Writing Prompts For The Strange

The Griffin Made Of Pumpkin

The wooden wagon with its rickety seats, and wobbly wheels slowly road down the road at a steady pace. The horses galloped on down the trail, which was still damp from the night prier. The horses hooves squished into the mud, and because of the rainfall the bumps and potholes were no longer there. I sat in the back alone, it was the first time mother had allowed me to leave the village to get groceries from the market in town. Of course I was excited but I had to act like a proper lady in public mother once told me. So that's what I was going to do so she'd let me go again. Right now I was on the outskirts of town, surrounded by rows and rows of empty corn stocks lying flat on the ground. A few were swaying stiffly in the cold fall breeze coming from the north. I wrap my shawl tightly around me to keep warm, it doesn't really work well. After the wind dies down I look back out at the field to see crows hopping around. Pecking at corn grains covering the ground, but avoiding the scarecrow at all costs. The two sticks tied together like a cross, clothes stuffed with straw. It's lifeless face with coal black eyes, and sinister smile looking down on you. I can't help but shudder and tear my eyes away from the sight looking straight ahead till I got to the market.
As the wagon pulls through the gate of the market district the first thing I hear is a choir. Standing nearby playing the violin and flute well the rest are singing a cheerful, low tone. The wagon comes to a halt, I quickly climb down and head in a random direction to find the things mother asked me to get. As I walk down the long, winding cobblestone paths Ipass many vendors selling, pots, jewelry, silks, clothes, and rugs. One stand was getting no customers, so I walked up to it and saw that they were selling carved animals made from pumpkins. Curious I walked to it and picked up a carving of a griffin standing on its hind legs wings out stretched ready to take flight. The griffin had a lot of detail and intricate designs on it. The person at the stand hadn't seen me yet as he was busy carving the third head of cerberus.
"Um excuse me sir, but how do you make it so the pumpkin doesn't rot?" the older fellow with grey hair put his tools down and turned around with a surprised look on his face, then it turned into a warm smile.
"Smell the carving then you tell me" the kind man answered. I nodded my head and lifted the griffin to my nose and gave it a big whiff. I widened my eyes in surprise smelling wax and a little bit of honey mixed in. I smiled taking in the aroma and looked up at the man
"Is it melted wax and honey?" I asked, he just nodded his head and smiled. I smiled back kindly, thanked him for his time and left, I walked about half a block when I found the grand plaza of the market. In the center was a circus act going on, there was men with no shirts on, and brown baggy pants. They held flaming juggling staffs and were throwing, and catching them in the air. There was also a jester with tight leggings and big puffy pants at his waist, with a hat with jiggly's on it clanking together every time he moved. I stopped for a brief second then kept walking.
After getting everything mother asked for I had a little money left over so I decided to buy the griffin carving. The elder man giving me a discount to my surprise. Again thanking him over and over. He just chuckled at me saying it was nothing, happy that some people still appreciate art. Thanking him once more I headed back to the wagon. I climbed up the creaking ladder like steps sitting in the back like before, headed home admiring my new griffin.