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This is a WIP, NaNoWriMo 2015, Forest Wed. Adann and Kaie (who was engaged), are married as symbols of their gods, and 2 weeks into their marriage, the gods’ blessing and the town are suffering, so they are sent on a hunting trip with two experienced hunters (Rui and Corliss). On the third day, Kaie runs into an angry ryapi (ocelot/boar monster), which he and Adann manage to kill, but Kaie is covered in cuts and bruises, which Corliss and Adann tend to, then the three of them return to camp while Rui butchers the monster.
“Nobody died,” Adann murmured, drifting closer to Kaie as they walked, “I call that a job well done.”
He glanced at her, wondering if she was joking, but her expression was serious. Then he remembered vaguely hearing that she had lost an uncle, or perhaps an older cousin, gored by a ryapi.
“Did you…” He paused, trying to think of a way to ask the question without revealing how little attention he’d paid to her life.
“One got my mother’s brother, three autumns ago. I saw him days later, and he already smelled of the rot, sweet and bright…” She shuddered, and Kaie reached out, brushing her wrist, tentative.
She glanced at him, and smiled shyly, turning her hand so her palm faced him. He laced his fingers in hers, and they stayed entwined all rest of the way back to camp.
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~~~***I’ll be doing National Novel Writing Month in November, so I may be slow in my replies, but I’ll still be blogging! Good luck to all the NaNoWriMos! ***~~~
Beikife is a small town in something like the Amazon rain forest, protected by a pair of married gods. The gods are represented by human avatars, two young people chosen and married by divine power. The strength of the marriage represents the bond between the gods’ blessing, so the new forest wed must find a way to connect to each other, or the crops will fail, the rivers will flood, and the cursed monsters that live in the forest will claim many
Adann is such a great character. I love how she is winning him over, step by small step.
Glad you feel that way! 🙂
Nice tender scene, Caitlin!
Thanks!
Oh My Gosh! It’s about time!! Love it! I’m so glad Kaie is finally starting to come around, accept Adann rather than blame her for what happened.
It has, in his defense, only been a couple of weeks. Kaie is one of those people who falls in love like chopping down a tree–slowly, and then suddenly at the end. Thud!
Hands entwined. Oh yes! How I love the picture you’ve painted.
We all need someone to hold on to, every now and then. 😉
Excellent pace, Caitlin. Adann’s microscopic wins with Kaie build a huge anticipation in the story.
Thanks! I didn’t originally plan their romance to be so slow, but as I developed all their obstacles, I realized a few days to fall in love wasn’t realistic. Next time I need less stubborn characters!
Progress! Finally! 😉 Really did love this moment between them. It’s very tender.
Finally. All it took was a couple near brushes with death. 🙂
How sad.
How so?
Nice little moment between them, ironic to bond over a relative killed off by one of your ferocious creatures LOL, but it did work for me. Great snippet!
He’s offering comfort, and he means it honestly, so I think it’s a great step forward for their relationship. It’s always nice to know someone cares, right? 🙂
I like how she reads his mind.
Adann understands Kaie pretty well. He’s still working on understanding her, but he’s getting there!
Awww, sweet of them, holding hands. I knew he’d have to start coming around sometime. Nice snippet!!
Kaie very much wants to do right by Adann, he’s just thrashing around a bit in the process. Thanks!
They have a such a challenging relationship.
Yep! Must torment the characters! 😉
There’s nothing like a dramatic/traumatic event to bond people. Looks like this is working!
The elders knew what they were doing with this hunting trip. Though they didn’t intend for them to get quite so beat up!
Sweet. Entwined hands? Progress. Yay!
Progress indeed. 🙂
Loved this scene. A step in the right direction. So glad he took her hand. 🙂
It’s a very sweet moment to have in a jungle full of killer monsters, to be sure. 😀
Way to go! They’re going in the right direction.
They did have to get there, eventually. 🙂
I love this tender moment developing. Great snippet
Thanks!
Wow, he’s finally coming around?! Woot. Hope you won NaNo!
He is, indeed.
I did with a half hour to spare, thanks!