Me: My prompt is metaphor. What's my maiko metaphor?
Hope: Earthworms. Make them earthworms.
Prompt: Earthworms. My prompt is earthworms.
"Disgusting," Mai glowered as Ty Lee bent down to prod the slimy, pink worms with her tiny, pink finger. Fire Nation winters always meant lots of rain; the trees and grass constantly greener than any other time of year, the sky always a shade of grey, and, to Mai's discontent, the ground always covered with earthworms.
"I think this one's the leader!" Ty Lee pointed to the longest worm.
"Don't be stupid, Ty Lee," the nine-year-old princess crossed her arms. "They're only worms. They don't have leaders."
Azula picked up one worm and tied it in a knot, then dropped it and watched it wriggle.
Ty Lee ignored Mai's warning -"Your mom will kill you if you get worm guts on your leggings." -and knelt to the ground with a concerned look on her face.
"What's wrong with this one? It's not moving at all."
"It's probably dead. Azula, can we go inside now?"
"Now, Mai, be patient. Zu-zu won't be done with his tutors for another fifteen minutes."
"It's not that," -a blush spread across Mai's cheeks- "I'm cold and you two won't stop playing with bugs. Plus, I'm hungry."
"Oh, Agni, you're annoying sometimes," Azula narrowed her bronze eyes at the particularly squirmy worm she had pinched in front of her face. "Come on, Ty Lee. She won't stop complaining until she gets to see Zu-zu."
"But, Azula," -Ty Lee poked the unmoving worm- "I want to make sure it's okay!"
"It doesn't matter, Ty Lee," Azula smiled and dropped the worm, then stomped. "They're all dead now."