In the center of the plaza, Cara watched the glass flower flutter.
It was the last of its kind. The last living thing from that world, gleaming and beautiful. Everything else had burned.
She remembered watching from orbit as the atmosphere turned to fire. It was still burning now. You could see it, out amongst the stars.
Cara remembered those who burned with it, a people turned to ash.
The flower bloomed. White spores took to the sky and the crowds laughed and cheered.
They didn’t know the spores were poisonous.
Cara watched the spores drift down and said nothing.
Word Count: 100
This is for Friday Fictioneers. Thanks to Rochelle Wisoff-Fields for running the challenge and David Stewart for providing the photo prompt!
Living Authors' Society 
One destroyed world destroying another. Even alien nature can be cruel.
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Thanks for commenting! Nature, on this world or any other, would be much the same, I think.
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Is Cara committing suicide? or is she outside the danger zone from the spores?
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I think she’s committing suicide, but it’s up for interpretation. If the reader wants to think she’s out of the danger zone, then she can be.
Thanks for commenting!
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That’s why you don’t mess with nature. Nature will fight back.
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Very true. Thanks for commenting!
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The people must have been very naughty for Nature to behave thus.
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Burning worlds seems pretty naughty to me. Thanks for commenting!
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I wonder if Cara was also from the destroyed planet, like the plant? I can’t say that I blame her for saying nothing. Her world is gone and she will soon be gone as well. Have you ever seen Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind?
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I love Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind! It wasn’t an intentional influence here, but I can see the similarities.
My intention was that Cara was a soldier who participated in destroying the world but was now tortured by the guilt of it, but I think there’s enough space in the story for the reader to give her whatever backstory they like.
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Thanks for the clarification, J.
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One disaster after another… the most beautiful in nature can often be the most deadly. I’m sure even the burning planet was pretty spectacular (from a distance).
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Fire is usually spectacular… and destructive. Thanks for commenting!
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Wow, I want to know more. Something so horrific can be so pretty.
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Thank you!
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from one disaster to another. will life spring anew among the ruins?
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We’ll see. Thanks for commenting!
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Ooh, chilling little tale! Imaginative take on the photo prompt.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thank you!
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Dear Josh,
That was rather bleak. Well told.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you!
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Things have been known to rise from the ashes. This may not be the end.
Here’s mine!
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Very true! Thanks for commenting.
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Definitely chilling. I get a feeling of revenge; they destroyed her world and laughed. She watched their death come down.
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Thank you!
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A chilling tale. She certainly is resigned to her fate. Maybe this new world was responsible for the destruction of theirs.
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Thank you! Yes, my take was that this world was responsible.
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Oh my…. why say anything if nothing can be done?
Well done.
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Very true. Thank you!
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Sounds to me like the ones setting the fire got their reward from the planet they had destroyed.
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I agree. Thanks for commenting!
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What a great start for a wonderful Sci-Fi movie.
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Thanks!
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