RuneScape Forum Archive | ~` The Admiral's Fleet `~

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Short - The Storm
--
Desperation swept over the quiet village as the clouds overhead shifted and became creatures of pure malice. Lightning flashed above them, and it was followed by the loud roar of thunder. Soon, the moon fell victim to their devastating force, and it was quickly overshadowed by their fierce appearance.
Men and women ran for cover along the ground, but all knew that fate had clutched their small home with its unnerving grasp, and none could flee from its overwhelming might. Destiny beckoned them closer, but all resisted and ran for their shelters, hoping to escape the storm’s wrath.
While the sky bled with lightning’s bright array and thunder boomed like the conductor of the light’s amazing display, a screeching wind soon arose, creating a hellish voice of wonder and fear. The clouds swirled in the sky, and soon they funneled down and touched the soft soil, ripping it apart with its violent gusts.
“Hurry!” a man shouted as the funnel moved closer and closer to the town square.
All of the citizens soon found that there was no hope, and they soon fell to their knees, praying for their gods to come to them, but there would be no help arriving. Homes were torn apart; animals that fell within the storm’s path were flung afar; families huddled together as they could do nothing but watch their destruction unfold, and, like the heavens above commanded, the storm raged on.
The sounds of splitting wood and screaming innocents filled the midnight air, and many hurried to board themselves inside of their homes. The clouds overhead did not respond to their cries for mercy, and instead sent a vicious assault of rain plummeting down upon their heads.
Freezing rain and chilling air soon slowed the people, but they did not give up their small fragments of hope. They fought for their homes, their families, and their lives; but howling wind and frozen sheets of rain were all that they received in response to their frivolous attempts.

30-Aug-2008 23:00:37 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:28:02 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Meanwhile, a small child sat beside his mother underneath a faulty roof, sobbing uncontrollably. The mother cradled the young boy within her arms as she told him that all would be well and not to worry, but her claims went unnoticed and the boy wept even harder. On the ground in front of them sat a priest, but this was not any priest; he was the High Priest of Guthix, and even he could not help but doubt their leader.
Outside, the rain fell even harder as tornadoes ravaged the small town, crushing buildings under their terrifying assault. One man, Herald Druxio, was the mayor of this village and he could do nothing but attempt to calm his frightened neighbors. He looked over at the shelter, where so many people had sought refuge from the storm, and received but a small glimpse of flashing light before the roof exploded into a collection of dancing flame.
“No** Herald whimpered, grasping at the burning building. His blue eyes closed sharply and he flicked his head to the side, trying to put out the sight of his friends, running while alight, out of his mind. His short, brown hair was soaked to the scalp and it rested upon his head from the water’s weight, for not even the strong winds could move it. His clothes were ripped in various places from the flying debris, and his normally kind face and become one engraved with an expression of pure fear.
As he watched his friends flee from the refuge, he heard the sharp crackling of wood behind him. Immediately, he turned his head towards the sound and was met with the thick trunk of a tree colliding with his chest and sending him falling to the ground. Herald fought with all of his might, but he was pinned and it was as if the gods above were forcing him to watch the destruction of his beloved town commence before him.
‘Please,’ he cried softly to himself, “don’t let it end this way.’

30-Aug-2008 23:00:38 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:28:11 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

His cries went unanswered as the strength of the storm merely continued to increase, and the rain still fell in freezing sheets from above. None would help them; none could help them; they were alone.
As he closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable, he heard the frantic scream of a woman echo in the dark. Her cries were muffled by the savage gales, but he faintly hear her crying, “Help me! Help me!” Still, there was nothing he could do.
With another thunderous beating of thunder, the wind suddenly increased tenfold, sending the large trunk, and Herald, flying backwards once more. This time, however, Herald’s back met hardened rock, and the sharp snapping of bone struck the air. Herald knew that something bad had happened, but, instead of crying out for help, all he could do was let out a small whimper.
Blood had flown from his mouth upon impact, and it had fallen onto the trunk of the tree. Still, the pounding rain quickly washed it away, removing all traces of its existence. Herald felt as though he was unable to control his neck any longer, and he released all control, allowing his chin to make contact with his chest. A small amount of blood trickled out form his mouth and began to fall down his chin, and he could feel its slow descent.
“Herald!”
“Ugh,” Herald moaned as he heard his name break through the howling wind. His eyes tilted upward, revealing to him the image of a woman running to his side. Her appearance was intangible, but he could faintly recognize her voice as she brought a soft hand to his bloodied cheek.
Lifting his head, she asked him, “W-What happened?”
Another moan was the response Herald gave her, and then his head drooped back down to its previous state as she removed her hand. His eyes darted back and forth in the blackness, and only the faint light proved to him that he had retained his vision through it all.

