Fantasy
Sheriff
My best friend, the incomparable ranger Marion Fletcher, insists that our group can't decamp until we've had a proper breakfast. She trapped two pheasants and is frying them in a cast iron skillet over our fire. The scent of the game birds mingles enticingly with the fresh herbs Eliza Rivers, mistress of nature, foraged this morning.
By Deanna Grey5 years ago in Fiction
Immortality
I received news of the burglary while I was in London, far away from home dealing with the acquisition of a new company. The notification did not come from my alarm system, however; that had been bypassed. Instead, I had to step away from a meeting due to vertigo, and any physical distress for me could mean only one thing. I called my trusted financial planner, Mr. Thorne, and asked him to check on my home. He had had dinner with me at my place on countless occasions and would be able to recognize if anything was out of place. He was also a discrete man, one who never asked pesky questions like, “You’ve been my client for 40 years, so why don’t you look a day over 25?”
By Chris Laughton5 years ago in Fiction
Beneath the Frozen Pond:
Another blistering hot climate change day on the ranch here in Texas. As usual, the power had gone out, yet another power down outage. It had been freakishly hot, even by abrupt climate change standards, and the air was almost combustible, but I don’t suppose air can catch fire can it? Science, as you will see is not one of my strengths.
By Brittany Smith5 years ago in Fiction
The Princess and The Tree
A sharp twist of pain twirled through her mind, as the princess awoke, under a black ember sky. She found herself on a damp forest floor, resting under an archway of battered, thorny branches. The forest was oddly foreign to the princess. There was not a sole star to be found in the sky. Only a slight glimpse of pale moonlight, shined through. Leaves and broken bits of trees slashed into her bare feet. She did not mind; she barely felt a thing. All she could think of was the soft echo of his voice, it was all she would ever need to feel alive, to breathe again. The wind bellowed through the trees; raindrops hailed through their broken branches. The princess walked for hours, till her feet were cut and bloody, till there were tears, streaming down her eyes. She finally stopped to rest her tired body, under the cover, of an old willow tree. Its long leaves hung from its arched branches, creating a perfect shelter, from the stormy night. The princess rested her weary head against the trunk of the willow and continued to weep.
By Laura Moschella5 years ago in Fiction
The Forest Hypnopompia
He staggered out of the thicket of trees and into a glade, the full moon shining down into the open field. He paused, knowing that to stop will cost him some of his precious lead, but also knowing that the choice in front of him could be disastrous if he chooses incorrectly. He could move much faster through the glade, but so could his pursuers. On the other hand, going around and staying in the trees would be slower, and a longer path, but provide great cover.
By Justin Elliott5 years ago in Fiction
Ahri's Journal
Day 1: I’m starting this journal because… well, I don’t really know why I decided to start a journal. Something inside me just compelled me to start this for Sera’s sake. It’s funny that I don’t really have a reason and yet this just feels like the right thing to do. Anyway, it’s been a whole day since Sera disappeared. I can’t explain how or why she would vanish without telling someone that she's leaving or why. In fact, I don’t know how she managed to leave without anyone seeing her. This college is a huge place and someone would’ve said SOMETHING, you know? It didn’t seem like she was depressed. I mean, she took down that underwater stallion all by herself, and when she came back, she seemed extremely happy that she finished such a dangerous hunt by herself. I was happy for her too. That stallion had been causing problems here in the north for longer than any of us have been alive and yet Sera managed to take it down! I wish I could’ve been there to see it. I also wish I could’ve helped her somehow. But back to the main issue at hand. I can’t figure out where she would go. I’m sure she misses her old home, but Sera isn’t the kind of person to just leave, especially after making so many friends here at the college and after everything we’ve done together. Wherever she’s at, I’m sure she’ll be fine though. After all, she’s the Mistress of Fire and Ice! And even without the power of those two elements, she’s pretty tough on her own. I just hope she comes back soon…
By Clarence Demaree5 years ago in Fiction
Fearsome Trek
The trek to Grandmother's residence was an arduous one that could only be made on foot. No highway routes or interstates led to her home. The natives considered it bad luck to build routes in such a location. They prayed that humanity would not disturb the rare fauna that existed in this place. A few years ago, a dirt road occasionally adorned with gravel was deemed acceptable and unobtrusive to these creatures though it wasn't without its misgivings. The road was for foot travelers, bikes, and wagons without motors. It was as if the road was created for a different century.
