Flash Fiction - Blog Posts

Scenes from Amateur Night at the Necromancers' Club:

"And a drop of cursed blood aaaaand life is reborn." He tipped the vial arrogantly. This one always thought he knew best.

Guess he realized he didn't when the howling fiend leapt to life off the slab.

He screamed like a stricken heiress and made for the curtains, trying to find the door as the growling undead trailed him.

"Audition?" The Instructor called to me with a note of absolute annoyance in his voice.

"Dish, if you please." I smirked, idly tapping at sharpened teeth

"Will you... take out the trash?" He sighed, shaking his head at his failed protege was engaged in screaming, swinging a torch while attempting to climb velvet curtains.

"With pleasure." I shoved off the wall, away from my vantage point. The thing turned and growled at me.

I let out an idle whistle, swinging a heavy shovel with a bladed edge up onto my shoulder as I ambled towards the resurrected corpse with murder in its bloody eyes.

My time to shine.

Writing from Scratch #3

Flash Fiction: A Simple Plot

The first writing prompts we’re going to tackle will be flash fiction pieces. Flash fiction is a complete story written in under 1,500 words. We’ll be aiming for 250-500 words at first – that is one or two pages double spaced written in Times New Roman 12 pt. font.

The type of flash fiction I’ll encourage you to write will be Eighteen Sentence Stories*, and each of these sentences will have a very specific job.

The first Three sentences will provide the main character, the setting, and the genre (which clues the audience in on what kind of story they are about to read).

The main character should be introduced via an action that reveals their attitude at the start and with one defining job or trait that relates them to the plot. For example, a character may be both a father of three and a pilot. If the problem of the plot will deal with the kidnapping of one of his daughters, then “father” or “father of three” will be the defining job; if the problem of the plot will deal with the starship he’s piloting falling under attack, then “pilot” will be the defining job.

The setting should be introduced via a grounding sensory detail. The lingering scent of cookies left to burn when the parents received the ransom note. Or the pressure of being pinned back into the pilot’s seat under g forces.

The genre should be introduced via something specific and unique to the story. A ransom note is not specific or unique; a ransom note scrawled on the back of a picture that went missing off the fridge the week before is. A space ship is not specific or unique; a living space ship with a giant brain in its core that the pilot must psychically link to via the tentacles that suction onto his temples is.

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Siblings

They’re twins, but one grew older

Photography

There she is, preserved by photographs

Home

This house was once full before

In front of the mirror you throw water on your face, look up and a giant floating eye slowly opens behind you. You can't move. Sharp pointy teeth form a grin below it. You stop breathing while it laughs.

A solid goo of tissue starts to exit your nose. You exhale forcefully and your brain comes out of the nostrils.

You wake up with cold sweat.

Why was I a creature with two eyes and four limbs, and why was I looking from behind?

Gastón R. Fernández G.

✨FFF 205 Masterlist

Thank you for all your wonderful entries, we loved reading every single one ^^ (If we missed your entry, please let us know)

Consider checking out your fellow writers’ pieces, give out those likes and reblogs and gather some inspiration for the new prompt at 12pm!

We’ll see you then!

Where the flowers grow by @somealienquill

The Magic Mirror by @charlies-storybook

Imaginary flowers by @rins-love-wins

Where the Flowers Grow by @renee-writer

Hanahaki by @lix88888

She will wait by @whogavemeapen

Everyone Deserves a Flower by @shipping-through-eternity

Where the Flowers Grow by @aquadestinyswriting

Soar, young one by @writing-with-olive

Curses by @drowning-in-cacophony

Clarification by @lisbeth-kk

Where the Flowers Grow by @clarislam

of ancient roots by @ginneke

Where the Flowers Grow by @stories-by-rie

Growing to be who we really are by @mimisempai

Missing home by @sam-glade

Stolen Moment in the Fields by @pen-of-roses

Something About Poppies by @scottdarlingstorytime

A lovely day by @ngkiscool

Where the Flowers Grow by @lassiesandiego

Desolation by @odysseywritings

Two Suns by @theoriginalsapphic

What She Left Behind by @starlightswitch

Make It True by @jlilycorbie

The Beauty You Are by @edosianorchids901

Snowdrops in the Summer by @betweenthetimeandsound

Disappearance by @e-lisard

so hold my hand, i'll walk with you my dear by @ineedaplacetostay

soil under his nails by @asher-orion-writes

✨ intermission ✨because you wrote so much that tumblr can't post them all in one block ✨ apparently ✨

