Monthly Story Prompts

What does your character think about this?

They painstakingly made it.

The fields were empty. The storehouses were full. Farmers and their workers hurried to finish the last of the bailing, pickling and boxing. It was almost time to celebrate the harvest's end with the masquerade that Faline hosted every year. Roe had never ventured further than Mead. Every year, The Order would attend but she would stay behind, fearful of what lay beyond the border of Namarast. That, and the fact that her parents resided in Faline and she was terrified of running into them unexpectedly. They had delivered her to the academy like a ritual offering, abandoning her here. They never wanted her. Not really. She was an inconvenience to them and their careers. They couldn't wait to be rid of her. As soon as she was old enough, they waved goodbye and turned their backs on her. The bitterness of it all still gripped that part of her heart.

However, this year had been the year of growth for Roe. She had excelled in her learning, making huge steps to improving her magic. Then there was the matter of the monster who Roe bravely went to face...well, we say 'face'. More like pander around the edge, attempting to help. The thought was there, anyhow. Stepping outside of Namarast, into the big wide world, taking the leap of faith into her fears. It was the shove she truly needed. Her confidence had risen and she found herself outside more and more rather than being stuffed inside a library, regardless of the time of day (not that she didn't thoroughly enjoy being stuffed in a library). It was only right that, this year, she joined in the festivities.

Roe sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, tongue sticking out and one eye closed, as she attempted to get the end of her thread through the tiniest loop on the end of her needle. With precision, she poked it through, smiling to herself as it glided through. Yes! It was a small victory. Given the amount of tantrums she'd thrown making this costume, any victory was worth the small cheer. Every spare moment she had, she'd spent in this position, shouting at her sowing kit, crying into a pillow and, maybe once, even going as far as throwing a spool of thread out the window as it didn't match the fabric colour she'd chosen. She wasn't proud of that. Despite her busy schedule, she'd taken up every extra job she could, trying to rake in as much money as possible to buy all the materials she needed. It was barely enough and some of the traders took pity on her, offering her freebies or small discounts. She scraped by, working little by little as she amounted more and more stuff. Her room, usually neat and tidy, resembled a bomb-site, scissors and textiles and a rogue feather strewn all over the place. A mannequin stood central, a close match to her own body type which held the design for her as she worked.

Her little bunny familiar slept among the nest of blankets piled upon the bed and was suddenly startled by the yelp of his friend. He arose, ears floppy with sleep, and hopped to the edge of the bed to investigate. Roe had pricked herself with the needle, the red blood rising quickly to escape through the tiny puncture.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," she sighed as she sucked her thumb. "What do you think? I've stared at it so long, I'm starting to hate it."

Her familiar looked at it, cocking his head one way and then the other.

"Hmm...I like it. I just feel like it's..."

"Missing something!" They both said in unison, Roe nodding her head eagerly. "Yes! I thought that too. I just don't know what it's missing." She sighed again, feeling hopeless. "Maybe I've just been cooped up in here too long. Shall we go for a walk?"

Emrys nodded, shaking out his fur before hopping off the bed. Roe swung open her wardrobe door, choosing a thick, winter coat with a fur-lined hood. She wrapped it around herself, ready to embrace the cold air of autumn. As she opened to main door from the dormitories, the brisk breeze wacked her in the face, sending a shiver down her spine, but it was fresh and awakening like a splash of cold water on tired eyes. She shrugged her hood up and walked out into the afternoon.

She spent her time, wandering aimlessly, thinking over and over what she was missing from her masquerade costume. She was certainly no seamstress and couldn't begin to imagine tackling a large change so late on in the game. It was practically finished at this point but it was a little lacklustre. If she didn't figure it out, she was going to go home, throw it away and refuse to go, missing yet another year. No no, that couldn't happen. She wouldn't forgive herself for doing such a thing. It was wearable even if she was beginning to hate it. Well, maybe not hate. That's a rather strong word. She didn't hate it. It was just...basic. It needed pizzazz. She walked down the main street, the usual traders and sellers beckoning to her, wanting to entice her with something. Produce from the farmers, homemade soups and stews from the wives, magical potions with nondescript effects from suspicious mages - the usual collection. Nothing really drew Roe's eye, not that she had come shopping. Her bag was still at home and she had no money in her pockets for any wares today.

Emrys hopped ahead, weaving and dodging between the many legs of other browsers. It was hard to keep up and Roe lost sight of his bobbing white tail. She raced after him, bumping shoulders with a couple of strangers along the way. She apologised profusely, walking half-backwards as she tried to continue but this led to her bumping into even more people. Again, she apologised, looking at the floor in embarrassment. They parted, allowing her to pass but she heard one of them mutter under their breath 'watch where you're going next time'. She hadn't time to turn around and question it, not that she would anyway. Standing up for herself was more of a challenge than she wished to face today.

"Emrys!" She cried out, frantically searching for him. In the chaos, she'd lost his trail completely now. Panic started to set in and she looked around, crazed with worry. She called his name again. People were staring at her, judging the madwoman she had become as she spun in circles, head twisting around and around. Suddenly, the little bunny popped up in front of her, plopping down by her feet. Grasped between his teeth tightly was a strap of leather and a long, frilly necklace trailed behind him. She scooped him up, hugging him tightly into her chest.

"Oh Emrys! Please never do that again. I thought I'd lost you!"

He blinked, unaware of the drama that had occurred in his absence.

"Look what I found," he garbled, his mouth still full as he dare not let go.

Roe took it from him, setting him back down on the ground. He shook off the flattened wisps of fur. He hated being handled. Roe, on the other hand, was fascinated by the gift he had brought her.

"Where did you get this from? Did you steal it?"

Emrys scoffed, looking rather offended.

"Steal?! I am no thief and you do best to remember that. You may be my master but I can give you a good kicking should you ever need it."

She apologised, taken aback by the outburst.

"Steal it..." he tutted, rolling his eyes. "No, I didn't steal it. There was a lady over there -" he gestured with a head bob behind him. "- and she gave it me; said it would bring me luck, she did."

"Luck, you say?" She nodded. "It just so happens to match the costume back home. Do you think this is the missing piece?"

She held it up against her chest, flicking her hair out the way for a better view. It suited her neck rather fabulously.

"I think you may be right."

Roe looked behind him before they left, hoping to spot this mystery woman who had gifted them such a treasure but she couldn't see anyone who matched the description Emrys had given her. How strange. Regardless, she thought little of it and turned on her heel to head home. They returned, the little bookworm shedding her coat back onto the hanger it came from. She approached the wooden mannequin, fastening the necklace around its neck. It fitted perfectly! She stood back to admire her work in its entirety. The outfit was made of deep purple lace, lined with a cheap silk fabric of the same colour. It draped down to the floor, the back trailing behind. Around the waist was a skinny copper-coloured belt which cinched in the waist to give the dress some shape. It had a V-neck which didn't sit too low and the short sleeves were slightly puffy. With the neckline, it offered the perfect opportunity to show off her new good-luck charm. It was large and detailed with little diamonds hanging from the main chain. It sparkled in the light like having a mini constellation sitting proud upon the chest. For the mask part of the masquerade, she chose to create a matching purple mask made from the spare silk fabric she had used for the underlining of the dress. It would be held onto the face with a simple piece of black elastic which would go around her head. The fabric had been covered in little plastic diamantes. They didn't shimmer and shine like the necklace but it was pretty nonetheless. She was happy that it was finally complete and now she had something to look forward to wearing. Bring on the celebrations!