Skri water walks over to me. “Lookit – those things are on the island again.”
The short-limbed creatures watch me from the shores. I do not bounce as if to play, do not acknowledge them. Instead I reach below the surface to grab a chunk of algae. “I thought nothing lived on land.”
“You know what the elder says?” Skri leaned in close. “She thinks they’re monsters.”
The materially-rich monsters move as if to avoid scaring us. There’s something knowing about them, something intelligent, but they’re absent the holiness of water.
I shudder. Nothing with a soul walks on land.
This sci-fi flash was written for the November 7th Flash Fiction Challenge on the Carrot Ranch. Water Walkers was the theme this week, and that made me think of water strider bugs. I invented an alien that is bigger, intelligent, and walks on water. The land creatures are supposed to be us treating the aliens like animals on a National Geographic.
Though I guess you could just read this as from the viewpoint of actual water striders, lol.
***Edit: I realized this also fit the prompt for D. Wallace Peach’s November Writing Challenge. Perhaps I will get off my lazy bum and write something special for it – but perhaps I will just let this one linger as my response. 🙂
- Photo by Tanguy Sauvin on Pexels.com
Let Me Tell You the Story of... 
“Nothing with a soul walks on land.” Ooo, that line sent chills up my spine!
Mine, too! It can be interpreted in so many different ways.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed that line.
🙂
Thank you! That’s a high compliment. 🙂
Nice piece! And more truth in it than we might like to believe….
Thank you! I enjoyed writing it.
I like this. Has the potential to be expanded.
I agree. More please!
We’ll see! I don’t have plans right now.
However, I do have another story with what I think is a similar concept. You might enjoy it.
https://hrrgorman.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/take-a-deep-breath
Thank you! It’ll be yet another flash to keep in the wheelhouse of things to think about.
The ever-present file on the backburner
An excellent piece of writing. I liked this idea a lot.
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
I kind of like the POV of water striders, but it’s much more intriguing to consider a sci-fi with beings who walk on water with the reasoning that it denotes soul. There’s so much to play with that premise. Well done!
Thank you! Always got to get in some sci-fi when I can.
I believe if the animal kingdom could talk they would both fear and loath humans. If the tables were turned we would be eradicated in short order! Great photo and story. There’s a novel in there just waiting for you…
Thank you for your confidence! If I weren’t working on a project I have so much passion for, I might go for it!
We are rather soulless at times.
Indeed! So many psychopaths up in this planet.
After reading this story (loved it, by the way), it reminded me of the Formics of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. At least, from the Buggers point of view about humans. ~nan
I only read the first book in Ender’s Game. Something about the portrayal of Violet and Peter in relation to Ender bugged me (lol, bugged).
Water striders are so cool. I was thinking about them with this prompt too, but certainly not as aliens. What a seriously fun take.
Haha, glad you enjoyed it!
Whoa. Such a cool story, HRR. I just love the perspective. “… they’re absent the holiness of water.” What a wonderful line. 🙂
Thank you! I think I like taking alien perspectives.
This one would work with my November challenge too. I’d love to share it, if that’s okay with you. 🙂
Sure! I’ll add a link to your post – I was planning on a separate response, but I may not get around to it!
Whatever you want to do! If you write another one, I’ll share that too. 😀
I enjoyed this view. I wonder if the striders in my creek view me that way?
You’d have to ask them! =P
Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
I’m so glad that HRR let me include this story as part of the November Challenge. It’s fabulous. Enjoy. 🙂
Short and striking! Now I’m wondering if you thought of the term “Jesus bugs” when you were writing this. 🙂
Nope! Did not cross my mind. I came up with water strider aliens watching human scientists on the shore. That’s about it.
Thank you for stopping by!