Where the Flowers Grow by @landofspaceandrainbows

Wherre the Flowers Grow by @nooowestayandgetcaught

Life on a new Sphere by @goblin-writer

Taking one look at him, something dawned on me. He was like me, looked like me in a sense. He had the dark, bark-like pattern that I have.

Only his was in a different shape.

Broken stones that stay in the same general shape are wonderful. There's an opportunity for something beautiful to grow in between the cracks of something so tragic.

How can this be? This is the fifth report that I've gotten.

"May I ask you something?" I questioned the highwayman once we stopped to rest.

"That depends on what you're asking," he mumbled as he laid back and draped an arm over his eyes.

"I have been hearing reports of periodic darkness in areas that we have traveled through." The smoothness of the stone that I was sitting on was a little bit of comfort.

"That isn't a question," he retorted. There was something off in his voice. He almost sounded like the nymphs that gave me the reports and sightings.

"Did you cause those periods of darkness over those areas?" There were a lot of things I needed to know but the first was if he was the cause of it. "There aren't any plant mages in the area to cause that and it's too far away for me to do anything like that."

"I shouldn't be the source of it, no." He sat up and rested his head against the palm of his hand.

"Is it bad? Will it be harmful to those living in the area?"

"How did you even hear about the darkness forming?"

"The plants have a complex system for communication through their roots. They talk to each other that way. The nymphs live inside the trees and they told me."

"How long does it last?"

"Almost a whole cycle."

He sat there in silence before raising his head and answering, "They don't have to be worried. It isn't anything dangerous. It'll keep happening and probably follow us. I don't know why it does but... It's nothing to worry about and they can rest during that time."

I moved so I was seated next to him. "But what is it?"

"A myth for you and reality for me."

I knew he wasn't going to say anything else about it and deadpanned, "You're helpful."

He flashed a smile as he said, "I try, sweetheart."

A small kid ran into my arms, whimpering.

"What's wrong?" I kept my voice gentle and level. There was something that scared the poor kid and he trusted me enough to run to me with that problem.

"I had a nightmare," he answered as he tried buried his face further into armor.

I took the boy's arms off of me long enough for me to sit before he latched on to my neck.

Rubbing his small back, I asked, "Do you want to talk about it?" If he did, that would give me an idea of exactly what nightmare I would be looking for. If he didn't, I would have to try to find the right one and hope that it wasn't a dream that I was going after.

"I don't know," he whined as he clutched me a bit tighter.

I held him so he could look at me as I started, "Do you not know how to word it?"

He nodded.

I let him go as I stood up. "Well, I don't know which one I'm looking for but I'll do my best." I looked down at him, he couldn't be more than four years old. "Would you like to come?"

His eyes grew wide. "Really?"

I didn't try to stop the smile coming on. No matter the age, the reaction was always the same and it was adorable. I only offer if they aren't able to tell me about the nightmare.

"I don't want to hunt the wrong one and you would recognize it," I answered him.

He almost grew a smile but it died to a concerned look. My brows furrowed.

What was wrong?

"Would I be safe?" the little boy asked me in a small voice.

"It could be dangerous but you would be helping me stop a nightmare from terrorizing anyone else." I crouched to his level again. "However, if you want to go home, I won't think any less of you and thank you for bringing this concern to me."

"If I went to my mommy, would you stop the bad dream?"

