Two Picture-Prompt Flash Fictions!

Hello, everyone! I recently wrote two flash fictions, inspired by a couple awesome pictures I found! I decided to share them with you. Make sure you take a look at each picture before reading the flash fiction! You’ll be able to connect more if you do. I hope you enjoy!

The Window Guardian

At the dawning of the day, she was there. Her flaming sword flickered in her hand, and she stood straight and still like a proud statue. The sun ascended into the sky, passing by the great window that towered behind her. As soon as the final ray disappeared from the pane’s view, her shoulders took on a slight dip and the point of the flaming sword fell so it rested on the soft dirt under her feet. Her main task was over. However, she had to keep one eye open just in case someone attempted to break the window. Enemies—trolls, dragorials, goblins, and the like—only attacked when the sun shone through the window. They would attempt to break through the protective glass and destroy the light of the sun at its weakest stage of the day. If they succeeded, darkness would alight on the lands below her mountain. She could never be too careful.

When the sun had reached its peak in the sky and shadows no longer stretched across the ground, a wanderer toiled up the path from below, his back bowed and the bald crown of his head shining in the sun’s light. All the while he didn’t look up. Her eyes never left his slow progress toward her. A breeze rushed by, blowing her long oak hair to one side, but the rest of her body remained frozen. At last, the traveler looked up. His eyes locked on her still, slight form upon the mountain, and surprise flickered through them.

“Greetings, my lady!” the traveler called up to her. “It is a beautiful day, is it not? The sun has gifted us its bright rays today and fought off the morning fog.”

She did not speak until he had come within several yards. Then she nodded and smiled. “Aye, traveler. A gorgeous day indeed.”

The traveler squinted his eyes at her, breath huffing through his lungs. He took a swallow of water from a leather canteen and gestured to her sword. “What’s the weapon for? Do you wander the land as well? What brings you up here?”

She smiled. “I do not wander. I am the Window Guardian. I remain before the window, keeping it and the sun beyond it safe, lest any evil attempts to destroy its light.”

The traveler nodded slowly. “Do you ever wonder what life down below in the land is like? Do you ever yearn to know how beautiful the land is with the strong sun streaming down on you?”

For the first time her body shuddered, and her lips drew down into a slight frown. “Yes.” Her voice was low and thoughtful. “I have wished to see what the land is like. For two hundred years I have stood here. Tell me, traveler…what is it like?”

The traveler shook his head. “Alas, I must leave soon. I cannot spend the time to tell you.” Then he extended a rough, calloused hand. “However, you could lay down the sword. Leave the post for a week or two. I could show you the land if you wish.”

The war in her eyes was as great as those in old legends—as if emotions the size of dragons clashed inside her mind. A tear sprung into one eye, escaped, and trickled down her flawless skin. Then she shook her head, lifted her chin, and hefted her sword. “Nay. I stand before this window every day so that people like you can enjoy the light of the sun. If I left, the land wouldn’t be the same. Evil would control the sun, and darkness would take the land. I shall remain.”

The traveler nodded, and continued along the road, walking away from her and gradually back down from the tip of the mountain. Again she stood in silence, looking out over the land. The sun seemed to shine brighter than it had before, as if smiling down on her for her choice.

Giant’s Remorse

“Nothing to eat in this blasted place!” Trent roared and threw the stick of meat he held into the snow. It had frozen in his pack, and with every bite, he felt as if he was chewing an icicle.

“Relax, Trent.” Izaak lifted a gloved hand. “It’ll be all right. We have but two days’ travel before we reach Neelishton. The village will have warmth and food.”

Trent kicked at the snow and folded his arms over his chest. “But what about now? I can hardly walk. My toes feel as if they’ll fall off.”

Izaak reached over and held Trent’s shoulder. He whispered into his friend’s ear. “Please Trent, get a hold of yourself! A lot of these men have never taken this pass over the mountain before. We don’t want you discouraging them.”

“I want to discourage them!” Trent replied. “Look at this pass! It’s high and cold and full of waist-deep snow traps!”

Izaak sighed. “There is another pass…I’ve only taken it once. No one else has. It’s longer but easier.”

Trent immediately nodded. “An easier pass over the mountain? Yes.”

The other men in the traveling group overheard the last bit of the conversation and murmured agreement.

Izaak straightened, looked at everyone, and nodded. “All right then. We take the path of the Giant’s Remorse. It’s easier, but it will take us three days to get to Neelishton, not two.”

The men packed up their supplies and started off, hooded heads bent to the wind. Izaak led them up the mountain and off to the side, where the snow began to level out into a harder-packed, easier road. They walked far up the mountain before Trent took a peek around from outside his cloak. For so long his eyes had been on the ground in front of his feet. Now he gasped. “Look at that!”

The other men glanced up and stared in surprise. A great ice sculpture loomed above them. It depicted a man crouching along the pass road, tears streaming down his bearded face, staring at the path.

“Yes,” Izaak spoke. “It is the Giant. Incredible, aye?”

“Who would take the time to carve such a massive statue?” Trent wondered.

Izaak shook his head. “It’s not a statue, Trent. The Giant was real. However, he pitied himself. He felt as if no one cared for him as they should. Because of this, he ran up into the mountains. Everyone thought him ridiculous. The tears of his self-pity fell from his face and froze all over his body until he was encased in the ice of his own tears. And now he sits at the top of this pass, looking out at the path. His self-caused misery will now keep him encased here forever, to remind him of his foolishness.”

Izaak turned after a minute and continued on in the snow. Trent followed, but as soon as he turned, his toe hit a rock. Shocks of pain flew up to his leg. He opened his mouth but closed it just as quickly. Perhaps complaining wasn’t the answer to everything. He hurried on after the bent form of his friend.

And there we have it!! I really hope you enjoyed my flash fictions. They were loads of fun to write.

Which one was your favorite? Have you written any flash fictions before? Would you like to see more flash fictions in the future? Please let me know in the comments! I would love to chat with you.

Until later,

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