Fiction Story – Page 6 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

The Lost Trail Incident part 3

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Robin 30120” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Please read part 1 and part 2 before reading this post.

The light fell softly on the hiker’s face through the waxed paper window. The warm glow of morning made last night’s unsettling events feel like a bad dream. As the hiker began to stir the young boy removed a cast iron skillet from the fireplace. In spite of the cabin’s modest setting the boy had manged prepare a small feast for breakfast. The aroma of bacon hung in the air and the table held two plates with with biscuits and gravy, eggs and of course the bacon. A fresh percolator of coffee sat between the plates. The hiker didn’t realize how hungry he was until he saw it. “Come and git it.” The boy said as he smiled warmly. The hiker started to move but the pain in his calf reminded him that he was injured. “How?” He said in with desperation. The boy gestured to a set of handmade crutches on the floor next to bed. “I know it hurts but you’ll stiffen up if ya don’t move a little. I made them last night before the Devil cat showed up.” The boy called for Rex to get off the bed and give the hiker room to get up. The hiker looked at his calf and found that the boy’s first aid skills looked as good as his cooking smelled. With some effort he manged to figure out how to get to feet. He’d been on crutches before and he instinctively kept his weight off of his injured leg as he hobbled to the breakfast table and sat down with a bit of a plop. Ge reached out for the plate but the boy’s hand caught him by the wrist in an ice cold grip. “We gotta say grace first.” The boy spoke. He then offered a short but sincere prayer to bless the morning meal and ended it with “Amen and dig in.” The hiker was a little amused but obligated the boy by repeating the amen. It seemed as if no matter how much he ate that the hiker couldn’t couldn’t make a dent in the supply of food on the table but eventually the hiker felt he’d had his fill. He thanked the boy for his hospitality as he finished the last sip of coffee. “I want to remember this meal. Do you mind if I take your picture?” The boy looked a little confused and stated “You ain’t got no camera.” “Ah but I do” the hiker replied as he produced the cellphone from his pocket. “I ain’t never seen one that little” the blurted out as he scooted back in his chair and gave a practiced smile. The hiker had him pose with his skillet and utensils in front of the fireplace for a few shots and the turned the phone off again. “Hey watch this!” The boy shouted as he grabbed a biscuit from the table and went outside. The hiker hobbled along on his crutches out to the porch and watched as the boy gave a strange whistle.

The boy repeated the whistle several times in regular intervals and within a few minutes he was surrounded by songbirds from all over forest accepting crumbs of biscuit from his open hand. The look on the boy’s face was pure joy as the little birds came one buly one fir their treats. Realizing that noone would believe what he’d just witnessed without photos the hiker used his phone again. But suddenly one of robins gave an alarm call and they all returned to the top of trees. The boy’s countenance dropped like a hammer as the sounds of a crying baby echoed from across the nearby river. They both turned to face the the woods on the other side as the black figure of a huge cat stepped out of bushes and stood near the water’s edge. It’s unearthly yellowish green eyes seemed cut right to the hiker’s very soul. The cat gave a wild scream and the boy dropped to his knees and began to pray. He no sooner uttered the name of the Lord when the cat screamed again and disappeared back into the shadows. The boy looked up the hiker who was frozen with fear. “He ain’t gonna cross the river.. not today anyways.” He said softly as he stood up and helped his newfound friend back into the cabin.
“We gotta get ready for tonight though.” he continued.

That’s it for tonight friends. Thanks again for spending time with me and be blessed throughout your days.

Proceed to part 4

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

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The Lost Trail Incident part 2

Color Photography, Fiction Story

A Light In The Shadows 30520a — Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled a Light In The Shadows 30520″ and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

If you have not read Part 1 please do so first.