I smiled. "Pinkie promise."

"I want to go with you. I want no one else to get any more bad dreams," the brave little boy told me.

"Alright," I said standing up before offering my hand to him, "hold on to my hand and stay by my side at all times. Okay?"

He beamed as he took my hand. "Okay."

"Okay, you looking at me for this long is scaring me. Why are you staring?" I asked, snapping him out of his daze.

He shook his head like a spring breeze. "Sorry but your eyes are a beautiful brown color," he replied, shy about his statement.

"They're brown but not beautiful," I grumbled. I liked my eyes but there were times that I wished that I had a livelier color like blue.

"I'm sorry you don't see what I see. In your eyes," he cupped my cheek, "I see the essence of life itself."

"That's green," I returned as I took my head out of his hold.

"No, brown. Plants need soil to grow, all animals need plants, sand and rocks and other formations hold the oceans and seas in place. I see canyons, mountains, valleys, fertile soil. I see the base of life in your eyes."

The tall sprawling; towering bookcases of the library never made me feel confined, trapped like it did with others.

I selected some children's stories, some I'd promised to churches and orphanages while others were meant to be a surprise to the children.

After I got the books I needed and headed outside, I was blinded for a moment before my vision cleared. It was around midday and I knew that I was moving a bit more sluggish than I would've liked.

I shrugged those thoughts aside and made my way to keep the promises I made.

"Hey, pretty girl, ready to go?" I asked as I rubbed my Púca's ears.

She neighed.

I told her before leaving, "Alright, I'll go and you come find me when you're ready, okay?"

I was just leaving when I felt a light hand on my shoulder. Behind me there was a young lady with black hair, a black dress with red accents, but the thing that stood out the most about her were her brilliant red eyes and horse ears that stuck up out of her hair.

"How do I look?" she asked before giving me a slow twirl.

I took her hands in mine, once she stopped, and kissed her cheek, murmuring, "Beautiful, as always." I unclipped my cloak. "You will need to hide your ears, though." I held my cloak out to her.

"Won't you get cold?" she asked, concern lighting her brilliant eyes. How did I get so lucky to get such a caring Púca such as her?

I smiled, "No, I'll be fine."

Hey eyes flickered between my eyes and the cloak before gingerly taking my offered article of clothing.

When she finally had it adjusted with her ears flat against her head, she asked, "Is this good?"

"You look human." I held my arm out to her. "Ready to go?"

My Púca was literally bouncing as she took my arm. She was beaming and just as giddy as a little kid. I looked forward and guided her out into the bustling streets full of people dressed up as monsters and heroes.

I looked down at the young boy my brother found in the streets with no one to care for him and I wondered how he could sleep through such an earth - shattering thunderstorm.

What had he been through for this to be peaceful?

Or is it the fact that he was finally safe that kept him calm?

The only thing I've seen about this kid is his autumnal colored hair.

"Tobias," I sighed.

"Yes, my king?"

"How long do you think we can honestly hold out for him to come home?"

"We're beyond that point, my king. The plant and animal mages are doing what they can to help."

I nodded. I'm tired and I know I can't rule without my brother to help me.

The quiet lake town has always been a favorite places to visit. It wasn't as densely populated as the capital was and it was just all around relaxing.

I haven't been to the marshes, bogs, fens, or anything like that west of the little town. There are rumors of monsters living there.

I like knowing that little town is okay.

I came back to our little camp to find him with his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" I asked as I set the gathered food down.

"I hurt you," he whispered.

"I'm sorry?" What was he talking about?

"I caused you physical pain." He clenched his fists tight.

I could still feel the burn every now and again. I sat down directly beside him.

"I do the same thing to some of the plants I watch over," I told him, staring into the fire. "Sometimes, the best thing I can do for them is to cut an infected part off and burn it because there's nothing else I can do," I explained before he could ask.

"Still doesn't justify my behavior," he muttered.

