B.M. Wallace
Just trying to broaden my writing style and get feedback to make me a better writer.
B.M. Wallace
Just trying to broaden my writing style and get feedback to make me a better writer.
Just trying to broaden my writing style and get feedback to make me a better writer.
Just trying to broaden my writing style and get feedback to make me a better writer.
William’s shadow cast down the hill from where he stood, overlooking the valley. The darkness grew across from him as the sun was beginning to set and he heard the distant rumble of the Ardentorian army adjusting their formations. The drums and chanting from across the valley were deafening as William’s knuckles were white with tension from the grip on hilt of his sword. He adjusted shield, as he awaited the carnage to come.
Suddenly, everything grew silent except for his own breath. Fiery streaks shot up from the horizon and across the sky like shooting stars. William’s eyes widened watching the flaming arrows leave a crimson glow behind them, waiting for their descent. The flames began to flicker and dance as the arrows began to fall towards William’s lines.
“Shields!”
The command echoed through the line and William gaged the drop of the arrows to best tuck himself behind his shield. He felt the sharp strike of an arrow embed itself into his shield and he braced waiting for the fiery rain to end.
“The god of war smiles upon us!”
Gregor, William’s companion, broke free from the cover of his shield, welcoming the chaos to come. He was much less cautious than William and almost half a man taller. Gregor was built as tall and as strong as the god trees themselves. His courage was intoxicating as others began to follow his lead but not all we blessed by the gods. One poor bastard was struck through his eye. As the arrows diminished, William lowered his shield to see the small fires spread across the battlefield with some fires grew marking the unlucky who did not make ready.
The sound of thunder grew closer as the feet of countless men in the darkness came to break the lines.
“Shields!”
The line made ready as Gregor tossed his shield to pick up a second axe to match the one in his other hand. He let out a defening war cry. The once serene landscape is now transformed into a battleground, a place where heroes are born and legends are forged. William knows his must stand tall and hold the shield wall.
The crash of steel and wood collide and the line is pushed as it absorbs the blow. Willams feet slid up the hill and as the pressure released he opens his shield and thrust his sword through the throat of the unlucky attacker. William pulled his sword back and his shield up as an axe cracked into the edge of his shield. The Ardentorians were advancing Gregor let out a roar!
“Heave you heathens, you want to meet your peace?!?!”
The slope of the hill was on their side. William pushed with his shoulder deep into his shield. The line gave a push that knock the enemy farther down the hill, causing some to clumsily fall on their own feet. The line trampled over them casually striking their lives away as they advanced.
“Charge!”
The command was given. The line broke. Gregor broke through men like a ship through the waves of the Darrlick Sea. William’s eye narrowed as he chose his target. He brought is sword down and through his enemies shoulder. Before he could ready himself, a sword skipped off his shield and struck his thigh. William fell onto his back and his enemy towered above him with his sword held high. Willam’s hand patted the empty ground searching for a weapon. His heart was pounding and a cold sweat dripped down his face as he prepared to greet the gods.
With a crash, Gregor tackled the soldier folding him to the ground. Gregor quickly grabbed William’s shield. He gripped it on both sides, brining it down on his foe’s helmet over and over. The helm caved inward as the gurgling stopped, Gregor reached out his hand.
“There’s more work to be done, and it’s not down there.”
As William rose, he knew today he knew this battle was one songs would be made, heroes would be remembered, and it would be the first day to the end of a tyrant’s reign.
Flickers of light came through the car window as they drove through the hills towards the lake. Tyler continued to make exaggerated adjustments to his seating in a silent protest to the glare on his phone and the frustration of leaving home behind for the weekend.
“What’s the point of all this anyways? Why can’t I say with Max or something? There is nothing out here and it’s so boring!”
“Son, I know it may not seem like it but there is a lot out here and beleive it or not, grandpa used to take me camping out here every summer.”
“Listen to your father, we planned this to spend time together.”
Tyler clenched his fists in his irritation of the situation and let out a final grunt of protest.
—————————-
The sun brightly lit their campsite under the awning of the trees. A slight breeze added comfort to the late summer morning. They were setting up the campsite near a fire pit that overlooked the still lake.
