Nathan Athineos
02-23-2016, 08:53 PM
CHAPTER 1
The wind was blowing hard, like a biting nail being driven into a coffin. But, Abner had to remained focused. 4 days without any real food had driven him close to the brink. He felt weak and weary, his amber eyes had grown heavy with despair
“Just...a little... Closer." He muttered under his breath as he pulled back the string of his bow. He had built it himself; the crude design was effective enough, given the situation he was in. "Come on." His breathing slowed but his heart was pounding. He could feel the soft brush of the arrow across his cheek as he anchored his arm.
He released. The arrow soared through the air, making a soft whistling sound as it traveled. It seemed so perfect for that one moment. The arrow had a purpose, it knew what it was doing and where it was going. It did not stray even though the wind was blowing hard against it. And then, it hit its target with a satisfying thunk.
The Doe yelped in pain, signalling to the others that there was danger. It staggered for a few moments, across the snowy ground, and then fell over. Abner walked over to it cautiously. It was breathing heavily, it's eyes glazing over. Abner knew it was in pain, he wanted to put it out of its misery, but something about ending its life was so hard. He bent over and touched its side. The Doe began to breath heavier, her eyes shooting frantic looks back and forth, looking for a way out.
"Shhh. Don't worry... Don't worry." Abner pulled out his knife. The Doe's breathing slowed. It sensed what was about to happen, and had given up. "I'm sorry," he closed his eyes and gashed it's throat. There was a quick gurgle and then... Nothing, "I know just how you feel."
The wind continued to blow, Its howling voice taunting all who could hear it. Abner looked absently at the crimson blood that tainted the white snow, his mind, blank. He was sad, and angry. His throat began to choke up, his eyes began to moisten. He was angry, he didn't know at what, maybe he was angry at God, maybe he was angry at his friends for leaving him there on his own. He clenched his fists, he could feel the anger welling up inside him. He struck the deer, screaming in rage and despair, his anguish blinding the stinging cold and pain. He felt betrayed, as if his friends had chosen to crash that plane, as if they had chosen to die, as if they knew Abner would be on his own, angry and afraid.
He sunk back to his knees, the river of tears began to slow, he looked around himself as reality began to sink in. Death had offered its hand but he would not take it.
"No, I'm not going to die... Not like this." He began work on the deer, his mind now focused on one thing, one simple fact. He was alone and there was nothing he could do... Except survive.
CHAPTER 2
The shadows that now danced across Abner's meek shelter reminded him of days gone by. Days where there was no biting hunger and stinging cold. His thoughts had traversed far and wide, his friends, his job, but most of all, to Helen.
He could see her now, with his hand pressed against her face. The fire danced, and so did the shadows. They danced in a world all their own, to a rhythm unheard, one that had been playing since the beginning of time, and one that bound all of creation together. They danced across her face, as her eyes twinkled in the star light. She stood, a notch in her hip with a playful and understanding smile that seemed so natural.
The image began to fade. Abner sat, alone. He needed a plan. It was no use dwelling on the past, he had to focus on the now. But the soft glow of the moon on the snow was not enough light or warmth to travel in. Besides, the wolves were out, and this fire, these dancing shadows, were the only thing keeping him safe.
CHAPTER 3
The dancing shadows had faded and given way to the burning light of the sun; the shadows now stood still, watching ever so patiently over the land. Abner worked his way out of his shelter. The land was in a soft hush, coated with the soft embrace of snow. The howling wind had changed to a singing breeze and a rainbow of red and yellow was cast upon the horizon. If only I were here under better circumstances.
Abner released a sigh, his eyes focused onto a point, it looked like a cliff. A perfect place to survey the land. He began the long trudge towards his destination, the snow dragging his feet behind him. As beautiful as it was, the stinging cold was still present; the nails were still being hammered into his very bones.
As Abner approached the cliff, his crossed arms fell to his side. The mountains stood before him, ageless guardians of an ageless land. The sun cast long shadows on the faces of the mountains. By the foot of the mountains ran a valley, cut into the land by a stream that seemed so small. Surrounding the valley were more evergreens with small creeks that ran out from the stream by the mountain.
Abner stood on the edge of the cliff taking everything in.
But something shifted.
There was crack
Then another.
The snow began to fall from the sides of the cliff.
The ground jerked down.
Abner began sprinting away from the edge of the cliff.
The comforting snow now seemed to grip him with hands of steel. The snow that once protected him from the icy hills of colorado would now kill him. Abner’s breathing had become quick and shallow, his eyes darting back and forth, looking for a way out.
The crack where the cliff was separating from its mother was becoming larger with every passing moment.
Another crack.
Another jerk downwards.
Then, it all came crashing down.
Abner was suspended in the air for what seemed like an eternity. The whole world seemed to be watching, all eyes were fixed on Abner, but nothing was different for the world.
The mountains watched with indifference, their towering peaks looking down upon the tragedy of one man. The trees swayed back and forth, each trying to get a better view of the stranger who was now about to die. And the shadows watched. They stood still, they did not dance as they had before.
The world did not care what happened to Abner. The sun's glaring eye did not widen with surprise or furrow with despair. He was suspending in the embrace of open air, gravity pulling him down, as it pulled everything down.
The ground was rushing towards him, he clenched his eyes shut and reached out towards the sky in one last vain attempt for mercy.
Then.... Nothing.
That's all there is for now, tell me what you think and any criticisms you have. It also seems like the formatting has gone a bit wonky. Its missing indentations and stuff, so I don't really know how to fix that. But, this is my first post so if I forgot to do something important please forgive my ignorance.
