sometimes we won't win

sometimes we won't win
IP: 194.80.235.251
Posted on July 27, 2014 at 08:32:29 PM by thoth

If there was anything in the world beyond the rough stone wall, the howling wind and the relentless, pounding rain, Thoth didn't know it. He couldn't hear over the shrieking weather and wouldn't have dared try to look around even if he'd had the presence of mind to do so. Adrenaline has a way of focusing the mind on specific elements of danger rather than the bigger picture; the so-called "gun focus" effect; which is what happened now. Thoth was unaware of Tarquin above or Tristan below as he fought desperately to keep his grip, too preoccupied with his glaring mortality to pay much attention to anythign else. His left hand was cramping and the muscles in his arm were straining from supporting the weight of his body, but there was no way of relieving the pressure. Thoth hadn't held anything larger or heavier than a pen in weeks, and to say that an extended period in a hospital bed had weakened his muscles would misleading infer that he had any muscles in the first place. Within seconds he was in agony.

His right hand was capable of grip, but the arm was bent oddly where the splint and cast held it in place, so he couldn't reach up. Without pausing to think it through, Thoth bashed his arm as forcefully as he could against the slick, grey wall. The rain had already weakened the cast, and the stone was roughly hewn from the outside, so it began to fall apart... slowly. Too slowly. The wind snapped against the fingers of his left hand, pulling them a millimetre closer to the edge. Then again. Then again, until he was hanging on by only the very tips of his fingers. He had about a second to get a better grip.

Summoning everything he had, Thoth whacked his right arm against the wall again and was rewarded by a few more pieces of dislodged plaster flying into his face. He had just pulled his arm away, preparing to hit the wall again, when the inevitable happened: a burst of wind which was stronger than he was finally knocked his teetering grip. Thoth didn't even have time to scream; he dropped like a stone.

The next few minutes were a blur. His heart was pounding too hard for his brain to take much in. Later, Thoth wouldn't even remember hitting Angmar's scaley back, although he did remember rolling on impact and being thrown back against the spine by one of the dragon's beating wings. He couldn't recall the descent or the fifteen minutes he spent on the ground with his head between his knees, but he did remember the moment when his feet touched the ground again. Sweet, beautiful ground.

Gradually, the world righted itself. Thoth became aware of Angmar, crouched nearby; of the castle to his left and the reassuring lake to his right; of the fact that he was wet; and the ruined state of the cast on his arm. He was sat up on the grass, inspecting it, when the heavy splashes indicated Tristan was coming back. Thoth didn't remember Tris leaving, but he could guess where he'd gone. For once, it didn't feel mortifying to have someone fight his battles for him.

"Hi Tris," he said as casually as if his friend had just wandered into his room, although he studied the prince with obvious concern and his eyes lingered on Tristan's right hand. He couldn't see the bruise marks which would begin to form there through the weather, but he was astute enough to work out that they'd be there. "I'm going to need new casts," he replied thoughtfully to the question, holding up his arm to show Tris where the rain and battering had worn it down. "Can do that later, should probably just get inside first. Are you okay?"

Replies:

watch impassive, eternal, the stars; - By tristan August 13, 2014 at 01:56:44 AM
- troubled times been a good friend of mine. - By thoth August 13, 2014 at 05:41:22 PM

Post a reply:

<-- -->

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Message:

Link Name:
Link URL:
Image URL:
Password To Edit Post: