Flash Fiction Friday (35)

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:

(artist: Cris Ortega)

This Story By:  Melissa

How could she have got herself separated from the clan?  Alysson wondered to herself, mentally half kicking her own butt.  She knew how, it was simple.  She let her mind wander, again.  Her imagination always found something to do, create, distract her when she was starting to get bored, and walking with everyone so silent like they were in a funeral parade was the height of boredom for her.

This was nothing new; Sasha would keep an eye out for her.  Some how when Alysson broke away from the crowd, she always found her way back without trying.

Before Alysson knew it, the sun was setting and dusk settling in.  There was a fog rolling around the hills and across the hay thick field she was walking through.  Turning side to side, looking for any tracks or sign of her people journeying through, but not finding any, Alysson kept walking.  She will walk into the night, they had to be near.

Alysson watched the mountains in the distance, wondering if they had reached their winter yet.  If there might be the dragons of legends tales there, oh wouldn't it be nice to see a shiny dragon...

Arms snaked around Alysson's waist with practiced ease causing her to pause, drawing her back from distant thoughts of dragons and snow.  A cool fall breeze wisped Alysson's hair to the side with grace.  Alysson felt the urge to lean back, as if she would be cradled in her young loves arms.  She could feel his chin in the crease of her neck and shoulder, and pressing his muscled body to her back.  His hand lay protective over her stomach.  She desired the comforts of her lost love, the reason her and the survivors were walking the distant path they were on.

Alysson, leaned back into his warm, strong arms, with her eyes drifting closed from the comfort she felt.

Alysson flew forward, her eyes flinging open looking into the pale face of her maid, Sasha.

Sasha was holding Alysson's wrist, pulling her forward.  "Thank the heavens.  I didn't lose you.  Oh, your father would be so mad at me if you lost your mind and soul to them."

Alysson's heart jumped into rapid beating; as if it just started working again, making up for the loss it felt.  "What?  What do you mean?"

Tugging at Alysson to follow along, breathless Sasha said, "The Valley of Souls.  You got lost in your thoughts again, girl.  You walked right into the Valley of Souls instead of around it.  Thank the heavens I found you before it were to late.  Come, hurry.  We have to get out of here quick."

Pulling a baffled Alysson along behind her, Sasha babbled on about Alysson's father and something about her attention span, Alysson turned looking for the man she loved, thinking that had to be him.  If felt like him, all the way to her bones.  But there was no one to be seen.