PHOTO PROMPT © C.E. Ayr
Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers challenge this week is prompted by this quirky image. Are you inspired to write 100 words ?
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SANCTUARY
They arrived at dawn, slithering softly into the dewy grass. The pale rays of the rising sun lit up the scales on the skin of their copper-green bodies, their tiny hands splayed out. Their darting beady eyes took in the trees, the foliage, the damp nooks and crannies good for camouflage.
‘We have reached this island our new sanctuary, we will be safe from harm here. I sense we will be protected from destructive forces now we colonised this island’ said the Crested One. ‘We have reached a place where our uniqueness is recognised’.
December 1, 2019 at 9:49 pm
A little microcosm of what happens around the world when a new “species” takes over what they consider “their” land. History repeats itself, endlessly.
December 2, 2019 at 12:42 pm
Great comment Linda , thanks so much, most wise.
December 1, 2019 at 9:08 pm
I sense something ominous. Usually, when a group’s uniqueness is recognized it leads to persecution.
December 2, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Thanks for your comment, an interesting observation.
December 1, 2019 at 8:23 pm
Oh I love this… those little hands and finding a sanctuary, but I find it sad that they are stranded on such a small island…
December 2, 2019 at 12:47 pm
Thank you Bjorn- I feel they are vulnerable, though they may not know that.
November 30, 2019 at 9:27 pm
Your story left me smiling happily. If they’re newts, they’re protected by law in the UK, and the council will have to protect them. Yay!
December 2, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Yes – I imagined them as newts – and so protected, even through the gritted teeth of of councillors !
November 29, 2019 at 8:59 pm
The only habitat left within slithering distance, I guess.
December 2, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Reckon so Ali – hopefully a roundabout will last for a while ?
November 29, 2019 at 11:18 am
Dear Francine,
I fear they might be expecting too much from the beings outside their island sanctuary. 😉 Unique and imaginative take on the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 29, 2019 at 8:16 pm
Thank you Rochelle, so pleased you liked the story. I fear they are marooned.
November 29, 2019 at 10:29 am
I’ve never thought of roundabouts as islands before! Nice one.
Here’s my tale!
November 29, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Thanks Keith, an island was the first thing I saw in the picture !
November 29, 2019 at 5:24 am
Let us hope they do not need too much space as their sanctuary!
Their tiny…. what? splayed out?
November 29, 2019 at 8:26 pm
Thanks for your comment Dale. Ooops ! Tiny HANDS it was meant to be, little amphibian fingers, that newts and frogs have. I have frogs in my garden pond so I am familiar with their little hands.
November 29, 2019 at 8:28 pm
I was thinking hands, fins, extremities 😉
November 28, 2019 at 10:47 pm
I loved the opening sentence
November 29, 2019 at 8:35 pm
Much appreciated Neil.
November 28, 2019 at 8:48 pm
A shame that the only sanctuary they could find was in the middle of a roundabout! Says a lot about how we disregard nature when building our towns. Unique take, well done.
November 29, 2019 at 8:38 pm
Thank you Iain. I do feel creatures are hostages to fortune as we continue to build our environment.
November 28, 2019 at 8:13 pm
I love the expectation and naivety of the copper green ones (toads). How long will it be before their Island is too small.
You raise an important point about civilised man’s encroachment on other creatures habitat.
Loved it.
November 29, 2019 at 8:40 pm
Thanks for your comment James, I appreciate it.
November 28, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Loved your quirky take on the photo prompt. (Missing word alert: their tiny ??? splayed out)
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
November 29, 2019 at 8:43 pm
Thank you Susan so pleased you liked the story. Oops ! I meant to put tiny HANDS — will insert that now.
November 28, 2019 at 5:12 pm
Clever story,
I wish your beasties – snakes I guess – the best of luck, but the town workmen tend to be heavy handed!
November 29, 2019 at 8:45 pm
Thanks, glad you liked the story. I think you’re right about the workmen sadly.
November 28, 2019 at 1:25 pm
Reminds me of the chickens that have colonised a traffic island in the Waveney valley of Norfolk/Suffolk. Amazing, the way animals see refuge where we see danger
November 28, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Thanks Crispina, glad to learn about the chickens in the Waveney valley. Guess animals seize their opportunities.
November 28, 2019 at 5:33 pm
These became famous. Featured on TV, no less!