It's time for the September edition of the flash fiction challenge for Write...Edit...Publish. A great place to practice your writing skills. Created by Denise Covey, a great lady from down under. When you are finished reading my submission I hope you leave a comment and then go check out the other great submissions here.
For those of you stopping by to check and see if I'm still breathing, I am. I lost internet, phone and TV services when our apartment transformer blew three weeks ago and the energy company came to replace both electric and gas lines and dug things up cutting through our cable. We do not live in the flood zone that occurred here in Colorado and my entire family is okay. Thanks for your concern.
Challenge: Moving On.
Whisper gazed out across the golden wheat that swayed with the early autumn breeze. She knew when the rain would fall, not for three more days. Time enough for the humans that lived on this farm to harvest their crop with the noisy and smelling giant machine they owned. No amount of education could give her the ability to understand these creatures.
The cat had spotted her lingering on the rich soils of Minnesota. She hurried to finish setting the spell of protection that would end her time on this farm. Golden wings the color of wheat to mask her appearance fluttered quickly and gave her lift off. She soared between the wheat stalks toward the river that wound its way between farms and gave sustenance to the crops and the faerie den nestled in the apple grove. Nutmeg waited for her there. He had arrived last evening with news from Whispers parents. They had called her home. What awaited her she didn't know. Perhaps her brother had found a faerie bride, or maybe her parents had reached the end of time and would soon pass on into the next world where rumors held the elves had gone. She didn't want to lose her parents, even though she hadn't seen them for over a year. The journey would take her across many states into South Carolina. They would need to catch a flight with a flock of geese who journeyed to warmer climates this time of year.
"You're late," Nutmeg said when she arrived back at the den. All her friends had gathered from their homes well hidden under the trees and rocks. No one could take better precaution from the humans and their animals than this place.
"The spell of protection takes some time," Whisper said.
"The geese have gathered near the pond. They won't wait forever." Nutmeg used the sprig of grass to hit his leg as if that threatened anyone. Whisper shook her head and went to the queen of the farm. "I have been honored by your gifts," Whisper said and curtsied.
"We are the ones honored by your presence Whisper. I hope to see you again in five years."
The spell of protection that Whisper cast lasted five years. This was her gift to faeries all over the Americas. Not so many could cast it and those that received her services treated her to many special nights of song and dance.
Nutmeg led her away. When they reached the geese the birds dipped their heads so that the two faeries could climb on their feathered backs.
"Why have my parents called me home?" Whispered asked Nutmeg as he settled into warm down.
"You'll find out," Nutmeg said short tempered.
Whisper sighed. Now that they had left the faerie den and no other ears where close you'd think that Nutmeg would be more forthcoming. The geese made amazing time and two days later they arrived at the den where Whisper had grown up.
Her parents waited along with many of their family and friends. After kissing both her parents Whisper waited for more news. Neither spoke beyond the welcoming song they sang for her.
"Why have you called me home?" Whisper finally asked.
"It is time for you to wed," her father said.
"We have given Nutmeg permission to wed you," her mother said.
"Nutmeg!?!" Whisper turned and glared at the faerie who had brought her home and displayed only disdain for her. He bowed. "We wed tonight."
"I don't think so." Whisper marched back to the geese before they could lift off. It was time to move on.
604 Words
Full critique acceptable.
Copyright 2013
I hope you enjoyed it.
Nancy
For those of you stopping by to check and see if I'm still breathing, I am. I lost internet, phone and TV services when our apartment transformer blew three weeks ago and the energy company came to replace both electric and gas lines and dug things up cutting through our cable. We do not live in the flood zone that occurred here in Colorado and my entire family is okay. Thanks for your concern.
Whisper gazed out across the golden wheat that swayed with the early autumn breeze. She knew when the rain would fall, not for three more days. Time enough for the humans that lived on this farm to harvest their crop with the noisy and smelling giant machine they owned. No amount of education could give her the ability to understand these creatures.
The cat had spotted her lingering on the rich soils of Minnesota. She hurried to finish setting the spell of protection that would end her time on this farm. Golden wings the color of wheat to mask her appearance fluttered quickly and gave her lift off. She soared between the wheat stalks toward the river that wound its way between farms and gave sustenance to the crops and the faerie den nestled in the apple grove. Nutmeg waited for her there. He had arrived last evening with news from Whispers parents. They had called her home. What awaited her she didn't know. Perhaps her brother had found a faerie bride, or maybe her parents had reached the end of time and would soon pass on into the next world where rumors held the elves had gone. She didn't want to lose her parents, even though she hadn't seen them for over a year. The journey would take her across many states into South Carolina. They would need to catch a flight with a flock of geese who journeyed to warmer climates this time of year.
"You're late," Nutmeg said when she arrived back at the den. All her friends had gathered from their homes well hidden under the trees and rocks. No one could take better precaution from the humans and their animals than this place.
"The spell of protection takes some time," Whisper said.
"The geese have gathered near the pond. They won't wait forever." Nutmeg used the sprig of grass to hit his leg as if that threatened anyone. Whisper shook her head and went to the queen of the farm. "I have been honored by your gifts," Whisper said and curtsied.
"We are the ones honored by your presence Whisper. I hope to see you again in five years."
The spell of protection that Whisper cast lasted five years. This was her gift to faeries all over the Americas. Not so many could cast it and those that received her services treated her to many special nights of song and dance.
Nutmeg led her away. When they reached the geese the birds dipped their heads so that the two faeries could climb on their feathered backs.
"Why have my parents called me home?" Whispered asked Nutmeg as he settled into warm down.
"You'll find out," Nutmeg said short tempered.
Whisper sighed. Now that they had left the faerie den and no other ears where close you'd think that Nutmeg would be more forthcoming. The geese made amazing time and two days later they arrived at the den where Whisper had grown up.
Her parents waited along with many of their family and friends. After kissing both her parents Whisper waited for more news. Neither spoke beyond the welcoming song they sang for her.
"Why have you called me home?" Whisper finally asked.
"It is time for you to wed," her father said.
"We have given Nutmeg permission to wed you," her mother said.
"Nutmeg!?!" Whisper turned and glared at the faerie who had brought her home and displayed only disdain for her. He bowed. "We wed tonight."
"I don't think so." Whisper marched back to the geese before they could lift off. It was time to move on.
604 Words
Full critique acceptable.
Copyright 2013
I hope you enjoyed it.
Nancy
