Decided to post it up on LJ, so that I can post sketches and such up as well, if I want too.

You can read it here: [link]

If you're interested in adding me as a writing buddy over on the NaNoWriMo site, here I am: [link]

Day One is done already, and I did 1858 words! Would have done more, but had to do a four hour car trip home, so that sort of cut into my time. Then I had to actually download a writing program, and then wait for the virus scanner to do it's thing and UGH! But I finally got started and yayyyyy!

Only 48,142 more words, and 29 more days to go xD

To get you interested, here's a little excerpt. You'll have to go to the LJ to read more and keep updated!

“Are we almost there?” Rilyuta asked, unable to keep the whining tone from her voice. It seemed that they had been walking forever, their old home a distant memory already. To a young child such as her, the week of wandering would seem very long indeed. She padded alongside her parents, her feet dragging and her head drooping. Her spirits weren't very high, and the low, mournful bellow from their farm mau did nothing to help.

Her mother glanced at her wearily, her gray eyes dull in the heat. “It shouldn't be too much longer, dear,” She said with a forced cheerfulness that even her daughter could see through, despite only being six years old. Rilyuta's father gave her mother a secretive look but didn't say anything. Even the mau seemed content to plod along quietly now, the baskets across her back quiet as well, though that was to be expected. Mrachi hens were usually silent, especially when they were caged up, as they were now, their cries going far higher then either the family of shralden or the mau carrying them could hear.

The tall yellow grass whispered against their hides as they walked, the drought taking its toll on the grasslands. It was still taller then Rilyuta, who had to jump to see any distance ahead of them. The game had been fun at first, but the novelty quickly wore off as nothing else appeared in her sight besides more grass. Instead she had taken to asking her parents what was ahead, though their responses were usually so dull that she ended up hopping just to make sure they weren't purposely not mentioning a herd of kee antelope or maybe even a hellishey on the prowl. But each leap left her feeling more and more dejected as her eyes fell on nothing but an ocean of grass.

Then her father suddenly smiled and nudged his wife encouragingly. “Finally, trees.”

Rilyuta strained her neck as far as it would go to try and see over the grass as her mothers eyes filled with relief. “Where? I don't see any!” She said, dancing on her feet in anticipation. She leaped ahead and her dark gray eyes widened at the glimpse of green in the sea of endless yellow. “Oh! I see them!”

She turned and grinned at her parents, her tail switching behind her in excitement. Her mother and father smiled back, the sight of trees wiping away the dark shadows of worry in their eyes. “Soon now, little one,” Her mother said, her happy tone no longer forced.

Rilyuta pranced around her parents and made the mau snort at her antics. She ignored the grumpy beast and twirled in celebration. Water! Finally, after a week of barely staying hydrated by eating certain underground tubers and fatty prey they could have a cool, refreshing drink of actual water.

---Hilary Francis