Aunt Pokey was a bit frustrated.
Her assistant, Thimble, was late to work. Having been chosen by the Autumn Woods to wield some magic sword, he was off training with a Knight now. Well, he needed to be here with her, wielding this needle and threading it. Now she was alone with such a big job to do!
Someone decided that Aunt Pokey would become an armorer. She. Is. A. Seamstress. She sews. She makes clothes. She makes hats. She tries to wear some of them herself, but it’s difficult with her spikes. But she’s still fascinated by clothes. She likes their cascading mysterious folds! Their delightful patterns! Their colors! How many ways there are for others to wear them. Some of it is envy. But most of it, most of her love of clothing is fascination.
She is not fascinated by armor nor does she work in metal. Find a blacksmith!
But ohhhh, Garna has a potion for strengthening cloth into a kind of chain mail strength fiber. Why not just pour it on clothes already made?
Because. Blink, blink. Sigh.
So Cassie needed a new body armor that still breathes but is as strong as metal. So she is going to make some full body armor out of her best starry blue cloth. And she must protect Thimble. So she will make a tiny outfit for him as well. Something that will protect his little body.
So he can stay alive.
Even if she doesn’t understand all the woo woo magic of it all, she knows that what she is making today and tomorrow and the next day will keep her friends alive.
And maybe one of them will come back and keep her company.
Go to Chapter 25
“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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