Welcome to the second #SatSunTails microfiction competition.
If you haven’t had a go before at this writing challenge, then please don’t hesitate to try this weekend.
Rules!
- Post stories in the comments
- Stories must be 150 words (margin of 5 words either side) AND based on the picture and written prompts.
- If you title your entry this is not counted in your word count.
- Only one entry allowed (so make it count)
- End each entry with word count and name/twitter handle (if you forget these REPLY TO YOUR OWN COMMENT with them before judging closes)
- You may enter until Sunday 4pm GMT.
If you do not comply with these rules your story will be disqualified from judging. Good spelling and grammar will also help to make a better impression on judges – the odd typo, however, will be overlooked so please don’t worry about that.
Winners!
There will be ONE OVERALL WINNER and THREE RUNNERS UP. After that there will be THREE CRITIQUES of three stories that didn’t make it.
It would also be nice to those participating if you could promote your fellow competitors and those who win.
Today’s Prompt!
The following may be used as a sentence in your story or provide a basis for it:-
“with ear splitting indifference”
And here is your picture prompt:
& good luck!
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With ear splitting indifference she ignored the siren call of the fairy lights floating in the field. As if there were no surprises left in this lifetime, her yawn stretched her jaw wide, cracking the joints loudly in this silent dawn. Drops of moisture creeped off each blade to fall unnoticed and unappreciated by the sole audience she made for their daily effort. (64) Too busy pondering what to do now that her life seemed to be falling apart, her camera strap hung around her neck like a noose, thudding against her breastbone with her violent sighs every other slow (100)rocking move, wandering aimlessly as if trying to escape from her own thoughts. Tripping over her own feet, falling to the dew damp grass, she came face to face with a fairy light, within which the most alien of beautiful creatures danced in ecstasy as if only for her eyes.
150 (forgot to remove my counts in text too). awolgina on twitter, Gina Jordan on G+, FB & here.
The air was clammy and clingy as her mother carried her through the bog toward the water. She knew something was wrong, so being too young to speak she cried. Her mother shushed and rocked her, dark circles under her eyes, but she wouldn’t be silenced. Something bad was going to happen.
Wind picked up to steal her breath, or else drown out her crying with its own howl. Her mother bent low and set her in the slimy water. She screamed desperately for her mother to retrieve her even as the terrible bog pulled her down. Her mother watched silently and the wind howled with ear-splitting indifference.
Rachel opened her eyes, sweaty and gasping for breath. She was in her bed. Her weary mother dozed in the chair by her bedside.
“Ma?” Rachel rasped, “Do you love me?”
Her mother sighed, “Go back to sleep, dear. You’re still sick.”
150 words
@DavidALudwig
Cattails and reeds swayed in the chill wind of autumn. With earsplitting indifference it sang of winter’s coming.
She weaved curses into nature’s wail. Hunger roiled in her; not a soul had walked on her lake’s shore for months. Soon winter would crown the lake with frost. She required sustenance before her home became prison.
The water parted as she rose to speak the words which would draw the victim to her. The net was cast, the prey would soon come.
In the woods a hunter froze. He heard the spell-wrought words, a song of calling. With haste his feet carried him onwards, his mind too dull to fight. He soon found himself knee-deep in water. Before him stood a shapely maiden of green hues.
With soft words she beckoned him closer, until her fingers held his hand. Eagerly he bowed to her will, following her into the depths.
149 words
@Emilia_Quill
The search party worked through the night, their flashlights attempting to uncover nocturnal secrets. The girl had been missing for two days now and hope was quickly dissipating. After splitting up into groups of two, they ventured deeper into the woods.
Rustling in the bushes about 30 yards away, grabbed the attention of Greg and Brian. They crouched down behind some shrubs and shone their lights in the direction of the noise.
The creature stood up on its hind legs, yellow teeth protruded from its blood stained lips. Just as the men looked at each other in disbelief, the wolf creature dropped his head back and opened its mouth, and with ear splitting indifference, howled into the cold, dark night. They dropped their flash lights to cover their ears until the assault subsided.
They ran, as fast as their legs could carry them and as far away from the creature as possible.
