Daily Prompt

[Braeth Frostfawn]

Day 4 - July 14, 2014 By hirolu

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Day 4 - July 14, 2014

The woman was quiet as she entered the Hirolu park, Syna had set long ago so the park had been plunged into total darkness. The only light present was the gentle light of Leth as it gently shined over the land. It was this kind of darkness that allowed one to view the stars above as they gave off their own little light, although their light was not as powerful as Leth's and so, it never reached the land's surface for it was only strong enough to make themselves known within the night sky. It was, as the woman deemed, a beautiful sight, but what was always beautiful was the light of Leth as it gently drifted over all that was present. The harsh light of Syna, while it made the colours of the plants stand out, it was also harsh upon the wildlife. However, while some people may find beauty within the light, she found beauty within the darkness as well.

As her feet carried her over a bridge, she stopped for a moment, her hands grasped at the railing as she leaned upon it to view the surface of the small lake. It was stunning, Leth could be seen reflected off of the surface, almost like a looking glass. As her gaze drifted upwards to view the giant tree as it stood proud beside the lake, reminding her of a guardian of sorts. It looked almost like a ghost tree, especially how pale it was within Leth's light. One had to wonder how long had the tree seen Leth play across the surface of this lake and she angled her head slightly to the right. Suddenly the silence was broken as a "Hey!" Was heard and she turned around to spy a tall man, running across the grass to meet the Ethaefal.

A smile broke out across her lips as she recognized the man dress in a brown long coat, with a simple white shirt and a black pair of pants underneath. She even recognized those black boots. His hair was black and those blue eyes that she loved so much were solidly locked upon her form. Upon reaching her, he scooped the daughter of Leth up into his arms and pulled her close, taking in a deep breath of her scent as a giggle rose to her lips. "Missed me that much did you? She asked as a nod of his head was given in response. "Well, lets go find a place to sit and we can share our stories, seeing as you were at sea for a long time." He gently put her down, but firmly grasped her hand and they walked off, gentle sounds of laughter drifting through the air as they shared their stories and enjoyed each other's presence.

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"Even when the rain falls,
You & I will stand tall."

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[Braeth Frostfawn]

It was warm and safe in here, inside the reflecting waters of the pond. Danny floated in his tiny haven, in those murky familiar waters, his home. But it was all he had ever known. The pond, it was everything he had ever known. He knew there was an outside, a world beyond the surface of the water, but he was afraid of the dangers out there, the great unknowns that would certainly be waiting for him to leave his haven of water. One night, however, when the moon was its brightest and largest he had ever seen, Danny looked towards the surface to see a boy staring into the water, right back at him. Excited, Danny floated towards the surface (not breaking the water's edge, mind you) and greeting the boy. "Hi! I'm Danny. What's your name?" "I am." The boy responded, though it didn't answer Dani's question. Locked in mutual eye contact, Danny began to ponder. Perhaps his new acquaintance didn't understand the question. Perhaps he wanted to play a game. That would be interesting, but Danny didn't like the idea of playing a game. He didn't know any games, he would have to learn it if he wanted to play. Best not waste time. Danny, instead, decided to convince the boy to join him in the water where it was safe. "Why don't you come in? It's safe in here." "Why don't you come out?" Danny hadn't anticipated rejection. To be completely honest, it hurt just a little bit. Danny was upset by this. How dare this boy not only reject his kindness, but question his decisions? "It's safe in here. Out there, on the surface, there must be dangers. There's so many things I don't know about. There must be many things that are bad for me. Here in my pond, I know everything is safe. "Your pond is so small. Your fear is so great. Why not choose to understand, rather than be afraid of what you do not understand?" Danny was silent for a long time. This talk was beginning to frighten him. Was he considering it? Leaving behind everything he had known, his limited knowledge, his safe haven, for something potentially great? He knew the world was larger than his pond, he could see that, but was it worth exploring? He felt the waters of his pond growing colder. The boy spoke after a long silence. "Ask me my name." Puzzled, Danny agreed. "What's your name? My name is Danny." Danny blinked, realizing he was on the grass, staring down into the pool of the pond, locked in a stare with his reflection in the pond. He nodded, understanding at that point what had happened. He stood up, turned around, and set off into the world beyond his pond. And he was not afraid anymore.

[Braeth Frostfawn]

Day 5 - July 15, 2014 By dechobek

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Day 5 - July 15, 2014

The old man sat upon the bench within his own backyard, a look mixed in with fury and a deep seated sadness colouring his dark brown eyes as he hugged his small plastic cup of alcohol close to his form. His hair was dark, but held some grey hairs within, his beard also slightly greying in colour, but he was not old yet, oh no, he was in his forties, but he was not old. The tough skin of his face displayed this, for it was not wrinkled as one that suffered from old age would be, but it was only just beginning to. Wrinkles were the markings of passage of time and you could tell by the wrinkles whether they had a life filled with laughter or burdens. This marine's life had been filled with more burden and pain, than that of happiness, but now, he had lost the only thing that mattered to him.

