Sheep

"Well how are you this morning?" David asked as he stopped to talk with a friend. "I think it is a beautiful day, really. The sun is hidden behind some soft clouds that remind me of...well, you!" he laughed heartily as he patted the sheep on the head and lay down on the field. "Today is going to be a good day." he said again to the sheep. He found them remarkable conversationalists. "I don't know why, but I can feel it."

"Hey! Boy!" a neighboring shepherd yelled over the fence.

David sighed and pulled himself up, leaning heavily on his staff. He really wanted it to be a lazy sort of day, but maybe that wasn't going to happen. "What's going on friend?" he asked pleasently.

"Your sheep were grazing on my field." he said harshly. "I chased them off but it didn't look like they headed back to your property." David checked his annoyance and refrained from saying anything harsh. "You always seem to respect our boundries boy and I didn't want your master to beat you for losing a half a dozen sheep. They went south towards the canyon."

David nodded his thanks and began walking the direction that was indicated. He saw a few of his sheep following him and began a conversation to pass the time. "Odd, don't you think, that while I've been tending father's sheep for years now our neighbor still doesn't realize that I'm his son? Ah well, shepherds are usually quiet and keep to themselves anyways; I know I've never had a conversation with the man myself so I suppose I can't say anything about his not knowing me. Regardless, why would he chase off your brothers like that? He could have just talked to our sheperds last night and informed them of the issue, he didn't need to run them off the field like that."

Soon David found himself leaving the grassy hillside and walking down a path strewn with rocks and pitfalls. He called to his sheep and they bleated their response but sounded far away and difficult to get to. With a deep sigh he began his descent, listening to the echoing bleats of his sheep, wishing he could get back to his hilltop and lyre.

Well we've been slackers....

SO! Let's try to get the ball rolling again shall we? Today's prompt is.........


Sheep.

Yes. Sheep.

<3

Pleading Eyes

It was stupid. Stupid girl with her stupid doe-eyes looking all irresistable. Ridiculous even! How did she get him to do these ridiculous things day after day? It was like she held some insane power over him and she abused it. Evil. That was a very apt word for her- completely, totally, irrevocably evil. Matt stormed down the stairs of the building, too upset to wait for the slow elevator. The cute girl at the desk smiled winningly at him but faultered when she saw the dark cloud over his brow. He was in no mood to flirt today, he had enough issues with one woman, no need to add another to the mix.

Out on the street he looked back and forth for a cab. It was New York City- there had to be an available cab somewhere! After whistling, waving, punching the air, and jumping like a lunatic he decided to walk. Cutting through the park was nice and the cool breeze almost cleared his head completely. He even began enjoying himself for a minute. Only one. Then the clouds broke. Matt glowered at the dark rain clouds that had formed so quickly and they almost looked ashamed of themselves.

Sally looked out at the city as the cleansing rain washed away the pollution and smog, as well as her worries. She loved the rain- it reminded her of home. In the past on days like today she would have sat back on her wrap-around porch and revel in the downpour with a book in one hand, a glass of wine on the table, and warm, delicious Barbara's Brownies on her lap. But sadly, Barbara was not a chain but a person and did not live in New York City. Breaking from her reverie she looked at the clock on her desk and realized that Matt had been gone for well over an hour. She had only sent him to get coffee and there was a Starbucks on every corner- where had he disappeared to?

As if being summoned, Sally's office door slammed open and Matt stormed in, dripping water all over the floor. He dropped a soggy box on her desk and stormed out again, mumbling something unintelligable under his breath. "Hey!" she called. He turned, a dark look on his face. She refrained from grinning- she enjoyed so much ordering him around. "Where's my coffee?" He growled and turned away, storming off towards the locker room. Chuckling to herself she opened the package. A small gasp escaped her lips as she found her favorite wine, book, and a package of brownies.

Just So You Know...

I just wanted to let you guys know that I probably won't be writing much this week because I've got a lot of wedding planning stuff to do. (bleck!) I might have time on Thurs/Fri.
happy trails!

Prompt

It's late for me, but I will try to post tomorrow---

Today's post is Roll of the Dice

Late Prompt

Today's been busy but the prompt is:

pleading eyes

Prompt: Fools

I managed to write something else! It's a second priority for me so I'm not forcing myself to get everyday done (although I should!)

"FOOLS! All of you are FOOLS, I say!"

I pace in my room back and forth as I ponder my dilemma, "They think they can outwit me! I'll show them. I'll show them!"

They think they can overthrow me. ME. The king. I have ruled this country for years through the good times and bad. I defended it against greedy invaders seeking our wealth and people. I sought retribution for others claiming our land and our goods. I reformed the corrupt agencies of the government and the church. I did not fear for my own safety as I challenged my own corrupt men because I feared for the safety of my people and subjects. I pace back and forth; back and forth. Up and down my sleeping quarters I pace; I think about my many triumphs and my many defeats and failures. Any wrong or mistake I made cannot outweigh the greatness I achieved for my country. I turn my head as a knock at the door alerts me that I am not alone.

"My liege," the servant says, "I have your dinner." He bows over the plate as he sets it near the door. I dismiss him with an imperious nod of my royal ordained head. Baptized and anointed by God to rule this fine country. I smile to myself as I eat my dinner and plot my escape into glory.

------

The guard watches through the bars as the old dirty man digs into his plate of mushy roast and potatoes with his hands.

The guard on patrol walks up to him and looks through the bars as well, "This guy was king?"

The first guard chuckles, "Nah, he's just a crazy old bastard who lives in someone else's past."

Pass....?

So, I'm going to try to write on Monday, but whatever idea I had for this kinda flew out of my head, so imma call it a week. Love you, talk to you laters :)

Prompt: Fools

I literally had no vision of this one, and it formed itself. Yay!

“I don’t really care much for April Fools.” Jimmy leaned back in his chair, tipping in it, leaning his feet up on the table to keep him properly balanced. His friend was basically ignoring him, typing away at his computer.

“Hm?”

“I said, I don’t like April Fool’s Day.” Jimmy repeated, cocking an eyebrow at his overly busy friend. “You need a vacation man.”

“Yeah, I know. So why don’t you like April Fool’s Day?”

“All these ass hats walking around trying to play shitty jokes on each other… You wouldn’t let them get away with that bullshit any other day of the week, why the hell does the first day in April get such special treatment?”

“I don’t know man, I also don’t care. I forget about this shit until some dick does something stupid.”

“Well, that’s it then.” Jimmy bumped his foot on the table, much to the distaste of his friend, Eric.

“What’s it? What are you going to honestly do about it? You’re going to tell people to stop pranking you? They’re going to think that is a prank! You’re a constant joker you know. A fool among fools.”

“Yeah well you’re a work-a-holic and you don’t hear me complaining.”

“Are you kidding? You’re always complaining, you were just complaining.”

“Not about you working too much!”

“Yeah, you do. All the time whining. Why do you think we’re here right now? I have a big proposal on Monday at the office and instead of sitting at home and working on my presentation, I’m here in this shit shop hoping my battery lasts long enough on my laptop to get it done.” Eric stuck his tongue out at him.

“Wow, look who’s talking. All you talk about is work! Work, work, work!” Jimmy puffed out his chest and furrowed his brow in his best impression of his serious friend. “I’ve got to stay late and work eighty hours a week and forget I have a life outside of the corporate office.” Eric stared at him for a moment then resumed working on his computer.

“Just shut up and drink your coffee.”

“You call me a prankster? A fool among fools? At least I don’t forget to have some fun every once in awhile.” Jimmy picked up his coffee and stood from his seat. “Call me when you’re done working. I’m going to go do something that doesn’t make me want to throw your computer into the wall.” He took a dignified sip of his coffee then stopped and made a face of disgust. He spit the coffee all over the floor, gagged and choked on it. Eric kept typing away at his computer.

“What the fuck is wrong with my coffee? Fucking tastes like they poured a whole shit ton of salt in here!” Eric didn’t look up at him, just grabbed the sugar container he’d given to Jimmy earlier and shoved it at him. Jimmy looked at his friend in realization.

“April fools. Dick.”

Prompt

In honor of the day today's prompt is


Fools

Dodge A Bullet

That shady guy in the fedora was behind him again- it was painfully obvious that he was following him. What other person would have to go to the library, the laundr-o-mat, the comic book store, the book store, and a paint shop? Besides him of course. He always had odd errands to run; it was part of working for Sally. The archeologist had a wide range of hobbies and was well known in the burro and she made sure that Matt trekked the whole thing before making it back to the office. She liked to annoy him like that. But this guy was still there. He was sure he would have lost him in the comics, but no, even as he chilled for a few minutes in a Lay-Z-Boy, there he was. He was obviously not very good at following people, or he wanted to make it obvious to make Matt approach him. Well, if the latter was true, then he was going to get his wish. There was no way that Matt would let this guy follow him to Sally's place without knowing who he was first.

"Name, rank, and serial number." Matt said from behind the fedora. The hat lifted and revealed a beautiful, young woman with utter confusion written all over her rather adorible face. It wasn't often that Matt was taken aback by the look of someone, but he had rarely seen a beauty such as hers. "Uh...sorry ma'am, I thought you were someone else." he stuttered.

She smiled mischevously and took his hand. "I could be." she said mysteriously. Without realizing it was happening, the woman led him out a side door to an alley. When he realized what happened he pulled from her grasp. "What's going on lady?" he demanded, no longer hypnotized by her looks.

In a moment she had a knife to his throat and her once playful eyes were hard and cold. "A message to your boss- stay out of Israel."

When Matt awoke he was lying in the same alley with a small crowd of people around him. They were concerned for him, asking after him, wanting to call for help, offering him food, water, peramedics. He thanked them and left as quickly as he could. He felt as if he had dodged a bullet...but had he really?

Prompt

Dodge a Bullet.

I might have to skip. Tired and pissy. But I'll try if my mood improves.

Prompt: Eternal

I hated this one. >_> So I sort of gave up five minutes in.

“Vampires are awesome.”

“Yeah, well the old ones are. Not those flaming sparkly ones with the nice hair.” Chuckled one of the other men at the bar. “…you’re not talking about Twilight right?”

“No, no… I watched Bram Stoker’s Dracula the other night with my girlfriend so I could show her what real vampires were like… Though I have to tell you I hadn’t really seen it either. The closest I’ve been to vampire movies is Count Chocula.”

“And he only drinks chocolate milk. I think.”

“Whatever, anyway, they’re awesome. I didn’t realize how much cooler the older versions of them are. I mean… they get to be young, never age, drink blood they don’t even have to eat food. I mean there are certain restrictions, I get that. But don’t you think eternal life would be worth it?”

“Yeah, being immortal would pretty much kick ass.” The man finished off his beer, wondering what it would be like to have everlasting life.

“Pretty much kick ass? Imagine what we could do with that kind of time! This world is so fast, everyone moving so quickly… Hell we limit our education because if we gave it more than the fucking twelve years we give it then by the time we got around to having kids and lives and careers we’d be too fucking old to move. Think of the opportunities we’d have without the limitation of age…” The man seemed to drift off.

“So you boys think it’d be fun to be a vampire?” A man at the other end of the bar said into his beer. Neither of the younger men responded immediately. The mysterious stranger who had interrupted their conversation seemed shady.

“Well yeah, I know it’d be kind of gross but the chicks would never get old and ugly.”

Eternal

This was it, it was finally going to happen. Sally pushed her dark hair back under her hat and dove back into the sand. The find of the century and it was going to be hers! As long as the Israeli government allowed her to keep searching. She was so close she could feel it in her bones; her very soul resounded with that same truth- she would find it. It did exist, and it would be hers.

"You need to drink!" Her assistant yelled down the tunnel to her. She was ten feet below ground level, but that meant nothing in the desert- with how sand shifted, she could be fifty feet from the ground Jesus' had walked on, or inches. Regardless, she could not stop. He yelled down to her again. She ignored him. He was so pesky, always trying to make her do things like drink or eat or sleep. Who could think of such things! That was like blasphemy, treason! She strove forward, working with her hands now that she was so deep. She could not risk harming the artifacts.

