Making progress in my novel. This is a dream scene I came up with today. Keep in mind, this is a first draft. Let me know what you think!
She was in the middle of the woods. The moon was full and bright, shining through the trees to light her path. Leaves crunched underfoot as she walked. The trees were full and a deeper green than she had ever seen in her life.
The path led further and further into the woods. It felt like no time at all had passed, though. As she moved, sights and smells began to change. The trees began to thin out to reveal the entrance of a clearing. The distinct smell of a bonfire began to fill the air. Tara could smell herbs or some kind of insense being burned with the wood.
When she entered the clearing, she was amazed at what she saw. A huge bonfire fully blazing in the center of the clearing. The pile of wood was as tall as she was. The flames reached toward the tree tops. But they were ot the typical orange and yellow of the many backyard party fires Tara had experienced. It wa bright blue, and a bluish green in the center. A group of hooded figures stood in a circle around the blaze singing in a language Tara had ever heard. She did not understand but the perfect harmony if female voices as they chanted was beautiful. It sounded like some kind of prayer.
Tara was so wrapped up in the scene before her she was oblivious to the harsher sound coming through the trees. A gunshot pierced the serenity of the scene and shook her. She stood paralyzed as men with weapons and torches swarmed in from every direction. The women shrieked as they were aprehended. Some tried to run. Others tried to fight back, protecting those who were too young or too old. Sobs mixed with the screams as a pair of sisters were pulled apart by some of the men.
A log escaped the pile and the flames began to catch the grass and trees. Now, sheer panic erupted. Women screamed. Men shouted. And, somewhere in the distance, a voice called Tara's name.
"Tara! Wake up!" Wake up? What? She felt a hand grab her. Fearing it was one of the men with weapons, she reacted. She cried out and thrashed with all her might...
