From Rising Flames

I’m participating in the Write Campaign sponsored by Rachael Harrie. The first challenge is to write a piece of flash fiction. Here are the rules:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “Shadows crept across the wall”. These five words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), do one or more of these:

end the story with the words: "everything faded." (also included in the word count)

include the word "orange" in the story

write in the same genre you normally write

make your story 200 words exactly!

There are a lot of great entries, which are accessible here. If you are participating in the campaign, please visit them and be sure to vote for your favorite.

 
I decided to write a short scene that could fit in the sequel of ON FALLEN WINGS. It’s exactly 200 words and uses all the words listed above. I hope you like it. I’ve decided to give it the same title as the sequel.

FROM RISING FLAMES

 

Shadows crept across the wall of the cave, sharp angled reminders that I wasn’t supposed to be here, that none of this was part of the fate I had expected. They cautioned me with their silence and warned of the dangerous fortune that waited if the men knew where we were hiding.

How had it come to this? I stared at the wavering flames between us and tried to imagine the peace of my life before the red and the orange, and the smoke took my village. Before Sean was taken, and the man sleeping across from the fire had ruined my future. I had no reason to trust the bandit, and every reason to let him die. But there he was, and here I lay. Like the shadows and the light around us, we were two enemies facing the unknown together. And we needed each other.

I glanced again at Darian. So weak and frail, it seemed a miracle that he had saved me. I wondered if I could keep my promise—if I could heal him. Faeries weren’t that strong, I wasn’t that strong anymore. I stopped trying to focus and stared at the wall until everything faded.

I hope you enjoyed my little teaser. Have a great week.
~ Jamie