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Cera Chronicles - Murder Most Fowl - #atozchallenge

Murder Most Fowl – Part I #atozchallenge

Posted on April 10, 2014April 11, 2014 by Loni Townsend

For the A to Z challenge, I present Murder Most Fowl, an unedited serial story from the unpublished Cera Chronicles. Please excuse the grammar mistakes. This hasn’t been critiqued yet. If you’re just diving into this story, you may want to start with part A.

I flung up a shield of ice and energy drained from my body. Perry’s shot struck the barrier. Tiny cracks raced and spread. Her band opened fire.

I forced out more power, reinforcing the shield. Ice thickened with additional layers that bullets quickly chipped away. Fues retaliated with bow and arrow.

Sweat dribbled from my forehead and temples. The edges of my vision tinged silver with elemental exhaustion. Blood thundered against my eardrums. Pressure pushed me back.

The assault ended.

My muscles shook. I gasped in quick, ragged breaths. Ice melted in a flash and dropped like a river to puddle around my feet. The pungent odor of wet rawhide compounded the fetor of gunpowder.

Something warm slid down my stomach. I touched my abdomen and my fingers came away slicked with red. None of the bullets had made it past my shield. Was this from earlier in the town?

My flesh knit back together–slowly. Why was it taking so long?

Fues eyed my bleeding center before meeting my gaze. I looked away. Different worlds played by different rules. Like the way this one had locked down my ability to track my companions.

I surveyed the damage. Two of Perry’s cowboys and a cowgirl were dead. Perry had vanished. No losses on our side. Shirtless Joe cowered behind the rock next to Molly, and the masked man lay snoring facedown in the dirt.

Squawk?

That damn bird. Maybe Fues could make arrows out of him. But then, what if the arrows started stalking me?

Molly stared at me with wide eyes. “What are you?”

I did my best to ignore the pain and faked a confident smile. “I am awesome.”

Fues prodded the masked man with his spear. “This one make for good eating. Taste better than cow.”

I grimaced. “You want to take him back to town? Because I’m not hanging out in the desert while you fix yourself a meal.”

“Meal?!” Joe looked from Fues to me and back again. “Is he planning on–”

Fues poked Joe with his spear. “Maybe this one better. More tender.” He grinned and gnashed his teeth at Joe, cackling manically.

Joe hopped to his feet and scrambled over the rock. “Perry! Perry, honey, I’m a comin’!”

Read J here.

Thanks for reading! If you want to start at the beginning, find it here. Don’t forget to visit other bloggers participating in the A to Z Challenge.

12 thoughts on “Murder Most Fowl – Part I #atozchallenge”

  1. Danny Simon says:
    April 10, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    Wow! You have an amazing flair with words! Felt like I was there…loved the descriptions! And the story seems to be getting exciting!

    Reply
  2. Cristina says:
    April 10, 2014 at 9:40 AM

    Yay! It’s back! I love that damned bird! (please be a Phoenix – I’m still hoping)

    Reply
  3. Alex J. Cavanaugh says:
    April 10, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    He would’ve been too fatty for a meal anyway.

    Reply
  4. Julie Flanders says:
    April 10, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    I also love the “damned bird.” 😀 And the “I am awesome” answer was excellent.

    Reply
  5. Crystal Collier says:
    April 10, 2014 at 12:31 PM

    Hahahah! Oh, that hungry little pigmy. Dang, she is awesome. Teleporting, healing, ice? What can’t this girl do. Oh yeah, repair her broken heel. 😉

    Reply
  6. Cat says:
    April 10, 2014 at 3:11 PM

    So funny, gripping and suspenseful, too. You do have the knack, there, Girl!

    http://www.freewebs.com/villagevoices/springconcert2014.htm

    Reply
  7. Monica Deshpande says:
    April 10, 2014 at 3:11 PM

    Look forward to J. What’s going to happen next? Where’s Perry?
    My favourite line was ‘ I am awesome.’

    Reply
  8. Cat says:
    April 10, 2014 at 3:13 PM

    OOPS! Wrong link. Multitasking never works, does it? Hehe! Can you delete that comment? I was working on the choir publicity at the same time and the computer had that link in its memory. OOPSIES!

    Then again, you’re more than welcome to come to the concert. It might be a bit of a hike though!

    http://cattitudeandgratitude.blogspot.ca/2014/04/i-is-for-idiom-romance.html

    Reply
  9. Meradeth Houston says:
    April 10, 2014 at 4:02 PM

    This is great! I love the descriptions, it all felt so real 🙂

    Reply
  10. Liz Blocker (@lizblocker) says:
    April 10, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    I love the end – especially if Fues is deliberately scaring him. Hilarious!

    Reply
  11. SD Neeve says:
    April 11, 2014 at 12:47 AM

    “That damn bird. Maybe Fues could make arrows out of him. But then, what if the arrows started stalking me?” Ha! Loved this bit the best. Well I’m all caught up now, so I’ll guess I will just have to wait for my next daily dose. 😉

    Reply
  12. nabanita says:
    April 11, 2014 at 9:08 AM

    This was so gripping!!

    Latest A2Z Challenge Post-Random Thoughts Naba

    Reply

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