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Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

160 followers 97 following 380 posts

Writer, dreamwalker. Blessed with narcolepsy and CFS/ME. ACE. non-binary, she/her 🏳️‍🌈. I firmly believe books have the best moving pictures.
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Anne Welborn @wildagreenbough.bsky.social · Apr 23

'Belling the Cat, A Tale of Alika' is now available on itch.io

wildagreenbough.itch.io/belling-the-...

Belling the Cat, A Tale of Alika. by Anne Welborn

It's not a story about cats.

wildagreenbough.itch.io

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 12th is 'shirt'. That I can do. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 2, 'Pilgrims'. At this stage of things Michelle De La Croix has a poor opinion of Paul Brotherwell.

Michelle drew in a steadying breath rapping her fingers sharply on the tabletop before closing her hands into fists. What did she do to deserve being gifted an untalented and ungifted English supervisor who spoke no French and had more the look and skills of an accountant than a paranormal researcher. If she must be generous he had the look of being a handsome and perhaps somewhat dashing accountant, - but what use was he when he was nervous at being within three metres of her. This night he'd given her no greeting, but had he ever done that with any warmth in his voice. A year and he had not changed. It was frustration without end.
Dressed as Paul was now in a rain damp donkey jacket, work shirt and jeans instead of being a 'John-coat-and-tie' and with his hair a little tousled and the shadow of a beard upon his face he had the appearance to her eyes of an actor in a movie who could not quite remember his lines nor the part he was about to play; - but that would not stop him from making a fool of himself in the attempt.

November 12, 2025 at 4:25 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 11th is 'burger'. No 'burgers', but I have lots of bread and 'cheese'. From 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 8, 'Pathways'. Michelle has suffered what's known as a veil-walker's injury and it's serious. Apart from that she doesn't know where she is now and when.

'Ah you're looking a little brighter on it now Michelle,' Mrs Whatley told her as she entered the room carrying a thick slice of home baked bread and a piece of cheese on a china plate. 'You were lucky that Terry and I took it into our heads to take a late evening walk with the moon being so nice or you might have been laid there all night.' Her empty mug was swiftly swapped for the bread and cheese and Mrs Whatley departed back to the kitchen leaving her on her own again. A quick inspection of the underside of the plate without losing her bread and cheese told her it was Staffordshire china of a plain and serviceable kind, but little else. The bread and cheese were good though and reminded her younger life on her parents' farm.
When Mrs Whatley bustled back in with more tea she decided to trust her voice enough to offer her thanks. 'We couldn't leave you lying in the road,' Mrs Whatley told her before adding, 'You speak English well for someone from foreign parts.'

November 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 10th is 'local', but I'm going with 'village'. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 9 (again) and carrying on a couple of paragraphs from yesterday's WIPSnip. A 'Hercules' is a brand of bicycle. Jenny Birdfoot is supposed to be hiding in Paul's shoulder bag and keeping quiet.

Pulling the Hercules up on to its stand outside the village post office. He drew in a deep breath. Now all he had to do was drop off the day's mail, collect a certain mysterious letter and head back to Harpham House without anybody seeing Jenny Birdfoot. Walking in the door he was immediately enfolded in the subtle mixed scents of ink and office gum with delicate overtones of worn linoleum, dust, blotting paper and old varnish. The post office's public interior space was not much larger than the kitchen of some of the flats he'd rented in London and the décor in yellowing flyspotted cream paintwork, worn maroon matchboarding and rubbed thin varnished woodwork would be dubbed 'shabby chic' by some of his former city friends, but here it was just age and quiet neglect.

November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word of the day for Nov 9th is 'picture'. From 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 9, 'A Letter From a Different Country'. Paul Brotherwell helps a small tearful friend who has had a nasty fright. A 'Hercules' is a brand of bicycle in case you were wondering. Possibly too many words.

