Greetings all and first things first, thank you to Anna, Lisa and Mary for reading/commenting and liking my last post which featured a little story for you all. Also a big thank you to those 12 souls who took a time out from the endless stream of memes to read something just a little bit more substantial. Love you guys!
I had a real inkling today to work on something bigger. It came as the result of a dream of wishing to build a world of fantasy and that would explain the curious title of Ken-She-Mue which you see above. However, I wish to steer clear of the usual realm of elves, dwarves, halflings, orcs and the like. I'm looking for a different approach and not quite sure how it will pan out but the protagonist will be female and she can handle herself.
Below is the opening gambit of this epic piece and I'm looking to build this world not only with myself but quite possibly with a few conspirators. Let's craft, create, make an alternate universe where we can be whatever we wish. For now though, have a read below and see what you think.
Origins
The smell of a sweaty punch grazed her nostril by a tiny centimetre. Laura eased back looking for the entrance to her opponents fine defence. Thirty seconds left and one Wasari down. Her opponent came again, looking to send a strong kick to her midriff. She blocked with a Gedan Barai, ever watchful of picking up a warning for stepping out of the tatami.
She looked at her rival’s coach gesticulating for her to finish Laura off and claim the championship. Twenty seconds remaining. Laura didn’t panic though. She slid to the left before dashing in the opposite direction, breaking the line and fainting with a miken tsuki. The hands came up to block the punch and Laura broke in low to sweep the back leg before delivering a perfect punch to her stricken foe.
“Ippon.” declared the referee.
They went back to the line. Laura heard her coach to keep calm and composure. She looked across to see disbelief and desperation in her opponent.
“Attack, get the point,” she heard from the opposition.
“Hajime,” said the referee.
An aggressive head kick came Laura’s way and she blocked easy before countering with a gyaku tsuki to the stomach.
“Wasari.”
Three seconds left. Just keep her cool. One final attack came but Laura was way ahead and merely stepped to the side before Yame was called.
She released a great cheer and her coach/Sensei rushed in to celebrate with her. Laura embraced her opponent and wished her good luck. Carol responded with grace and reciprocated with her wishes of good fortune.
Laura pulled away with a bruise forming in her right hip. She never felt the pain when she won though. Her thoughts turned to the next tournament in April. All the big guns would be there and she fancied her chances to do well. However, for now, the kudos of the local competition swelled her heart and all her team hugged her for her success. She saw her brother wave. Laura fought hard for him to come along to these “dull” karate events as he called them. To see him there cheering as loud as anyone brought huge cheer to her spirit.
“You fancy joining me then one day Danny Boy? Maybe then your big sister wouldn’t need to keep bailing you out.”
“As if. You know the thought of me doing press ups just doesn’t work and I am allergic to physical exertions. Besides, I’ve got books to read, stories to write and ninjas to kill on Paladin 3.”
Laura shook her head. Her brother knew plenty for his fourteen years but he was so frail.
“Well, if you ever do put on that gi, I’ll train you little man.”
He laughed, gave her a rare hug and told her it’ll never happen. She checked her phone and a DM from old Mr Kwan asked if she’d work late at the store tomorrow night. So much for going out with the girls she muttered as she replied in the affirmative. One day, when she ran her own dojo she’d refuse but these endless training costs never ended and she wanted the best gi for the next tournament.
She entered the night air not knowing this would be her last karate tournament for quite some time.
Comments