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Feel the Silence

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Dragride2742

Dragride2742

Posts: 67 Iron Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I'll always check in to this story. This was the second story that I ever read here on the forums, and what got me thinking about writing myself, or at least reading more. Unfortunately for Lucas however, the prince is starting to hit it off with lady Val'Mryren. The story just gets better from here!

26-Dec-2011 04:44:51

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
***
Night had fallen over Karamja, and the troop had camped once more along the cliffs. They pitched their tents along the hard, windswept ground, and huddled together in the night cold. The wind whipped off the ocean, crashing against the rocks far below and rattled their tents. Lucas pulled his cloak tighter around himself as it burst through his clothing and looked longingly at the camp. He’d drawn the watch tonight, and so he sat on a small boulder with his sword across his knees, staring out at the pitch-dark jungle. Behind him, he could hear muffled conversations and see his companions moving like wraiths through the night. Jonah had allowed a fire for cooking and put it out after. Lucas wondered why they couldn’t build more – the natives seemed to have no trouble finding them. Maybe he was worried about Brimhaven scouts? He shuddered in the cold. Who cared? It was miserable, regardless.
He thought he heard a branch snap far off, and reached down beside him. The bow he’d lifted earlier lay on the ground with a quiver beside it. He felt more comfortable with a bow in his hands, was still amazed at how easy it felt to shoot the natives from afar during the battle. Who could have imagined, he wasn’t useless after all! He grinned, pleased. It felt good to know he might be able to contribute something valuable to the war effort. He refocused on the woods, listening closely. It must have been an animal. He squinted at the dark, willing himself to see more. There was nothing but black. He prayed the natives weren’t surrounding him, silently slipping through the dark. He realized he was a sitting duck out here, that any moment an arrow could strike him in the throat.
He jumped off the boulder, his sword slipping off his knees and clattering to the ground. He scrambled behind the rock, grabbing the bow as he went, and noc*ed an arrow. This he pointed over the boulder, peering over it while staying as low as possible.

28-Dec-2011 15:43:51

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
He stayed this way for many minutes, breathing as quietly as possible. He could feel his heart pounding in his head and couldn’t seem to catch his breath. After many minutes, he finally lowered the bow, but stayed kneeling so he could see over the rock.
He heard footsteps behind him and whirled, yanking the bow string back again. A figure stumbled out of the darkness. After a moment, he could see it was Jonah – and Jonah finally saw him, and threw his hands up. “Whoa, Myren. You see something out there?”
“Thought I heard something,” he said in a low voice.
“If it’s the natives, you won’t hear ‘em coming,” Jonah advised.
“How do you know?”
Jonah hesitated. “Well, we did*’t hear them today, did we?” he said sharply.
Lucas shook his head obediently. He thought back to what Sorokin had said earlier, and chewed his lip thoughtfully. “Sir…may I ask you something?” Jonah was silent. “You seem to know an awful lot about this jungle.”
“I don’t see the question, Myren.” He folded his arms sternly, but wobbled for a moment and had to catch his step.
Lucas looked closer, then leaned forward and inhaled. The commander reeked of alcohol. How had he even carried it with him? His pack must have weighed tons with all those bottles. “Sir, have you been drinking?” he asked, then wished he hadn’t said anything as Jonah’s face contorted with rage.
“None of your damn business, private,” he snarled. Lucas could hear it in his voice now; he was definitely drunk. “Sorokin told me about your questions, all the questions you’ve been asking about me. An’ I’m telling you, it’s none of your damn business.” Jonah jabbed a finger at Lucas’ chest. “I am the only man who will get you out of this jungle alive.”

28-Dec-2011 15:44:33

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Lucas opened his mouth to respond, but Jonah’s hand suddenly smacked against his skull, throwing him to the ground. He heard the drunk man shout, and felt something hot spray against his skin. He scrambled upright and saw Jonah standing over a dark shape on the ground – a body. His shoulders were hunched and he was panting heavily, his sword dangling loosely from one hand. There was a moment of startled silence in which they stared at each other, and then dark shapes rushed from the jungle, pouring towards Lucas and Jonah.
Lucas lunged for his sword and screamed, “Attack!”
Then the natives were upon them. Lucas fumbled awkwardly with his sword, blocking blows from the long spears and trying to sneak inside their long reach to get a hit. One managed to hit him across the face and he fell backwards, losing his sword as he tried to break his fall. The spear tip rose over him, and he stared up at the native, little more than a black shadow in the blue darkness. He was dimly aware of the sound of commotion behind him; the natives had descended upon their camp. The men were late to their weapons, having been jolted out of sleep, and he could hear their dying screams. The spear plunged downward, but then the native’s hands went slack and dropped the weapon. It jammed into Lucas’ stomach, but not with enough force to kill. He screamed as the native fell forward on top of him, knocking the spear aside. He kicked it off him, saw Jonah standing behind. He yanked Lucas to his feet. He could feel his stomach bleeding wetly, but the pain felt somewhere far away. Jonah bent and grabbed the spear from the ground. Taking aim, he hurled it at a passing native and caught him in the leg. The man shrieked and toppled backwards.
For a drunk, the man had impressive aim. And he had just saved Lucas’ life – twice.

28-Dec-2011 15:45:11

Crystal Smee

Crystal Smee

Posts: 7,994 Rune Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Lucas recovered his sword, as well as the bow, and the two men jogged back toward the tents. The tide had stopped, easily overrunning the camp’s poor line of defense, and all the natives now swarmed between the tents, kicking them down and striking at any residents inside. Lucas saw one man pushed backwards, trying to fend off the long spears, and he was backed up right against the cliff’s edge. He tried to take one more step back, found nothing but air, and pitched over the edge. His scream whistled through the air before it was abruptly cut off.
Lucas staggered, vomit bursting up from his bruised stomach, and he felt to his knees. One of the natives rushed toward him and he brandished his sword feebly, knocking his weapon away. He found his feet, weaving as though he too were intoxicated, but managed to jab his sword into the flesh of the native. The man collapsed at his feet. He wandered in the dark, seeing people fighting all around him, dying all around him, unable to muster the energy or courage to go to their aid. But then he remembered – he was a medic! He had to help them!
Everything was hazy now. He looked down, saw the gleam of his own blood in the moonlight, and he nearly threw up again. What happens when the medic can** save anyone? He wondered dimly, before everything went black.

When he regained consciousness the fighting still raged around him, and he had no idea how much time had passed. He hauled himself upright, balancing on his sword, then realized he still had the bow over his shoulder. Groaning, he pulled it down and noc*ed an arrow. It was nearly impossible to aim in the dark. He squinted, found a target he was sure was not one of his companions, and fired. The body collapsed. He stumbled on and came across a body on the ground. Kneeling, he saw the face of Dusty, his injured arm twisted at an odd angle at his side. The soldier bled from a large cut across his throat – Lucas could tell he was beyond saving.

28-Dec-2011 15:45:42

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