Excerpt: Write By The Seat Of My Pants-- a Fantasy Novel by Maimi

As the two girls left the home, the reality of what was happening out there finally hit Lilly. Even though her eyes weren't clear yet, she could see the people fighting well enough. She could see the glow from a fire reflecting off blades as men fought. The light had come from a place that was surely a house in recent history, but was now just a large, hot, burning flame. It didn't take her very long to realize that that was where the sounds of the ground rumbling had come from. Most likely a big explosion. She felt sick as they made their way through the burning debris.
*
“Come on,” Erin urged as she tried to half pull half support Lilly, “Malik will follow soon enough.”
*
“I don't-” Lilly lost her voice for a second, “I don't understand. What happened?”
*
“War,” Erin said simply, “If you want details I don't have any at the moment. But maybe Malik knows something. He's been on edge since you got here. And having open communication with the capital, he should have some knowledge as to why.”
*
It seemed as though Erin was almost hoping there was a good reason. But most of it was lost of Lilly, she barely understood much of the events she'd experienced recently. Now all she really knew was she was in a war zone and that meant serious, real danger. The realization made her sick to her stomach. Even though she hadn't eaten in days, she felt like she needed to throw up.
*
They'd made quite a bit of distance in a short time. They were hiding next to a house, waiting for a stray enemy soldier rushed through, heading back to the battlefield. Then calm settled in, a deathly quiet that set Lilly's nerves on end. Something was about to happen, and it wasn't going to be pretty.
*
Erin stood up, pulling Lilly with her. They'd only moved about five feet when they heard it. They looked up in time to see something moving through the air and hit the house behind them. Then nothing happened. Lilly wondered what was going on, but Erin understood.
*
“Oh, God!” she breathed, “Hurry up.”
*
But neither of them were fast enough to outrun it, even if Lilly didn't need help, they'd have never made it in time.
*
The house erupted, the walls literally flew. Massive chunks of clay and sand went flying. They didn't have time to even cover their heads as a portion of the wall came at them, sweeping them away with it.