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!