Writing Prompt

Whispy leaves wave to me as I make my way past their mother, lightly touching the dark bark.

Not one is the same, some have ivy crawling up their spines and others with hollowed insides.

I tip my nose up to the sky, tendrils of sunlight poking through the gaps of green and decorating the forest.

I can hear the soft shushing of water in the distance, the crystal blue waves catching my eyes through the maze of the forest.

Shhh.

Like a mother coaxing their baby to sleep.

Shhh.

Like a promise two best friends will always keep.

Shhh.

And the river runs slowly as the seasons turn As I sit quietly racked with concern The summer has past Hard lessons learned

A pile of rocks built into carnes A river wild no pretense or scorn Pause and listen I lie listless The water flows on without resistance

With slow understanding the river remains Passing the mountains the rocks and the plains And finally the ocean as the ripples wane Cycle completed no banks to constrain

And with the flow I’ve changed inner narrative this shift I came to pass a personal imperative I’ve turned a corner I’ve emerged as a crone This aging of vessel I no longer bemoan

Cherry had finally made her decision. Flicking her tortoiseshell tail, she headed out of her room to confront the others that she was ready to leave for the journey ahead to the kingdom of Epirisana. As she stepped out, the others smiled to her, reflecting a warm gaze to her in greeting- even if she’d only been in her room for twenty minutes.

“Well?” Raiden said, his black and brown tail twitching with curiosity. Cherry blinked her eyes and nodded, “I’m ready, if Diamond knows the way out of this- well, mess… then it’s more then definitely worth visiting her.”

The others purred with happiness, “then we should get going right away!” Quail Song meowed, leaping to her paws. The others rose as well and quickly ran to prepare themselves for the long journey ahead. Gabby smiled and closed her eyes, slightly flicking her ears with a calm appearance. “I haven’t enabled my true ability in quiet some time,” she’d purr, “it’s time I finally do.” 

Without a moment to ask her new friend what she meant, Gabby trotted away to collect whatever she needed. Cherry drew one of her paws over her ear, she’d gotten used to living life as a cat, sharpening her claws every now and then and brushing her fur down when it was bristled. Things were more simple than being a human, but yet she still missed walking on two legs instead of four, and having fur was still a little weird to her. 

Within a few seconds, everyone emerged from their rooms with everything they might need. “Well then,” Blade spoke, “let’s get going.” 
With a swish of a tail, the nine cats departed from their friendly treehouse and started through the woods, beginning their journey to the kingdom of Epirisana.

											/-^^-\

The group had been traveling for awhile now, Cherry’s paws felt numb from all the walking, everyone else seemed to be felling the same, except for Quail Song who was flying above them (she seemed to be showing the fact off that she could fly and they couldn’t). After a long silence, the roaring sound of water echoed through Cherry’s spotted ears. Peering through the thinning forest, a lake stood in their path, making the group stop.

Dude sighed, “I forgot about this…” he’d murmur, slouching his shoulders and running to get to the bank of the large mass of water. The others didn’t seem to thrilled either, all except for Gabby. The silver tabby brushed aside everyone and met the water with a calm gaze. 

She touched her nose to the lake, and within a few seconds, the feline turned into water, laughing as Cherry gasped in surprise.
“Y-you can-“
“Turn into water? Yep!”

She jumped into the water, silver droplets from the lake spashing up onto the others as she twirled around in sync with the calming breeze that caried the lake’s scent. She was hardly visible, making Cherry strain to see her.

Whisper Rose looked across the lake to the land beyond, it was quiet far away. The long furred cat’s eyes shimmered as an idea sparked into her head. “Quail Song, you and I can lift everyone across the water! You can carry some on your back and I’ll make the rest levitate over.” Quail Song looked at her like’d she had four ears, “I can only carry at least one! And can you really put your power to the test with floating everyone across?” She’d scoff.

Whisper Rose glared at her through slitted eyes, “I’m sure I’m capable of it.” She’d reply, “this isn’t how we got across last time, so we’ll have to make use of what’s already with us.” Storm and Snowdrop glanced at eachother, Whisper Rose never usually talked. “I could try to bring everyone across the water with y’know, clouds.” Storm offered, taking a paw step forward. Snowdrop shook her head, “don’t do that, everyone will probably fall through,” she told her. Storm’s fur bristled like a growing cloud, “well let’s see then!” She spat. Storm formed a mass of clouds and shot them at Snowdrop, lifting her up in the air with a startle. 

