So I can post more often, I've decided to start posting story snippets and flash fiction. Here's a scene that will probably get my beta-readers hunting me down with pitchforks.
Sonra stood at the end of the street.
She held perfectly still, searching through the chaos. The stench of
fear assaulted her as she looked. So many lost souls.
But they were not her mission. With
sharp eyes she continued to scan the streets. She caught a glimpse of
her target, but he disappeared behind the flick of a dragon tail.
She moved down the street, passing
through both man and dragon. When she reached them, the dragon stood
over the man, blood fouling its claws.
Sonra willed her physical form to
appear. “Get away, Ralistye.”
The dragon flinched and snarled. “You
cannot tell me who I can take. We have been given free rein. And I
have previous ties with this one.”
“That does not matter. Get away.”
Ralistye withdrew from the man and
flapped off, screeching as he went. Sonra knelt next to the man. A
sliver of information was allowed into her mind. His name was Tyrim.
He had indeed had interaction with Ralistye, but that was in the
past.
Fatal violence flickered around him. He
wouldn't last much longer. She reached toward him, silently
requesting healing.
Her arm jerked back. He was not to be
healed.
Her attention was drawn to the shell of
a young girl in Tyrim's arms. Already gone. Sonra longed to touch her
and heal her, but her arm was deadweight.
The girl was not to be healed, either.
Nor was the mother who lay near.
Her attention was drawn back to Tyrim.
He still had a few minutes left. A few short minutes.
Her fingers tingled as she knew what
she would be allowed to do. She focused on Tyrim and his departed
family and blinked. When she opened her eyes, they were in a quiet
part of the forest.
She settled onto the ground next to
Tyrim. The pain, confusion, and guilt in his eyes made her wince.
“Have peace and feel no pain.”
The pain instantly faded from his eyes,
but the confusion and guilt remained. They struggled within his eyes
for a moment before guilt won over.
His gaze fell on the empty body of the
young girl in his arms. He pulled her close to him and tears wet his
cheeks as he murmured to her. The regret flowing so freely from him
gave Sonra pause; she had to take a moment and push it away.
“You have no reason for regret. Have
peace.”
He didn't notice. “I'm so sorry …
If I could only tell you … If I had only tried harder …”
Her purpose here grew clearer. This she
could do. “This is not your fault –”
Another flash of information.
“ … Nor is it punishment. You asked
for forgiveness, and it was granted.”
Tyrim calmed slightly, and a hint of
fear mixed with his grief. Though it slipped underneath a moment
later, it was still there. He trembled with conflict and weariness.
A sudden revelation hit him, and panic
joined the emotions assailing him. “My daughter …”
An impression was given to Sonra. He
had another daughter. And for the moment, she was well. She was
protected. “Your daughter is well. She is alive. She is being
protected.”
He relaxed and slumped to the ground,
the panic eased.
Sonra could feel his strength fading,
could see his lifeblood seeping out of him onto the ground. She kept
her eyes on him and prayed. Prayed for peace. For a gentle passing.
For his family to be waiting for him.
Sonra reached out and softly touched
his shoulder, praying to be allowed the ability to ease his passing.
The slightest shimmer of peace came
from him as his breathing slowed, then stopped. Even in physical
form, Sonra saw the air shimmer above the discarded body. She
focused, listening.
A laugh. A true one. Full of joy and a
peace that couldn't be grasped in the fallen realm.
Not just the laugh of man, but of a
woman, a little girl, and a young man.
Sonra breathed deeply and smiled. It
was well.