"Well, I don't like the pain and it sometimes bothers me," I started, referring to the injury he gave me earlier, "but I forgive you."

He met my gaze before he asked, "Why?"

"You're going to make mistakes some as me, granted different from mine. But life and time are just that way - unforgiving. I think it's easier to get through a day if people are more forgiving."

He stayed silent.

"You going to be okay?"

He rested his head on my shoulder and whispered, "Yeah. Just processing."

"You're going to be okay," I told him, letting him take however long he needs to figure it out.

"How did you find me?" I slurred, the cold freezing me from the inside out.

"I followed the trail you left," he answered before he gestured somewhere behind him. "Come here," he groaned as he picked me up.

I clung to him like burs on bark animals and other people wear. He wasn't much warmer than the elements we were stranded in but he was an improvement.

"Did you know that you are bleeding?" my stranger asked me, taking me somewhere.

My mind was too fuzzy to completely understand what he was talking about.

"But you're not bleeding," I blended my words together, after I have him a quick once over as best as I could. Why would he ask if I knew he was bleeding?

"Well, hypothetically if I was a mage like you, I thought you would know how to slow the blood loss down?"

My upper canopy hurt. Why was he asking such difficult questions?

"You would need something to slow it down," I mumbled as I tried to clear my thoughts. "Before that, clean the wound."

He settled me down on a fallen log and then started rummaging through his bag. When he faced me again, he had some white strips and a dirt colored bottle.

"Try not to scream, okay?" He looked back up at me with his cyan colored eyes. His scar on the lower part of his face were sharply contrasting from the fire's light.

Wait. Why was there a fire? Where was the fire?

The sharp jolt that assaulted my left limb was enough to make me cry out in surprise. He didn't let up, if anything, he pressed harder. The cloth he was using was starting to turn green, the color of my sap, at the edges.

I stayed quiet like he asked but when he was done, he pulled a mat made out of pine branches, covered it with some furs, placed me on the mat, and then covered me with the remaining furs.

"Don't worry, I'll keep watch. You rest," he answered when he saw me looking at him.

The last thing I felt was my stranger running his branches through my hair before I fell asleep.

Author's Note- I have never experienced either but I am trying to write a character who is suffering from at least enough hypothermia for the mental fog but not bad enough for a doctor and blood loss. But then again it might be mild hypothermia and the added blood loss might create the mental fog.

The fields of Royal Cress are okay but when it's pollen mixes with that of things like Ghost Mother Willow... It's just not a good day.

"Have you ever been in there?" I asked as I gestured to the edge of the woods. If he hasn't, then we'd have to go around the Ashen Grove.

"Years ago, I think," he answered, picking a sprig of Royal Cress.

I was just very happy that Royal Cress pollen is heavier than most others.

"Maybe we should just go around," I offered.

"Will it get us there faster?"

"No."

He stood up. "We got through the Ashen Grove, then," he stated.

Oh dear. I rubbed my head. I'd probably have to help him through the mirages that happen to those not used to the pollens.

"Wait up," I called as I trotted to keep up with him.

As I walked out under the night sky, I muttered a prayer. It wasn't continuous but mainly when ever I saw something that caught my eye, I'd say a quick little thank you prayer for it being created.

When I'd get back from my walks, I always felt better and ever grateful.

"Toby!" I called out to the celestial minister.

He visibly sighed. "Yes, my king?" I knew he was just tired.

I beamed at him. "I would like for you to follow me."

"Why?"

I slung my arm around his neck. "I have something for you."

He looked at me as he reminded me, "The last time you wanted to do that, you had a constellation there in the flesh and not where it belonged in the sky!"

I rolled my eyes at the memory. "You know that my brother and I see you as family, right?"

"Yeah..." he trailed off.

"I know that you worry about us, too. So," I pulled a small, plain box out of my cloak and handed it to him, "I want to give you peace of mind."

