Post by Orchards on May 3, 2008 22:08:22 GMT -5
A large dark building perched high above a sea of trees ominously cast a long shadow over the orchard as the sun set behind it. As yellow lights flickered to life in the windows, they glowed just enough to make the stirring shadows amongst the trees distinguishable from the growing darkness.
There must have been a half dozen of them, moving through the trees like ghosts. Girls and boys both dirty, unwashed, and wearing worn, colorless clothes, they worked quickly and quietly, clumsily picking ripe fruits from the trees. The fruits disappeared into wherever they could be carried.; baskets, kerchiefs, bunched up skirts, down the front of shirts and pants. Some ate as they went, red juice dribbling down their chins, shells falling to the ground as they were discarded.
"Lights are on; we need to head back," someone said, glancing at the building. Moving as smoothly as possible, the group turned away from the lights.
"Hey!" They all froze at the shout that came from behind them. "Who's there? What do you think you're doing?" Not one of them moved.
"They're workers from the factory! They're the ones who've been stealing the fruit," cried another voice. The first voice cursed, and the group scattered as he called, "Guns!" They fled, zigzagging through the trees as the orchard workers slid their guns off their backs.
"Fire!" A basket was dropped as the guns sounded, firing out a volley of bullets. Its lid popped open as screams filled the air, and out spilled reddish fruits. They were trampled underfoot as the gunmen pursued the children, juices swirling with the darker red of spilled blood.
There must have been a half dozen of them, moving through the trees like ghosts. Girls and boys both dirty, unwashed, and wearing worn, colorless clothes, they worked quickly and quietly, clumsily picking ripe fruits from the trees. The fruits disappeared into wherever they could be carried.; baskets, kerchiefs, bunched up skirts, down the front of shirts and pants. Some ate as they went, red juice dribbling down their chins, shells falling to the ground as they were discarded.
"Lights are on; we need to head back," someone said, glancing at the building. Moving as smoothly as possible, the group turned away from the lights.
"Hey!" They all froze at the shout that came from behind them. "Who's there? What do you think you're doing?" Not one of them moved.
"They're workers from the factory! They're the ones who've been stealing the fruit," cried another voice. The first voice cursed, and the group scattered as he called, "Guns!" They fled, zigzagging through the trees as the orchard workers slid their guns off their backs.
"Fire!" A basket was dropped as the guns sounded, firing out a volley of bullets. Its lid popped open as screams filled the air, and out spilled reddish fruits. They were trampled underfoot as the gunmen pursued the children, juices swirling with the darker red of spilled blood.
---
It's been nearly a thousand years since Neirrate's founding, and the country is being shaken by the changing world. As the Industrial Revolution begins to grow in the rest of the world, this tiny island nation is caught between it's agricultural roots and the promises of the new technology. Neither side wants to see the other survive, though each relies on the other. Grudges are taking root as more and more people are being pulled into the conflict. Both sides have their shadows and deceptions, and more and more factions of both begin to reveal themselves as the pressures and tensions rise. Secrets and scandal are here aplenty, and nothing can stop the blood that will be shed before the end comes.
So, where will you stand in the
Blood Orchards
[/color][/b][/center][/url]It's been nearly a thousand years since Neirrate's founding, and the country is being shaken by the changing world. As the Industrial Revolution begins to grow in the rest of the world, this tiny island nation is caught between it's agricultural roots and the promises of the new technology. Neither side wants to see the other survive, though each relies on the other. Grudges are taking root as more and more people are being pulled into the conflict. Both sides have their shadows and deceptions, and more and more factions of both begin to reveal themselves as the pressures and tensions rise. Secrets and scandal are here aplenty, and nothing can stop the blood that will be shed before the end comes.
So, where will you stand in the
Blood Orchards