The hiker woke to Rex growling aggressively towards the door of cabin. A spine chilling scream ripped through the night air. Because the fire had burned down to embers the only light in the room was a dull red glow. It was just enough to cast shadows that seemed to move and sway slightly. Rex moved across the hiker’s body in a protective position as cabin door slowly opened. And Rex relaxed his stance slightly. The boy stepped in silently and he closed door softly behind him. The glow of fire made his face red and his eyes were covered by shadow. He looked at the hiker and raised a boney finger to his thin lips as he seem to glide across the floor in a single step. He picked up the antique carbide head lamp and cupped his hand over the dish shaped brass reflector. In the dim light of the fire the hiker heard the hiss of gas and with a sweep of the boy’s hand there was a loud pop and the room erupted into brilliant white light. The hiker closed his eyes in pain due to the sudden dramatic change. When he opened his eyes again the room was dark once more. He could barely make out the heavy iron bar securing the the door. He could see the brilliant light from the lamp leaking into room from under the door and coming in through a window he’d not notice earlier. The window of cabin was opaque. It was made from paper that had been saturated with bee’s wax and oils until it was translucent. It let in the light but not enough to give an opportunity to see what was happening outside. There had been a few minutes of silence when the hiker could smell dust in the air. Remembering that he still had his cellphone in his pocket he pulled it out and turned it on. In the glow of the cracked screen he could see dust particles falling from the ceiling. He distinctly heard the sound of a baby crying from above him and could track the movement of something large by the places that dust was falling from. Then another blood curdling scream. This time from near the door of the cabin. The hiker could tell that the light from the carbide lamp had swung around by the shadows that fell across the translucent window changing angles. “You ain’t gonna git him!” The boy shouted as he began to reel out music from his fiddle again. This time it was loud. Very loud. The hiker recognized the tune as “Nothing But The Blood” from his own childhood. Whatever was on the roof screamed again but this time it sounded pained. Rex began to bay loudly with his hackles bristled and his own body covering that of the hiker. A large shadow passed quickly in front of the window and landed with a soft thud as the boy played on with a fury that was completely untethered. The beast he’d been engaged with gave a last scream in painful rage and disappeared into the underbrush.

The heavy iron bar slid back and the door of the cabin opened. Boy walked in with heavy sound of his boots echoing in the cabin. He placed the fiddle and lamp onto the table before stoking the fire. He looked confident but exhausted as he sat down at the table. He looked at hiker with a deadly seriousness and said, “Devil cat’s got your blood scent and tracked us here. But he’s gone now and it’ll be light soon. We best get what rest we can now.” With that he laid his head on the table and fell fast asleep. Rex turned three circles and settled down at the foot of the bed thumping his tail a few times before laying his head across the hiker’s ankles. The hiker powered down his phone to conserve battery and stared at the ceiling in the firelight until he was settled enough to sleep himself. He was thankful for the boy who took him in but wondered what the morning would bring.

Friends, that’s part two of The Lost Trail Incident in the can. Good night and be blessed throughout your days!

Proceed to part 3

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

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The Lost Trail Incident part 1

Back and White Photography, Fiction Story

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “A Walk Among The Boles 100620SBW” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Tonight begins my annual Halloween fiction series. I endeavor to keep all stories family friendly for your enjoyment. The series will run for as long as I am inspired but should end by Halloween night.

