Awakening

The story of two boys with very different abilities... (L.E. Modesitt Jr. style chapter layout)

 

I

“Come on Toboe.  Let’s go.”  Beckoning with his hand to follow, Jesse led the way into the woods.  “I don’t think this is a good idea Jesse.” I yelled “What if Carrie finds out?  She’ll box our ears for sure.” 

“Don’t be such a scaredie-cat Toboe.” Jesse shouted over his shoulder. 

As I shifted back and forth on one foot I thought of the stories Carrie told us around the Gathering fire on Feast Day.  Some were whimsical, but others were horrible, tales of little boys, and girls, snatched up by creatures, never to be seen from again. 

What if we’re one of those children?  I thought.  I don’t want to be taken away by some creature, what would happen to me then?  Eaten probably, why else would a monster want a child?  They’d probably skewer us like the great pig at the Feast Day gathering.  They would slowly rotate us till we were cooked all the way through and then eat the flesh right off our bones. 

Shaking myself I looked up.  Jesse was gone!  “Jesse!  Jesse!  Where are you?”  I shouted into the woods.  Running to the tree line I looked about franticly “Jesse!” 

“I’m here.”  He said as he stepped from behind a tree, smiling.  “Jerk” I said sourly.  The grin broke into full fledged laughter.  “You should have seen the look on your face.  It was classic.”  His face turned to one of horror, his lower lip quivering, “Jesse!  Jesse! Where are you?”  He mocked.

“I didn’t know where you were is all.”  The retort was edged.  Sobering he said, “Yeah, well, it was funny anyways.  Can we go now?”

As he moved off, I followed.  “Think of all the cool things we could find.” He said.  “I bet this forest is loaded with thief’s stolen treasure or magic… stuff dropped by a wizard or…   something.” 

“Why would a wizard drop anything?”  I asked.

“Maybe he didn’t want it.” 

“If he didn’t want it, then why ever would he have it, he’s a wizard for crying out loud, they do what ever they want.”  I retorted

“I don’t know, may be something scared him and he dropped it!”  He shot back, sounding irritated. 

“Scare a wizard?  That’s impossible!  What could scare a wizard?”  Trembling, I frantically looked around for a ferocious beast that was more than likely stalking us and ready to pounce by now.   I saw nothing, only the spruce branches high above swaying in the wind. 

“C’mon Toboe, stop lagging behind!” 

“I-I’m coming Jesse, just hold up.”

Author's Note

(L.E. Modesitt Jr. style chapter layout) --> short chapters, often over 100 to a book. Which means there will be constantly new chapters! Yea, we like that!