Exercise 1- Starry Night

It was far from a still night as I walked toward the small town nestled within the sprawling limestone mountain ranges, like a pearl within an oyster shell. The wind against my face was bracing and keeping me alert for any sounds coming from behind me as I furtively looked back from time or time.

The town looked deserted upon first viewing it, until I could discern lantern light emanating through windowpanes. It was a town closed to the cold blustery winds blowing in from the farthest rocky outcrop. It was a town so familiar to me. The town had long ago given the faery folk residing in the mountains, their word of protection, in return for a bountiful town existence, they wanted for nothing, they had plentiful food, good health and a peaceful life.

As I continued along the only road into town, I pulled my jacket closer around my neck lost in thoughts of what tomorrow may hold for me, how do I share the foreboding news that had been entrusted to me by The Corporation. I searched for some meaning for what this news will do to these gentle town folk.

As I looked up at the night sky, I could see white clouds tumbling over each other, end on end on end in swirls, as the high winds above transformed the night sky scene over and over again. The night sky was lit by the glow of the waning crescent moon and stars hung across the sky like small bright orbs, seen intermittently between the rolling clouds. There was a light veil of sleet starting to fall around me, but this wouldn’t last for long, the winds would soon blow the sleet away.

I would rather the clouds remain for now as I walked toward the town. The night could provide me with cover of dark anonymity, so that I might make my way to my old abandoned home on the far side of the town undetected. I had left the town some years before to work for The Corporation, much to the shock of my family. The Corporation had approached me by letter to come and work for their archaeological division. They said they had read my thesis on the history of the local limestone caves and that it had impressed them. I held much knowledge of the mountains and the cave systems as my family were one of the longest lineages of protectors for the faery folk, trusted to shield the faery folk from the world beyond the town limits.

So, you see dear reader, I had to come as soon as I heard the news. I had bad tidings to bring; progress was on its way and soon The Corporation bulldozers would be here to level the town and raid the limestone cave systems by three days hence. My fear and trepidation matching the swirling skies, would the town and faery folk think I had deliberately betrayed their secrets, or would they believe I had been used as an unwitting pawn in The Corporations game.

Exercise 2- Unexpected Detail

He was walking though the small community park, the summery smell of jasmine in the air, heading home in the dawn light after the night shift. Tired and hungry.

Passing by the playground a sudden movement caught his eye, stopping him momentarily. There in the playground, amongst the slide, monkey bars and swings was a unicorn sitting on one end of a seesaw, and a gentleman in a top hat and mourning coat sitting at the other end of the seesaw. Up and down, up and down. They were seemingly oblivious to his presence. Surely, he was hallucinating, or it was an effect from the dawn lighting.

He shook his head, as if trying to wake from a slumber, he knocked the right side of his head with his open palm, as if to right his brain and imagination. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly then opened them, and smiled, clearly just a trick of light. There was no man in a top hat and mourning coat, just a dragon at the opposite end of the seesaw to the unicorn. Up and down, up and down. All was right with his world. It was definitely time though to rest his weary head when he is seeing men in top hats and mourning coats.

Kerrie Hurrell

1

3