He gingerly opened the box. He pulled out the pin I'd asked an apprentice metal worker to make. It was divided in half, one side a warm yellow and the other a gentle white, and some silver going down between the two.

"What-?"

"If either of us are in trouble, the respective sides will light up. Yellow for my brother and white for me," I explained.

"But... Why?" He looked up at me. "I-I mean, I appreciate the gift but why did you give me a gift?"

"Tommorow is your birthday."

"You aren't planning to do anything stupid, are you?"

I smiled, "I don't want my brothers to worry. So, no, I will stay here."

The unicorn pawed the ground, aggrivated. I didn't know much about animals but I was taking this as a warning.

"It's okay," my stranger soothed, walking forward slow enough to not spook the oakwood unicorn.

It grunted and looked like it was about to charge and skewer him to a tree.

"Hey!" he snapped at the sentinel. He had guts to even think about doing that to a sentinel.

The unicorn reared its head in a way as if to ask, "What are you going to do?"

The highwayman walked forward with the same commanding presence that he just used. My best guess is that he needed the unicorn to know that he was in no mood for funny business.

"Hey, there," he murmured when he could pet the unicorn's mossy head. "Do you want a snack? Snack?" He pulled an apple out and presented it to the sentinel.

The oakwood unicorn, much calmer now, ate the apple.

"Come on, let's sit down," the highwayman suggested while he guided the unicorn down.

It nickered as it lied down beside him. Just as he put his hand in its hair, it laid it head down on his lap.

"And here I thought that only pure maidens could do that to a unicorn," I commented.

The highwayman just smiled up at me, "I have a horse like this one back at home." He looked down at the unicorn. "Mine has beautiful black fur and a sweet temperament."

The unicorn grumbled.

"Hey, I'm a little biased since she is my horse. You are a very handsome boy for a unicorn but you can't let my horse know that I said that, okay?" he told the resting unicorn.

The unicorn rolled so its head rested on the highwayman's abdomen. As the unicorn was moving, my highwayman made it so he was on his back.

"I'm very uncomfortable," he told me. I think he was on a decent sized, dull rock.

The unicorn nickered.

"Oh? Are you comfortable?" the highwayman asked the unicorn in possible sarcasm.

It had the audacity to nicker again.

His head hit the ground as he mumbled, "Of course you are." His troubled gaze found me again. "You better get comfortable, too. We might be here for awhile."

I couldn't help but giggle a little.

The gentle king was surrounded by many children, as if he himself was one.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hold in my tears.

Why was it that I couldn't have that? Why did I have to be feared?

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I was getting emotional over a picture used to tell tales to children.

Through foggy eyes, I looked back at the kind; fabled king. Why couldn't he be real?

The young mage whimpered in my arms when the first soldier passed by our hiding spot. It had been awhile and I'd have to be careful not to overdo it.

Taking a calming breath, I pulled her closer to me and pulled the light from the area, bathing our spot in shadow.

A few men stopped and started going over the area. The metal in their shoes and legs were deafeningly loud.

I tugged the mage closer to me still. I could feel her erratic heartbeat as we waited for our fate.

They had moved to another section of the surrounding wooded area before they were suddenly called back to where they came from.

When they were gone, I allowed the mage to go.

"What caused them to go back?" she asked me.

How could I answer? I had a feeling I knew but didn't want to scare the poor girl.

"They might be getting ready to rotate the guards," I offered, "and they might be the replacements."

She seemed satisfied with my answer.

"Come on, we're almost to the capital," I encouraged her, not so subtle about the change of subject.

The Northern Vulpes is always the first constellation to appear in the autumn sky. I loved how the kids would create stories for each other about how mischievous or clever or generous it was to the other constellations.

During one of the celestial festivals, the moon released some animals that looked like the Northern Vulpes. They had illuminated pelts that even shone in the day.

Coyotes had warm colors while the wolves, who were much larger like real wolves, had cooler tones.

The children loved them. Some preferred the coyotes while others preferred the wolves.

