Today Pegman took us to Coniston Water, Lake District, England. I took a stroll around and found this picture. Thanks, Karen and Josh, for providing another great idea for a 150-word challenge.
As children, my sisters and I danced among these stones, singing the praises of gods we did not know while wondering why anyone should be guided by spirits they could not see.
Rayana, the eldest. A beauty with a voice filled with the music of one-hundred crystalline bells.
And a mind that held world-knowledge that surpassed each of our elders.
Oh, her many qualities swayed armies.
Clarene, the brave. Villagers compared her strength to that of our most powerful axman. Her gentleness to the heart of a dove.
When war broke out, she was our fiercest defender and most compassionate healer.
What were my qualities? Selfishness. Anger. Revenge. All wrapped up in ocean-blue eyes and golden hair. As were we all.
So, I warn you, the next time you sit, mead in hand, do not ask our elders how the village survived for lies will drip from their tongues.
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Up From the Ashes 
Great story, Lish. I like the imagery.
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Thanks, Josh.
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I love this – each of their qualities (yes, even the “negative” one) necessary…
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Thanks, Dale. These qualities describe my sisters to a T. (And thanks for your help with the incorrect description.)
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Shhhh… no one knows… 😉
And they kinda work with we three sisters, too.
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😉
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This has the makings of a great story, but I think it needs more words to do it justice. You’ve drawn three wonderful characters, and outlined their roles in defending the village but I’m left just a little confused as to the outcome and why the villagers should tell lies about it. I have a feeling that the third sister has betrayed the other two for some unspecified reason, but I’m by no means sure of that.
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The elders will claim that they saved the village with their wit and strength when it was actually the combination of the strengths and weaknesses of the sisters. The last sister’s strength came from her three qualities to make her ruthless enough to protect the villagers, selfishness because she herself wanted to survive, anger because soldiers had the gall to attack and revenge for those that had already died. Yes, hard to get all that in 150-words! Perhaps I took on too much. Thanks so much for wondering. Lish
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Thank you for the explanation, Lish. I can see how it all works together now. Those sisters would make wonderful subjects for a saga; you’ve created something thrilling and lovely there.
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Thanks so much for revisiting!
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I’m imagining that the elders are men, and their lies are all about how the men of the village saved the day, and they conveniently forget what the sisters did? I like the idea of the three sisters with different but all useful qualities; it has a legend or fairy-tale quality to it.
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Thanks, Joy. You hit the nail on the head!
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I immediately thought of the three weird sisters or witches in MacBeth. The narrator seems very angry at the lies told about them, but you wonder, with her listed traits, if they really are lies…enjoyed it!
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Delightful insight. I hadn’t thought about that. Thanks
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We did pick the same picture, Lish, spooky or the synchronicity of kindred souls?? Really enjoyed this one, Lish, your characterisation is great with the real menace to happy, healthy, healed village life being the men of the village. such a truthful reflection on today’s society too – for all unsung heroes male, and female, young and old. Kudos!
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Ah, thanks, Kelvin. I will go with the kindred souls! I’m glad you enjoyed my story. I don’t know if you read what I wrote to Dale about these sisters being my actual sisters ~ I am the youngest. The qualities I recorded in my tale are those of each of us right down to my selfishness and anger. So glad you dropped by.
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I just have. Knowing you’re selfish and angry and liking those strong emotions is something else entirely. And to be fair anyone of us who hasn’t been selfish or angry at some point in their life is also a liar. 🙂
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A compelling beginning of a bigger story. The world you’ve created is intriguing. The characters are interesting and you ended well with an enormous cliffhanger. I’d like to know more. 🙂
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That warms the cockles of my heart. Thank you.
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I didnt heed the title so i saw the ‘I’ as a man and the ‘lies’ of their survival indicative of history being rewritten to glorify his role in it while it was actually the joint strength and strategy of the girls which were instrumental. But I read the comments and revised my version. But loved it anyway!
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Thanks for rethinking this wee tale, Dahlia.
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Love these badass women. I want a whole book of this world, with these characters!
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Thanks, Karen! They’re fashioned after my sisters and me. Collected together, we are quite badass. Alone, we’re simply little hurricanes. Lish
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Great imagery.
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Thank you.
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