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!
- One of the Crew (Stories on a Theme – “Family”)“Let us raise a toast, to Mito!” Captain Ralaydin raised her mug high into the air. The rest of the crew followed her example. Mito blushed. Not from embarrassment, he appreciated … More One of the Crew (Stories on a Theme – “Family”)
- Solitary Confinement (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)“Can I sit?” Yanet looked up from her lunch. The woman, a newbie by the yellow stripes on her arms, stood with her tray of food. She had her newly issued … More Solitary Confinement (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- Memories of Hope (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)Fuane sat on the floor, deep in her memories. The memories were the access point to the future. They were a window to the past, pulling time from a place that … More Memories of Hope (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- Expel (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)Nainea held on tightly to her copper badge, curling up around it to stop them taking it off her. The cave floor was cold, still wet with the blood of the … More Expel (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- The Jewel of Hanerath (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)“HOLD IT!” Cathen yelled. I’m trying gods damn you, Thyren thought. He forced himself to hold onto the spell book, despite the heat radiating off it. The magic poured off the … More The Jewel of Hanerath (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- The Anyentr (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)Don’t move. Don’t move. Don’t move. Calsei changed the motto over and over in her head. Her backpack straps pulled at her shoulders, encouraging her to drop from her crouch and … More The Anyentr (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