Over the years, some of those beings just… ran away. This was a couple hundred years ago, though. There have been sightings of some but the beings always run off before anything can be done.

Mostly, though, they don't bother us and we don't bother them.

"I made a promise years ago to a boy who's hair was color of autumn and eyes the color of spring," I murmured a reminder as I cleaned off my broadsword.

The large firebird screeched as he flew low enough to scorch the lower trees. The troops screamed in terror and abandoned their posts.

"Do you have to do this every time we go to war?" I asked my older twin brother.

"To be fair, what would you do if you saw a phoenix flying right at you?" he returned. He was in control of the phoenix and made sure that no one was too seriously injured.

"Fair enough." I glanced over at him. "I could've sent my Púca after the captain and a few others to scare them off."

He chuckled, "I appreciate the offer but my phoenix is already out there."

"Whatever it takes," I started, watching the forest burn in the night.

"To keep our kingdom safe," my brother finished.

The highwayman nodded off a little more with each flicker of the fire in front of us. He wasn't supported at all. If he wasn't careful, he might fall forward and into the flames.

Once he was in a deep sleep, I crept to his side. He looked so innocent and vulnerable but overshadowing all of that was exhausted. Whatever it was that he was either running from or towards had him tired.

Still making sure not to disturb him, I moved him so he was resting his head on my lap.

Whatever is haunting him during his time awake, he needed to put to rest.

"Pour soul," I murmured as I came across someone who lost their way and perished in the desert. Necromancy is illegal and only useable by mages who heal people. I heal and raise plants.

The soil was too hard for me to bury the person and the rocks were far too hot for me to carry so I draped some stitched furs I had in my bag.

I knelt and prayed a quick prayer that this soul would be guided safely over to the other side.

✧𝕿𝕳𝕰 𝕿𝕳𝕽𝕰𝕰 𝕷𝕺𝕽𝕯𝕾✧

Once, not very long after Frith made the earth and all things on it, there were three siblings, who became the lords of rabbits. Each was larger, faster and smarter than the other rabbits that they ruled.

The eldest, Owslathay, was the largest and the strongest. Owslathay protected the warrens from dogs, badgers, wolves and large, frightening things. Her legs were strong, her teeth were sharp and her fur white as snow.

The second eldest, Ruhoodu, was the second largest and the fastest. Ruhoodu could outrun horses, the northern, eastern, southern and westward winds. Ru protected the warrens from falcons, hawks, eagles, owls and fast, flying things. He would outrun them into the ground, until their wings could not move from exhaustion. His legs were long, his feet were large and his fur black as night.

The youngest, Flayhain, was the third largest and the smartest. Flayhain protected the warrens from cats, foxes, snakes, man and clever, evil things. Her ears were long, her eyes were wide and her fur gray as ash.

The three lords ruled their lands in prosperity and soundness for their long, long lives until a hunter came. She appeared in Owslathays’ meadow and shot three rabbits. 

Owslathay is wiser than other rabbits and knows that rabbits die and things must eat, so she let the hunter come for three more days, each time taking three more rabbits. 

Owslathays meadow began to grow scarce of rabbits and each time the hunter seemed unaffected. She did not thank frith for their lives giving to hers, tying them by the ears to her belt. On the fourth morning that the hunter came to her meadow, Owslathay stopped her. 

“You may hunt here, not another day.” She told the hunter, “I am Owslathay, the lord of these meadows and the strongest of my siblings, so I do not fear you, human. You have worn my numbers thin by hunting greedily and insulted my people by not thanking frith for their flesh.”

The hunter stood down, “I will not hunt here again, my lord, I will obey.” She raised her head still, “But I hunt so much because my family must eat. I only know how to hunt rabbits. Please do not let us starve, my lord.”

“There are other rabbits in the world.” Spoke Owslathay, having the hunter take her leave of the meadows. 

Then the hunter appeared in Ruhoodu’s fields and shot three rabbits. Ruhoodu is wiser than most rabbits so the next morning he waited for her to come.

