Up until that fateful day, Oof Roothollow had been merely an exceptional glassblower. He created vials and flasks and baubles –the practical, the decorative–and Garna, the alchemist, had been one of his biggest customers. Now, after her mishap with a potion created to cure her eyesight that instead accidentally splashed him in the face, he was a bloomin’ Oracle.
Immediately, he could see possible futures reflected in every glass surface. From what folks were going to do, to what might happen, to where he might go in the next few years, to the condition of his home next week–all of it was there. All of it was probable.
How were negotiations going with the human village? Where was Emil? How would his friends fare in this battle?
Oof became obsessed with the images— because many of them contained his friends, dying at the hands of orcs, their homes crushed, their forest in flames–this time real flames.
One glass sphere in particular seemed to feel clearer, more detailed than others…and it showed a plan. Something to do. Something to try. In this glass ball, there was hope. He saw his friends winning this battle. He saw the orcs defeated. But he also saw frightening things. Lengths they might have to go to to win. He saw surprises.
The images were hopeful but seemed contradictory. Showing two paths at once: the orcs defeated and the orcs ultimately powerful. What did it mean?
They both fell and stood strong.
His friends both cheered in victory and stood agape in fright.
Both could not be inevitable.
How to get one over the other… Oof gazed in deep into the glass… every day. Every night. Every hour. To see the future. The future they needed. He needed to stretch out, in the heat of the images, a clear path to victory and safety.
“Protect the Autumn Woods!” is an illustrated story by Jerome Stueart in 33 short flash fiction chapters. The story features D&D-inspired magic-using forest animals who fight to protect their homes. This story was at first a response to a prompt list created by Jenn Reese and Deva Fagan for an October Art Challenge in 2021. You can now read all 33 parts of the story, “Protect the Autumn Woods” with the search term, #AutumnWoods. “Protect the Autumn Woods!” Art Show at the Dayton Society of Artists (48 High Street, Dayton, OH) from November 1 — December 15 2024.
“Protect the Autumn Woods!” is adjacent to a larger show of amazing Dayton Artists, “Small, but Mighty.” Come see all of the art, any weekend, Friday 12-5, Saturday 12-5 to experience the art yourself.
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