Descent Chapter One

Here's chapter one of Descent into Madness. Nothing much happening at this point in the story, and it's a very short section, but I personally love this little scene, and I hope you enjoy it too.

For those who missed the prologue and want to read it, it's linked here:
http://xyzwriting.blogspot.com/2013/09/descent-prologue.html

One

          A few hours walk south of the town of Crawmoore, a river fed into a lake. The lake's waters were as opaque and secretive as the sparse countryside was lonely; depressingly so. On the side of the lake farthest from the town, sat the ruined foundations of what once may have been a mighty tower or welcoming cottage, now reduced to a handful of stones scarcely able to shield a man from storm. At this hour of the afternoon, the shores were devoid of life, save for two battered travelers sitting with their backs to a campfire facing the shore at the north side of the pond.

          One of the men, stroking the sandy stubble on his chin, peered out over the expanse. Eventually, as if in conclusion to a thought, he sighed, picked up a stone from the shore, and held it between his fingers. After taking a moment to appreciate its polished surface, he drew back his arm and released the stone out over the waters. It skipped, and then continued skipping until it had disappeared into the darkness.

          The other traveler, noting the feat, looked impressed. 

          “Oh, it's not as hard as it looks. Here,” the first encouraged, picking up a stone and tossing it to his companion.

          The man grinned. He too took a moment to notice his rock's natural perfection before he flung it out onto the lake. The stone bounced once, then dropped into the depths with a whisper of a splash. The man frowned, shrugged, picked up another stone, and took more careful aim with his next throw.

          The travelers took turns alternating their skips, flinging stones in silence. Both seemed to be content to think and appreciate the calm black of the night. The second man quickly became quite good at the sport, and managed to get a stone to skip all the way out of sight; however, on the next throw, the stone flew directly into the water. He spun around, his dagger drawn.

          “What is it?” whispered the first man as he instinctively reached for the iron sword at his side.

          “I heard something. Over near that tree,” the other replied, gesturing with his head towards a dying trunk.

          The first picked up a burning piece of wood from the fire and quietly crept toward the tree. He studied it from a safe distance for a while, and then moved to inspect the tree more closely, circling around it a few times. Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, the traveler walked back to the shore and tossed his torch into the fire. “I think the stones we threw were as alive as anything around here,” he chuckled to himself as he dusted the soot off his gloves.

          The second gave up a half-hearted laugh. “Better safe than dead, no?” he suggested.

          The first chuckled. “There's nothing dangerous around here for miles! Anyway, where do you think we should sleep for the night? We'll be soaked if the skies are as bad as they look.”

          “There's those ruins on the other side...doubt they'll do much, but I think it'll be better than what these trees have to offer. Should we have a look?”

          “Indeed.”

          The two men put out the fire, then gathered their belongings and set out for the other side of the lake. They talked and laughed as they walked, with the second constantly telling the first to keep his voice down and the first constantly telling the second to hush up and that he needn't worry; there was nothing dangerous around for miles.