Word for Word: Protection

I’m in a writers’ group that meets on Zoom, though before the pandemic we met in person. Every week, we do a writing prompt: someone gives a page number, and our organizer picks a word from a huge dictionary. We write for five minutes. In this example, the word is: protection.

“Daffodil Dragon” by Kim Fritts (I was not thinking of this print when I named Daffodil. Also, the weird lines in the photo are from a sheet of plastic over the picture; I guess I’ll use glass when I finally frame it.)

Daffodil the dragon’s golden scales were thick and impenetrable, protecting her from arrows, swords, daggers, and any other weapons malicious humans might conceive. She was acutely aware of the energies and moods of others, and that required more challenging protection. Before leaving her solitary cave, Daffodil always practiced a meditation in which she visualized a blue bubble all the way around her. This created a boundary, protecting her from others’ energy. She also provided herself with plenty of solitude, during which she recharged her energy.

Sirens Call Magazine has accepted my story, “Starless Night,” and will publish it in their upcoming Spring 57zine issue.

Variety Pack published my historical story “Portrait” in the February 3, 2022 issue 7:

Issue VII