Decimated

Decimated, not a berry in sight. 

Across the earth lay millions of strawberry bushes flourishing with ripe red berries. Each berry connected to a special vine producing only the freshest of fruits. Roaming around this lush land were a gentle group of wood nymphs. These creatures were the friendliest of earth’s inhabitants and only snacked on enough strawberries to fill their stomachs. Never did a wood nymph eat more than their fill of the precious berries. Never did a wood nymph break this unspoken law, all except one. Known as the black sheep, the outcast, the ghastly nymph named Frankiorsus. Not one creature dare associate with this woman who so blatantly took more than her fair share of berries. Each day the wood nymphs would rise and begin their morning harvest of berries before heading to the forests to work and play. One nymph usually consumes one full bush of strawberries  on it’s most exhausting day. Frankiorsus on the other hand, would consume four or five bushes on a regular day. Although many days, Frankie spent merely asleep in her tree. One summers day at the peak of harvesting season, Frankiorsus awoke hours after the others and felt an intense hunger. Groaning she stretched and jumped to the forest floor. Rummaging through the barren bushes she located the prized strawberries and began devouring them in handfuls. Before she even glanced up she had eaten every berry off of ten bushes. Though she felt content in her stomach she continued on the hunt for more and more berries to consume. Eventually the other nymphs began to take notice to this disturbance in the shrubbery. A few confronted Frankiorsus saying “You mustn’t eat that many berries Frankie! Every forest creature depends on those for food!” Oblivious to her neighbors Frankiorsus continued shoveling berries in her mouth. After every minute more and more bushes were stripped of their fruit. “Why must you be so greedy?” yelled one nymph from the trees. By the hours end, Frankiorsus had eaten the entirety of the forests supply of berries. Every nymph from miles around became enraged and tried everything to halt the beasts eating. None of them could stop her. It was as if Frankiorsus was in a hunger trance. Frankie then turned her attention to the rest of the strawberry bushes across the land. Each berry eaten brought it one closer to it’s extinction. The wood nymphs powerless began weeping and praying to the gods to end the rampage of Frankiorsus. At the very edge of the land stood Frankie, hunched over the last berry bush. She plucked the last strawberry from it’s vine and pressed it to her lips.

Decimated, not a berry in sight. 

At that moment young Frankie the wood nymph awoke from her dream in a panic. Her mother came rushing to her side. “What’s wrong my darling?” questioned her mother. Frankie replied simply, “I’ve just had the most terrifying dream…”

Inspired by: Don't It Feel Good? By Francesca Bartos