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Description

FIRESTORM
Chapter 1: The GatheringPrize Prompt
WC 1103

The group passed the burned oak tree and began the descent into the lower valley in the center of the grasslands. The sound of other esk grew louder as they neared, and when they came over a small hill they were greeted by a sea of other esk. More esk than some of them had ever seen in one place. In the center was a raised mound, covered in thick grass so tall that a horse could have disappeared into it. Theodosia led the group down and into the valley before turning to face them.

                “You’ll be introduced to Vetru shortly. Please wait here.” Theo looked down to Marie, who still had Spud, Corvee, Squirt and Monday riding on her back. “Why don’t you introduce your new friends to the others who have gathered here? Be nice, and remember your manners.”

                Mori and Nana glanced at each other with an amused expression as Marie nodded, nearly sending Monday toppling to the ground once again. The strange, alien creature in the back, however, had stopped to look around and peer at the massive gathering, watching each esk with a curious, unnerving gaze. The others seemed to sense that the creature was different and gave it a wide berth, watching it warily from afar.

                As Marie led the others towards another group of esk, Theo excused herself and jumped upwards, drifting gracefully to the top of the grass covered mound. Her slender legs lowered beneath her as she reached the top, those little feet tapping quietly onto the dirt. She stood there, the other esk watching her curiously, and then walked into the wall of grass, disappearing into the sea of green.

                “You should come out now.” Her tone was soft but slightly firm, as motherly as if she were speaking to Marie. In response, the grass in front of her shifted, little blue streaks of electricity crackling between the blades. Something gray was hiding beneath it, fidgeting nervously.

                “What if they don’t like me? What if I can’t answer their questions? This was a terrible idea!” The electricity began to hiss, jumping through the grass like angry snakes.

                “Don’t be silly. They’ve all come to meet you, at your own invitation. Take a moment and calm down, and everything will be just fine. We’re all here for you today, and we won’t leave your side unless you ask. Even Marie is excited to see you.” Theo turned to face the crowds and the grass behind her shifted again. This time, however, it rose, revealing a massive gray esk with dark black spots above their eyes and a brilliant, glowing horn. Without another word, Theo stepped through the grass and into the open of the mound in front of the crowd.

                Vetru peeked out of the grass and watched the crowds. There were so many esk here! With a slow, steadying breath, they stepped forward and emerged from the grass next to Theo. When they looked around, several of the esk that they had transformed were standing on the mound as well, looking up at them with supportive shines in their eyes. The massive dapple gray esk nodded, little flickers of electricity still dancing across their back. It was time to say hello.

                Mori and Nana were the first to notice Vetru had appeared. Marie, Spud, Corvee and Squirt wouldn’t have noticed, but Monday suddenly yanked Marie’s fleece until she turned and spotted Theo and Vetru on top of the mound. Vetru stepped forward, until they were standing on the edge of the mound, and spoke.

                “Welcome to the great plains of North America. I am Vetru, and I protect these lands. I am pleased to meet all of you, and to welcome you to my home.” Vetru walked forward and descended from their perch, wading into the sea of esk. They nodded politely, offering greetings to each esk who approached, and then came to a sudden halt as Marie slid to a stop at their feet.

                “Hi! I missed you! Look, I made new friends!!” Marie launched herself onto the ground, causing all four little esk on her back to go tumbling onto the ground around Vetru’s toes. The large gray esk peered down with a bemused look, watching Monday leap to her feet and immediately begin hopping around irately. Her words were a jumble of anger and indignation, but Spud, Corvee and Squirt were laughing too loudly for the little violet’s angry rant to be heard.

                “Now now, my love, I told you to be nice, remember?” Theo appeared at Vetru’s side, looking down at Marie with smiling eyes. Nana and Mori bowed their heads politely to Vetru, but the large plains ruler didn’t move. They were staring, frozen, at the strange three-eyed alien esk nearby. It was standing alone in a circle created by other esk backing away, and its strange black stones drifted around it as if completely weightless. Vetru seemed entranced by the strange creature and it took a moment for them to remember what was happening around them. The dappled plains ruler stepped forward and, alone, approached the odd esk, their deep blue gaze locked, mystified, onto the three star-filled eyes. As Vetru approached, the soft wind chime sound began to tickle in their mind, the alien esk’s fur floating and drifting around it like nothing they had ever seen.

                “Hello.” Vetru’s greeting was simple, and held a mixed tone of both awe and nervousness. Suddenly their mind was filled with a strange, almost magnetic pulsing, but it was very quiet, and filled them with a sudden, strange sense of otherworldliness. The three-eyed creature took a step forward and, much to Vetru’s obvious surprise, extended two small arms from its thickly furred chest. In its delicate fingers was grasped a clump of scorched dirt, taken from the burn oak tree the group had passed by earlier, and in the center of the dirt was a small sprout, its twin leaves spread wide and soaking up the summer sunlight. Vetru stared down at the gift and could have cried, but bit back their sudden well of emotions. Instead, they led the alien creature back up the mound to the top, where they tenderly scraped out a small hole in the dirt. Together, Vetru and the strange esk lowered the little sprout to the ground, tucking it in and patting the dirt tenderly around it. The huge gathering of esk were very quiet during the entire process, until Vetru and the odd esk stood back up. The gathering then erupted into cheering and whistling, filling the plains with laughter and excitement.

