We assemble at sunset. Goose-bumps cover the bared skin on my back, still tender from the previous pricking of the needle, which has marked me indelibly and for eternity.
Henbane and yarrow scent the air; charms and enchantments encircle the glittering granite standing stones, in a kaleidoscope of crashing consonants, while my uncle, a comfortable presence in the growing darkness, heralds the start of the ceremony with a single beat of an unseen gong.
Blindfolded, I am led to the centre of the circle. The ceremony begins.
In moonlight’s sphere
runes on ancient stones ignite;
the Mark of Gaia tingles.
Image credit: unsplash.com/@artifactflash
Written in response to two challenges:
– Di of Pensitivity101‘s Three Things Challenge – COMFORTABLE, SKIN, TENDER
– Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge‘s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt – KALEIDOSCOPE
I have also set myself the additional challenges of confining my piece to 100 words exactly and writing this, now ongoing story, (loosely) in the haibun form. Just for fun!
This story is going so well. Intriguing happenings, but too short! 🤩👍
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Thank you, Sadje! They are brief, I know. I’d say that was part of the charm… or my cunning plan for ongoing engagement 😉
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It’s working! 🌷💗❤️
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😀 😉
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🤩
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Always leave ’em wanting more!
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😀
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Love this 💜
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Thanks Paula! So pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
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Well, I hope the ceremony is painless, during and after! Wonder what the injection was? Love the line: “in a kaleidoscope of crashing consonants” 😎
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I fear there will be a little ‘discomfort’ involved…
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Ah, the injection – was it “the Mark of Gaia tingles” the Greek Earth goddess.
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…not so much of an injection, but rather a tattoo I’d imagined. Spot on with Gaia!
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ah, good idea for the tattoo!
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marked me indelibly and for eternity a clue for sure. Standing Stones. marvelous.
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Oh yes, you’ve got it! 🙂
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perfect as it is
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Thank you! I’m so pleased you find it so 🙂
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After reading this, I’m wondering what next? You got me intrigued with this snippet! Great six!
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Thanks, Joyce! More to come each week… 🙂
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Love this writing❤️😊
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Tense. Mysterious. Who doesn’t love Stonehenge (implied of course!), initiations and the mark of Gaia!
Totally enjoying this story, Chris. 6 sentences at a time 🙂
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Thanks for the encouragement and the prompts, Denise! I’m really enjoying being part of the SSS’s 🙂
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My pleasure, Chris! Love having you contribute 🙂
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I wonder what that “eternal” mark was and hope this isn’t a sacrificial ceremony. More next week!
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Our storyteller will surely live to tell the tale further 😉
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I’m with the others, the line, :”..in a kaleidoscope of crashing consonants” it simply grabs the story and makes itself the axis for the narrative to expand outwards from.
Talk about imaginative use of prompt words!
très cool, yo
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Many thanks, Clark! These are such fun 🙂
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Very well done! It can stand alone, although it does leave the reader wanting to know more.
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Thank you! Hope you do come back for more. 🙂
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Love the setting and the scenario. And here is yet another fresh take on kaleidoscope. Love it.
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Thank you 🙂 It was a great prompt, with so many different takes emerging; a kaleidoscope of ideas in fact!
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Amazing improvisation, it was so flawless I couldn’t notice. Is this a continuation of the library one?
I read it as such, I hope
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It is! I hoping to carry this one on for a while… 🙂
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I wish there was a way I could tag onto these because I miss them sometimes
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Suggest you follow Denise Farley’s site, Girlie on the Edge. The link is at the end of my post. She posts the SSS word prompt late (for us) on Sundays. It would be great fun if you’d join us!
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No I mean your series continuations
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Oh, sorry, Jude, I misunderstood. I plan for these come out on Wed at 4pm SA time. I don’t know if that helps?
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I’ll keep a lookout. What are you going to title them as?
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They’ll all have different titles, but the tags will include ‘THREE THINGS SIX LINES’ which should help you narrow it down (I hope).
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Excellent!
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Thanks, Lisa!
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Excellent as always Chris, and it led me down a wonderful Wikipedia rabbit hole with henbane and yarrow!
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Widening horizons eh? 😉
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Absolutely!
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