Hello!
I still can’t get the sound of the otters trying to convince Nakul to slide into the river out of my head. LOL.
I’ve written about Nakul and Indali before way back last July. Here are links providing a quick jump to those older posts for those interested. Enjoy!
I’m curious to learn more about these characters. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up featuring in future pieces of flash fiction.
Here is a quick piece I had fun with in response to April 25 Your Daily Word Prompt. Great Site. Check it out.
Nakul huffed as he lugged the bucket toward the river.
“Why do I always have to fetch the water?”
The dusty path slowly wound its way downhill. A constant swarm of gnats nipped at the boy, further souring his mood. At first, he tried reasoning with them but realized their thirst and hunger made that impossible.
“It’s just when she’s about to do something interesting, too!”
The heavy bucket bounced annoyingly against his legs. He hoped it would leave a bruise, causing Indali to feel guilty.
“Don’t touch that, Nakul! Shh, Nakul! Back to work, Nakul! All she does is order me around.”
He had come to learn from Indali, but she hadn’t taught him anything as far as he was concerned. For months now, the woman merely lectured Nakul about responsibility and the danger of communicating with animals. He had tried to argue he couldn’t stop hearing what they said. Nonetheless, Indali insisted mastering his ability to tune out the surrounding wildlife’s constant chatter was important.
Continue reading “Flash Fiction: Doing What You Want Instead of What You Otter.”Hello All! After weeks of diligent work, I am proud to announce I’ve submitted my first story for consideration with the magazine, Shoreline of Infinity. September’s themed issue will feature fairytales with a science fiction twist. Anyone involved in writing knows, competition is fierce and rejections are inevitable. I’m just happy I finally had the guts to throw my hat into the ring! One can never succeed without trying! I’ll keep you posted as to when and where you can read my story.
In the meantime, my focus has returned to practicing my skills with flash fiction!
Enjoy the piece I wrote below for this month’s 75-Word Writing Challenge at Chronicles Sci-fi and Fantasy Community.
“Pressing Concerns”
“Gold!”
The barbarian tromped heedlessly forward.
“Padraig, wait!”
The thief cursed watching a flagstone sink.
“Stop!”
Padraig froze.
“Ness? What’s wrong?”
“Pressure trap.”
“I stepped on it?”
“Yes.”
“Bah! Nothing happened!”
“Don’t move!”
Something clicked as Padraig lifted his foot. Tumbling backwards, Ness escaped the falling portcullis. She scowled through the grating.
“We’ve discussed this! Let me check first!”
“Can you open it?”
“Probably.”
“Uh oh! Ceiling’s dropping!”
“Good thing I work well under pressure.”
Word Count: 75 words
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Word Prompt: pressure
Here’s this month’s attempt at micro fiction! My goal is to effectively convey an image or idea with very few words. Fun, but quite challenging! Hope you enjoy!
“Victory, together, no matter the cost! Venerate, protect, our supreme overlord!”
Why am I shouting?
Left, left, left, right, left.
I can’t stop marching!
Edward awoke, upright, moving, surrounded by soldiers. Bewildered, he struggled to remember.
What’s going on?
Images remerged of a demagogue railing against traitors within and enemies without.
(Resist. You’re brainwashed.)
Who’s there?
(We’re overriding your programming remotely. You’re free to think and do as you please.)
Edward halted, dropping his weapon.
Word Count: 75
Word Prompt: march
Prompt from Chronicles Science Fiction and Fantasy Community‘s 75 Word Challenge.
“Nothing ventured. nothing gained.”
Brion stood tall, proudly smirking.
“Admit it. You doubted.”
Frowning, Marigold gazed into the garden.
“No, said it was dangerous.”
Most laughed until realizing Brion actually intended to try. The aldermen cautioned the pacifist farmer.
“You’ll be accountable for any unpleasantry or mayhem.”
Anxious villagers considered Marigold’s husband’s goal foolhardy. Accusations of treason spread. The constable visited every day.
Watching Uqukh work peacefully, Brion indulged his urge to boast.
“I know I’ve upset some, but it seemed right, offering the creature a chance to thrive.”
Marigold didn’t have the opportunity to reply.
“Marigold! Marigold!”
