#ThursThreads – Page 39

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 473

Posted on July 22, 2021July 21, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our ninth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 473 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 473: Book enthusiast, lover of coffee, and Fantasy and Suspense author, Tina Glasneck. Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “If he won’t pull his punches, neither will I.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 472 – Winners

Posted on July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Week 472 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine 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 Miranda Kate 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: Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Silver James | @SilverJames_ Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Patty Dump | @pattydump1 Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Kelly Heinen | @Aightball David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Miranda says: I liked the priestess’ thought process on this. There was enough here for me to grasp the bigger story too. winner announcement Week 472 Winner Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Miranda says: It was a fast paced, succinct little tale that was exciting and made me want to read more. My lungs burn with every breath, and I hate that I’ve spent the last ten minutes dodging or blocking his attacks. His magic isn’t particularly strong or even clever, but he’s so fast. I can hardly think of a spell before he’s shot three my way. It’s barely begun, but there’s no denying I’m losing this match. “Come on, sister!” Celeste’s voice, only somewhat distracting, calls to me from the edge of our makeshift arena. It takes everything I have not to yell back, ask her to switch places. This was all her idea anyway. “Kick his ass!” But before I can do anything, a lightning bolt shoots toward me, the crackling static making my hair stand on end. With a wave of my hand and a muttered spell, a tree erupts from the ground in front of me to take the hit. The impact shakes the earth, and a moment later the tree is on fire. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, but the very real threat he poses sends me into a rage. If he won’t pull his punches, neither will I. Using the burning tree as cover, I keep myself out of sight. I only have a moment, so I need to make it count. Behind me, the void opens as I conjure a pair of daggers and let myself fall back. For a moment, I hover, the space a comforting envelope around me. In a blink, I reappear behind him, finally catching him off guard. ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Thirteen Time Winner Katheryn, and Honorable Mention Miya! 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! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 472

Posted on July 15, 2021July 14, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our ninth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 472 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 472: Cat afficionado, Editor, and Mid Week Flash host, Miranda Kate. Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “It’s barely begun.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 471 – Winners

Posted on July 9, 2021July 9, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Week 471 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine 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 Eric Martell 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: Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris Silver James | @SilverJames_ Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Kelly Heinen | @Aightball M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Honorable Mention Silver James | @SilverJames_ Eric says: Silver knows how to build a world in 250 words. Even though this story is part of a larger tale, you don’t need the rest of it to know something about these characters, their lives, and how they feel. Very nice work! winner announcement Week 471 Winner Mark A. Morris Eric says: It’s hard to do that much worldbuilding in 250 words – you need to carefully choose words that say a lot. Mark did a great job of that. I could see the soldiers, I could see their enemies, I could see the scorched Earth. Excellent job. The bells in every church tower across the country rang out, their peals ragged and lacking form. It was a final effort from the few of us who remained. A defiant gesture of resistance and courage. “Don’t believe what the government tells you,” Manson said. The war isn’t over yet. It’s barely begun.” He polished his binoculars, an analogue pair that looked like a museum exhibit. They were bound with leather and had lenses made from glass, lacking the electronics of the surveillance devices we used before the world turned upside down. “But we’ve beaten them. No one’s seen a mole-man for months. The only ones left are breaking rocks in prison camps. And even then, they’ve been de-clawed and neutered.” Manson shook his head and came back from the window. The scars on his cheeks looked like farmland furrows, deep and irregular. It was unlikely that they’d heal; the velveteen scourge was riddled with diseases, the barbs they used to hook their prey equipped with venom sacs. A simple scratch would become a wound in under an hour, and if it wasn’t cauterised quickly, it would continue to spread. The slightest break in a victim’s skin could become fatal. It was this that been their deadliest weapon. That and the fact they could appear from anywhere. The mountains had been the only places where we’d been safe. “The rumblings in Osaka have begun again,” Manson said. “The seismographs are all wrong. They’re coming back to finish what they started.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations TWENTY-THREE TIME WINNER Mark, and Honorable Mention 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! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 471

Posted on July 8, 2021July 5, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our tenth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 471 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 471: Scientist, Dad, and flash fiction author, Eric Martell. Facebook | Twitter | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “The war isn’t over yet.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 470 – Winners

