Peacock Spy & Peacock to the Rescue

The Peacock Spy The white peacock strutted about the yard; through its eyes he peered and counted sentries, saw a cage where a boy huddled; ten yards to the gate and three guards at the entry. “Did you see him?” inquired his brother, elbowing Flair, his connection broke–damn. “I can rescue him without help, brother.” Phaedron laughed at the thought. Flair sought that damn bird’s mind again, connected, drew himself across the link, felt feathers ‘stead of flesh. He strutted to the cage; it sat on a shelf. The boy uncurled, blinked, “you’re here in the flesh?” Flair shook his head; his young sib … Continue reading Peacock Spy & Peacock to the Rescue

Captive Dragon – Writing 101 # 14 & Friday Fiction with Ronovan Writes

Captive Dragon Stars shone, thousands of candles in the sky, their light outlines a chocolate dragon tied up. Too weak to struggle, her scales too dry, no helpful wave nearby, her wounded guide, her captain, draws near. Rescue’s in his mind. In night’s blanket he hides; his mind’s open to her–connection made–their pain’s entwined. “The earring,” she says mind-to-mind, “it opens the lock on the collar. Steal it, you must…” “I know,” he replies, he’s worked his way ’round camp, leaning on his sword; her captors trust her bonds to hold, but a weakness she’s found. He stumbles, grips the wound … Continue reading Captive Dragon – Writing 101 # 14 & Friday Fiction with Ronovan Writes

Beautiful – Writing 101 #13

Beautiful You’re beautiful; yes you reading these words. No matter your race or creed or color, or whether you bend your gender, these words are meant for you. For I see your splendor, reaching out bright hands towards the whole world. It stuns me that so much beauty contains all that you are without overflowing. Young, old or in between, these words pertain to you and me and all the world flowing by can’t deny the beauty of your soul. Not when its shining like a second sun. To you I extend my hand, through the whole world let me walk with … Continue reading Beautiful – Writing 101 #13

The Great Pretender – A Daily Post Sonnet

The Great Pretender A knock sounded, he donned his father’s cloak, pulled the cowl down to shadow features six and ten years younger than the man the bloke came to fetch. He smiled at the simple fix, waved to his sleeping father who needed rest not another stupid meeting with fools. They saw his glowing eyes, assumed the rest, and he smiled at the deception, those fools! They blathered on; he loomed, quiet, playing his father, remembering to whisper. The meeting ended with him scurrying back to pretend he’d not left the sleeper ’til a tap on his shoulder proved he’d not fooled Father, with … Continue reading The Great Pretender – A Daily Post Sonnet

POETRY 101 REHAB: MISSING

Missing “Head injury…might have amnesia…” The healer’s words still echoed scaring Ran, where he lay curled, fearing amnesia would take Papa away, like the bad man had tried to do. Holding his stuffed bear tight, he listened to Papa’s quiet breathing, willing him to wake, smile at the sight of his son. But unconsciousness’ plaything, Papa remained. Ran’s tears rolled off his nose. Then a pale glimmer broke through the darkness. Papa blinked and glowing green eyes focused. “Papa?” Ran asked. Blankness became fondness. “Ran,” Papa said, against his heart, he held his son. Ran’s fears and tears were at last quelled. ~ ~ ~ Follow … Continue reading POETRY 101 REHAB: MISSING

Beast of Cloud and Claw – One Word Photo Challenge

Beast of Cloud and Claw On cloud-stacked feet it steals across the sky ready to stomp the sleeping mountain town. Its wings kick up a gale force wind to cry its coming on the morn. It’s swooping down from on high, its ridged back blots out the sun. Its shadow falls and blankets the valley. The temperature drops as it exhales cold, ice sheathes its talons, winter’s friend rallies, unhinges its jaw, breathes white fire so cold it burns; it freezes everything in place. ‘Cept the slayer striding towards the ice-drake. Magic builds ‘tween her upraised hands; her faces’s grim. She slings the … Continue reading Beast of Cloud and Claw – One Word Photo Challenge

Spy Bubble – Photo-Fiction #12

Spy Bubble She formed it in her palm, a translucent sphere, caressed by a rainbow sheen. It floated, carried by the breeze with her full consent. Higher it flew; it accelerated, heading towards the army’s lines. Eyes closed, she concentrated; her bubble bobbed o’er the mages’ camp. Through it she spies. Her lips move as she counts her foes. Trouble wears a blue robe; his kolh-lined eyes follow her bubble. He spins dervish-fast, chases her spell-wrought spy past armed men who wallow in the respite. In the air he traces a quick pattern, a counter to her spell. Her bubble pops but she’s got her intel. ~ … Continue reading Spy Bubble – Photo-Fiction #12

RSVP: Keysta at the Ball – A Daily Post Sonnet

RSVP: Keysta at the Ball She watched the dancers twirl in their bright gowns. Plain she felt, a girl playing dress up, all ruffled, beribboned in a borrowed pink gown. Dancers wheeled past, all unknown; she stood tall, wondering which of the flouncing follies had the ear of her enemy. Whose spies floated on the strains of sweet melodies? They moved like pale reflections–washed out lies in petticoats. She alone was solid, real, she had some dimension the guests lacked. She needed air, fled the ballroom; valid excuse or no, she had to go; with tact she withdrew to the balcony and smiled, the fellow she’d … Continue reading RSVP: Keysta at the Ball – A Daily Post Sonnet

