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sonjajadeRemember last year's big bang dust jacket? Well, I need some for this year, so me and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bay115 pulled some of our favorite parts and would like if you guys could give some short reviews based on what you read. I just need a handful of them, along with what name you'd like me to use to credit you, and a body of work you've written. Check that link for an example. Below are the excerpts- have fun! And thanks in advance!
They crossed into Xing the night before, and Al was so anxious and unable to sleep that if he didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought he’d drank four pots of coffee- all in one gulp. He tossed, he turned, he huffed and sighed… He just couldn’t calm down, and it was because he could feel Mei’s anxiousness. They were very close now. In the morning it would only be a scant six hours and they’d be in Yangsho, home to a cunning old bat named Yan-Na and a gentle giant named Gen. She’d told him all about them, and Mr. Han had too, and he couldn’t wait to meet them.
“Ni hao, hen gaoxing jiandao ni,” he whispered- practicing how to say, ‘Hello, it’s nice to meet you’ in Xingese. He said it over and over again, terrified he’d forget or say even one word wrong and change the meaning of the phrase altogether.
“Al, it’s nice to meet you too, but could you try to get some sleep?” Mr. Han hissed from his bedroll.
“Sorry!” he squeaked. Crap. Now he’d gone and made the man angry. As he lay there lamenting the slow passage of time, he became aware that someone was coming toward him. Before whoever it was could tap him on the shoulder, he rolled over. It was Mr. Han, and he was offering his pipe to him.
“Come on, let’s go smoke.”
Al followed the man a little way from the group, to a broad flat rock that apparently was a way point for every journey into Xing. He sat down, withdrew a pouch from his jacket and opened it.
“Ever smoke before?” he asked as he took out a neat little ball of shredded leaves to pack his bowl with.
“No, sir,” he answered. “I was a suit of armor when most kids were sneaking around trying it, and once I got my body back I was too busy getting better to care.”
“In Xing, lots of people smoke. And we smoke all kinds of things- tobacco, tea, bhang, cannabis, sometimes opium.” He drew a lighter from another pocket. “I understand cannabis is illegal in Amestris, but you won’t find a better medicine for damn near anything that ails you.” He lit the bowl and puffed, filling his lungs with smoke and holding it while he passed both lighter and pipe to Al. When he exhaled, he coughed a little. “This particular kind will calm your nerves and help you sleep.”
Al looked suspiciously at the stinking pipe. Granny’s pipe had always smelled good, like something sweet and woodsy. This smelled like burning sheep shit. “I don’t know how,” he said quietly.
“Put it to your lips, suck lightly to draw the flame into the bowl, then breathe it into your lungs.”
Al was surprised to find the tip of the pipe dry, despite having been in Han’s mouth. He touched the flame to the bowl and took a breath-
Then coughed his guts up immediately after.
Mr. Han chuckled as he took the stuff from his hands. “You’ll get used to it, believe it or not. And it does get better.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?!” he gasped. “How can you do that without dying!”
“Takes practice, like anything else. Really, you should keep at it. You won’t believe how much better you’ll feel once you get used to it.” He lit up again and drew a bigger breath of the acrid smoke. “Do it again, a smaller puff this time,” he choked as he struggled to keep as much of it in his lungs as possible.
Al looked wearily at him, but soon decided Mr. Han was a wise man who made regular trips across the biggest desert on the planet- he was someone that knew what he was talking about. He did try again, a smaller breath as was suggested, and this time he didn’t die when he blew the smoke away, and he began to feel something happening…
“Better?” Han asked.
Al nodded. “Something is definitely going to work.”
Han nodded and urged him to smoke some more. “Three or four more little puffs like that and you’ll be ready to lie down.”
Sure enough, his brain began to feel foggy. It was the type of feeling that made him think absently of a chalkboard being erased. He couldn’t remember why he was so anxious anymore. After all, they’d made it safely across the desert, Mei was alive and safe and very close by now, and now he couldn’t remember why he was worrying about trying to remember what he was worrying about.