She felt a drop of water hit her head and quickly looked to the sky to see if the rains were coming early this week; but no, they were the brightest blue she had ever seen. She glared to her left where Matt stood- her annoying assistant had climbed down to her with a gallon of water in tow. "Drink." he demanded. The sun had tanned his skin after their months of being stuck out here and his face was dry and cracked from the sand constantly swirling around them. His blond hair stuck out in all directions, and not from use of gel or other hair products, just because he hadn't showered in over a week. None of them had, any water they had with them had to be saved to drink or for emergencies.

"Don't waste that water, now get back up there and look over my research again." She demanded, turning her attention once more to the ground. More water fell to her neck and some splashed on the sand next to her. She jerked her head and found the gallon poised to be spilt with a look of resignition on Matt's face. "You wouldn't." she threatened.

"I will if you don't drink." he said firmly. She knew he would too. Mumbling curses she stood and grabbed the bottle from his hands and sipped. "Nope." he said as he prepared to dump more corrosive water onto her precious site.

"Fine!" she yelled as she grabbed it and took a deep drink. She immediately regretted it. Matt thought she refused food and drink because she was consumed with her work; he was only part right. She really didn't want to use the bathroom in the desert. While she loved field work, she hated port-o-potties, and holes in the ground were worse. She screwed the lid back on and shoved it into his arms, a self-satisfied look on his face. She punched him and walked over to the ladder. "I always have to do all the work." she yelled. "Now I have to go look at the research." she said, making excuses to have to go to the bathroom. She would not be gone long, she was too close. Her legacy was near.

And the Prompt Is................................................

Eternal

I'm Skipping. Sorry

Yeah, I just spent hours drawing a giant thing for Japan and so I have no drive to write something about it XD So I'll come back tomorrow. Sorry!

Japan

He had wanted to go for years. Being in the military though, he didn't always get his pick of posts. Lots of people wanted to go to Japan so it was hard to get on that roster. Finally, FINALLY he had gotten the orders, but this was not going to be a good visit. He was an officer and in school focusing on nuclear physics. His degree was not why he wanted to go to the land of the rising sun. The tsunami had ravaged the country and as he stepped off of the plane he was not prepared for the devestation that faced him. The smell was horrendous- rotting wood, fields, buildings, bodies all mixed together to create a stench strong enough to make the most iron stomachs clench. Mike did not have an iron stomach. He wiped the bile from his face and side stepped the mess out onto the tarmac. They were in a specialized security wing of the base and fierce looking MPs were guarding the entrance. He knew that many of the bases in norther Japan had allowed civilian planes to land, but that meant that security was stepped up. People without credentials were removed, forcefully if needed. While the US wanted to help Japan, they were not willing to give up Homeland Security to do it. He showed his badge and orders to the guard who reluctantly let him pass. A corporal scurried over from the hangar bay and saluted smartly. "Major, welcome to Fukushima." he said. Mike returned the salute and extended his hand. "What do we have going on today corporal?" The young man placed a clipboard in his hand and began rattling off lines of information that few could follow- it was obvious that, despite his lowly rank, he was exactly where he needed to be. Mike began to feel more at ease. It was a lot easier solving nuclear problems with people who actually had an inkling of what it was you were trying to do. When the corporal took a breath, Mike asked what he was most excited to know: "So when do we go to the plants?" The corporal looked confused. "The plants, sir?" he asked. "Yes, those big complexes that contain radioactive material that power entire countries and are trying to blow up at the moment. Plants." "We are not authorized to leave the base, sir." he said almost apologetically. "We are doing all that we can from here." "Well what the f-" Mike took a deep breath. "What can we do from here?" he demanded. "We need to be at the reactors, not watching them through Skype!" "The colonol will explain everything sir." he said quietly. Mike regretted his outburst. He hadn't been an officer all that long, but he knew that it was these guys that really ran things. He needed this brilliant little man on his side. They were trying to save the world after all.

Prompt of the day is................................

Japan

PROMPT: Rotting

hello! I haven't written anything in A LONG TIME. I used to write a lot. Hopefully this isn't too painful. I'll probably edit it tomorrow when I'm more awake. be kind!

“Uuugghh!”

“Watch out!”

“Urgg!”

“This place isn’t safe!” I stretched out a hand to grab Benjamin by the shirt to drag him closer to my face. “Ack! Its breath is worse than its bite!” He grumbled and jumped out of my grip.

