Athery played a solitary note on his flute.
The smoke at the centre of the room quivered, just slightly. The magic hung heavy in the air, making the smoke from the incense slowly curl around itself in a never ending loop.
Athery brought the flute to his lips and played another series of notes, each one a short staccato. A sharp, instructional sound that made the smoke flinch with every note.
The incense burned brighter, the tips glowing hot red. In the smoke, Athery could just see the shape of the Unathe begin to take form. A creature of music, they normally resided deep underground or in caves, creating haunting tunes from the echoes on the rock walls.
However, this particular Unathe was far, far from home. Trapped in a basement with no echo to call to.
The smoke began to curl around, forming a bat like face.
Athery played another note, this time a set of minor keys. Sadder notes, longing notes.
The Unathe nodded, just once. It wanted to go home.
“I’m here to help,” Athery said gently. He sung the words, the same minor key melody.
The Unathe hovered in the smoke, eyes darting across the room.
“See,” Athery said, gently pointing to the shallow clay bowl on the floor, “this is for you. To take you home.”
The Unathe sung a note, barely audible. A major key. A brave key.
“Yes,” Athery said, smiling. He matched the same key in his voice, lifting the end of the word up a step. Hopeful. Happy.
“Home,” he said.
The Unathe nodded, this time more eagerly.
Athery gently lifted his flute to his lips again, playing a more complex tune. A conjuring, summoning tune that would allow the Unathe to travel on the sound waves and crawl into the bowl.
And it did. Gently, with one tentative smokey paw, it reached out and touched the bowl. Then it suddenly sprang forward, curling up into the smaller space like a cat. It’s smokey, batlike ears stuck out of the top of the small bowl.
“Thank you,”Athery said, taking once of the incense sticks and gently laying it on top of the Unathe. It would keep it warm and calm on the journey ahead back to the cave site where the Unathe belonged.
He hummed a simple arpeggio, climbing up the notes and then down again. A calming note for the Unathe to settle to, as he gently lay the lid of the bowl on top of the Unathe.
“Let’s take you home,” Athery whispered.
In the silence of the room, he could just hear two notes from the Unathe.
Thank you, it said.
Stories on a Theme is a writing challenge to write flashfictions set on a particular Weekly Theme. It’s running from 6th July to 30th August – Check out my IG for more info on how to join in!
- The Document (A Teacup Story)“You got it?” Fethna asked as Nattali got into the car. “Ye of little faith,” Nattali said, pulling out the folder from under her jacket. It hadn’t been a particularly hard … More The Document (A Teacup Story)
- New Love (A Teacup Story)“So,” Iuen asked, “what do you think?” Ealia looked over at Iuen. Part of her wondered absently if he would ever get the grass stains out of his grey officers robes. … More New Love (A Teacup Story)
- After the Battle (A Teacup Story)“How are you doing, now?” Yinla asked. Oaleth poked the fire with the end of a stick. The smoke curled upwards into the night sky. “That’s a loaded question,” he replied, … More After the Battle (A Teacup Story)
- Daylight (100 Words)Minria peered out of the crack in the door. She could see the daylight streaming through the gap, illuminating the dust motes of their hide out. Three months Below had been … More Daylight (100 Words)
- Peace (Stories on a Theme – “Hope”)“What do you think?” Ilyen asked, taking another bite out of his dinner. The burrito juice dribbled out of the end of the paper wrapping, spilling onto the metal of the … More Peace (Stories on a Theme – “Hope”)
- A Green World (Stories on a Theme – “Hope”)Nadine woke to the sound of birds singing. It was still weird, to hear that instead of the constant hum of the city traffic. Even after fifty years of the banning … More A Green World (Stories on a Theme – “Hope”)
