Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Guardian - contest entry for the OUAT flash fiction contest

My friends Anna and Susi are running another flash fiction contest, the Once Upon a Time flash fiction contest. The challenge is to write an unexpected fairytale within 350 words.


Merlin

The Guardian

Cassie found a fluffy orange cat in the bushes outside her bedroom window. He was growling and hissing and looking very grumpy. He was huddled under her bushes and he looked as if he’d been through a fight. He had some small cuts and he was dirty with lots of twigs and leaves stuck in his fur.
She couldn’t leave him like that, so for the next hour, she coaxed and cajoled, trying to get him to come out to her. Finally, with the help of a can of tuna from her kitchen cupboard, she managed to get the dirty and hurt cat to come out from the cover of the bushes. She left him eating the tuna and was surprised when she got up to go inside her house and he followed her right in.
Later that night, as Cassie slept, her window flew open and the dark creature entered. It had been watching her for days.  She was destined to fight his kind, blood suckers, evil fae and demons alike; her birth had been foretold centuries ago. But he would stop her before she ever even came into her power.
A cat lay at her feet and he pushed it aside as he closed in on her. He leaned in close over her, preparing one long, sharp fingernail to slice her throat. That’s when he felt the burning pain of the silver sword pierce his heart. He turned, surprise on his face and saw a boy standing behind him, sword in hand. “Where did you come from?” he whispered as he fell into eternal sleep and his body crumbled into dust.
The boy put the blade back into its scabbard. He leaned over, giving Cassie a gentle kiss to her cheek, and slowly shifted back into the rough orange cat he had been moments before. He jumped back onto the bed and settled against Cassie’s leg. He would protect her. It was his duty.
327 words




11 comments:

Unknown said...

Very imaginative!

Becky Fyfe said...

Thanks, JeanElaine! It sure was difficult to keep it under 350 words! :)

Meg McNulty said...

What a wonderful hero! I'd like to read more...

Evermore Evil said...

Yay for the Super Cat! Great story, very original and imaginative. Thank You :)

SJIHolliday said...

Love this. It has made me look at the fat ginger cat who keeps appearing in my garden, in a new light :) Thanks for entering!

Dionne said...

What an awesome idea! That's also a little romantic ;) I enjoyed that one, thanks :)

Jane Isaac said...

Nice twist. Very engaging. Wish you all the best with your entry:)

Angela said...

Sweet and imaginative. Well done!

Angela Lynn said...

Nothing better than an unsung hero willing to do anything to protect his charge. I'd love to read more of this story. =D

Cameron said...

Awww I love that! Everyone knows I am a total sucker for animal stories and Ginger is yer man for me!

Unknown said...

Clever and charming! Thank you for entering!