[annie15970]

fable name: Aithbhreac
story:

"Will you choose justice or mercy?" Glittering eyes stared out from a mane of hair. The clearing was oddly quiet, the absence of birdsong and skittering of smaller creatures unnerved him. The 4 legged being in front of him slunk further out from the water at his continued silence.

"I will ask you again. Will you choose justice or mercy?" The leaves interweaved with its locks rustled as if a swift breeze had passed. And yet the air was still. He had come out here for a reason. Though he now had second thoughts on whether this was worth it. But the only other option was to turn back. He had to do this. If not for his wife then for who else would he sacrifice everything for.

His mind was made up and yet his body would not listen to him.

Its presence seemed to grow exponentially, as if it were looming over him. "My patience grows thin. I will ask you but once more. Will you choose justice or mercy?"

His body jerked foward as he scrambled to kneel before the being and hold his hands out in supplication. "Oh great Aithbhreac, I choose.."

[lumilys]

fable name: ymir
story:
the forest breathed silence, autumn's sharp scent hanging in the crisp air. leaves drifted earthward, painting the landscape in fiery hues. at the clearing's edge, ymir emerged.

her brown coat blended seamlessly with the fading colors. a desperate meow had drawn her from the thicket, guiding her into open ground. high above, a tabby cat trembled on a bare oak branch.

ymir paused, her gaze lifting, then knelt, her pleading breath stirring the fallen leaves. "i need your help... will you follow me?"

the leaves rustled playfully, a bit begrudging at the request but intrigued by the intent, before responding slowly, rising in a swirling dance of crimson and gold. the vortex climbed steadily, reaching toward the tabby. with a brave leap, the cat surrendered to the swirling current. ymir stilled, watching as the wild leaves caught the cat mid-air, gently cradling it to the ground where it darted into a nearby grove. ymir exhaled softly—rarely did the leaves listen so willingly.

the leaves lingered briefly before scattering back to the forest floor. without a sound, ymir slipped into the trees, her presence as fleeting as the breeze that carried the belligerent leaves she had so long sought to sway. [200 words]

[SilkenDragon]

fable name: Indigo
story:
Rain clatters down on the forest, drowning out all other noise. A fable trudges through the wet and cold with a reed basket, uncaring of getting soaked. He ducks into a cave, where a tiny bird watches him fearfully from a nest of embers.

Indigo had come across the phoenix entirely by coincidence. Whilst traveling through floodwater and the cover of night to his wintering grounds, he had spied light spilling from a crack in the mountainside. When he investigated the source, there it had been: a massive, fiery bird, perched on a mountain of kindling.

With the threat of the continuing rainfall, Indigo had urged it to leave multiple times, but nothing would move the mythical bird. As the cave slowly flooded, Indigo wondered if it even understood him. Then came the day he found the phoenix gone, a golden chick huddled under half-burnt, half-wet sticks in its place.

It had clicked, then: the phoenix’s reluctance to move was due to its rebirth, its stunted transformation because of the damp weather. Now, Indigo returned with something to carry the poor thing away. Though the chick shrank at his approach, Indigo did not falter, determined to coax it to safety.

[kyeza]

fable name: rhova (from the sindarin word for wilderness, "rhovan")
story:


the magic of harvest season was chiseled into every nook and cranny of the world this time of year—but with the promise of new life on the horizon came the final breath of old. auburn leaves blanket mother and child, a soft cushion of sympathy from fellow saplings against the lingering chill. a young fable knelt beside them, breath stilled in the air, watching in sorrow as the last whispers of life left the wooden mare.

her heart throbbed. cradled by the limp draft horse was a foal carved from oak, barely old enough to stand on its own without tumbling over. she gave it a gentle nudge. "come with me, little one," she murmured, wrapping her knitted scarf around its fragile little neck to quell the imminent shivers.

it peered at her beneath layers of wool and fallen leaves. "i know, i know... but i promise you'll be much warmer and safer if you do, love."

it wasn't easy, explaining to a child why it had to leave its mother, but sometimes it had to be done. and she wasn't wrong; it'd be much safer on her little farm than at the mercy of the woods beyond.


[199 words]


extra: rho is a farmer who lives off the land just outside of town and ardenne is her great big wooden draft horse that she nurtured back to health as a foal! they now travel into town together with her little cart to sell her produce at the market <3

[Baobabel]

fable name: Salix
story:
Salix had managed to remain unseen by humans so far. Her streak was about to end. Most humans she watched did harm to the plants and forest. But there were a few that gave back. That seemed to care for the growing things. It was these humans that Salix was going to try to find and approach. She never thought she'd exposed herself to one but her friend needed help so she must find courage and try.
Her friend had gotten in a poacher's snare. At first it didn't seem that big of a deal but then it got tighter.And continued to tighten until the leg below the snare began to tingle. Neither Salix or her friend could remove it. Eventually they came to the conclusion they'd either need a human's hands to help or risk losing the hoof.
And so now Salix is standing at the edge of the woods, doing deep breaths to steady herself before approaching a human for the first time. She wonders if they'll follow her on their own or if she'll have to push them along herself. Either way, she hopes they can help and not be too late
(word count 196)

[sepialycidas]

fable name: Umber
story: One late autumn evening, as Umber treaded through the forest, she overheard the cries of some sort of bird. She followed the panicked noises to the source, which appeared to be a barn owlet stuck in a shallow pit, although it was deep enough to make it impossible for the owlet to get out alone. The small bird had fallen out of its nest, not having the feathers to be able to fly. Raising her head to look around, she realized that the owlet's parents were nowhere near, so she would have to rescue it. As she lowered herself to the ground to take a closer look at it, the owlet scurried away in fear. 'There's no need to run, I'm just trying to help,' she thought, although she knew that it would not understand her if she tried to say this. She looked around once more and sighed, realizing she'd need to use one of her masks. She summoned a wooden one resembling an owl, which floated near her face. Suddenly the owlet scrambled up to her, allowing her to user her hoof to lift it out of the pit, and it followed her as she continued her walk.

[bezel]

fable name: ymir
story:
the forest breathed silence, autumn's sharp scent hanging in the crisp air. leaves drifted earthward, painting the landscape in fiery hues. at the clearing's edge, ymir emerged.

her brown coat blended seamlessly with the fading colors. a desperate meow had drawn her from the thicket, guiding her into open ground. high above, a tabby cat trembled on a bare oak branch.

ymir paused, her gaze lifting, then knelt, her pleading breath stirring the fallen leaves. "i need your help... will you follow me?"

the leaves rustled playfully, a bit begrudging at the request but intrigued by the intent, before responding slowly, rising in a swirling dance of crimson and gold. the vortex climbed steadily, reaching toward the tabby. with a brave leap, the cat surrendered to the swirling current. ymir stilled, watching as the wild leaves caught the cat mid-air, gently cradling it to the ground where it darted into a nearby grove. ymir exhaled softly—rarely did the leaves listen so willingly.

the leaves lingered briefly before scattering back to the forest floor. without a sound, ymir slipped into the trees, her presence as fleeting as the breeze that carried the belligerent leaves she had so long sought to sway. [200 words]

all fun entries to read! i like the picture this one creates. you win

[lumilys]

omgggg thank you so much!! i'm so so excited!! C: