Friday, June 29, 2012

Flash Fiction Friday (50)

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:
(Picture by unknown)

Story by:  Melissa

"Jonathan, I told you the hair-brained idea of using bread crumbs would not work.  You should have listened to me and used the river pebbles.  First of all, the forest has barely started to show it's color of life, and the animals are too hungry.  Which they would have been...Oof!" Julie finished as she walked into Jonathan's back.  "What on green land is..." lifting her head, looking past Jonathan.  "that?"

Jonathan gaped at the tree, or woman, before him.  "The stories are true."  He breathed out.

"No they aren't.  Fairy tales are stories told to us kids to keep us out of trouble or from being scared."  Julie huffed out from frustration of traipsing unknowingly through the woods.

Jonathan crept next to the tree-woman, circling it slowly, taking in all the angles.  Julie stood back looking it over from the edge of the tree line, that now she looked around it circled the tree-woman and leaned away from her.  Where her legs should be was the strong tree trunk appearing as a green moss covered form fitting skirt, from her waist and flowing out at the ground as the roots buried down into the ground.  But the upper body was visible, bare visible.  Her ribs and chest lay bare for the world to see as she stretched backward.  But the hands where what bothered her, the limbs of the tree grew from her fingers, straight up.  Although not long.

Julie walked closer to the tree-woman, looking at her hands.  The limbs are her...nails.

Jonathan reached to touch the woman, Julie jumped, "Don't!"

Jonathan pulled his hand back as if he was shocked, and looked to Julie questioning.  "Look at her face, Julie.  She looks like she was struck with something.  Maybe it was magic!  The way she leans back and her mouth is open, in a wordless scream."

Julie looked over the tree-woman's face, "So maybe there's some truth to one of the old fairy tales," and finished before Jonathan could say 'I told you so,' "or, there is a very...talented carver who once lived near."

12 comments:

  1. That picture is stunning! It's very imaginative and lends itself perfectly for a story like yours with fairytale elements. Are fairy tales real or is there a more rational explanation? I love it!

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    1. Mirjam, I had a hard time with this picture. It's an amazing image, but struggled to come up with an idea to write. But glad you liked the fairytale take on it. :) Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Carole Rae! I struggled with ideas on this one but kept coming back to the fey idea. :)

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  3. Love the pic. First, I want to make that and put that in the woods. Too cool.

    Second... oh love the Hansel/Gretel mash. Julie is one smart cookie... either that or she is in my woods... *evil laugh* ;D

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    1. Melissa (Books&Things) - LOL! The men would all visit this tree all the time! :D

      And thank you, I didn't know what to do with the story, so glad you enjoyed the fairytale take of it. :)

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  4. The tree reminds me of a treewoman character in Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb.

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    1. Cherry, oh! I might need to look into Robin Hobb's books. I do already have them on my want list, but sounds interesting with a treewoman. :D Thank you!

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  5. Always when I see freaky rocks and cliffs and think that it might just be troll turned to stone. So I do like this tale :D

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    1. Blodeuedd - lol. I do the same thing. Its a creature or something stuck, or hiding. :) Thank you, glad you enjoyed the tale.

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  6. Great story! I'd like to think that the old stories are true and it's not just the work of a talented carver. :)

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    1. Alexia, thank you! lol. I'd like to believe the old stories as well. But there was no magic yet. ;D

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