NaNo Snippet Time!
Hokay...here is a snippet. And the one I'm fighting with the most. :)
It was always the same red field. The soil beneath Kierian’s feet tainted with the blood of the fallen. There were fires burning near him. While he could not see the flames due to the thick, oily smoke, he could smell the burning flesh. He looked down at his left arm. It had been burned badly. He tried to close his hand in a fist, but the singed muscles refused to obey his command. Kierian wiped the blood from his mouth with his good hand. The city had not yet sent word, which worried him. They had managed to hold the invasion here, but at a high cost. If any of the invading force had been infected, it was only a matter of time before the situation could spiral out of the control of even the spirit lord.
It was quiet and still. Eerily so. Nothing on the field moved; not even the banners and standards of the conflicting forces. It was as if the wind even avoided disturbing those on this field for fear of their rising again. It was possible. Kieiran knew that. He had seen it once before. It was his greatest failure. He had known; recognized all the signs. Valaire had dangled them in front of the Warden as a taunt, and Kierian, like a fool, had refused to see, to acknowledge what was happening.
Karvanya winked at him from the sanguine ground. He had dropped her when he had been attacked from behind. He had ended the poor man’s life as humanely as possible with the dagger he carried in his boot. He knelt and took a moment to examine her for damage. It was extraordinarily difficult to damage an axkana. Gently picking the blade up, he watched the telltale blue-purple glimmer run along the edge. He had won the favor of the spirit lord and had received Karvanya as reward for his service. He still felt he did not deserve it but was grateful for her keen edge and ability to keep the slain from rising again.
Anger well up in his heart. Earth. For all that he shared blood with those of that forsaken world, he hated them. Their greed and selfishness had brought ruin to everything he cared about. He had to fix this. While he still drew breath, he would find a way to protect innocent people from the greed and selfishness of humanity. And the Stars help him; he would find a way to destroy Valaire.
Movement caught his eye no more than forty yards from him. He squinted and took a step forward. He was exhausted magically. If he tried to use his Sight any further, he would be all but useless, the magic extracting energy from the last reserves of physical strength he had. Something moved again. One of the formerly still bodies began to crawl to its feet. A zombie. Kierian raised his blade. It would not be the first time he had to deal with the undead, but this time he would not fail. As he prepared to charge, the undead let out a horrific shriek of pain and anger. It began to grow, its pale flesh becoming black. He watched in fascinated horror as the thing’s arms grew, extending past its knees as it gained new height. Talons burst from former fingers as the thing let out another piercing scream. It shifted glowing red eyes to Kierian and started to move toward him, gaining speed as it went.
Kierian had never seen anything like it and lacked the strength to call for aid. This thing reeked of evil, and he could not, would not let it enter the city. He would not fail again even if it meant his life.
The thing was closing on his position with speed now, its weight crushing the already mutilated corpses. Kierian raised his sword, his arm trembling with fatigue and pain. He steeled himself for the blow as it lunged at him with what sounded like a laugh. Suddenly, a streak of gray appeared in the corner of his vision.
It couldn’t be! Kierian’s knees gave out in shock, and he dropped to the ground, blood soaking into his breeches. Shika was far from here, far from his unworthy Warden. He had made it more than clear that he wanted nothing to do with Kierian. Never before had a Ward repudiated his Warden, but Shika had. The destruction of the bond had nearly killed Kierian. The emptiness and utter loneliness had drained his soul. So many times he had wanted to end it, but he could not. He had walked away, unforgiven, broken, to face what his ancestors had wrought. And Shika was far away, safe… But it was the Ward. His soul cried out to the familiar presence, needing to be made whole.
He croaked in protest as the gray-blue fox streaked forward, his fur matted with blood, a gash in his flank leaving a red trail behind him. The Ward lunged at the thing with a war scream, sinking his sharp teeth into its foreleg. The thing shrieked in pain, an unholy sound that pierced Kierian’s mind. He clutched Karvanya and with his remaining strength, tried to block the mental and physical scream. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the monstrosity before him. It wrapped a clawed hand around the small Ward, tearing him from its leg. It began to squeeze the struggling ball of fur. A scream tore from Kierian’s throat as a laugh echoed around him. Shika squealed in pain. A sickening crunch filled followed but silent stillness. Kierian couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move as the body of the Ward fell from the thing’s grasp and hit the ground with a dull thud.
