This week’s story is based on a lovely picture by Susan Wenzel. For more stories based on this picture, please visit http://madison-woods.com/index-of-stories/081012-2/ or click on the link at the end of the story. You’ll be amazed at the variety and talent.
Legendary love
We met walking the beach, both searching for signs of life in tiny eddies and pools. Her dark hair glistened in the mist as we talked, her body sleekly beautiful, attractive as her mind and humor, her bark of laughter.
We met daily, accompanied by the sounds of the sea, the keening of the wind. Growing closer, making plans, living life.
I came to find only footprints disappearing near the sea into some flattened sand, a few short, dark hairs next to a perfect shell, the two mirrored halves lightly joined. And I remembered the legend of the selkie.
This, that and the other thing 
you can be my Selkie….
Only if it doesn’t mean I have to don a sealskin and head back into the sea!!
no, I will hide it away in a small cottage so you can forever be with me!
Breathtaking. You wrote her so clearly I pictured her in my head. Thank you for this momentary escape.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it and her! And thanks for letting me know.
Romantic and mysterious. I wonder if they’ll meet again, and if their plans accommodated the girl’s return to the sea.
Her plans did but I doubt his did. Usually once the selkie returns to the sea, that’s it. But who knows?
Such vivid imagery you created here. Very well done. Mine is here http://boomiebol.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/this-image-friday-fictioneers-810/
Thanks. I may be awhile in getting there because of being on our last day of vacation, but I’ll get there. 🙂
Oh no please take your time, and even if you can’t get to it I completely understand :). Hope you had a great vacation?!
It’s been great and was greatly needed. Only bad thing was that Bill (bwthoughts), my husband, couldn’t come because of that broken hand. And our older daughter couldn’t make it, either, due to work. But Megan and I had a wonderful time. If you’re interested, you can see some pictures and blog posts on my site.
Loved her barking laugh even before I realized what it implied. Nice mysterious woman piece. I guess from other comments she turned into a seal? Can she go back and forth?
cheers,
Lorelei
http://www.westcoastwriters.blogspot.com/2012/08/fridayfictioneers-cherrystones.html
Selkies generally only go back to the sea as seals because even though they may love someone, they long for the sea and eventually, even if their skins are hidden, they find the and return. Google them for some good stories or watch “The Secret Of Roan Inish.” Glad you like it.
Nicely crafted and a good theme. Well done.
Thanks, Sandra.
Beautiful. Picturing those footsteps now.
Thanks, Nifti. I look forward to reading yours and the rest but for now we’re putting the cabin to bed (winterizing it) and I probably won’t have internet access until Friday night. But I’ll be by then.
not a problem 🙂
Lovely story. I’ll admit I had to read it twice. The second time after I looked up Selkie. I learned something. Thank you.
Phew! Just made our motel for the night after a great day. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!! If you get a chance, watch “The Secret of Roan Inish”, something I’ll have to do again. I just remember we really liked it.
Wow! A selkie…wonderful! I wondered what sort of mythical sea creatures this photo would conjure up. This is one I hadn’t thought of for some time.
~Susan (www.susanwenzel.com)
I found this to be mysterious and like Rochelle, didn’t quite understand it until I looked up the word selkie. Interesting work.
Lora, I hope you enjoyed it as well as found it mysterious. I’m looking forward to working my way through some more stories when we get back tomorrow night or on Sunday.
A fascinating story, beautifully written.
Thanks. I’m please you enjoyed it.
Oh nice. I love your description of his appearance, it’s somehow very evocative.
Clearly their plans were a little mismatched. I really enjoyed this one 🙂
Selkies, no matter how much in love they are, just have to return to the sea sooner or later. In this case, it was sooner. I’m happy you liked it and thanks for letting me know that you did.
You’re welcome as I really enjoyed it 🙂
I’m glad.
Oh, this is just beautiful. Now I wish I’d gone the soft and magical route instead!!!
Thanks for your comment on ours 🙂
There’ll be another chance for something soft and magical–it isn’t always grim, gross a/o sci-fi!! 🙂
Beautiful sense of place, and I love the magical surprise ending.
–Jan
Jan, I’m pleased you enjoyed it!! I liked doing the surprise ending. 🙂
Lyrical legend with a traditional sad ending. And thanks for the introduction to the Selkie–a new mythological character for me.
I’m sure I’ll see you using it well somewhere along the line.
Enchanting. Nicely done
Thanks, Carrie!
Glimpses and traces – just the right details to tell us about the relationship. Great tone, too!
Brian (http://pinionpost.com/2012/08/10/the-reunion/)
Thank you for the feedback, Brian. After tomorrow, I hope to read the stories I haven’t gotten to yet. One more day of vacation travel. 🙂 It’s always lots of fun to see what everyone wrote.
You’ve inspired me, Janet! See here: http://wrasselings.blogspot.com/2012/08/an-experiment-friday-fictioneers.html .
Beautiful way to use the image for the selkie reference!
And I’m majorly impressed at how many comments you have!
Glad to have you, Cindy. There are many talented writers here and you’ll enjoy it. I’m glad you liked my story.
Wow, you’ve done an amazing job of making me think I was standing on a British sea, and mourning the loss of my love in just a few words. I’ve always found the legend of the selkie both romantic and so, so sad. At least your character didn’t drown.
Thanks, Jess. I’m pleased it resonated with you and thanks for letting me know. The saddest part of the legend is that the lure of the sea always triumphs over that of love.
An enchanting tale. I enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the comment. It’s always good to know when something I write touches a cord.
This prompt also seems to form folklore connections. I love folklore and love this telling. It’s been a while since I’ve spent much time in mythology, legends, etc., but the posts from you and Susan have reawakened my interest.
I did have images of a man and a dog at first. Not until I reached the end did I realize it was a selkie, which immediately produced mental home movies of a man and a seal frolicking at the seashore. Okay, I know they shed their skin (’cause I looked it up!) and appear in human form. I just have to readjust my visual imagery. Good stuff. 🙂
Thanks. I didn’t think about a man and a dog; also a night, thought. I’m glad you liked it and it obviously got you thinking! 🙂
You hit a home run with this one. Beautifully crafted and a perfect fit for the prompt.
Thanks so much, Russell. I’m pleased you liked it.
Magical.
🙂 So glad you enjoyed it, Leya. We loved the movie “The Secret of Roan Inish,” which has the legend of the selkies in it. Lovely movie and time to re-watch it.
Something to put on my list then!