Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, and the standard.
Here in paradise the sun is shining as usual, as it is in Jennifer’s great photo.
But not so much in my little tale.
The idea is to write a story of around 100 words based on the picture below.
© Jennifer Pendergast
Flood
It has been raining non-stop for more than five weeks now.
The valleys and fields are long flooded, but still we frolic on the hilltops.
We don’t care about getting wet, and we have to run free.
Even more than the great cats, the dancing gazelles, the mighty buffalo, we treasure our liberty.
Almost every other creature has succumbed to his promises, but we do not believe him.
We see the messages left in the stones as they search everywhere.
But we will never be caged in a boat, no matter what Noah says.
We are different.
We are unicorns.
Oh my, this was lovely.
Alas … now I know why there are no unicorns – ah pride can be a deadly thing 🙁
I’m mighty late to the party this week, Ceayr, but better late…
This is simply delightful! I didn’t see the last line coming, as I imagined they were birds, waiting to alight… but the unicorn twist is wonderful! Lovely piece this week.
I loved this story, Ceayr. It’s too bad we don’t have a few of those around. Too bad they missed the boat. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
interesting!!!!!
Good!!!!
Dear C.E,
Charming and whimsical and playful and sweet …. I adored this story.
My only complaint is that I wanted it to go on and on. 😄
Adios,
Isadora 😎
You are too kind, Isadora, I am dancing to your words here.
I would have written thousands more words, but Rochelle deals swiftly and harshly with any breach of her rules.
I could be punished severely, perhaps even smacked with a ripe banana.
Yes, she can be that merciless.
🙄
hahaha … Mmmm … a ripe banana can be quite messy but they are yummy too.
Yes, she does have her rules we must obey. Ahhh .. but the discipline I’m learning. I tend to be wordy – as you can see by my comments – so I need her strict ruler. 😁
I would love to meet an unicorn. Writers have the liberty to create anything out of the pen. Loved your
read.
http://ideasolsi65.blogspot.in/2015/09/boat.html?m=1
Thank you for the kind words.
To meet a unicorn, you need only close your eyes and wish…
Absolutely loved this. At second glance, I’m reading hidden meaning attached to the unicorns, tied up with new life/resurrection symbolism. Is that your intention, or me getting too deeply into it? Either way, if they’re magical or otherwise, I welcome their presence in the story.
First of all, Sarah, thank you, I am happy you enjoyed my little tale.
Secondly, everything about the unicorn is magical, especially for us Scots, for whom it is our national symbol.
And, as many of us are aware, they are not extinct, merely gambolling happily in the sunshine of our imaginations.
Although I live down south, I have Scottish ancestors (Highlanders and Lowlanders, their clans once at war with each other). It probably took the sunshine and magic of unicorns to make the two sides lay down their weapons!
How wonderful to be a unicorn.
That is what they tell me as they dance in my dreams.
a well-written story. loved it.
A great comment.
I love it!
My youngest granddaughter is a unicorn – a purple one in fact. I wouldn’t just tell anyone this, but as you can probably see her, you need to know. Great take on the prompt, the advantage of being a writer, you can go anywhere. 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Dee, and your secret is safe here.
No one reads this rubbish anyway.
And we keep writing until there is no place left to go.
I’d love to see a unicorn. I thought I did once on Brighton beach, but it was that donkey that gives kids rides and it had a little pointed hat on its head!
Rosey Pinkerton’s blog
Just close your eyes and dream, Rosey, and you will find that they are everywhere.
Marvellous story, beautifully written. I just love Noah stories.
Thank you, Patrick, glad that it resonated with you.
There was a song about this when I was a child (maybe sung by Burl Ives). Now, it’ll be stuck in my head all day. Not a bad thing as it was a fun song.
Rock n Roll Rochelle mentions this waaaayy down at the bottom of the page.
But, of course, some of us know that unicorns still abound in the sunny glades of our demented minds.
It was the Irish Rovers. Perhaps it’s not politically correct to mention them on C.E.’s page. 😉
Why ever not?
Our Gaelic cousins are always welcome here.
Crivens, wummin, I even speak to folks from Redneck Central.
Redneck Central? Podunkiaville, USA. :bear:
Plus you get really nauseous on boats. They made the right decision.
Unicorns are very wise, Perry.
Great explanation for their extinction. 🙂
Extinction?
Whose extinction?
Never fear for the magical unicorns, dear Susan,
I’m glad they are still here if not for me, for my 6yo granddaughter.:)
Finally an explanation I can give my daughter for Nanny Plum and Princess Holly. LOL loved it.
