As it always seems to happen to Fade, the thing he wants is destroyed. This time, suddenly, with fire. The North Eastern quadrant of the Autumn Woods was engulfed in flame, flames that reached the highest trees in seconds. From nowhere. As he watched everything he loved burn again–as too many wars between kingdoms had cost him his home, his friends, his loved ones–he could hear the roar of the wildfire, the crackling cackles, see how it engulfed the trees and twisted the branches, till they fell withered–but he felt no heat. He relaxed. He could feel how tense Dame Brigitt was on his neck. “That is not a fire,” he said. “That is magic. And orcs do not have magic.” Dame Brigitt tried valiantly to argue against his logic. He persisted to calm her. “There’s no heat. It is illusion.” She gasped, “Xini is using the crown!” And the battlehawk, with nothing to fear, but everything to save, dove into the flames towards home.
Go to Chapter 10
“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.
Bear Witness 