Down Draft

An ear-splitting screech filled the night, waking Tohl and the others and sending them scrambling for their weapons. The camp was covered in temporary darkness as a huge form flew overhead, blocking the moon. A violent down draft caused by massive wings knocked over two tents and scattered the coals from the fire, and men rushed to stomp the embers out before the dry grass could catch.

     "By the Great God, what is it?" Kyram shouted, sword and shield shaking in his hands despite his training.
     "Such a monster is not the work of God, Kyram," Tohl replied, adding in a whisper, "but may he have mercy on our souls..."

Beginning

Every story has a beginning, but what most people think of as the beginning is anything but. You can't even call it a middle. It's simply one more point of interest that sparks a rabbit trail focused on one individual or event, or series of events, that takes part in the actual story, which is much bigger, and much longer, than we sometimes realize. If you really want your story to begin at the start, then every story ever written should begin the same way:
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Sleep

Vyra couldn't remember the last time she'd slept. There was no resting out here; you couldn't afford to doze for a few minutes, let alone actually sleep. The only thing that kept you alive was being awake.
And so Vyra knew she wouldn't live much longer.
Sooner or later, sleep would have to come, and with it, death.