Facing Adversity
The wind swung the vessel into the floating monster as hundreds of ferocious mouths emerged to gnaw at the bottom of the craft. Gripping the other paddle, Mercivil whacked and smashed the savage, snapping creatures as fast as possible with all the power she possessed. The harder she swung the makeshift weapon, the more she bit her lip, until blood dripped down her chin. The wicked, purple-flowered beast thrashed about feverishly, churning and splashing the lake around them. Terror shrouded Mercivil’s face as she screamed. “Get us out of here! Now!”
Thoruk glanced at her feet. Dozens of miniature, white teeth ripped at a splintered hole in the bottom of the boat. Where it had slowly leaked earlier, now the water gushed. “Storm, plug that hole with your shirt. Mercy, give me that oar.”
Thoruk glanced at her feet. Dozens of miniature, white teeth ripped at a splintered hole in the bottom of the boat. Where it had slowly leaked earlier, now the water gushed. “Storm, plug that hole with your shirt. Mercy, give me that oar.”
Fear
Ear-piercing pops persisted, followed by high-pitched hisses zipping nearer to him as he weaved. He gritted his teeth and ran faster until his legs gave out. A horrifying force lifted (the warrior) into the air and slammed him onto the ground, head first. His face and nose plowed through the leaves and mud. Relentless, searing pain stabbed his back. His legs barely responded. While trying to rise, a tormenting burn knifed through his spine and the side of his gut. He reached down — the searing agony in his stomach felt wet.
When he raised his hand in front of his eyes, the sight of his own blood, dripping from his fingers, caused him to gag. He held it in; the acidic juices left a disgusting taste in his throat. (The warrior) glanced lower. Bright red gunk seeped out of a big hole in his coat, down the hide, and onto his boot. He dropped to his knees, gagged again, then puked.
When he raised his hand in front of his eyes, the sight of his own blood, dripping from his fingers, caused him to gag. He held it in; the acidic juices left a disgusting taste in his throat. (The warrior) glanced lower. Bright red gunk seeped out of a big hole in his coat, down the hide, and onto his boot. He dropped to his knees, gagged again, then puked.
Anguish
Excruciating throbs hammered his head as numbness crept up his thighs and lower spine. While inching onward with his elbows, a horrid sensation swelled, and he glanced back to find his legs dragging in a trail of blood. Wolfuk, where are you? Help me — I don’t want to die!
Despair
She pulled harder on the lever, and when the jet climbed higher, a brilliant flash blinded her. BOOM! Sharp pain from the thunder’s blast spiked her eardrums. Everything went silent as the cockpit shuddered and rattled. Red lights flared across the panel as the engines shut down. Fear wrenched her gut after the aircraft slowed and became motionless for a second, then tumbled in descent. The storm’s turbulent wind whistled past the fuselage, shearing the left wing and crashing it against the rear section.
She tugged on the eject handles above her — nothing. “Come on!” Desperation tore at her heart as if a stake was being driven through her chest. With all of her weight, she yanked again — still nothing. The lightning’s charge must have disabled the mechanism.
She tugged on the eject handles above her — nothing. “Come on!” Desperation tore at her heart as if a stake was being driven through her chest. With all of her weight, she yanked again — still nothing. The lightning’s charge must have disabled the mechanism.