Description

FIRESTORM
Chapter 1: The GatheringPrize Prompt
WC 1103

The group passed the burned oak tree and began the descent into the lower valley in the center of the grasslands. The sound of other esk grew louder as they neared, and when they came over a small hill they were greeted by a sea of other esk. More esk than some of them had ever seen in one place. In the center was a raised mound, covered in thick grass so tall that a horse could have disappeared into it. Theodosia led the group down and into the valley before turning to face them.

                “You’ll be introduced to Vetru shortly. Please wait here.” Theo looked down to Marie, who still had Spud, Corvee, Squirt and Monday riding on her back. “Why don’t you introduce your new friends to the others who have gathered here? Be nice, and remember your manners.”

                Mori and Nana glanced at each other with an amused expression as Marie nodded, nearly sending Monday toppling to the ground once again. The strange, alien creature in the back, however, had stopped to look around and peer at the massive gathering, watching each esk with a curious, unnerving gaze. The others seemed to sense that the creature was different and gave it a wide berth, watching it warily from afar.

                As Marie led the others towards another group of esk, Theo excused herself and jumped upwards, drifting gracefully to the top of the grass covered mound. Her slender legs lowered beneath her as she reached the top, those little feet tapping quietly onto the dirt. She stood there, the other esk watching her curiously, and then walked into the wall of grass, disappearing into the sea of green.

                “You should come out now.” Her tone was soft but slightly firm, as motherly as if she were speaking to Marie. In response, the grass in front of her shifted, little blue streaks of electricity crackling between the blades. Something gray was hiding beneath it, fidgeting nervously.

                “What if they don’t like me? What if I can’t answer their questions? This was a terrible idea!” The electricity began to hiss, jumping through the grass like angry snakes.

                “Don’t be silly. They’ve all come to meet you, at your own invitation. Take a moment and calm down, and everything will be just fine. We’re all here for you today, and we won’t leave your side unless you ask. Even Marie is excited to see you.” Theo turned to face the crowds and the grass behind her shifted again. This time, however, it rose, revealing a massive gray esk with dark black spots above their eyes and a brilliant, glowing horn. Without another word, Theo stepped through the grass and into the open of the mound in front of the crowd.

                Vetru peeked out of the grass and watched the crowds. There were so many esk here! With a slow, steadying breath, they stepped forward and emerged from the grass next to Theo. When they looked around, several of the esk that they had transformed were standing on the mound as well, looking up at them with supportive shines in their eyes. The massive dapple gray esk nodded, little flickers of electricity still dancing across their back. It was time to say hello.

                Mori and Nana were the first to notice Vetru had appeared. Marie, Spud, Corvee and Squirt wouldn’t have noticed, but Monday suddenly yanked Marie’s fleece until she turned and spotted Theo and Vetru on top of the mound. Vetru stepped forward, until they were standing on the edge of the mound, and spoke.

                “Welcome to the great plains of North America. I am Vetru, and I protect these lands. I am pleased to meet all of you, and to welcome you to my home.” Vetru walked forward and descended from their perch, wading into the sea of esk. They nodded politely, offering greetings to each esk who approached, and then came to a sudden halt as Marie slid to a stop at their feet.

                “Hi! I missed you! Look, I made new friends!!” Marie launched herself onto the ground, causing all four little esk on her back to go tumbling onto the ground around Vetru’s toes. The large gray esk peered down with a bemused look, watching Monday leap to her feet and immediately begin hopping around irately. Her words were a jumble of anger and indignation, but Spud, Corvee and Squirt were laughing too loudly for the little violet’s angry rant to be heard.

                “Now now, my love, I told you to be nice, remember?” Theo appeared at Vetru’s side, looking down at Marie with smiling eyes. Nana and Mori bowed their heads politely to Vetru, but the large plains ruler didn’t move. They were staring, frozen, at the strange three-eyed alien esk nearby. It was standing alone in a circle created by other esk backing away, and its strange black stones drifted around it as if completely weightless. Vetru seemed entranced by the strange creature and it took a moment for them to remember what was happening around them. The dappled plains ruler stepped forward and, alone, approached the odd esk, their deep blue gaze locked, mystified, onto the three star-filled eyes. As Vetru approached, the soft wind chime sound began to tickle in their mind, the alien esk’s fur floating and drifting around it like nothing they had ever seen.

                “Hello.” Vetru’s greeting was simple, and held a mixed tone of both awe and nervousness. Suddenly their mind was filled with a strange, almost magnetic pulsing, but it was very quiet, and filled them with a sudden, strange sense of otherworldliness. The three-eyed creature took a step forward and, much to Vetru’s obvious surprise, extended two small arms from its thickly furred chest. In its delicate fingers was grasped a clump of scorched dirt, taken from the burn oak tree the group had passed by earlier, and in the center of the dirt was a small sprout, its twin leaves spread wide and soaking up the summer sunlight. Vetru stared down at the gift and could have cried, but bit back their sudden well of emotions. Instead, they led the alien creature back up the mound to the top, where they tenderly scraped out a small hole in the dirt. Together, Vetru and the strange esk lowered the little sprout to the ground, tucking it in and patting the dirt tenderly around it. The huge gathering of esk were very quiet during the entire process, until Vetru and the odd esk stood back up. The gathering then erupted into cheering and whistling, filling the plains with laughter and excitement.