Moth and Firefly

Shayla had noticed Lisbet before the woman who ran the dairy farm told her to go mentor the new girl so she could learn how things were done. Shayla had apologized profusely when she realized Madame had only done it so that Shayla could provide distraction while Madame tried to seduce Lisbet’s beau.

“Don’t worry,” Lisbet said. “I was about done with him anyway. She’s welcome to him and his diseases.”

It wasn’t long after that they found they had a shared interest – magic.

“What can you do?” Lisbet asked.

“This.” And in a blink Shayla cast an illusion that blurred her edges so that unless you knew where to look, your eyes would slide over her. “And you?”

“This.” Lisbet said, casting a small orb of glowing light.

The witch trials were coming up. They had both secretly wanted to go for several years now, but it was only upon meeting each other that they decided to do it.

“Nothing stopping us from going as a team,” Lisbet said. Shayla agreed.

They whispered back and forth during the orientation session about what they thought the trials might be. Shayla was sure the witches were dropping hints in their words. A serious faced witch interrupted them to ask for their names.

“I’m Moth. She’s Firefly,” Shayla said.

The witch went away muttering something that sounded like “not likely to hug bears but still silly.”

“It was a little silly,” Shayla agreed later that night in the woods. “But names have power, and I didn’t want to share mine right away. Not until I was sure we’d pass.”

“We will. We’ve got 6 out of the 7 things we need to find with plenty of time left. Why those names?”

“Based on our powers,” Shayla answered. “And one time Madame compared me to a moth because I was a pest.”

“Shows what she knows,” Lisbet said. “We need your magic now.”

Shayla’s magic covered them both as a bear wandered through the clearing, ignoring them.

“My turn,” Lisbet said. Her orb illuminated a mushroom, the last item on the list. “We make a great team.”

“That we do,” said Shayla, following Lisbet back to the cottage and their future.



Song Choice: We Are Going to Be Friends by the White Stripes

Liner Notes for This Groove: This piece of flash fiction was created for the Weekly Scribblings prompt at Poets and Storytellers United, Butterflies and Moths. It was also inspired by the short story I wrote a couple of weeks ago, Witch Trials, just to see if I could find more to say.

36 comments:

  1. And I do hope you'll find still more! I want to know if they passed, and what happened after that.

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    1. LOL, I'll have to think about that, because I really have no clue what happens next!

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  2. Do I detect a spark between these two young witches!?

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    1. Maybe? LOL, I really haven't planned anything like a bigger story for this in my head, so I have not clue what's next. But re-reading it, I wouldn't rule that out either.

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  3. Further adventures ahead, awaiting eager readers' eyes? I hope so!.

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    1. I really have to think about it. I usually like to plan longer pieces, and I have no idea where the heck I'm going with this. :D

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  4. I'd like to think this was a start of a serial story as I am bewitched already!

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    1. I mean, yeah, I see how it could be. But I'd really need time to figure out where I want to take this. I'm so deep in finishing up my novel and will eventually think of what I want to do next.

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  5. A lovely friendship developing. Lets see how things shape up for those two
    Happy Wednesday

    Much💛love

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    1. I really ought to get an outline or something done if I decide to go much further. LOL, but my outlines can be hella sloppy.

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  6. Very imaginative tale. Perhaps the mushroom will have something to say ...

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  7. I hope they both pass their examination by the powers that are. That could be a unique turning point for your write.
    ..

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    1. I really should take time to give this some thought :D

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  8. You have great style ... looking forward to more.

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    1. Thank you, Helen. LOL, let's see if I can pick a direction for this. :D

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    1. LOL, well, this is technically chapter/ entry 2 of this world. I don't know if I will continue with a 3, but if I do, I will need time to sit and plan out what I want to say next.

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  10. Ha ha I think the consensus is that we want more! OK, maybe after you finish the current draft of your novel – or when you feel the need of a little break from it? Please earmark this for some future expansion.

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    1. I have this flagged as something I might want to tinker with for the future. LOL, I am very invested in bringing Yuuki's novel to a satisfying conclusion, but yep, there are lots of things I can consider doing after I'm done with it.

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  11. These witches have great tricks on their sleeves. Cool story

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  12. Did they eat the mushroom? I like the side story about Lisbet's beau. A great set up for so much more that could come.

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    1. LOL, I ended up writing something that could go deeper both times I added to this world. I think that does mean I will want to go back and answer some questions, eventually.

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  13. Moth and Firefly. lovely names!
    Looks like they will have no problems passing the trials.

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    1. I think there's a promising future ahead for them.

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  14. Well, this was fun! I really enjoyed reading this and would welcome more--

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    1. Thanks, Audrey. It was a lot of fun revisiting this world. I hadn't planned to so soon, but the mood hit me, so here I am. :D

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  15. What a fun piece of flash fiction. I loved every word. I was standing next to them as they talked, and now I want to go to the witch trials. Surely you will tell that story!?

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    1. I think this world has moved up higher on my list of stories to explore when I'm done drafting the novel I'm working on.

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  16. These two witches are a great team, or maybe something more! Excellent Rommy! Big Hugs!

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  17. Oh, Rommy, what a treat! As you might be suspecting, the bear comment made me roar in this story, too. I love seeing this world from the point of view of these two characters. I also love their relationship, and the clear message behind their partnership. I love, love, love it!

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