On the last day of his journey, Friar Tom trudged along the river path, leading a donkey as hungry as he was. Ahead lay the ford, and beyond that, the easy trail to the village, his favorite inn, and food.

Tom stopped short at the river’s edge. On the far bank, a woman sat on a boulder. Her skin was silver, her dark hair cut like a boy’s.

“Demon,” Tom whispered.

Just a woman, said a voice in his head. Come forward, dear friar. You’re starving!

“No, I won’t.”

You will, though. Eventually.

Mute with hunger, Tom could only nod.

I wrote this story for the 100 Word Challenge #358 at Velvet Verbosity.