The sign read “Do Not Leave The Trail” as the day hiker strode cheerfully into the dense Appalachian forest. He did his best to avoid snapping twigs or scuffing his boots in the dirt. That would be a sure way to frighten wildlife he might encounter. In his day pack he carried the basics. An optimist first aid kit, water purification pills, a decent hatchet and Swiss Army Knife as well as string, wire and plenty of snacks. His plans were only to knock out a few miles and get some fresh air so he felt a little over prepared but he didn’t want to look out of place if bumped into another hiker on the trail. After a while he began to take some pictures with his cellphone. There was plenty of plants and strange insects to identify later when he had a network signal. The trail led past a cliff and even though it wasn’t particularly high it was on a steep embankment and offered a great view of the mist covered valley below. He decided to get a better look and dropped his pack at the base of a huge hemlock tree for better balance on the edge of the cliff. It was only a few feet off the trail and the bright colors of the pack would be a visual anchor to lead him back to trail. The edge of the cliff was on a slight downhill grade and it gave him butterflies in his stomach as he scooted on his butt towards the precipice. He quickly figured out that if he wanted the best shot he’d have to stand and when he did he felt an acorn rolling under the tread of his boot just prior to his ankle rolling slightly. The next thing he remembered was looking up as the edge of cliff moved away from him in slow motion along with the sensation of falling. When he came to the light was beginning to fade. He’d been unconscious all day. He first slowly moved his arms and there was no pain. He tried to move his left leg and it seemed to okay. But when he tried to move his right leg the was a sharp pain in his calf. He carefully angled his head to find a stick that was slightly larger than an arrow shaft had penetrated his leg. One of boughs that had broken his fall had a twig sharp enough to go through his leg. Instinctively he placed a hand on his forehead and found his face was covered in dried blood. As far as a survival situation goes this was about as bad as it gets. He noticed that his phone had landed within reach. He picked it up and other than the cracked screen it seemed to working. Unfortunately he was also outside of the signal range. He powered the phone down to conserve battery. The air was really cold and getting colder when he saw the white deer step out of bushes. He struggled to get a good look at it but he was really weak from the fall and began to pass out. His eyes fluttered and then there was a brilliant white light and the next thing he noticed was the old work boots step into view. When he came to he was bound to a frame and heard the steady sounds of footfalls in dry leaves. A young man’s voice told him to be still or he’d start bleeding again. The hiker had no choice but to be still because he was lashed to a primitive travois. He could do nothing but stare at the clear night sky as the youth drug him along. Still weak from the loss of blood the hiker soon lost consciousness again.

Wen he came to he was in a hand built one room cabin on a timber frame bed. The only light came from the fireplace on one side of the room. The light was enough to reveal the beautiful Appalachian pattern quilts that hung on each wall. They were as much for insulation as they were decor. He could smell a stew that was simmering in a cast iron pot in the low flames and from somewhere outside the cabin a fiddle softly drone out an old gospel tune. The music stopped suddenly and he could hear those work boots move towards the door. The door opened to reveal a boy. He couldn’t have been any older than twelve. He was ungroomed but otherwise clean. He held his fiddle and bow in one hand and closed the door. Without a word he placed the fiddle on a hand hewn dinner table next to an antique carbide head lamp. The boy stepped over to the pot and with a carved wooden ladle dipped out some broth into a blue ceramic mug. As he offered the broth to hiker he explained that it was bone broth with wild herbs that would help him heal. The hiker thought about the day pack up on the mountain trail somewhere with it’s payload of energy drinks and protein bars. Then he remembered the antibiotic ointments and what they would do for his injuries. He asked the boy if he would please go back to trail and retrieve the pack but the boy just smiled coyly and said “Thems herbs will fix ya up just fine. Pa swears by ’em”. With that the boy the boy stood up and opened the door. A bluetick hound trotted inside and crawled into the bed next to hiker. The boy spoke again, “Rex here will keep you cozy and watch over you all night. If you need anything just holler. I’ll be right outside. The boy closed and latched the door and once again the heavy sound of work boots walking on the wooden floor could be heard. The boy began to play his fiddle softly again and when the music started Rex thumped his tail on the bed about three times and he and hiker drifted off to sleep again.

Well Friends, that concudes part 1 of this year’s Halloween story. Until tomorrow night thank you for spending time with me and be blessed throughout your days.

Proceed to part 2

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

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An Angel Story

Color Photography, Fiction Story

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Wishes On Wings 81920” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

“When a butterfly lands on you it’s really an angel come to grant a wish”

