Here is a writing sample from the novel I'm adapting the comic script from
Blood red the ground beneath her feet shifted softly but no sound accompanied her steps. The starless void above her made no sense, she should have been able to see the baleful green eye of the serpent or any other familiar constellation but none were there to greet her. Directionless she continued forward until the sun finally crested over the horizon revealing a thousand shadows on a red plane.
Sitting bolt upright Hotaru struggled in the dark against the bed sheet tangled around her legs, one hand flailing ineffectively to ward off an enemy that wasn’t there.
“Merow!” A groggy yowl left her frozen in bewilderment, her mind slowed by sleep and fear. Reo, her cat, he was probably pissed that she’d dislodged him from his customary place on her feet.
“Sorry Reo-kun….bad dream again.” Hotaru muttered as her heart started to return to a more normal rate. They didn’t happen often but she’d been having more than usual, two in a week. They were always rather abstract, the fear in them more like a memory than a result of what she had seen. Shadows in a field weren’t particularly intimidating once awake but the sense that it was connected to the others was unnerving.
One hand groping in the darkness she searched the edges of her futon in a vain attempt to find her phone. It wasn’t until she noticed the glow of the charging symbol through the blanket she found it was only two in the morning. She still had a few hours left to sleep and wanted to felt with unfortunate certainty that she wouldn’t be able to. Straightening out her bedding she laid back, looking up at the ceiling with resignation.
“Murrr….” Reo’s soft fur brushed against her cheek before she heard the first bass rumble of his purr. Rubbing his head against hers, he moved down to settle in the crook of her arm. Hotaru scratched behind his ears gently for a moment and mercifully drowsiness started to settle over her.
“Thanks..” She muttered her fingers moved more slowly and her eyelids drooped. Reo was more soothing than a sleeping pill and far more cuddly.
Example of a script for an unrelated story
Too Much and Too Little
This is basically just a hook so it's going to be a bit short and not itself part of the main narrative. Chapter one is character driven so I thought it would be good to do this for a couple of intro pages. It's basically Lyra exploring drift town then realizing she’s has to get back in time for her appointment to meet Eric.
Settings
Drift town on Perion lake
Late on a market day. All of the various stalls and market boats are manned and full of goods and the fishing boats are busy all around. The village is colorful with a mixed population of humans, kin, doug, and even a few magical creatures.
Perion Lake
The open water of the lake itself. Large magical creatures swim benignly beneath the surface but some of the smaller ones like to bother those on the lake. The waters of the lake are clear down to about 20 feet and get murky from that point down. Super clear water does not support life and the lake is anything but dead.
The River
Leading down from the lake to Graceford and the manor. It has a bottom full of small smooth river stones that glow at night and sandy banks. During the day the stones look fairly ordinary and the water is clean.
Characters
Lyra
Dressed as she will be for the second chapter with her hair done up and magiced to be a brown color. Should be a bit fancy overall with flowers in her hair. She will buy and wear a new necklace toward the end that will carry into the next chapter. She is wearing gloves and long sleeves.
Agatha
Dressed up for the weather in a light but colorful dress with a large brimmed hat to keep the sun off her. Her forearms are exposed along with the magical tattoos on them.
Jewelry Merchant, Neil
Petitely built with dark circles under his eyes he’s polite and friendly in a fake sort of way and looks like he could use more sleep. His clothes are tasteful and well maintained and feature subtle floral patterns and pastel colors.
Water Fey
The creature should be about the size of a human infant and look a bit mermaid-like but in a feral sort of way. It can shift its appearance a bit if you want, but a consistent look is fine. Tentative name Bitey Face.
Extra’s
Denizens of Drift who will be of all species though a bit human heavy. They dress in bright colors and bold patterns and like plenty of jewelry. The economy of the lake and surrounding area’s is good so most people have a fair amount of money and even the poor can normally get by living off the lake or surrounding forest.
