The party boat, a tall red cruiser, shudders in its own wake, loosely tethered to dock’s end by a thin rope dipping in and out of the slowly rolling waves; behind it, dark clouds gather with increasing speed and the winds pick up.
“C’mon,” he hollered over the southern-fried blare and bass from the boat’s own speakers, adding “It’ll be fine and I’ll protect you like I always have!”
He’d seen the storm coming, but misread all the signs.
Mountains and forest rose up behind her and the dock as she considered the truth of his statement, and the increasingly manic tumble sucking him down into a narcissistic dictatorship.
“Like shit swirling down the crapper,” she murmured to herself as she turned away shaking her head, and threw over her shoulder in full voice, “I’d rather be a hermit!”
Eyes on the lush, lonely, and green horizon, she swung and settled her pack on her strong shoulders, the white wolf rising from its haunches to trot by her side in solidarity.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2024)
The challenge? Write a story in exactly 6 sentences based on Denise’s one word prompt: HERMIT. Visit, comment, and write & perhaps post your own on SIX SENTENCE STORIES. The Café is open, always welcoming. Come as you are!
Valley of the Trolls 
I love this, Liz.
I’m fascinated by wolves and was drawn to the story by the graphic – I wasn’t disappointed.
The woman who is prepared ‘to run with the wolves’ – wonderful.
(Do you know Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ book?)
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I do! Glad this struck a chord for you!
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Great read, Liz. Your imagery was first class!
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Thank you kindly, Chris!
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Don’t fight water, it always wins. Excellent story.
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Thank you for your kind comment, Mimi!
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A hermit at one with nature. A wise choice it seems.
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And perhaps the only viable choice left to her?
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Fantastic visual treat to read.
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Thank you, Misky!
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yow!
(watcha wanna bet on the percentage of those who claim at very least dual-citizenship in the regions of the virtual world (aka the blogosphere) where the capacity for creative expression trumps (pun, way unintended) those whose credentials are limited to copy/paste and a total inability to see beyond their own limited personal perspective?)
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Thank you (I think). Need some time to parse all this, Dude!
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Such strong imagery in your last sentence, Liz. It sounds romantic (in the literary sense) and yet, I wonder how many are truly able to live the solitude that is the hermit’s life.
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Maybe there’s an in-between? White Wolf-Blue eyes is powerful dream symbolism…
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I’d like to believe there is. I was not aware of the symbolism, but I am now. Thanks, Liz.
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De nada. 👍🦄
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Seeing the storm but misreading the signs: it doesn’t look like things are going to work out for him.
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I think you’re right.
Thanks, Frank!
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Very interesting story
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Thanks! I’m both weary & apprehensive of the divisive political agenda in my home country (the U.S.).
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I think most people are. What happens in USA, impacts the rest of the world too.
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We’re sorry (at least some of us). I think we need to remember that we still have the power to avert the tragedy: one type of which is to show up at the polls and VOTE.
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Yes, casting the vote is not only a right but a responsibility too.
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