Clip-Clop, Clip-Clop (Snippet Sunday 5.29.16)

Welcome to Snippet Sunday on Darkling Dreams!

Where writers come together to share a few sentences (8-10) of their current project — whether it’s a recently released novel, a WIP (work in progress), or an older manuscript that’s being revived. Intended to hook readers, gather feedback and build an author’s fan base, Snippet Sunday is the FB group that does all three.

I am going to continue sharing from my first ever novel Breaking Point for the rest of May and through June. Breaking Point is an adventure novel that for once has no elements of fantasy.

Previously on Sunday Snippets: Our main character, who has yet to be named, has taken a ride through the forest on her horse Midnight, and has found herself racing a buck through the foliage. Midnight and his rider have veered off the path somewhere and have now found themselves in a uncharted part of the forest they have never seen before.

Picking up right where I left off from last week’s snippet.

(Some sentences may have been creatively edited and punctuated to try to fit the ten sentence limit. I’m over, again. Can we just agree that my snippets will always be a little longer but not too long?)

~*~*~*~

I readjusted my seat and leaned low over Midnight’s neck, pressing my heels into his sides and urging him into a trot. “Let’s get out of here, boy. Fast.”

Midnight didn’t even need my encouragement. The moment I spoke, he leaped forward to a canter, skipping the trot completely. We rode on and on, the hooting of the owl following us as we went. My fear began to mount even higher the farther we traveled. Nothing was at all familiar and I was beginning to think we weren’t going to find our way back home.

The thought of being lost out here in these words made me urge Midnight on faster. We raced with the wind, now speeding along at a fast gallop. Both of our breaths came in raspy gasps as we pushed our limits. The adrenaline caused by fear the only thing sustaining us.

It felt like we were riding for hours, for what really could have been no more than twenty minutes, when we saw up ahead the shining sun in a wide open clearing. Hope leaped within my chest at the sight of the warming sun. Midnight pricked his ears up as he saw it too, nickering in joy. Feeling exhaustion creep into my bones I pulled back on the reins, slowing us down so we could catch our breath.

As long as I could see the clearing, I wasn’t too pressed to make a run for it out of fear.

It wasn’t until we had slowed that I realized I no longer heard the owl hooting. Silence had replaced its constant chatter again, broken only by the occasional far off chirp of a bird from up ahead. The eerie silence settled in my gut again, new fear beginning to spread through me like black tendrils.

Crack!

I screamed at the sound, spinning my body and horse towards the source of it. My heartbeat sped up again in anticipation of something there. I tore my gaze through the mass of trees, scanning for the cause of the loud crack. My brain new it had to be just a tree branch breaking or some animal stepping on a fallen twig; but my imagination still ran wild with thoughts of murderous wood lurkers.

Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

From behind us came a new sound: the sound of hooves striking the ground. Again, I tensed, turning my horse and I around to face the sound. I half expected to see another horse and rider behind me, or maybe even another buck; but my eyes met nothing but trees and air.

~*~*~*~

Just what is behind them? Are they being followed?

Cover made by @writethelove on Wattpad

 

This story is not yet on Wattpad either as it is another unfinished work and unedited as well. I refuse to put up anything that is unedited. One day I hope to finish this book, but my focus this year is Fated to Darkness.

However! If you wish to read anything else that I do have finished, you can hop on over to  my profile on Wattpad and check out what I have to offer. I love to hear any and all feedback on my work as well. Comments are greatly appreciated, as are the reads.

And if you’re looking for some other great snippets of fellow authors,
hop on over to Facebook and check out Snippet Sunday!