Thirty Minute Fiction: The Grass is Greener

Dice: Turtle, Flower, Bridge

Themes: Nature, protection, reaching a new point, growth, slow and steady

Time: Prep 4 min, writing 26 minutes

Lauren looked across the river and could see the verdant field in stark contrast to the barrens where she now stood. After her long travels, she wanted nothing more than to reach the vibrant lands on the other side of the great Mothune River. She had left her home and risked her life for the chance at a new start. Now, though, she was so close, and yet so far away.

The river was to swift and strong to swim. Even if it was, she would be a fool to risk the beastly creatures that lurked below the surface. Of course, most thought her a fool to leave home in the first place for the promise of some far off land. So she continued walking up stream, hoping to find some kind of crossing. After two days, though, she held little hope of that.

It was well past noon when she stopped to rest. She sat down on a rock in the sparse shade of a twisted tree. Her supplies were running low. If she could not make her way across soon, she would die in the barrens, proving to all that she was nothing more than a foolish little girl.

As she contemplated her fast approaching and rather grim fate, she saw a turtle walking along the bank. As it moved closer to the water’s edge, a serpentine body raised out of the water. The turtle withdrew into its shell as the creature struck down at it. The turtle did not even flinch as the viper-like creature struck it’s shell. The hard shield deflected the venomous fangs, causing the river beast to retreat. After a minute the turtle extended its legs and head, to continue on, sliding into the water. A bit later, she watched it emerge on the other side and start to munch upon a leafy, green plant.

Inspired, Lauren set to work. She took to gathering up all the smoothest pebbles she could in her cloak. She then harvested the sticky sap of some the barren’s odd cacti. She spread it over one side of her cloak to use to glue the stones in place. She fitted them tightly against each other, working them so they fin like colorful puzzle pieces.

With that done, she took her small hatchet and started hacking at her shade tree. It took her the rest of the day and the night, but by mid morning, the exhausted Lauren had her self a log stripped of its branches. She fashioned one of the branches into an oar.

After resting for a bit, Lauren donned her cloak of stones. She pushed the log into the river and climbed aboard, careful to keep her feet out of the water. As she paddled out, the river beasts emerged. She pulled her cloak tight over herself and prayed that her plan would work.

The beasts struck again and again. They battered her, but their fangs could not find a way through her stony shield. It took three minutes, but they finally gave up. Reaching one arm out, Lauren continued to paddle on until she reached the other side.

Overjoyed, Lauren ran from the river’s edge to fall down onto the soft, green grass. It felt so good under her skin after so long in the bleak barrens. She laughed with glee and rolled about. She knew that she could find the green land, and here she was.

Finally, she stood up and declared to all the world, “I am Lauren, the Stone Turtle!”