“And there! That’ll do it”
Tyler’s father tightened down the rain fly for their tent.
“See, not so hard”
Tyler tightened his lips with a slight roll of his eyes. He didn’t expect a relaxing camping trip to include so much work. Just then, a familiar car pulled up to interrupt his pessimism.
“Alex!”, Tyler exclaimed
Alex was Tyler’s cousin, the closest thing he had to a brother and friend in his whole family. As the two families exchanged greeting of excitement, Alex’s father opened the rear of their hatchback.
“Boys!”, he called “I have a task for the two of you.”
Their joy seemed to melt away as they trudged over.
“Catch dinner!” He shouted as he pulled out some fishing rods and a tackle box from the back of the car. Alex jumped with excitement.
“Awesome, let’s go!”
Tyler never was much for outdoors and was baffled by Alex’s enthusiasm.
“Don’t worry, it’s fun! I’ll show you!”
The two boys walked down to the edge of the lake and set up their fishing spot in what Alex called “prime real estate”.
As the time began to pass, Tyler’s mind began to be distracted by boredom and heat from the afternoon sun.
“This is ridiculous.. how is this even fun? Do you think there are even fish in this lake?”
Just as Tyler began to shuffle his feet in anticipation to go back to the shaded campsite, a sharp tug pulled at Tyler’s rod.
“You got one!”, Alex humped up and started shouting. The words seemed to deafen behind Tyler’s excitement and concentration. Not quite knowing what he was doing right or wrong, he just kept reeling and reeling. As a large bass burst through the surface of the water, the world seemed to stop. Tyler had never seen a fish that big in real life and he was about to have it caught. As Alex grabbed the fish, Tyler’s heart was still pounding and he couldn’t help but to think of what possibilities the rest of their trip may hold.
It’s been six months since we’ve seen a familiar face and another two since the outbreak began. Over the last few weeks, passersby have been more frequent. On some nights, I can see a dim glow in the trees across the lake where the old campgrounds used to be.
Thomas says we’re lucky our cabin is hard to see with the extra overgrowth and Pa has barely changed the way he’s lived since before the outbreak. He says if it wasn’t for him, we would be mad like the rest of the world. The same rest of the world that would call him nuts, old cooke, or a conspiracy theorist. Sometimes I wonder if he is happier now with no one but Thomas and I to keep him company. Before all this started Pa would hardly trust me to hunt on my own, but now we all have our responsibilities to survive through the winter. Lately, I have spent extra time gathering wood, helping process the vegetables from the garden, not to mention pulling watch.
Thomas says Pa charged me to start pulling watch because we all have a job to do and I'm old enough to pull my weight. I do like the calm of sitting in our deer stand staring across the lake and up at the stars. It’s almost like the whole world is standing still. That’s what I like the most about my whole day but lately, the nights have been getting colder and my shifts feel longer and longer.
“Hey!” Thomas called, “might be needing this!” He tossed up an old quilt.
“Thanks!”
“Midnight, and not a minute earlier”
As I wrapped myself in the quilt and cradled the rifle, Thomas did one last check of our perimeter before heading inside. It wasn’t long before I felt the cold air enveloping me and dense fog filled the gaps between the trees. The sun was low in the sky and frost was forming on the grass and timber. Somehow, even with the cold and seemingly watching nothing in the distance, I couldn’t help but feel like this was like one very very long camping trip, and maybe soon enough this could all be over. As much as I enjoy, deer jerky, there just isn’t a variety of food here at the cabin. Maybe I could go back into town, meet new friends, and live a life outside this cabin. As much as it felt like family, it is getting old and I crave to do something new. Something different.
Just then I heard the cans tied to the tree on the perimeter rattle. I steady the rifle and search the fog for any sign of movement. I hope it’s a deer Pa would be so excited to add to our winter stores. As I listened to my surroundings, my excitement changed to fear. I could hear footsteps, slow deliberate footsteps. I could barely make out the figure in the fog. Was it infected? Was it a looter? Was it human? I could feel my heart pounding as I tried to steady my aim. I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, and slowly closed my eyes before I pulled the trigger.