This week’s word from Trifecta is
1 a : one’s place of residence : domicile b : house
2: the social unit formed by a family living together
Head over to Trifecta to submit your own response or to read other peoples’ takes on the word.
This is a continuation from last week, which should hopefully at least half-answer the question that arose from the ending of the piece titled Ice Breaker. If you’re interested in reading the whole story (so far), check it out under the Fiction tab above, the story’s title is Firefly.
The picture was taken by Miras46, whose photobucket page you can find HERE. I really love the colours in this photograph. It’s such a serene and lovely scene.
Isbritare, I name you. The Elemental grinned, and the flames rose up.
Rachel thrashed awake with a gasp, the smell of smoke strong in her nose. Just a dream. She hugged herself tight, reassured at the smooth, unburned skin under her palms.
She padded barefoot to the kitchen. It was the only part of this house that felt like home, the smell of burnt wood and baked bread lingering even when the fire was banked down to embers for the night.
The cold slate floor made her shiver. Partly to reassure herself that the burns of her vision were impossible, she slipped a hand in amongst the embers within the banked fire, letting some of its heat slip into her.
She jumped in surprise when a hand was laid gently on her shoulder. Her Aunt Miriam smiled down at her.
“Once, I would have considered just that enough to prove that someone had a strong touch of fire within.”
Rachel shrugged uncomfortably, stepping away from the fire.
“Tea?”
“Um… sure.”
She tucked herself into a kitchen chair as her aunt bustled quietly about the kitchen. In a surprisingly short time, she was pulling the kettle from the stove. Their eyes meet over the tea-pot, and Miriam blushed.
She flicked her fingers dismissively and said, “I’ve got a bit of a knack for boiling water… not much use, apart from making tea, but it serves me well enough.”
Rachel said nothing, loading her tea with sugar and milk to make it more bearable. Miriam only squeezed a bit of lemon in hers, holding the steaming cup up to inhale deeply. It seemed to calm her.
“Rachel… I don’t know exactly what happened at the fire last night – I mean, you were brilliant, of course, but it seemed something went not quite as you expected.” She took a deep breath, and went on. “What I mean to say is, if you need someone to talk to, I’m always here for you.”
braintomahawk
/ August 16, 2012Wonderful imagery. You captured and harnessed the fire in words as your characters do physically, and developed them just enough in the word limit.
Now, keep this fire going for us, we’re just getting warmed up!
lexy3587
/ August 16, 2012Thanks
This post was definitely about developing the characters a bit, so i’m glad it worked out
Carrie
/ August 16, 2012I love the description of the hearth and how those familiar smells were still present, even if the fire was out.
lexy3587
/ August 17, 2012It’s one of my favourite things about wood burning fires – the smell of it (when the smoke isn’t clogging your nose, of course
) – and baking bread is even more wonderful
Annabelle
/ August 16, 2012This story is right up my fantasy alley; I hope there will be more to come!
lexy3587
/ August 17, 2012there will indeed
jannatwrites
/ August 16, 2012You’ve definitely done well in getting me hooked on what’s going to happen with these two characters. The burnt wood and baked bread descriptions were awesome!
lexy3587
/ August 17, 2012thanks
Trifecta (@trifectawriting)
/ August 17, 2012Thanks so much for linking up with this piece today. The photo is the perfect accompaniment to your writing–rich, full of color and display. Great job with the prompt.
lexy3587
/ August 17, 2012the photo is pretty amazing – if I’ve seen a sky that colour, I was clearly not paying enough attention to fully appreciate it!
2browndawgs
/ August 20, 2012Part of the mystery is explained.
lexy3587
/ August 21, 2012but still only part