This week’s winner was a little easier than some to
select because I kept returning to David’s
‘decanted tarry strings of tobacco’ – poetry become practical – thank you.
Thank you to the rest of you for your pieces and also
for your comments – a vital part of this site.
A treat for you for the next two weeks: I shall be out
of the country and have no idea how reliable the combination of travelling and access to the internet will be therefore I have handed the task of
choosing the week’s winner(s) to the admirably capable Patricia.
I’ve scheduled words to appear at midday GMT so as to give
her the chance of announcing her choice before too many of you get going with
the new words which, for next week will be:
lodge scintilla third
Entries
by midnight Thursday 9th November, winners
and words posted Friday 10th
Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of
flash fiction or poetry using all of the three words above in the genres of
horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always,
welcome. All variants and use of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to
post links to your stories on Twitter or Facebook or whichever social media you
prefer.
Congratulations to David for a fine win and I look forward to seeing all the submissions. I know it's going to super-difficult to choose a winner but I will do my best!
ReplyDeleteCongrats David. Well done. And Patricia, I don't envy you your task. Good luck.
DeleteWulvensong
ReplyDeleteFrom the forest a portentous scintilla of wulvensong, attempting to howl down the moon.
Inside the hunting lodge the sisters of the Riding Hood broke their communion bread and shared it out. A third each. The blessed red garment was laid out on the table. Sinead bent to kiss it, then scattered six silver bullets across the crimson silk.
Roisin turned pale. “Sure, is that all we have left?”
Sinead nodded solemnly.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” intoned Deirdre, hurriedly making the sign of the cross.
The flames in the hearth stuttered.
The howling drew nearer
definitely eerie :)
DeleteNice David. Fantasy meets horror with the perfect blend. very enjoyable.
DeleteI love stories that draw inspiration from known tales. This is a perfect example. Lovely insertion of the prompts, making each one well-nigh impossible to find.
Deleteso cleverly wrought as a tale, very well done.
DeleteI love the pairing of portentous and scintilla!
DeleteWith a hot greasy breakfast under my belt, i left the hunting lodge and my erstwhile bunkmates behind to get to my blind for the days event. There was but a mere scintilla of shame as i checked my high powered rifle for the third time. Was it shameful? yes. I agreed it was. Especially since my prey had blessed my hunt by dawning blaze orange.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the evil hunter has another hunter in mind for prey. I like stories of hunter and prey. Great story.
DeleteShort and very sharp. Shows what excellence can be achieved within the limits of a given word limit. Beautiful job.
Deletewanted more, which says everything really.
DeleteThe mouth of the dragon (# 3 or 4)
ReplyDeleteThe young man came across the body and knelt before it. He gently pulled the lodged crucifix from her throat and laid it upon her mutilated chest. With but a scintilla of movement, He performed the ritual and after a time her eyes fluttered open. Blushing, she covered her nakedness and smiled. The young man rose, placing a hand on her forehead, the third time this morning He’d done just that. He turned and walked a few steps before fading into the mist. The girl smelled the charred vegetation and the tang of blood but felt His presence long after.
Magnificent continuation with an inspired use of the prompts to further the tale. Reminded me a little of "Carnivale," given the resurrection profile.
Deleteexcellent continuation. This dragon series has a long way to go.
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DeletePoor Decisions
ReplyDelete“You lookin’ to stay at the lodge for a while? It's thirty dollars a night, third night free.” Toothless holds his breath, waiting for the answer.
“One night will be enough.” George puts cash on the table. He doesn't want to risk touching him. A dank odour laced with a scintilla of urine hangs about the room.
“Say, you got any youngins in that there van of yours? We sure don't get many of ‘em ‘round here. Be happy to show yer chidlins the playground.”
An alarm bell rings in George’s head. He is pretty sure there is no playground.
What an underlying threat of nastiness there is here. The image of "Toothless" is all too vivid, as is his probable intention regarding the "youngins." This is indeed the stuff of nightmares.
DeleteI do like hints of nightmares to come and it's all here in this short piece.
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ReplyDeleteTrial And Error
ReplyDeleteThey say third time's a charm. I hope so. There's no money left to buy more materials. The new colours radiate a scintilla of gaiety that I hope will suit. I fear the lodging of another protest against my redecoration choices. But given no guidance and no direction, I am left to my own devices. Thus far, they have proved woefully inadequate.