“Hey, Mr. Han?” Al asked slowly, his tongue feeling dry as the sand a few miles back. “Am I supposed to be so thirsty?”
“It happens sometimes. I have some special mints to help with that back at camp.” He patted Al on the back. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah,” Al drawled. “It’s like, someone flipped a switch inside and everything’s all in alignment again.”
“Good. Now maybe you can get some rest. I imagine Mei is going to wear you out when she gets you alone, and you’re going to need more than adrenaline for that.”
Al smiled and started to laugh. “She’s a firecracker, isn’t she?”
“No doubt. I can already tell why she thought so much of you. You’ll make a perfect pair.” He stood up. “Let’s go get one of those mints and settle in, alright?” Al followed him back to camp and flopped down on his bedroll while Mr. Han dug around in another satchel. A few moments later he was sucking happily on a strange kind of weak mint that did wonders for his dry mouth, and not long after that he was dozing without a care in the world.
*****************************************************************************
Hong walked off toward the tent he called home for the moment. He stepped through the flap and began untying his shirt, and from the corner came a panicked grunting. He said nothing, continuing to undress until he was fully nude. Then he stalked toward his prey…
“Now, now, ma-ma…” he whispered against her temples. “You know what to do.”
His mother looked nothing like the delicate woman that had collapsed in the dirt at the palace, sobbing at the loss of his throne. On that day she’d been more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Now she was much too thin, much too pale, smudged from head to toe in dirt and grime, grunting wordlessly and shaking her head emphatically.
She’d dared to tell him to put her down when he made a break for it. He’d killed his guards himself, then crept into her rooms and told her he was running away, going to start all over. He wanted her to come with him, because he loved her. She tried to tell him he wasn’t even her real son, that the true Hong child had died at birth and the Emperor gave her a different baby to raise. After they stopped running, he cut her tongue out for telling such vicious lies.
Now though, in a unit of men with only one woman, he used her like a concubine. He bound her hands and feet to the support posts of the tent as if her were going to quarter her with a horse. Instead, he fucked her roughly over and over, suckled from her breasts that still produced milk, and made her drink his semen when he came.
Tonight, he began by draining her engorged breasts, then stuffing his cock into her maimed mouth, then breached her rear entrance without oil. She sobbed with agony until well after he’d pulled out of her. He tugged her head to the side and kissed her neck sensually, twiddling between her folds before withdrawing from her completely.
He packed a pipe and lit it. “Ma-ma, when I become Emperor I will set you free. You’d better do all you can to help me get to the throne.”
She nodded weakly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“You did good tonight. Would you like a warm bath?” He watched as she nodded again.
He came to her side and began to lick her clean, and he closed his eyes as he enjoyed her taste.
After the moon had moved quite a pace, he emerged from the tent, sweaty and sated, and pleased with himself after soothing his mother to sleep. He did love her, after all. If only he could show Xing how much he loved them as well.
**************************************************************************************************
The armory had an exit that spilled out onto either side of the Peony Palace steps. It was designed so that two rows of soldiers could exit the palace at the same time as the Emperor and be on the ground in time to surround him in safety should he decide to roam the streets of Shang-Po or publically board his carriage. For the ceremony of Al’s Dragon Naming ceremony, Ling would exit the right side and Al the left, meeting in the middle in front of the first step of the long staircase. As the ceremonial right progressed, Al would be able to ascend the steps one vow at a time. But Ling was anxious to clear the city, so when he took the microphone the priestess offered, he disregarded tradition and ceremony.