Glad you liked the tale, CAH, but the rest of your comment is way over my head!
LOL! They are cartoon characters in Ben & Holly’s little fairy Kingdom.
Liberty or extinction – what would you chose? Somedays I might go with the unicorns. Nice piece.
Deeply philosophical stuff here!
I found your own tale this week equally thought provoking.
Thank you for visiting, and for your kind words.
I love this fanciful and charming piece! Wonderful!
How very sweet of you, DoD.
Comments like yours have me smiling all day.
🙂
So I except something sinister, and you write about unicorns? You’re always good for a surprise. I love it, and of course the unicorns went where the elves went, they weren’t taken along either.
A chap does not like to be too predictable, my dear lady.
And you are right, of course, the unicorns still happily cavort with fairies, dragons and giants on the banks of Loch Ness.
Yep – that makes sense. I wondered why they missed the boat. I’ll go with this explanation until a better one comes along, Love the story.
Glad you enjoyed it, Margaret.
And do not forget that magic never dies.
Aha, so that’s what happened to the unicorns. Well done!
No, don’t be silly, they are still all around us.
Don’t you know they use their horns as snorkels?
Very nice, a rebel will not be stuck on a boat.
Thanks, Charly.
As Robert Frost says ‘Freedom lies in being bold’.
Well, I have to say that Mr. Frost is damn right on that one.
Loved the happy place it took my heart to. But, my mind’s saying if the unicorns had not been so stupid they would have been alive 🙁 Liberty over life at what cost?
They clearly believed it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
Oh..that made me smile out loud!
A nice thought, Dawn, makes me happy.
Poor Noah. A million species of insects, alone. (“Two of each, buddy, get to work.”)
Nah, Noah was a loafer.
His lads did all the work.
And insects are easy, all you do is leave the lid off the jam.
What a joy-filled frolic, C.E.! Your head is having a wonderful day.
janet
Thank you, Janet, that made me laugh!
So that’s what happened to the unicorns. Good to know. I’m glad the elephants got on board.
Are you not aware, Tracey, that the elephants carried the boat whilst standing on the back of a giant turtle?
This is where the marvellous Terry Pratchett found his inspiration for Discworld.
A sweet story! O! to frolic with those unicorns.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed.
Maybe I’m feeling a bit emotional today, but I found that really rending. What if that’s how it happened? Pride goes before a fall and all that…
I am not sure whether to be pleased that my story hit home or sorry that I upset you.
Regardless, do not fret, unicorns are alive and well, and dancing in my head as I write.
Lovely 🙂
Aw shucks, Belinda.
Oh, you mean the story?
Well, thanks anyway.
*blush* *giggle* 🙂
Eejit.
Or whatever the Aussie equivalent is.
Ha! We use the same 🙂
Charming take on the prompt. Always onto a winner with unicorns, in my book anyway. Lovely.
Thank you, Sandra.
The magic exists as long as we believe.
That’s because unicorns don’t need saving… they will forever live on in those with enough imagination. Fun stuff, Mr. Ayr!
You got it, Dale.
The unicorn is the symbol of Scotland, so a wee drop water is barely an inconvenience.
It is? Why does that please me so? A wee drop indeed!
I loved this. Now we know why we don’t see unicorns today. Nice take on the prompt.
If you do not see them, FPB, it is because you are not looking with the right eyes.
Close them and dream, and there they are.
Oh there was a reason why there are no unicorns.. so sad that in their pride they were defeated.
Fret not, mon ami, unicorns are magic, they still abound.
Is that why we don’t see too many unicorns around these days? They should’ve caught the boat. 🙂
Don’t you know, Irene, that the unicorn is the symbol of Scotland?
They don’t mind a wee bit o’ rain.
No I didn’t know that and I should as my ancestry links me to Scotland.
Love it!
Thank you, ma’am, I am smiling now.
Reblogged this on anelephantcant and commented:
AnElephantCant spend a day without swimming
It keeps his skin soft and cools his hot blood
He loves a cold shower
Has one every hour
But he is not so sure that he wants to splash about in a flood
I loved too. Thank you, love, nia
Thank you, sweet Nia.
Hugs
Dear C.E,
“Along time ago when the earth was green…” Lovely story, reminiscent of one of my favorite songs. “You’ll see cats and rats and elephants…” I love where your head went with this.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Very happy it is to your taste, m’lady.
I was kinda surprised myself where my head went!