vignettes

[marycatelli]

This week's prompt is:
cows 🐄
Anyone can join, with a 50-word creative fiction vignette in the comments. Your vignette does not have to include the prompt term. Any (G or PG) definition of the word can be used.

Comments

[marycatelli]

A gust of snow flew into the air from a tree and dumped itself on Hendrick.
"I know you wretches!" Hendrick bellowed, shaking. "You think -- he is a fool, he cows easily! You will regret it!"
Karl watched the still flying snow. No voids marked where the stranger stood.

[starshipcat.livejournal.com]

The Tiwari were our first connection with Galactic society, but in some ways they were harder to deal with than the Sirians, even before we beat the Sirians fair and square. Part of it is the difference in our family structures. Sirian society is built around a pretty recognizable nuclear family -- in some ways they're even better at it than us, since they pair-bond instinctually, like wolves and foxes.

By contrast, the Tiwari are more like the elephants they superficially resemble. The core of Tiwari society is the herd, and while they're more civilized about things than actual elephants, there's still the division between male and female herds. The main herd is matriarchal, led by the eldest and wisest Grandmothers. Daughters and granddaughters stay with their natal herds, while sons get booted as soon as they become too big and boisterous. The ejected youngsters from several herds will band together to form a bachelor herd, hopefully with some guidance from older and wiser heads.

In order to earn mating rights, the young males need to accumulate suitable wealth. That's why most of the Tiwari we see out here are males. It's only when they establish an embassy that they need to have someone with the authority to deal with local heads of state -- which means a Grandmother and her attendant daughters.

[marycatelli]

Many ramifications.

[marycatelli]

The cows were in the south pasture, so he headed north. Mother had been right about the lantern. The stars were too hidden by the sky to give enough light.
He nearly tripped over a rock. And he needed to watch the path, even by lantern light, not the stars.

[marycatelli]

She let her breath out slowly. Just because they had been brought to handle such baggage as the archmage and king thought would be needed did not mean they were harmless, any more than cows were harmless. Prudence was wisest.
"In the king's service," she said. "Who is king now?"

[marycatelli]

She felt childish even as she said it, but -- "They were talking in front of me as if I had no more wits than a cow."
"Perhaps they didn't see you, my sweet," said Olivia. "And, after all, all the ladies-in-waiting must learn it. Their parents should have taught them, but better they learn it on arrival than remain ignorant. You wouldn't have one of them act as if Queen Isabella were your mother, now, would you?"
"Queen Isabella wouldn't have it," muttered Aurora.
"Besides, you are the heir to the throne. No one believes she will have a son now."