Challenge #78

Hi everybody!


The challenge for this week comes from a book called 642 things to write about. It is completely filled with all different kinds of fun prompts.

This week we are doing this prompt:

"Write a short story that is set in Argentina in 1932, in which a teacup plays a crucial role."


If you would like to submit something for Fan Friday, just e-mail us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!

We might be doing more prompts from the book in the future so look out for those!

See you Wednesday!

Puck

            It was late, the silver sun was up in the sky and looked like a bowl of milk. The meeting would be starting soon, but I needed to make sure that my human made it safely back to her domicile. I have many humans. Those who feed me and allow me to rest in their homes, are my humans. But this human has cared for me since I was just a bundle of fur and claws. This human must be protected.

            I wait for her, with my clansmen, at the back entrance. The meeting has been postponed so that I may guide her safely. Many things go bump in the dark, not that they don’t slither in the light of day, but the dangers that fill the night seem to be endless.

            She checks her metal box for papers that someone in a blue uniform has delivered earlier. The person always changes, so the threat is always present. She throws some of the papers away, apparently they are not useful in the hot months as they are in the cold ones. I head out in front of her, and she follows. I stop and she looks at me sideways, but keeps walking, unaware of the threats that I can sense.

            No, no threat, just another animal that a human has as a protector. This one is encaged in a wooden area. These are the ones that bark and growl. They are clumsy beasts, but some humans prefer them over my kind for some reason or another. I’ll never understand why. They seem so primitive and dim-witted. By the time we make it to the door, she calls me to enter her domicile. I oblige, if only for a moment to make sure that her domicile is secure.

            It is, and I leave as quickly as I entered, through the front door, which I have her open for me. I can’t be late for the meeting. We will be discussing which birds we will be hunting this year. Last year it was the ravens, but after they started a war with my human, and a few others, it seems that we had picked the wrong enemy to deal with. We will be stalking smaller prey from now on.

Sam

Spinning, Spinning, Spinning, this is my life. It is my mission to catch the elusive black spirit that floats just out of the corner of my eye. I believe that he is somehow attached to me, but I can’t seem to ever get a hold of me. My master’s yell at me to stop, but they just don’t understand. I don’t think they can see the black spirit. Sometimes he’ll go away and I can relax for a bit, but then every once and awhile I feel his presence and I must spin once again, trying to catch him.
               

                When I’m outside I am king of the yard, unlike my good friend. She’s older than me, but I have asserted my dominance early on. I’m just more energetic than she is most of the time.
                I like to run from one end of the fence to the other, in some ways I hope this will help the black spirit detach from me. So far it hasn't worked but I keep trying.

                My master’s love me, especially the young girl. She is my favorite. I love her so much and I know she loves me. She is my best friend besides my other best friend whose name is Annie. My master likes to play fetch with me and I give her kisses as a thanks for all she’s done. Sometimes she doesn’t accept my kisses, I don’t know why. But none the less I am a happy dog. I live a happy life. I wish I could do more with my life, but so far I am content. I must go now, I have to try and catch the black spirit again. 

Challenge #77

Hello everyone!

The challenge for this week is to write a story from the point of view of your pet. If you don't have a pet, you can make it up and wonder what they would be like and what they would see and do.

If you would like to submit something for Fan Friday, just e-mail us at inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!

See you all on Wednesday!