She hit the ground with a hiss, glareing at Storm with disapproval. Gabby twirled around, “are we gonna keep going or not?” She’d ask, a smile on her face. Everyone nodded and came closer to the bank of the lake. Quail Song lowered herself to the ground, letting Cherry climb onto her back. The feline lifted herself back into the air, winceing as Cherry dug her claws in her back. “Stop clawing my fur out!” Quail Song hissed. Cherry loosened her grip, “sorry, I’ve just never been up in the sky before…” Quail Song nodded her head and rose up higher into the air. Whisper Rose waved her paw a few times and wind came and picked up Raiden, who was startled. Then, Storm glared at Snowdrop and picked up Dude. 

Blade and Snowdrop kept their eyes on them as they began to cross the lake. The wind was calming, letting Cherry relax. Raiden and Dude seemed to enjoy floating over the water, they stretched one of their paws down to touch the crystal lake, laughing as water sprayed up into the air. Beneath the flying cats, Gabby was laughing with happiness, leaping out of the water like a dolphin as she followed them. Purring, Quail Song lowered herself, letting Cherry run her paw through the water. 

In a few more moments, they had reached the other side, dropping the three off and heading back for the other two. Gabby leaped out of the water, mid air turning back to normal. Her fur wasnt wet at all, it seemed like not a single drop had clung to her. 

After a few moments, the others joined them across, shaking their fur from the water. They all began to laugh with each other, purring and describing what could have happened if they fell in. 

Cherry watched her new friends, reflecting the harmonized gaze everyone else shared. Lifting her head up to the dimming sky, she reminded herself that all of them were here together, they’d all gone through the same things she had in arriving to an unknown world. Picking up the pace, they all started raceing one another toward their destination, knowing that they’d be safe together. 

(Sorry that this part was so long!)

I hear the leaves crunch under our shoes. A pine cone rolls away after being kicked by the boy ahead of me. The girl giggles as she slides down the path. I breathe deeply, the fresh air comfortably fills my lungs. I listen to the leaves rustling above our heads. ‘What’s that?’ The girl asks once she notices several leaves falling to the ground. ‘Not sure. Maybe a squirrel or other animal ran across that branch.’ We all look up in the hopes of catching a glimpse of a darting animal above our heads. No luck. We keep walking. ‘I hear water.’ The boy states. He’s far ahead so I can’t hear the bubbling water yet. The girl runs up to him and points. ‘I see it.’ She hollers. I catch up to them to find a small waterfall in the stream. The water flowed around large boulders meant for the bridge. The boy was crouched down with his hand under the running water. The girl was crossing the rocks back and forth. I crouch down and place my hand in the water. I felt the smooth and cool water gently flow over my hand. I smile and splash the boy. He laughs and splashes back.

A quiet creak in the cabin floor Trying its hardest to let us sleep Invites us to watch the light catch the dust in the early morning air
To admire the stillness Coupled by the trickle of the flowing stream That that invites us To close our eyes again

Whispers until they can’t contain themselves Bring the sizzle of fried eggs The smell of bacon, wood and sunscreen Then the unintentional slam of a screen door Followed by the squeak of our blow-up rafts
As we walk through the woods Swimsuits under our tshirts and towels on our shoulders
To the watering hole That glistens on this hot day Beckoning us So its cool water can jolt us into feeling even more alive And to its rope swing That we hold on to not to jump But to tell stories

Wet swim suits and air dried hair We walk back to card games, laughter and a cocktail BBQ, bug spray, baseball on the radio Hunting for crawdads Chased with munchies and marshmallows Sleeping bags and secrets Before we brush our teeth with water from water bottles The crickets and the trickling stream play a lullaby And we close our eyes again

We return to life tomorrow Back down that winding road but How much better would it be if we could exhale
And spend just one more day At the cabin

Sitting on a lone bench perfectly placed by the trickling stream on my morning walk. I close my eyes briefly, and let my body melt into the rough stone of the bench.

