Pick a writing prompt from Pinterest, set your timer for fifteen minutes, and write a piece of flash fiction.
“Write a myth to explain why snakes have no legs.”
Once upon a time, there was a forest. This forest bordered the most brilliant, lively valley the world had ever seen. It drew in all kinds of energy and light and living things. The trees were alive. They would whisper tales through each other’s leaves, passing hidden messages through their whistles and flows.
(woof, this isn’t easy.)
Each of the trees grew to love acting as houses for various animals who found their way to the valley. Mostly for the sake of squirrels, birds, bugs. Things that might otherwise be made a quick meal of if not for their looming presence.
The trees who whispered the best stories quickly became hubs for animals of all kinds. Everything alive loves a good story. Over time the surrounding area became a metropolis for every animal ever created.
Of these animals, there were few wilier than the snake. It was a critter with no limits. It had wings like a bat, strong legs for climbing, skin that was tougher than nails or hot rocks over the desert mountains surrounding the beautiful lush oasis.
One such snake was sunning himself on the mountain peak closest to the sun when he hatched a perfect plan. He had been around the mountainside earlier, soaking in the best rays. At each new position, he caught wind of conversations taking place between the locals. The coyote and the fox were getting chummy inside a shallow cave. Between panting and scratching at the dust and sand itching inside their fur line they yipped over how convenient it would be for someone to just, bring lunch up the hillside so they wouldn’t have to make their way back into the heat of the day. But oh how hungry he was. He would serve the first thing that solved this problem for the coyotes as a group. The fox snapped that he couldn’t speak for the other coyotes. They’d kicked him from his pack because he would yip with excitement just as they got close to the meal they were hunting. He would scare them away. The coyote growled low but before the argument could escalate the snake slipped in slyly.
“Well hello, I couldn’t help but overhear what you said.” He raised his bushy eyebrows.
The fox and the coyote cocked their heads, unsure of whether to run away in fright or to follow their curiosity further into conversation with this stranger.
The fox was the first to speak. “Hello Snake, we want no trouble.”
“Well that is fortunate for us both. I have nothing but solutions.” His teeth gleaned. “I have these wings and scales, they protect me quite nicely in the heat of the day and cold of night. I am built quite nicely to achieve the request you uttered.” As if to showcase he crawled in through the opening he’d peaked through the top of. He stalked along the ceiling until it turned into the floor. “You see, the valley is a paradise for every delectable thing you might wish to eat.”
The coyote’s mouth watered. “Yes, but it is such a trek that by the time we reach the base of the mountain we are so tired and sun-soaked we are no threat to the forest and valley critters. If we wait we risk catching our food only to have it stolen by the bears and wolves that roam the hills at dusk.” We’ve resorted to mountain hares and voles.” The fox finished his sentence with a whimper.
The cunning serpent ticked and clicked his tongue, his eyes full of crocodile tears of understanding. “I have an idea that will suit us both. I will request a favor at some point. But we can discuss that part of the arrangement later on. Would you like me to catch you a meal before you grow any weaker off the current diet of skin and bones?”
The Fox and the Coyote nodded vigorously. The snake climbed the wall to the roof and along the jagged ceiling with ease until he’d slipped over the exit. He peeked down once more with a glint of mischief in his eyes. “I have one request. I need you to make your way to the watering hole up the way, get yourself a belly full of water and talk very loudly about our arrangement anytime you pass anyone you think might be interested in my service. Don’t be greedy. I will know if you didn’t tell them because you wanted more for yourself. It will not be a problem to offer each of you the best.
The coyote and Fox howled their excitement, energy renewed they made their way noisily to the watering hole. It didn’t take long before a crowd had gathered, hawks, vultures owls, coyotes, mountain cats. Some were curious over the commotion, others lured in by the rumors of endless food available, for delivery.
What a concept. The animals listened carefully to what the fox and coyote had to say. Some shook their heads in disbelief walking away grumbling over what an obscured suggestion it was, for nothing something would show up? Nonsense. Some saw endless feasts and their excitement grew. At the end of their time at the water hole, they told the others they would be back the very next day with the one who was going to make it possible for them to enjoy these same services.
While they trotted back to their cave the fox remained silent. His companion let his tongue trail out behind, the heat was making him salivate. That and the thought of what this stranger might have up his sleeve.
“How is one animal, no matter how powerful, hoping to find a way to feed so many?”
The coyote laughed. “You think too much. If he does he does. If he doesn’t he doesn’t. We did what we were supposed to now let’s see what he does to do the same.”
Meanwhile.
The snake had flown down to the forest. He circled the oaks, and the birches and the willows. These had grown massive. They housed birds, bees, squirrels, bunnies, moles, and badgers in their knarled swirling roots.” He made his way to the ground in a soft clearing with a burbling brook at its center. The sun glistened playfully from the rocks along its edges. The wily snake hummed a catchy melody tapping it out with his clawed toes leaving little dig marks into the thick grassy surface.