The wind was blowing hard, like a biting nail being driven into a coffin. But, Abner had to remained focused. 4 days without any real food had driven him close to the brink. He felt weak and weary, his amber eyes had grown heavy with despair
“Just...a little... Closer." He muttered under his breath as he pulled back the string of his bow. He had built it himself; the crude design was effective enough, given the situation he was in. "Come on." His breathing slowed but his heart was pounding. He could feel the soft brush of the arrow across his cheek as he anchored his arm.
He released. The arrow soared through the air, making a soft whistling sound as it traveled. It seemed so perfect for that one moment. The arrow had a purpose, it knew what it was doing and where it was going. It did not stray even though the wind was blowing hard against it. And then, it hit its target with a satisfying thunk.
The Doe yelped in pain, signalling to the others that there was danger. It staggered for a few moments, across the snowy ground, and then fell over. Abner walked over to it cautiously. It was breathing heavily, it's eyes glazing over. Abner knew it was in pain, he wanted to put it out of its misery, but something about ending its life was so hard. He bent over and touched its side. The Doe began to breath heavier, her eyes shooting frantic looks back and forth, looking for a way out.
"Shhh. Don't worry... Don't worry." Abner pulled out his knife. The Doe's breathing slowed. It sensed what was about to happen, and had given up. "I'm sorry," he closed his eyes and gashed it's throat. There was a quick gurgle and then... Nothing, "I know just how you feel."
The wind continued to blow, Its howling voice taunting all who could hear it. Abner looked absently at the crimson blood that tainted the white snow, his mind, blank. He was sad, and angry. His throat began to choke up, his eyes began to moisten. He was angry, he didn't know at what, maybe he was angry at God, maybe he was angry at his friends for leaving him there on his own. He clenched his fists, he could feel the anger welling up inside him. He struck the deer, screaming in rage and despair, his anguish blinding the stinging cold and pain. He felt betrayed, as if his friends had chosen to crash that plane, as if they had chosen to die, as if they knew Abner would be on his own, angry and afraid.
He sunk back to his knees, the river of tears began to slow, he looked around himself as reality began to sink in. Death had offered its hand but he would not take it.
"No, I'm not going to die... Not like this." He began work on the deer, his mind now focused on one thing, one simple fact. He was alone and there was nothing he could do... Except survive.
CHAPTER 2
The shadows that now danced across Abner's meek shelter reminded him of days gone by. Days where there was no biting hunger and stinging cold. His thoughts had traversed far and wide, his friends, his job, but most of all, to Helen.
He could see her now, with his hand pressed against her face. The fire danced, and so did the shadows. They danced in a world all their own, to a rhythm unheard, one that had been playing since the beginning of time, and one that bound all of creation together. They danced across her face, as her eyes twinkled in the star light. She stood, a notch in her hip with a playful and understanding smile that seemed so natural.
The image began to fade. Abner sat, alone. He needed a plan. It was no use dwelling on the past, he had to focus on the now. But the soft glow of the moon on the snow was not enough light or warmth to travel in. Besides, the wolves were out, and this fire, these dancing shadows, were the only thing keeping him safe.
CHAPTER 3
The dancing shadows had faded and given way to the burning light of the sun; the shadows now stood still, watching ever so patiently over the land. Abner worked his way out of his shelter. The land was in a soft hush, coated with the soft embrace of snow. The howling wind had changed to a singing breeze and a rainbow of red and yellow was cast upon the horizon. If only I were here under better circumstances.
Abner released a sigh, his eyes focused onto a point, it looked like a cliff. A perfect place to survey the land. He began the long trudge towards his destination, the snow dragging his feet behind him. As beautiful as it was, the stinging cold was still present; the nails were still being hammered into his very bones.
As Abner approached the cliff, his crossed arms fell to his side. The mountains stood before him, ageless guardians of an ageless land. The sun cast long shadows on the faces of the mountains. By the foot of the mountains ran a valley, cut into the land by a stream that seemed so small. Surrounding the valley were more evergreens with small creeks that ran out from the stream by the mountain.
Abner stood on the edge of the cliff taking everything in.
But something shifted.
There was crack
Then another.
The snow began to fall from the sides of the cliff.
The ground jerked down.
Abner began sprinting away from the edge of the cliff.
The comforting snow now seemed to grip him with hands of steel. The snow that once protected him from the icy hills of colorado would now kill him. Abner’s breathing had become quick and shallow, his eyes darting back and forth, looking for a way out.
The crack where the cliff was separating from its mother was becoming larger with every passing moment.
Another crack.
Another jerk downwards.
Then, it all came crashing down.
Abner was suspended in the air for what seemed like an eternity. The whole world seemed to be watching, all eyes were fixed on Abner, but nothing was different for the world.
The mountains watched with indifference, their towering peaks looking down upon the tragedy of one man. The trees swayed back and forth, each trying to get a better view of the stranger who was now about to die. And the shadows watched. They stood still, they did not dance as they had before.
The world did not care what happened to Abner. The sun's glaring eye did not widen with surprise or furrow with despair. He was suspending in the embrace of open air, gravity pulling him down, as it pulled everything down.
The ground was rushing towards him, he clenched his eyes shut and reached out towards the sky in one last vain attempt for mercy.
Then.... Nothing.
That's all there is for now, tell me what you think and any criticisms you have. It also seems like the formatting has gone a bit wonky. Its missing indentations and stuff, so I don't really know how to fix that. But, this is my first post so if I forgot to do something important please forgive my ignorance.