Too Much and Too Little
Early morning sun illuminates the floating village of Drift. Small colorful fishing boats ply the waters of the lake nearby as the market bustles with people shopping, haggling, and socializing. Its citizens are a robust mixture of ethnicities and species who move at a leisurely pace as they are comfortable and well aware of what they must do and when.
Lyra and Agatha wander the village sedately, taking in the sites and quite pleased with each others company. Agatha lags behind Lyra, enjoying observing the young woman more than the excursion. As they look through the various stalls they are both greeted in a warm manner by the various people they pass. Neither is a stranger to the town or market but it is clear that the locals know Agatha personally as she is a local while Lyra is merely a frequent visitor. Where Agatha is often hugged or kissed people tend to merely incline their heads to Lyra.
The pair pass by a variety of booths and Lyra chooses several items for closer inspection but is gauging Agatha’s response to them rather than assessing them herself in a fruitless effort to choose a gift for the older woman who shows only minimal interest in them.
Its not until they encounter a jewelry booth that a necklace catches Lyra’s eye and she stops to try it on. Pleased with the effect Lyra removes it and pretends to be disinterested as she haggles with Neil using hand gestures. Once a price is settled on she puts the necklace on, declining an offered box. Looking at it in the mirror once more she notices a timepiece and the displayed time.
Startled she looks to the other watches and see’s that they all agree on the hour and becomes her surprise turns to a cool resignation tinged with disgust. Turning back to Agatha she hugs the other woman then curtsies to her before turning to leave. They wave at each other before they become lost in the crowd to each other as Lyra heads out to the docks on the outer edge of the village.
Choosing a boat at random Lyra unties the loose mooring rope and steps in with care. Beneath the village a large water fey with a monstrous appearance rises from the depths of the lake. A small wave is created at first that rocks not only Lyra’s little boat but the floating platforms of the village.
Lyra holds onto the sides of the boat and tries to maintain a dignified appearance but is nervous as the wave increases in size as the beast rises higher. When it seems that the monster is bent on a collision course it bends with serpentine grace and swims parallel to the village causing it to roll on the waves it creates for a few moments. Lyra despite her hand hold and attempt to maintain her dignity is rocked hard enough that she thrown from side to side and ends up clinging to left side of the boat looking both surprised and a little afraid.
As the waves calm down Lyra sits up properly and laughs at herself, easily moving past her momentary fear. Placing one hand in the water it begins to glow and the water around her hand grows choppy as the boat begins to move forward at a moderate speed.
Looking back at Drift Lyra can see how it continues to rock on the opposite side as the water monster swims beneath it and laughs a little again, unaware of a shadow moving beneath the water toward her hand. The shadow quickly moves in and she snatches her hand from the water, startled by a sudden sharp pain.
Lyra: Ah!
Her finger is bleeding and she pulls it back to her lips reflexively, looking into the water around the boat with annoyance rather than fear. The shadow darts for the surface and leaps up revealing a small water fey with sharp teeth. With her uninjured hand Lyra flicks it in the face which throws it back into the water.
SFX: SNAP
SFX: PLUNK
Angered the water fey does not jump up again but sticks it head out of the water and spits a stream of water at Lyra that seems disproportionate to its physical size at her.
SFX: SPLISH
Lyra: Ah!
Lyra holds up her hands in a useless attempt to ward off the water but she laughs, her earlier anger forgotten.
SPX: SPLISH
The water fey stops straying Lyra with water, apparently quite pleased with itself and puffs out its chest as it laughs at her.
Water Fey: Kukukuku
Lyra reaches into her belt pouch and throws a handful of dried fish at the water fey. It takes the gesture as an attack at first and shows its teeth to her again.
Water Fey: Hiiiiissssss
The water fey catches the scent of the dried fish and stuffs one in its mouth. Its eyes go wide then in a sudden frenzy it tries to grab up the ones floating on the surface of the water, apparently no longer interested in Lyra.
Lyra: Little Beast!
Lyra sticks her hand back in the water to get the boat moving again while the water fey is distracted.
