It’s that time of the week again and I will admit, that I am very addicted to the Friday Fictioneers. I had so many ideas when it came to this photo prompt I thought my head was going to explode all over my washing up. Eventually I settled down and came up with Little Firefly.
Huge thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for being amazing and giving us the opportunity to take part. And thank you to Roger Bultot for a very inspiring image.
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
Little Firefly.
By Heidi BusbyBrown.
Word count: 100
Fire engulfed the towering trees.
Her trees.
“You did this?”
The young boy cowered, his bottom lip trembling, a lighter clutched within his small fingers.
All around them life burned, by his hand.
“What are you?”
“Nothing… and yet everything.”
The boy frowned, “I’m sorry, the fire… it calls to me.” He coughed and spluttered.
The flames grew closer to him, reaching. Sweat trickled down the boy’s face mixing with his tears.
“You have a choice little firefly, die here… or come with me.”
“With you.”
She held the boy close, humming to herself as they disappeared into the flames.
Thank you for taking the time to read. I really hope you like my offering for this week. If you want to read more flash fiction from the Friday Fictioneers please click on the blue frog, you won’t be disappointed.
🙂
heidibusbybrown 
Great line “the fire… it calls to me”.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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This was really touching, I quite felt sorry for the boy despite his arson.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment, It means a lot to me 🙂
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I like this, great imagination. He might be imagining things through lack of oxygen, or maybe not… 🙂
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I love your way of thinking 🙂
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Are those his only choices? Yikes. Better not play with matches.
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Yeah no matches, you get burned lol 🙂
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I’m not sure I think even an arsonist deserve that.. but I guess justice is relative.
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For me, he would have died a horible death had she not turned up. It wasn’t so much about justice but about consequenses and the effects on nature. She could have left him to his fate but instead offers him a new if uncertain escape. 🙂
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Very cool – I’m picturing some angry spirit of the forest or Druid here & I wonder if the young man is to be ‘inducted/trained’ by her.
Nice work
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You are spot on with your thinking! That is what I pictured when writing this. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment much appreciated 🙂
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Seriously unnerving. Well done, Heidi.
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Thank you Sandra glad you liked it:)
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We both went “arsonist” this week. I’m thinking he burnt down a tree sprite’s trees. Great story!
I’m glad your head didn’t explode all over your washing up 🙂
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We did, great minds think a like. Glad you liked it. It was a close call with the explosion lol 🙂
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Dear Heidi,
Otherworldly. This one lit a fire in my brain. Well done.
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it. Has sparked a few ideas for me to.
Hugs
Heidi 🙂
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Dear Heidi,
A little arson mixed with fantasy? Intriguing. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you ever so much Rochelle,
Hugs,
Heidi 🙂
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So intriguing, this would be a perfect prequel to the FF I wrote few months ago about goddess Brigit and her apprentice. Love the other world feel of your story.
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Thank you so much I’m glad you liked it. I will have to have a look for your piece. 🙂
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Something magical here. Who is she that owns the trees? A spirit?
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You’re on the right track, thank you so much for reading 🙂
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This is my favourite piece so far! Your description of the boy was brilliant.
I found this a tender and moving story about a boy rescued from a fiery fate. Wonderfully written, well done 😃
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Thank you so much Cheryl ! I’m glad you enjoyed it this was great fun to write 🙂
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I loved this a coming of age story and a supernatural twist. I wonder what becomes of him as his boyhood is burnt away in the flames.
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Thank you so much for reading, it has left me wanting to explore further too. 🙂
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Love it! Especially the detail about the boy with the lighter. There is loads of emotion. 🙂
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Thank you so much Lyneal, i’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Until I read the comments, I thought there were two seriously disturned children here. I now realize that they were “her trees” because she was some kind of wood spirit and saved him from the flames. Very creative use of the pompt, Heidi, and good description. Well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you Suzanne, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Very imaginative.
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Thank you 🙂
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Loved it… Very imaginative, indeed
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Thank you so much Dale, I’m glad you enjoyed it. This one was fun to write 🙂
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Well done! It seems the boy had no other choice other than answering to the fire’s call. 🙂
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Thank you Norma, very much appreciated 🙂
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