moni uddin

“Setbacks are just a setup for a comeback.” – T.D. Jakes

Decision 3: The Mirror

Just as the mirror predicted, Sable reached the steep path out of the Tall Shores. He paused, taking out the mirror once more. It only reflected his face, his eyes wide and uncertain. What else could it show him? Did he even want to know? He could throw it into the sea, ensuring no one else had to witness its bleak outcomes or bury it in the sand just as he had found it. Or perhaps he could use it . . . after all, it had helped him before.

○ – Throw it into the sea

□ – Bury it in the sand

△ – Use it

Outcomes:

○

Sable waded through the sea water until it reached his chest, drenching his black-and-white fur. He wound his little arm back as far as he could and tossed the mirror into the waves ahead. His eyes followed it as the mirror soared surprisingly far, landing with a small splash in the distance. For a brief moment, it floated before abruptly sinking as if dragged under by unseen hands, its devious mystery now hidden beneath the waves.

Sable felt an unexpected lightness, like he had shed a heavy pack he had been carrying for days. Only then did he realise the hold the mirror had had over him. For what purpose, he couldn’t say. But he was content. It was gone, and perhaps he had spared another from its dark visions.

□

Sable dug a shallow hole in the sand with his paws, placing the mirror within it, its surface still showing his face. Then, the reflection twisted, his eyes swirling as it prepared to reveal another vision. Without hesitation, Sable flooded the pit with sand, covering the mirror until only its edge glinted faintly. The vision stopped, leaving the mirror just as he had found it many days ago. 

The decision felt larger than him. But he wondered who might find it next. Perhaps a brave warrior would uncover it, using its visions to foresee their foes’ moves and avoid defeat time and time again. Such a person could become unstoppable. Yet Sable imagined they’d always keep the mirror close—one eye fixed on it, the other on the world. Would they unite the lands in peace or use its power for selfish gain? Sable couldn’t know. This decision seemed beyond him, so he left it to fate.

△

Sable’s slitted pupils widened into circles as he gazed into the mirror. What else could it show him? He had to know. He had to be ready for what lay ahead. The reflection twisted, his face swirling as the next scene began to take shape.

There was grass—endless blades of green, tall as buildings, their brown tips flopping under their weight. From above, Sable saw the grass rustle as a small figure moved through it. Black-and-white fur flashed through the gaps. It was him, but he wasn’t alone.

The grass shuddered violently as something massive closed in on him. Its auburn body rippled with muscle, moving at a ferocious pace. Just then, the mirror began to shake in his hands, emitting a dark smoke that clouded his view. He wiped it away desperately, he needed to see what happened next.

Before he could find out, the mirror shattered. Sable jumped, his paws shaking, as he watched as the glass crumbled into a thin dust, slipping through his paws and vanishing into the sand below. His fur stood on end as fear seeped in. He didn’t understand what he had seen, but one thing was clear—he would have to be ready.