Collection
Ganta glowered at the other Scouts. “Don’t touch anything on the table. Don’t breathe on anything. In fact, step back — don’t even come within touching range of the table.”
The Scout leader said, “Why don’t you tell us about your collection, Ganta?”
After another glare to make sure the other Scouts weren’t going to approach, Ganta said, “As you can see, I collect hunters’ weapons. This one here is the pride of my collection, a blessed kukri inlaid with bloodstone. Its scabbard is worked with silver and pearl and shows the moon goddess on both sides. This–”
Altem interrupted. “Where’d you get it?”
“I don’t have to tell you that.”
“I don’t believe it’s real.” Altem nudged the Scout next to it with a pseudopod. “He probably just glamoured it to look like that.”
Snickers ran through the Scouts, and Ganta flushed. His uncle had given the knife to Ganta on his last nameday because his parents had forgotten, again. He wasn’t about to tell Altem that, though.
He pointed at the other end of the table. “These arrows are used–”
“–in the first hunt by the Witches of the East Wind. Everyone has some of those.” Altem again. “You didn’t answer my question about the kukri.”
Ganta ignored Altem. “This hunting knife–”
Altem flowed at the table and wrapped part of itself around the scabbard. “See? I told you it’s just glamoured. If it was really silver, I couldn’t touch it.”
No. Ganta’s uncle couldn’t have lied to him. It was silver. What had his uncle said? “It’s a special silver, moon silver. Most monsters have never even heard of it, and hunters don’t know the difference. Why should they? If they’re hunting by moonlight, it acts just the same. In sunlight, though–”
Ganta let his mouth gape in a grin. “So go look at it over there by the window, you think you’re so smart, Altem.”
“I think I will.”
The Scout leader held out a twinned paw. “I don’t know about this.”
It was too late. The instant the filigree caught a beam of the sun, Altem exploded all over the room. What was moonlight but reflected sunlight, after all?
Ganta turned back to his collection. He’d pick up the kukri later. “Any questions before whoever goes next?”
— THE END —
380 words
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I promise, there were no exploding Scouts at the meeting I attended last night.
Oh, very nice! 😀
Thanks! Also, no weapon collections at the Scout meeting. 😉
Brilliant. I assume this is a work of fiction and no actual scouts were injured. 😉 That was absolutely brilliant.
Thank you! I promised there were no exploding Scouts. Was that not reassuring enough? 😉
Too funny Erin, loved it!
Thanks, Connie! As they say, inspiration is everywhere.
Eep!
😀