“Why are you here?” I mumbled as I opened my eyes to a bleary world. Everything was too bright, too loud, and too fuzzy. “Why are you waking me at this ungodly hour of-” I looked at the clock and finished lamely, “of nine.” Benjamin grinned as he enjoyed my misery. People wide awake before ten are unbearable.

“You really are horrible in the morning!” he said to deliberately not answer my question.

“And you’re just brightness and sunshine. Why are we dating again?” I rolled over and muttered into my pillow.

Benjamin yanked it out from under my head, “You’re using me as a living alarm clock, remember? Especially when you have big important job interviews so you aren’t homeless after you graduate.”

My eyes finally adjusted to the light as a glared at him, “Oh yeah, but you’re a really horrible maid.” He stared at me with an adorable confused smile, “All that fruit you bought a month ago that you promised you would eat? It’s rotting in the fridge! The apples over-ripened everything because you wouldn’t separate them like I suggested. A good maid would clean that up.” I patted his leg to shoo him away.

He leaned over my face as he snarled his retort but I cut him off with a sudden kiss. When we pulled apart some minutes later he stood up to continue glaring, but I knew it was a farce so I looked innocently up at him.

He broke after about thirty seconds with a grimace that turned into a smile, “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“I know,” I beamed as I sat up and put my feet over the edge of the bed, “Just throw the damn fruit out!”

Prompt: Rotting

I like this one a lot but I rushed it.

Three days without food or water now on this expedition. The two men walked side by side, not saying a word. It wasn’t worth it, every word turned into a snide remark which only led to an argument which neither one of them had time or energy for. They had to try and find their way back. They’d heard a rumor that somewhere in the Sahara desert the Garden of Eden hid. It was told that inside lay the tree of life, and if one were to eat an apple from that tree, they would gain all the knowledge of the world. Some people had speculated that the tree of knowledge was in actuality the fountain of youth, but these two knew better than to think that. It was knowledge that was gained, not agelessness. They’d be able to gain immortality through their knowledge of the universe. Finally all the arguments of theology and science would be settled with a bite of one apple.

“It doesn’t exist. We should try to find some help.” Thomas spoke up after a moment. His voice was raw. He missed water desperately. He knew they’d die in less than forty eight hours if they didn’t have any. It felt as though his throat were swelling and suffocating him all at once.

Paul didn’t respond, he just kept walking, adjusting the backpack on his shoulders which he only kept to distract him from the hunger pains that were becoming crippling. Paul didn’t want to fight with Thomas again over the same damn thing but he knew it was going to happen.

“Oh yeah? What should we do? Have you seen a single other person out here in this godforsaken desert besides us?” He mumbled. “Just keep walking.”

“I didn’t even want to come out this far you know. We should’ve turned back the first day we ran out of food.”

“We were close.”

“Oh clearly. God you’re so stupid! If we get out of this alive, I’m never listening to another stupid idea of yours again.” Thomas rolled his eyes but then stopped and stared beyond Paul who was still arguing with him.

“Me? My idea? Sure, who helped pay for the supplies and the plane tickets? Who got me a map of the Sahara and left it on my desk as a present? You good sir. My wife is going to kill you when we get back home, so choose wisely.” Thomas didn’t respond, he was still staring into the desert. “Hey, don’t you ignore me!”

“Shut up.” Thomas whispered, looking past his friend and shoving him out of the way. He started at a walk toward something in the distance than ran faster and faster as time continued on. He dropped to his knees, seeing the apple lying on the ground. One, singular, perfectly red apple. “Dear God…”

“What? What did you find?” Paul walked with a limp to catch up to his friend. Thomas turned to Paul, tears dripping down his cheeks, holding the apple cupped in his hands. Paul gaped at the beautiful, shining apple in his hands. He’d never seen a more perfect piece of fruit. Was this the fruit of the tree of knowledge? Was this what they had come all this way for? Where was the tree? Did someone grant them mercy with the fruit they had so long searched for?

