Flash Fiction Friday (17)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image This Week:

We are back to the story of John, Sinn, and Sheen...

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

By Melissa

John rushed to Sinn not wanting to touch her and cause more pain, even mental.  But the way she lay on the hard ground looked painfully uncomfortable.  John looked around to see what was left around them.  Sheen was gone and the men on the ground where dead.

Moving quickly John cleared the camp area of the bodies, down wind and away from them, then set to making camp.  Remembering his lessons. all magic comes from somewhere, John pulled from his essence to add to that of nature to create a small sapling tree lean-to with leaved branches around Sinn.  Then gently John rolled Sinn over on to her back and positioned her, with mud covered hands trying to dull the ache he would create inside, but she still whimpered at his touch.  At least she's still alive, barely but alive was all John would allow himself to think.

He couldn't leave Sinn here alone in this condition to head off to finish their mission.  And Sinn was the one who knew where they were going and what to do.  So, John reluctantly stayed at camp, watching over Sinn's body.  He had found water near by and was able to drizzle water into her mouth, and was able to find game to feed himself.

The next night there was rustling in the bushes.  Preparing for an intruder by calling up the magic to his now sparkling hand, John was surprised to see Sheen stumble into camp a little worse for wear.  Quickly, John helped him to camp to relax, feed and explained what happened.  But still Sinn had not moved.

Both men watch Sinn for two more days, worried she might not return to them.

Then as the sun rose from it's dark grave of the barren land of the vampiristic faery folk there was a soft sound like a gentle morning breeze.  Both men took a deep breathe and smiled in their rising from sleep enjoying the peaceful sound.  Realizing quickly they opened their eyes and jumped to sit up, it was Sinn.  She was whispering lightly to them, calling their names.

John and Sheen both ran to her side under the now blooming trees around her.  She explained she had to hibernate to recover all she had drained from her resources and was able to draw from the nature around her, and the strong youthful saplings John had created to shade her.

They all ate and wanted Sinn to relax another day before they would head out on the last leg of their journey.

But that night, the priestess appeared with a different idea in mind.

She was a beautiful woman with a seductive sway to her hips as she walked from the path into their camp.  The breeze blew her long black hair around behind her.  The large midnight black eyes caught the moon light, not reflecting it.

The woman introduced herself, "I am Priestess Sasha.  Lady Cataline has requested your attention.  Follow this way."

And Priestess Sasha turned and disappeared into the shadows of the wood, her sheer coverings and dark hair drifting into the shadows.  Yet the narrow fitted jacket with the long tail flowed through the air looking almost to be moving alone, without a body.

All three looked at each other with surprise and suspicion.  And nodded. 

John whispered as he rose, "Be careful."  Looking to Sinn, "Are you ready to go?"

And Sinn responded, "Yes.  Lets go, she will take us the rest of the way."

The three found Priestess Sasha waiting in the woods by a large silver tree, and she lead them through the woods to an old abandoned and corroding stone foundation.  As they walked past the crumbling walls, they see the moon around Priestess Sasha's head.  It was full.  They had lost track of time and tonight was the night that it would all end, one way or another.

Coming around the corner there lay three human skulls as in Sinn's vision.  Were they to late?  Where was this Lady Cataline?