Making Memories

Music blasted from the radio as Claire’s feet hung out of the window. The cool breeze tickled her toes as they drove up to the top of the hill. The sun would be setting soon, and they couldn’t miss it.
“Are you excited?” He asked her. She smiled at him, watching him focus on the road ahead. In that moment she couldn’t believe how in love she was with him. He was everything to her.
“Of course I am!” She replied.
                This was their last night in town before they moved to the other side of the state. It was the place where they shared their first kiss. They came here almost every month to have a sundown picnic.
They usually packed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and lemonade and all their other favorite snacks. But tonight they packed just a bottle of wine and two glasses.
                They parked the car and trudged up to the spot at the very top of the hill. Claire almost regretted wearing her flip flops, but the warm weather made her remember why. They held hands as they hiked to the top. “You okay hun?” Aaron asked. Claire slipped some as she tried to keep up with him. “Stupid shoes!!” She replied. “I should have just worn my sneakers I guess..” Aaron laughed some before picking her up.
“Whoa babe what are you doing?” She asked startled. “Practicing.” He smiled and carried her the rest of the way to the top.
                When they finally reached the top the sun was just beginning to set. Aaron gently put her down and they slowly glided into a warm embrace. “I love you.” She said hugging him tightly.
“I love you too.” He said. “BABE! We forgot the basket!” She pulled away from him laughing. She turned to look down and she could see their small picnic basket locked away in the car.
“Should we-“  When she turned back around Aaron was down on one knee. Her jaw dropped and tears started forming her eyes. In his hands was a tiny little black box. “Claire Mathews, Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He asked. Claire nodded her head while she began to cry.
“Yes!! Of Course yes!!!” She stuttered through her tears. He slipped the ring on her finger and once again they were hugging.
“You just have to promise me one thing.” She said. He looked down at her. “And what would that be?”
“You have to promise me we’ll come back here for our anniversary okay?” She asked.
“Deal.” He said before kissing her. 

In a Dream

            The sky is a murky grey, it’s going black, but it is only three in the afternoon, and it’s summer. This darkness isn’t supposed to cover the sky until much later, not even at nine o’ clock does it get this dark. The sky matches the color of the ocean, and I find myself wondering which way is up, and which way is down.

            I sway. I feel myself sway. I cannot stop myself from swaying, like a spinning top, I am unstoppable once I have started unless and outside force makes me. And I fall. I fall into that murky darkness, and I feel cold. And then, after awhile, I feel nothing. I breathe deep and slow, but I do not feel water rush against me, and I do not feel wind thread itself through my hair. I do not know which way I have fallen.

            What I do know, is that I see buildings below me. They are as dark and grey as the emptiness I have fallen into, but lighter, so I don’t run into them as I fly, or swim, through the grey. I go farther down, to what looks like streets, and there is no one around. Nothing living is anywhere to be seen. Just buildings, and rocks, and signs. Things that showed intelligent life once lived and thrived.

            I feel a push in my stomach, and I feel myself floating upwards. I don’t fight it. I let it guide me back to where I was. And just as I see a light in the murky blue-grey world I am in, everything goes black. An after a few moments, I wake. I wonder which way I was going, up, or down. I wonder if I was breathing underwater, and if it is possible to even attempt it. I wonder which city I saw drown. And then I close my eyes and pretend I am floating on a cloud.

Challenge #76

Hello all!

The challenge for this week is a free write! This means that you write about whatever comes to mind. It's like those essays that your teachers liked to make you write. Hahaha!

If you would like to show us something you have made, just send us an e-mail for Fan Friday! Our e-mail is inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com. See you all soon!

Fan Submission #5

By iessentials

Fan Submission #4

Anxiety

My heart starts to pound and my hands begin to sweat. My breathing becomes erratic and my mind races on and on. Knots begin to form in my stomach and I can feel the acid rising in my throat. Why does this keep happening? Breathe I tell myself...breathe normal, breathe normal, breathe normal! I look at them and my vision blurs for a minute. Stop! I scream to myself in my head. She loves me she's with me she'd never do anything with Hannah.
But they're always together it's always Hannah and Olivia this and Hannah and Olivia that. The way i see them look at each other or whispered conversations they have. Plus she's known Olivia longer and Olivia is so pretty and sweet and why wouldn't she like Olivia more.
"Cass...Cass...Cassadee baby are you ok?" Suddenly my eyes focus on her face infront of mine. She reached up to touch my check and her eyes filled with worry. "Babe you're soaked, let's get you home, you don't look so good."