His wife had lost a long time battle with breast cancer. She had basically lived at the hospital while he had been deployed in Iraq, his sister had been keeping a close eye on his wife, taking care of her needs while he earned the money in Iraq to pay for her treatments. It hurt him to have to be so far away from his wife as she struggled to stay alive, but she was constantly supporting his decision to stay in the navy, she didn't want to destroy his dream of being in the navy. Although, now that he thought back now as he watched the people who wore black clothing and spoke in hushed tones, that maybe he should have given up on his career to be there for his struggling wife, then maybe he wouldn't have to deal with these people grouping with each other and casting glances of pity. He didn't want their pity, he wanted his wife back.

Life, or so he had come to learn, was so delicate. Death came in many different shapes and forms, while he had to kill someone with a bullet, someone could even die because of their own body. It could be a deliberate death or an accidental one. He sighed as he placed the empty plastic cup upon the bench beside him and pulled out his leather brown wallet, opening it up so then the smiling face of his wife, smiled up at him from a picture. To him, she was the very face of beauty, this picture was on their wedding day, before they had found out she had cancer. Her blonde locks was pinned up and her blue eyes seemed to laugh at him in joy. Even though she had gained cancer, he had still thought her beautiful, even now in death. However, the man couldn't think of her as dead, no he still though of her alive. Not in a physical sense, but in an emotional sense, for she would live on forever in his heart.

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"Even when the rain falls,
You & I will stand tall."

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[Braeth Frostfawn]

A young couple walked by. Young, like still in high school, possibly recently graduated, the boy (no, he obviously didn't deserve the title of "Man") walked with faded jeans drooping around the ass. The girl (again, not a real woman) was practically covered in make-up. Will shook his head slowly as they sauntered on by, not so much as glancing at the older man sitting on the bench, casually sipping coffee from a plastic cup and judging them. They were gone as quickly as they had arrived though, and with that they left his mind. Another youngster passed by him on the sidewalk, a young woman carrying several books and with headphones plugged inside her ears, quickly passed by. A college kid, Will assumed. She seemed to be a hard worker, but she had some weight on her, too much for sure. Will gave her short shake of the head, the motion of disapproval, then drank again from his cold coffee. At least she would be better for the next generation than those children earlier. Black, tall, build like a god. The next to fall in Will's sight was a grown man, mid twenties or looked good for being thirty. He was jogging on by, he too didn't notice Will sitting on the bench, making his opinions. This one, however, he couldn't find a flaw. Granted, he wouldn't be in his normal environment if he wasn't going out for a run, so Will would just assume he had issues like everyone else today. At least he was healthier than the bookworm, and more mature than the child couple. Time passed, people passed, and Will passed his judgement on people. Terrible mother. Dating a woman too young. Way too many dogs. Asshole. Coward. Loud. This went on and on for a few hours until Will was about ready to go home. His cup was long empty and cast to the ground. Standing up, the middle aged man cracked his back, gave his shoulder a brief massage and turned to walk home. "Excuse me." A faint soft voice spoke out behind him, he turned, looked down to see a little girl without shoes, in a cute little sundress, holding out that empty cup towards him. "You should throw this away. Mommy says littering is bad." Will paused for a moment, stared at the child for a moment, the girl started to get nervous. Then, he smiled, accepted the cup and took a knee to get on eye level with her. "Thank you. Will you tell Mommy that you've given me hope, today." The girl was puzzled, obviously, but grinned and nodded with excitement. He doubted she would recite it correctly, but that didn't matter. Will left that day with a hunt of hope for the future. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

[Braeth Frostfawn]

Day 6 - July 16, 2014 By eulalievarenne

[Shoshana Re Menehat]

This looked so fun I wanted to have a go! Love prompts!

The morning of her 35th birthday began the same as every other day. That was to say, it was the same as all the days before it, not that every second day was the same, and the other half of the days were different from those, but the same as each other; or that every second day followed the same routine while others were complete and utter chaos. No. She had her routine, she followed it more closely than many followed their religions. She was a devout schedulist.

In the mornings, she always ran. She woke before the sun and ran until it was well on its way to the zenith where it was want to laze in the afternoons. They were the same, she and the sun, creatures of habit. She had just finished her morning run, and was preparing to step into the shower when her reflection in the mirror caught her eye. Same her as always. Plain, though she gave herself a few points in the direction of being more attractive than not. Is that why I'm so alone? Was it her plainness that led her to another year? 35? With no one, only a few dalliances and male friends to show for it? But how could that be? It was not her most generous of thoughts, but there were women less attractive than she was, running amok with husbands and boyfriends, and few of them with her temperament and kindness (direction of present thoughts aside).

How she longed for some deeper connection to someone! It would be so nice for just one birthday to begin with a brightly-colored bouquet, perhaps delivered to her office. Then she would smile and know that she was loved. She'd had thirty five years to solve the riddle of what was wrong with her, what invisible barrier she had inadvertently raised to make herself so unworthy of another's affection. Maybe her karma had brought it.