'Jenny, Jenny,' he called out, 'Come here it's alright.' To his great relief Jenny's rapidly fleeing small green shape did slow down and stop, flopping down to sit on the path. As he drew nearer Paul could see that she was crying with great big tears spilling from her eyelids, running down her face and leaving large damp spots on her green tunic. 'Oh Jenny,' he sighed as he pulled the Hercules up on to its stand and then went over to kneel beside his small friend. Taking out his handkerchief he did his best to mop up Jenny's tears her small face a picture of misery.
'Iron man,' Jenny told him in a tiny voice still very much on the brink of tears pointing back towards the stables. Ah now Paul understood. Most Fae could be sickened or even killed by contact with iron, but while he knew that Jenny's people weren't especially sensitive to it they still had a fear of those who could work iron in ancient and traditional ways. Sir Gregory had recently told him that it was very old magic and nothing at all to do with modern steel working.
'Did you forget Jenny?' Paul asked. In her excitement to be running about and delivering a message from Sir Gregory his small friend must've completely forgotten about Vulcan's Grandson.
A little nod of her head, 'Yis.' The tears had stopped flowing, but Jenny was still looking upset. Suddenly she went, 'Ooo,' and held out the slip of paper she was still holding towards him. It was now a slightly damp piece of paper, but hopefully it would still be readable.

November 9, 2025 at 10:14 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 8th is 'little'. Not a word that I use that often.
From the 'Book of Ashes', 1st draft prologue, - 'Witch Queen'.
King Harrad of Fontennal as been given the Book of Ashes by Queen Eiolynn and he's starting to have some doubts about it.

The Elders of Magalyn could tell me little concerning the book except that every page of it was written by the witch queen’s hand and that she bound the pages and made every part of the Book of Ashes herself. Mannock has it that our possessing the Book of Ashes diminishes her power and its complete destruction would end her un-natural span of life and all her evil works. However I have my doubts because the witch queen herself demonstrated no reluctance over the surrender of the book when she placed it into my hands.

November 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 7th is 'movement'. And it's back for the 7th time to 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 5, 'Guardians'. Michelle needed to be somewhere in a hurry and it seems that somehow against all the odds transport has been provided.

Naturally when Peter offered her a lift she accepted and thanked him. Once seated in the rattly old Peugeot and moving briskly away from the site of the hidden gateway into Gonne she was finally able to relax after too many days on the edge of danger. As she sat watching the night's country pass by Michelle found herself reflecting on the unknown movement of events that had brought Peter to her at a time when she had a rare, but urgent need for a motorcar. As to why Peter was in France she did not ask and it seemed that Peter was not one to chat while driving.
Sometimes it was best not to enquire too deeply into fortuitous events.

November 7, 2025 at 7:31 AM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 6th is 'penultimate'. "I'm going with 'most powerful'. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 5, 'Guardians' (yet again). Michelle the veil-walker has barely survived doing something decidedly unwise.

'I had to be certain Mother. There have been grimoires before this that were claimed to be the Book of Ashes. I thought that one small quick touch with a finger and then taking care not to touch the book again would be safe enough.'
'What part of Queen Eiolynn being the most powerful necromancer that has ever lived did you not understand Sister. If you had not found your way here and had been taken by sleep in the fields instead you would now be lost to us and beyond all reach of help.' The Reverend Mother sighed shaking her head, 'You are a formidable warrior Michelle, but you are not one of the archangels; - even they realise that they have limits.'
Michelle knew there wasn't any defence that she could make, she had taken a foolish risk. The Book of Ashes had been found, but almost at the cost of her own soul.

November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 5th is 'trail'. I'm going to have to go with 'trailing'. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 8. 'Pathways'. After suffering a serious injury specific to veilwalkers and not knowing where she has ended up Michelle's situation gets worse.

Gasping aloud her voice strangely faint and quiet she burst out into light, the dream shattered and the broken silver threads of it trailing away from her down into the shadows. Finding that she was sitting upright on the bed she slowly and carefully looked around herself, the small room, the bolted door. So she was still a prisoner then. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Easily, - far too easily. Almost without effort. Drawing in a breath that it seemed she did not need she turned her head a little so she could look over her shoulder.

How long had she been a Veil-walker? Michelle knew very well that was a measurement of time that changed and shifted and remade itself every time she crossed between the realms, but even so she should not have been so shocked to see her physical body still sleeping soundly upon the bed. Turning herself around she looked down at herself, before bending a little closer to listen. Yes she was indeed breathing, so it was not yet her time and her present state was not permanent.

November 5, 2025 at 3:54 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 4th is 'steel' which I can do. 'The Book of Ashes', Prologue, 'The Leave-Taking From Qual'fain'. Eiolynn mocks her kinsman and proves that despite looking very dead that she's no pushover.

