Through the mists of time, people tell legends of a miraculous plant. It exists shriveled and dead, a little more than a dry clump, until water touches it, and then it blooms into vibrant green, suddenly alive. Its name is the Rose of Jericho.
Once there was a woman who didn’t trust the legends, so she bargained with the merchants at a vast marketplace and bought the dead plant.
She placed it into a bowl and added water. And then she waited.
A night had passed and her patience was rewarded.
The plant had revived, verdant and healthy. It filled the woman’s heart with joy.
But life doesn’t often bring us happy ending.
The woman consulted the writings of learned sages and discovered that the miraculous plant must be allowed to dry between the waterings. She didn’t have a proper bowl or the pebbles it required, so she took it outside and placed into a tall planter, where it would be safe, to allow it to dry before it could be brought inside again. And then she went about her many tasks.
The world exists in the balance between Order and Chaos, between Birth and Destruction. And since the plant was reborn and blooming, revived from the dead against the natural order of things, it had attracted forces of Chaos. A Destroyer appeared. Quietly it came, unnoticed, undetected, climbed the rocking chair, and snatched the plant from the tall planter.
A Destroyer can only destroy. It is its primary goal.
The woman knew nothing until she confronted the Destroyer on its throne and saw the consequences of her choices.
The woman took a deep sigh, consulted the sages again, and rejoiced because miraculous plant was not toxic to Destroyers*. For it would have been one death too many.
And now you know the legend of the Rose of Jericho and Coco the Destroyer. She is a menace. This dog has all the toys in the world.
*It is, however, mildly toxic to cats, so the carnage was cleaned immediately.
Coco’s looks described in each picture
First picture : Hihowareyapetme.
Second picture: howdidthatgettherewowitsmessy.
Third picture: Iamsocuteyouknowyouwanttopetme.
For a moment I believed that I was reading either a Kate Daniels or Aurelia Rider snipet lol. Ps poor plant.
This was SO well written! I am laughing as I post this, but I am also amazed that this could sound like a fabulous start to an epic adventure when it is actually just an anecdote about a naughty doggy destroying a beloved plant.
I love it!!! As a child I remember watching my resurrection plant unfurl. It was truly magic! Glad the Destroyer survived.
Our last dog was more of a snoozer and couldn’t be bothered to make trouble unless it involved eating grapes off the counter (greyhounds are beautiful but do have a high reach), which of course entailed a rush visit to an emergency clinic. Our current 1-year old, on the other hand, likes to gnaw on furniture and photo albums. Destroyer of memories indeed.
That plant looks like some kind of mutant slime organism from Magic Tides. Who knows what it may have generated next, Magic Clams perchance? The Destroyer might have had the inside track. The destroyer as protector – very cool beans, Err no, beans are another story. 😉 lol
Bad baby.
I bet she rolled around in it.
Make sure it gets all over for mama.
Hilarious! Thanks for sharing!
Ha ha.. As I was reading “Die Walkure – Ride of the Valkyries” by Sumi Jo … was playing on my spotify….. synchronicity or what…
Omg!! This so made my day. I have two grandfur babies that I watch and one literally chews on the walls when stressed from loud noises.
No Destroyer at my house. Instead, I woke up at 6am Sunday to the delicate crunching noises of the Mighty Mighty Hunter Cat. Eating his kill. On my freaking bed.
His new name is Mousegut Breath.
(I mean, he was locked in all night, so said kill must have been in th house. So, good kitty! But gory mouse guts all over the bed, ewwwwwwe
The Dread Conquerer Coco ! Thanks for the fun story.
lol – that’s a very cool plant, and a very not contrite destroyer!
The Destroyer has the look of IDGAF!!!! lol
oh my!
i’m trying to imagine coco climbing a rocking chair. and failing. still…
🙂
j
🙂 🙂 My biggest embarrassment was when I had to go to our local library and confess that “My cat destroyed your book” 🙂 🙂
Coco is chaotic! I’m glad it didn’t make her sick! Many years ago my one year old son munched on a poinsettia plant. He didn’t look nearly as guilty as Coco looks!
Hilarious!
That is one guilty looking destroyer. Also, I will never show my four legged friend that bed. I would lose dog mom of the year award. I have never won the award but, there is always hope.
Oh my. You tell an enthralling tale, and the pictures, well, they gave the telling extra delight. Thank you very much for sharing this tale.
That was hilarious.
Onto other subjects:-
1. Don’t care if mugs are broken. Will glue together and make plant holders. Great talking points.
2. Just finished a re-read of Hidden Legacy (gets down on knees and begs) “Please, please, PLEASE can we have Arabella’s story?”
That is all.
Apologise for sounding like a whiny 4 year old. Will also happily read “Maggie”, stories of Coco the Destroyer, and/or to-do lists.
The whining comes from a place of love.
Thank you for your amazing stories.
Oh that is just brilliant! Again you bring such joy with your wit and skills.