“Today I present to the Xingese people an Amestrian who desires to serve the Xingese people in the highest capacity. And because of the threat that still looms in our city, I am going to shorten the ceremony that will take him from foreigner to Dragon.” The crowd seemed confused, but looked on as he drew his sword and sliced his palm. Ling held his golden gaze as he yelled, “Elric Alphonse of Resembool, Amestris! It is my duty to guard and protect the Empire of Xing! I ask you this day to stand beside me as second in command to the throne of Xing! I ask you to lead my armies! I ask you to be my advisor and my comrade in all things concerning our nation! Will you lay down your life for my people? Will you forsake Amestris to guard Xing?”
Al drew his sword and sliced his palm open and shouted, “Yes!”
They clasped hands and Ling roared, “I call upon the God of Gods, Ong-Xu, to bless this declaration! I have chosen the best person in all of Xing- of all the world- to be the guardian of Xing’s mighty army!” He turned and released Al’s hand, then led them up the steps. At the top, he decreed, “We are bound by my Imperial blood! What I wish, the Golden Dragon shall carry out! We are one and the same!”
The crowd cheered, some chanting “Gold-en Drag-on!” Some children waved banners with dancing dragons on them shouting out for ‘Elric-san!’ Ling quieted the crowd and turned to Alphonse.
“My Dragon, as a sign of your allegiance, I am leaving the matter of the High Priestess’ assassin in your hands. What should we do with him?” Ling had not discussed what he’d spoken to the Forward Captain about when he went to the garrison in the bottom of the palace. He hoped their decisions would be similar.
Al spoke confidently to the crowd. “I’m sure he’s already been beaten by the guards. Deny him food and water until he tells us where Hong and his men are. If the information he gives leads to the capture of our enemy, perhaps his life could be spared.”
Thank goodness. Ling beamed at him. “My Dragon has spoken as I would have."
******************************************************************************************************************
Führer Grumman was a practical man with a tactical mind. Yes, sending a unit of three hundred troops to Xing was a drop in the bucket compared to what they needed in a country that large. Yes, having Xing as an ally would be an invaluable asset. Yes, opening trade routes, safeguarding the passageway through the desert, and exchanging medicines and educational materials would be the result of assisting the Emperor in his hunt for the fugitive prince. But he told a very upset general, “No.”
“What do you mean, ‘No’, sir?” Mustang demanded on the other end of the line.
“Roy, this is a blood feud. Even if he isn’t a legitimate heir, this is about siblings fightin’ it out to ‘til the other cries uncle. No amount of armed men in uniform is gonna keep those two boys from tearin’ each other and their country apart.”
“Then that’s precisely why we should go over there!” Grumman heard a thud, likely from his friend pounding his desk. “We can’t let them start a civil war simply because an arrogant false prince is whining about a throne that he has no right to! People will get caught in the crossfire- innocent lives will be taken-”
“Lives have already been taken. It’s too late to start with that argument.” He sighed, pouring himself a drink and he listened to Mustang snap at something- hopefully nothing too precious- and incinerate it in a flash. “I know you’re concerned about Al Elric. But that boy got the best tactical training the Amestrian army has to offer. He’s got a good heart and fire in his soul. Let him do his job and lead their armies to a bloodless victory.”
“Everyone’s hands get bloody in war, even those who don’t pull the trigger.”
“Precisely why we stay out of it. If they need help afterward, we rush in with banners waving.” He took a burning gulp of his whiskey. “This is not our war, Roy. And I don’t want you sneaking in there to help when all you’ll do is cause problems. These two brothers need to duke it out and get it out of their systems. And no matter the victor, we help clean up. Understood?”
There was a long silence and Eli knew he was stewing about it. Eventually he answered him. “Yes, sir.”
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Let me set this one up for you. there's a lot of original characters in this work, and in this clip in particular. Nui is Lan Fan's uncle, Niao is Mei's mother and Nui's new wife. Bei is Nui's son by a deceased wife, Nishi is Mei's half sister from her mother's concubine days. In the days following the coronation, Ling's soldiers find a mole among his staff for his enemy brother, and this is what happens when he escapes.
