Flash Fiction Friday: Shadows

Istiqlal (Independence), 7 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Friday, January 25, 2008 about 9:59 AM PST

Daily Writing Practice Prompt for January 25, 2008 - Shadows

Evening's shadows cast their long fingers across the valley. The western mountains seemed particularly foreboding tonight. A shiver ran up Rena's spine as she began to ascend the pass that led into the Daughter Mountains. She remembered all the stories her mother had told her about those mountains and the ancestors who passed through them on their journey to the Valley of the Lavender Lilies.

As she climbed Sarn's Pass, the shadows seemed to gather around her like fog coming in from the inland sea that washed against the Valley's southern boarder. The shadows seemed oddly protective, as if there was something beyond them that stalked her, but needed an even deeper darkness to conceal themselves. Rena instinctively knew, that whatever stalked her would wait until full darkness to attack, but she would reach the crest of the pass before the sun had completely set.

At the crest Rena took the firewood stacked beside Sarn's Mound and build a fire. She had reached the point of now return, the grave of her ancestor who had defended the fleeing tribe as they entered the Valley of the Lavender Lilies. If she did not return to the Valley at dawn, there would be no going back because none of her kin would accept her back in their midst.

"Daughter," came her mother's voice from one of the surround caves, "it's safer within the cave. Join me in my exile."

Rena added another piece of wood to the fire. A shadow that resembled her mother stepped out of a cave and beckoned to her. Responding to the shadow would only draw it closer, so Rena took a honey cake from her pack and began to eat. She ate the cake slowly as she scanned the entrance to the other caves. Apparently only one of the caves was inhabited, but Rena was not sure what dwell in the cave. She knew only that it was not her mother.

"Please, Rena, I am Jura, your exiled half-sister, join me."

At least now, Rena thought, I know what I'm dealing with.

"No, Jura," she picked up a burning log and threw it toward the shadow, "I'll not join you. Return to your chosen exile." The shadow of her half-sister fled into the cave.