Even an hour later after a shower my mind still hadn't slowed down. My nerves pulsed in my body like thousands of tiny spiders crawling under my skin. A noise from the kitchen made me jump and as a grabbed the bat from the hall closet my heart stopped a second. I felt like one of the girls from those horror movies, and as I turned the corner and tightened my grip on the bat I half expected to see Freddy Kruger or Jason Voorhees fighting over something to slaughter me with. However the face that met mine in terror was a face I knew well.
"Holy shit Cassadee what are you doing with that thing." Hannah gasped. Lowering the bat I took a deep breathe, my first in what seemed like five minutes. My lungs shook as the oxygen filled and emptied them.
"Sorry honey I thought you went to bed already." Olivia rounded the corner and took my face between her hands before bringing her lips to mine and kissing me softly.
"Why don't you go find something on tv and I'll finish the kettle corn." I nodded and shakily slid my hand down her side hoping she wouldn't feel the shake. Luckily I made it to the couch and turned on the tv before she said another word. "Babe don't we still have a CSI to watch?" I like all the CSIs so the thought of that, instead of spending ten minutes trying to find something we agree on, is like heaven. Finally with kettle corn on my lap and my girl at my side I feel my body start to calm down. However it doesn't last long...they are chasing a serial killer who is breaking into houses in the middle of the night. Slowly I feel my eyes start to wonder from one window to the others and to the door. A commercial comes and I stand up in what I thought was a normal way until Hannah asks what's wrong. Walking towards the door I answer over my shoulder.
"It's getting late so I'm gonna lock the door."
"Umm ok well I'm going to the bathroom if it comes back on before I get back pause it for me please." I turned and nodded after flipping both locks on the door. As soon as Hannah disappeared behind the brown door in the hallway I ran to the windows and locked them. Surly we would hear someone smash through a window right. Maybe I'll take the bat to bed with me tonight and the phone just in case. Then as if right on que my hands started up again. I tried to rub them on my pants but my eyes caught sight of a shadow through the window and I felt beads of sweat form on my forehead. I do not want to die tonight or anywhere close to tonight. Oh my god what about Hannah! As visions of some man climbing through the open bathroom window and taking Hannah by surprise formed in my mind my heart rate spiked. That sudden spike was not a good feeling let me tell you that. Because the next thing I know I hear Hannah yell my name and my head hit the kitchen tile. A second later          (which according to Hannah was actually five minutes later) I woke up to Hannah on the phone frantically talking to what I could only assume was 911. After that night Hannah knew my secret. She was slightly pissed at me for not telling her about my anxiety but slowly she forgave me. As a sweet yet slightly annoying bonus, she never let me forget to take my pill again.
By Danielle Steele

Fan Submission #3

From Whence they Came

Once upon a time, there was a young man who loved a beautiful girl. They both loved each other very much, but one day, a dragon came along and kidnapped the beautiful girl. So the young man set out to the dragon’s lair that sat upon the old mountain that was nearby. The young man walked on the road to the mountain, but was stopped by an old woman.

The old woman asked him, “Are you heading up to the old mountain where the dragon lives?”

The young man replied, “Yes I am. The dragon has kidnapped my love, and I wish to rescue her.”

The old woman exclaimed, “You’re going to challenge the dragon!? You have nothing on you! How are you to defend yourself from the dragon’s flames? At least take this shield to protect you from the dragon’s fire breath!”

So the young man took the shield and walked on his way. Further down the road, he came across an elderly man, who stopped him.

The old man asked him, “Are you heading up to the old mountain where the dragon lives?”

The young man replied, “Yes I am. The dragon has kidnapped my love, and I wish to rescue her.”

The old man exclaimed, “You’re going to challenge the dragon!? You have nothing but that shield to defend yourself! How are you to slay the dragon? At least take this sword to pierce the dragon's scaly skin!

So the young man took the sword and walked on his way. Further down the road, he came across a young boy, who stopped him.

The little boy asked him, “Are you heading up to the old mountain where the dragon lives?”

The young man replied, “Yes I am. The dragon has kidnapped my love, and I wish to rescue her.”

