"RED"

(Photo credit to website unsplash.com)

It's been a long summer in many ways (2020, am I right?), but Fall is finally here. I'm celebrating the cooler temps, leaves turning, and Lydia Lukidis and Kaitlyn Sanchez again hosting their "Fall Writing Frenzy" contest. 

The competition challenges writers to choose among 15 "fall" photo prompts and write a 200-word kidlit (picture book thru YA) story in response. Though we're restricted on the number of words, the sky's the limit as to what direction the piece goes. Entry dates are Oct. 1-3, 2020. You can read all about the contest & the entries on Lydia's blog. (Link here))

I chose the image above. It was a lot of fun finding a story inside it, as well as polishing it down 200 words or fewer. (197 to be precise) What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment below & don't forget to check out everyone else's pieces via Lydia's blog.

---

RED
 
On
a new moon
night
in an ancient
wood,
 
Rose,
a red shadow
of a girl,
 
slipped
between trees
 
and
spread her hood
on the
damp ground,
 
waiting
 
for
Lupe,
 
who ran
with a wolf’s silence
through the forest
toward
her.
 
"People
will talk,"
Rose whispered.
 
"Let them,"
Lupe replied,
 her dark hair
a shining tangle
weaving them
together. 
"We don't have to."
 
And
Lupe was right--
 no words
were needed
between
them.
 
Night
passed
as they held
hands,
and watched
stars spin
round the sky.
 
 
When morning
was still a
rumor,
 a
huntsman,
tracking deer,
found

instead
 
Rose
and Lupe,
 
asleep,
wrapped
in the scarlet
cloak.
 
Rose's heart
skipped
as Lupe leapt to
shield her.
 
"What will you do?"
Lupe demanded
of him,
 
 knowing Rose
was afraid
of her village’s words
biting and cutting
them.
 
 
"I will keep
your secret,"
the boy offered.
 
For
though a hunter,
he wasn't
cruel.
 
 
“Thank you, friend,”
Rose replied,
borrowing bravery from
Lupe’s kisses.
 "But there's no secret here."
 
They walked homeward,
with fingers
entwined.
 
A crowd gathered, but
no words were said,
except one:
 
“Welcome.”
 
For
people saw,
shining like the full
moon,
 
a love
that would become
legend.
 
(197 words, inspired by photo #6)