Week 362 of #ThursThreads had so many fantastic tales; the most to date this week! I’m honored to see all the writers come to tie a tale as we complete our seventh year. If you’ve been doing it a while, thank you. If you’ve just found us, welcome! May you come back again and write more great flash. Thousand thanks to Daelyn Morgana 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:
- Mason Bushell | @MBWorkhouse
- Kel J. Heinen | @Aightball
- Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
- Tina Glasneck | @TinaGlasneck
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (1)
- Tari Jewett | @TariLynnJewett
- Bill Engleson | @billmelaterplea
- Katheryn Avila | @katheryn_avila
- Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
- Silver James | @SilverJames_
- Shirley Penick | @shirley_penick
- Eric Martell | @drmag00
- Christianna Hursh | @bergamotpages
- Mary Decker | @mishmhem
- Richard Gibney | @ragtaggiggagon
- Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
- David A. Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
- Siobhan Muir | @SiobhanMuir (2)
- Mark Ethridge | @mysoulstears
- Catherine Derham | @Cate_Derham
- Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
Daelyn says: Thanks for letting me judge this week! It was tough week with so many tales to sift through.
Honorable Mentions
Louisa Bacio | @Louisabacio
Daelyn says: I love the build up of this tale. The writer captures so much of what the main character is going through in so few words. You feel her guilt and the tension, see her trying to talk herself through her own thoughts. This tale starts with so many questions, only some of which were answered, and ends on even more. The final lines seal my love for it and just wrench my heart in two in the process. It was a hard decision for winner between this tale and Christianna’s.
Teresa Eccles | @TeresaMEccles
Daelyn says: Combining a witch and siren into one being? Um, yes please! I love to see new takes on fantasy beings and this one just makes my little dark heart sing. (Pun definitely intended.) This tale started off innocent and ended in darkness, another perfect twist and turn that I love. Melody sounds like my kind of character. Though I would love to know why she was captured.
Shirley Penick | @shirley_penick
Daelyn says: I absolutely expected this tale to stay suspiciously dark all the way to the end. Boy was I wrong! The writer did an excellent job of capturing the narrator’s mindset and thought process. The more innocent perspective of fire instead of a thing of destruction was quite refreshing to see, too. I’m not normally a fan of sweet endings, but this one made me go “aww”. It was the perfect ending.
winner announcement
Week 362 Winner
Christianna Hursh | @bergamotpages
Daelyn says: I’m a sucker for evil twists and turns and this tale had one right up my alley, like a sucker punch to the gut in the ending. There is so much truth in this story between common folk and those of power; and the reference of putting fire in both perspectives is just spot on in so many different forms of symbolism. I would love to see more of this story.
It starts with the fire.
In the riots I’ve seen in my years serving my country, that is what I always see. Fire is reckless. It can begin carelessly, with the merest effort. In the hands of His Majesty’s soldiers, the commoners see it as a weapon that consumes their homes and their lives in a blazing reminder of the fist that grips them. In the hands of the commoners, the nobility see it as another mark of their ignorance, their violence. Another thing to be restrained. But fire is necessary for daily life. The commoners can’t seize match and fuel from their oppressors, and the king hasn’t given the order to carry out such measures against them. After all, there’s a bakery in Caldeia he’s very fond of.
Another dozen fires have sprung up. The king is angry with me. A rebel gave a demonstration in our capital yesterday. He describes the speech she gave as incendiary, and it makes me smile. At this rate, he rages, they’ll have a revolution. Quell them, or it’s your neck on the block next.
Oh, yes, the king is in quite a frenzy. As he should be. But this is well beyond his control…And still thoroughly in mine. I do not fear his words.
When the rebels are at the gate, when his towers are crumbling into smoke and ash, when the corrupt blood of his family is offered to my sister’s grave, we will see who must face the axe.
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Winner Christianna, and Honorable Mentions Louisa, Teresa, and Shirley! 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! 🙂
