Old Author Tag, New Story!
Hi all,
After a couple years being absent, I finally have some time to write again over the summer and wanted to come back. I missed all the great authors in this community. I can't wait to start enjoying all of your work again and making some new friends!
I'm using the same author tag (hungryocean) because it hasn't been purged, but I'm starting a new fantasy/sci-fi story based in the woods of Maine (stealing some of my old characters). There are only a couple of old stories under my tag so just ignore them. :)
Here goes the first entry of the new story. Concrit welcome, I'm still developing everything!
Author: HungryOcean
Challenge: Pistachio #1: Meeting
Word Count: 650
Rating: PG
I walked alone in the forest, but you're never really alone in the forest. I stuck my hands deep in my pockets, trying to think, but the scurries and screeches and swishes around me drowned out my racing, scrambled thoughts. I had a lot to sort out before I saw Copper, who didn’t know I was in Maine yet. Staring down at my feet, I walked faster and faster in my frustration. Finally, at a near run, I slammed into something and fell to the ground. Cursing, rubbing my bruised shoulder where it had hit, I looked up and bit my cheek to stop angry tears.
I was crouched in front of an old hunting cabin. I must have gone much, much farther into the woods than usual, because I had never seen the dilapidated building before. My frustrated attempts to sort out my thoughts were replaced with curiosity. I was pretty sure I was still on my brother’s land. Before my thoughts could get any further, I heard heavy footsteps and a muffled scream inside.
Pain shot through my chest as adrenaline put my heart into overdrive. My fingers instinctively reached for my pocket knife, but I released it again. Whoever had caused that scream was likely bigger and stronger; getting my nice sharp knife wrenched away and used on me wasn’t an appealing thought. Looking around frantically, I tried to think past the blood pounding behind my eyes. I didn’t have very long; they had undoubtedly heard my approach and slam against the side of the cabin. There were some old bear and beaver traps off to the right, but no time to set them. Just as I grabbed one by the chain, I caught the motion of the cabin door slamming open on the edge of my vision. My brother’s expression went from furious to shocked as he recognized me kneeling there.
“Morgan, what the hell are you doing here - HEY!” Still pumped with adrenaline and controlled entirely by instinct, I swung a beaver trap up by its chain and connected with his temple. He fell to the ground, out cold. I was panting, still not comprehending that I had just knocked my brother unconscious in the woods. Some rational part of me was telling me he was no threat, I had definitely misunderstood the situation. But the tone of that scream a few minutes before made me feel much safer with him unconscious. I felt for his pulse just to reassure myself. It was strong, and there was only a small cut on the side of his head. Not sure how much time I had, I ran into the cabin to try and get a better idea of the situation. Tied to a chair and gagged was a struggling woman. Unable to process that Copper could actually have done this, I ran over and pulled off her gag.
“Thank god!” she panted, spitting to get the taste out of her mouth. “Untie me and then let’s get out of here!” I stood in shock for a second, then started work on the ropes with my knife.
“Copper…That guy did this to you?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Her eyes were equal parts fury and humiliation.
“Did he…hurt you?” I could barely get the words out. I didn’t want the answer.
“No, other than tying me up. He’s after something unusual.” As soon as I untied her, she bolted to the door, then paused. “Do you know your way around here? Can you help me?”
“Yes. I’ll do anything I can,” I said with as much conviction as I could, still half-paralyzed with fear and shock.
“Thank you. I have a lot to explain,” she said. And for a split second, I swear I was blinded with an overwhelming golden glow her grey eyes. I blinked it pain, and it was gone. “But first we need to run.”
After a couple years being absent, I finally have some time to write again over the summer and wanted to come back. I missed all the great authors in this community. I can't wait to start enjoying all of your work again and making some new friends!
I'm using the same author tag (hungryocean) because it hasn't been purged, but I'm starting a new fantasy/sci-fi story based in the woods of Maine (stealing some of my old characters). There are only a couple of old stories under my tag so just ignore them. :)
Here goes the first entry of the new story. Concrit welcome, I'm still developing everything!
Author: HungryOcean
Challenge: Pistachio #1: Meeting
Word Count: 650
Rating: PG
I walked alone in the forest, but you're never really alone in the forest. I stuck my hands deep in my pockets, trying to think, but the scurries and screeches and swishes around me drowned out my racing, scrambled thoughts. I had a lot to sort out before I saw Copper, who didn’t know I was in Maine yet. Staring down at my feet, I walked faster and faster in my frustration. Finally, at a near run, I slammed into something and fell to the ground. Cursing, rubbing my bruised shoulder where it had hit, I looked up and bit my cheek to stop angry tears.
I was crouched in front of an old hunting cabin. I must have gone much, much farther into the woods than usual, because I had never seen the dilapidated building before. My frustrated attempts to sort out my thoughts were replaced with curiosity. I was pretty sure I was still on my brother’s land. Before my thoughts could get any further, I heard heavy footsteps and a muffled scream inside.
Pain shot through my chest as adrenaline put my heart into overdrive. My fingers instinctively reached for my pocket knife, but I released it again. Whoever had caused that scream was likely bigger and stronger; getting my nice sharp knife wrenched away and used on me wasn’t an appealing thought. Looking around frantically, I tried to think past the blood pounding behind my eyes. I didn’t have very long; they had undoubtedly heard my approach and slam against the side of the cabin. There were some old bear and beaver traps off to the right, but no time to set them. Just as I grabbed one by the chain, I caught the motion of the cabin door slamming open on the edge of my vision. My brother’s expression went from furious to shocked as he recognized me kneeling there.
“Morgan, what the hell are you doing here - HEY!” Still pumped with adrenaline and controlled entirely by instinct, I swung a beaver trap up by its chain and connected with his temple. He fell to the ground, out cold. I was panting, still not comprehending that I had just knocked my brother unconscious in the woods. Some rational part of me was telling me he was no threat, I had definitely misunderstood the situation. But the tone of that scream a few minutes before made me feel much safer with him unconscious. I felt for his pulse just to reassure myself. It was strong, and there was only a small cut on the side of his head. Not sure how much time I had, I ran into the cabin to try and get a better idea of the situation. Tied to a chair and gagged was a struggling woman. Unable to process that Copper could actually have done this, I ran over and pulled off her gag.
“Thank god!” she panted, spitting to get the taste out of her mouth. “Untie me and then let’s get out of here!” I stood in shock for a second, then started work on the ropes with my knife.
“Copper…That guy did this to you?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes.” Her eyes were equal parts fury and humiliation.
“Did he…hurt you?” I could barely get the words out. I didn’t want the answer.
“No, other than tying me up. He’s after something unusual.” As soon as I untied her, she bolted to the door, then paused. “Do you know your way around here? Can you help me?”
“Yes. I’ll do anything I can,” I said with as much conviction as I could, still half-paralyzed with fear and shock.
“Thank you. I have a lot to explain,” she said. And for a split second, I swear I was blinded with an overwhelming golden glow her grey eyes. I blinked it pain, and it was gone. “But first we need to run.”