Clouds: Fantasy

The clouds they came a-rushing in, she remembered that much. But no rain. That was the uncanny thing about them. All week, for a full week, storm clouds rushed past overhead, above the city. It was so dark that people took to carrying lanterns with them as they went about their days and all the houses burned candles all day long, but there was no rain and there was no storms. The market farmers complained that their crops were being ruined because there was no sun, but they only complained a little, quietly, as was their right. They never suggested that the wizards were in the wrong. There was a sudden bounty of baby potatoes and pickled green tomatoes and squash flowers sold because the farmers knew they'd never grow into squash, not with the light as it was. The worst of it was, she thought in retrospect, that none of them knew how long there would be no sunlight. The prime minister did, presumably, and the mages had a plan, she supposed, but nobody told the common people. The prices of lamp oil and charcoal and candles all tripled in that week, as people started thinking of how they would live inf the dark lasted beyond a week. Maybe it would last a month, maybe longer. Everyone was willing to sacrifice since everyone knew enough about the enemy and its nature that they didn't want to end up there, but everybody still hurt.


Inspiration: The weather. All storm clouds, no rain.
Story potential: High.
Notes: I do like this perspective on the whole war magic thing. Kind of an England during the Blitz, but different.

Found: Fantasy

"Oh, no," Mira groaned, when she got home and took her toddler out of his snowsuit and emptied out the pockets and found...it. "You're not supposed to take things out of there. You're not even supposed to be there! How can I...maybe if I wait until tomorrow to return it, they won't have noticed. I can't go back tonight. That would be too suspicious. And they'll think I stole it and then felt guilty, which is just as bad as stealing it and not feeling guilty. And if I say that you took it, then I won't be in trouble for theft, which is good, but I'll still get fired because we really aren't supposed to let anyone else in and I think that even a toddler counts and besides, I clearly wasn't watching you close enough, not that that matters and--" "Kitty!" proclaimed Che, lifting up the rock that he'd taken from the Very Special Museum of Specialness. "No, honey, it's not a kitty. It's a fossil, which is a kind of rock, and--" The rock unfolded in Che's hand and mrrped up at her. "Oh, no!"


Inspiration: Cassius bringing me everything in the house.
Story potential: High.
Notes: Cute. I may be highly biased because of my own toddler, though, but this could be the start of something awesome. And not just cutesy, either. Needs some darkness/texture added to it, this isn't a kid's story. Or, well, it could be a kid's story from Che's POV, but Mira's going to be dealing with a lot more. In fact, could be fun to write it both ways.