
‘It’s probably too noisy here in London,’ Bryony whispered, straining her eyes in the pre-dawn darkness to see deeper into the shrubbery, ‘it’s not as if this is Bluebell Woods where we used to live.
Bethany shivered slightly, the early spring frost was creeping through her sandals and pricking at her toes, as she crouched beside her elder sister, peering into the flower bed; nevertheless, she was determined not to give up yet.
‘Just because you read about them in your new poetry book, doesn’t mean they exist, especially at the bottom of our garden,’ Bryony hissed, ‘and I really don’t imagine it’s going to be like last summer after we read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ together.’
Undeterred, Bethany crept a little closer trying to avoid trampling the pretty patch of primroses which lay in her path, ‘look,’ she exclaimed delightedly, ‘here’s a perfect little glade for them to skip about in… oh! oh! oh!..’ she cried out, losing her balance and tumbling into the arching foliage of an unruly butterfly bush.
Puzzled by the sudden silence, Bryony rose to her feet and stepped into the shrubbery, parting the waving fronds of the foliage.
There was no sign of her sister.
Written in response to two challenges:
– Di of Pensitivity101‘s Wednesday’s Three Things Challenge – FROST, DAWN, SKIP
– Denise Farley of GirlieOnTheEdge‘s Sunday’s Six Sentence Story Word Prompt – TRAIN
Some of you will remember these two plucky young heroines from my historical fantasy fiction novel, ‘Following the Green Rabbit’, which celebrates its second book birthday today. To celebrate, and in a shameless bit of book promotion, I’m offering the Kindle version at the special price of $2.99 (or your local currency equivalent) until the end of August. You can find it here: mybook.to/GreenRabbit
A sequel? 😍
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A distinct probability. Especially with these two young ladies!
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Yes, they are great characters.
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I wouldn’t want to leave their tutor out either… 🤔
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He must share in their adventures
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👍👨🏫
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The flash succeeded. 👍😉 And I must not believe in something which I love so much! 🤗💖
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Oh, you must indulge that belief! 😁🧚♀️
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I think that I’m already living in fairytale 😉🙏❤
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What better place to be? 😊
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You say that 👍
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Now, would that be “fairies” or “faeries”?
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In this case, I think it must be the latter. We have to have a little bit of menace in our story!
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Ah, the truth comes out! Not all sparkles and fairy dust, then . . .
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Nope. Not in my little world! 😉
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😀
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Ohh seemed like a new book is brewing…
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Maybe a little novella…
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the wall ivied green and tall
a room across the hall
the manic mad boy screamed
her brother and there was no other
other than the aged aunt and mother
on hand to deflect her curosity!
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I see it… 😱
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Nice Chris.
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Not for long, I expect… 😉
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ah…………… more next week?
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I expect so 🙂
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Very enchanting tale, Chris!
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Thanks, Tom. There’s magic in the air, and not necessarily in a good way!
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Wow, great tale, love it 🙂
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Thank you! 🙏
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May they live out a beautiful fairy tale, with a happy ever after.
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I’m not sure it’s going to be quite that simple! 😉
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Very nice foreshadowing, that pumps up the dimensions of this story world:
‘and I really don’t imagine it’s going to be like last summer after we read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ together.’
Brilliant!
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Thanks very much, Liz! I’m going to have fun with this one 🙂
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Yay! Cuz that also means we will as well! ❤
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Hope so! 😁
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I have every confidence!
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🙏
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mas, por favor
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¡ciertamente, señor!
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I hope Bethany finds her way back.
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I’m sure there’ll be a way back… eventually. 🙂
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There are so many secret doors, if we but take the time to look.
Like the style, the magic that waits behind a cupboard door or down a path that has been spared excessive traffic.
Look forward to the adventures that surely are to follow.
Fun Six.
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Thanks, Clark – perhaps, a portal…
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Oh yes, this demands a sequel, or series.
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Well, we can’t leave poor Bethany stranded, can we? I wonder where she is… 🤔
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And then there was one…. Hope there’s a sequel!
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Sure to be! Can’t keep these plucky sisters down.
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One of my most cherished possessions growing up was a book of fairy tales. I don’t think the allure ever fades. ❤
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I absolutely agree, Cheryl! 🧚♀️
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“Just because you read about them in your new poetry book, doesn’t mean they exist…”
Just the opposite is what I believe!
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Me too! 😁🧚♀️
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In answer to the question: but of course I believe! Looking forward to traveling with Bryony and Bethany in their new adventure. Can’t go wrong with magic and faeries 🙂
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Why yes, of course! I think we’re going to have some fun with these two…
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Perfect, Chris. Will enjoy this tale of fairylore; maybe we’ll see sides of the good, bad and the naughty fairies… wonderful subjects in the fantasy genre I think, with boundless imagination, nature and lore to draw upon.
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So much scope, I hardly know where to start! 🤔🧚♀️
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It sounds like fun! or am I being too optimistic? 🤗
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Quite possibly, Laura! 😉
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This is lovely. I’m going over now to get Following the Green RAbbit.
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Oh that’s smashing! Hope you enjoy, Robbie. 🐰
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I am sure I will.
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[…] Previously […]
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Ah setting out on another Chris Hall adventure – wonderful. This has a lovely Cottingley Fairies feel about it.
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That was my starting point, Matthew, although I couldn’t get to the name until you mentioned it just now!
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A bit late to episode 1, but I’m so glad I finally got here. This is brilliant writing, Chris! The imagery is so vivid, and that ending made me physically sit up.
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Aw, you’re too kind, Susan! So pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
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