Many thanks to Jenne Gray and C.E. Ayr for their photo prompt, THE UNICORN CHALLENGE. (07/18/2025). No more than 250 words in length.
The room is cool, a soothing respite from the blistering heat outside its door. Her bare feet shuffle across the smooth wood floor. She reviews each object of art: bucolic landscapes, highland towers, night streets, dawning oceans. Paintings stop in interesting places, to continue with other voices, other rooms. Perhaps a novel, or love-lost poem?
Characters romp and sway, weep and rage. Some huddle in dark corners of dark bars plotting even darker deeds. Others swap puns, happily leaving when the barkeep locks up. Those dark ones glare at the owner. He lets them stay; light hearts choose their battles, thus little harm comes to them.
Newsprint rustles to remind her it’s time to go. Light song whispers across glowing windowsills. Poets declaim from a utility shelf. Near the back, a motor revs with the high-spirited laughter of women in search of adventure. The driver, a woman with blood-red hair, knows just where to start.
A whiff of wildflower and cardamom reaches her as a unicorn gallops by, two small gargoyles clinging to its rainbow mane, terrible and joyful. A censer swings, one side to the other. Its fragrant smoke gathers and blesses the wounded souls who shared their secret hearts.
Turning, she fastens the double chain across the entryway, noticing trolls, fairytale bears, mermaids, and maidens missing glass slippers. They follow, arms held out. Scooping them up, she stows them in her canvas bag. One last lookback…
She heads out into a world that needs a bit more color.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2025)
Valley of the Trolls 
Ho, ho… more than brilliant, Liz!! – all those lovely friends (grinning).
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Will miss y’all, my crew. But hope to cross paths again in the ether-webs!
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Did my comment disappear?
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Will check on it…?
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Must’ve been a delay between France and Minnesota. Got it. Thank you again!
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‘a world that needs a bit more colo(u)r…’ which you certainly provide in this magical piece, Liz.
I was hooked by the time I arrived at ‘Paintings stop in interesting places…’ and it just kept getting better thereafter.
Just fabulous (squared)!
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Thank you. Quote/idea borrowed from Paul Gardner. 🦋🌹
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That’s a brilliant story, Liz, and such a beautiful, dancing tribute to shared story-telling.
I’m so glad there’s another one to follow it next week!
‘Auf wiedersehen, Goodbye’ perhaps?
Thank you for all your stories!
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Very interesting, Liz, but you still have one more chance. This week is the penultimate challenge.
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I thought “next week” meant this prompt with the following next few days. Hmmm…may have to listen to the critters in my canvas bag, or take another look over my shoulder. :-D
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I see your confusion but Jenne called this the penultimate so I believe there’s one more to go. Time will tell.
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I didn’t see “penultimate” in the email/site, but I can be a little spacy sometimes. The trolls are sticking their noses out of the bag, their eyes as big and round as soup bowls…
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Ah! I see it in the comments, now…
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What a great story line. I love it
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Thanks Violet!
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