Friday, 1 March 2024

March, coming in gentle but cold

 Last week’s two entries, if I may say so, gave me much pleasure – Terrie’s cleverness in her search for a use of  'estuary' and my getting a grasp on Raven once again. The weekly practice of crafting impact in 100 words once again worthwhile. I do hope Blogger wasn’t to blame for absences of other regulars.

Words for the coming week: bark  consume  vary

Entries by midnight  Thursday March 7th,  new words Friday March 8th

 Usual rules: 100 words maximum (excluding title) of flash fiction or poetry using all three words above in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction or noir. Serialised fiction is, as always, welcome. All variants and uses of the words and stems are fine. Feel free to post links to your stories on Facebook or whichever.

15 comments:

  1. James E. Deegan4 March 2024 at 01:13

    THE FIGHT IS ON

    Through repeated denials and rejections,
    I’ve tried furiously to post an entry.
    But my efforts have been thwarted,
    Though they number more than twenty.

    Yet my quest remains a steadfast goal,
    Hear my bark, it will not vary,
    I’ll find a way to post a tale,
    I’ll do all determined necessary!

    Consumed by unflinching resolve,
    I’ll continue down my righteous path.
    But should my undertaking fail,
    All opposing me will know my wrath!

    So, PREDICTION, drop your barriers,
    And let this writer’s work get in.
    If not I swear I’ll wear you down,
    This is a fight you cannot win!

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    1. James E. Deegan4 March 2024 at 01:15

      The above came to mind after trying valiantly - but unsuccessfully - to post an entry last week.

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    2. Clever Jim, you beat the site into submission . Glad you can post again .

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    3. What an excellent way to express your frustration, Jim - HUGELY impressed and hoping Blogger takes note.

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  2. The Secret Armadillo Soldier (SAS) Diaries - entry 262

    Atlas and Armi said nothing as they sped back the way they had come.

    Reaching the far-side of the dry river bed they halted under a thickly barked and thorny overhang of the river-bank and stared in disbelief at each other.

    The silence between them was explosive.

    Wispy, clouds began to consume the suns soft rays and sent variegated shadows dancing onto the ground around them.

    To hide his anguish, Armi inspected his throbbing tail and moaned quietly, ‘It’s not true Sarg, can’t be gone.’

    Atlas sighed and his shoulders sagged, ‘Only Nigel and Cinereus must know what we’ve heard.’

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    Replies
    1. Leaving us worrying again Terrie, but how much is added by your descriptions of place and sky.

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  3. James E. Deegan4 March 2024 at 19:27

    Very clever use of the prompts in an excellent entry, Terrie.

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  4. The Cuisine of the Marooned

    She watched the skies, signal pyre at the ready for the first signs of a rescue mission. Her diet was mainly tree bark, one of the few things her analytics advised was safe to consume. There was also a type of millipede, fast and hard to catch, but deliciously crunchy whenever an opportunity arose to vary the menu. While trying to capture one she found a footprint. Three toed, and definitely not human. As she tracked it, she vowed she would call it Friday before taking a bite. Unless, of course, it considered her to be edible.

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    Replies
    1. James E. Deegan6 March 2024 at 16:20

      I hope this gal proceeds carefully, as this 3-toed creature sounds ominous. As always, a great entry, David.

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    2. I was sure I commented on this, comparing the opening sentence to the promise of a novel, and the rest of it delivering almost a novel experience, but it has disappeared. Glad I was able to spot it because it deserved notice.

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    3. I agree with both Jim and Sandra , on this David. A top notch offering cleverly inviting the reader to keep reading . Made me want to know more of this story .

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  5. Thresholds new [11]
    Immediately, of course, I was consumed with curiosity; not least because I doubted he’d been allowed to travel ten miles from where he’d been ‘enthroned’ (a velvet-cushioned confinement that varied little from imprisonment.) He immediately proved me wrong by adding, ‘There are dogs, of course, likely to bark a warning. I’ll deal with them while you choose horses.’
    We sauntered through the morning, rather than strode, conversation re-establishing the companionship we’d shared. The stables where he’d said they’d be, but he’d not previously noted the height of the towers at the entrance. Nor the arrowed bows, aimed at us.

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    Replies
    1. I liked the ease and closeness you create as the pair journey. That feel of sauntering and reconnection between them . Then as Jim observed what a great last line that brings everything sharply back into focus.

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  6. James E. Deegan6 March 2024 at 16:22

    I was particularly impressed with the way you worded the last paragraph, Sandra.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Jim; I do notice that the 100 word constriction forces me to more carefully choose my words, No bad thing.

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