My first attempt at Olive's writing prompts.
The anger was draining from her body. She spotted a large stone at the side of the path. Her knuckles white from the tight grip she had on the reins as she pulled Betsy up short. The horse reared its head coming to an abrupt stop.
“Sorry girl” she murmured into her beloved Betsy’s ear, gently patting her neck as she slid off her back.
She sat on the large stone looking at the path ahead of her. Fear of the unknown gripped her. She did not know what lay ahead anymore then she could see beyond the fog that held the path. Should she go back? Smoothing down her skirt she drew the sweetness of the early morning dew into her lungs. She was alone; all alone expect for Betsy chomping at the grass beside her. The light breeze appeared to be sweeping the rustling leaves along the path. The sound of her pounding heart began to ease. The beauty of the sun’s rays filtering through the mist soothing her heart and her soul.
Betsy snorted in reply. The trees began to sway as the wind picked up. Startled she snapped her head in the direction of what sounded like a voice. Every nerve in her body alerted she reached out for Betsy’s reins. She appeared to be alone and yet she felt a presence. She heard the voice again. Out of the mist a woman in a flowing green cloak and large dark eyes moved towards her. She moved as if carried on the breeze. Elena froze.
“Who are you?”
“You must go back Elena. There are hard times ahead for your house. They will have great need of your strength.”
“They care nothing for me. According to them I am the reason for the family's misfortunes.”
“And yet when sadness and ill fortune befalls them, is it not to you they turn.”
Elena knew the woman spoke the truth. She wanted to just get on Betsy and ride far, far away but if there was trouble ahead she could not abandon her family. When Elena looked up the woman in the green cloak stood before her. A deep sigh of resignation escaped Elena’s lips. The woman held Elena in the pools of her large deep eyes and smiled sadly. A feeling of peace and strength flowed through Elena.
“You will return?”
“Yes,” Elena said raising herself unto Betsy.
Elena turned to thank the woman in the green cloak seeing only leaves swirling in the wind.
Check out Olives writing prompts at Creative Writing Ink
30 comments:
I love the question raised for the character in this section. And the picture matches the feeling I had of the setting exactly!
Great debut Ann, now we need to read what happens next, very mysteious and broody.
Awwww wow!!!! This is full of atmosphere and mysticism! I love Elena's conflict!! Betsy is lovely too. I so agree with Faith E Hough - your story matches the picture perfectly!
Take care
x
Very nice! Thanks for sharing.
If every picture tells a story,you have certainly captured this one.Well done Ann.
I want more, more please! I love it when a heroine is dedicated to family and this woman in the green cloak sounds so mysterious
The woman held Elena in the pools of her large deep eyes
Can you have a little re-think here? It sounds too close to drowning the poor girl as it stands...but I like the air of mystery you caught.
Hi Faith, Thank you for stopping by. I am glad you felt the story captured the spirit of the picture.
Hi Brigid, as soon as I now what happens next I will let you know.
Hi Kitty, Glad you enjoyed it and thought I had captured the picture. I love Betsy too!
Hi Shallee, Thank you for stopping and leaving a comment.
Hi Val, Thank you. Glad to see you got the blog commenting gremlins under control.
Hi Joanna, I think Elena has a bit of a love/hate thing going on with her family. Glad you enjoyed my attempts.
Hi Jinksy, Yes I think you are right. I must give it some more thought. Maybe she held her transfixed, or in the depths of eyes. I don't know, will mull over it. Thank you.
You captured the mood of the picture quite well. I wonder what troubles will befall Elena's family, and how she'll help them. Part II?
lovely writing Ann, very lyrical. I don't quite get the prompt post idea as there's not really any clue at olive's post. Anyway you paint a good picture - will you develop it?
Hope all's well with you there, I'm back at work - thought of you today as I lunched in the Local with the girls!
Catherine
Hi Theresa and thank you. I was very unsure of posting this story. Not sure it of the flow while trying not to make it too long.
Hi Catherine, thank you and I am hoping to develop it. All is well here. Sounds like your holiday was wonderful. Ahh lunch in the local!
Very mysterious, I like it. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful, Ann! Love the forboding mood. :o)
Thanks for sharing. Have a great day!
Wow, very mysterious. Definitely captures the picture.
Could you email me? You won one of my blog prizes but the email you typed into the form isn't working. Thanks!
Your writing shows you obviously have a very romantic heart and I can imagine the heroine on her horse in the forest in the picture.
Thanks for following my blog and leaving a comment, too :O)
Hello Ann, thanks for visiting my blog :) I now would like to know why Elena is being blamed for her family's misfortune! It's very intriguing and interesting...I'd like to know what happens next. Thank you for sharing :)
I really enjoyed this, thanks for sharing.
Betsy just didn't seem a romantic enough name for her horse :-)
You took the picture and made a wonderful story out of it. I saw the leaves move, I saw the horse, I saw the woman. Great description.
CD
Your story born of that picture is haunting and evocative : cloak of leaves, wisdom in words of wind. It really makes me want to read more of Elena. Great job.
Thanks for visiting my on-going serial and commenting. It helps me feel that I am not playing to an empty house. And you have not seen the last of Epona : you can't keep the last unicorn down. Roland
This is so powerful. As a stand alone piece or as a part of an ongoing series- it is fantastic. Something every woman can relate to at some level or the other.
Writing prompts can be fun, and you've done some great work with this one. It would be interesting to see what else you do with it. Thanks for the link, and have a great week!
You did great! Nice job with the writing prompt
Great interpretation of the picture and thanks for posting the link:)
Lovely!!
Hi! I hopped over from Kittie Howard's blog to say hello and congratulate you on your award. :-)
Ann, I have a little something for you at my place. Enjoy!
Yes, I agree. Mysterious. thanks for sharing it. :)
Mystical and intriguing...a beginning with a real hook...!
I actually heard classical music in my head while reading your story. More to come, right?
By the way, I don't know why but your blogs never come up on my sidebar. I have to hunt you down to read your blogs. Any ideas?
Ooh I like this! Very nicely done!! And thanks so much for posting the Creative Writing Ink's link. ;)
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