Tuesday Tales: From the Word ORANGE

Welcome to the third season of 2024. Fall officially began on Sunday, and while summer is still clinging to this part of the world, she’s already moved on elsewhere. This week, the writers from Tuesday Tales are writing from the word prompt ORANGE. For years, I believed that nothing rhymes with orange. It seems I was wrong. Two words do: sporange, which is apparently the technical word for a spore sac, and Blorenge, which is a mountain in Wales. Who knew? Interestingly enough, or perhaps not, it seems nothing rhymes with month. Who knew?

I’m continuing with Listen to the Stones, and apologize for being a few words over the 400. Enjoy!

“Lady Fraser, ‘tis late to be up and about. I dinna mean to frighten you, but it isn’t safe outside. There’s something evil lurking in the shadows. We can all sense it, but I doubt it’s the only reason Donald has us all out this night. I’m Malcolm MacDonald. I’ve got the watch around Fraser Hall. No one will approach you, so you can rest easy, but it’s best to do so indoors.”

And wasn’t I just told to come out here?

He walked over to the veranda but didn’t climb the steps.

His name sounded a familiar note with her.

“Mr. MacDonald. Are you related to Ewen or Duncan MacDonald? I met him in Edinburgh.”

“Aye. Ewen is my uncle and Duncan my brother. He’s always loved being the one to open the eyes of those who don’t know or understand our darker history. You made a grand impression on him.”

The man’s hair was cut short, and he was clean-shaven. He wore a tan jacket, but what startled her was the hunting rifle he carried.

“I wasn’t aware that the people watching Fraser Hall were armed. I was under the impression that there were no predators here.” But even as she said it, she recalled James’s words, all the predators on Lewis walk on two feet.

“As a rule, we don’t, but young Bennet found a lamb over near the stones this morning. The wee thing had a habit of wandering off, but he’ll not do so again. He was torn apart and partially eaten, all his blood drained from him. ‘Twas unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It could be that we’ve a demon or a shapeshifter from the other side roaming the land. There hasn’t been one in my lifetime, but I recall my father speaking of the unholy thing. ‘Tisn’t All Hallows Eve yet, but the veil is thin. Things have been unsettled since the laird’s death. Maeve mentioned to my wife that Cat Sith has arrived early, too. Donald has set armed men in the paddocks. Until the beast is apprehended, I suggest you stay indoors at night.”

Marina nodded and stood. “Mr. MacDonald, you don’t really believe that do you?”

“We share this world with good and evil. Tonight’s orange halfmoon presages that there’s a change coming. Sometimes, evil gets the upper hand. Your arrival is the answer to the prophecy. You’ll save us all. If I believe in you, why wouldn’t I believe in the rest?”

She swallowed. “I think I’ve had enough fresh air for tonight. Do be careful. If there is something out here … Come on, Raven. It’s time to get back inside.”

That’s it. Come back next week for more. Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.