#Writephoto Round-Up – Herd

It was starting to feel like something from a bad horror movie. First, the car broke down, in the middle of nowhere. My phone, of course, has no signal. Then just as daybreak should be arriving, the fog rolled in instead, wrapping the world in a hazy grey blanket. I contemplated my dilemma, did I stay with the car and hope at some point someone would pass by (and not crash into it), or go in search of help. I decided on the latter.

As I crossed the open land, heading in the direction I thought should be the town, checking my phone every few paces. As I walked shadows started to appear through the fog in the distance. But they did not look human. I stopped and looked back behind me, should I return to the car? But the fog had engulfed that too. I decided to proceed.

As I drew closer, I could hear snorting, grunting and even a great whooshing noise which sounded like a magnified sneeze. What were these creatures?

“Can I help you, young chap?” A voice said and turned around to see a gentleman with a great white beard leaning against a tree.

“Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I said rather shyly. “I was so busy looking at those.”

“Aaah yes, the reindeer, magnificent aren’t they?” The gentleman said and puffed out his chest proudly.

“Yes, they are. I don’t suppose you have a phone that I could please borrow do you? My car has broken down, and I can’t get any reception around here.”

“I don’t I’m afraid.”

“Okay, no problem. Thank you anyway. Could you please tell me if I am walking the correct way towards the town?”

“You are yes, but I can take a look at that car for you if you’d like? Not worked on one for a few years but I do have a way with getting things to move.” The gentleman said and gave a hearty chuckle.

“Really? That would be marvellous, thank you.”

As we walked, he spoke a little about his job. He ran a small manufacturing company with his wife and a support team. On the side, they looked after a team of reindeer. As we walked the reindeer seemed to follow, although keeping their distance, so that they were always just covered by the fog. When we arrived at the car, I popped the bonnet.

“Aaah yes! I’ve seen this before. You pop in and start the engine when I tell you to,” he said with an assured tone. I got into the driver’s seat so that all I could see was the top of his head. A puff of silver sprinkles seemed to fill the air above the bonnet, and then he shouted, “try again now.”

Sure enough, when I turned the key after a small coughing sound the engine started and provided its usual gentle humming sound. I hopped out of the car and over to the man. I was astonished, he’d fixed it no tools or anything I began shaking his gloved hand.

“Thank you, thank you so much.”

“You are most welcome young man, anyway, I best be off, things to be getting on with. You hurry up now and get yourself home to your son for Christmas.” With that, he strode back towards the field and the reindeer. I hopped in the car, a smile from ear to ear. I found my way back to the main road, it was only when I was some distance away I realised, I had not told him I was driving home to my son.

Reindeer – Image by KL Caley

Hey Everyone, apologies for the bombardment of #writephoto roundups. As a few of you know I have been a bit behind recently with nano so I am doing a bit of catching up. I loved the photo above, taken at the beautiful Raby Castle in County Durham early one morning.

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Entries:

• deer-dear-mother/ – pensitivity101
•  #WRITEPHOTO – Herd – Tessa Dean – Author
• #WRITEPHOTO – Herd – Ladyleemanila
• Human instincts #writephoto #poetry
• The Deer in the Fog :: N2W 221124 – Gary A Wilson Stories
• Foggy Bottoms #writephoto | TanGental 
• Herd | #writephoto Flash Fiction – Jemima Pett
• Power of the Herd – The Inkwell
• friday snippet – nope, not pam

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I hope you’ll join me for another #writephoto challenge.

Thank you all again for taking part in #writephoto – Herd

With special thanks to Sue who originally made the #writephoto challenge so meaningful for all of us and gave me her blessing to continue it.

Take Care
KL ❤

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