“You may only hunt in these fields if you swear to take only what you need and to thank frith for the flesh of those you kill,” He spoke, “I am Ru, the lord of these fields and the fastest of my siblings, so I do not fear you, human. I will not have you wear my numbers thin.”

The hunter bowed to the lord, “I swear my lord, that I will thank frith for the flesh of the rabbits I hunt, and to only hunt all that I need.”

The hunter came and shot six rabbits each day, but because she thanked frith for their flesh, Ruhoodu trusted her until the third day.

“You will hunt here no longer, for you have broken your word to me. You have hunted more than you need.”

“I did not, my lord,” The hunter told him, “I have taken only what I need. My family needs to eat and I can only hunt rabbits.

“Did you not live on three a day before?”

“Yes my lord but we need more.”

Ruhoodu turned his back, “There are other rabbits in the world,” and he had the hunter take her leave.

When the hunter came to Flayhains hills, the lord was already waiting, for she had been watching down in the meadows and fields and knew the hunter and Flayhain was wiser than all rabbits.

“You will not hunt here, even a day.” She spoke, “I am Flayhain, the lord of these hills and smartest of my siblings, so I do fear you, human. Leave, now.”

“But my lord, my family is sick and must eat and I can only hunt rabbits.” The hunter pleaded.

Though Flayhain knew she was not lying, the lord would not trust her. 

“There are other rabbits in the world.” And Flayhain turned her back. 

The hunter did not reappear again for three days, until the morning of the fourth, in Owslathay’s meadows.

“I beg you, most gracious lord of the grasses, lord of snowlight, of moonbeams and avalanche strength. My family starves. All of your siblings have banished me from their lands but my lord I know only how to hunt rabbits. I cannot watch them die.” The hunter pleaded, true tears in her eyes.

Owslathay thought and felt for the young girl.

“I cannot give one more of my people's lives to you. But I know that rabbits die and things must eat. So I will let you eat me. I am worth many days of food, so that you do not have to hunt my people.”

“I am grateful, my lord, and I thank Frith for your flesh.”

Owslathay was shot by the hunters arrow, and her people wept. 

The hunter skinned her perfect and moon-white pelt and took the meat to her family. 

Now that Owslathay was not there to protect the meadows, the dogs, badgers, wolves and large, frightening things came back, slaughtering what was left of her people. 

The hunter did not reappear again for six days. Until the morning of the seventh, coming to Ruhoodu’s fields, bringing with her, Owslathay’s pelt. Ru wept for his sister. 

The hunter told Ruhoodu of her banishment, her family's trouble and Owslathay’s sacrifice.

“Please my lord. Your sister was generous but my family starves again. I beg for your help.”

Ruhoodu thought and felt for the girl.

“My sister was the strongest of us, but I know that rabbits die and all things must eat. Still, I cannot give you one more of my peoples lives. So I will let you eat me. I am smaller than my sister but I am worth many days of food, so that you will not hunt my people.”

“I am grateful, my lord, and I thank Frith for your flesh. 

Ruhoodu was shot by the hunters arrow and his people wept.

The hunter skinned his sharp and  ink black pelt and took the meat to her family.

Now that Ru was not there to protect the fields thefalcons, hawks, eagles, owls and fast, flying things came back, destroying his people.

The hunter did not reappear again for only three days. The morning of the fourth, she went to Flayhains hills, but the rabbit lord was nowhere to be seen.

A raven cawed from the tree above her.

“The last rabbit lord has watched you, human,” its black wings spread, “Seen her siblings death at your greed. She will not come to you easily, human,” the raven cackled, “She says you will have to hunt her down!”

“Greed?” the hunter asked, “My family must eat. I can only hunt rabbits.”

“Taking, taking, taking! Liar! Liar! Hahaha! We all reap what we sow human!”

The Raven was shot by the hunters arrow.

