Discovery

(100-word flash fiction)

It was a ship with special powers. When the weather was just right, the white sails would turn into birds’ wings, begin to flap and gently lift the ship free from leaden water into the clouds.

There was one condition, though. The women had to sing. So they swayed, their grass skirts twirling in graceful arcs, their voices rising and falling like air currents, holding the ship aloft.

One day, while they were in the air, a young lad (with sharp eyes) glimpsed green through a gap and cried “Land!”

The singing stopped.

The ship descended and Aotearoa was discovered.

~~~~

This is a work of fiction inspired by the various legends and stories of how the Maori arrived in Aotearoa (Maori name for New Zealand which means The Land of the Long White Cloud). The actual stories are far more interesting, intriguing, inspirational and magical.

When I saw the prompt photo, I immediately thought of sails and well, it’s a new year and being the hopeless romantic that I am, there HAD to be singing and dancing and MAGIC 🙂

A VERY JOYOUS NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FRIDAY FICTIONEER FRIENDS 🙂 And a big hug to Rochelle for keeping the tradition alive 🙂

PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot