It is, and I care about promises, even the ones I make to myself. So, for day 10 of the #JusJoJan writing event and Linda Hill’s One Liner Wednesday prompt , here I am with no way to upload new images and not sure what to do. 🤔 I know! How about an excerpt from Book Two? This piece contains no true spoilers for either book, and I hope you enjoy it.

Agean and Saol are having a picnic in his mother’s meadow…

“She was magnificent, wasn’t she?”  When the boy stared at her, surprised, she quickly added, “What about you, then?  Do you still do shifts?”  Saol well remembered those lessons when he butted heads with their Wisdom Mother and how Palabra teased him mercilessly.  “You were a fine horse, Agean.  The finest I’d ever seen.”  She put her hand on his and he squeezed her fingers.  “Could you do one here now?” she asked timidly.  Agean bristled and moved on the grass nervously.

“Well, Laoch doesn’t like me to play around with this magic.  The consequences can be bad, as you well know.”  He touched his side and rubbed it, but when he saw the hopeful anticipation in her eyes, the boy thought maybe… just for a moment.  “For our fond memories’ sake then.  But only one quick change and then back.”  He grabbed her arm conspiratorially and implored, “But not a word to Mother or Father, your promise, Saol?”  She grinned from ear to ear and nodded.  

“I swear it, Agean,” she whispered and crossed her chest where her heart beat only for the son of the Sorceress.  She watched as he got to his knees and crawled backwards into the bushes.  “Wait, where are you going?  Can’t I watch?” The boy said nothing as he slipped into the underbrush.  Suddenly the leaves quivered and Saol heard a grunt of pain.  In the next moment the most beautiful rabbit took a few cautious steps onto the prickly grass.  It was dark gray with white tufts near its ears and on top of its long feet.  And, of course, the gentle eyes staring at her were glistening gray pools. When she held out her hand, it hopped over to sit beside the girl with dreamy sea-green eyes. 

“Hello beautiful boy,” she cooed and stroked its head lovingly.  “Can I take you onto my lap?” She remembered the time when her cuddling and overprotection offended her young friend, and she was determined their morning would remain perfect.  The soft skinned creature settled into the folds of her skirt, allowing her to pull it close and nuzzle its head under her chin.  The rabbit quivered when she stroked its body, and for a sweet time both children knew contentment.  

The scent of the yellow blossoms tickled her nose, and Saol turned to look at the vines that swept over the ground beside them.  A movement caught her eye and she leaned in for a closer look.  “Oh my, Agean, do you see this?”  she whispered and squinted at the oddity.  One of the flowers seemed to be vibrating, its petals shimmering in the breeze.  Saol nestled the rabbit on the grass and reached out a tentative hand to touch the blossom, but it sprang from the vine and fluttered toward her face!  Its golden petals became glimmering wings, and slender pale legs sprouted from beneath them.  “Oh!” she cried and jumped back.  Saol never heard or turned to look when the thumping began behind her, and so she missed Agean’s quick return to his own flesh and bone.  He hastily dressed while she remained mesmerized by the winged thing. But when she held our her hand, he grabbed it and the girl cried out, alarmed.

“Agean!  I didn’t know you changed back.  Just… look at her,” she said breathlessly.  “Have you seen this before?”  He sat down beside her and whispered so as not to frighten the delicate Florette.  He glanced at the vine where others waited, unsure of this new human in their midst.  

“Well, yes, I have,” he answered quietly.  “As soon as we stopped the will of destruction on Domhan, M’na’s world came back brilliantly.  “Mother comes here to practice her magic, and the place is alive with mystery.  Don’t you have such things in Juntos?”  When she looked at him wide-eyed and shook her head sadly, Agean’s heart sank.  “Well, the next time we visit your village, you and I will go in search of the mysteries I know are just waiting for you to find them.”  

The Florette made a soft sound, like the tinkling chimes the women from the Caves made as gifts.  Only this was much softer, nearly inaudible, and Agean let go of her arm.  When Saol reached her out hand again, this time more slowly, the creature glowed in dazzling hues before lighting on her palm.  Agean thought he heard his friend murmur, “Okay, if you’re quick,” but he couldn’t be sure for her lips barely moved.  He decided she must have been talking to the Florette and suddenly longed to hug his friend.  He remembered their long ago days of playing in the woods of Juntos and the night they made their own magic to open the window beside the creek.  

“She’s warm,”  Saol said reverently.  The vine quivered as more of the lovely miracles sprang from their places to flit around the pair of sweethearts, their wings vibrating gently.  Something stirred in them both in that moment and Agean kissed her on the mouth.  He immediately sensed something different in the girl, for she returned his kiss only briefly then pulled back, blushing.  The Saol of recent days had been so forward. She touched her lips softly, as though this was their first kiss, and sighed.  She sat up abruptly and brushed her skirt, murmuring again, “Go back now.”  

What did you say, Saol?” he asked, but she just smiled and kissed him again, this time pressing her lips against his purposefully. 
“Ouch!” she gasped and pulled away, turning to the bright thing that flickered wildly.  “I think she bit me,” she said, aghast.  “Why would she do that?”  The girl looked at Agean, but he only shrugged.  The other bright blooms retreated to the vine without looking back.  “Did I do something wrong?” she asked the Florette in her hand.  “Please don’t go.”  It calmed down and lifted gently from her palm, blinking before it turned away.  “Goodbye, then,” Saol whispered.  “Thank you.”  

But, before the enchanting creature reached the safety of her vine, something dark and swift snatched her from the air in front of them.  Both children cried out in horror and turned to see where it came from.  Squatting within the shadows of the underbrush was a warted froggy thing, much larger and less attractive than any river dwelling animal either had ever seen.  It was hard to see clearly, and neither wanted to get any closer to it, but in the dim light they saw plainly the legs of the unfortunate Florette sticking out of its mouth.  Its thick lips curled up in a wicked grin as it opened that hole to suck the rest of their miracle inside.  When the awful creature chomped its catch, a single yellow strand flew out and drifted toward the grass.  When it licked those lips, Saol buried her face in the boy’s shoulder, weeping softly. He was glad she didn’t see its eyes, their murky green flickering to deep crimson before it turned its heavy body around and slid into the woods, dragging a weighty barbed tail behind it.  Agean looked up at the other Florettes on the vine, but they had grown eerily quiet.  He would have to tell his mother about this.  It seemed very strange, although he understood the way of life and that some things fed on the life of others.  Still…

Copyright words and images

Cheryl K Pennington 2024

Coming soon.. meanwhile get your copy of Dawn of the Dream to find out what has brought these two to this place, in this moment.
For those of you pounding out the days working, Happy Hump Day! ❤️