Shadows on Water
In the dark there are shouts, the horses cry out in fear, the reins you're holding are wrenched from your hand and your horse breaks free.
"Let the horses go, they can't get far!" shouts Fang, though he is right beside you.
You hear movement all around you, probably just the horses trying to get away through the undergrowth. Seconds pass before you realise you have been holding the ninety-eighth breath.
...ninety-nine.....
You try to ignore the buzz of fear in your head.
....one hundred....
You then here a distant dull clang, as if from a gong.
All at once, tense, urgent words are whispered in the dark;
"You hear that?" "Yes!" "Where? Where?" "Do you see anything?" "Don't move." "Listen!" "Again?" "Listen!"
Another gong sounds in the dark, this time you pinpoint it's direction, and as your eyes adjust a little to the dark....
..you see something....below...down the mountainside....the glow and flicker of a fire.
"This is...unnatural," whispers Fang, "We stay here."
"Let the horses go, they can't get far!" shouts Fang, though he is right beside you.
You hear movement all around you, probably just the horses trying to get away through the undergrowth. Seconds pass before you realise you have been holding the ninety-eighth breath.
...ninety-nine.....
You try to ignore the buzz of fear in your head.
....one hundred....
You then here a distant dull clang, as if from a gong.
All at once, tense, urgent words are whispered in the dark;
"You hear that?" "Yes!" "Where? Where?" "Do you see anything?" "Don't move." "Listen!" "Again?" "Listen!"
Another gong sounds in the dark, this time you pinpoint it's direction, and as your eyes adjust a little to the dark....
..you see something....below...down the mountainside....the glow and flicker of a fire.
"This is...unnatural," whispers Fang, "We stay here."