Monday, January 14, 2013

Week 3: WoE Gossamer & Affinity Challenge

Write at the Merge this week gives us two words for inspiration - Gossamer and Affinity - which we can use within our 500 word count or not.

Both these words screamed Sticky and friends to me, so I'm returning to the pixies' world.


I offer the following in response: Summoned to Seer's Well




“You’ve got something on your chin,” Sellamina licked her thumb to wipe the smudge away.

Sticky pushed her away gently before rubbing his cheek. “Sella, stop. I’ll do it.”

Lily and Pocker exchanged troubled glances. “What does Seeress want to see you for this time? What did you do?” Pocker asked.

“I didn’t do nothing,” Sticky replied with less conviction than he felt, his stomach in knots.

Sellamina folded her arms, the shimmer gone from her skin. While her health was improving daily, her energies still suffered from the effects of balinog poisoning. Sticky knew she’d be irritated with him if she could just summon the effort. Instead, worry pooled in her eyes and she sniffed. “Well, even if you did do something to offend her, Sticky, I’m sure she’ll understand that you didn’t mean it.”

It wasn’t the first time Sticky had been summoned to Seer’s Well, nor was it even the fifth. The last time, though, the Seeress made it known that he was dangerously close to being shunned. A shunned, clan-less pixie was certainly a dead one. Facing exile from his sister, his friends, and his beloved woods scared him more than facing down a balinog. His lower lip trembled, “I’ll miss you most, Sella.”

Tears slipped from her eyes. “Oh stop. There’s no need to be dramatic,” she chided, wiping the dampness from her cheeks.

“Sticky-tagger?” the cricketer chirped from the curtained thicket. “The Seeress is ready.”

Friends piled on him, engulfing him in a winged circle of hugs that threatened to keep him in his place. He managed to wrap his arm around his sister, cradling her close. “I-I have to go, now,” he forced the words through the lump in his throat, and the circle dissolved around him.

Timid and alone, Sticky struggled to keep pace behind the cricketer. Seer’s Well was at the end of a narrow shaft and buried in the earth a million seasons ago. In the center of the grand chamber lay the Pearl, the obsidian-black vessel the Seeress used to divine pasts and predict futures. Cricketers and clan-elders would fill the cavernous space on celebration days, packed in so tight there wasn’t room for wings to move. This day though, the Well was unoccupied, save for the Seeress perched on her throne of acorns behind the Pearl.

“Come, Sticky-tagger, come.” The Seeress stretched out a welcoming hand, her silvery gossamer-wings glistened with honeydew. “Let us not stand on ceremony.”

Obedient, Sticky hastened to her side and blurted out his fears, “Seeress, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She looked confused, “Sorry for what?”

Sticky sniffed, “For whatever it was I did that I'm being shunned for?”

She smiled, her eyes twinkling merrily. “Oh, child, I’m not shunning you. I was going to ask you for a favor.”

“Oh?” Sticky asked, hope returning to his heart.

“Yes, you’ve an affinity for all things human,” she leaned closer to whisper, “I was wondering if you might fetch me a bit of chocolate.”
 

30 comments:

  1. Oh, I love Sticky!

    You're right, too. They are just right for those words.

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    1. Thanks! Sticky-tagger helps me see the world through very innocent eyes again. I love working with him, and so I'm very happy, like a proud parent, when others love him also. :)

      I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

      Delete
  2. Pixies! And chocolate. So perfect for this prompt, these words. I had a similar thought but couldn't quite picture it. So glad I switched gears because this is wonderful.

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    1. Thanks! Sticky is such a fun character to write, and his friends. I couldn't help it.

      I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  3. Chocolate is the cure for everything, isn't it? Such fun to read this morning. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks! I agree: chocolate is a wonderful cure-all.

      I'm glad you had fun this visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  4. I was really nervous for poor Sticky. Chocolate really is a good thing to seek!

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    1. Thanks! The Seeress didn't intend to be mean, I'm sure. After all, she's a pixie too and prone to ADD. But, it never hurts to keep a "troublemaker" on his toes!

      I hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  5. I love this. So sweet and fun and playful and childlike... I was going to write childish, but that wasn't the right word. Childlike. Love it.

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    1. Thanks! Sticky and his friends do help me see the world in a rose-colored light. Everything in their world is bright and new and a joy to discover.

      I'm thrilled you loved your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  6. Oh I needed that... so adorably charming. Are there pixies for hire?

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    1. Thanks! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have pixies for hire? Someday maybe I'll publish a book of Sticky stories and launch a stuffed-animal/beanie-baby line of products to go with. Or action figures. I think it'd be nice to have a pixie on the bedpillows the way people put elves on shelves.

      I'm happy you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  7. I really enjoyed this, created a vivid video streaming in my head. More please.

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    1. Thanks! I imagine animated shorts or CGI live-action shorts every time I write in Sticky's world. There's potential there to be sure.

      I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  8. Aww, too good! I loved it. And I especially love the names Sticky and Sellamina. I was getting all worked up and worried there. And then, the ending...brilliant.

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    1. Thanks! Sticky-tagger and Sellamina both were the sorts of names that flowed onto the page without forethought. I love names that come that easily without researching for hours.

      I'm pleased you loved this chapter. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  9. I love the fear-inducing seeress just wants some chocolate. You did a wonderful job building up the tension.

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    1. Thanks! The Seeress has the power sure, but she's almost as curious a creature as Sticky is. She'll be a fun character to develop further. Sticky may be called to the Well again...

      I'm glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  10. My stomach was in knots for Sticky too! As a kid I often assumed I was in trouble-and what a relief to find out otherwise:)

    I was wondering...could Sticky fetch me a bit of chocolate, as well?

    Add me to the list of readers who love Sticky!

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    1. Thanks! Sticky would be happy to fetch you chocolate. I should warn you though: he might eat half of it before he got it to you though.

      I'm thrilled you're a Sticky fan. That makes this author's heart swell with pure pride.

      I'm happy you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  11. I loved this! I too was in knots over Sticky's fate and I agree that your tension building was excellent. Poor Sticky, I bet he had to go home an take a nap after all the adrenaline left his system...assuming of course that they would have adrenaline...

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    1. Thanks! Sticky, being a pixie, is in constant flux between his emotions. He'd head home to sleep certain, but the chocolate would sidetrack him so he'd forget that he was tired.

      I'm so pleased you loved your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  12. Now I need a pixie! The words are perfect for your whimsical characters, and I am so glad Sticky wasn't in trouble!
    ~Angela

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    1. Thanks! I agree. I think the whole world would be a better place if everyone had a pixie.

      I'm happy you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  13. Oh, that is so sweet! I'm laughing and feeling a need to hug something at the end of this. You did a good job showing the love among the group of friends, which made me sure he couldn't be sent away, but I wasn't expecting where you went with it.

    I need me some chocolate. :)

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    1. Thanks! *Hugs* I love that I inspired hugs. And the need for chocolate. :)

      I'm happy you enjoyed your stay. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  14. Aw, poor Sticky! I'm glad there was no shunning. He's too sweet to be shunned.

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    1. Thanks! I agree. I'm also glad that the Seeress just needed a chocolate fix. :)

      I hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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  15. Yay!! Chocolate! It cures all ills, and makes Seeresses happy. I love a happy ending!

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    1. Thanks! It's always good to keep the Seeress happy. Chocolate is a very serious thing. :)

      I'm glad you loved the ending. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

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