What Every Hero Knows

July 12, 2017

PHOTO PROMPT © Janet Webb

When Avarit stole the stars, the people shrugged.

“We’ve still got the moon,” they said.

But Vagus worried. What if the moon was next? Or the sun?

“I know where Avarit lives,” Vagus said, for he’d seen it in a dream. A forest, a tower, and the stars in a jar on a window ledge.

The people laughed, but Vagus knew that Avarit had taken things before: like nobkins and gillyfish. And Avarit would never stop until he had it all.

That night, Vagus stared up at the bottomless black and knew: any journey worth taking was worth taking alone.

—

100 words

This has been an edition of Friday Fictioneers, hosted by the amazing Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s photo courtesy Janet Webb.

To read more stories inspired by the prompt or to submit your own, click the blue button:

get the InLinkz code

Thanks for reading!

 

48 Comments

  1. neilmacdon
    July 12, 2017 at 8:52 am · Reply

    What a great first line!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 12:41 pm · Reply

      Thank you Neil! Thanks for reading.

      Like

  2. rochellewisoff
    July 12, 2017 at 8:56 am · Reply

    Dear Karen,

    I’ve been wondering what happened to the nobkins and gillyfish. Thank you for clearing this up. Your story is both fanciful and poetic. Delightful.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 12:42 pm · Reply

      Ha, the mystery of the disappearing gillyfish has confounded me for ages! Thanks for reading and thanks for your kind words.

      Like

  3. Iain Kelly
    July 12, 2017 at 9:23 am · Reply

    The people will thank Vagus in the end…if he survives. Wonderful take.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. A Writer's Beginning
    July 12, 2017 at 10:48 am · Reply

    Lovely idea here; so creative! What a fantastic take on the prompt!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 12:57 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much & thanks for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. A Writer's Beginning
        July 13, 2017 at 12:57 pm ·

        You’re very welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
    July 12, 2017 at 10:57 am · Reply

    I simply love this story which could be something to start a great fantasy adventure…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:50 pm · Reply

      Thanks Bjorn, it means a lot!

      Like

  6. Sheena
    July 12, 2017 at 11:59 am · Reply

    Im thinking Avarit could well be the god of avarice. Hurry Vagus, the future of the galaxy rests in your hands.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:51 pm · Reply

      You get a gold star, that is exactly how I came about the name! Thanks for reading.

      Like

  7. Keith's Ramblings
    July 12, 2017 at 12:15 pm · Reply

    What a brilliantly different take.Off you go Vegus…

    Please click to read my FriFic

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:52 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much Keith!

      Like

  8. Sascha Darlington
    July 12, 2017 at 12:24 pm · Reply

    This is wonderful. A journey tale. You’ve created something magical here.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:53 pm · Reply

      Thanks & thanks for reading.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Alicia Jamtaas
    July 12, 2017 at 12:29 pm · Reply

    I think this is one of your very best pieces. Whimsy and fantasy and dread and hope and challenge all wrapped up together!!!! Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:54 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much for your kind words. So glad you liked it 😀

      Like

  10. peterkirsch
    July 12, 2017 at 3:14 pm · Reply

    Ah, fantasy…the oft ignored genre. This is a fitting start to an excellent tale.
    I dare you to keep going someday.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 1:55 pm · Reply

      An interesting suggestion. Who knows, maybe someday I will.

      Like

  11. J Hardy Carroll
    July 12, 2017 at 5:48 pm · Reply

    Holy shit this is great. Evocative and playful, with marvelous style and panache.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:50 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much for your generous praise 🙂

      Like

  12. draliman
    July 13, 2017 at 5:10 am · Reply

    I’m imagining Vagus besting Avarit and letting the stars loose to explode into the night sky. I hope he finds the nobkins as well. I’m not so bothered about the gillyfish. Nasty things.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:51 pm · Reply

      HA! Who needs gillyfish 😉 Such a delightful comment–made me laugh out loud.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. gahlearner
    July 13, 2017 at 9:15 am · Reply

    The beginning of a great quest, and would make a great longer piece. I love it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:51 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. michael1148humphris
    July 13, 2017 at 10:26 am · Reply

    And the legend begins. Lovely

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:52 pm · Reply

      Thanks Michael!

      Like

  15. L.E.R.T
    July 13, 2017 at 11:34 am · Reply

    You are onto something big here. We need more of Vagus Vs Avarit.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:53 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much.

      Like

  16. neeltheauthor
    July 13, 2017 at 12:00 pm · Reply

    I love these kinds of stories and you write them so well, K.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:54 pm · Reply

      You’re very kind Neel. Thanks for reading!

      Like

  17. Tracey@MyBajaKitchen.com and TraceyDelaplainMD.com
    July 13, 2017 at 2:20 pm · Reply

    Yes, what J. Hardy said and I’m sure he doesn’t cut you any slack. Lovely Karen.
    Tracey

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 2:55 pm · Reply

      🙂 Thanks Tracey. I can’t remember if J Hardy ‘never cuts me slack’ or ‘gives me too much credit’. It’s one or the other for sure. Thanks for reading!

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Life Lessons of a Dog Lover
    July 13, 2017 at 3:41 pm · Reply

    That has to be an all time great first line to a wonderfully creative story.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 13, 2017 at 7:02 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much 😀

      Like

  20. Fluid Phrase
    July 14, 2017 at 1:04 am · Reply

    Beautiful story! Very delightful. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 14, 2017 at 4:35 am · Reply

      Thanks so much!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 15, 2017 at 5:30 am · Reply

      Thanks so much!

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Miles Rost
    July 16, 2017 at 6:58 am · Reply

    I can’t help but thinking of the song “Moon Over Georgia” by Shenandoah. Quite interesting, your story be. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      July 17, 2017 at 1:42 pm · Reply

      I can’t think of the song. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for reading!

      Like

    1. k rawson
      July 17, 2017 at 1:43 pm · Reply

      Thanks so much!

      Like

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