This Write it Up! Wednesday I want to do something different. I wanted to post some previous work I did on the amorphous blob that is the novel in my head. This is the opening. I don’t know how I feel about it but it does still need quite a bit of work. Enjoy and please feel free to leave comments and questions! Happy writing!
The hunter glided along the canopy careful the leaves did not betray his presence. A small squirrel, grey with snow tipped fur, was busy buried in the knot of a large oak on his own hunt for a mid-day meal. The hunter carefully spread his wings careful again that the subtle rustle of feather did not scare away his target. His tongue, sharp and quick darted out of his mouth tasting the cool late-summer air hanging within the forest foliage. His tail flicked with anticipation. He coiled his body into a springing position, raised his wings and opened his mouth revealing twin sets of venom dripping fangs. His eyes dilated and he prepared for a well deserved meal. The squirrel unawares continued to root through the half dead oak searching for a forgotten cache or some new growth. His ears twitched.
The hunter sprang from his viridian cover. His careful planning and silent approach won him a kiss from a rotting oak.
The squirrel sprinted and bound from branch to branch desperately trying to gain distance himself from a certain death. The dangers of the forest were not to be trifled with. The hunter recovered quickly. His meal was not to be denied him. His smooth and muscular body contorted so that he could remove his embedded fangs from the caressing oak. He once again spread his pearl wings, attached just below his head, and sprang into the air pursuing the quick morsel with a burning desire. The serpentine body acted as a rutter while in flight. The canopy was a treacherous place to fly. The maze of branches and leaves made it difficult to judge what was coming next especially this time of year when the forest reveled in the hot summer sun. Quick eyes and an agile body were more than enough to conquer this dense channel. Every so often the hunter would wrap his body around a branch using it to spring again into the air. His wingspan was too large to fully fly within the confines of the forest he would have to deal with simply gliding towards his prey. That was fine for him as the small squirrel was quickly approaching. It had to navigate the pathways of the trees while the hunter could circumvent and take to the spaces between and more direct and efficient root.
The squirrel could hear his attacker approach quickly and would use his small size as an advantage ducking through particularly tight spaces and turning quickly knowing his pursuer would have to waste valuable time to reposition his body. He had a goal in mind if he could get to The Alley all would be fine. He saw a recognizable oak and darted quickly to the left. He was almost there. He hopped as quickly as he could keeping low to the branch making himself a smaller target. His ear twitched.
The branch he had new climbed to exploded in a sea of bark feather and scales. He narrowly avoided the direct hit but the power of the strike had launched him into the air. He used his tail to turn himself around in time to see winged snake spring again towards him. Wings spread, fangs glistening and body tight and straight. A missile of destruction pointed directly at him. His tail again rotated providing momentum and as certain death careened towards him he spun midair. His tail had allowed him to avoid the open jaw of his attacker and actually use passing body as a substitute branch. He was on his way towards a near hanging branch when the serpent’s tail caught him in the face. His attacker had regained composure quickly and had used his own tail to his advantage. The grey squirrel once again found himself hanging midair. With a flick of a tail he righted himself and found the ground meeting him quickly. The soft forest grass softened the fall a little but that was the last thing on his mind. With the advantage of the trees gone he was an easy target and an easy meal. He dashed hoping to gain a head start hoping to get to The Alley before he became lunch. His heart beat wildly in his chest and he could hear the rustle of wings. Without the trap of branches his pursuer could freely fly through the ancient tree trunks. His chances of survival were dwindling fast. His ear twitched once more not because of a sound but lack thereof. The hunter was in a dive. He quickly changed direction, hoping the surprise would be enough to avoid the coming strike. Like a jet of water caught in the wind the hunter’s body contorted and caught the little squirrel’s head with his tail. The squirrel, dazed continued to run until the sun beat down heavily upon him. The wall of trees had ended. He had made it to The Alley. Just in time for the winged snake to coil his scaled body around him.
Me and Caterpie 