30-Aug-2008 23:00:39 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:28:18 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

“Herald,” she said, “I won’t leave you. Come now; I’ll help you.”
Herald forced himself through the pain and he grabbed her wrist, forcing himself to choke out but a few words: “Sarah… Go.” With that, his head fell once more and Sarah let out short whimpers as she back away,
“Herald,” she whispered in the night, “goodbye.”
With these words, she turned to leave, but she was greeted by the carved edge of a stake flying into her stomach and throwing her backwards into a tree; she was pinned. Coughing up blood, her blonde hair dangled in front of her solemn face. In her mind, only her love remained. As she prayed for him, blood continued to flow from the corners of her mouth, and, soon, she fell into the cold grasp of death.
Herald’s mind slowly began to blur as he mentally reached for freedom, although it was completely unattainable. His mind had been overtaken by a wanting for escape, and now he would do anything to receive his wish. He whimpered in pain as he moved his fingers, attempting to circulate the blood through his veins, but it was to no avail.
He then closed his eyes and thought of Sarah, or his home, of his family, and he wished that he would be able to see them all one more time.
--
Herald woke with a jolt in his bed. The cotton blanket had slightly irritated his stomach, but he ignored that as he brushed the sweat from his brow and thought back to what had just happened.
‘It was a dream?’ he asked himself as he sat up in bed.
Looking around, Herald noticed that his room was just like he remembered it. A small pile of clothes sat in the corner, his door remained slightly ajar, and his furniture was placed all around the room; he was home again.
“Oh, Herald!” a voice called from outside.

30-Aug-2008 23:00:41 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:28:27 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Jumping up, Herald quickly changed into a pair of a dark pants, making him look far more official than the average man. After all, he was the mayor of this fine town. He grabbed a few pieces of gold from atop his nightstand and rushed out the door. When he had descended the steps, he saw his loving fiancée, Sarah, preparing a small meal for him.
“Morning, Sarah,” he said cheerfully as he strolled by her, planting a small kiss on her cheek.
Sarah blushed and glanced over at him, saying, “Awfully cheerful this morning, aren’t you?”
Herald laughed and told her that he would be busy today, but he did*’t mind. He looked around his home and noticed that he couldn’t quite describe his surroundings, but he seemed to, subconsciously, know what they were and what they looked like.
‘Odd,’ he thought to himself.
He quickly grabbed his bag and walked to the door, grabbing the handle with uncertainty. He wondered what was so odd about all of this, but then he shrugged it off and turned the handle.
‘Oh, well,’ he thought as he stepped outside. ‘Today is going to be a good day.’
Suddenly, he took a step and plummeted down into absolute nothingness. His life flashed before his eyes and he felt the strain of years gone by striking him with devastating force. His strength left him, and he felt himself completely unable to fight off the darkness that surrounded him. Feelings of anger, loneliness, hatred, and fear all came upon him, creating a powerful emotion that was indescribable.
His mind raced as he reached out into the blackness, but he could grab nothing. The air slipped through his fingertips and he continued to fall, and, knowing nothing else that he could do, he looked up to the see a faint sliver of light blaze among the dark. His hand reached up to touch the amazing spectacle, but, again, he failed in his attempt.
“Guthix!” he screamed. “Please, give me strength! Help me through this!”

30-Aug-2008 23:00:46 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:29:12 by CaptChekaka

CaptChekaka

Posts: 35,595 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

As he fell, he could only either wait for his demise, or he could pray to the god that he had for so long; thought had abandoned him and left him all alone in this world. His mind cleared as he felt reality slipping away from him, and he could not help but wonder what was going to happen in the end.
Soon he saw the darkness begin to thin, and he knew that the end of the abysmal descent was coming to an end. He gazed back up to where he had been, and saw, for the last time, that sliver of light shining ever so high above.
--
The storm did not cease in its attacks, and the wind forced itself upon the villagers. Many had died already, either from the flying debris, from the terrifying wind, or from the blazing fires that survived even in this torrential rainstorm, but, among the fallen, lay, pinned to a building, the motionless body of Herald Druxio.
-- End. --

30-Aug-2008 23:00:47 - Last edited on 30-Aug-2008 23:28:52 by CaptChekaka