What happens when an author can't post? You wing it. #amwriting

I was supposed to have an author do a book spotlight today, but life gets crazy and I understand, so instead I'm popping in an episode of the rewrite of my flash fiction - Sunrise and get it ready for publication under the Romantic Flashes series. Sunrise will probably be a 2 book series – novella in length.

What is a flash fiction? I belonged to a group that posted weekly prompts that were to inspire us. I added the personal challenge of using as many as I could in my weekly chapters. Some weren't suitable as this is a sweet romance story and some of the pictures or written prompts were on the "hot" side. 

The chapter length was limited to 500 to 1,000 words, so I am keeping that same format.

Links to the other chapters


Link to Chapter 1
Link to Chapter 2
Link to Chapter 3
Link to Chapter 4

Link to Chapter 5


Link to Chapter 6
Link to Chapter 7


Scene set - Sian lives in cottage country. She was meditating on her dock when a vicious crack of thunder startled her. She stood, turned and found a man lying on her dock. Startled, she stepped back and fell into the lake. When she climbed out of the water he was gone.

J'dol is a warrior out on routine patrol. He is given leave and hurries to his sister's home. The only family he has. As he nears the village, it is being attacked by the Miz-happen. A storm rages as a bomb explodes near him.

He wakes up on a dock in a place he does not understand.



Chapter 8
The uniformed man yelled, "You. Stop."J'dol dropped his food, grabbed his sword and back pack and bolted deeper into the forest. Behind him, he could hear the crash of bodies through the underbrush. After the initial jolt of adrenaline, the pain in his back and leg demanded attention. He stopped and leaned against a tree, chest heaving as he inhaled deep breaths, and listened. Bird calls rang clear, but no sounds of any pursuers. Deciding to rest a moment, as darkness settled in; he slipped to the leaf-covered ground. His head spun from the exertion and lack of food. His body ached from the injuries. J'dol peered through the trees. The beauty of the sunset filled him with a moment of calmness. The brilliant pinks and purples reminded him of sunsets back home. Wherever home was. He pushed himself up to stand and trudged forward to a break in the trees.When he passed through to a large opening, he paused. Before him lay a large flat, black area with white lines. Between the lines were big carts, like the one the uniformed men rode in when they went to Sian's. Beyond that, were strange buildings, built with small rectangular stones. On the front were large pictures and funny shapes that lit up and darkened.Was this where the Miz-hapen lived? Had he found their home? He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, prepared to kill every Miz-hapen. A bright red cart drove up and stopped between the white lines. Doors opened and a man, woman, and two young girls stepped out. The girls giggled and laughed. The man opened a lid on the back of the cart and pulled out a long blue thing, he swung it over his shoulder then got a green one and a smaller yellow and pink one. The girls held their mother's hand and walked across the flat black area that looked smooth like a road and disappeared down a slope.Curiosity roused, J'dol worked his way behind buildings and across the road. He stopped near a tree and peered down a small slope. Before him was a mass of people, sitting in chairs, or walking around, greeting people. They were scattered along the shore of a large lake. None were the Miz-hapen. J'dol relaxed.His protective instinct nudged him. He glanced around. If the uniformed men were still searching for him, he was too exposed. He made his way back to the protection of the forest and nestled down behind a large oak.The air was warm. The sky dark. It was time to catch some sleep. Tucking his sword under his right leg and his back pack near his left hip, J'dol leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. The heaviness of sleep soon overtook him.His dreams were full of confused images of Odine and the children, burned bodies, Sian's face, the picture of the Miz-hapen. Explosions. And another. He frowned and stirred. Another series of loud bangs.He grabbed his things and leapt up, ready for battle. The sky lit with bright golds, purples and reds. The sounds bounced off the nearby buildings. Were the people being attacked?J'dol stumbled forward, trying to waken his stiff legs. He broke free of the forest and crossed to the slope by the lake. More brilliant explosions filled the night sky. People cheered. J'dol stopped, stunned. The people were not in danger. This was a celebration. A brilliant red then gold star burst in the sky then rained down like a hundred falling stars. More shouts and cheers from the people.What were they celebrating? Anger boiled in him. The destruction of his village? How could they be so cruel to celebrate the death of innocent women and children? These people were evil. This place was evil.A wave of nausea filled him. The view before him spun. He dropped to one knee.I cannot get my fill of revenge if I am sick. I must get better. I must eat. Then I can kill them all. Sian's face filled his mind. Yes, he would have to trust her. She tried to heal him. Maybe she would do it again.The air filled with explosions and sirens. J'dol twisted left and right. Had they found him? He raced across the road. A large cart squealed to a halt and a loud blast erupted from it.Ignoring it, he drove his legs, forcing them to move to the safety of the forest and then to Sian's. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, but he slowed his pace once inside the trees. Still he bounced off several and tripped over exposed roots. One thought urged him onward. Sian will help.At last, he broke out of the forest and found Sian's home. It was dark, no lights shone from any window. He raced onto the deck and peered in the windows. He tried the door. She was not home. He climbed under her deck and settled down to sleep. In the morning he would seek her help. Again sleep flooded his body. This time his dreams were vengeful. His wrath being spent on those who killed his family. A noise startled him awake. He waited, listening. Senses alert.A hand grabbed his shoulder. "There you are."






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