Our new planter box full of chives and mint suffered a similar fate from a less wee version of the destroyer – they are so lucky they are cute and their tails wag so beguilingly.
And the teach from this tale: You’ve got a guardian against necromancy at your door steps and all destructions are made in name of Greater Good
Erras true name born from her mini me destroyer!! hahahha. Glad it wasnt toxic though! amazing little mini story. Maybe the merchants will humbly provide you with a new one if you share the story of the Rose of Jericho….Have a great morning. PS I just paid for the pre inspection for our new “almost” house, wish me luck I go in with tools bared tomorrow with the inspector, **fingers crossed** though with all the rain here in Philly we may get a new roof out of the deal if were lucky!!
Hahaha. Coco the Destroyer is aware that she is probably in trouble. Her ears and little face are clearly saying, “uh oh, busted”.
Love your story. In the beginning I thought maybe it was a snippet from a new book!
😂
One of my cats disemboweled a catnip mouse and proceeded to scatter catnip all over the house. Of course the remains were trod upon (and into the carpet) before being discovered. Even after a thorough vacuuming, the cat would still fixate on spots of the rug and the shoes I was wearing at the time of the mouse murder.
Pets, gotta love the innocent expressions they put on when caught. They have controlling their human down to a fine art.
BTW, all of my merch arrived in perfect condition: ferret magnet, t-shirt and clams mug. Love it all. Thank you so much for all you do.
😂😂😂 That just made my day, thanks!
Oh my goodness, look at The Destroyer’s guilty little ear tilts in the last picture…that’s too funny!
When things like that happen in our house, I have a very hard time deciding whether I should laugh or be very mad and scold the Offender so it doesn’t happen again! 😂
Was the picture of the dry plant picked because or designed to look like a little curled up animal or is that only my cloud-reading interpretation?
Also, I forwarded this post to my gardener husband and guess what came in the mail today? Hint: not a small dog.
Is it bad to rejoice in Coco the Destroyer? With a face like that, she could rule the world!
LOL Awesome. Lots of good vibes and love to House Andrews!
Glad the plant wasn’t toxic to the dog! Sorry about your plant though.
My dog once ate mice poison. He even broke a panel beneath the oven to get to it. We had no idea until his poop came out turquoise, the color of the mice poison. I wasn’t at home when all of this ridiculousness went down since I was at college. The dog survived and went to live nice a long life of 15 years and persisted to eat many non-edible things throughout that decade and a half. Lactaid pills, chocolate, carpet fibers (that last one did almost kill him), etc.
Coco looks very guilty. Also looks like she was scolded for being a naughty puppy. However can’t have been too bad, obviously Coco lives a life of luxury!
Destruction isn’t limited to Coco. I just dug up a rose that I thought had died, only to break off the new shoots hidden at the base. So it is now soaking & I will try planting it again in the hopes I haven’t killed it. Crazy weather has really made it difficult to know if stuff is still alive…..
Epic! Thanks so much for the laugh and pics of the fierce Destroyer.
We had a Destroyer. Our Rottweiler loved to chew things. He chewed through each loop of a neatly coiled hose, and left me with 5 short pieces.
He ate an entire packet of coloured balloons and literally pooped rainbows for the rest of the week.
I swear dogs are the greatest animals in the world and sometimes the worst. They are the destroyer of books (oh the horror), shoes, wooden utensils, glow sticks, couch cushions, clothing and so many more things including unmentionables. Still we love them, forgive them and wait for the next item that catches the Destroyers eye.
Heavy sigh.
Heavy sigh indeed. And prayers. On a totally different topic, I’m finishing a Little Golden Book quilt for a local charity. I’m making a gift bag arrangement of the 36 inch quilt, a swaddling blanket/nursing cover, a bib, burp pad and changing pad set and a Little Golden Book that matches the quilt’s fabric. Should I put in anything else? Right now it’s gender neutral. I like making the heirloom lace bonnets and can easily make one by Saturday when I drop the donation off. I could probably make a plainer one too. It is a new charity for me so I can do what I want. Any suggestions?
This made me smile. A great big smile. Thank you for sharing and lifting my day.
Oops. Safely out of reach is never safe where pawed critters of climbing ability (or jumping) are around! My cats would do that for baby’s breath (they seem to love the stuff!) or yes, carnations and roses. Hence all floral arrangements I am sent in vase form or basket, much to my chagrin must be put in places they don’t see or go.. sigh.
And the face…who me?
A new word for cheerful —-> fabracadabra
A mystical word used when fabric magically appears in your stash because you don’t remember buying it or stashing it in THAT closet or under the bed in your spare room.
I love all your pet posts and pics. Sorry to change subjects quickly but after reading No Heroes, I was wondering if you ever considered writing a children’s/YA book for Conlan. I love him and think he could be as popular and interesting as a Harry or Percy. I think being advanced but young gives him incredible potential for character development. I’m an elementary librarian in a larger district in TX. A fourth grade book level book would be awesome!
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I love your writing. It definitely brightens my day. Coco is such a delight. You are both blessed