The goblin rushed over, carrying a basket of vegetables.
“Lots of tasty roots, seeds, and pods. You take. Make a tasty supper?”
The sincere offering touched her.
“Thank you, Uqukh. Yes, these will be delicious.”
Brion clapped the goblin on the shoulder.
“Uqukh. It’s getting late. Time to bring the cattle in. Go give Dillon a hand. I’ll join you in a moment.”
Nodding enthusiastically, the goblin scampered off whistling.
“Sorry, should’ve had more faith in you, my love. Fear prevented me from seeing the good you saw in him. You’ve saved his life.”
“All it took was patience, kindness, and love.”
Word Count: 200
In response to word prompt: thrive
Courtesy of Your Daily Word Prompt for March 14, 2022.
I encourage anyone looking for a fun, easy to interact with website for daily creative inspiration!
Have to be honest, I struggle with word count limits!
Some writers really excel at crafting rich, meaningful flash fiction stories.
Check out this author I follow: joanne the geek. I’m always inspired by their ability to convey so much with so few words.
Well…practice makes perfect, as the saying goes. My goal this year is to enter writing contests requiring entries with 500 words or less.
Read my first contest entry below!
75 word (YES! ONLY 75 WORDS!) writing contest. The Prompt/Theme: Fake
Draca the Spider, weakened by age, ruled behind illusion and fabrications.
Pratt, ever an enterprising thief, sought to expand his operations.
Draca handed his bodyguard a potion.
“Assume my form. Eliminate this upstart!”
Infiltrating Pratt’s chambers, the swordsman surprised the man. Outmatched, Pratt fell for his opponent’s feint, exposing a flank.
“Pratt, disband your guild. Flee before the Spider decides to sting!”
“Ha! I only play at being Pratt while he visits the real Spider!”
Check out Chronicles Science Fiction & Fantasy Community for information on future flash fiction writing contests.
With this prompt I immediately thought of Garv from my story The Dragon’s Familiar. I had fun imagining the young wizard first meeting his master Bryndis. Who knows, perhaps this will actually make it into the book. Enjoy!
Surveying the giant eagle’s eyrie, Garv was confused. He was sure this was the bird’s nest. The mountainside hollow was littered with bones, feathers, and desiccated carcasses. But, all signs indicated the nest had recently been abandoned.
“Just my luck,” he muttered.
(Just my luck! A meal has come to me, but alas, I’m so full!)
Pulling his hair back out of his face into a rough knot, Garv swiped at the sweat on his brow. Hands, dirty and raw from climbing, smeared earth across his face. The grime punctuated the exhaustion he felt. An onlooker would have mistaken him for a vagabond wandering the wilds. The young wizard was glad no one was there to see him.
But Garv wasn’t alone.
“Why does everything I do fail?” he whined.
(What is he attempting to do? Curious.)
Garv stomped about, kicking up dust and feathers. He plopped to the ground in a huff. Sitting cross-legged, he hunched over, picking at the dirt.
“Is it too much to ask? Can’t something go right for once? I just know I could have convinced the eagle to bond with me. It would have made for a fantastic familiar! That would show everyone.” Garv said to himself.
(A familiar? He’s a wizard?)
Garv puffed angrily.
“I can’t bear the ridicule! I didn’t ask to be the son of Hochein Leistung! Living up to his reputation is impossible! I’m not my father!”
(Hochein Leistung? The Arch Magnus? Dragon’s Bane?!)
Overcome with frustration, Garv sobbed. He didn’t fight the tears. The brief emotional release felt good. Calmer now, he contemplated what to do next.
Something on the ground glimmered, catching Garv’s eye. Brushing feathers aside, he found a flat, iridescent, egg-shaped object. Holding it up to the light, he realized it was an enormous fish scale.
“Look at the size of this! What kind of fish…?”
Garv’s stomach clenched as he broke into a cold sweat. Garv suddenly knew precisely why the eagle had abandoned its nest. The scale wasn’t from a fish. It had come from a dragon.
Slowly getting to his feet, Garv quietly shouldered his pack and made to leave the eyrie.
“Leaving so soon, Wizard?”
Garv froze. He knew dragons could be invisible if they so wished. It had been watching him the whole time.
