Minashi-by-the-Sea (The Piping that Spoke of Nyarlathotep)

#Wss366 #MastoPrompt #MicroPrompt 9/7 -11

As the moon touched the hazy rim of the ocean, the Cat Who Stole Dreams indulged in one last #meal of the inn’s famed curried prawns, a #mash of almonds and sweet cream, and #distilled lime blossom liqueur. It was just a sip, enough to fend off the night's chill, no more.

Then, as the full dark of night blanketed Minashi-by-the-Sea, she donned her black, dew-spangled cape and her quietest #slippers and went out into the #late night. All was still except for the laughter of the fountains. The chorus of cicadas and revelers had long fallen silent. Not even the few unfortunates stirred by dreams of dark things said to slither from Hypnos Nor Slid’s House heard the soft footsteps of Kurotsuki.

With catlike grace, she climbed the outer walls of the High Citadel of Perpetual Petals. So lithe was her ascent that not a single petal of the trees that ringed that lofty place was disturbed, and thus the #wards that are triggered by their fall remained silent. The silent monitors, without the walls, perhaps saw a shadow flicker, but nothing more.

Thus, Kurotsuki Kaibyō reached a vantage from which she could observe the Toads of Leng cavorting and hear the fateful shrilling of the piping within the tower. The #luminous toads as they danced #round the tower #instilled no fear in her heart, yet a #current of dread set her fur to bristle, hearing the piping that spoke of Nyarlathotep, for it came from far beyond the ken of man.

Woe betide the mortal who, in a dream or drugged state, passes through the portals to that eldritch creature’s dimension. Better to face the nightgaunts or to be torn asunder by the ghouls of Pickman’s ilk than to glimpse the dwellers of that realm.

Shaken but undeterred, the queen of thieves came away that night ready to plunder the heart of Minashi-by-the-Sea.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP #Lovecraft #LordDunsany #Pastiche #Cats #Otherkin #Catgirl #Neko

#TheMoonsHindMostWound

2. The Moon in a Sty 豚小屋に宿る月

#FanFiction #TheApothecaryDiaries
#wss366 #MastoPrompt

Basen and Mao passed the guards and entered the inn. The air inside was as noxious as the courtyard had been filthy. This was not a place for Jinshi. Who knew what foul toxins #distilled in this fetid environment?

Mao surveyed the room. Soldiers slept under tables while a worried innkeeper served thin millet stew to the soldiers who were still awake. Seeing the innkeeper’s filthy apron and grimy hands dashed Mao’s waning hopes of being fed. She would skip eating, hungry or not.

The smell of huangjiu and millet wine hung in the air: a sour, stale odor. The fresh smell of recently served beverages was absent. Willingly or not, the troops were sober. The captain of the guard was on top of things, keeping the troops ready for anything.

Basen led her across the floor to the cloth-covered doorway that probably led to the owner’s quarters. A shaman’s #ward against disease was crudely painted on the blanket. Mao had never noticed they did any good, but they did no harm.

Her guild stopped, waving away the two guards standing there. “The Moon Prince sustained a wound in a sensitive place,” he began in a low voice. His mouth tightened. “And for reasons you know, the royal doctors cannot treat this wound.”

Maomao didn’t need the reminder. There were things about Jinshi’s body that were best left unspoken.

“That is one reason we summoned you. You are also the best person to treat a poisoned arrow wound. I needn’t tell you that this is all secret. We are circulating the story that the prince has detoured to a small lake and is recreating there. You have called to keep him company.”

Mao wasn’t happy about being summoned to “keep Jinshi company.” The implications would make her life difficult, but she could deal with that later. She would ask them to change the story. They had wanted her either because of a rare medicinal plant or because a minor official had been poisoned. Either excuse would be better.

Entering the room, she noticed it had been hastily cleaned and a brazier lit to warm it. Jinshi lay pale and still on his travel bed.

She stopped, and the words, “This is bad,” escaped her.

#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMPrompts #NMV366 #NMMP
#ApothecaryDiaries