Rage unlike anything he had every experienced filled the void. He found himself on his feet, sword in hand and a strange red glow surrounding him. Hot tears burned his cheeks as he let out a gut-wrenching primal scream, filled with pain, anger and loss. He charged the thing, his thoughts centered solely on avenging the one being he loved more than anything in this world. Karvanya cut into the black flesh as five talons pierced his stomach and lifted him off the ground. Blood gushed from his gut.
Please, if I am to die, let me take this thing with me. For him, he prayed to anyone or anything that would listen. His firmed his grip on the spirit blade and screaming with pain, he swiftly plunged it into the thing’s throat just as it lifted him high enough to reach. The thing reached up to claw at its neck, further embedding the sword in its flesh. The spirit blade burned the undead monsters flesh, creating ash-like flakes that floated off its body.
Huh, Kierian thought with unusual clarity as he felt his body slide off the talons and fall toward the ground. At least, that still works.
He didn’t remember hitting the ground. The emptiness was overwhelming all other emotion and physical sensation. He could feel the blood slowing draining from the wounds. Part of him wished the beast had managed to pierce a lung. It would be faster than dying from a stomach wound. He shifted his head to see Shika’s body only feet from him. He forced his body onto its side and dragged himself to the Ward’s still form. The creature collapsed still fighting with Karvanya’s bite; its gurgling cries ragged and much quieter now. He didn’t care. He used the remaining of his strength and pulled the fox’s broken body into his arms. Sobs racked his body as he stroked the matted fur, darkness creeping into the edges of his vision.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, over and over again, his blood further staining the Ward’s coat. “I’m so sorry. Forgive me.” But there was no forgiveness just as he knew this would not be his end. He could hear the shouts from the reserves finally reaching the now-still battle field. He was cursed. Doomed to continue on until this was finished. And in no way could he atone for this newest crime. Or maybe this was his punishment, to continue in utter loneliness and despair until he finally ended what Will and Arthur could not.
It was always the same red field. The soil beneath Kierian’s feet tainted with the blood of the fallen. There were fires burning near him. While he could not see the flames due to the thick, oily smoke, he could smell the burning flesh. He looked down at his left arm. It had been burned badly. He tried to close his hand in a fist, but the singed muscles refused to obey his command. Kierian wiped the blood from his mouth with his good hand. The city had not yet sent word, which worried him. They had managed to hold the invasion here, but at a high cost. If any of the invading force had been infected, it was only a matter of time before the situation could spiral out of the control of even the spirit lord.
It was quiet and still. Eerily so. Nothing on the field moved; not even the banners and standards of the conflicting forces. It was as if the wind even avoided disturbing those on this field for fear of their rising again. It was possible. Kieiran knew that. He had seen it once before. It was his greatest failure. He had known; recognized all the signs. Valaire had dangled them in front of the Warden as a taunt, and Kierian, like a fool, had refused to see, to acknowledge what was happening.
Karvanya winked at him from the sanguine ground. He had dropped her when he had been attacked from behind. He had ended the poor man’s life as humanely as possible with the dagger he carried in his boot. He knelt and took a moment to examine her for damage. It was extraordinarily difficult to damage an axkana. Gently picking the blade up, he watched the telltale blue-purple glimmer run along the edge. He had won the favor of the spirit lord and had received Karvanya as reward for his service. He still felt he did not deserve it but was grateful for her keen edge and ability to keep the slain from rising again.
Anger well up in his heart. Earth. For all that he shared blood with those of that forsaken world, he hated them. Their greed and selfishness had brought ruin to everything he cared about. He had to fix this. While he still drew breath, he would find a way to protect innocent people from the greed and selfishness of humanity. And the Stars help him; he would find a way to destroy Valaire.