Just like a dragon. Sneaking and lurking about. I’m a hare caught in a snare! Oh, the treachery!
Closing his eyes, Garv willed himself to turn around.
The sight before him stole his breath away. All along the rim of the hollow above him lay a dragon. A bright aura of coppery light reflected from its scales.
A fire breather! Gods, help me!
The beast’s sprawling body rippled like a wave as it climbed down. Garv’s heart seized as he found himself face to face with the dragon. He was mesmerized by its violet, serpentine eyes. A snip of smoke wafted skyward from its snout.
“Are you truly the spawn of the Dragon Killer?”
Garv inwardly cursed his heritage.
“It’s a harsh legacy. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.”
“Curious. Why do you say this?”
“I’ve found legendary men make poor fathers. He cares little for me or what I want. The Arch Magnus is only interested in molding me into something I’m not.”
“And what is that?”
“A replica,” Garv spat the words out.
“You don’t want to be the most powerful wizard in the world?”
“No.”
“What do you want?”
Garv knew better than to lie to a dragon.
“Under the circumstances, I was simply hoping to leave.”
The dragon quietly considered Garv’s request.
“I should eat you, but I’m not hungry. I should kill you, but why should I punish you for your father’s sins? Yet, I’m afraid I can’t let you go. I have my own reputation to consider.”
“I swear never to speak a word about this. The shame I’ll face, returning without a familiar, is a small price to pay for one’s life.”
Smoke billowed from both of the dragon’s nostrils, its eyes blazing brightly. Garv cringed, scrunching his eyes tight. He hoped his incineration would be instantaneous.
“Yes! Familiar! That’s better than killing you.”
The dragon roared and laughed. Garv peeped one eye open.
“You will be my apprentice. I will train you to champion the dragons’ cause.”
“Sorry? What?”
“What better revenge? I’ll transform the Dragon Killer’s offspring into a mighty defender for all of dragonkind!”
“Wait. You want me to do what? I can’t do that!”
“Sure you can.”
“You want me to kill my father?”
“Only if you want to.”
“Of course, I don’t want to kill my father!”
“That’s fine. You only need to convince the Arch Magnus to cease his campaign to eradicate dragons from the world.”
“You don’t understand. My father never listens to me about anything. Besides, I’m rather hopeless when it comes to magic. I’m not a very good wizard. I probably never will be!”
“Oh, I can sense formidable magic within you. It’s buried deep, but it’s there.”
Garv was dumbstruck.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Coming to his senses, Garv pleaded again to be set free. His father had warned against the lies dragons told.
“Please just let me go back to the guild. I promise to forget everything.”
“Not a chance. You might become as bad as your father, or even worse yet.”
“I won’t. I promise. I’m nothing like my father.”
“Yes, I sense that too. But, it can’t be helped. You’ll have to stay with me, so I can keep an eye on you.”
Panicking, Garv tried desperately to think of a way to dissuade the dragon from its plan.
“Well, what if…what if…I become too powerful and too much like my father? I might kill you!”
“Oh, don’t worry. If that happens, I’ll eat you before your attitude and abilities get out of hand.”
“That’s not very reassuring.”
Word Count: 986
Written in response to the prompt: A Snip of Smoke.
Check out all of the other great writing prompts at The Twiglets.
Thank you for inspiring me!
Massachusetts – December 2, 2021 – 6:17 PM
Observing the approach of twilight, Tony smiled. He was an avid, amateur astronomer.
Ah, nothing better than stargazing on a clear, moonless winter night.
Yet, unbeknownst to Tony, something even better was about to happen.
Cold air stung his lungs as he stepped outside. He wished he had remembered to bring a hat. Road salt crunched beneath his feet. Buttoning his coat tightly, hands deep in his pockets, he began his nightly walk around the block.
Rounding the bend, Venus blazed brilliantly, low in the western sky.
Hey there, Gorgeous!
Tony settled into a modest pace.
The twinkling lights from neighborhood windows paled in comparison to nature’s display above. Craning his neck, he greeted each constellation like an old friend.
Glorious! Simply glorious!
On his return, Tony noticed his next-door neighbor peering out suspiciously. Every night the older woman sat sentinel on her porch. Her presence always made him feel like an intruder. He imagined her scolding.