‘Lady Eiolynn!’ demanded Prince Ryman in disbelief as recognition dawned, ‘What have you become?’ Prince Ryman was handsome and in his prime, possessed of a striking beauty remarkable even among the high born who were well used to being blessed with such physical gifts. The horror etched on his perfect features at the sight of the changes wrought upon his kinswoman served only to make Eiolynn laugh at him.
‘Death Witch!’ accused one of the prince’s noble companions drawing his sword in a ringing flash of steel. His surprise was complete when his blade was met and held by Eiolynn’s long dagger; the dagger’s curved blade darkly stained and etched with old blood, but still razor sharp beneath the grime.

November 4, 2025 at 5:43 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 3rd is 'nice'. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter Two, 'Pilgrims'. Paul Brotherwell has just discovered that he has crossed the Veil and he doesn't like it. Also featuring Michelle De La Croix and her umbrella.

'And if I walk back up the road to the car what then?'
'I wouldn't do that Paul,' she told him quietly, 'Because the road is no longer there. When it returns tomorrow for two hours after sunrise then you can leave.'
'It would be nice to have a little warning Michelle instead tricking me into crossing the Veil,' he told her before going back to their table and flinging himself down in his chair.
'But would you dare to cross then Paul?' she said to him, but it was plain he was in no mood to listen to her. After casting her eyes carefully over the night she tapped a finger on the handle of her umbrella and walked across the short expanse of cracked red linoleum to re-join him at the table. He did not know it but while he been following the ghost road this evening to arrive at this unlikely café and then for the hour afterwards while he had been impatiently waiting for her she had been keeping watch.

November 3, 2025 at 5:48 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 2nd is 'Cobweb'. This time I do have the word of the day so it's 'The Book of Ashes', Prologue again, 'The Leave-Taking' from Qual'fain'.
CW. A female creature who seems to be one of the undead.

‘Lis..ssel, … Lis..ssel….’ She barely could recognise this husking sound as Eiolynn’s voice and when she embraced her she was no more than a creature made of skin and bone. Her garments were tattered linen rags crusted with fragments of gold thread, gems and cobwebs. The belt hanging loose about her jutting pelvic bones was wrought of links of gold and silver. And the long finely worked curved dagger hung upon that belt was hilted in a silver sheath thick with clustered blood dark rubies.
With trembling hands she reached to lift away the mask upon Eiolynn’s face only her long thin bony fingers closed about her wrists.
‘Let me look upon your face’, Lissel gently asked. ‘I do not fear the sight of the branding’. The gilded mask watched her, its sharp angular shaping cruel in its aspect, its dark eye slits paired narrow ellipses giving no clue as to what might lie behind them.

November 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for November 1 is 'ancestor'. I'm going with 'kinsman' instead. From the 'Book of Ashes', Prologue, 'The Leave-Taking From Qual'fain'.
CW. description of a female who appears to be an undead corpse.

‘I am not dead kinsman’. Raising up a hand Eiolynn pointed a finger to her face. ‘See, here are the exile’s brands your priests burned into my flesh’.Her skin was waxen parchment with a pattern of puckered purple brown scars repeated twice upon the fabric of her face.Skin that was drawn tight over the fine bones of her skull framing eyes like blooded milk white glass. Drawing back lips the colour of bruises Eiolynn bared her stained and yellowed teeth at Prince Ryman. ‘Do not seek to offer threats towards my dearest friend Lissel for no one summoned me. It is for my own amusement that I have come to watch you quit these lands’.

November 2, 2025 at 2:18 AM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for October 31 is 'monster', but I could go for either 'creature' or 'Soulworm', and no one could argue that a Soulworm isn't a monster. 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter 5 (again) and Michelle the veil walker is taking the lead. (Am I snipping too many words?)

'I've dropped my phone,' he wailed as she continued to shove him towards the road. It was then that the dark creature that had been dogging her steps decided to break cover.
It was perhaps fortunate the man did finally awake to the danger and run then. If he'd fainted and she'd failed in her efforts to protect him death would have been the least of his worries. Raising her gleaming silver sword towards the creature she spoke aloud, powerful familiar words echoing up from out of the very depths of her being, 'Sáncte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in proélio, cóntra nequítiam et insídias diáboli ésto præsídium. Ímperet ílli Déus, súpplices deprecámur: tuque, prínceps milítiæ cæléstis, Sátanam aliósque spíritus malígnos, qui ad perditiónem animárum pervagántur in múndo, divína virtúte, in inférnum detrúde. Ámen.'

