( steady as the beating drum )
Title: Rhythm
Theme: Makoto/Sailor Jupiter/Flutter – Day 1, sm_monthly
Prompt: Dawn – 2007 July 1, 365wprompts
Genre: General/Drama
Rating: PG-13
The sounds of war had long since dulled. Now, a constant static that only her subconscious was barely aware of echoed dimly. Manifestations of pain, anger, fear, and courage rolled through her thoughtlessly, like shocks absorbed and felt in tingles.
She was only aware of her rhythm.
Step, kick. Drop, roll. Duck, punch. Block, push. Swing, turn. Power, up. Aim, release.
Her body wore on. Some attacks were weaker. Some misses were near. But her rhythm never wavered, and the steadiness steadied her.
Even her thoughts followed the mechanical beat.
Brow, sweat. Wipe, breathe. Right, youma. Body, dead. Left, sword. Incoming-
The solid beat of Jupiter's heart, not failing through hours of the massive attack, stopped and gave three rapid beats: onetwothree, one immediately following the other, almost tripping into each other when she saw what her jaded mind had only registered as 'incoming.'
True to their status, they had not come with the initial attack the evening before. Instead, they rode in with the sun, sitting above soldiers - renewed by the light and their presence - to watch the final stand.
Jupiter changed her course of direction, the rhythmic march of her heart loud against the battle around her.
A hint of electricity charged through her, leaving her fingers tingly and singed. She pushed through beings – human and youma alike – spotting him easily once Kunzite moved away, running towards him determinedly as he turned to her.
.
.
.
Red, strong, steady. She pulsed on.
end
Winner of Best Description at sm_monthly, July 2007