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 Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:04 am
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Quote: It’s Hallowe’en night and wind is howling through the trees. The weather is suddenly ghastly. A mysterious mist rises around. Every once in awhile you think you hear the jingling of tack, the huffs of horses impatiently waiting…on what? A cold sense of dread overcomes you. The tiny hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and for a moment everything seems pretenaturally still. Your breath catches in your chest and when you finally release breath it comes out in a white huff of air. It’s suddenly very cold. Your mouth is so dry you can barely swallow even if you can get the shallow breaths to actually force air into your lungs. There’s a loud cracking sound and you think you hear voices on the wind, but you can’t be sure. All you know is that they’re coming, they’re coming, THEY'RE COMING!.... For you. It’s some innate fear that tells you this, something instinctual. You can feel that whatever is out there is hunting you–that you are the prey. It’s imperative you run, the world narrows down to a single field of vision and you run, you run for your life and perhaps something more. The Wild Hunt rides tonight on All Hallow’s Eve. It is composed of a plethora of fallen warriors, lost souls, and mythical beings forever roaming the land on these chilly nights. The Title: Running scared The player D'Artagnan Prompt 2: You fall asleep safe in your bed and dream that for some reason the Wild Hunt is chasing you. Tell us about it. Talk about that breathing down your neck and fear that envelops you. Do you know why they’re chasing you? (You don’t have to). Show us what it’s like to be running and scared. Word Count 1,261 |
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Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:10 am
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All Hallows Eve painted itself across the land as the leaves swirled within the wind as if being controlled. The night was pitch black as the moon hung overhead encased within greedy clouds devouring the sole light for themselves. D'Artagnan awake within a thickened forest shaking in fear. Sounds from the distance whispered in her ears. They were amazing, but for what occasion? Dar had recently bedded down after removing her armor not hearing the wind as the branches scratched along the trees like hungry monsters. She had remembered Athos seeking out a meal then he bedded himself down next to her. Now, as the wind whistled, "You need to run... soon! They are coming!" D'Artagnan's ears swiveled as she shook from head to toe. Normally, she would face down her adversaries with mighty laughter. What was wrong with her?! This wasn't real, yet the cool mist rising eerily from the ground was cool upon her legs. "Athos?" she called out as fear was taking hold of the strong warrior.
No answer as the sounds in the distance were amassing leaving D'Artagnan fearful for her life. The wind bitter and cold had told her to run.. soon? As a horn sounded, D'ar took off in a frantic run, her heart beating out of her chest. The sounds of hooves were progressing, from behind her. Panting heavily she skidded along some ice that caused her to spin rapidly. Shaking her head, D'ar realized she had no idea which way to run. They were coming, fast on foot and hooves. But why? the startled Kirin pleaded. They seemed to be progressing from different sides now, their voices foreign but somehow traumatizing. D'ar's eyes widened as a smaller two-legger was in her line of sight carrying a metal object glowing with green. Immediately, D'ar took off running away from the thing behind her. She could have sworn they had no eyes! Zigzagging this way she tried evading whatever was chasing her as something felt like it breathed upon her neck and withers. "No!" D'ar screamed as she scrambled back into the forest, as the fog rolled in thicker than the mist. They were coming but there was nowhere to go! Then she dived into the fog that was chilled to the bone, her teeth chattering now. The more she moved inward the slower her pace became. Eyes livid with fear, D'ar knew somehow she'd be safe within the blanket around her. Stepping back slowly she felt helpless as the pursuers ran into the fog. Backed against a tree D'ar pulled her legs close to her body as she forced her breath to settle quietly. One of her pursuers moved nearby as the sound of a chain rang out in the silence. The steed they rode had no eyes as its nostrils flared trying to seek out the terrified kirin.
D'ar closed her eyes praying they'd leave her be. This wasn't a hilarious moment from the beginning. It was downright terrifying if D'ar had anything to say about this spooky night. The pursuer was getting closer as D'ar dared not breathe. Why was this happening to her?! Then with a moment of complete capricious nature, the pursuer moved onward as the chains became quieter now. D'ar's eyes were wide, her hooves daring her not to move. She felt like a foal again pining for her mother's protection. As the voices became more unreadable, D'ar slowly stood upward her eyes still wide with fear and uncertainty. Things seemed safe but, were they really? Perhaps these creatures, beings had killed Athos and stuffed him like the horror stories she had heard before. Just as D'ar took a sigh of relief, the faint breath of chilled air breathed on her neck again more sinister than the last. As the metallic sound of metal echoed like a ghostly presence next to her. Immediately, D'ar took off running again as the metal sound echoed in the base of the tree where it had penetrated and serrated the bark.
D'ar screamed now forgetting they could hear her. Now, they turned in her direction once more their happiness growing as they knew their target was right in front of them! D'ar was terrified now as her armor and sword could have protected her. Still running blindly in the night, her hooves skimmed through the fog releasing her back into the forest uncovered. Shaking her head she shivered as they sounded like they were nearing her with malicious intent. The metallic sounds were whistling as they swung in the air as D'ar ran blindly further into the forest. Then, to her horror, she ran into an area that contained an unfamiliar lake lined with a huge wall, or possibly a cliff. Continuing to run again, her lungs heaving like mad trying to capture perfect breaths so D'ar wouldn't grow dizzy. If she grew tired and listless, they'd catch her for sure! Running toward the wall she ran the edge seeking something, anything that could be an escape from this hell she had somehow been cast deep within. Her legs ached as voices were nearing the area she was trapped within. Helpless, and afraid, D'ar was growing exhausted and thirsty. Running up to the lake she drank heavily, her eyes refusing to close in case they'd finally capture their prey. Then, once more the chilled breath slid from her neck to her withers as D'ar took off running once more. The wall she was following seemed as if it were sky-high leaving her no option to climb to safety. Continuing her run she refused to look back as her pursuers were so close now. The metallic sounds whistling in the air felt as if they were right behind her now. There could have been one or two, fifty, even one hundred for all she refused to know.
They were so close now!
"There has got to be a way out" she spoke aloud to herself as the wall seemed endless. She panicked running faster now seeking her freedom as the smell of something familiar captured her attention. There was an opening! Feeling more confident, she ran headstrong toward her serenity, her salvation from certain death! Running headfirst she slipped into the smaller opening in the rocky surface. She moved in the darkness still feeling safe now. The sounds of her threats were quiet now, a memory behind her. Then she moved onward till light sparkled in her eyes. Finally! Smiling she trotted through the exit till she reached the other side and screamed in terror. There in front of her were ghostly visions of her pursuers though they were hard to make out exactly what they were. D'Artagnan who had been so confident once before was shaking violently in confusion. Then, the apparitions all ran toward her as D'ar began to shake even more. Raring up she chose to fight this time as she was overtaken.
D'ar screamed as she awoke, her chest heaving with fear. Eyes wide, adjusting to the morning light, D'ar realized it had been just a dream, or was it? Blinking she turned to look at Athos sleeping peacefully she noticed blood trickling down her legs possibly from the brambles she had been lying upon. Standing in shock D'ar wondered just what she had experienced be it truth or fantasy. Perhaps she had been warned, or was it just her mind playing tricks on her? Stepping out of the clearing she bedded down for the night. She swore she heard the metallic sounds fading off into the fog and mist.
~Fin
WC: 1,262 |
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