In the trees surrounding the walls of Shang-Po, the Fu clan remained on guard, watching and waiting for an ambush that might never come. Nui and Niao were together in one tree, about fifty meters to the south was Bei, fifty meters to the north was Nishi. The rest of the Fu squad was spread out even further, but Shang-Po was surrounded by their protection.
So when the guards began shouting in the city and Nui saw Lan Fan speeding across the rooftops in pursuit, he signaled the others and they joined the chase as a huge man burst through the city gates, tearing into the forest at an inhuman pace.
“Something’s wrong with his ki!” Niao shouted as she bounded toward him. Fifty fighters raced behind their escapee, pulling every trick they knew to get him to stop. The man they were chasing seemed to have a supernatural gift for avoiding bombs and dodging darts and kunai. And he was running so fast…
Niao noticed that she was running with less and less of her comrades, until she was the last one. She knew she had to at least try to trip him or slow him down or something. There was a large meadow up ahead. If she didn’t do something now, the man she was chasing would soon have nothing to stop him and he’d be gone for good. She reached for a length of rope with a small grappling hook on the end, and threw it-
It caught in a thick, strong branch above and she jerked hard. Leaping up into the tree, she jumped out and swung over and down. She kicked him right in his chest and knocked him flat on his back, skidding to a halt a few feet away from where he fell.
She panted trying to catch her breath instead of immediately subduing him, and he was back on his feet in no time- and coming right at her. Fear consumed her as he suddenly got to his feet and raced toward her.
She couldn’t move. Paralyzed with terror, she watched in slow motion as his fist swung through the air and landed right in the middle of her guts, knocking the wind from her body and flinging her backward into a tree trunk. Her head bounced off the bark and he swung again, another blow to the stomach, this time lower…
bay115 pulled some of our favorite parts and would like if you guys could give some short reviews based on what you read. I just need a handful of them, along with what name you'd like me to use to credit you, and a body of work you've written. Check that link for an example. Below are the excerpts- have fun! And thanks in advance!They crossed into Xing the night before, and Al was so anxious and unable to sleep that if he didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought he’d drank four pots of coffee- all in one gulp. He tossed, he turned, he huffed and sighed… He just couldn’t calm down, and it was because he could feel Mei’s anxiousness. They were very close now. In the morning it would only be a scant six hours and they’d be in Yangsho, home to a cunning old bat named Yan-Na and a gentle giant named Gen. She’d told him all about them, and Mr. Han had too, and he couldn’t wait to meet them.
“Ni hao, hen gaoxing jiandao ni,” he whispered- practicing how to say, ‘Hello, it’s nice to meet you’ in Xingese. He said it over and over again, terrified he’d forget or say even one word wrong and change the meaning of the phrase altogether.
“Al, it’s nice to meet you too, but could you try to get some sleep?” Mr. Han hissed from his bedroll.
“Sorry!” he squeaked. Crap. Now he’d gone and made the man angry. As he lay there lamenting the slow passage of time, he became aware that someone was coming toward him. Before whoever it was could tap him on the shoulder, he rolled over. It was Mr. Han, and he was offering his pipe to him.
“Come on, let’s go smoke.”
Al followed the man a little way from the group, to a broad flat rock that apparently was a way point for every journey into Xing. He sat down, withdrew a pouch from his jacket and opened it.
“Ever smoke before?” he asked as he took out a neat little ball of shredded leaves to pack his bowl with.
“No, sir,” he answered. “I was a suit of armor when most kids were sneaking around trying it, and once I got my body back I was too busy getting better to care.”
“In Xing, lots of people smoke. And we smoke all kinds of things- tobacco, tea, bhang, cannabis, sometimes opium.” He drew a lighter from another pocket. “I understand cannabis is illegal in Amestris, but you won’t find a better medicine for damn near anything that ails you.” He lit the bowl and puffed, filling his lungs with smoke and holding it while he passed both lighter and pipe to Al. When he exhaled, he coughed a little. “This particular kind will calm your nerves and help you sleep.”
