Flash Fiction Fridays: "Y is for Yssa"

Yssa is the main character in the first novel I wrote. Today I’d like to share a bit of a scene cut from the first draft.

Y is for Yssa

Yssa removed her leather sandals and lay down on a large rock as her fingers trailed in the warm water. The child felt so carefree by the springs, not worrying what her mama would think if she got her nice purple dress dirty or wet. A splash sounded in the spring and soaked her from head to toe. She sat up and looked around.

"Is that you, Apenth?" she asked, but then she heard a burble of a giggle. Fear caused her heart to slam into her chest. She leaned over and stared into the water. "Who’s there?"

A face appeared in the water that was not her own, and Yssa gasped and scrambled backwards when the creature rose half-way out of the water. The water nymph giggled again as she looked at the girl.

"You look like a drowned rat, Yssa."

"I do not." Indignation rose within her, and she stood with her hands on her narrow hips. "You should be more careful."

Curiosity widened the five-year-old’s eyes. “Did Apenth send you?"

"Apenth, Apenth, is that god all you’re concerned about?" The nymph giggled again. The creature’s blue eyes sparkled like the ocean. Green-blue hair flowed around her as if she were suspended under water. The nymph's flesh-like scales over her body glistened in the sun's rays. She was not human, not fish, not quite anything Yssa had ever seen.

"He did indeed send me." The lovely nymph splashed into the water again before reappearing and laughing.

Yssa pushed dark strands of damp hair from her violet eyes when the nymph sprayed her again. "Where do you typically live?" she asked, plopping down on the damp rock.

"I've always lived here, but I haven't shown myself before." She tilted her head to the side and studied the small girl. “Apenth's quite fond of you. He talks about you all the time." In a fluid, graceful movement, the nymph leapt out of the water and sat on the rock beside of Yssa. "He says it’s time for you to leave Mournia. You’re to live in Guntas now."


*If you like writing flash fiction or want to try your hand at it, don't forget about my Flash Fiction Blogfest on May 6th. For more information, click here.*