Darkest Before Dawn Challenge
Aug. 6th, 2004 07:02 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
calathea.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ds_flashfiction432 words from a total newbie (hi!)
I'm completely new to:
A. Fanfiction.
B. Posting things for public consumption
C. LJ.
So I do not have a clue or a beta. Sorry.
Reaching
The trees loomed over him like talons, clawing at the star-filled sky. He shivered a little, shifted closer to the flame he had finally coaxed out of the scraps of dry wood he'd been able to amass. He had wasted time he should have spent gathering firewood, first in a fruitless search for his suddenly absent father, and then, panicking, looking for the trail they had been following. He shivered again. It was a long time 'til dawn, and he did not dare sleep lest his tiny fire go out.
"Dad?", he said, in a small voice, half-afraid, half-hoping his father was hiding, watching him, just out of reach of the nimbus of light cast by the fire. "Dad..."
* * * * *
The clock by his bed ticked away the minutes, counterpoint to the murmured night time hush of the hospital. He sighed and moved his shoulders a little to ease the pain in his back, glanced again at the clock. 3:13 am.
He closed his eyes. Behind his eyelids, he was once again running, running along the platform, running towards her outstretched hand, reaching out with his own.
His eyes popped open. He could not bear to dream.
Soundlessly, his lips moved. “I caught this morning morning’s minion…”
* * * * *
The Consulate building sighed at night, settling more deeply onto its foundations. The room bulged with brooding objects. He lay on his back, his eyes on the ceiling. It seemed sleep was to be added to his catalogue of losses today: his home, his few possessions, his friend and almost, almost, the curious stranger wearing Ray’s name.
Ray’s words came back to him, reaching out across a now unbridgeable distance. His own voice surprised him in the dark. “… we have this thing called friendship… This is something a friend would do…”.
* * * * *
It was dark and cold, and they were skidding, flying, dangerously out of control. The land dipped and curved, hiding death in every hollow. He slid away from Ray, and shouted his name, reaching out his hands. Their quest, coming to this bone-crushing end, in an explosion of pain…
Half-awake, he called out in a stifled voice, “Ray! Ray!”
An arm flailed, wrapped around him, and a sleepy voice muttered, “Wha..? Huh..?”.
In the pre-dawn gloom, he could just make out the familiar shape of the cabin. “Nothing.” he whispered, “A nightmare. Go back to sleep.”
The arm around his waist tightened, and he heard Ray grunt, felt Ray give him a clumsy rubbing pat on the stomach. He closed his eyes, and slept.
I'm completely new to:
A. Fanfiction.
B. Posting things for public consumption
C. LJ.
So I do not have a clue or a beta. Sorry.
Reaching
The trees loomed over him like talons, clawing at the star-filled sky. He shivered a little, shifted closer to the flame he had finally coaxed out of the scraps of dry wood he'd been able to amass. He had wasted time he should have spent gathering firewood, first in a fruitless search for his suddenly absent father, and then, panicking, looking for the trail they had been following. He shivered again. It was a long time 'til dawn, and he did not dare sleep lest his tiny fire go out.
"Dad?", he said, in a small voice, half-afraid, half-hoping his father was hiding, watching him, just out of reach of the nimbus of light cast by the fire. "Dad..."
* * * * *
The clock by his bed ticked away the minutes, counterpoint to the murmured night time hush of the hospital. He sighed and moved his shoulders a little to ease the pain in his back, glanced again at the clock. 3:13 am.
He closed his eyes. Behind his eyelids, he was once again running, running along the platform, running towards her outstretched hand, reaching out with his own.
His eyes popped open. He could not bear to dream.
Soundlessly, his lips moved. “I caught this morning morning’s minion…”
* * * * *
The Consulate building sighed at night, settling more deeply onto its foundations. The room bulged with brooding objects. He lay on his back, his eyes on the ceiling. It seemed sleep was to be added to his catalogue of losses today: his home, his few possessions, his friend and almost, almost, the curious stranger wearing Ray’s name.
Ray’s words came back to him, reaching out across a now unbridgeable distance. His own voice surprised him in the dark. “… we have this thing called friendship… This is something a friend would do…”.
* * * * *
It was dark and cold, and they were skidding, flying, dangerously out of control. The land dipped and curved, hiding death in every hollow. He slid away from Ray, and shouted his name, reaching out his hands. Their quest, coming to this bone-crushing end, in an explosion of pain…
Half-awake, he called out in a stifled voice, “Ray! Ray!”
An arm flailed, wrapped around him, and a sleepy voice muttered, “Wha..? Huh..?”.
In the pre-dawn gloom, he could just make out the familiar shape of the cabin. “Nothing.” he whispered, “A nightmare. Go back to sleep.”
The arm around his waist tightened, and he heard Ray grunt, felt Ray give him a clumsy rubbing pat on the stomach. He closed his eyes, and slept.
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 11:10 am (UTC)A. Your story is wonderfully rich and well-written
B. Your public is sure to grow as word gets around that there's new talent in these here parts and
C. You posted it perfectly.
Welcome! Your initial offering is fantastic. I hope we hear more from you. Soon!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 11:17 am (UTC)Welcome to the DS and LJ families!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 02:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 11:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 11:56 am (UTC)This is your first DS story? Your first fanfiction?
Uhm - wow. Do you know what we do with people who pop up and post something wonderful and moving and incredibly well written their first time out?
We don't let them leave!
Hee! Great job and welcome again!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 01:23 pm (UTC)*hands Estrella a length of rope and circles calathea* Now, dear, just stand still...we just want you to stay with us for a while...
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:40 am (UTC)Thanks. I think.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 12:23 pm (UTC)Beautiful story. I'm in awe.
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 12:41 pm (UTC)You're giving us a wonderful story here! Keep on writing!
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:41 am (UTC)this is your first?
Date: 2004-08-06 01:55 pm (UTC)Please stay. Have a seat. A member of RCMP will be with your shortly to start the paperwork for immigration into this fandom.
Re: this is your first?
Date: 2004-08-07 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:44 am (UTC)Question
Date: 2004-08-06 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 02:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 04:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 06:15 pm (UTC)::wiggles eyebrows::
No pressure, Calathea. Really. Do relax and pay no attention to the strange goings-on in the room around you.
::Watches as lamardeuse and Estrella tie Calathea to a chair while a line of Mounties parades in, handing her paperwork and cocoa::
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-06 09:14 pm (UTC)And, no, I don't think we'll be letting you go anywhere...
no subject
Date: 2004-08-07 01:48 am (UTC)