nsfwords | Story: A Better Path (Reply)

This 413 word story was inspired by a prompt from

fuzzyred during my January 2024 Final Friday Fics and the image at the bottom of the page. This belongs to my fantasy series The Earthen.

A Better Path

An Earthen’s name marks their path through life and highlights their worth to the warren. As a child they’re gifted a simple name by their fruiting parent and as they come of age they choose something that appeals to their inner being.

Basia despised her name. She was marked a Stranger in her current warren, and it stung more and more each time she heard the other Earthen repeat the moniker. In her home burrow, before the Giants had destroyed the forest, she’d had a youngkin’s name of Tola because she was Priceless to her parents. She hadn’t settled into her calling before she’d been forced to run, and now it had been years of being called Stranger amongst her adopted community. She wished it could be different; she needed things to be different.

She sought Zotia, to see if it would be Wise to try and change her name, or if she was stuck on this path of never quite belonging.

“Do you know what you’d prefer your name to be? You didn’t wish to be called a nutlet’s name anymore after your great flight across the forest, so I doubt you wish to return to “Tola”?

“No, I am no longer my parent’s Priceless child. My parent’s and that warren are gone, I can’t return, even in name only,” said Basia mournfully.

“Is there an attribute you wish to be known for? I know you often struggle with anxiety, but Obawa would not be a very pleasant name to carry,” Zotia fretted.

“No! I want something that makes me feel better, makes me feel wanted, and admirable.”

“Hmm, have you settled on a craft? Last I knew you were still testing the waters with several,” asked Zotia.

“Yes, I’ve apprenticed with the crafter’s guild and believe I’m going to be most skilled at the intertwining of roots used to make the Burrow entrances strong.” Basia looked proud as she stated her skill. She knew that she’d floundered around a long time, trying this and that, but mostly spending her time since joining this warren recovering from her ordeals. No one had complained, her recovery time was understandable, but it felt good to finally be settling into work she felt called to complete.

“Well, that’s excellent! And inspires me to call you Tkaczka, as you’ll be an important Weaver for the warren,” Zotia exclaimed.

The whole world seemed brighter then, as Tkaczka accepted her new name and a warm embrace from Zotia.

~~~Notes~~~

An example of the entrance to an Earthen Warren/Burrow showing small roots woven across the opening.