{"id":1163,"date":"2012-04-04T00:00:43","date_gmt":"2012-04-04T04:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1163"},"modified":"2012-04-03T12:42:01","modified_gmt":"2012-04-03T16:42:01","slug":"autumn-chapter-6-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1163","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 6 – 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Everything went silent before the attack came.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>No birds called in the trees.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The wind didn\u2019t blow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We scarcely dared to breathe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>No one talked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We just took position and waited in that aching, terrifying silence.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something twitched, moved in the foliage down below us, in the ravine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I swallowed hard, set my stance.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was at the heart of the forward line, J.T. within arm\u2019s reach to my left and Matt to my right.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There was a flash of burning cold on my arm, almost enough to make me drop the staff in my hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My stomach flopped over itself and I had to swallow again, forcing bile back down.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Steady, Marin.\u00a0 <\/span>Steady.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I sucked in a breath and looked over at Matt.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStand fast,\u201d I whispered into the stillness and silence.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can do this.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The howl of a thousand voices echoed through the ravines.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It shot shivers up and down my spine.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then they came boiling up over the lip of the ravine toward us, an undulating mass of chest-high, gray-black figures with eyes that glowed like sickly witchlights.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thirty meters until they hit the wards.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHold!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I bellowed, summoning up courage and voice I hadn\u2019t known I had.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Twenty-five meters.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHold!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Twenty meters.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGuns ready!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A few voices echoed my call.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My heart began to beat a little faster.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Fifteen meters.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWait for it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ten.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFire!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The shotguns we\u2019d gotten loaded with Paul\u2019s birdshot went off almost in unison.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They took a devastating toll on the leading edge of the Greys\u2019 line.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Dozens dropped, shrieking in pain, a sound that set my teeth on edge.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It didn\u2019t stop their advance, though.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It just slowed them down a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They kept coming, running over their injured, their dead and dying, as inexorable as a storm surge.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cReload, reload, reload!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shouted as I braced for the wave.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Five meters to the ward lines.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They hit the lines and the world erupted into color and inhuman screams.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAim and fire, aim and fire!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I yelled, struggling to be heard over the sound.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was enough to make you want to drop everything and run in the opposite direction.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I looked up and down our battle line.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was holding.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>So were the wards.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A hand fell on my shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I startled, head snapping to the side.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s fingers tightened briefly and he stepped past me, into the fifteen-meter gap between our line and the wards.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice was a little ragged, but steadied after a moment.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know you\u2019re behind this, Vammatar!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Come out here and face me if you\u2019ve got the stomach.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stopped dead-center in the gap, planting his staff against his instep, squinting past the lightshow that was the wards-line.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The Greys pulled back, like a wave washing back into the ocean.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Dozens lay strewn across the open ground between the wards and the edge of the ravines.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I put up a hand to signal the others to hold their fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My heart was in my throat.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan,\u201d J.T. hissed, \u201cwhat are you <\/span>doing<\/span><\/em>?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTaking responsibility,\u201d Phelan said firmly, not looking back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s time I did that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you have a death wish?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. asked, voice strained.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I could just barely see the corner of Phelan\u2019s mouth twitch upward in a smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I hope not.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The sea of gray-black parted and Vammatar strode through the gap, blood-red cloak billowing in the wind she created through her firm stride.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOh, Wandering One.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I think you do. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I really, <\/span>really<\/span><\/em> think you do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Tacking this on to the end as a treat for folks — I did a redesign of the <\/em>Awakenings<\/strong> Book One cover in anticipation of releasing both the expanded edition and the paperback edition. I though y’all might like a peek.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A lot of symbolism going on in that cover! Might have to explain it in the FAQ. Speaking of, anyone who has questions for the FAQ, please post them here so I can add them into the manuscript before I’m done with edits.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Everything went silent before the attack came. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No birds called in the trees.\u00a0 The wind didn\u2019t blow.\u00a0 We scarcely dared to breathe.\u00a0 No one talked.\u00a0 We just took position and waited in that aching, terrifying silence. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Something … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,44,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-6-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-iL","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1163"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1165,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1163\/revisions\/1165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}