“We found it… We found it Paul! Look at this! Even if it isn’t the fruit from the tree of knowledge, surely it’ll be enough sustenance for us to last a few more days so we can find help! Our bodies don’t need much! Oh Paul we’re saved, I’m sorry I ever said anything bad about you!” Thomas looked back down at the apple and went to take a bite of it, a small one so he could share with his friend.

He stopped, eyes wide as he got close to the apple. Blood dripped down over the back of his neck, down and over his shoulders. The sickening thud of the empty canteen was all that could be heard as it hit his head over and over. He fell to the side, eyes hollow and empty. Dead.

“It’s mine! It’s mine!” Paul shouted at the top of his lungs. He threw the canteen to the side and ran over to the apple. He pulled it close to his chest and held it there in his arms, hugging it like it were a lover. “I’ve searched so long, you’re everything I need!” He stopped and looked at the apple. One bite and he’d have everything he could ever desire. Money, power, women, luxury- everything. He brought the sweet apple to his lips, inhaling the scent of the natural sugars it would provide his body. Amazing how one little apple could give him so much.

Crunch. He bit into the red flesh of the apple. He coughed and spit and gagged on the inside of the apple. He looked down at it. This apple tasted awful. Upon closer inspection it was brown, filled with maggots.

Rotting. Like the corpse of the man he’d killed to get it.

Rotting

The trees outside seemed more withered than usual, their branches dryer, more like a hollowed husk of one that once bore life. Rebecca chuckled as the thought came to her, realizing she herself felt more and more like that dead tree outside of her office than she ever imagined she would. At one point in time she had had dreams, real dreams! From the childhood fancy of becoming a hit country artist, to wanting to take care of animals, to wanting to take care of people, to...sitting behind a desk? When did that fit in? Totally not in the ten, twenty, or fifty year plans! "I hate this, you know." She said as she sat back in her ergonomically correct chair and stared at the blinking computer screen. "I hate that this is what my life has become." She didn't expect an answer, God didn't usually speak audibly to an office filled with people, if he spoke audibly at all. She hoped for that stirring in her soul, that breath that filled her with hope that she was not doomed to sit behind neutral walls for the rest of her life. "Why did you ever bring me to this place? I sometimes think I would have been happier at the local grocer than here!" A face popped over her cubicle- Nate from merchendising. Of course. He was always there at the wrong time. "Hey Bex, what's on the plate for today?" he said jovially. He was one of those annoying people who actually enjoyed their work. She admitted, though never aloud, that at times she was jealous, the rest of the time she loathed him. It was entirely possible that she was not being objective and her jealousy over having a job she enjoyed overshadowed the nicer aspects of her annoying cellmate, but highly doubtful. She was always objective. "Just getting through another day Nate." she said casually. "Great. Well, I've got those mock-ups lying around the office so I'll send them over to you, okay?" he asked, easily ignoring the dead look in her eyes. How could he so easily rattle on and on about such trivial things when she was writhing in agony behind her cool green eyes. He waved off and she turned back to her computer, another sigh sitting tantalizing behind her lips. "Someday." she said as she read the prayer she had written years before, looking once more for the hope that would lift her from her pit, free her from her life of Excel sheets and Power Point. "Someday."

Prompt!

My good friend, Semi-Automatic Green Tea joins us in the writing blog today. The prompt is:
Rotting