The Soulworm, - for that was what the creature was, - backed away from her hissing at her as she advanced towards it. 'Angels' whore buggered by god......', it threw at her it's voice like stones grating against one another, but whatever else it had in mind to insult her with remained unspoken as she swiftly closed the distance between them and stabbed the Soulworm in its single great eye causing it to scream aloud before collapsing into a heap of writhing slimy black tentacles.

October 31, 2025 at 7:03 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for October 30 is 'spell'. Carrying on with 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter One. 'Brave Men or Fools' I've got 'speller' which is the name these tomb robbers have for a wizard or magic user.

‘Leave it out Zakk,’ advised Grogg wagging a fat finger at him. ‘We git paid if this tomb’s got gold innit or not.
‘Git more if the gold’s still ‘ere though,' Observed Zakk keeping his voice low. Finally the tinderbox decided to spark and with a bit of messing about Zakk got the wick lit. ‘Never been onna job needin a speller before. Done plenty wiv traps, but never done a magic one.’
‘Me nevva,’ said Grogg busy with digging around in his sack making a clatter and laying gear out on the floor next to the lamp. ‘Bad ole tomb this one. Reck’n be smart for ya ta leg it should hiz majesty stick hiz nose in and gets it bit off.’

October 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips word for October 29 is 'Broomstick' only I'm having to go with 'sticks'. 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter 1, 'Brave Men of Fools'. We meet up with some tomb robbers who are trying their luck in Queen Eiolynn's tomb.

Bit cheeky Grogg calling Jabbo ugly. Zakk grinned to himself as he dusted himself off. His Mum woulda said it woz the pot calling the kettle black. ‘Gotta light Jabbo?’ He offered the candle lamp to the wizard. Jabbo snatched it off him, lit the wick with a snap of his fingers and took himself over to the bronze doors hunched up inside his tattered robe like something made from sticks and old rope.
‘Forget hiz majesty,’ Grogg told him giving him a slap on the back that would fell a donkey. ‘Giz us a ‘and git this lamp going.’
‘Gunna be all bruises Grogg and I ain’t done nothin yet,’ complained Zakk. Taking up the offered lamp and tinderbox he applied his considerably more nimble fingers to the task.

October 29, 2025 at 10:51 AM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips word for October 28 is 'costume' only I'm going with 'uniform'. 'The Book of Ashes', Chapter 2 again with Paul Brotherwell and Michelle De La Croix the veil-walker, even though Paul mistakenly calls her a veil-crosser.

As Michelle turned away from the counter and walked towards the table he'd claimed carrying her coffee Paul couldn't help noticing that she was wearing an all too familiar looking black leather bomber jacket along with equally familiar army surplus boots and pencil leg jeans. Even her dark hair cut short in a boyish bob was just the same as when he last laid eyes on her two months ago and the time before that, - and the time before that. The silver crucifix earring dangling from her right earlobe made his sense of deja vu complete.
Could this be the official uniform for veil-crossers he idly wondered, - not that he'd met any others during his time with the department before he'd been assigned to work with Michelle. Come to think of it she'd been dressed exactly the same that first time he'd met her a year ago.

October 28, 2025 at 9:01 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for October 27 is 'blood-curdling', but I'm going to have make do with boring old 'screams'. 'The Book of Ashes' near the end of Chapter 7. Once again we meet Madeleine Vasseur who is not what she seems to be at all.

Almost as if it was intended she was descending the last dozen steps when three grimy children their clothing a ruin of cobwebs and dirt ran out from a room adjoining the stairwell laughing and completely careless of their surroundings.
'Ah there you are,' she said her soft chill voice instantly strangling off their laughter. 'I am so hungry.......'
Casting away her shroud she listened. By the direction of their screams they were making for the doorway that let out into the ruin of the formal gardens. A safe enough path if any way of going within this house could be said to be safe. Two brothers and their sister, pretty leggy creatures and one of them at least had wet themselves. It would be a service to the village if she drew out the same substance from which she had made her shroud and settled it at all doorways and other access points into this house. Perhaps she would do that before she left here.

