Taster of my new story-in-progress, Catch and Chase :)

A small excerpt from a scene in the latter chapters of the story ^.^ It will be made better, the whole thing is only in first draft and in severe need of editing, but you know.1

****2

Catch paused at the bottom of the gentle incline, the rain beating his blonde hair flat and turning the grass and rocks a slick black. He eyed the figure at the top of the grassy mound with a myriad of emotions grappling with each other in his chest and a thousand thoughts pounding his skull. What was he supposed to do when he got to the top?
Keeping his eyes on the slightly blurred figure he raised his standard Rionase sword with a slow, meaningful swing. His hand hurt where he had caught it earlier and he didn’t want to look at the blood soaking through his glove. But he was resolved. Nothing could turn him away or make him squeamish now. Whatever would happen tonight, whatever fate had in store, it would show itself in the next few moments. Catch could feel it in the air and in the tingling down the back of his neck.3

Chase stared back at his older brother with his own sword almost resting at his side in a mocking gesture. The blood that had previously drenched it to the hilt was slowly washing off in the downpour, sliding down the groove in the middle of the blade and draining into the soft earth. He chuckled, but it was humourless, like the sound a strange animal makes deep in a forgotten wood in the twilight hours.
“Look,” he called to Catch as the disconcerting giggles died away, “I’m returning your friends back into the earth,” He laughed hysterically. 4

Catch swallowed. He thought of those who had fought so bravely only to die with no reason on the end of Chase’s uncaring weapon and his blood began to boil inside his veins. His adreneline pumped high.5

He said nothing but his body language spoke volumes. Every muscle in his slender frame was taut and rigid with anticipation, the sword raised higher than ever, his clear blue eyes fixed straight on his nemesis. He took a slow step forward, ignoring the way his boot tried to stick in the mud that was pooling around the hillside. With that one step Chase twitched his sword closer and paid attention. 6

“Coming to get me at last?” he asked with a sly grin. He flipped his mop of hair from his diamond-like eyes and scrutinised his brother’s determined face. For once he couldn’t quite read him. One thing was for sure though; this was it. What exactly ‘it’ was would have been impossible to know, but Chase had the idea that one of them wouldn’t be too happy at the end, and he didn’t plan to be that one. Not this time. No, not this time!
He gripped his sword tighter in both hands now and turned it on its side so that what was left of the starlight glimmered off the blade threateningly like teeth. 7

“At last,” agreed Catch through gritted teeth. He was advancing now, slowly but steadily, trying to control his breathing and keep a clear head. His only focus was the figure all in black tossing a mocking grin his way. He wanted so badly to run up the hill and run him straight through, to make him feel all the pain he had caused him through his life, all the life he'd took, the people he'd wasted, all in the name of his own jealousy and insanity. But he had to control himself. To rush now might ruin things. He wanted to be certain of what he was doing. Whether he would kill Chase or hand him over to a higher authority was not cement yet...it would be so sweet to avenge his Aveline and his friends...but would it be right?8


Chase stood exactly where he was. There was no way he was running anymore. He was in great shape, as great as Catch. His sword was narrow and easy to weild.
And he had the edge of a murderer without conscience on his side.9

Faster than the eye could really register and with a mighty roar of pent up fury, Catch leapt the final few metres of grass and mud and straight into the attack with a whirling blade and full heart. 10

Chase was ready for him.11

****