Week 515 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off, just short of Ten years! If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you for coming back each week. If you’ve just found us, welcome! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Louisa Bacio for judging this week. Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook or the #ThursThreads Group on MeWe to keep up with news, etc.
Entries:
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir
- Mark A. Morris
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof
- M.T. Decker | @mishmhem
Honorable Mentions
Joel Sandersen | @Whirlwindsof
Louisa says: Intriguing piece. Joel builds suspense with the combination of what Tower’s afraid of and the potential hauntings. Questions remain on the previously welded door that Jake opened and who he had asked about the bones.
Silver James | @SilverJames_
Louisa says: Silver had me at Alpha Wolf Soldier. It sounds like a call tag. This flash fiction sets up conflict immediately with a “haymaker” punch, and yes I needed to look up that term! Total bonus: A strong, kick-ass heroine.
winner announcement
Week 515 Winner
Louisa says: Mark Ethridge’s opening line sent chills. The imagery of the “crescent moon shaped boulder” paints a visual image. The second part of the sentence “it silently glided down the path the trees opened for it,” creates a visceral sense of movement. The use of description and dialogue keeps the reader interested. Finally, there’s a mirrored opening and closure with the use of “forest.”
“I’ve never been in the forest at night,” Rose sat on her crescent moon shaped boulder as it silently glided down the path the trees opened for it. “It will be fun to see what the night is like.”
She tried her best to be quiet, to not sing, to not talk to herself, or to the trees, or the stars, so she could hear the sounds of the forest. It was a stop and go journey. Every time she heard something, the boulder stopped moving, and Rose looked around, and tried to find what she’d heard.
There were lots of field mice roaming the floor of the forest, hidden under the brush. She saw an owl circling overhead, its eyes scanning the ground, looking for prey. She watched as it found a mouse, and dived, almost soundlessly, to capture it, then it flew off.
A couple of foxes came out of the woods, and looked at Rose and her boulder. They cautiously circled her, from a safe distance. Rose spoke to the wild magic, “Language,” and the magic responded and translated everything the foxes said to each other into words Rose could understand.
“What is that?”
“A fairy. A young one at that.”
“Don’t they sleep at night? In houses?”
“Yes. This is strange.” The fox on the left stood on its hind legs and twitched its ears. “Wild magic! She can hear us!”
The other fox screamed, “You’re telling me this now?” and raced back into the forest.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Twelve Time Winner Mark, and Honorable Mentions Joel and Silver! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, MeWe, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
