Tuesday Tales – Tight {Hybrid}

by Sarah | Mar 18, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing

The prompt this week was Tight. I finally managed to name this bad-boy…and she will be henceforth called Hybrid (at least until I decide to hate it and change it).

There will be no Tuesday Tales next week (~whimper~), so this is it for two weeks…hope I didn’t leave you hanging too badly. 😉

Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!

Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

An arid breeze stirred along my skin. The familiar scent of phlox blooming in the dusk relaxed even my worst nerves at being home. Distant peaks jutted against the deep purple and red of the setting suns.

I stepped onto the ledge just yards from the door we’d entered through and soaked in the familiarity. Where I stood now would be, to a human on the Terran plane, Liberty Island. The peaks and pits of the mountains were city buildings, skyscrapers. Millions of people occupying a land that in our world was desolate save for loners and wildlife.

Beside me, my father’s human veneer, which moments ago had sagged with regret, grew tight against his true form.  Silver scales gleamed through the thinning human flesh, his eyes sparkling silver.

My own flesh became taut, pulling and stretching against my body’s instinct to grow taller and larger. Red lines etched along my arms, adding to the pattern of flowers and scale-like arches.

“I will have to break my arm to cover the signs with a cast at this rate. We shouldn’t remain long.” Even through my words I didn’t move, compelled to stay where I was as I reacclimated to the plane. The songs of dragons began to carry on the breeze, welcoming their king home, and me as well.

Our conversation weighed heavy on my mind, and my father’s quick agreement to my accessment the war wouldn’t be fight here on the Wyvern plane. Instinct clawed its way through my belly and twisted it into knots.

“You’re right, Father.”

“About what, Jyoti?”

“I am a very good tactician.  You knew what I would say, that I would return and fight for the plane.  You knew what was happening, there was nothing in that box and that’s why you didn’t force my hand.”

My accusations didn’t draw anger, but a smile creased his lips. “And why do you say such things, child? Accusing your father like that is dangerous.”

“How many are there?”

The smile faded and he clasped his arms behind his back. Lines returned to his face, etched deep along his forehead and around his mouth.  “Jyoti.”

“You said I was the only one. The only one! Father, what have you done?”  My heart pounded in my chest, bile rising in my thorat.  “You said the experiments ended because none other would work.  No hybrids survived but me because of the griffin…”

“Griffin blood gave you an edge that any other natural born hybrid did not and could not mimic. Our greatest minds attempted to find a solution. They did.” His silver eyes bore into mine, almost black in the depth of pain he tried to convey. “Our race would have died without the hybrids.”

“You let them use me? My blood?”

“The only pure, natural hybrid alive.”

My heart ceased its incessant pounding, in fact it stilled completely. Where heat had burned my veins and flesh now felt chilled and dead. “How many?”

“Approximately one hundred.”

 

 

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Tuesday Tales – The Door

by Sarah | Mar 10, 2013 | Books, Hybrid, Tuesday Tales, Writing

The prompt this week is a picture prompt and it was author’s choice.  Soon as I saw this image I knew how to end the first chapter of this story. Hard to believe just a few weeks of Tuesday Tales has brought me almost 3000 words and one full chapter into a story that as yet remains untitled.

Remember, this is a meme with many contributing authors, so make sure to click the link at the bottom of the image to take you to see more!

Anyhow, as always this is un-edited mostly, so forgive any errors. :

Jdyne remained quiet. The thin human veneer he wore sagged into tired lines.  Silver-streaked gray hair quivered in the breeze as he leaned his hand on his knee.

I didn’t know what else to say. My responsibility was clear, but to leave the life I’d formed, the family I’d grown attached to still weighed on me.  “Who will protect them?”

“Hm?” My father shook out of his reverie. “The humans? It won’t get that far, if we handle it well.”

“Alatus will not play by the rules.”

“Very true.”  A screech broke through the hum of wind, the phoenix appearing in a flash, bright red against the purple sky. It glided down to rest on Jdyne’s shoulder. “What are you suggesting?”

“I don’t know that I’m suggesting anything specific.  However, the elders should face that Alatus is likely to involve humans.” When the phoenix bowed to me, I lifted a finger to run it along his forehead.  Licks of flame traveled along the lines of my hand like a caress.

“You will come with me to speak with them.  You are one of the best warriors and the best tactician we have. They will listen to your ideas.”

I pursed my lips and dropped my hand, “What of Darren and the children?”

“They won’t even know you’re gone.”  He turned his now bright silver eyes on me. “Come, child.”

With a sigh, I set my hand on his and walked down the dune toward what had been the center of town. A wave of his arm brought a strong enough wind to sweep away the sand. Behind the dune sat a stone door frame, the door itself wrought like iron, but out of liquid silver. The doors already hung open, revealing the mountains of home.

I nodded and together we stepped through the gates home.

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