Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Bastet weaves through the crowd stomping along the streets with ease. Everyone is dressed in thick winter coats and gloves, which she has also donned so she doesn’t stand out. Her puffy coat is a garish yellow with a bright orange scarf to match. They were the only ones she could find on such short notice.

As she attempts to scan the crowd again, her foot catches on a gap in the pavement. She pinwheels her arms before falling flat on her face. A few of the humans give her sympathetic looks as they pass her. She jumps to her feet with a hiss, running her tongue along a tooth that feels like it might be chipped.

She’s not used to a human body.

It’s been years since she had to use her human form and her clumsiness is evident. She had wanted to remain in her feline form, until she realised that there were too many humans. They’re celebrating a holiday called Christmas Eve, where everyone is required to rush about in a loud panic to get ready for Christmas. She doesn’t understand why they don’t just get ready in advance but knows better than to try to make sense of their customs.

A cold gust of wind blows her dark hair in all directions. The scowl on her face deepens and she wishes the human she was looking for would show himself already.

There’s a break in the crowd towards the road, so she darts through it. Her fingers begin to tingle from the freezing temperatures, and she just wants to return to her warm den.

But then she spots him.

A man, leaning against a wall of one of the human shops. His face is covered in sweat and his coat is unzipped as if he’s boiling hot. His skin is almost grey and his breathing is laboured, like his lungs aren’t taking in enough air.

But Bastet knows it’s him from the smell. Although he’s still alive, just, the scent of decay is unmistakable. Her lips press into a fine line as she mulls over her options. She must get him away from the crowd before the infection reaches its peak.

While crossing the road she once more stumbles over her own feet and curses to herself. In the second that she looked away, the man has gone.

Panic rises in her chest as she looks in both directions before spotting him. There are now colourful bags in one of his hands while the other is leading a young girl forward. Bastet’s instincts kick in as the man suddenly stops, clutching his chest. She rushes forward and manages to rip the girl out of his weak grip.

“Hey!” A woman walking just ahead of him whirls around. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The man moans and snaps his head to glare at the woman. Before Bastet can react, he lunges forward and sinks his teeth into the woman’s hand.

She’s failed to stop the plague. 

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

FROST FAIRIES

Fairies in the frosted hedgerows, watching for lone travellers, giggle at the pranks they’ve planned.

Here comes one now, a fellow back from the tavern, a little worse for wear.

The fairies puff out handfuls of ice crystals which whirl and dance about the man, entrancing him with a scintillating swirl of light.

Out from the bushes they fly, leering at him, but he cannot see them. The fairies guide him off the lane and deep into the woods, abandoning him lost and alone, hiding in trees to watch him shiver and wander, confused, desperate to find his way home.

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!

 

Welcome to this week’s installment of many micro stories, ranging in length from 100 words to 500 words.

With each story we hope to deliver a little whimsy into the lives of our readers.

THE RABBIT LAND

It was a beautiful summer day. Most of the rabbits gathered in the clearing among the woods. They played, chased, some rested in the tall grass. The idyll was in full swing.

Suddenly everything went dark. The bright blue sky was completely covered by gray clouds. All the rabbits stopped playing and looked up. A vortex formed in the air above the center of the clearing, transforming into a black hole. The animals knew what this meant. They’ve seen it happening before. They flattened their long ears with fear in their eyes.

“Ruuuun!” shouted Peter, one of the older rabbits, and all furries ran towards the trees.

Once at the edge of the clearing, Peter turned around to make sure everyone was safe. He noticed a pair of gray ears barely sticking out of the tall grass. He must be fast asleep, that’s why he didn’t hear me, he thought. He looked up. A huge hand emerged from the abyss, reaching for the unaware hare. Peter rushed to the rescue, screaming as loud as he could.

Roger slowly opened his eyes. Drowsy, he tried to figure out where he was. He dreamed someone was screaming. Wait, it wasn’t a dream. Someone is really screaming. He got up and looked around. He saw Peter running towards him. Now awake, he understood what his friend was shouting. He looked up at the same moment a huge hand clamped down on his protruding ears. He felt himself rising above the ground.

Peter was so close. He jumped to catch his friend, but failed because Roger was already in the air.

Roger tried to free himself, but couldn’t reach the fingers that held him so tightly. He watched the clearing receding away.

“Roger! Nooooo!” Helpless Piotr watched in horror as the hand disappeared into the abyss. The portal closed and soon the sun was shining again in the bright blue sky.

The world was almost the same as before this strange phenomenon. Almost.

 

*

 

The magician said the macig words and, with a wide smile on his face, pulled a rabbit out of the hat. The animal seemed scared and confused. Most of the children were impressed, except for one boy.

“Shouldn’t this rabbit be white?”

The magician lost some of his confidence.

“Um, no. The color of the rabbit is always a surprise.”

He looked up at the parents sitting in the back rows.

“By the way, would anyone like to adopt this adorable pet?”

If you enjoyed this story you can find it and more in the Hawthorn & Ash 2023 anthology.

AVAILABLE HERE!