By E.L. Martin5 years ago in Fiction
The Freeze
Bleak midwinter. A dreary and dreadful time full of seemingly endless gray days blending into nights. A time that lacks any vibrant personality or color. Truly it can be difficult to find happiness during these few months from January through March. Ricky never liked this time of year but couldn't help but feel that he was at one with it at the same time. At different points in his life he felt like he was connected with nature and almost always it would seem to have something to do with water. He couldn't really control or grasp it fully, but he had felt something happen to him a few times under strange circumstances. Once when he was younger, he had been running away from some school bullies and suddenly a dense cloud of snow and ice had intervened, allowing his escape. He couldn't explain how, but he felt as though he had willed it to happen and it did. He had been afraid then, just like the other times. He was out walking around the edge of a large pond that had frozen over in the park. On the other side of the pond was a waterfall that would normally cascade off of the rock face which now was frozen as well, save for a few drips off the end here or there. Ricky had swam here a few times in the summer and had always thought he saw an opening in the rock face but could never get to it for lack of solid ground to stand on. Curiosity got the better of him as he reached the side of the pond at the rocks edge. The pond appeared to be frozen solid nevertheless he cautiously placed his boot down on the ice and gradually applied more weight until both feet were firmly planted on the frozen surface. He inched forward step by step, cautiously making his way across the pond. He was just about halfway there when he heard a crack and the ice began to give way beneath him. It was more of a reaction than anything else. Ricky's hands felt cold as intense fear coursed through him. He had braced for the cold embrace of the water beneath but it never came. to his amazement the spot had frozen over once more and his feet were safely planted on the ice. He was shaking with exhilaration as the reality of what happened set in. He had an idea. He thought of the scariest moments of his life and let his fear build up but kept it under control as best he could. He began to feel cold inside and followed that feeling, channeling it into his arms and down to his fingertips. Suddenly a jet of ice burst forth from the pond beside him. The icy jet was jagged and climbable, leading up to the opening in the rock face. He ascended the ice spike and entered to find a spacious cavern leading to an elaborate system of tunnels likely carved by ancient man. He delved deeper and deeper into the cavern system, which was dimly lit and damp. In the deeper reaches, there were cave paintings seemingly depicting early humans manipulating elements and depictions of different emotions. Ricky was beginning to put the pieces of the puzzle together. His family had lived in this region for generations and he now had no doubt his ancestors had something to do with these tunnels. He checked his watch and noticed that it was getting late but he couldn't control his curiosity and simply had to know what lay at the end of this tunnel maze. At last he entered a large room with five doors and each of them had a symbol on it. It seemed that each door was meant for a certain elemental ability. This was strengthened by the presence of all the elements in this place. Ricky strode up to the door with the water markings and tried to focus. He thought again on all the fears in his life and focused it at the door. The water obeyed, spraying and freezing on the door which then opened, the stone slab sliding away into the wall. Inside the small room was a chest. Inside was a jacket and sword, both of them possessing the water markings from the door. The sword was freezing to the touch and seemed to be made from an extremely hard ice that wouldn't melt. Ricky took them and started heading back towards home. What was the purpose of these items? Were there others with elemental abilities? Most importantly, what did all of this mean for Ricky and his future? These were the questions on Ricky's mind as he arrived at home, greeted his family, and ascended the stairs to his room. He lay on the bed exhausted but exhilarated, and as he closed his eyes to go to sleep he knew only one thing for sure. To find the answers he would have to go back.
By Ryan and Leann5 years ago in Fiction
The Vetita Chronicles
Teddy pulled back the side panel to one of the lace curtains in the parlor window. She watched her Aunts scatter across the front lawn in the heavy rain and slip down the stone steps to the porte-cochère where they had parked a beaten-up old Porche. The scene made Teddy think of rats, escaping a sinking ship, causing her to laugh behind her long fingers. Their caterwauling was drowned out by thunder as they floundered into the car, the exhaust backfiring as they drove down the driveway and out of sight.
By T. Linnell5 years ago in Fiction