Don’t step on my lawn! Pick up your dog’s poop! Drive carefully! Don’t speed! Whose car is that? Who is this stranger? Why is that man looking at me?
Hoping to convey he was stargazing, Tony scanned the sky with exaggerated gestures like a man playing charades.
No interloper here, Gisele. No one is peering into windows.
Turning his back to his neighbor, Tony looked up across the street. An unfamiliar sight immediately caught his attention.
A long chain of blinking lights stretched across a sizable length of the sky.
What is that?
The lights resembled airplane headlights. Tony figured there were at least forty moving in close formation. But they weren’t moving toward Tony. Instead, they sidled slowly across the sky like a train.
It can’t be airplanes! Those lights are moving together as one object! I need someone else to see this!
Tony fumbled for his phone and called his daughter. Waiting for her to answer, he watched, mesmerized as the leading lights faded. One by one, the lights vanished like the portholes of a turning ocean liner.
“No! No! No! No! Come on! Wait!”
His daughter answered.
“Why are you yelling?”
“Isabel, come out here! Quick! Something’s in the sky. You need to see this!”
“Ok, ok! Give me a second. I’m in my pajamas.”
Isabel didn’t make it outside in time.
“They’re gone,” Tony said.
“What happened? What’s gone?”
Tony explained what he saw.
“Do you think it was a UFO?” Isabel asked.
“I don’t know. It sure wasn’t a plane. It was way too long!”
“How long was it?”
“It was as long as that house’s roof, but far away, up in the sky.”
“That long?!”
“Yeah. I wish you or someone else had seen it.” Tony said dejectedly.
“Wait. Look online to see if anyone else saw it.” Isabel offered.
“Nothing is going to be online yet,” Tony said. “Oh! Maybe, I could ask Mrs. Boulanger if she saw anything? She’s sitting on her porch as usual.”
“No, Dad. That’s a bad idea. You’ll frighten her. I’ll get my phone and google it.”
His daughter ran inside. Tony remained outside, hoping the lights would reappear. A few minutes later, she hurried back.
“Is this what you saw?”
He studied the video clip on the screen.
“Yes! That’s it!”
“Dad, you saw a string of satellites.”
“What?”
“SpaceX launched forty-eight Starlink satellites today.”
Tony was disappointed.
“Satellites? Guess that’s pretty cool, but it would have been even better if it was a UFO.”
Later that evening, sitting by the fire, Tony reflected. Forty years ago, before the advent of the internet, he would have wholly believed those lights were extraterrestrial.
December 2, 2021: The Pentagon, Washington D.C. – 10:48 PM
“Quick thinking, Colonel.”
“Yes, well, we sure as hell can’t have the whole nation panicking. Damn ETs!”
“Perhaps, tonight’s visitors were new? They certainly didn’t follow the protocols for a visitation. Should I place a call to the galactic ambassador?”
“Yes.”
“Should I file a complaint?”
“No. Don’t need to ruffle any alien feathers or scales. Politely remind them they need to prevent rogue excursions into the atmosphere. We still need to figure out how to disclose contact officially. In the meantime, we need the lead time to concoct a plausible excuse the public will buy.”
“Yes, sir. Good night, sir.”
“Good night, Lieutenant.”
Word Count: 726
Written in response to the prompt: Even Better.
Check out all of the other great writing prompts at The Twiglets.
Thank you for inspiring me!
Luck Takes Unkindly to Being Taking for Granted.
A beautiful woman waited alone in a small, dingy apartment. Its only window afforded scarce illumination. Despite twilight fast approaching, Margaret sat still amid a muddle of shadows and the indistinct outlines of the room’s furnishings. She listened quietly to the neighboring inhabitants return home. Noises of life reverberated about her. Above, young children knocked about playing. Murmured greetings echoed from across the hall. Beneath, a couple argued as a baby cried.
Distancing herself from the homey babel, Margaret closed her eyes and focused inward. With body stilled, her mind journeyed out past the town toward the castle walls. What she sought was within the keep itself. Probing the lowest levels, Margaret found what she was looking for. Sprawled upon a dungeon floor lay an unconscious man. The cell was dark, but she didn’t need natural light to see. Dried blood matted his hair, yet still he was breathing. Casting her farsight about, Margaret confirmed the inquisitors had no immediate plans for their prisoner. She sighed with relief despite her frustration.