October 27, 2025 at 7:37 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for October 26 is 'hat', but I've only got 'hats' to offer up. From 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter Six 'Lessons'. This time it's Paul Brotherwell that's centre stage, though we also catch a brief glimpse of Jenny Birdfoot.

'Aul,' she said and grinned a wide grin at him displaying a mouthful of tiny sharp teeth before holding up the slip of paper she was carrying.
'Thank you,' he said taking it from her small hand and no sooner than that was done as she was off running back the way she'd come, the little claws on her feet clicking on the flagstones.
Paul opened the slip of paper recognising Sir Geoffrey's handwriting. 'Please come to the library. G.'
The Library. Where in this great warren of a house was the library? It would have been very nice if the little bird foot girl had waited to show him where to go, but he supposed she hadn't been told to do that and only to deliver the note. Closing the textbook he decided to leave it on the bench. If he was lucky the tiny garden fae would steal it and use the pages to make paper hats.

October 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips The word for October 25 is 'lottery' only I'm going with 'chance' instead. From 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter Two, 'Pilgrims'. We get to meet Paul Brotherwell, Michelle and her umbrella you've already met.

He sighed wondering if he would risk another coffee after all. Things had been a lot simpler when he'd been a Whitehall paper pusher. Why he'd been shoulder tapped and why he'd said 'yes' he didn't really know. Heartily wishing to be lifted out of a daily state of grinding boredom and having a chance at adventure instead could be very unsettling when your heartfelt wish suddenly came true.
A soft feathery touch inside his head made him frown and he was still frowning when he saw Michelle De la Croix walk out of the dark rain curtain beyond the bus station's lights like the night belonged to her alone and head towards the cafe's entrance. Shaking out her umbrella Michelle folded it and propped it by the door to drain off before she entered the cafe. Nobody would try stealing that umbrella that was something Paul knew for certain, - not that anyone was around at the moment to make the attempt.

October 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

What with Chronic Fatigue, Friend Narcolepsy and my duff eyesight it's a real struggle to get any writing done. I must've slept six hours this afternoon, randomly dozed through part of the morning and now I'm fighting off sleep again.

A grey haired older woman sound asleep in her bed. The room seems to be a part of a stone built cottage with a definite air of classic fantasy stories about it.

October 25, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips word for October 24 is 'total'.
For the fourth time we are back at 'The Book of Ashes' Chapter Five 'Guardians' with Michelle the veilwalker who is being careful because she is on the edge of crossing the Veil. This piece comes before the earlier #WIPSnip where she is helplessly vomiting.

Of Magalyn the city built by the descendants of the half-Elven that had remained with Queen Eiolynn at the Sundering it was much the same as any ancient abandoned city she could name having been well robbed of any useful building stone almost down to the level of its foundations. If ever there been any protective magics laid upon Magalyn all trace of them had fled.
At least her reports as well as the books and tattered manuscripts she'd discovered and rescued from the ungentle hands of the Inquisition were in Sir Gregory's possession now so he would at last have the sum total of the surviving known history of Quail'fain and its last queen to draw upon.

October 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM

Anne Welborn

@wildagreenbough.bsky.social

#WIPSnips word for October 23 is 'gradient', only I'm going with 'ramp'. From Chapter 8 'The Book of Ashes'.
We're with Michelle the veilwalker again and the Folk have permitted her to use one of their secret pathways to a hidden stone circle that awakes briefly only once a month.

'Make haste now,' urged the elder so taking him at his word she ran on past him leaving her guides behind. 'Hurry lads,' she heard him say as they tried to catch up to her, but she was already ascending the earthen ramp that led up to the entrance to the ancient stone circle. The stones' song was like a pulse in her blood now, the ground under her feet echoing the song with every step she took. As she passed between the tall entrance stones the runes deep cut into their flanks awoke and in answer her gift stirred within her rising to flood and awaken her senses so that all within this sacred space was known to her and its power was hers to own. Somewhere behind her she distantly heard the elder's voice, 'Nay lads keep back, keep back, - let us hope the Veil-walker knows her craft.'

October 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM

Reposted by Anne Welborn

Mandy Eve-Barnett

@mandyevebarnett.bsky.social

This is so true! Yep, life gets in the way, book promotion, socials, newsletters, website, blog etc. etc... but #writing is our live blood.
#writingcommunity #writing #authors #writers #narrative #stories #genres