Bulletin #6 - Have You Any Wool - NoQu 2025

NoQu 2025

Day 18

Total Words: 30,000 Words

Chapter 6: Have You Any Wool

"He leads me to the tender grasse,

Where I both feed and rest;

Then to the streams that gently passe:

In both I have the best."

—George Herbert, The 23d Psalme, The Temple

Well rested from your night at Levity Lodge, you forge onward. The countryside is now mostly free of trees, and the wind smells of salt and stone. You crest one great hill and see a simple picture before you: a valley of green, green grass, and sheep that graze upon it clumped together in the shade of the hill.

To your surprise, however, your pocket begins to feel warm. The map is saying this place is important, somehow.

But why?

A gust of wind blasts in your face, and the coolness of a shadow comes up behind you.

You turn on your heel to see—

"What on—?"

Prompt: Lead a character somewhere, even though they don't understand why.

A dragon, the size of a sheep dog but standing on his hind legs, wings outstretched to block the sun. Your breath rushes out of you and your chest feels like ice.

"Greetings, Phoenix Herald," the dragon's words boom.

You swallow. He knows you. This is why the map is glowing right now. 'Okay, that's actually pretty cool,' you let yourself think.

"What can I do for you, Great Dragon?" Dragons already have their own fire. What use could Phoenix magic be to them?

"Something," he said, settling down on four legs, "But I think there is more that I can do for you."

You cock your head and stare at him strangely.

"You have learned many things about your craft thus far. But they are useless without one thing: discipline. And nothing is more important for a shepherd such as myself."

"So what do I have to do?"

Ambiance: Sheep Farm

"That map in your pocket— its magic is deeper than simple fire. As a shepherd, I must always look ahead to the next pasture. My sheep are magical in and of themselves, and they must be at certain places at certain times because of this. When the Phoenix is alive and active, his magic enchants their fleeces so that they can tell me where we next go: a living map."

"So you need the piece of the map to enchant their fleeces again?"

"Yes, and no. The piece related to us must be made into the exact number of pieces as there are sheep, so that teach sheep may have their own."

"Counting sheep?" You hope you don't fall asleep for this one.

The dragon gives a smile as only a dragon can. "Yes. Counting sheep. Best get started."

Dare: Challenge yourself to carve out three 30-minute writing sessions in a single day.

You aren't sure how long it ultimately takes to count each of the 232 sheep. You do know it takes even longer to carefully handle the warm map and pull it into as many pieces. And then there was the matter of ensuring each sheep had their piece pressed into their freshly growing wool, all while they jostled about and trotted to different clumps of grass. It was worth it, though, watching the white and black sheep take on hues of gold, blue, and pink. Worth the sleepless nights and aching back and stiff hands.

You stand once again, exhausted now, at the crest of the hill with the little dragon. He looks down in pride as the wondrously colored sheep begin to move in an orderly fashion until they make what you can only assume is a map that can be read by the dragon alone.

"Well done," he says to you. "You have exhibited the discipline a shepherd requires. As your reward, here is a fleece. The phoenix will need it."

You give him a tired smile as you accept his token— and promptly use it as a bedroll.

Question: In what ways are your characters disciplined? In what ways are they lacking discipline?

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