The smaller critters listened to him. The way he pranced in so cheerfully made them curious over his intention for the day. What had him so happy.
“Dear snake, how are you this fine morning?” The tortoise at the edge of the pond drawled.
“Why I couldn’t be more beautiful. How about you dearest brother tortoise.” He lifted his webby-clawed little feet revealing his fangs in a way that was more playful than terrifying.
“Well such high spirits are contagious I might just try to reach the bottom of the pond today. That’s where the freshest of greens I’ve ever seen reside and until today, this moment I have felt afraid of reaching it and losing my breath, I panic.”
“Oh.” The snake offered a stern expression. “You are right to think that. You have to dive so so deep in order to reach them. I wouldn’t brave it myself and I have the perfect feet for paddling. You must feel brave indeed.” The snake shook his head as he spoke.
“Well,” The turtle’s neck shrank. “Well, I thought exactly that too! I suppose maybe that’s a goal for a different day.”
He peeped his head out a little further, extending a friendly smile at the snake as he drew a cupped hand to his lips to lap water from. “What has you so hummed up this fine morning, friend?”
“Friend,” The snake nodded and drew closer, “I like that, Friend, can you keep a secret?” The snake looked side to side as if making sure no ears were listening in.
The turtle perked again. “Yes, always. So many secrets are hidden in this shell.” His smile split open his round face drawing his eyes into barely visible slits.
“Well,” The snake wrapped himself around the outside of the shell, cradling his wings over the hump in the turtle’s shell. “I found the greatest treasure this world has to offer.” The turtle stretched his neck to full length and spun his head to face the smiling snake.
“Tell me! What did you find?” Ther is a place, just over the hills that have the shallowest greenest algae at the bottom. There is an entire garden of delicious greenery and it’s only half the depth of the one here. You could easily reach the bottom and graze a long while before ever having to worry about losing breath. The grass is so lush and green you may not even want to leave the fields for the pond. There are so many sweet blossoms scattered over the floor all of the forest animals could graze and feed on them forever and never run out. There are bigger trees. More food and literally no one to eat it. I’ve been in heaven the last five days. Had it all to myself.” The snake smiled smugly. He shrugged. “Welp. Anyway, I got to get back, I just had to come to see for myself how unsatisfying this place would be after having been where I was. I doubt you will ever see me again my friend!”
The tortoise’s mouth fell open. He was staring past the snake spread hands on either side of his bald green head. The greedy little turtle had only heard about half of what the stranger had said. He’d been daydreaming of the green garden of underwater delicacies screaming to him from just over the top of the peak he could sometimes see through the leaves. “Wait!” He called out to the snake. The wily critter had already disappeared into the underbrush. The tortoise wandered toward the row of bushes looming overhead. What a chore it would be to get to the other side. But… the snake had wings. So did all of the birds. The tortoise sat at the edge of the treeline pondering all the possible ways he might be able to get himself to where the snake was heading.
The snake made his way back to the den where the fox and the coyote were taking a nap. He came empty-handed which had the two howling and growling. “We did what you said and this is how you repay us?”
“Patience you two. Keep quiet before you say something that makes you look silly when I deliver beyond your expectations.”
“What do you have in mind?” The fox finally broke the silence.
“Well, I am happy you asked. You didn’t want to have to come to your food. You wanted your food to come to you for once.” Both of his furry companions nodded. The fox more slowly than the coyote who seemed to suspect nothing.
“Well, I came up with a plan earlier today. I hadn’t thought much of it until I was sunning myself above your little cave here and overheard your rather loud conversation.
The foxes’ ears went back slightly. “I have been eating very well lately. So well in fact I’ve become bored.” He flapped his wings.
“What do you mean bored?” The fox spat. “If I had wings I would sore high and dip low. I’d fly and never land.” As he spoke he wandered to the mouth of the cave and looked out over the rocky cliff.
“Well, you’re conversation cured my boredom and got me thinking. A little competition might liven up my life.”
The fox and the coyote nodded their heads. “Sounds reasonable.” The coyote decided, scratching his ear.
“I thought so.”
The snake looked back to the fox with something close to disinterest. “What do you want in return?” The fox asked again.
“Like I said, just a small favor. I will need you to begin by gathering as many other animals as you can and dig this cave as deep as you can, go as far back as the rock cliffs allow.”
“How do we convince them if we have nothing to show for it yet? We promised they would speak with you in the morning.”
“Yes, well, you will have to tell them you were mistaken. The gift your new friend is bringing is more of a long-term fix. I will deliver. Be sure of this.”
What the fox and the coyote didn’t know is that the snake had a vendetta. The trees had become his enemy number one as of that morning. They’d banned the little beast from poaching from their leaves. It was too easy. They’d decided. He wasn’t allowed to so much as touch them. Their boughs were off-limits.
The snake didn’t take kindly to his kind being discriminated against.
TO BE CONTINUED.