Al looked suspiciously at the stinking pipe. Granny’s pipe had always smelled good, like something sweet and woodsy. This smelled like burning sheep shit. “I don’t know how,” he said quietly.
“Put it to your lips, suck lightly to draw the flame into the bowl, then breathe it into your lungs.”
Al was surprised to find the tip of the pipe dry, despite having been in Han’s mouth. He touched the flame to the bowl and took a breath-
Then coughed his guts up immediately after.
Mr. Han chuckled as he took the stuff from his hands. “You’ll get used to it, believe it or not. And it does get better.”
“Why would anyone want to do that?!” he gasped. “How can you do that without dying!”
“Takes practice, like anything else. Really, you should keep at it. You won’t believe how much better you’ll feel once you get used to it.” He lit up again and drew a bigger breath of the acrid smoke. “Do it again, a smaller puff this time,” he choked as he struggled to keep as much of it in his lungs as possible.
Al looked wearily at him, but soon decided Mr. Han was a wise man who made regular trips across the biggest desert on the planet- he was someone that knew what he was talking about. He did try again, a smaller breath as was suggested, and this time he didn’t die when he blew the smoke away, and he began to feel something happening…
“Better?” Han asked.
Al nodded. “Something is definitely going to work.”
Han nodded and urged him to smoke some more. “Three or four more little puffs like that and you’ll be ready to lie down.”
Sure enough, his brain began to feel foggy. It was the type of feeling that made him think absently of a chalkboard being erased. He couldn’t remember why he was so anxious anymore. After all, they’d made it safely across the desert, Mei was alive and safe and very close by now, and now he couldn’t remember why he was worrying about trying to remember what he was worrying about.
“Hey, Mr. Han?” Al asked slowly, his tongue feeling dry as the sand a few miles back. “Am I supposed to be so thirsty?”
“It happens sometimes. I have some special mints to help with that back at camp.” He patted Al on the back. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah,” Al drawled. “It’s like, someone flipped a switch inside and everything’s all in alignment again.”
“Good. Now maybe you can get some rest. I imagine Mei is going to wear you out when she gets you alone, and you’re going to need more than adrenaline for that.”
Al smiled and started to laugh. “She’s a firecracker, isn’t she?”
“No doubt. I can already tell why she thought so much of you. You’ll make a perfect pair.” He stood up. “Let’s go get one of those mints and settle in, alright?” Al followed him back to camp and flopped down on his bedroll while Mr. Han dug around in another satchel. A few moments later he was sucking happily on a strange kind of weak mint that did wonders for his dry mouth, and not long after that he was dozing without a care in the world.
*****************************************************************************
Hong walked off toward the tent he called home for the moment. He stepped through the flap and began untying his shirt, and from the corner came a panicked grunting. He said nothing, continuing to undress until he was fully nude. Then he stalked toward his prey…
“Now, now, ma-ma…” he whispered against her temples. “You know what to do.”
His mother looked nothing like the delicate woman that had collapsed in the dirt at the palace, sobbing at the loss of his throne. On that day she’d been more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Now she was much too thin, much too pale, smudged from head to toe in dirt and grime, grunting wordlessly and shaking her head emphatically.
She’d dared to tell him to put her down when he made a break for it. He’d killed his guards himself, then crept into her rooms and told her he was running away, going to start all over. He wanted her to come with him, because he loved her. She tried to tell him he wasn’t even her real son, that the true Hong child had died at birth and the Emperor gave her a different baby to raise. After they stopped running, he cut her tongue out for telling such vicious lies.
Now though, in a unit of men with only one woman, he used her like a concubine. He bound her hands and feet to the support posts of the tent as if her were going to quarter her with a horse. Instead, he fucked her roughly over and over, suckled from her breasts that still produced milk, and made her drink his semen when he came.