“I knew you were a liar.” Flayhain came from behind a heap of heather. 

“Please my lord-”

Flayhain spoke over her, “I know rabbits die and all things must eat but all things must also work for their food. You have gotten by on my family's kindness for too long. You have tried to bleed my people dry and I will not let you. If you can hunt then hunt me. If you cannot catch me, you do not deserve survival.”

This made the hunter angry so she tried to shoot Flayhain.

But Flayahain tore across the hills like lightning, out running all of the hunters arrows.

“You forget I am my brother's sister! He was faster than me but I am still faster than your arrows. You are not worthy of his flesh.” She called to the hunter running off and away.

The hunter came back the next day and brought hounds. The hounds sniffed Flayhain out quickly but the hunter could only watch as Flayhain killed them all.

“You forget I am my sister's sister! She was stronger than me but I am still stronger than your hounds. You are not worthy of her fur.” Flayhain called into the hills for the hunter to hear.

This made the hunter even more angry, so she came back the next day with snares. She set the traps everywhere a rabbit could step.

She soon found Flayhain caught in one.

“It seems I’ve caught you my lord.” the hunter kneeled next to the trap, gloating her win.

Flayhain lay in the snare, struggling to breath but still she laughed.

“It also seems you have forgotten that I am still I.”

“Yes, the clever lord Flayhain. And I have caught you. I have won.”

The lord laughed.

“I have won, you foolish human. I have kept her distracted for days as my people have left. They no longer live on these hills or anywhere you will ever find them. My sister's people are dead. My brother's people are dead. My brother and sister were no longer there to protect them. All rabbits are gone.”

The hunter looked around, looked everywhere for rabbits but there was no sign. She began to weep. No Rabbits to hunt meant her family would die.

“You would die to spite me?” The hunter asked, her tears bitter.

“I would die to protect my people. You only kill. You are not worthy of our flesh.”

For three days the hunter and her family lived on Flayhains flesh and They starved for ten more, before dying, dreaming of rabbits.

The Boy in There

Short, fluffy, tousled hair. A deep, velvet voice that could make anyone swoon. A wide smile that just screams comfort and confidence, others would smile just because he was. He would play football with the other lads, scoring that winning goal; he would deliver a soliloquy so moving that everyone would be reaching for some tissues to wipe away the tears. He would be a shoulder to cry on, a friend to everyone, he would always say the right thing and make everything better- his hugs would bring anyone back down to earth. He wouldn’t be afraid of dancing and singing, he is comfortable in himself. He isn’t afraid of the sound of his own voice, he wouldn’t be afraid of his voice sounding fifty pitches higher than it should be. Flat chested, lean. He works out at the local gym, where everyone can see him and no one judges him. I see him in there sometimes, just out of reach, a blurry outline through a piece of glass as I walk past. I know he’s in there.

He’s the life of the party, scouring the walls for the waiting flowers, he knows what it's like to try and bloom without enough light. He is the one to go to for a walk along the beach as the sun sets on the horizon. Wearing a loose t-shirt that somehow hides nothing, his hands taking shelter against the cold in his trouser pockets as the wind blows aggressively, tensing his arms and flexing his muscles. He stands with a straight posture, unafraid of his chest. He isn’t afraid to clear his throat, his Adam’s apple flexing as he does so. I’m jealous of him. No matter how much I think of him, or how I think I see him in the glass, he isn’t out here. I know he’s in there.

He knows how to make his way in the world, he breathes confidence. He doesn’t need to feel meek when asking someone for help, he just knows they’ll answer. He doesn’t always excel at what he does but he greets failure as a friend and takes them on a walk, building the paths to somewhere better than before. He greets everyday in life with a flourish of grace and a smile warm enough to let you know it's okay, the world is better because he is here. He knows the way to sincerity and treats you with it, no matter the circumstances because he doesn’t want you to feel unwanted. I know he’s in there.

I know he’s in there because he is me. I am the boy in there.