Tags
#FlashFicHive, #TwistedTaleTuesday, behind the scenes of writing, Cait Sith, Faerie, flash fiction, my writing, preview of work, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, writing
As promised, here’s the second story I wrote for week 2 of #FlashFicHive.
Wild Ones
By Ronel Janse van Vuuren
‘Good morning.’
‘What do you know?’
The two novices watched each other warily as the master glared at them.
‘That we’re not all born with the ability to throw fireballs.’
‘That it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to burn down a forest or country.’
‘Good,’ their master said and turned away.
The smell of roasting flesh filled the air and the snow fell black outside the sanctum.
It was hard being the master magus to a group of wild novices who had no control over their powers. Addie sighed softly as the newest recruits left. They still did not know what their innate powers were and envied the fire witches who’d accidentally burned down most of the mountainside the previous night.
‘We can send them on a quest,’ a voice said from the window ledge.
‘The last group you led never returned.’
‘You say that like it’s a bad thing.’
She watched the grey cat with disbelief. She knew enough about his kind to know that the last group of novices were probably traded and eaten – Caìt Sìth were known for making bargains with Goblins and Kelpies alike.
‘Perhaps,’ she looked away, pretending that the sooty snow had her attention.
The cat appeared on the ledge before her.
‘Wild novices need a challenge. They will not know their strength until tested.’
‘There’s nothing to test them out there. Not anymore.’ She watched the barren black mountain and valley where a thick forest had stood only hours earlier.
‘The creature…’ the cat trailed off. ‘That which we do not name will rise in the wake of this devastation.’
Addie swallowed. Not many novices had returned the last time the creature was awake. She rubbed the red-and-black scar on her hand – a memento from her battle with the creature.
‘Fine. Test them.’
The cat disappeared with a smirk. She hoped she had done the right thing to follow tradition.
A strange tale… I wasn’t sure where it was going, but I liked the idea of a Caìt Sìth being involved and disappearing in the blink of an eye. Just like the GIF that inspired this tale 😉
What do you think? Anything you’d add/change? Comments are always welcome.