Tonight, he began by draining her engorged breasts, then stuffing his cock into her maimed mouth, then breached her rear entrance without oil. She sobbed with agony until well after he’d pulled out of her. He tugged her head to the side and kissed her neck sensually, twiddling between her folds before withdrawing from her completely.
He packed a pipe and lit it. “Ma-ma, when I become Emperor I will set you free. You’d better do all you can to help me get to the throne.”
She nodded weakly as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“You did good tonight. Would you like a warm bath?” He watched as she nodded again.
He came to her side and began to lick her clean, and he closed his eyes as he enjoyed her taste.
After the moon had moved quite a pace, he emerged from the tent, sweaty and sated, and pleased with himself after soothing his mother to sleep. He did love her, after all. If only he could show Xing how much he loved them as well.
**************************************************************************************************
The armory had an exit that spilled out onto either side of the Peony Palace steps. It was designed so that two rows of soldiers could exit the palace at the same time as the Emperor and be on the ground in time to surround him in safety should he decide to roam the streets of Shang-Po or publically board his carriage. For the ceremony of Al’s Dragon Naming ceremony, Ling would exit the right side and Al the left, meeting in the middle in front of the first step of the long staircase. As the ceremonial right progressed, Al would be able to ascend the steps one vow at a time. But Ling was anxious to clear the city, so when he took the microphone the priestess offered, he disregarded tradition and ceremony.
“Today I present to the Xingese people an Amestrian who desires to serve the Xingese people in the highest capacity. And because of the threat that still looms in our city, I am going to shorten the ceremony that will take him from foreigner to Dragon.” The crowd seemed confused, but looked on as he drew his sword and sliced his palm. Ling held his golden gaze as he yelled, “Elric Alphonse of Resembool, Amestris! It is my duty to guard and protect the Empire of Xing! I ask you this day to stand beside me as second in command to the throne of Xing! I ask you to lead my armies! I ask you to be my advisor and my comrade in all things concerning our nation! Will you lay down your life for my people? Will you forsake Amestris to guard Xing?”
Al drew his sword and sliced his palm open and shouted, “Yes!”
They clasped hands and Ling roared, “I call upon the God of Gods, Ong-Xu, to bless this declaration! I have chosen the best person in all of Xing- of all the world- to be the guardian of Xing’s mighty army!” He turned and released Al’s hand, then led them up the steps. At the top, he decreed, “We are bound by my Imperial blood! What I wish, the Golden Dragon shall carry out! We are one and the same!”
The crowd cheered, some chanting “Gold-en Drag-on!” Some children waved banners with dancing dragons on them shouting out for ‘Elric-san!’ Ling quieted the crowd and turned to Alphonse.
“My Dragon, as a sign of your allegiance, I am leaving the matter of the High Priestess’ assassin in your hands. What should we do with him?” Ling had not discussed what he’d spoken to the Forward Captain about when he went to the garrison in the bottom of the palace. He hoped their decisions would be similar.
Al spoke confidently to the crowd. “I’m sure he’s already been beaten by the guards. Deny him food and water until he tells us where Hong and his men are. If the information he gives leads to the capture of our enemy, perhaps his life could be spared.”
Thank goodness. Ling beamed at him. “My Dragon has spoken as I would have."
******************************************************************************************************************
Führer Grumman was a practical man with a tactical mind. Yes, sending a unit of three hundred troops to Xing was a drop in the bucket compared to what they needed in a country that large. Yes, having Xing as an ally would be an invaluable asset. Yes, opening trade routes, safeguarding the passageway through the desert, and exchanging medicines and educational materials would be the result of assisting the Emperor in his hunt for the fugitive prince. But he told a very upset general, “No.”
“What do you mean, ‘No’, sir?” Mustang demanded on the other end of the line.
“Roy, this is a blood feud. Even if he isn’t a legitimate heir, this is about siblings fightin’ it out to ‘til the other cries uncle. No amount of armed men in uniform is gonna keep those two boys from tearin’ each other and their country apart.”