Posted on July 2, 2021July 2, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Week 470 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine 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 George Varhalmi 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: Joseph P. Garland | @JPGarlandAuthor Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Silver James | @SilverJames_ Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Catherine Verdier | @CatheVerdier Honorable Mentions Silver James | @SilverJames_ George says: Great emotion and setup with the dialogue. I found the dialogue to be good but I had no sense of where we are which may be result of the snippet being in the middle of a larger scene. I needed a little more context. Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin George says: Fun little tale about play. I liked the BDSM element to the story that ended with the opening to the next scene where the action was heading to. There could have been more to the dialogue but it was good within the available word count. winner announcement Week 470 Winner David A. Ludiwg | @DavidALudwig George says: I liked the flow of the tale. It had some emotion and the snark was great. A little more dialogue would have been nice to add a little more depth. Overall, it was a great tale and my winner. Lord Kader scowled over his steepled knobby fingers and across his impressive stone table. His blood hadn’t boiled like this in centuries. Anger was politically disadvantageous. But the presence of a booster seat in his grand study was damn near enough to send him into a rage. The human looking coolly back at him didn’t make maintaining his composure any easier. The sultan’s puppet. “As a patriot,” Kader rumbled like approaching thunder. “I am in complete support of our mighty navy. However, your proposed budget takes us back to wartime level expenditures. How can you justify that under current geopolitical conditions?” Even with the booster seat, Sword Admiral Jasna Saifullah couldn’t reach the surface of the stone table and so kept her hands placidly folded in her lap. “The war isn’t over yet.” Insolent whelp! Kader could rip her limbs from her body with a mere thought, and yet she acted like she was in control here. He stabbed the papers laid before him with an emphatic finger. “Why are we funding a lunatic’s research?! Her former captain repeatedly reported on the danger of her ideas and her unreliability!” Was that a hardening of the human’s jaw? “Captain Rashid has the intellectual capacity of basalt. I’m not in the mood for games; we didn’t develop the most advanced ship in the Known World to sit on our hands while the other powers carve up Elementia. We need a gun worthy of the Djinn Castle, and Saffi Bashar can develop it.” ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Ten Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Silver, and Miya! 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! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 470

Posted on July 1, 2021June 30, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our tenth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 470 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 470: Dead Thing Specialist, Mining Geologist, and Original Book Boyfriend, George Varhalmi. Facebook | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I’m not in the mood for games.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – Week 469 – Winners

Posted on June 25, 2021June 25, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Week 467 of #ThursThreads had many fantastic tales. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine 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. Thanks to Karen Carr 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: Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon Silver James | @SilverJames_ Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Catherine Verdier | @CatheVerdier Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Kelly Heinen | @Aightball David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Eric Martell | @drmag00 Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Karen says: All of the entries were wonderful, and picking just was was darn near impossible. Honorable Mentions Eric Martell | @drmag00 Karen says: The use of dialogue to give your characters and identity was extremely clever and well done. I also liked how you flipped the “traditional” interpretation of on the ground. While most entries were about characters wanting to be in the sky, your characters longed to be below the ground. Kudos. David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Karen says: The idea of wanting to spread your wings and escape the confines of a small community is expertly articulated in your entry. I can feel Soaru’s the anxiety and excitement as he prepares to jump. Your descriptions are vivid and pull the reader into the story. Great job. winner announcement Week 469 Winner Catherine Verdier | @CatheVerdier Karen says: Congratulations! Your ability to build suspense, give insight to a complicated relationship, and hook the reader in just 250 words is masterful. I want to happens at the fae cort. I want to know what lead to Aeryn’s leaving. In essence, I want to know more! Aeryn climbed the stairs of the underground to the street and was greeted by a sudden downpour. “Just perfect. The worst ever day just got worse.” She turned the key to her small flat and was stopped at the threshold. She couldn’t move. “She sent you, didn’t she?” Aeryn said, not bothering to hide her annoyance. “And will you please drop this stupid ward?” After a couple of beats, the ward dropped and she went through. “Well, good evening to you, too, Your Royal Highness.” “Don’t call me that, D’arcy. And kindly drop the invisibility ward, too. I’m not in the mood for games.” D’arcy appeared, sitting on a lampshade. “Well, you are a princess. A fae princess. Heir to the fae throne.” He instantly vanished again. “Stop doing that.” D’arcy reappeared. Aeryn gave him a stern look. “I don’t belong on the ground,” he said with a smirk, perching on the leaf of a rubber plant. Aeryn shooed him off. “Why are you here, D’arcy? I’m no longer part of the fae realm. I’ve chosen to live in the mortal world.” “And does the Queen know? By the way, she has assigned me to head your security detail.” “Security detail?” She hadn’t sensed the presence of other fae. “Where?” “Um … well, me. I’m your security detail.” “Ha! Well, you can go back to my mother and tell her I won’t be requiring your services “ “You can tell her yourself, Aeryn. She’s summoned you to the fae court. Tomorrow noon.“ ~~~~~~~ Congratulations Two Time Winner Catherine, and Honorable Mentions Eric and David! 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! 🙂

