(1109 words) “Arman, did you pack your mask?” “Yes mom.” “Did you pack your stabilizer?” “Yes mom.” “Do you have an extra tank of O 2 ?” “Yes m –” the young boy paused and started to rummage through his bag searching for the compact canister. A large sigh escaped him as he panned over to his mother who had her decorated hand on her waist. A soft chuckle escaped the tall woman as she tucked the canister in his backpack. “Thanks mom” he whispered. With a scratch on his head, she strapped the mask on his face and fixed the goggles on his eyes and gave him a kiss on his forehead. A heavy and weary sigh left her as she hugged him. “Mom, I’m just going on a field trip.” the boy sighed. “I know sweetheart. It’s just that the gas levels are really high today...the highest we’ve seen in months.” she whispered. “It’s fine. Aren’t you a scientist?” “Yeah,” she chuckled wiping her nose, “Yeah I am. Go on, you don’t wanna be late.” He waved back at her as he walked th...
(photo by Johannes Plenio from Unsplash.com ) S oft beds of foliage tickled the bottom of my foot as I walked along the deserted path. The fraying seams of my baby blue apron tangled themselves in the protruding branches of the nearby oak trees. The dark coiled wool on my head rose as the wind blew past my face. They stood tall and condensed, like the soldiers I would occasionally see in the neighbouring villages. My small woven basket of various herbs and spices swayed back and forth in my hand. They were for the Mage. This was my routine; go to the dark forest, carefully pick the correct ingredients for the potions, follow the toadstool trail back to the cottage before night falls and repeat all over again. This was my job. Most female apprentices my age in the village disliked me though. They hated the fact that I was working for the strongest castor in all of Deyva; saying that I am not worthy of being her apprentice or that I only got the role because I am her granddaughter. She ...
