In the darkening night she lay awake, the others seemed to have fallen fast asleep. Carendor had come back from town with a dour face. The ship had not come to port, it seemed it was still out at sea. Emmathin hadn't said much either, but they had eaten the lamb he brought from the market and he had pretended that his older brother hadn't been right out rude.

Alt: a woman dressed as santa claus is dancing in a kitchen with the words "holiday spirit activate happy Christmas"on the bottom

First written on December 13, 2025.

The Outer Banks are a long line of islands that are mostly sandy beaches, grassy hills and fishing villages. The centre island, Penca, with its same name small port, is the only island ever talked about on the mainland. I watch us glide into the harbour, I watch the bustle on the docks, I watch the bustle on deck. The fresh smell of the ocean is being replaced by the smell of fish and people.

"Pathways" #flashfiction #fantasy