But then she caught sight of her reflection again. Rather fit for thirty five, practically a fox! Her reflection smiled at her. She was successful, she knew what she wanted, she didn't settle, and she didn't let anyone treat her less reverently than she thought she deserved. The faint glow of pride hovered momentarily over her features as a small itch began to pester her in the region of her wrist. Absently, she moved to scratch it and was, quite understandably, surprised to be met with a slight plant whisper, and the silkiness of petals.

Stunned, she stared at the beautifully hued bouquet slowly growing out of her, they looked as though they would be roses. In her favorite shade! She had made them, they were perfect! They were her gift to herself, as it were. She had made them. They were beautiful.

[Braeth Frostfawn]

"Time of death?" Sarah stood up slowly, peeling the loose strand of hair that clung to her glistening forehead. It was devilishly hot out today, and it would be today of all days that countless bodies were reported. "I don't have one, John. The body is decaying at a rapid pace. These flowers are more like weeds, or parasitic plant life. We'd have to send them to the labs to find out what is going on." Sarah gave a disappointed shake of the head before reaching for the victim's arm, raising it gently. The skin was cold, the bones were frail, and the muscles were almost entirely devoured. The wrist alone had any color, the color of the Violet Death that sprouted there. It also bloomed on the eyes and naval. Strange phenomenon. "I can't tell if the flowers are the cause of death, or are merely feeding on the fresh corpses. You know, being an opportunist or glorified vulture of the plant kingdom." John, her partner, gave a chuckle. He didn't seem to care quite as much as she did. He was a little crazy though, never will she understand how he managed to convince someone he'd be good for this line of work. "Doesn't matter. We aren't equipped for this. Let's just bag the body and send it to HQ. I'm... Oh fuck. Sarah!" John, for the first time ever, got excited, and not in a positive way. He pointed a shaky finger at the arm Sarah held in her gloved hand, and reverting her gaze back to the body, she saw the flowers, were gone. She dropped the limb and jumped up to her feet, puzzled. "What the fuck is going on here? John?" She watched the body, but it wasn't moving. In fact, until John dropped to the ground behind her, did she move her gaze to him. His eyes were bloodshot, the veins throughout his body became visible through the skin, which started to fade to a pale tan quite rapidly. He clenched at his chest, his hands trying desperately to relieve something, pressure in his heart? Push air through his lungs? Sarah was frozen, she didn't know what to do, how to help. He stared up at her. They both knew it was happening. The flowers, they had branched out. After their meal from one body was finished, they took to another. Ever consuming. John was next. Sarah would surely follow. He stopped. Arms flopped to his sides. His limbs stretched themselves outwards, and a flower bud began to reach out from between his lips. Sarah ran. Blowing through the door of the original victim's home like a bull charging through a careless fighter, she escaped into the outside and ran and ran. Who knows how far she got? Who knows if she escaped? Who knows what ever happened with the flowers?

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Day 6 - July 16, 2014

The sun continued to beat down upon her back as she dug into the fertile earth with the small little shovel that she held in her right hand. She was making a deep enough hole so then she could plant her new little rose bush that she had bought from the local plant shop. Its little green leaves seemed to stretch towards the sky as it drew in that sun that almost every plant loved. A smile curved her lips as she suddenly put the little shovel aside so then she could pull the potted plant close to her form, cradling it for a moment before she set about loosening the plant from its potted prison, only to settle the freed plant into the hole that she had dug for it. She then began to lovingly bury the base of the plant as she pushed the dirt she had dug out, to now fill the hole, using only her hands. Giving the earth a final pat, she reached over to grasp the green watering can as she moved to stand up, tilting this watering can so then a spray would pour over the flower to dampen the ground.

Slowly, she would gently set the watering can down upon the ground, wiping her hands upon her apron as she moved to stand up, tilting her head back to enjoy the sun as it would beat down upon her. The young woman enjoyed the hard sun, but she also enjoyed the garden around her, one that she had started upon ever since she was a child. It was located within a small little area a couple of yards away from her house in a forested area. All around her, a multi-coloured array of flowers bloomed from their little garden beds, garden beds that she and her mother had built together so then she could have a little hobby through gardening. Her mother had nurtured this hobby within her daughter as she grew up and still, she continued to plant flowers. Her mother had even said that gardening must be within her veins, for there was barely a day that went by where she wouldn't be out in her little garden, tending to the earth and weeding out weeds from the bed.

However, her mother had died two weeks ago, suffering from a heart attack and so, her only way to deal was this, was to tend to her garden. Today, she had planted a rose bush, for it was her mother's favourite type of flower and it was the only way that the daughter knew best to honor her mother's memory. Today, while she was not fully comforted by the fact that she had honored her mother in this way, she was comforted by the fact, that at least she would have a part of her mother still living inside her garden.

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"Even when the rain falls,
You & I will stand tall."

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