-Spoken to me by an elderly man in South Carolina

The sweet aroma of hibiscus filled the late summer air as the angel approached the country home. The modest house was surrounded flower beds and little raised bed gardens here and there. A stone pathway led through a row of fruit trees and to a small pond on the edge of the forest. The angle felt drawn towards the path. Her steps were so light that she barely disturbed the lawn as she made her way onto the path. Being invisible to humans ment that to all but the most observant she appeared to be a stray breeze shaking the grass. As an immortal she was tall. So tall that she had to duck her head beneath the fruit trees. As she neared the pond her heart felt the sorrow of the child before her ears heard the soft sobbing. The small girl was knelt down in the tall grass holding an empty collar. The collar was purple with little bones printed on it and a small bell hung next the tag. The angle knew that this was why she was sent to this place. Then her ears heard the plea. “I wish Cuddles would come home.” The angel smiled as she took the only form that she was visible in. A beautiful butterfly flew in out from where the angle once stood. In her butterfly form the angel flew a few circles around the little girl and landed on her hand as it held the empty collar. The angel fluttered her wings and spoke peace to her heart. Then the breeze picked up a little and the butterfly opened her wings to catch the sky. Higher and higher she flew in widening circles. The little girl watched the butterfly climb until it was a dot way above the trees. She flew over the creek but saw that there were no puppies slashing in the water. She circled the fields but there were no puppies digging holes. The butterfly searched and prayed for guidance. When she opened her eyes she saw a sunbeam shinning down into the forest. Her heart raced as she glided down with her eyes fixed on the spot where the sunbeam landed. There was Cuddles curled up in a little ball asleep in the sunbeam. But now how would she get him back to the little girl? An inspiration hit her and she landed lightly right on the end of Cuddles’ nose and fluttered her butterfly wings which tickled the dog and brought him to full attention. Still in her butterfly form the angel began to flip and circle around enticing Cuddles to play chase. His little tail wagged as he furiously tried to catch the butterfly that teased him.

Meanwhile the little girl stayed near the pond where she had found the empty collar. Her eyes continued to search for the hint of a tail popping up through the tall grass. Suddenly the butterfly glided over her shoulder and disappeared into the cup of a hibiscus flower.

Image Titled “Spicebush Swallowtail Feeding 81920”

Behind her the little girl her heard the familiar yap of Cuddles and spun on her heels as he leapt into her arms and showered her face with kisses. She fixed the purple collar around his neck and scooped him up to carry him home. She hugged him so tight that he grunted a little. As the walked back up the path from the pond to the house Cuddles peeked over his little girl’s shoulder just in time to see the butterfly become an angel once more. Occasionally the little girl would catch Cuddles standing in a room by himself or barking at nothing in the yard. She would look to see what wad going on only to spot a butterfly nearby.

Story inspired by Frances Elaine’s comments on my blog. May your niece’s life be full of angels.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

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If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

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Forage Friday #65 Toxic Moonseed

Color Photography, Fiction Story

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Moonseed Vine 63020a” and was taken specifically for Forage Friday. All of the photos found on my blog are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Moonseed is a toxic plant known to have caused fatalities. I have included it in Forage Friday for the purpose identification and avoiding a fatal error.

Typically the way I choose a topic for Forage Friday is that I spot something as a random encounter and grab a snapshot of it for the post. I feel that this way I can give you a more organic experience and a more realistic expectation of what might be encountered during an outing.

What caught my eye in tonight’s feature image was the way the leaves are backlit by the sun filtering through the canopy. As a matter of protocol I run the photos trough Google Lens to double check the ID because anyone can make a mistake and guess wrong on the ID of a plant. Moonseed is a particularly bad one to do that with if it happens while looking for wild grapes. The shiny dark berries are attractive and could easily be mistaken for an edible.
As stated in the disclaimer there have been fatalities. The vine was once used as an ornamental that was planted on fences and such. The thick growth habit would help hide any defects in the fence and the berries are eaten by songbirds. Amazingly enough birds seem to be immune to a large number of toxic berries that would kill a human if eaten in a large enough quantity.

Two of the quickest ways to know if you have Moonseed or Grapes is that Grapes have forked tendrils that they cling to the structure with and Moonseed has no tendrils. Instead, Moonseed wraps itself around the structure. In the age of seedless grapes at the store some people may have never seen a grape seed. So the seed of a grape is ovoid. By contrast, the seed of a Moonseed berry is discoid and has a notch that gives it the appearance of a crescent moon and thus the name Moonseed. There are other factors like the lobes and the notches but these can be effected by soil conditions and sometimes be hard to distinguish.

The toxic substance in Moonseed is Dauricine which is being studied to see if it can be used in chemotherapy.

In spite of the known danger with Moonseed history says that the Cherokee did have some uses for it but my opinion is that there’s probably less risky options.

Moonseed is also a smaller berry than grapes however I still crush the grape to double check the shape of the seed when I find a new vine.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