Welcome to Sunday Scribbles!
This week the #sunscribbles Twitter prompt is Trap, so I wrote a story based on an MC from a work in progress who struggles to fight under pressure. It’s super short because I’m ill again!
Whirlwind of Thoughts
On my knees, in the dirt, with a bandit’s blade to my neck, I eye my fallen sword and wonder how it came to this.
I’m not a bad person: I help my mother around the farm, I study sword-fighting whenever she asks, the dutiful son, but I never get it right when it matters.
When wolves stalk our livestock, or bandits raid our storehouses, I freeze. I know the moves better than I know myself, have practised them hundreds of times by the Lake of the Blessed, but when the stakes are high I can never decide which way to swing my sword.
My mind races. Can I win? Will I end up face down in the dirt? Should I move? Left? Right? Duck? Dive? Slide? Or stay still. Hold my ground and keep my guard up until my opponent drops theirs?
This time was no different. Trapped in the whirlwind of my thoughts, I did nothing. Only my assailant’s boot to my chest broke me free. I didn’t even see him move so close. I winced, dropped my sword, and he shoved me to my knees in front of storehouse two.
This never happens in practice, when we’re alone in the woods, my mother and me, but every time the situation gets serious my fighting skills flee like rats from a sinking ship, and I freeze, trapped in a vicious circle of thoughts, unable to break free until someone makes me.
She, my mother, is never far behind me during these attacks, and she drops my captor with practised ease. Three swift, decisive, movements is all it takes to dispatch the remaining bandits, and she turns to me, hand outstretched.
I help myself up, but I can’t meet her eyes. How could I after yet another failure? Instead I take in the sprawling fields of our farms and pretend I’m looking for more bandits.
She cups my cheek and turns my face towards hers. Disappointment flashes in her eyes, but it’s quickly hidden. I clench my jaw, but dread the day she’s not here to bail me out: The day someone gets hurt because of me. Because as much as I want to change, I don’t know how.
Thanks for reading!
I nearly participated in Nanowrimo at last minute, but I know I don’t have time and my outline isn’t finished yet so this short insight into Arthur’s world will have to do. The actual novel will be in third person, so I don’t know why I keep writing in first!
Hashtag game details: Sunday Scribbles Prompts
Past stories: Sunday Scribbles Short Stories
Share lines with #sunscribbles every week on Twitter, or write a short story based around the prompt and share a blog link.
Next week? A review post of books and TV shows, where I rant about Titans and revel in the world of Faerie!
I almost laughed at participating in NaNo at the last minute. I so wish I was 20 something again!
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So do I, I’m in my 30’s, I was just slow getting to my Master’s degree 🙂
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Great story. And it makes sense too. It’s easy to train. But much harder to use the training in real life. This is esp tough in intense situations. And your story shows this well.
Great writing. And I can picture the whole story in my head. Excellent work :).
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Thanks 🙂 I wrote and edited this one in a couple of hours so I’m glad it turned out okay!
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It turned out great! Kudos, Louise 🙂 Hope you feel all better soon!
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Great story. Feel bad for him, but his moment is coming…
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Thanks 🙂 He’ll be a great warrior, one day!
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I’ve had moments when my actions freeze and my thoughts spiral in on themselves. Thank goodness his ma was there! That’s funny about the first person/third person.:-)
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Same, I drew on a little bit of personal experience here 🙂
It’s odd, I used to hate first person but lately I can’t stay away from it!
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Great story, Louise. I like these real characters that have flaws, doubts, and fears. Well done. I hope you feel better soon.
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Thanks 🙂 I can’t wait to start writing the story properly! (And to be rid of these blasted colds!)
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[…] submitted Whirlwind of Thoughts, the story I posted a couple of weeks ago, to the workshops. I was the only person to contribute […]
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