".." equals speech
'...' equals thought
Pain
Blinding light followed by searing pain. Pain only pain. The pain became individual places of hurt; aching, bleeding, torn. My finger twitches, sending a jolt of lightning up my arm and through my body.
I breathe, my torn lungs burn angrily.
I swallow, my mouth is full of blood and sand, my throat is swollen with thirst.
The pain is overwhelming; I just want to die, to return to the soothing darkness from which I had awakened.
I open my eyes, they are caked with grime, blood mingled with face paint. I stare at a small shell lying next to my hand. ' My shin' a wave of memories crash down on me, I remember everything.
Dry sobs burn my eyes as I realize I have failed my country, my god, and my general.
"Nakago," I croak picturing the blond shogun, " I have failed you."
Another image flashes before my eyes, a girl. 'The priestess of Suzaku.' I think to myself, recalling how she escaped from my world, my trap, my illusion. ' She is the reason I have failed.' My mind reels, ' She will pay. My fist clenches, pain floods my senses.
'Suboshi.' This name is venom to my lips. ' He betrayed me. One of the Seiryu Seshi murders another Seiryu Seshi.' I smile weakly, 'Nakago will have punished him well.' A feeble laugh becomes a wracking cough.
Gasping for breath, I barely hear a crunching sound. I strain my ears to hear the sound again. There is a sighing and then a snort. The crunching and clipping sound is repeated.
'A horse.' My sluggish mind finally recognizes the sound of creaking tack and crunching hooves.
"What is that?" I can barely understand the words they are so distant. I can only lie still and wait to see what the speaker will do. The hoof-beats slowly, cautiously get louder until they stop somewhere to my left. I hear a thud as the man dismounts. "It's a man!" The voice exclaims.
"He looks dead to me." There is a second man still a distance away. I want them to leave me to die, but I cannot. I must have my revenge. I struggle to show them some sign of life, all I can manage is a groan.
"He's alive." The owner of the voice moves closer and pokes me in the side. I groan again. "Yep, I'll be damned he's alive."
"Don't just stand there." The second rider scolds. " We have to take him with us. Get him on a horse."
"The ride will probl'y be the end of him." I agree, it is hard enough for me to breath while lying here, let alone being jostled on the back of a horse. I can feel the shadow as the first speaker looms over me. He bends over me, his arms sliding under my broken body. Molten pain courses through my veins, my head spins.
My bright world dims into blackness.
Pain
Blinding light followed by searing pain. Pain only pain. The pain became individual places of hurt; aching, bleeding, torn. My finger twitches, sending a jolt of lightning up my arm and through my body.
I breathe, my torn lungs burn angrily.
I swallow, my mouth is full of blood and sand, my throat is swollen with thirst.
The pain is overwhelming; I just want to die, to return to the soothing darkness from which I had awakened.
I open my eyes, they are caked with grime, blood mingled with face paint. I stare at a small shell lying next to my hand. ' My shin' a wave of memories crash down on me, I remember everything.
Dry sobs burn my eyes as I realize I have failed my country, my god, and my general.
"Nakago," I croak picturing the blond shogun, " I have failed you."
Another image flashes before my eyes, a girl. 'The priestess of Suzaku.' I think to myself, recalling how she escaped from my world, my trap, my illusion. ' She is the reason I have failed.' My mind reels, ' She will pay. My fist clenches, pain floods my senses.
'Suboshi.' This name is venom to my lips. ' He betrayed me. One of the Seiryu Seshi murders another Seiryu Seshi.' I smile weakly, 'Nakago will have punished him well.' A feeble laugh becomes a wracking cough.
Gasping for breath, I barely hear a crunching sound. I strain my ears to hear the sound again. There is a sighing and then a snort. The crunching and clipping sound is repeated.
'A horse.' My sluggish mind finally recognizes the sound of creaking tack and crunching hooves.
"What is that?" I can barely understand the words they are so distant. I can only lie still and wait to see what the speaker will do. The hoof-beats slowly, cautiously get louder until they stop somewhere to my left. I hear a thud as the man dismounts. "It's a man!" The voice exclaims.
"He looks dead to me." There is a second man still a distance away. I want them to leave me to die, but I cannot. I must have my revenge. I struggle to show them some sign of life, all I can manage is a groan.
"He's alive." The owner of the voice moves closer and pokes me in the side. I groan again. "Yep, I'll be damned he's alive."
"Don't just stand there." The second rider scolds. " We have to take him with us. Get him on a horse."
"The ride will probl'y be the end of him." I agree, it is hard enough for me to breath while lying here, let alone being jostled on the back of a horse. I can feel the shadow as the first speaker looms over me. He bends over me, his arms sliding under my broken body. Molten pain courses through my veins, my head spins.
My bright world dims into blackness.