#theunseenforest

"What do you mean he's missing!" my husband screamed at me through the phone. Loud enough that the police officer standing on the other side of her vehicle could hear him and I noticed his body shift uncomfortably. I squeezed Lincoln, my eldest sons hand a little tighter, I repeated again the details of Georges disappearance. "We went to the park and we were playing hide and seek together on the play ground, I could hear him giggling from behind the big oak tree so I pretended to look for him for a bit first and then when I finally checked behind the tree he just wasn't there. I called out for him but he didn't answer. No one else is here, it's just us, we've walked through the whole park now and haven't found him anywhere. I called Shaun at the station to come out." "I'll be right there," and Thomas hung up on me. I pocketed my mobile and looked my ten year old square in the eyes.  "Link, stay here with Shaun, I'm going to go through the park again and make sure George isn't hiding anywhere." "Yep." and he headed around to the other side of the Hilux where Shaun stood quietly, our eyes met and I felt my face burn with shame as it did every time I was in his presence. "Can you call my mum and get her here for Link?" I asked him. No need to give him her number, I knew he'd have it. He nodded and I took off to find my wayward toddler.  How far could a two year old go? I checked inside the slide, calling his name, behind the tree where I was sure he'd be, just standing there, smiling proudly and looking at me to praise his excellent hiding skills. Nothing but dirt and leaves. Not even an imprint of his shoes on the ground to indicate he'd ever hidden there at all. I called his name all through the park, attracting the attention of more than a few farmers who upon realising the severity of my plight joined me in searching the grounds. I called the Myrtle Creek Camping Office again hoping desperately he'd been picked up by some well-meaning tourist and this horrible afternoon would mercifully end. He hadn't been brought in but both the caretakers are heading to the park to help the search effort now as well. #theunseenforest #urbanfantasy #wip #nanowrimo2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/B4QW0pwBNRR/?igshid=z12rw156vpbx

#alternativedimesnsion #authorschallenge2019 #theunseenforest I almost walked right over Ainsley as I emerged through the woods into an open clearing, still distractedly calling out for George.  "Have you seen my two-year-old?" I asked her, offering a hand. She'd clearly been enjoying an afternoon siesta between herding sheep. "No, and I've been here a while." she answered as she dusted off her jeans. "He's clearly good at hiding." I smiled back at her before looking back to make sure my other child emerged through the trees to join us.  "I'll help you look too then." She suggested and before I could waive off her offer she was already walking back towards the highway calling his name.  "We'll take the fence line back Linky," I told my eldest son in the cheeriest voice I could manage. "he must be in the toilet block there and we missed him." He wasn't.  Ainsley arrived still calling out Georges name and as she took in my crestfallen face she stopped dead. I took out my phone and called 000. How long had I already been searching? Why didn't I call the police before now? I knew the answer to that. I didn't want to talk to Shaun. That didn't matter now though. I have to find my son. "What do you mean he's missing!" my husband screamed at me through the phone. Loud enough that the police officer standing on the other side of his vehicle could hear and I noticed his body shift away uncomfortably. I squeezed Lincoln, my eldest sons hand a little tighter as I repeated again the details of Georges disappearance. "We went to the park and we were playing hide and seek together on the play ground, I could hear him giggling from behind the big oak tree so I pretended to look for him for a bit first and then when I finally checked behind the tree he just wasn't there. I called out for him but he didn't answer. No one else is here, it's just us, we've walked through the whole park now and haven't found him anywhere. I called Shaun at the station to come out." "I'll be right there." and Thomas hung up on me. I pocketed my mobile and looked my ten year old square in the eyes. "Link, stay here with Shaun, I'm going to go through the park again." https://www.instagram.com/p/B1KU0B2A20c/?igshid=lfhieaspffj3

Post 27! #authorschallenge2019 Holy cripes we are only days away from mid year. So I technically have some "soldier characters" in my #TheUnseenForest #WIP but they are interdimensional guards and not as such military personnel. So in keeping with the theme of this #promptchallenge I've included a picture of the biggest military character in my life for you all. My five-year-old son. He dresses like this on days that end in Y. #soldierboy #dressups https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx8LKSTAnWA/?igshid=14qcyauk6mmnz

This is a quick concept drawing of Nuala, one of the antagonists in my fantasy novel The Unseen Forest. She's a 500 year old forest sprite who kidnaps the Main Characters two year old son as part of a bargain with her ancestors, a deal she wasn't aware of and certainly isn't willing to honour. #WIPandme #villian #forestsprite #kelpieshapeshifter #theunseenforest #nuala #patersonia #authormathomas #authorsofinstagram #writingprompts https://www.instagram.com/p/BxqhTa-hiX-/?igshid=1b0cqtnv08j6z

Pencil or pen. Definitely pen. I can't cope with the need to sharpen every other page and because I tend to press firmly as I write I also snap the lead more often than other writerly folk. #authormathomas #pen #theunseenforest #blurb #authorschallenge2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/BxjSJ_LArpB/?igshid=854x4ri82ppd

Post 11. Type Vs. Write? I like both. But I tend to write chapter outlines by hand and then add in the narrative and dialogue as I type it up. #theunseenforest #authorschallenge2019 #maypromptschallenge #authorquestion #writingprompts #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BxV4t4NnT18/?igshid=1rif0lmri603i

So for Post Nine I'm going to let you guys read the final scene for #TheUnseenForest which is the journey of a young Australian mother to reclaim her two year old son from Kelpies spirits in another realm #WIPandme I hope this gives you some insight into the relationships I write. #authormathomas #darkfantasy #motherandson We ran to each other. I couldn’t get enough of the feeling of him inside my arms. I thought I had squeezed him too hard, and I released him minutely only to feel him respond with a forceful squeeze of his own. His small arms struggling for purchase around my chest. I stroked his head, his face, his sweet soft, still somewhat chubby arms. We didn’t break our embrace for a long time. Only when Culso’s cool breath whispered in my ear did we break apart, only for a small moment.    “Let’s go home,” I told George, who nodded fervently. Shaun held out a hand to me which I took as I stood up, a small sharp pain in my injured thigh reminding me of exactly where we where and that we really needed to be going. I didn’t hesitate in immediately picking up my son and nuzzling with him once again.    “I’ll take you back to the seam.” Culso offered and with a nod from Nuala she motioned us to follow her into the mouth of the cave.   “Your daddy is going to be so glad to have you back.” Shaun told George, planting a quick kiss on his head as I cradled him in my arms.      “And your brother.” I added with the first genuine smile I’d felt on my face in months. We walked through the moss covered tunnels swiftly, we had no need for more words, I felt Shaun’s fingers interlock with my own in the darkness and a warmth spread through me completely.   “Farewell sister.” Came a disembodied voice from ahead of me, I couldn’t be sure if it was Culso or Claudia. I daren’t hope it was the latter.    “Thank you” I replied taking the final steps towards the shimmering heat that was the only gateway between this place and my home.    “I love you mummy.” George told me, wrapping his arms around my neck as we stepped back through to the full and happy human lives that awaited us on the other side. https://www.instagram.com/p/BxOyWQMHhNQ/?igshid=1tl361jhzgjv6

Post Five for the May Challenge. Delicious Dialogue. Reader beware this is a hard scene to bare. #authorschallenge2019 #writersofinstagram #dialogueprompts #writingprompts #theunseenforest #darkfantasy #currentwritingproject #authormathomas https://www.instagram.com/p/BxEnMwxnYG3/?igshid=jfk475ik5d72