152 words. @wendyreid2
He shifted and took the spotter scope away from his eye. He’d been lying in the brackish tall grass all night. He just wanted a bit of sleep, but that was simply unthinkable. They were coming and unless someone was vigilant, humanity would be overrun before they had any chance to react.
He knew the elders thought him daft, but he didn’t much care. The lake was the nexus of ancient evil, waiting to spew forth its rotting army and he was damned if that’d happen while he was around.
He sensed rather than saw the presence. He reached for his weapon, unsure if such a paltry thing could be proof against evil incarnate.
He never found out as he orderly crashed into his hiding space.
“Dammit Charlie! We been lookin’ for you for hours. Gimme that fork! Dr. Fitzhugh is gonna put you in the hole for forever this time!”
OOps…I forgot. 150 words @klingorengi My bad but was under the gun time-wise
Leaving this open 3 more hours. That's until 8pm GMT
Tania struggled with the last pole of the tent, the wind whipped her hair about and into her eyes. Finally the tent was secure and Tania sat back on her haunches to take a rest.
Miner's Field was a haven for UFO afficianoados, and Tania wanted to know what all the fuss was about. The sun had set a few hours ago, and the night sky was lit for miles with stars. Taking a sip of her now lukewarm tea Tania sighed – she wouldn't be meeting any extra terrestrials tonight. She crawled into her sleeping bag, the cries of the wind lulling her off to sleep.
Tania awoke several hours later to find a bright light shining in her eyes and a siren wailing with with ear splitting indifference. The wan face of what could only have been an alien was the last thing she saw her insides were shredded.
151 Words
@TimonySouler
The zone of exclusion held a certain allure to it that few other places in the world could match. The decaying waste of human life whilst the world regrew. It was inhospitable, uncaring, and the swamp-life droned with ear splitting indifference. I was always going to end up here. You may have to take a gun with you through the streets, but it was home. Mine, and all the other unsavoury types that lived here. Przewalski, a dinner near impossible to get anywhere else, yet here I was roasting it over a hidden fire. They don't check the swamps, the mud is too thick for the horses.
A snap of a twig, and I unholster my pistol. “Хто там?” to no reply, save for the scurrying of a Least weasel. Lucky I didn't grab him as well.
I sit back down, my meal is ready. It hasn't come to much.
Exactly 150 words 🙂
A bit rushed, but better than not entering.
Other than a few shouted orders, the only sounds were that of mundane work. The groaning creak of wooden axles laden with food and supplies. The clip-clop of hooves striking cobblestone. The peasants toiled for the throne. Three of every four vegetable bundles and all the meat hauled to the royal food stores.
“Your king goes to war,” shouted sergeant Riddle. “Work, or tomorrow you’ll have a new king.”
An old man in a worn, threadbare tunic stepped forward. “New king or old king, our children still hunger the same.”
Sergeant Riddle drew steel. “Do not profane the name of our sire or I’ll have you in stocks.” But the old man had already returned to his work.
King Gerald marched his courser to the outer ring and pulled out a spyglass. Sweeping over the parade grounds, he viewed only water, grass and trees. With ear-splitting indifference his people sent him off to war.
@Leo_Godin 154 words
Love it. Never give a fork to the crazies.
Dust coated his withered skin, seamed his dark eyes.
Still he watched.
Around him arid winds laid waste to the barren fields, tattered his robes.
Still he watched.
He watched as the three moons circled in the tawny sky.
He watched as skeletal bushes bloomed, faded, bloomed again.
He watched as dwellings were built, the salt smell of labour drifting in the parched air.
He watched as they were razed to the ground.
He had been The Watcher for three millennia. It was his birthright. To watch for the Prophecy Fulfilled. The Coming.
The Watcher was bored.
As the billionth sandstorm raged across the brown plains of his home planet, the Watcher yawned. Stretched. Closed his eyes.
In his ear-splitting indifference, he missed The Coming and failed to give The Welcome. Two days later (when the Apocalypse came) he was heard to cry, “At least it makes a bloody change!”
@charitygirlblog 150 words
Funny. Sometimes I feel like that watcher.
And the competition is closed. I'll put results up at some point today.
Very funny!
It comes to us all with age!