Tastings | Tea-Inspired Short-Shorts by Gwen Gunn

"Tastings" are a series of a short-short stories inspired by a teas I make at my tea company, "Phoenix Pearl Tea!" Each one is inspired by a particular blend which gives its name to the story. I make a cup, drink the tea, and write whatever comes to mind. They're typically no longer than 500-1000 words, so less than a chapter of a novel, and only about a 5 minute read or so. Just a quick little tasting of fiction! If you want to see my inspiration, I always link to the tea that inspired the story (if it's still available).

Red Wedding

She smiled with her heart, which translated into her face as happiest grin it could muster. Her wife laughed. “You have the stupidest grin on your face right now.” “You’re my wife. How can I not be stupidly happy?”

Sanctuary

The doors burst open, jarring Jorin from his reverie as they slammed into the stone walls. Flakes of ash scattered across the floor as the man rushed in, feet nearly slipping on the stone like a newborn fawn already on the run from certain death. Jorin rushed to him, holding out a hand to lift the man to his feet, offering him the most important service his house could offer: the ability to find one’s footing.

Wild Shape

You’re running through the forest. Something’s chasing you, but you don’t know what. You’re panicking, dodging from tree to tree, running through underbrush and ducking under logs, but you still hear padding feet behind you. It’s gaining all the while, and you’re not sure what to do.

Rolling Wave

He stood atop the cliff-face staring down into oblivion. Nothing mattered, not since Kama died. A freak accident, everyone told him. It couldn’t be helped. But he knew better. He knew the gods were against him, punishing him for a childhood of ill deeds.

Gravekeeper

She boiled the water, and broke the brick of tea into her pot. Her knife dug into the tightly-packed leaves, breaking off flakes into her basket, and poured the violently bubbling water over them. Not even a minute passed before she took them out of the water, leaving a pot of rich, potent tea.

Minthe's Tears

She tended her garden well, as she always did. This was her forest, her plants, her garden, her trees. It surrounded the tree she called home, the tree her soul was linked with, the place she could never leave, and could never imagine wanting to.

Cambion's Lament

Some call me Kannoran. Others, Dral’gathach. Others still, Bassant. I don’t belong here. That statement sticks with me wherever I go. No matter my place of rest, I don’t belong. I never have. I never will. I’ve come to terms with this. I don’t belong here.

Dragon's Breath

The smoke pours from the tower. It’s all your fault. You know it is. You can’t help but bury your head in your hands and cry. Years of work just went down the toilet. Sure, the creature is alive and showing all signs that everything functions just like you wanted, but that does no good when it’s burst out of its cage and set fire to your lab. Your funding just literally went up in flames.