Minashi-by-the-Sea (Greetings)

#Wss366 #MastoPrompt #MicroPrompt 8/18

The caravan descended the hills of Neither Lang with hurried steps toward fabled Minashi-by-the-Sea, passing through plum and sakura trees in eternal bloom.

No guards greeted them, for none dared invade. The bones of three times three armies lay bleaching on Neither Lang’s slopes, and none knew what dread curse had felled them.

Instead, crickets in bamboo cages and bush warblers perched on open fretted enclosures serenaded them as they #filed through ivory gates. Then, the merchants lining the streets sang out their wares: salt-cured #limes, cocoa #nibs, flower petal silks, and food—sakura mochi, citrus tuna, roasted lime-slaked corn, and chiled sprats.

The travelers hurried to cedar-shaded inns, famous for eel stews redolent with rosemary and pickled limes. With their camels stabled and wares piled high for sale the next day, they sought beds with fine linen sheets sprinkled with lime blossoms.

Thus, Kurotsuki Kaibyō, the dream-stealing catkin, came to Minashi-by-the-Sea.

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