On the way from a far-flung field back to her home, a farmer met a young priest, and they exchanged greetings.

She said, “Looks like rain tomorrow.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the city-bred priest.

“Rain follows a red sunset quite often.”

“The Maker crafted the physical world in mystery. Faith in providence will easy your heart, not trying to understand.”

The farmer, unsurprised since she was used to the ways of young priests, paraphrased different scripture, “The Maker gave us eyes to see, and a mind to think.”

When they parted ways, the priest thought hard.

Aldersprig gave me the prompts "training" and "theocracy", which is where I started, though I wandered away a little.

It had seemed a good idea, Maggie taking a trip, Henry staying home to tinker in his workshop. But then…

“What were you thinking?” Maggie’s voice and shoulders dropped as she took in the model train rails cutting through the hatch to the kitchen. “Does it even open still?”

“It doesn’t need to.” Henry pulled out a chair, twitching a smile. After she sagged on the offered seat, he turned a gauge, causing a train to enter. It stopped so the first wagon, with its load of triangular leaf packets was right in front of Maggie.

“Rice dumplings. Your favourite.”

Here we go starting on the rest of the alphabet. The prompt "railroad" came from Lyn Thorne-Alder, "rice dumplings" from Eliza Gebow

I'm still accepting prompts for letters after T, if you're so inclined. :)

All verses from the Book of Prophecies were debated, among those who cared about these things.

For example, “The black-eyed bear and the red-backed bear vie for supremacy, but the cat will beat them” had seen various warlords, kings, and politicians assigned to the animal roles. A relatively new reading cast President Elsa Winter as the cat, as she overshadowed her brother’s and husband’s political careers.

Those who considered prophecies Serious Business just turned up their noses at the reading, “there are more photos of cats on the internet than of great pandas and red pandas put together”.

I'm way behind schedule in the April A to Z challenge, but I'm not stopping now. The prompt "pandas" came from Lyn Thorne-Alder, "prediction" from Ellen Million.

If you have prompts for later in the alphabet, please give them to me. :)

The inner gate opened, admitting a woman with hair shorn short, and a still sore tattoo on her forehead.

“We’re up to eighty already?” Katya’s loud voice made the newcomer flinch.

“Yeah. Rats got the last five,” Rani drawled back.

Their number eighty straightened, recognising the game for what it was.

Sun in her back, Rani approached her. “All right, Eighty, here’s the rules. You do what you’re told, you guard the Rift, and you’ll live a while yet. Look for Seventeen, she’ll show you the ropes. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was firm. Maybe she’d last more than a day.

I'm now halfway through the April A to Z challenge, with fiction with at most 100 words. The prompt "Numbered" came from Lyn Thorne-Alder, "Newcomer" from Ellen Million.

If you have prompts for later in the alphabet, please give them to me. :)