Risk

The general looked cautiously at the troops as they stood below him, each scared to death but ready to die at his signal. His communications officer stood beside him as he glanced at the map that lay on the table. "Send the airstrike." He said, his decision made. The planes soared overhead and moments later he heard the resounding crash of buildings toppling. Victory. Subtley he motioned for his men to begin their attack. They had had the city surrounded for weeks but made little headway- somehow, the survivors had held on. The troops moved slowly, quietly along the terrain. Each was trained to make no noise, not even to hear them breath. It had to happen today. He had lost too many soldiers and if he could not take them down he would have to retreat to the mountains. His last chance. With a battle cry that echoed for miles the troops charged, men, tanks, airplanes flying from overhead. Screams of frustration tore from the buildings as his hidden enemies realized that this time, he was stronger than they. As his men finished their approach what few survivors could, fled from the city gates. As the rebels ran, the captain smirked. So much still to happen to that proud general. He had no idea what was in store for him. Let him have this city, it would not be his for long. Only a hundred or so had made it to the rendevous point. It was a hard hit, but the men would not die in vain- not this time. The captain looked and saw the looting happening in his city. Nearly all of the generals forces were inside of its walls now. He raised his arm and waved. Hundreds of planes roared overhead, tanks came crashing through the forest and torpedoes and missiles bombed the city to ruins. If it couldn't be his, then it need belong to nobody. "Dude! C'mon!" Ginny yelled as Cap flicked her red pieces off the board. "You totally cheated!" she pouted. "I hate this game." "I did not cheat!" Cap laughed as he grabbed the box. He began picking up the little pieces and dropping them into the box. "And if you hate this game, why did you insist that we play it, huh?" he smirked. "Oh shut up. I'm going home." she stormed off the porch and grabbed her bike. "Fine!" he shouted over the railing. "Then we won't play anymore. Ever!" Ginny glared at him over her shoulder. "I'll be back tomorrow." she said in the most threatening voice she could muster. Cap watched her ride away from his house and laughed. He loved summer vacation, and he loved Risk.

Prompt: Risk

D'aw my timer went off before I got to finish what I was gonna do!

It would be risky. But everything that was worth doing generally had some sort of risk involved. She looked down at the ground beneath her, and behind her. Solid land, normal path, inviting grass and flowers and her horse tied up to the tree. The horse grazed lazily, hiding under the shade of the tree.

Ahead of her was a broken down looking path. Half of it looked flooded while half of it looked like it was going to fall apart. One side went down in a steep incline, littered with pieces of what was once a fence, but didn’t seem to have done its job of preventing objects or people from rolling down the edge into what appeared to be puddle up rain water over some jagged and unfriendly looking rocks.

“Well balls.” She muttered, pushing back her hair. The paper in her hand was telling her that she had to go through this path. She couldn’t ride her horse through it, there was no way. The girl would lose her footing and stumble, killing them both, or at least killing one of them, less likely the horse, more likely her. She had spent years trying to get to this point. Her mother had received a map from a man who’d shown up at her door years ago, ill. He told her that there were treasures beyond her imagination at the end. He was too ill to find them himself and he died in their home the next day. Her mother had hidden the map for years, believing it held some kind of curse that had made the man fall ill.

When her mother had died, she’d inherited the map and spent years trying to solve the riddles on it. It didn’t depict any land she could find on any map at all so she started looking to see if it were an interpretation to throw simpler people off and she had hit the jackpot. She’d followed clues, gone on expeditions, hit dead ends and started all over again several times but here she was now, on a path she was clearly supposed to follow without her horse. She didn’t want to just leave the old girl behind but she had no choice if she were to go ahead. She walked back over to her horse, her companion through all the trials and tribulations the years had led them through.

“Well, I’ve got to leave you here for a little while. Don’t you come running after me okay? It’s dangerous.” She gently brushed her fingers over the horse’s mane. The horse didn’t acknowledge her, it was just a horse after all. She gave it a nice pet behind its ears and then headed back toward the path. The horse whinnied and bucked, trying to get to her. “No, no girl… Don’t follow me okay? You’ll get hurt!” The horse calmed after a few moments, but looked mutinous nonetheless.

“I’ll be quick. I promise…” She moved on the path, trying to find a place to get her footing. If she were lucky she could make it across quickly, but if she made a wrong move the whole place looked like it would fall apart in a landslide and send her plummeting onto those sharp looking rocks in the water. It looked like shallow water too, maybe only a foot or two. She’d be impaled, in the very worst case and in the best case she’d break her arm and drown in the damn puddle.

“I just have to be careful… that’s all… It’s a risk I have to take.” She slowly pressed her foot to the muddy ground in front of her. She had about a foot she could walk on in width of the path. She couldn’t risk moving any further to the edge, or to the precarious foliage on the opposite side. She stood still in her new spot on the path. Nothing had fallen, nothing had even given for a moment. The horse seemed to be watching her in fear, like it knew something bad were to happen.

“Not so bad…” She smiled a bit at the horse, then continued on the path, becoming braver with each step. Something seemed amiss, the closer she got to the other side, the further it seemed to be.