Flash Fiction Friday (27)

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:

By:  Melissa

The area was abandoned when her family wondered, tired on their feet, into the clearing where the house sat. Seeing the door hanging from its hinges, dust and cobwebs everywhere they decided they could sleep under a shelter tonight.

Carin woke early, wondering outside in the morning light, into the forest behind the house.  A short ways in she found stepped through the brush to a pristine beach.  Stunned by the fascinating view she took it in gaping at the beauty before her; sands so white and clean, water where she could see the bottom, trees, sky on water, and an island not so far away.  To the side was a perfectly created circle of round river stone with a tree made for sitting beside.  Though there where only foot prints in the sand of birds and none of people, it looked as someone had kept it clean of debris and weeds.

Carin turned to gather food and wood to cook on for her family.  She would be back to sit and stare at the beautiful sight before her, later today.

~~~

Her family decided this place, even though bare of human life from what they could see, would be wonderful to settle in for a time.  They had shelter and enough in the woods to survive for a long while.  So they cleaned up the house, collected wood, along with foods through the day.

It was late evening before Carin could return to the waters' side.  The sands still had the peaceful undisturbed look to them.  With a gentle toe she walked to the stone circle.  Stepping into the circle she looked around to see the stunning sight while the sun dropped low in the sky before her.  She sat leaning against the tree perfectly formed for relaxing.  Looking around the clean stone circle it looked as the water had rose on the shore to submerge the steps she could see through the crystal clear water.  Carin became curious wondering what this special spot could be with the steps and carefully arranged stones.

Carin watched the colors play across the sky and dance across the reflective water as the sun kissed the water in the distance and dove in its depths as the moon rose to her full beauty of white light.

Lose in the sight before her; Carin missed the white smoke in the water before her, shaping to translucent figure of a talk lean man walking up the steps in the crystal water coming toward her.  Carin, lost in the sight of calm and beauty, saw the man as he stood before her, he too, perfect in shape with the awe struck background draped behind him.

The man lowered his hand to Carin.  Not knowing why, she calmly placed her hand in his.  A gentle tug by his strong arm he pulled her to her feet.  A voice that felt like dipping into warm cozy water slipped through his up curved thin lips and a sparkle in his eyes, "Lovely.  I've been longing for you to come.  Come now." 

Carin followed the man on willing feet that didn't feel like her own, as he guided her down the slippery steps into the water.  Lost in the moon light.