“Then that’s precisely why we should go over there!” Grumman heard a thud, likely from his friend pounding his desk. “We can’t let them start a civil war simply because an arrogant false prince is whining about a throne that he has no right to! People will get caught in the crossfire- innocent lives will be taken-”
“Lives have already been taken. It’s too late to start with that argument.” He sighed, pouring himself a drink and he listened to Mustang snap at something- hopefully nothing too precious- and incinerate it in a flash. “I know you’re concerned about Al Elric. But that boy got the best tactical training the Amestrian army has to offer. He’s got a good heart and fire in his soul. Let him do his job and lead their armies to a bloodless victory.”
“Everyone’s hands get bloody in war, even those who don’t pull the trigger.”
“Precisely why we stay out of it. If they need help afterward, we rush in with banners waving.” He took a burning gulp of his whiskey. “This is not our war, Roy. And I don’t want you sneaking in there to help when all you’ll do is cause problems. These two brothers need to duke it out and get it out of their systems. And no matter the victor, we help clean up. Understood?”
There was a long silence and Eli knew he was stewing about it. Eventually he answered him. “Yes, sir.”
*************************************************************************************************************************************
Let me set this one up for you. there's a lot of original characters in this work, and in this clip in particular. Nui is Lan Fan's uncle, Niao is Mei's mother and Nui's new wife. Bei is Nui's son by a deceased wife, Nishi is Mei's half sister from her mother's concubine days. In the days following the coronation, Ling's soldiers find a mole among his staff for his enemy brother, and this is what happens when he escapes.
In the trees surrounding the walls of Shang-Po, the Fu clan remained on guard, watching and waiting for an ambush that might never come. Nui and Niao were together in one tree, about fifty meters to the south was Bei, fifty meters to the north was Nishi. The rest of the Fu squad was spread out even further, but Shang-Po was surrounded by their protection.
So when the guards began shouting in the city and Nui saw Lan Fan speeding across the rooftops in pursuit, he signaled the others and they joined the chase as a huge man burst through the city gates, tearing into the forest at an inhuman pace.
“Something’s wrong with his ki!” Niao shouted as she bounded toward him. Fifty fighters raced behind their escapee, pulling every trick they knew to get him to stop. The man they were chasing seemed to have a supernatural gift for avoiding bombs and dodging darts and kunai. And he was running so fast…
Niao noticed that she was running with less and less of her comrades, until she was the last one. She knew she had to at least try to trip him or slow him down or something. There was a large meadow up ahead. If she didn’t do something now, the man she was chasing would soon have nothing to stop him and he’d be gone for good. She reached for a length of rope with a small grappling hook on the end, and threw it-
It caught in a thick, strong branch above and she jerked hard. Leaping up into the tree, she jumped out and swung over and down. She kicked him right in his chest and knocked him flat on his back, skidding to a halt a few feet away from where he fell.
She panted trying to catch her breath instead of immediately subduing him, and he was back on his feet in no time- and coming right at her. Fear consumed her as he suddenly got to his feet and raced toward her.
She couldn’t move. Paralyzed with terror, she watched in slow motion as his fist swung through the air and landed right in the middle of her guts, knocking the wind from her body and flinging her backward into a tree trunk. Her head bounced off the bark and he swung again, another blow to the stomach, this time lower…
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: February 11th, 2014 11:56 pm (UTC)A worthy successor to Scroll of the Moon! The drama and intrigue continue to climb as Ling contends with ongoing threats to the peace of Xing. Fast-paced and full of colorful worldbuilding, deepening romances, and a wide and developed cast!
-Suzume (or, uh, however I was credited last time?)
no subject
Date: February 12th, 2014 12:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: February 12th, 2014 12:39 am (UTC).....aaaah, finished chapter 6, gotta read more~!