Drabble #243: Scorched

[redwolf]

For this prompt, we continue with our one-word/phrase drabble roots:

Scorched

Tell us all about it. Labyfic-style, of course.

Given our entries from recent months, let's continue with the suggested limit of 500 words. Though remember that shorter pieces are most definitely welcome!

Your entry should take the following format, posted as a comment on this entry:

Word count: # of words
$your_beautiful_drabble

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Scorched

[redwolf]

Word count: 500

“I’ve noticed several slightly singed goblins this morning. Should I be concerned?”

While they didn’t appear to be injured, their clothing and armour showed signs of fire damage. It was, of course, possible that they’d tripped into an open fire, but that seemed to be something that was unlikely to happen to more than one goblin at the same time. A more likely explanation was leaned strongly in favour of arson, but she would have heard if that was the case and the perpetrators would be neck deep in the bog rather than roaming free.

Jareth looked up from his reading. “Pyromania is not a trait exclusive to humans.”

Sarah leaned against a bookcase, arms folded across her chest. “Well, that’s terrifying.” Goblins were chaos, but when they found something that caught their interest, they could be ingenious. Sarah shuddered at the thought of goblins being clever with fire. If that was a possibility, she didn’t understand why the Kingdom wasn’t ashes. “How is anything still standing?”

“We have an arrangement.” Jareth steepled his fingers. “If they wish to indulge their urges unbogged, they may only act Above.”

Sarah frowned. “That’s just making it someone else’s problem.” There was too much potential for loss of life when fire got out of control, not just to people and their property, but the damage inflicted on the surrounding environment and wildlife could be catastrophic.

Jareth shook his head. “They follow strict rules. They can’t start a fire, but they can interfere with a human fire bug.” He materialised a crystal and held it out. “This is their latest escapade.”

Staring into the crystal, Sarah could see an intoxicated young man setting out fireworks. “He shouldn’t be setting up there. That grass is tinder dry.”

“If the grass caught alight, even a light breeze would fan it towards homes,” Jareth agreed. “There’s been a run of extremely hot days, a total fire ban is in effect and fireworks are illegal in his region.”

“That sounds like a disaster in the making without goblin interference. Where do they come in?”

“Keep watching,” Jareth’s smile revealed his sharp teeth.

Sarah saw the man set smaller fireworks in a circle. In his inebriated state, they were aimed anywhere but up. She thought he may have planned to set them off at once, but he stumbled as he lit the first firework. As the fuse burned down, Sarah noticed the firework being moved, just as it went off with a flash.

As expected, its trajectory was not up, but much lower. It shot over the grass, cleanly entered an unexpectedly open car window and zipped about the interior, igniting the firework stash that had yet to be unloaded.

Sarah saw the young man staring dumbfounded at his car’s demise. She could hear distant sirens and guessed that a nearby neighbour had notified authorities.

“While contained, the goblins did manage quite a spectacular show.”

“With no damage to anyone beyond an idiot and his car. I am impressed.”