Standard Disclaimer: Neither Star Wars nor Knights of the Old Republic
belong to me. All are George Lucas' and Lucas arts, etc. The only thing I'm
claiming is the impressions of the main characters and, in later chapters,
the A/U plot. Which, believe me, isn't all that original to get all
bothered about.
This is a reposting of the original - "Not with a Bang But with a Whimper." Since that 1 shot has turned into a series, I figured I'd start on the right foot. "Things Left Behind" is a Sequel to "Unbalanced" and "There is no Peace but Passion". They are only connected through time; one can definitely be read without the other.
Things Left Behind
Chapter 5 - When I Wake
The sun rose slowly. Leaves lightened under the white assault and the clarity of the air was sharpened, almost astringent in its feel. Wind darted over the grasses, around the remains of fallen stone. It frothed the caps of waves and drove the sand from one dune to the next. On the water's edge, it ruffled dark hair before misting it with the hitchhiking sand. Dark became less dark and soon a small embankment had built up along the cheek of a face molded into the shoreline. Waves still lapped at non- responsive feet.
The waves gradually worked their way back further, receding with the tide. The sand, which had been wet, dried slowly, remaining damp only under the wet form. Time passed. Eyes began to flicker beneath lids. A smile curved lips and an exhale, stronger than any previous, rustled.
He dreamed. Normally he did not like to dream. It never seemed to lead to the good memories, but always the bad. This time. He dreamt of how their first apartment had smelled. That sour and sickening rotting milk scent. How he'd caught her once sniffing at her hair, making sure that it didn't bear the smell of it too. It had clung to every thing else, or so it seemed. She didn't need to worry though. Every time she moved her head, to look or gesture, he caught the crispness of the cheap, almost detergent like shampoo they'd had to buy. So little money. And he could feel in his own hair how it was turning the strands to straw. He didn't care for himself but that her hair should have to suffer the same fate was deeply disturbing to him. Just another reason to get out. Get moving. Even if he didn't allow himself to admit it.
He dreamt of her walking through the market place. They had needed something or another. And she'd brought the kid with her, perhaps for some clothing. He'd never really known. The child had gotten tired and - swoop up on her hip for a ride. The kid was too old, too big for it. But she'd done it anyway. They'd walked and he watched as she turned her head to murmur something to the little girl. The girl, drowsy, merely nodded and rested her head down again.
She'd smiled. And it was a different type of smile than he'd ever seen before. He'd tried to follow her to see it again, but it was gone. Too elusive for him to know.
And her voice. As it had said his name a hundred times. The last time she'd said it.
He opened his eyes.
The sun was directly over-head and as he tried to turn over, he grunted and shut his eyes again quickly.
"Man." His voice felt like sand paper. He tried to swallow. His throat felt like sandpaper. At least he knew there was a theme. He waited for a long time and then moved to sit up. Strangely, he didn't move to walk away, didn't move to shift. He didn't even move to try and wipe the sand still clinging like a half mask to the side of his face. He focused out to the waves and waited patiently.
The tide was swirling around his waist when the ocean finally gave up an environment suit clad form, trudging forward. Carth very slowly smiled, having never deviated his line of sight and never needing to. He moved to stand.
And promptly fell back.
"Shit."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akasha15 - Intreguing is good! And its funny, your last review gave me a whole new plot direction to consider. How can anyone ever say that reviews aren't the best thing to happen to a fict and reviewers absolutely wonderful?! Thank you. I may have to dedicate the plot point to ya. And.. Hershey you say? Fly, my fingers, fly! ;)
Mara Jade2 - *perks up* Thanks! And chocolate certainly doesn't hurt. I was going to ask of reviewers/readers in general whether they found the short chapters annoying or good. The good thing is making them short does get them posted faster. And. it seems to 'feel' like it fits. At least to me. I imagine that once Carth and Revan start actually interacting, we'd have it be longer. But. can't guarentee it. So..
Anyone have any imput on the short chapter format? Good or bad?
Thanks for everyone who has read and everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate it!
This is a reposting of the original - "Not with a Bang But with a Whimper." Since that 1 shot has turned into a series, I figured I'd start on the right foot. "Things Left Behind" is a Sequel to "Unbalanced" and "There is no Peace but Passion". They are only connected through time; one can definitely be read without the other.
Things Left Behind
Chapter 5 - When I Wake
The sun rose slowly. Leaves lightened under the white assault and the clarity of the air was sharpened, almost astringent in its feel. Wind darted over the grasses, around the remains of fallen stone. It frothed the caps of waves and drove the sand from one dune to the next. On the water's edge, it ruffled dark hair before misting it with the hitchhiking sand. Dark became less dark and soon a small embankment had built up along the cheek of a face molded into the shoreline. Waves still lapped at non- responsive feet.
The waves gradually worked their way back further, receding with the tide. The sand, which had been wet, dried slowly, remaining damp only under the wet form. Time passed. Eyes began to flicker beneath lids. A smile curved lips and an exhale, stronger than any previous, rustled.
He dreamed. Normally he did not like to dream. It never seemed to lead to the good memories, but always the bad. This time. He dreamt of how their first apartment had smelled. That sour and sickening rotting milk scent. How he'd caught her once sniffing at her hair, making sure that it didn't bear the smell of it too. It had clung to every thing else, or so it seemed. She didn't need to worry though. Every time she moved her head, to look or gesture, he caught the crispness of the cheap, almost detergent like shampoo they'd had to buy. So little money. And he could feel in his own hair how it was turning the strands to straw. He didn't care for himself but that her hair should have to suffer the same fate was deeply disturbing to him. Just another reason to get out. Get moving. Even if he didn't allow himself to admit it.
He dreamt of her walking through the market place. They had needed something or another. And she'd brought the kid with her, perhaps for some clothing. He'd never really known. The child had gotten tired and - swoop up on her hip for a ride. The kid was too old, too big for it. But she'd done it anyway. They'd walked and he watched as she turned her head to murmur something to the little girl. The girl, drowsy, merely nodded and rested her head down again.
She'd smiled. And it was a different type of smile than he'd ever seen before. He'd tried to follow her to see it again, but it was gone. Too elusive for him to know.
And her voice. As it had said his name a hundred times. The last time she'd said it.
He opened his eyes.
The sun was directly over-head and as he tried to turn over, he grunted and shut his eyes again quickly.
"Man." His voice felt like sand paper. He tried to swallow. His throat felt like sandpaper. At least he knew there was a theme. He waited for a long time and then moved to sit up. Strangely, he didn't move to walk away, didn't move to shift. He didn't even move to try and wipe the sand still clinging like a half mask to the side of his face. He focused out to the waves and waited patiently.
The tide was swirling around his waist when the ocean finally gave up an environment suit clad form, trudging forward. Carth very slowly smiled, having never deviated his line of sight and never needing to. He moved to stand.
And promptly fell back.
"Shit."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akasha15 - Intreguing is good! And its funny, your last review gave me a whole new plot direction to consider. How can anyone ever say that reviews aren't the best thing to happen to a fict and reviewers absolutely wonderful?! Thank you. I may have to dedicate the plot point to ya. And.. Hershey you say? Fly, my fingers, fly! ;)
Mara Jade2 - *perks up* Thanks! And chocolate certainly doesn't hurt. I was going to ask of reviewers/readers in general whether they found the short chapters annoying or good. The good thing is making them short does get them posted faster. And. it seems to 'feel' like it fits. At least to me. I imagine that once Carth and Revan start actually interacting, we'd have it be longer. But. can't guarentee it. So..
Anyone have any imput on the short chapter format? Good or bad?
Thanks for everyone who has read and everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate it!