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Folwren · 12-20-2007, 09:50 PM

Help him! By the great stars of heaven, Thornden was going to kill him, if the fire didn’t kill him first. His hand swept out swiftly after Léof but the boy had already dodged out of reach, into the stall, into the range of those flailing hooves. Thornden immediately recognized the greater danger and he wavered momentarily, completely unsure of what to do.

Heat and pain and lack of air forced him into action. He lunged forward to the door of the stall. Léof was standing before the horse trying to get hold of her halter as she shied away from him and kicked at him. He was trying desperately to get near enough to contain her head and keep near her shoulder, but the mare didn’t let him come close. She plunged forward, her head held high, running against one side of the stall – Thornden heard the sound of the impact of her shoulder on the wood with strange awareness – and then she backed up again, kicking out, turned and ran to the other corner. She was caught, and she wouldn’t let Léof help her.

“Come on!” Thornden shouted. “Get out!”

“No!” Léof responded vehemently.

The fire roared with sudden vehemence and the far end of the stables caved in. Thornden swore. Léof dove for the mare’s head. The horse reared with a wild shriek. Thornden ran forward to snatch Léof away from beneath her flailing hooves and dragged him away.

He fought all the way to the door. He was still fighting when Thornden stumbled out into sunlight, obscured by billowing smoke. He would have run back again even then, but Thornden, intent on keeping him out, grabbed him by his hair and forced him back.

Thornden looked up and watched as the flames grew higher and the sound swelled. Léof begged to be let loose, but he struggled and begged in vain. “It will go any moment now, Léof,” Thornden told him. “You’d die if you went back.”

They heard a moaning creak. Thornden half turned his face away, but his eyes remained fixed on the burning structure. A moment longer it stood, the tone of the fire remaining the same, and then the last bit of roof and wall fell inward. A huge cloud of smoke, ashes, and dust shot upwards, the fire became quiet for a fraction of a second and then leaped up with a renewed frenzy.

Thornden drew a shuddering breath. He let Léof go and turned away.

12-20-2007, 09:50 PM	#947
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Help him! By the great stars of heaven, Thornden was going to kill him, if the fire didn’t kill him first. His hand swept out swiftly after Léof but the boy had already dodged out of reach, into the stall, into the range of those flailing hooves. Thornden immediately recognized the greater danger and he wavered momentarily, completely unsure of what to do. Heat and pain and lack of air forced him into action. He lunged forward to the door of the stall. Léof was standing before the horse trying to get hold of her halter as she shied away from him and kicked at him. He was trying desperately to get near enough to contain her head and keep near her shoulder, but the mare didn’t let him come close. She plunged forward, her head held high, running against one side of the stall – Thornden heard the sound of the impact of her shoulder on the wood with strange awareness – and then she backed up again, kicking out, turned and ran to the other corner. She was caught, and she wouldn’t let Léof help her. “Come on!” Thornden shouted. “Get out!” “No!” Léof responded vehemently. The fire roared with sudden vehemence and the far end of the stables caved in. Thornden swore. Léof dove for the mare’s head. The horse reared with a wild shriek. Thornden ran forward to snatch Léof away from beneath her flailing hooves and dragged him away. He fought all the way to the door. He was still fighting when Thornden stumbled out into sunlight, obscured by billowing smoke. He would have run back again even then, but Thornden, intent on keeping him out, grabbed him by his hair and forced him back. Thornden looked up and watched as the flames grew higher and the sound swelled. Léof begged to be let loose, but he struggled and begged in vain. “It will go any moment now, Léof,” Thornden told him. “You’d die if you went back.” They heard a moaning creak. Thornden half turned his face away, but his eyes remained fixed on the burning structure. A moment longer it stood, the tone of the fire remaining the same, and then the last bit of roof and wall fell inward. A huge cloud of smoke, ashes, and dust shot upwards, the fire became quiet for a fraction of a second and then leaped up with a renewed frenzy. Thornden drew a shuddering breath. He let Léof go and turned away.