Shepherd’s Daughter
02.19.10
The wizard stared at the little girl in horror. She looked up at him with big blue eyes and a small shake of the blonde ringlets that cascaded down below her shoulders. A pair of plump, rosy cheeks dimpled as she smiled at him. It was all he could do to stop himself from shuddering; he had never been this terrified in his entire life.
His gaze returned to the undulating, mewling mass of multi-coloured fur on the ground next to her. It looked back at him with its fifty eyes. They blinked, but not in unison, which he found particularly disconcerting. The girl’s outstretched arm moved in an arc from front to back, and the blanket of fur moved around her as she commanded, its eyes sparkling as they caught the light from the window.
“O Wise One, you see now why I brought her to you?” The wizard turned to face the girl’s father. He was a good man, a shepherd, and while both he and his wife had a lot of good qualities, magical ability was not among them. That their union had produced an offspring with such tremendous power was astounding.
“You were right to do so. I will have to work with you in raising this child. I shall take it upon myself to provide her with a higher education than she would get at the village school. We must not let her powers grow untended,” he told the man. The shepherd nodded his assent – not that he would have ever have dared to refuse a wizard of such standing in the land. His face glowed; his daughter had impressed the wizard and would now benefit from a good education – no father could feel prouder than he.
“I must consult the Books to determine the best way to proceed – such a power is beyond even my knowledge. Bring her to me tomorrow, at midday.” The shepherd bowed low and patted his daughter’s shoulder to intimate that she should lead the way out. The girl waved her hand, and the monstrous, rumbling furball made its way through the door at her behest. The shepherd brought up the rear of the procession and left the room smiling.
When the door shut behind them, the wizard let go the shudder that he had wanted to perform since his visitors had arrived; he had refrained out of politeness to the girl’s father. He sat down at his desk and brought a hand to his forehead. It felt hot, and no wonder. This would be a troubling time ahead. After all, if this little girl had the power to herd cats, what could she accomplish with more suggestible creatures – like humans?
He shuddered again.
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Tags: Fantasy, Flash Fiction, fridayflash, monster, shepherd, wizard
I’ve always been a fan of the expression “It’s like herding cats” 😉
Oh, how strange and creepy! Love the description of the cats moving as a “monstrous, rumbling furball.”
Loved the cats! I thought she had some kind of monstrous thingie. And, yes, humans are much more suggestible creatures.
Children are always really scary, especially if they possess extraordinary abilities.
Troubling times ahead, indeed!
Loved how you put such a creative spin to one of your favorite phrases. 🙂
Mehe. I thought it was the heart-eating monster part II for a minute there! I always thought there was something sinister about Shirley Temple types!
The way I read this one, Mazz, the herd of cats was a single entity with a multitude of eyes. Conjured by the cute girl, it presented itself as something quite a bit more disturbing than you had apparently intended. :::shudders::: My imagination’s run rampant thanks to you.
Bwahaha! Awesome opening! You should do funny more often.
Well done!
I love the opening and to me, there’s nothing like a great story ending with a question that leaves it open for a sequel??? *hint hint*
Jim
That’s a big mess of cats. I’m certain the wizard can handle the litter box. I like how the cats move as a single entity.
*snickers* Nice! Herding cats for a first trick. And you are definitely right, it is way easier to herd humans. Gave me a good laugh at work 🙂
[blink] Bwahahaha! Cat-herding, in a fantasy setting. Like a kitty Pied-Piper. This was very cool!
Hehe. 🙂
Interesting! (And this coming from a person who have cats and find herding felines rather hard…)
I’m pretty sure I’d find fifty eyes blinking at me in unison particularly discerting. Even more so if they were the eyes of herded humans…
Ha! Brilliant! From another cat lover, I bow to you! I imagined quite an ugly weird little monster of 50 eyes.
Yes, if you can herd cats like that, you have to be powerful!!
Your storytelling ability astounds!
Like Donald, I imagined the cats as a single entity. I like how you add just enough description to get your point across but still remain ambiguous. It’s a good talent to have when writing fantasy.
Excellent! Good twist at the end. I figured she’d turned one of the sheep into a huge monstrous fur ball, but now I see why the Wizard was so scared. Someone who could command and heard cats so easily is one to be reckoned with.
I didn’t quite get it until I saw the comment about the old “it’s like herding cats” maxim (apparently I’m a bit dense this morning), but now I’m sitting here chuckling at the poor wizard’s very real concerns! 🙂 Great work!
A lot of shaking, shivering and shuddering in here… Weird since the story is adorable to me.
Thought this was fab. Very funny. Well done.
That made me laugh.
I’m with Jim – this is begging not only for a sequel, but a series. I do hope you’ll consider that Maria.
Fantastic imagery here!
If I hadn’t been at work I wouldn’t have stiffled the out-loud “ha!” at the ending. When I think back, the many-eyed creature reminded me of my cat, although she only has two she might as well have many more. Does the girl hire herself out for cat management?
This definitely has the feel of the beginning of a much longer work. Great story, Maria.
“Like herding cats” is one of my favourite expressions. This was suspenseful and at last hilarious.
Very funny twist on the old saying, Maria. Well played.
I for some reason thought the 50 eyes belonged to one entity–but this is even more interesting in many ways–particularly when asking questions of herding humans. I would LOVE to see a sequel. Wonder what types of things lie in the depths of that girl’s soul…
I like this a lot. Love the way the herd acts as a single entity.
Well paced. Nice twist at the end, the fear of a young one’s power.
Your whole story was funny! Even without supernatural powers that hideous little girl would scare the crap outta me.
Please, wizard, have that pink-cheeked monster put down … or at least declawed.
Ha! You got me with that one! Bravo!
How can you go wrong with a wizard, an adorable creepy child and herding cats? Lots ‘o fun.
Kids and cats–creepy. I have both so I know (and I love them).
Nice writing throughout. Some great descriptions, and a superb sense of telling a story on display!
Well played for a great ending 🙂
LOL…”more suggestible creatures”!! You so funny 🙂 Really, though…what parent wouldn’t be proud to call this little powerhouse their own? You’re not done with this one are you? *nudge nudge*
Oh man, I loved this. All the eyes looking at the poor terrified wizard was great, but the SOUND that 25 cats purring in unison would make????
“The girl waved her hand, and the monstrous, rumbling furball made its way through the door….”
Delightful!
Loved the imagery in this Maria. Top marks for creativity!!
So fun.
Karen :0)
Made me laugh out loud in delight. Gorgeous. Just…gorgeous x
The whole thing is delightful, but I LOVE the first paragraph.
Fun, fun, fun. I could use this girl on my faculty :^) Peace, Linda
very thought-provoking stuff…..
It appears that the wizard has good reason for concern.
when I read the line about the eyes blinking, but not in unison, my imagination conjured up the sight of a sequined blanket being shook beneath a bright light.