
Kim from Writing in North Norfolk, hosts Prosery, when we are asked to write a very short piece of prose that tells a story, with a beginning, a middle and an end, in any genre of our choice.
As it’s flash fiction, we have a limit of 144 words; an additional challenge is to hit 144 exactly. The special thing about Prosery is that we give you a complete line from a poem, which must be included somewhere in your story, within the 144-word limit. Our line is “There are moments caught between heartbeats“
MOMENTS
There are moments, and then there are moments. There are moments that make you and moments that break you. For a Warrioress of the Way, there are moments caught between heartbeats, like the space between raindrops filled with nothing and everything at the same time. Chalize stood in that moment, silent rain falling yet dry, heart beating but not yet. Her senses beheld her world in crystalline perfection, the glint of the sun on moonstone, the cool hardness of steel beneath her hand, the crunching leaves of steps approaching. Choices to be made, to fight or flee, to live or die. For a Warrioress of the Way life was difficult. Out here away from the temple though it seemed so very precious. In that moment, Chalize made her choice to live a moment more, fight another day. In that moment she turned and ran.
Word count 144
Little Moments — Brad Paisley
Til next time ~Peace ~JPP
Suppose she ran, but fight another day
Much❤love
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Yes, sometimes we have to choose our battles. 😉
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Your piece has piqued my curiosity and I’d like to know more about the Warrioress of the Way, I love the descriptive detail in: ‘the glint of the sun on moonstone, the cool hardness of steel beneath her hand, the crunching leaves of steps approaching’. Why is she away from the temple? What is she running from and to?
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Thank you Kim. The Warrioress’ of the Way are the elite guard for the Temples of the Way a peaceful religious sect, generally they protect the High Priestess of that particular temple, with their lives. Chalize’s temple has been attacked, she and the remaining survivors are leading the High Priestess to a safe house. Chalize is acting as decoy to draw the pursuers away. She was faced with the decision to turn and fight (her natural instinct) or continue to lead the soldiers away. She elects to continue to run. 😉
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Thank you! Will you be writing more about them?
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This is well-written, and I’ve become an instant fan of Charize! The ending surprised me, I expected a fight. I, too, hope you’ll give us more of this wonderful warrioress!
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Thank you so much. I’ve always felt there comes a moment when every warrior is faced with the question of whether to fight to the death as they’ve been trained or if it serves greater purpose to run. 😉
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