Evolution of a Drabble
I miss this comm so much. Maybe this will breathe new life into it? So, nearly a year ago I wrote here and you guys gave great feedback. ♥ I rewrote it a bit for the creative writing class I'm in (got a nice grade on it, too), and while it's not perfect, I thought I'd post the new one here. ((Missy, Frost, if that's not okay, I can put it somewhere else - just let me know!))
Title The Long Flight Author Merry Theme General Prompt Word Height
Late in the afternoon Merlin spotted the mountain range where Vortigern intended to build his new keep. If he kept his speed up, Merlin thought he would arrive before the evening meal. He had been flying for nearly two days with very little rest on this journey, his first quest. He knew his mother preferred he stay close to home, yet one could not refuse the command of a king – especially at the tender age of fifteen. It wasn’t any wonder that he was tired and hungry. With any luck there would be an inn at the village near the site with a warm bed and a hearty meal.
Bed. Just the thought of a place to sleep intensified his drowsiness, causing him to lose height. He opened his eyes only to see the trees below coming closer at an alarming rate. Jolted, Merlin began flapping his wings, adjusting his body’s direction. Relieved that he avoided a painful collision, Merlin worked to regain the safe altitude he held before the dive and glided along, adjusting his feathers to make the most of the air currents and conserve his energy for when he arrived.
The village buildings now appeared the size of stone building blocks, and the river’s width now looked wider than a ribbon. Soon, he thought, I can rest my wings. He sped up, thinking only of finding a place where he could land and rest, deciding to just roost somewhere in town in falcon form before going up the mountain to transform back into his regular body.
Weary thoughts drifted through him like air currents as he searched for a hidden place to land. He hoped to find somewhere within the small settlement. As he approached the construction site, however, he felt pulled towards it. Merlin recalled the missive he’d received from Vortigern. The king needed help with a troubling matter. Could there be something wrong with the site? There was a crevice in the rock face behind the keep’s foundation well hidden by alpine plants yet large enough that he could pass though in human form. Merlin landed in front of the cleft, examining it. He could fly through, though it grew darker further in. Still, flying in the dark was better than hopping on – he would just have to be cautious.
Once again taking flight, Merlin entered the dark crevice and flew what he estimated to be twenty yards or so before he felt the narrow passage widen. Ahead he could now see a narrow shaft of light piercing the darkness. As he flew on, the light revealed a cave the size of a large hall. He circled, taking in the details. The surface of the rock was smooth except for a jagged opening in the ceiling and a small outcropping on the wall near the entrance. Landing on the ledge, he settled, his weariness overcoming him. Drifting off to sleep, the youth had only the vaguest idea how dramatically the next few hours would influence the course of his life.