This is the "new inspiration" I mentioned in the angel-name thread.
The goal here is to write, for lack of a better term, a "Christian fairy tale" a la Holly Black or O.R. Melling. However, I want it to be accessible outside of the Christian book stores, too. So...
Oh, almost forgot. All text here is copyright (c) 2006 Fernando Rojas, Jr. Not that I don't trust anyone here... I just love saying that.
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"Open your eyes." The voice was silken, soft and swee. Still half-asleep, the man smiled at the words. "You're smiling. See? I know you heard me." He opened his eyes. The woman lay beside him, a smile playing at her lips and a seductive innocence alight in her eyes. A long moment passed between them, and the man realized he was holding his breath. He let it out slowly. He wanted to tell her something--anything--about how she had made him feel the night before, how she was making him feel right now, but there were no words suitable. So instead he kissed her; first her lips, then her neck, and finally her forehead. She giggled, wrapping her arms around him. Together, they sighed in contentment.
He sensed her distraction when she lifted her head from his chest. She was looking at something behind im. Her mouth hung open, eyes dancing with a mixture of joy and fear. The look on her face made his heart thunder in anticipation; he knew that she was seeing the one thing she loved more than him, and the one Person he loved more than her. He gently moved out from underneath her, then excitedly righted himself and ran to greet the SHEKINAH.
The SHEKINAH smiled at both of them. He held out His arms and hugged the man. "Good morning, Adam." He leaned back and smiled at the woman. "Have you named her yet?"
"Not yet," the man said, shaking his head. "Not until I understand everything about her." The SHEKINAH laughed, but the man was not sure why.
The SHEKINAH clapped His hands and turned. Five lean and sleek animals came forward, their golden coats glistening in the SHEKINAH's light. The man was aware of the woman standing next to him. He smiled at her, and she took his hand. "What do you think, Adam?" the SHEKINAH asked.
The woman squeezed his hand. With the other hand he reached out and touched the shoulder of one of the female beasts, marveling at the hard muscle beneath the coat. He heard the woman gasp. He turned and saw her running her fingers through the thick mane of the older male, laughing. Incongruously, the powerful creature purred and swished its tail. The man put his hand on the beast's mane and stroked, his fingers within the mand finding the woman's. She gasped at this touch and smiled. The man knew then. He knew. He turned back to the SHEKINAH.
"Have you decided?" the SHEKINAH asked. "What is their name?"
The man nodded firmly. The woman looked at him with some awe, but his eyes were fixed on the SHEKINAH, and he did not notice. He opened his mouth, and it seemed as if the whole world was silent, waiting for the man's words.
"They are lions."
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Ahem. Out of time. More will be forthcoming, but let me know what you think so far.