March 14th, 1890 — Pennyworth, Station Road. Open to anyone up for The Countdown stamp challenge. :]

Complete a thread in which every post is one word shorter than the post before it! The final post should be a grand total of one word. At least three posts must be your own.

Hand shielding his eyes from the sun, Bragi squinted up into the oak tree at Maid Marian, his chonky pet cat. She obviously needed saving... but he had no idea how.

Word count: 31

  

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A cat sat in the tree mewling contentedly as cats were want to do. Mahdi glanced from the animal to the distressed young man, offered a smile.

“Is she yours?”

WC: 30

  

Bragi turned to see a windswept fellow, though he couldn't bring himself to return the smile. "Yes, although... she's very much hers at the moment", he explained meekly, concerned.

WC: 29

  

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No matter how long he lived here the English language still confounded him sometimes. Nodding as though he understood Mahdi gestured towards the tree.

“I could climb up…”

WC: 28

  

Bragi chewed his lip, rather concerned — but grateful! "Thank you so much. And I'll..." he peered around. "I'll levitate something up for you to usher her onto."

WC: 27

  

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Mahdi gingerly placed a foot against the trunk and grasped the branch, reaching quickly for the next, which promptly snapped and landed him on his backside.

“-!”

WC: 26

  

Still glancing for a hoverable platform, Bragi was alarmed when the kind stranger fell. "Du milde!" exclaimed the Dane, rushing to his side. "Are you alright?"

WC: 25

  

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Embarrassingly sore Mahdi nodded and jumped to his feet. Carefully he retried, footing secure, and came face-to-face with the cat.

“Come here little one.”

WC: 24

  

Rather than swapping roles, the adamant stranger tried again. Bragi drew his wand and levitated a bin lid upwards...

While the cat hissed!

WC: 23

  

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Withdrawing his hand quickly Mahdi wondered why this beast hated him so much.

“Is she injured?”

It would certainly explain the aggression!

WC: 22

  

The levitating bin lid was ready, but the rescuer exclaimed.

"I... I hope not! Erm... try shooing her onto the lid..."

WC: 21

  

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Gingerly Mahdi did, prompting the cat to move awkwardly.

Until the branch cracked and the cat's claws dug into him.

WC: 20

  

Catastrophe! The poor fellow!

Bragi abandoned the lid, outstretching his arms. "I'm so sorry! Can you pass her down...?"

WC: 19

  

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Gritting his teeth Mahdi moved his arm, presenting the cat to the man as though he were a waiter.

WC: 18

  

On tip-toes, Bragi accepted Marian gratefully.

"What a hero", he smiled; then flinched at said hero's scratches.

WC: 17

  

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Jumping down Mahdi nodded his head, wincing as his sleeve rubbed the new scratches.

"It's nothing."

WC: 16