, so everything I do is on display for all to see. Yaaay. Ah well. I can use Dirk (old laptop, used by my sister) to watch telly.
Anyways, boring you with misadventures with computers.
Drabble Challenge: Day 3 - restless
Word Count: 199 Minimum Goal: 180
It was happening again. Vena could feel it in how she was beginning to get restless. She’d been in one spot too long and now her wandering feet pleaded to move on, continue forward, seek out a new adventure.
The bustling city had been riveting, with all its back alleys and reaching heights, but she belonged in the mountains, among the trees and streams, where the birds sang and the air brought energy to the soul, not just the body.
The sky was streaked with pink and grey when she packed her few belongings into her knapsack and pulled it over her shoulder. She skirted through the buildings, the few people just beginning to rise as well, towards the main gate.
A faint smile pulled at Vena’s mouth when she reached the towering wall and felt a breeze sweep past her, tugging her loose hair into a frenzy and encouraging her to take another step forward.
The road stretching away from Marsdon was made of dirt and was rutted rather badly and the young traveler couldn’t have cared less. It was freedom.
Vena took a deep breath, pulled her too-large jacket closer around her form and didn’t look back.
Unfortunately, my back is to the family room, so everything I do is on display for all to see. Yaaay. Ah well. I can use Dirk (old laptop, used by my sister) to watch telly.
Anyways, boring you with misadventures with computers.
Drabble Challenge: Day 3 - restless
Word Count: 199 Minimum Goal: 180
It was happening again. Vena could feel it in how she was beginning to get restless. She’d been in one spot too long and now her wandering feet pleaded to move on, continue forward, seek out a new adventure.
The bustling city had been riveting, with all its back alleys and reaching heights, but she belonged in the mountains, among the trees and streams, where the birds sang and the air brought energy to the soul, not just the body.
The sky was streaked with pink and grey when she packed her few belongings into her knapsack and pulled it over her shoulder. She skirted through the buildings, the few people just beginning to rise as well, towards the main gate.
A faint smile pulled at Vena’s mouth when she reached the towering wall and felt a breeze sweep past her, tugging her loose hair into a frenzy and encouraging her to take another step forward.
The road stretching away from Marsdon was made of dirt and was rutted rather badly and the young traveler couldn’t have cared less. It was freedom.
Vena took a deep breath, pulled her too-large jacket closer around her form and didn’t look back.
I am going to keep up. I am. It hasn't gotten hard to hit the goal yet, but those words keep on stacking up.
Righto, I have to go look up an actor that we recognized in our movie. See you all on the morrow!
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 2
Okay, I spent a little more time on today's prompt, so hopefully it'll be a bit more worth your while. I also went eighty-something words over my minimum, hitting the original goal that I had laid out for myself before realizing I did not need to have built up that many words by the end of the months. Not that I'm going to complain, though.
Drabble Challenge: Day 2 - accusation
Word Count: 202 Minimum Goal: 120
“I know what you are.” The man’s voice was equal parts hard and uncertain. Not surprising; people tended to react that way. “Mindpath.”
Vena feigned interested in his statement, brows rising as she leaned back in her unsteady chair. “Oh, is that what I’m called? I had no idea.” That accusation had long ago lost its sting, now leaving only a bitter aftertaste on her tongue when she witnessed the way her ability repulsed those who happened to discover it.
“Your kind won’t survive. She will see you all extinguished, like the uncontrollable flames you are.” His dark eyes glittered with an anger she’d only ever seen in devout followers or twisted leaders.
If her own temper hadn’t already been kindled, Vena thought she might’ve pitied him for this blind, unseeing faith, having no knowledge about whom for which he fought.
“Don’t count on it,” she replied at last, leveling a steady stare at him, not intimidated by the declaration. But she knew what she had to do. This informant couldn’t walk out of here retaining information about her to take back to his mistress.
With a swift glance about the quiet tavern, Vena leaned forward and tapped the tabletop with one finger.
Drabble Challenge: Day 2 - accusation
Word Count: 202 Minimum Goal: 120
“I know what you are.” The man’s voice was equal parts hard and uncertain. Not surprising; people tended to react that way. “Mindpath.”
Vena feigned interested in his statement, brows rising as she leaned back in her unsteady chair. “Oh, is that what I’m called? I had no idea.” That accusation had long ago lost its sting, now leaving only a bitter aftertaste on her tongue when she witnessed the way her ability repulsed those who happened to discover it.
“Your kind won’t survive. She will see you all extinguished, like the uncontrollable flames you are.” His dark eyes glittered with an anger she’d only ever seen in devout followers or twisted leaders.
If her own temper hadn’t already been kindled, Vena thought she might’ve pitied him for this blind, unseeing faith, having no knowledge about whom for which he fought.
“Don’t count on it,” she replied at last, leveling a steady stare at him, not intimidated by the declaration. But she knew what she had to do. This informant couldn’t walk out of here retaining information about her to take back to his mistress.
With a swift glance about the quiet tavern, Vena leaned forward and tapped the tabletop with one finger.
And that's it for today. A bit bland, I know, but life is rather completely overwhelming me currently and it's a challenge to not drop anything, meaning I haven't a bunch of brain power to put into my drabbles at the moment.
I hope you all are faring well and that your road is proving to be well paved.
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Drabble Challenge: Day 1
I'm hoping my computer's batter will hold out long enough for me to post this. We'll have to see.
Drabble Challenge: Day 1 - beginning
Word Count: 77 Minimum Goal: 60
The gypsies turned their backs on Vena when she was ten years old and it took her years to see that action not as a betrayal, but as a beginning. A chance for a life better than they could've given her.
She could go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone she wanted to be.
Vena opened her eyes and saw a world she wanted to learn, to explore, and now, she had the wings to do it.
And with that, so begins this month's challenge. I do have a profile post for Vena, if you're confused as to who she is/what her background story is.
More on the morrow!
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
Drabble Challenge: Day 1 - beginning
Word Count: 77 Minimum Goal: 60
The gypsies turned their backs on Vena when she was ten years old and it took her years to see that action not as a betrayal, but as a beginning. A chance for a life better than they could've given her.
She could go anywhere. Do anything. Be anyone she wanted to be.
Vena opened her eyes and saw a world she wanted to learn, to explore, and now, she had the wings to do it.
And with that, so begins this month's challenge. I do have a profile post for Vena, if you're confused as to who she is/what her background story is.
More on the morrow!
Ad astra per aspera.
To the stars, through difficulties.
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