Week 584 of #ThursThreads, and y’all never disappoint. We’ve made it 11 years! Well done and thank you to everyone who writes each week. You made this happen. If you’ve just found us, welcome to the crew! You’re in good company. May you come back again and write more great flash. A thousand thanks to Mirra Allure 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:
- Bill Engleson
- Mark Ethridge
- Siobhan Muir
- Mark A. Morris
- Sheilagh Lee
- David A. Ludwig
- Silver James
- M.T. Decker
- Louisa Bacio
Honorable Mentions
Louisa Bacio | Website
Mirra says: I love a good fantasy fiction/mythical creatures type books. And the story line seems like a warm coming of age movie and it made me want to know will she prove she saw what she saw?
Bill Engleson | Website
Mirra says: I love the usage of the prompt and how the story could easily go a couple different ways. If expanded it could get really good. Love the characters.
winner announcement
Week 578 Winner
Mirra says: I immediately got into the narrative of the short story and wanted to know the next set of events. I was drawn in.
Tenko took a breath through her nose, adjusted her quiver, and dashed downhill toward the rendezvous point. Not a single movement could be wasted.
She calculated they had thirty-six seconds to give their enemies the slip. A precious six of those thanks to the arrival of the Wood Witch and her oni. The only thing in Tigers’ Forest more dangerous than the tigerlings themselves being allied with the half-animal people was a problem.
She was relieved seeing her companions already had the rescued priests organized to go.
“Hurry back to the shrine quickly and quietly,” the young scholar instructed. “Mana, Sora, Arashiko, and I will draw the enemy off.”
“Where do you want me?”
The tall monk that covered Arashiko’s retreat stepped seriously up to Tenko.
“With the others. They’ll need you.”
He nodded.
“My name is Shinrin. If I can ever be of service to you, you need only ask.”
Tenko’s party returned to her and Shinrin to the priests.
“I’ve placed ofuda along your path. They’ll mask your trail and transfer it and any noise you do make to us. Hopefully, that will be enough to fool the tigerlings.”
Tenko didn’t mention that there was little chance of her magic fooling the Wood Witch. As they split off from the priests, Tenko’s friend, Mana, fell into stride next to her.
“What aren’t you telling them?”
“There was a presence with me on the bluff. Gleaming eyes, a masked aura, and there might have been a tail.”
~~~~~~~
Congratulations Nineteen Time Winner David, and Honorable Mentions Louisa and Bill! Don’t forget to claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it!
Pass on the great news on Facebook, MeWe, Bluesky, Mastodon, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the original tales HERE. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading! 🙂
