001
Wreathed in gold, blooming spring, calloused hands knit between each other as fairy rings slowly grew outwards; moss and leaf melted into flowers as pollen formed a thin, hazy barrier matched only by the sunbeams peeking through the thin canopy several feet above. Midnight lines stretch across tanned skin, settling comfortably into scars and wounds. Sungolden cracks etched deep in ebony, contrasting brilliantly, beautifully.
Eyelids opened half way, revealing vivid green hues, reflected in gold, shadowed by cherry pink. Pupils shrank to pinpoints, looking beyond the tree line and into the shadows. There's a thick, tremulous moment of silence as the slug finally slid into the sunlight.
"My Lady, Our Sage, moonrise is upon us. Will you dine with us?"
Looking above, Sakura tilted her head sideways, eyes wandering. She saw stars and starlight beginning to glitter in inky skies, murky clouds. Whispers too small to hear escaped from her mouth as the slug patiently waited-as always. Black and gold faded until there was nothing left but skin. Unfolding her legs, the Sage stepped gingerly into the first fairy ring; instantly, flowers shivered and wilted, bleeding ash and leaking decay. Mushrooms burst forth from the corpses, spores consume the pollen and soon there's no trace of the amber dust, only bio-luminescence.
As she passed by, the slug dipped its head down, only daring to look up when the air cleared and footsteps were scarce.
01/24/18 - 234 words