For a while, all is calm. My heart returns to a steady comfortable rhythm. Without warning, the surface of the freshly-painted walls drip and dribble to form the words I dreaded would reappear. Barbed. Scabrous. Menacing.
"TRY AGAIN!!!"
oh yes, again, elements of nastiness and nightmare-ish happenings are hinted at, for our imaginations to take and work on in sleepless nights...
DeleteKursaal (Episode Ninety Five) - "The Amorous Affairs Of Arbuthnot Jester/Part Seven"
ReplyDeleteMaximillian Corviday's melancholia regarding the disappearance of Alexis Champagne had dulled to a scintilla of disappointment. A man cannot mourn indefinitely.
For the third night in a row, the Kursaal's owner had once again enjoyed the company of Manasa. The alluring snake-charmer lodged no complaints on that score. But the same could not be said about the spurned Arbuthnot Jester who, for the first time ever, counted himself among the lovelorn.
Seeking restoration (and/or possible retribution) for a bruised heart (and ego), Arby visited Primrose Lee, elixirologist extraordinaire. She'd helped him before and was rather fond of the diminutive entertainer.
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To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale, please visit:
http://www.novareinna.com/kursaal.html
A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
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NOTE: Both Alexis Champagne and Primrose Lee have featured in previous episodes.
waiting on the continuation of this bit, what elixir could be conjured to solve this heartache and what repercussions will it have?
DeleteThe Mad Italian No 30
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts lodge in the mind and will not let go. I am concerned at the current wave of persecutions of people for sexual indiscretion. It is to be asked whether there is a scintilla of evidence in this, or are we once again confronted by rumours which, by being whispered, gain a third element, that of exaggeration, which makes it hard to discern the truth. I have to say, though, there is rarely smoke without fire and those who have had a good time at cost to others are about to count the cost to their careers and life.
This seems to come with a certain warning from our Mad Italian. His grasp of the modern world is enviable.
DeleteI will be back tomorrow to comment and hopefully leave a stand alone. The Mad Italian has been most persistent tonight, he dictated his 100 words and has gone.
ReplyDeleteThe Adventures of Rosebud, Pirate Princess #102
ReplyDeleteOnly Invisible Maps
Third things first, I need more chocolate. Georgiana always uses her spy-assassin skills to steal all the mint bars and most of the chips. I know it’s her, but I don’t have a scintilla of proof. Secondly, Natasha’s favorite sail split, the crimson-gold one from the dragon makers. And, of course, I’ve run out of clean pants again. So we’ll be resuming our residence at Miss Lee’s lodge on Dragon Island. I much prefer doing laundry on solid ground.
Endlessly whimsical and complete with its own special brand of intrigue. I so look forward to Rosebud's adventures each week and am glad that she decided to show up early this time in order that more of us are able to enjoy the show.
Deleteyes, a delight every time. I really liked this one.
DeleteCripplegate Junction/Part 121 - Sidetracked
ReplyDeleteThe Gardener's Lodge, not far from the Sanitarium building, was a capricious structure, approximately one-third the size of a Nissen hut. During its existence, it had undergone many transformations. There had once been a siding that ran from the Junction to a small platform outside the front door. Scintillas of the rails could be seen in certain areas.
One of its incarnations had been a Wendy House. Evidence of the children who played there remained. Among the items were a "Snakes and Ladders" board, hobby-horse, bag of marbles and collection of Christmas stockings, including three embroidered with the initial "C".
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To read the earlier installments (a suggestion only) which led to this point in the tale please visit:
http://www.novareinna.com/cripplegate.html
A link to return to "The Prediction" can be found on the site. Thank you.
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oh oh, looks like strange goings on are about to go on...
Deleteno stand alone. Tried several times this evening, the words are not inspiring me at all, they end up looking stilted and formal and that ain't good. So... let it go again this week, hope the migraines decide to settle down (sick of them) and perhaps a quieter life. It's been stupidly frenetic for stupid reasons, laptop doesn't work, computer company says 'here's a new lead' it works but they connected it to the internet for no apparent reason (neither of us allow wifi for a start and my daughter never goes anywhere near any social media) and something downloaded which stopped her getting to her card games. And so it had to go back and so I had to go retrieve it tonight... after a full day's work...
ReplyDeleteSome week's words just don't want to be cooperative. I found this particular trio a bit problematic myself. And now I have the virtually impossible task of choosing a winner. How Sandra manages this every week is beyond my comprehension.
Delete