Well...I got bored and was watching National Treasure. Hopefully this story will actually go somewhere.
1850
Lightning arched across the gray-black sky, thunder following quickly. The river was flowing swiftly, taking branches and dead logs with it. A small island in the middle of the river was flooded up to the small trees that were on its highest point. Mud fell away from the steep sides of the riverbank, helping to turn the usually crystal clear water to a deep red-brown. Rain came down in sheets, making clacking noises as it hit the water and shore.
A huge evergreen fell into the river as a stray bolt of lightning snapped it at its base. Its branches pulled other shrubs along the riverbank in with it.
Two men ran alongside the river, heading upstream to get back to their camp. What they'd forgotten was that they had crossed the river earlier where it was shallow. Rapids replaced the shallows now.
"How do we get back?" The younger man shouted.
"I don't know," the older, bearded one answered.
"Maybe we should keep running upstream to try and find a shallower place to cross." The younger one said.
"It's a flash flood, there're no shallow spots left," the older man turned to the river to see the huge evergreen barreling towards them. "James, run!"
The young man turned. Upon seeing the tree he tried to jump out of its branches' reaches. The heavy branches collided with the light weight man, sweeping him off his feet and pulling him into the flooded river.
"James!" The older man cried and dropped to his knees. "My son…" Suddenly he turned his head to the sky. "This treasure is cursed! It has caused too many deaths!"
A scream broke from the trees behind him. He turned, recognizing the slinking form of a mountain lion. He drew a small dagger and stood to face the beast.
"Let the Treasure of Blood be lost forever!" Was Charles Gate's final cry.
Please R&R and let me know what you think so far! :)