Lost Souls
A Vocal Social Society Microfiction Or Poetry Challenge
“Windmills…? Impossible,” Me’ark said, guiding his horse through their shadows.
“Fertile land once it seems, son,” Jo’attan said from his place at the column’s head.
“But the Du’buul has been dead since Genesis.”
Jo’attan sighed, “You’ve listened to the Clerics too often. This land is much older.”
“Why would those able to read the Book lie? Didn’t they predict our fate?”
Annoyed, Jo’attan snapped, “Predict or usher? You’re fortunate I don’t hearken to every parable, particularly the one about sacrificing sons. Have I not guided us true?”
Me’ark fell silent, and Jo’attan regretted the outburst. Their march from the mountains had been arduous, and most of the column now yearned for sleep, Jo’attan included. Still, danger stalked these dead lands.
The blistering sun yielded to blustering clouds that would force them to shelter soon, and Jo’attan yearned for the mountains that protected their cult for generations. Now, in these apocalyptic days, even the Great Range’s protection failed, and they were forced to choose–stay and die as the scourging plague of the Westlands overcame them, or risk death in the Du’buul and hope for miraculous sanctuary.
“What’s this?” Me’ark said, pointing toward something lying flat on the dune. “Directions to a refuge?”
Jo’attan slowed, trying to comprehend it. He understood the “2” and “35” in the strange shield-like icon, but “Kansas City” meant nothing to him.
“Let’s turn south. I sense a warning that there’s no shelter here,” Jo’attan instructed, and Me’ark directed the refugees accordingly.
In the distance, thunder rolled.
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A/N:
This was written for the most recent VSS prompt, and also happens to be my 100th Vocal story! More info below:
If you've enjoyed this, please leave a like and an insight below. If you really enjoyed this, tips to fuel my coffee addiction are always appreciated. All formatting is designed for desktops. All my works can be found below:
About the Creator
Matthew Fromm
Full-time nerd, history enthusiast, and proprietor of random knowledge. The best way to find your perfect story is to write it yourself.
Here there be dragons, and knights, and castles, and quests for entities not wishing to be found.
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Comments (10)
Congratulations on the 100th! That's quite the milestone. Also loved this paragraph. Jo’attan slowed, trying to comprehend it. He understood the “2” and “35” in the strange shield-like icon, but “Kansas City” meant nothing to him. The strange shield icon really hit that home. Great writing as always.
Congrats on the milestone!
Congrats on your hundredth Matthew! This post apocalyptic story was on point, definitely worthy of the big mark!
First congrats on the 100! I shall wait in anticiaption for your next top story. So immersive and brilliantly done as always. So jealous of your dialogue skills! And last line works so well.
Wooohooooo congratulations on hitting 100 stories! That's hugeeeee! Your story was an excellent take on the prompt!
Great take on the challenge and congratulations on hitting the hundred. This is brilliant.
Welcome to the 100 club! Congrats!!! 🍻🥇 Nice micro. I loved the creative names especially Me'ark.
I didn't see that coming! Happy 100th! Intriguing.
Congratulations Matth on your 100th Vocal story! What an incredible milestone. This piece is so immersive and rich with detail. The world-building and the tension you've woven into this scene are truly captivating. The way you've incorporated dialogue and description effortlessly paints a vivid picture of this intriguing landscape and the characters navigating it. Keep up the fantastic work!
Happy 100th!! Such a wonderful accomplishment :) And this was a great story to hit that milestone. I was pulled right in and ready to keep reading. Thanks for this bit of unexpected pleasure while I drink my coffee.