Frontiers – A Pic and a Word Challenge

Frontier Mountains frame my home. They ripple across the dark horizon unable to cage the enchanted forest which spills across its flanks, spreads o’er the land. Magic wages its own war within that dark wood; explore it at your own peril. Misted mountains’ vista shows a hundred valleys and more melting into that last frontier. Explain why that blue haze lays o’er all obscuring your edges sweet Shayari? Your border hides itself; its secrets are alluring. What lies beyond on that vast continent? If I leave you will I find contentment? prompt courtesy of Pic and a Word Challenge #10: Frontiers Continue reading Frontiers – A Pic and a Word Challenge

Eavesdropping – Writing 101 #10

Eavesdropping Ran pretended to sleep. Often adults ignored small children, so his feigned repose went unnoticed and he heard the results. “–traumatic brain injury but he shows some improvement. He’s young. Recovery is possible but it’ll take time, how much I can’t say ’til he wakes.” Recovery sounded good. Papa’d be okay; Ran clutched his stuffed bear as the healer’s voice faded. Uncle Miren’s question cut the quiet, “When’ll he wake up?” Lying still, Ran waited; the reply was eaten by the quiet settling o’er the infirmary. He cried ’til a weak embrace, him, from his fears, pried. ~ ~ ~ A scene … Continue reading Eavesdropping – Writing 101 #10

Odd Trio, Cat’s Paw, Cat’s Vision and Cat’s Prophesy – A Four Sonnet Cycle

Pool (c) in medias res by Melinda Kucsera

An Odd Trio

An odd trio they made, a cat, a bowl
of soup, a beach towel, thought Moon Runner.
Maybe that was the norm on this atoll.
This scrap of rocky beach was no stunner.
All volcanic glass that cut at his feet,
White-caps slamming aground with enough force
to shatter a boat if he’d had one to beat.
Made him wonder why he’d chosen this course.
The cat nudged the bowl of soup with its head.
Not a golden drop spilled on the towel.
An intelligent gleam from its eyes led
him to join the cat on the soft towel.
He lifted the proffered bowl, sipped the soup.
‘Round the island appeared a golden hoop.

Continue reading “Odd Trio, Cat’s Paw, Cat’s Vision and Cat’s Prophesy – A Four Sonnet Cycle”

Shayari – Where I Write – Writing 101 #6

This is my place to write (in my mind but not in physical reality) Shayari A rolling land, with mountains tall and mist shrouded, whose snow capped peaks launch eagles high, where old forests roam, intelligence-kissed by magic writ by a mage who was high, where Guardians ride, crystal swords flashing in the sun and villages perch in trees tangled up in magic and true knowing, where cities sprawl in valleys blasted free of trees by ancient weapons, now barren those crater-cities where nothing will grow despite rivers that flow through the warren to the inland freshwater sea that knows a secret hides … Continue reading Shayari – Where I Write – Writing 101 #6

One Word Photo Challenge – Summer

Squash Blossoms Squash blossoms bloom one day, then crumple, fade before morning next comes. He watched it sit amid squash vines, orphaned babe in lap, spade in hand, motionless as the vines. Sun lit its face giving it a feminine cast. The sword slung at his hip hummed with magic and he wondered what a plain man who’s passed his prime ought do with such a tragic crew. It saw him standing there, came to him, babe cradled in its arms, with squash blossoms in its hair, all of them spent, just like him, their life done, their pollen gone, a handsome bit of bright decay … Continue reading One Word Photo Challenge – Summer

Dive and Shift

Dive and Shift He leaps, falls, hits mirrored water, shifts– human skin flips to scales. Gills breathe water, exhale oxygen into blood; the shift continues, webs his fingers, toes. Water caresses his sleek new body as he swims. The current tugs him out to sea, its siren call he can’t resist. It carries him out into deep water where old wrecks fallen prey to storms litter the seafloor. Check out their remains, he does, until a shadow’s pass draws him out. The kraken’s come to play. Chitinous claws extend to uphold vows. Tentacles swing, stab, miss–he strikes to slay. He evades its limbs, slashes … Continue reading Dive and Shift

Writing 101 Assignment 5 – Legacy

“All that is gold does not glitter…” — JRR Tolkien Legacy (the Legend of the Curse Breaker) Not all gold glitters while some lies hidden. In caves deep and under waters sweet, bides that which can set all to right. Unbidden it rises from the depths to hand the guide knowledge true to right a wrong God still sees. Cursed since birth this child of a magic ban, to his hand draws kingmaker Legacy– the blade that shattered in the traitor’s hand. There it merges into a gleaming whole– Blade that regicide and fratricide broke– to heal a sundered land and … Continue reading Writing 101 Assignment 5 – Legacy