Movement caught his eye no more than forty yards from him. He squinted and took a step forward. He was exhausted magically. If he tried to use his Sight any further, he would be all but useless, the magic extracting energy from the last reserves of physical strength he had. Something moved again. One of the formerly still bodies began to crawl to its feet. A zombie. Kierian raised his blade. It would not be the first time he had to deal with the undead, but this time he would not fail. As he prepared to charge, the undead let out a horrific shriek of pain and anger. It began to grow, its pale flesh becoming black. He watched in fascinated horror as the thing’s arms grew, extending past its knees as it gained new height. Talons burst from former fingers as the thing let out another piercing scream. It shifted glowing red eyes to Kierian and started to move toward him, gaining speed as it went.
Kierian had never seen anything like it and lacked the strength to call for aid. This thing reeked of evil, and he could not, would not let it enter the city. He would not fail again even if it meant his life.
The thing was closing on his position with speed now, its weight crushing the already mutilated corpses. Kierian raised his sword, his arm trembling with fatigue and pain. He steeled himself for the blow as it lunged at him with what sounded like a laugh. Suddenly, a streak of gray appeared in the corner of his vision.
It couldn’t be! Kierian’s knees gave out in shock, and he dropped to the ground, blood soaking into his breeches. Shika was far from here, far from his unworthy Warden. He had made it more than clear that he wanted nothing to do with Kierian. Never before had a Ward repudiated his Warden, but Shika had. The destruction of the bond had nearly killed Kierian. The emptiness and utter loneliness had drained his soul. So many times he had wanted to end it, but he could not. He had walked away, unforgiven, broken, to face what his ancestors had wrought. And Shika was far away, safe… But it was the Ward. His soul cried out to the familiar presence, needing to be made whole.
He croaked in protest as the gray-blue fox streaked forward, his fur matted with blood, a gash in his flank leaving a red trail behind him. The Ward lunged at the thing with a war scream, sinking his sharp teeth into its foreleg. The thing shrieked in pain, an unholy sound that pierced Kierian’s mind. He clutched Karvanya and with his remaining strength, tried to block the mental and physical scream. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the monstrosity before him. It wrapped a clawed hand around the small Ward, tearing him from its leg. It began to squeeze the struggling ball of fur. A scream tore from Kierian’s throat as a laugh echoed around him. Shika squealed in pain. A sickening crunch filled followed but silent stillness. Kierian couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move as the body of the Ward fell from the thing’s grasp and hit the ground with a dull thud.
Rage unlike anything he had every experienced filled the void. He found himself on his feet, sword in hand and a strange red glow surrounding him. Hot tears burned his cheeks as he let out a gut-wrenching primal scream, filled with pain, anger and loss. He charged the thing, his thoughts centered solely on avenging the one being he loved more than anything in this world. Karvanya cut into the black flesh as five talons pierced his stomach and lifted him off the ground. Blood gushed from his gut.
Please, if I am to die, let me take this thing with me. For him, he prayed to anyone or anything that would listen. His firmed his grip on the spirit blade and screaming with pain, he swiftly plunged it into the thing’s throat just as it lifted him high enough to reach. The thing reached up to claw at its neck, further embedding the sword in its flesh. The spirit blade burned the undead monsters flesh, creating ash-like flakes that floated off its body.
Huh, Kierian thought with unusual clarity as he felt his body slide off the talons and fall toward the ground. At least, that still works.
He didn’t remember hitting the ground. The emptiness was overwhelming all other emotion and physical sensation. He could feel the blood slowing draining from the wounds. Part of him wished the beast had managed to pierce a lung. It would be faster than dying from a stomach wound. He shifted his head to see Shika’s body only feet from him. He forced his body onto its side and dragged himself to the Ward’s still form. The creature collapsed still fighting with Karvanya’s bite; its gurgling cries ragged and much quieter now. He didn’t care. He used the remaining of his strength and pulled the fox’s broken body into his arms. Sobs racked his body as he stroked the matted fur, darkness creeping into the edges of his vision.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, over and over again, his blood further staining the Ward’s coat. “I’m so sorry. Forgive me.” But there was no forgiveness just as he knew this would not be his end. He could hear the shouts from the reserves finally reaching the now-still battle field. He was cursed. Doomed to continue on until this was finished. And in no way could he atone for this newest crime. Or maybe this was his punishment, to continue in utter loneliness and despair until he finally ended what Will and Arthur could not.