Friday Creature Feature~Narechnitsa



A cry arises from new and untried lungs, filling the room with its exuberance. The sound draws me closer to the birthing bed. Spent, the mother lies back upon the sweat-soaked pillows, her labored breathing beginning to return to normal. I pull my iridescent wings in close to my back to better fit within the small, crowded room. Handmaidens part before me, bowing. The midwife meets my gaze for but a moment, then lowers her eyes as she steps back.

Moonlight spills in the nearby window, illuminating the cradle from which the cry emits. A hum builds within my chest, making me feel as though my soul is a tuning fork. The sensation grows stronger with each step I take. Stealing myself, I grasp the cradle with both hands and lean in to look inside. Tiny, perfect limbs thrash with an energy that matches it’s cries. Pale blue eyes stare up at me out of a pudgy face, the intelligence within them far too great for a newborn.

The humming within me explodes, nearly buckling my knees. But I’m prepared and can withstand it. The vision that follows is another shock entirely, though. I see the child as it grows; crawling, running, playing, and finally fighting valiantly against a legion of invaders. He is victorious many times in many battles. Ultimately, he falls to the enemy. The vision leaves me as quickly as it came, taking my breath with it. I can feel the expectant eyes of the child’s loved ones upon me and I hesitate to turn and face them.

This work of fiction is original and my own. Please do not copy or reproduce it in any way without my permission and linking back to me with credit. Photo credit: Altered and designed by CP Design, with free image used from: © Haak78 | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos.


Comments

  1. Beautiful, Heather. I love this. My favorite sentence: "A hum builds within my chest, making me feel as though my soul is a tuning fork."

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  2. Very well rendered. I felt like I was there! I think Linda and I both liked the same line!

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    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks Lorelei! If I've put you 'in' the story, I've done my job. :)

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  3. I was engaged from the first sentence and couldn't stop reading until I had to...because it ended. This was beautiful and haunting.

    Well done.

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    1. You ladies are just flattering my socks off today, wow, thank you!

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  4. This lovely Heather. Actually enchanting. I just arrived home from my trip, and this was a wonderful way to end my day. I'm seeing another story emerge from this...

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    1. Thank you! Glad I could enchant you. And welcome home!

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  5. What a suspenseful scene! Imagine being able to see someone's future just after they're born--this is a fascinating creature.

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    1. Thank you GE! It would be something wouldn't it?!

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  6. Hi, Heather,

    This was beautifully written. They just keep getting better and better.

    Have a terrific weekend.

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  7. This was hopeful and chilling. Loved it.

    ......dhole

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  8. Creepy and good! Have a great weekend!
    erica

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  9. Really cool! I was very curious to see what the being was going to do, and definitely wasn't expecting that.

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