No Kiss Blogfest

Happy No Kiss Blogfest Day!

It was just my good fortune that the designated day was today, Saturday, so it didn’t mess up my weekly posting schedule. :-)

For those who missed my blurb about this on Tuesday, those who participated in the Kissing Day Blogfest last week had so much fun that Frankie Mallis decided to host the No Kiss Blogfest on her site Frankie Writes .

It’s not too late to sign up! Go HERE for the original post and to join the fun! C’mon, you know you want to!

My scene is from this year’s NaNo novel. It’s a cross between science fiction and fantasy – Simon’s ship was shot down and he crashed on Arianna’s planet. She’s a Faery, but she was able to pull him from the wreckage because his ship didn’t have an iron in it.


“There were marks on your ship, as though it had been fired upon. What reason would anyone have to fire upon you, Simon?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure. I was in a probe ship – it’s a very long range exploration vessel. Normally probes are left alone. It’s understood that they don’t carry weapons and are used only for exploration.”

“And yet someone felt the need to try and destroy you,” she mused. A cold chill went down her spine at the thought of this man alone in space, defenseless, and under fire from an unknown enemy.

He shrugged, more casually than he felt. “It happens, not often, but it does. Especially since the war’s been over. You know about the war, right?”

She smiled. “Yes, Simon. Though the war did not reach our small corner of space we were well aware of it.”

Flushing slightly he said, “I’m sorry, it’s just this world seems so removed from everything.”

“It is I who am sorry,” she said, touching his arm lightly.

His eyes heated up at her touch sending another shiver down her spine, this one for an entirely different reason. Their gazes locked for a moment, then his head dipped slowly towards hers.

Before they could meet there was an unholy shriek from the woods. Simon released her, jumping up and assuming a defensive posture before the sound had completely died away.

“Did you hear that? Are we under attack?”

The noise came again, growing closer. He glanced around wildly but couldn’t tell what direction it was coming from. He was further confused when Arianna started laughing.

“Don’t you think we should take cover?”

Still sputtering with laughter, she pointed towards the bank of the stream where a small, purple bird-like creature was making its way along the edge. As he watched, the thing opened its mouth and gave another unholy call.

Simon’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t believe it.”

It was such a small creature for such a ghastly noise. He shook his head ruefully and his laughter joined Arianna’s as he dropped back down beside her. Together they watched the creature continue following the stream towards the lake, still making its noise.

“We call them shriekers,” Arianna said, after she caught her breath. “They use sound to drive away predators.”

“An effective defense,” Simon said dryly, which sent her into peals of laughter again.