Nanowrimo, Night 14

Word Count: 26,231
Writing Sample:

Without thinking, she stooped to get on her boots. As she sat down, her contact with the forest floor increased, and she remembered why she had come down, sleep hazed and tired. Forgetting her shoes, she closed her eyes and focused – and when that brought little more than the usual rustlings she felt, she let go of focus. Allowed herself to drowse a little, her thoughts on the cool grass below her, the firm tree trunk behind her, her companions’ soft breaths as they slept uninterrupted above.

There was a rhythm here, in all of the forest. Each being left a ripple of motion where it touched, distinct from the stirrings of tree limbs in the wind. She let her breath slow, felt her own ripples in the flow of the place around her, and then felt where they crossed with the tides of others. She realized that distantly, she could feel the faintest touches of those besides hers and her companions.

(no subject)

Word Count: 28,013
Writing sample:

Albreicht and Mosni circled, smiling, each ready for the other. Mosni’s hand rested on his hilt, Albreicht’s simply pushed his cloak back so that he could draw unhindered. First, they measured each other with their eyes – as much a part of their game now as the actual swordplay. They waited, sought weakness in the other’s attention or gait.

Neither were ever distracted, neither ever faltered. Albreicht was patient, skilled. He could wait forever for the strike, ever alert. Mosni had the advantage of size and strength, and dedicated himself when he decided to move at last, tenaciously pushing until he found or made an opening. So far, Albreicht had not been bested.