I managed to post this story fragment at the Forbidden Cauldron and my Facebook Author Page before the end of the week. I figured I’d share it here as well. This was prompted by Paula Wyant’s ‘Wednesday Words’ involving an otter, the smell of food cooking, and fireflies. The result was another of memory of Gabrielle’s before she was as wacky or formidable as she appeared in ‘Waiting for Rebirth’.
Fireflies danced around Mireille, forming a halo around her springy curls and bare arms.
Gabrielle shivered at the sight of her. It was as if Mireille had become one of the Divine, a sacred spirit which ran through the earth and the air.
“Look.” Mireille gestured to the river which flowed past them. An otter swam in its currents, bobbing her small brown head up and down, chasing a fish.
Gabrielle had seldom seen such a playful beast. Perhaps she and Mireille could walk along the river, following her pursuit of the fish.
The smell of roasting meat filled the air. Jean-Paul’s hum accompanied it, insistent and demanding.
“I have to go.” Mireille backed away from the river and the freedom which awaited them. Towards Jean-Paul.
Don’t go, Gabrielle wanted to cry. Already she was waking up herself. A hard cot lay beneath her prone body. Buckles bound her to the bed. She opened, resigned to wait and pray.
Eventually, Rafaelle would release her.