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Teaser from Blood and Pelt
3 years ago
Here's a little teaser from the upcoming short story compilation, Blood and Pelt.
The forest was thick and the ground muddy. The recent monsoon left a pounded layer of pine needles mixed with soil that was thick and sticky like mortar. Sunshine was just starting to break through the clouds, forming shadows that could signal both hope and destruction, depending on where one stood. It barely touched the deeper parts of the wood, but with the light mist it caused to rise in some areas, it could cast a brilliant flash, like a piece of heaven suddenly bursting from the ground.
*
The forest surrounding Altaza was considered both a line of defense by the protectors and a cloak to mask numbers by any who attacked. That cloak was useless now. Or would be. He just had to make it a half kilometer or so. Just a little further.
*
The black furred vykati running through the forest was moving much slower than usual for his kind and was having difficulty keeping his footing. If the mud wasn’t sticking to his foot paws and holding him back, it was causing him to slip. His eyes were wide and fearful and his breathing, labored and heavy. A cough escaped and caused him to lose his balance. Dropping to all fours, he continued, managing to keep the same steady pace which was only slightly faster than walking. He wanted to go faster. He needed to go faster. The news was too urgent. Even a few minutes would make a difference to an officer like Colonel Adida. The pine needles dug into his palms as he ran, piercing his skin and causing light bleeding. It didn’t matter. The need to warn his fellows was larger than his pain.
*
He glanced briefly over his shoulder. Surely no one had seen him. He was almost certain he’d passed their outlying scouts without detection. But every sound caused rising fear. Squirrel or scout, in his fevered mind the sound itself was enough to cause panic.
*
The forest ended and revealed the garrison he’d spent the last 24 hours running towards. The stone walls obscured all but the huge roof of the central chapel. A metal gate was his prime target. He just needed to get to that. He could hear some shouting from the wall and as he got closer, he clearly heard Sergeant Whist shout, “Damn the protocol! If that’s not a scout with an urgent message, I’ll face the charges. Open that gate!”
*
The normal creaking he often heard as the gate opened was silent to his ears. He rose to his feet as he passed through, took the few steps necessary to face the quickly approaching brown and gray vykati with a crisp uniform and the triple stripes of his rank. A short female wolf with copper fur was standing next to the sergeant. The exhausted scout snapped to attention, brought his right hand up to his left should in salute and said, “Sir, Corporal Dinnus reports.”
*
His mind struggled to stay conscious. The world had started spinning and it made it impossible to see what was happening around him. Maybe if he closed his eyes for just a moment, he could get his bearings. He only needed to stay conscious a moment more so he could give his report. “Enemy division…” His attempt to stay conscious failed and he collapsed at the feet of his commander and sergeant.
The forest was thick and the ground muddy. The recent monsoon left a pounded layer of pine needles mixed with soil that was thick and sticky like mortar. Sunshine was just starting to break through the clouds, forming shadows that could signal both hope and destruction, depending on where one stood. It barely touched the deeper parts of the wood, but with the light mist it caused to rise in some areas, it could cast a brilliant flash, like a piece of heaven suddenly bursting from the ground.
*
The forest surrounding Altaza was considered both a line of defense by the protectors and a cloak to mask numbers by any who attacked. That cloak was useless now. Or would be. He just had to make it a half kilometer or so. Just a little further.
*
The black furred vykati running through the forest was moving much slower than usual for his kind and was having difficulty keeping his footing. If the mud wasn’t sticking to his foot paws and holding him back, it was causing him to slip. His eyes were wide and fearful and his breathing, labored and heavy. A cough escaped and caused him to lose his balance. Dropping to all fours, he continued, managing to keep the same steady pace which was only slightly faster than walking. He wanted to go faster. He needed to go faster. The news was too urgent. Even a few minutes would make a difference to an officer like Colonel Adida. The pine needles dug into his palms as he ran, piercing his skin and causing light bleeding. It didn’t matter. The need to warn his fellows was larger than his pain.
*
He glanced briefly over his shoulder. Surely no one had seen him. He was almost certain he’d passed their outlying scouts without detection. But every sound caused rising fear. Squirrel or scout, in his fevered mind the sound itself was enough to cause panic.
*
The forest ended and revealed the garrison he’d spent the last 24 hours running towards. The stone walls obscured all but the huge roof of the central chapel. A metal gate was his prime target. He just needed to get to that. He could hear some shouting from the wall and as he got closer, he clearly heard Sergeant Whist shout, “Damn the protocol! If that’s not a scout with an urgent message, I’ll face the charges. Open that gate!”
*
The normal creaking he often heard as the gate opened was silent to his ears. He rose to his feet as he passed through, took the few steps necessary to face the quickly approaching brown and gray vykati with a crisp uniform and the triple stripes of his rank. A short female wolf with copper fur was standing next to the sergeant. The exhausted scout snapped to attention, brought his right hand up to his left should in salute and said, “Sir, Corporal Dinnus reports.”
*
His mind struggled to stay conscious. The world had started spinning and it made it impossible to see what was happening around him. Maybe if he closed his eyes for just a moment, he could get his bearings. He only needed to stay conscious a moment more so he could give his report. “Enemy division…” His attempt to stay conscious failed and he collapsed at the feet of his commander and sergeant.