You’re a damn fool and so am I.
Margaret felt guilty, an emotion she found tedious and useless. Self-assured in her ability to mentor Will, she had foolishly tasked him with a challenge beyond his capabilities.
I should have accompanied him.
Margaret had given in to his pleas to go alone.
“Play cards at the Sooty Dragon over a pint of ale. Practice bending your luck while avoiding notice. Discreetly return the ill-gained money, afterward.”
Those were the instructions. Unfortunately, hubris waylaid Will’s commonsense.
Thought I scared him enough with tales of luck benders believing they’re invincible.
Will played recklessly, winning every deal. Unaware of his latent ability to charm, he instinctively assuaged any suspicions with fair words. But, others were unaffected. They soberly watched as his opponents blithely surrendered their coin. Before long, the guard was called.
This audacious use of luck bending is dangerous. It might kill you, Will!
She shuttered recalling stories of spells and potions inquisitors plied to extract information. The Baron would be keen to discover any other rogue wielders of magic within his domain.
Suddenly, Margaret became aware of a familiar presence entering the building below. It was Will’s roommate. With Will’s arrest, she had quite forgotten about Tom. Childhood friends, both men had left behind an impoverished existence to seek better fortunes. They landed work in the Baron’s coal mine. Margaret came across them a month ago at the Sooty Dragon. Sensing Will’s abilities, she started a conversation. Unlike his friend, Tom was unreadable. Nevertheless, she was certain he possessed no magical gifts. Tom distrusted Margaret. He would correctly lay blame for Will’s imprisonment at her feet.
Tom, it’s high time we cleared the air between us. Will is going to need your help which means I’m going to need it too.
Margaret heard the scuff of dirty boots pause in front of the door and the scrape of a key in the keyhole. She opened her eyes and waited.
Don’t worry! I plan to continue! More to come soon.
Word Count: 500
Prompt from: The New UnOfficial, On-line, Writer’s Guild.
OLWG #232- First & Only Job (I used the weekly prompt at the bottom of the page called: it might kill you.)
I confess I have been avoiding work on the unfinished first draft of my science fiction novel, Jupiter’s Embrace. In an attempt to get the creative process going again, I’m using characters from Jupiter’s Embrace to respond to some flash fiction writing prompts.
This prompt is from The New UnOfficial, On-line, Writer’s Guild. The prompt used is OLW # 229 Love, Dad. (I used the weekly prompt at the bottom of the page called: almost never prayed.)
Swallowing a sleeping pill, Johnny set no alarm, hoping for dreamless oblivion. His first time at the helm was disastrous. The smuggled goods were delivered, but there had been an unexpected complication. Embarrassingly, inexperience and indecisiveness nearly led to failure.
Bleep!
The comm call triggered the dreaded dream.
Eight-years-old, bewildered, awaken by yelling, he climbed from bed. Edging toward sounds of struggle, suddenly, a hand covered his mouth, stifling a yelp. His older brother carried him away from the commotion.
Johnny focused on his older brother’s face, trying to understand. Hiding, they waited. Demands and protests grew louder. Threats were made.
“Rike..”
“Shh! Bad guys broke in wanting money. Mom and Dad are taking care of it.”
Trembling, Johnny held onto his brother and prayed. The struggle grew desperate. Blasters fired. Riker pushed him threw the bedroom window.
“Run! I’m right behind.”
Bleep!
Drenched in sweat, heart-racing, Johnny awoke with a start. He swore. Standing up, he instinctually gazed out the porthole into the blackness of space. Swiping the comm open, he was surprised to see his brother-in-law. His face was serious; worried.
“Sean?”
“Johnny!”
“Amelia? Jack? They ok?”
“Yes. But, Riker. He’s in Sol Corp custody. There’s been a military tribunal. Riker’s been convicted of being an alien, Rangari spy! Sentence is life on Jupiter!”
Johnny broke into a cold sweat and tried to swallow the taste of bile from his mouth. He realized for the first time in twenty years, he was praying.
If intrigued and seeking more, click the link below to the first two chapters of the story.
Mythos Creative Writing 