#ThursThreads – Tying Tales Together – Week 469

Posted on June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Welcome back to the home of Paranormal & Dauntless Romance. Today is Thursday and that means it’s time to start flashing. We’re at the beginning of our tenth year of weekly prompts. It’s amazing we’ve gone this long! This is Week 469 of #ThursThreads, the challenge that ties tales together. Want to keep up each week? Check out the #ThursThreads #flashfiction group on Facebook and the Group on MeWe. Need the rules? Read on. Here’s how it works: The prompt is a line from the previous week’s winning tale. The prompt can appear ANYWHERE in your story and is included in your word count. The prompt must be used as is. It can be split, but no intervening words can be inserted or tenses changed. Rules to the Game: This is a Flash Fiction challenge, which means your story must be a minimum of 100 words, maximum of 250. The story must be new writing, not a snippet from something published elsewhere with the prompt added. Incorporate the prompt anywhere into your story (included in your word count). Post your story in the comments section of this post Include your word count in the post (or be excluded from judging) Include your Twitter handle or email in the post (so we don’t have to look for you) The challenge is open 7 AM to 8 PM Mountain Time The winner will be announced on Friday, depending on how early the judge gets up. How it benefits you: You get a nifty cool badge to display on your blog or site (because we’re all about promotion – you know you are!) You get instant recognition of your writing prowess on this blog! Your writing colleagues shall announce and proclaim your greatness on Facebook, Twitter, MeWe, and Google Plus, etc. Our Judge for Week 469: West Virginia Writer, Tired Momma, Sci-Fi Geek, and Aging Gen Xer, Karen Carr. Facebook | And now your #ThursThreads Challenge, tying tales together. The Prompt: “I don’t belong on the ground.” All stories written herein are the property (both intellectual and physical) of the authors. Comments do not represent the views of the host and the host reserves the right to remove any content. Now, away with you, Flash Fiction Fanatics, and show us your #ThursThreads. Good luck!

#ThursThreads – 9th Anniversary – Winners

Posted on June 18, 2021June 18, 2021 by Siobhan Muir

Week 468 of #ThursThreads had so many fantastic tales, the judge had a tough time picking. What an amazing feat we’ve pulled off. Nine 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 long time flash writer and multi-time winner Silver James 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: Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Miranda Boers | @PurpleQueenNL Katheryn J. Avila | @katheryn_avila Eric Martell | @drmag00 Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir Mark A. Morris Catherine Verdier | @CatheVerdier Nellie Batz | @solimond Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig Kelly Heinen | @Aightball Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil Stacy Bennett | @SBennettWrites Cara Michaels | @caramichaels M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Silver says: First, I’m honored to be the 9th Anniversary Judge. Second, DANG, PEOPLE! You made this so tough I had to pull out a whiteboard. No, seriously! Every last one of you deserves recognition. There wasn’t one tale that didn’t touch me in some way. Which made it double difficult to make choices. Still, our gracious host, Siobhan, insisted that I do so. Honorable Mention Kelly Heinen | @Aightball Silver says: I’m a sucker for a fantasy/urban fantasy that involves Death and any reapers/ferrymen (ferryfolk?). This story intrigued and teased and I want the whole thing. Most Romantic Tale Miya Kressin | @miya_kressin Silver says: While this story ranked high in the LBGTQ category, I chose it for Most Romantic because this was a complete story full of sweetness and hope and the romance was so…there! I hope these two have their forever HEA. Best LGBTQ+ Tale Cara Michaels | @caramichaels Silver says: Oh the feels! Separations and second chances, taking risks to be together, and set somewhere in a universe maybe not so far away. Well done. Best Sci-Fi Tale Mark A. Morris Silver says: Dude! You made my head explode. In a good way. What a twist for the ending. Best Suspense Tale Miranda Boers | @PurpleQueenNL Silver says: Okie dokie! That was a dandy little escape tale with an interesting MC. I hope there’s more to come from this story. winner announcement 9th Anniversary Week 468 Winner M.T. Decker | @mishmhem Silver says: This line is perfect! The call of space is in my veins and I was born with stardust in my eyes. I’d really like to read this book if it becomes one. It’s a complete story as it stands–hard to manage in 250 words, used the prompt perfectly, and is beautifully written. Indiglow As I escape into the indigo, my afterburners trace my path and I can breathe again. I don’t belong on the ground. Some people need the greens of growing things, the browns of fertile earth, the green people, the grounders. Its funny how we can look at the same thing and see something very different. People have claimed colors for their causes and used them to draw political lines but for me, the colors we choose are the colors of our worlds. The blue people like the oceans and the skies, the greensmen like the growing world of earth, the gray and gold are drawn to the cities, that grow up between the blue and the green worlds. Worlds between worlds within worlds Worlds of sand and snow. Worlds of fire and cool winds. They are beautiful, but I am bound to the indigo of space. Alone I chart my course, traveling to worlds of ice, and chemical mixes that would eat the paint off of their ivory towers. They call me a pariah because I can’t live in their world. I don’t belong there any more than they belong in mine. But I will always welcome them. The call of space is in my veins and I was born with stardust in my eyes. Stars are born and die out here, and no matter how many times I leave, it takes me back, as it always does. They say I’m just a pilot, but I am so much more. ~~~~~~~ Silver says: One last note: Each of you should be getting an award. There wasn’t a bad tale in the bunch. They were all interesting, tightly written, were good stories in a lot of different genres and I wish there’d been more categories! Not that I’d want to make Siobhan make more badges or anything. Anyway, it was my absolute pleasure to read each story and if y’all don’t keep writing, I will personally hunt you down and tie you to your computers. Just sayin’… ~~~~~~~~~~ Alrighty then! lol Congratulations Nineteen Time Winner M.T., Honorable Mention Kelly, and Romantic Winner Miya, LGBTQ+ Winner Cara, Sci-Fi Winner Mark, and Suspense Winner Miranda! Don’t forget to claim your badges (right click and save as) and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! M.T., please contact Silver for your FB/MeWe header. 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! 🙂