Imagine the delicate trickle, reminiscent to the sound of a soft whisper, as the water cascares over each individual stone along the edges of the stream. Each drop adds tranquil harmony, creating a sense of pease and serenity.

This natural symphony is accompanied with the occasional bird chirping and buzzing insects in the distance.

Every rustle and trickle of the water splashing against the foliage creates a calming and relaxing melody, leaving you to forget the hustle and bustle of every day life; even just for a few moments.

As we strolled hand in hand through the shaded woodland, a gentle hush enveloped us like a secret whispered by nature herself. The dappling sunlight played hide and seek with our senses, casting ever-shifting patterns on the forest floor. The air was cool and fragrant, carrying the earthy aroma of damp moss and the faint scent of wildflowers.

The sound of water trickling down the stream was a serenade of nature's own composition. It was a symphony of tranquility, each note played by the dancing leaves and the babbling brook. The stream's murmurs were like a soft, soothing lullaby, inviting us to listen closely.

With every step, the woodland seemed to come alive. The playful laughter of the water, as it splashed over smooth pebbles, resonated like the giggles of a shared secret. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting my fingertips graze the tender leaves, and the sensation was like tracing the contours of a lover's face, each delicate touch tingling with anticipation.

The birds above serenaded us with their cheerful melodies, their harmonious chorus intertwined with the gentle symphony of the stream. It was as though they were singing a love song, celebrating the union of two souls wandering through this enchanted forest.

The dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm, golden glow that caressed our skin. It was like the tender embrace of a long-lost lover, reminding us that in this tranquil moment, we were exactly where we were meant to be.

We leaned closer, our hearts beating in rhythm with the woodland's pulse, and we shared a soft, sweet kiss beneath the verdant canopy. It was as if the very air around us conspired to create a moment of pure, unspoken love.

In that hidden corner of the world, the trickling stream was not just water—it was the essence of life itself, a metaphor for the ebb and flow of our hearts, a reminder that even in the quietest of moments, love could bloom like the wildflowers in the heart of a shaded woodland, delicate and eternal.

Hills covered in rough greenery, tall trees pull it up as if it could reach at being a mountain. Below the canopy light coruscates through the trees leading trails of light toward the afternoon sun. Damp undergrowth and shaded foliage from the trees above leave the ground beneath your boot to slide if not careful. And cleared of trees, crown shyness barely reaching the edges of it lie a stream, digging itself a place among the greenery, a silver lining to the shaded forests surrounding the area.

It was a marking point for the waterhole downstream, the subtly flutter of the water as it runs past grounded feet, seeking asylum in greater mass. The walking stream touched stone and fallen logs. But was impeded by nothing. Only bending to its size or warping around its seemingly unchanged surroundings.

At last ahead the rushing sound of raining water, splashing as it hit the waterhole.

Disrobe and dot on sunscreen. A day off awaits.

After locking his car in the gravel lot, the young man began the short walk to his cabin. His girlfriend already nestled under the covers inside, he thought about joining her amongst the fabric, getting lost in her arms. But he was distracted for a moment, by a faint dribbling sound. There was a stream about four or five yards from the edge of the gravel trail, which he had not noticed earlier that evening. The looming pines hid this little creek so perfectly, you would think they conspired together long ago. The water was slow moving; He paused for a moment, hearing little gulps as the beads of water pooled together and made ever so soft “plunks”. The young man took a deep breath, as if he were about to plunge into that shallow oasis and let the sound wash over him.

“Peaceful, finally” he smiled to himself and continued walking.

After locking his car in the gravel lot, the young man began the short walk to his cabin. His girlfriend already nestled under the covers inside, he thought about joining her amongst the fabric, getting lost in her arms. But he was distracted for a moment, by a faint dribbling sound. There was a stream about four or five yards from the edge of the gravel trail, which he had not noticed earlier that evening. The water was slow moving; He paused for a moment, hearing little gulps as the beads of water pooled together and made ever so soft “plunks”. The young man took a deep breath, as if he were about to plunge into that shallow oasis and let the sound wash over him.

“Peaceful, finally” he smiled to himself and continued walking.