Welcome to the TREE OF LIFE: Branching Out collaborative writing challenge, where creative minds meet epic movie music. To read the collective story in its entirety as it unfolds and for more details on this groundbreaking collaboration with Audiomachine click HERE.

Today’s featured guest is the gifted author, Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence. Join Shannon on her writerly journey at The Warrior Muse.

* Listen to the inspiring track from Audiomachine’s Tree of Life album featured in the sidebar music player

Inspiring Soundtrack: Audiomachine – Turning Point – Tree of Life

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The arcs exploded into bits of glimmering light. As these glorious specks cascaded over Zoe, she was filled with a sense of elation, her fear beginning to ease, calm settling over her. This was her time.

The thin man left the others behind and approached her. He pressed a hand to her belly, and she felt a quickening beneath it, gasping as the pain of countless bee stings filled her. Yet she bore it, stood tall, unwavering.

His voice was that of millions, speaking as one. “To thee, I grant conscious choice. You have the power to determine what happens from here.”

She looked into his yellow eyes as the agony moved down her legs, into her feet. He removed his hands, but stayed before her, his gaze shifting to the ground. Her own eyes followed, and she was stunned by what she saw. Her feet shimmered, the flesh moving as if something lay beneath it. She felt within her an ache to change, to let go. Something fought for release. His words came back to her, and she knew what she must do.

Zoe allowed the change to occur, willed it to do so, watching as her feet elongated. She reveled in the sensation as they broke through the crust, penetrating the soil, so cool against her flesh.

She felt the roots of the tree that stood near her. They were weak, crumbling; she sensed a sickness there. Her own roots spread, intertwining with the old ones and breaking them apart.

The tree began to wither.

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© 2013 Shannon Kenoyer Lawrence

ATTENTION FANS: You can WIN an autographed TREE OF LIFE Audiomachine album by LEAVING COMMENTS! On August 17th, two lucky readers will be chosen at random from the comments section of the story excerpts. The more you comment–the better your chances are of winning a piece of cinematic history! We want to hear from YOU!

TREE OF LIFE is available NOW! Click on the following links:

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