fantasy
Celebrating the fantastical. Let your imagination run wild.
Until Kingdom Come
“Blast the mother,” Nina fumed as she dived behind the nearest oak tree. The mercenary hot on her heels was extraordinary, she had to give him that. She surveyed the burning cut on her forearm, courtesy of the arrow he released on his target just moments before. Shallow enough, she thought. Nina reached out with her senses. In her mind's eye, she could see him approaching carefully, favoring his left side. She smiled, remembering the blow she delivered to his right thigh after he caught her ransacking his small cottage, searching for the dethda talisman that now sat safely in her carry bag. He was too broad shouldered if you asked her, slowed him down and made it difficult to respond to his opponents next move. She didn’t have that problem, small framed and lithe. His green eyes narrowed in concentration, her pursuer began circling the tree that shielded her from view. Eyes closed, Nina matched him step for step, careful to keep an inch of distance between her black leather boots and the base of the tree. She saw him pause and tick his chin to the right, listening for her. His long brown mane fell back to reveal his Fae-gifted ears, perked up and straining. Nina, still safely hidden, paused and matched his breathing, breath for breath—chest rising and falling in rhythm to his. He hit the tree in frustration and continued down the path towards Eferda Mountain, where she likely would have gone, had she not felt him narrowing the distance between them more quickly than anticipated. She debated whether or not to let him alone and take the longer journey to meet the trader awaiting her arrival just north of the mountain. She smiled wickedly, opening her eyes to reveal his retreating form. Nina briefly noted the simplicity of his grey linen undergarment, worn underside of a plain black tunic. She smiled even wider when she realized his linen chauses looked almost new, barely worn. She decided against adding an extra quarter days’ journey to her travel schedule for the likes of him. Apologies to your laundress, she thought before moving her deft feet soundlessly, bounding across the expanse between them in mere seconds. Now upon him, she slid across the path to the right of her opponent and brought her body to a standstill right in front of him. He had no time to gain his footing before he was on his back, thanks to the hard uppercut she dealt to his chin with her elbow. “Bloody mother--,” he swore. Before he could utter anything more, she knelt and gripped his throat with an unforgiving clench. “Wait wait,” he choked out. She paused for a heartbeat, noting the worn out brakla that encircled his left wrist. It was similar to the kind mothers often hand wove for their male children before parting in times of war. She slammed his head against the ground and gritted out, “Stop.following.me.” She slowly rose from the ground, taking care to look him in his eyes as she did so. She could see him calculating his next best option. “I need that talisman Nina Thorburn,” he sneered.
By Löris McIntosh3 years ago in Futurism
The Book of Songs
Zar was moving towards her objective, the tips of the white castle could be seen just over the upcoming hill. The castle was built atop a small mountain, down inside a large valley. Her hooded cloak was tattered, she was tired, thirsty and her morale was diminishing with each step.
By Chris Miles3 years ago in Futurism
Excalibur
“Jack, pass me Excalibur please!” Truman said, his hand outstretched to take his small black notebook. He called it that because he claimed it would bring justice and equality back to the world. Jack believed him. He had seen what Truman was capable of.
By Tanner Allen3 years ago in Futurism
MASTIFI
After Kendra kicked off her boots, the smooth caress of Lake Andrea surrounded her. She began to think about how good it felt to actually be free of the guards, training and tests. But unknown to her, she wasn’t really free yet. Joe quietly followed her into the lake from the opposite side. It was too late for Kendra to retreat before being dunked into the water head first. After coming up for air, a thick muscular arm wrapped around her neck. As Kendra regains consciousness, she realizes that she is being carried over Joe’s shoulder onto the shore. She could barely see through the blindfold or hear from the ringing in her ears.
By BeliefsUnlimited3 years ago in Futurism
When the Woods Call Her Name
There are predators in the woods—skulking, baying, and clawing through the frozen soil. It’s the time of year when we barely leave our hovel outside Boundary Wood, the last true refuge for uncharmed mortals who do not want to pay tribute to the Winterking’s court.
By Jillian Spiridon3 years ago in Futurism
Guardian
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. That’s the first thing that you need to understand. I’m not a bad person. I was supposed to be enjoying the day, it was beautiful out and the sun was just setting, filling the sky with hues of pink and gold so that the lake shimmered like I’d just walked into an enchanted land. I was so mesmerized by the way the gentle waves lapped at the shoreline that when my foot hit the book, I simply fell. Face first, ending with a mouthful of sand.
By Jasmin Nicole3 years ago in Futurism