Collecting points for the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood Challenge #amwriting

I'm multitasking. I've decided to start 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. 

 Also, I'm participating the the Ruby Slippered Sisterhood which in Jan and Feb holds a writing challenge to score 50 points. You set up how you will collect your points and then try to meet your challenge.
example - 1 point for attending yoga class (because an author has to stay healthy)
2 points for writing a chapter (3 points if it's over 5,000 - lol)
1 point for editing a chapter and putting it on blog 

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. 

Link to Chapter 1

So without further ado - here is Chapter 2of Sunrise.

 J'dol yawned and stretched as the relentless rain pounded on the roof of his makeshift camp. He rubbed his face. The palms of his hands scraped against his unshaven stubble. Tossing the damp blanket aside, he rose from the night camp he'd made near the lake. The morning was dull. The clouds thick and heavy, releasing their watery cargo. To the east, the clouds darkened. The threat of a violent storm loomed.


Deciding a morning wash in the lake was useless, he ran his fingers through his hair, collected it in the back and using his leather thong tied it tight. He scooted up the nearby tree and grabbed his back pack from a small branch. Jumping down, he stroked his hand across the symbol of the white peacock.  His sister had embroidered the symbol onto his pack as a charm to protect him. In some ancient cultures, the peacock was the symbol for the God of War. The whiteness of this bird, defined him as what he was – a warrior and an outcast.
He reached inside and pulled out the last of yesterday's dinner; fish and berries. He settled back under his makeshift tent, pulling as far back inside as he could to avoid being dripped on. While he ate his meagre breakfast, J'dol daydreamed about being back in Orondonto at his sister's lodge, chugging a large mug of ale and munching on fresh honey cakes. He would play crazy dog with the children, slipping his socks over his ears and bounding after them yapping and barking until he snagged one and tickled them until they shouted that J'dol was the best uncle ever!
His nieces and nephews would have grown so since he went out on patrol six months ago. The eastern border was safe. His captain felt the defences were secure enough to allow his best warrior a brief leave. Wiping his hands on his damp leggings, J'dol stood, rolled up his blanket and slipped his sword into his scabbard then hoisted his backpack over his shoulder. Keeping the shoreline to his left, he slipped in among trees and used them a cover as he headed for home.
Rain pelted his face and dribbled down his neck. He sighed. He'd a hard half day's march ahead of him, but the thought of the cozy bed in the hayloft and a full stomach kept him putting one foot in front of the other.
The dullness of the day was ripped in two as the storm announced its arrival. Within moments the thunder rumbled. It echoed through the forest.
Peal after peal of thunder filled the air. J'dol stopped and tilted his head. No lightning? Just thunder. He stepped out of the trees and glanced toward the western edge of the lake. A bright illumination made him turn his head and squeeze his eyes shut. That wasn't lightning. It was as if the sun had fallen from the sky and landed on Orondonto.
The blast hit him in the chest. He stumbled back. It wasn't thunder. Fear gripped him. Had the defences been broken on the western border?
Ignoring the protection of the forest, J'dol raced along the shoreline towards his home. Terror spurred him forward when his muscles and lungs complained. As he neared Orondonto, the brilliant flashes temporarily blinded him. The shock from the blasts caused him to tumble. The storm flung lightning bolts and cracks of thunder resonated.
Dread filled him as he accepted the grossest of ideas. The village – the village he'd sworn to protect – was ablaze. Driving his legs forward sounds of screams and cries reached his ears and tore at his soul.
He pulled his sword and swivelled his head left and right, looking for enemy to kill. But he knew the truth. They weren't brave enough to fight face to face. They'd throw their death bombs from a distance. When the village appeared defeated, they'd enter and plunder. But what was there to take? Orondonto had nothing.
A bolt of lightning split a nearby tree. The crackle made the hair on his arm stand on end. A death bomb exploded on a building. J'dol flattened himself against the muddy ground. Pieces of wood tossed by the explosion sliced into his cheek, arm, back and leg. The rage that filled him blocked the pain.
He forced himself to stand. Driven by fear, he tore through the destruction, heading toward his sister's home. He must find her. He must protect her children. Trying to not consider the worst, he skidded to a stop, dropped to his knees and released an enraged howl.
A smouldering pile of ashes and debris replaced the spot where his sister's house stood. He stomach heaved as the smell of burnt flesh filled his nostrils. Crawling through the blood-filled and rain-soaked mud, he called out their names. Not a single voice was heard. Even the cries that had directed him to the village had silenced.
Bloodlust surged through him. He stood and raised his sword. "Come out and fight, you bastards. You hide like chickens and throw your death. Come, fight a real man! Face me. Face your death like a warrior!"
The whistle of the death bomb made him turn. Watching it hurdle through the air was like watching a sneak attack snowball. Only this one made his blood run cold. The tingle on his arms announced the strike of another close-by bolt of lightning. The death bomb, lightning and crack of thunder all mated before him.
The force felt like he'd been kicked in the chest by an angry stallion. He flew back. The air was sucked from his lungs. He continued to fall, but landed on nothing. I'm dying?
He closed his eyes and accepted his destiny. A painful smack jolted his eyes open as J'dol landed on a hard wooden surface. Bracing himself with his hand, he lifted his head and let his gaze rest on two, soft brown eyes.

What’s up and coming on Victoria’s Pages of Romance23 – My Sexy Saturday - #MySexySaturday 24 –Weekend Writing Warriors - #8sunday25 – author spotlight – Georgia Hill – While I was Waiting26 – author spotlight – Sheryl Browne – The Edge of Sanity27 –Book Hooks - #MFRWhooks28 – author spotlight - Marie Laval – Blue Bonnets29 – Friday Snippets  #FridaySnippets30 – My Sexy Saturday - #MySexySaturday31 – Weekend Writing Warriors - #8sunday