The little boy whispered softly, “You’re going to challenge the dragon? You march at him with shield and sword, that you might slay him? None who’ve set out to do so have done so. But if you remain set in your way, take with you my hope, for ‘tis all I have.”

So the young man accepted the little boy’s hope and started the arduous climb up the old mountain. He reached the top, and saw the cave that bellowed smoke where the dragon lived. He entered, and proclaimed to the fearsome dragon that had kidnapped his love, “Hear me dragon! You have kidnapped my love, and I shall rescue her!”

The dragon blasted his fiery flame breath at the young man, who blocked it with his shield. But then the dragon lumbered forward, swiped its mighty claw, and felled the man with the young man with the sheer force of the blow, knocking sword, shield, and breath, from the young man. The young man, pinned beneath the dragon’s claw, stared the fearsome dragon in the face, and said through gritted teeth, “I shan’t yet die dragon, for I too shall hope like the little boy, for ‘tis all I have now.”

 

‘Twas a day later, when the bruised, battered, and bloodied young man walked down the dusty road with his equally injured love in his arms. He glanced at the side of the road, towards the body of a little boy. The little boy was staring at the sky, unblinking, clutching his chest where his heart was. The young man knew that ‘twas hope that made the little boy keel over as he did. The young man knew that neither he nor his love would be alive without that little boy’s hope. The young man continued shambling back down the road with his love, back to the village from whence they came, where they lived happily ever after.

-Josh

Fan Submission #2

An Unfortunate End to Life as I Knew it:

“I think we did something wrong,” I said.

“We just stole a car and ran over Fred.”

“It’s not that bad,” replied Bob.

But over his shoulder, I saw a mob.

With torches and pitchforks the raging folk came

Complete with angry orange glow, courtesy of flame.

I saw with the wood hatchet, mom and pop.

Even they wanted to give my head a chop!

Like all people with common sense,

Bob and I ran, and hopped the fence

We thought that no one could catch us.

But then we got too hapless.

We made it to the forest and planned to live there

When we ran headfirst into a bear

I started to run, but Bob had just had enough

He faced the bear and tried to look tough.

Bob actually tried to put up a fight

But the bear swung once, and put out his light.

Bob was dragged off into its cave.

At least I can say that he died brave.

So then I hid in this mining shaft

Slowly but surely going completely daft.

Tomorrow I’ll have been here for my twentieth year,

So please don’t tell anyone you found me here!

-Josh

Fan Submission #1

Tears, tequila, thc, and the truth

There it was. Attacking Rainy's senses simultaneously making her ache. The sound of the lighter being flicked and the smell. The smell that she had never thought she could learn to tolerate let alone crave. But she had learned to control that crave. To indulge when she chose and not let it control her. Then of course on a day like today, those smells and sounds just had to come with sounds of liquid poured into shot glasses and the burning smell of hard liquor. Now that on the other hand was like the universe was a flame and her a wax statue slowly being melted down.
"One isn't going to kill you." One of the guys called to her from around the bong on the coffee table. It was the usual crowd of stoners she had become familiar with.
"He's asleep Rainy, live alittle. You look like you could use it." The blonde girl everyone called Flower said genuinely as she handed a filled shot glass over. Looking down at the liquid in her hand she began to shake as memories of many nights with a bottle to her lips flooded her mind. Suddenly he was there beside her gently easing the glass from her hand and kissing away a tear that had escaped her eye.
"Take a hit love." Her husband Leiland whispered against her cheek.  She nodded and went to the table to take the lighter to the small pipe laying next to the bong. She sighed in both resignation and relief as the head change took it's full affect. Yet just as quickly as the high came on, a single cry chased it away. The guilt she felt every time she gave in to the weakness hit her full force when she opened the door at the end of the hall and saw him. Her son stood in his crib face red and tear streaked. He watched her come closer until his outstretched arms met hers. Picking him up she held him close and his wails turned to whimpers. Rainy couldn't contain the tears that suddenly streamed down her own face when his little hand clutched her shirt. The truth was she had failed him yet again. Failed as his mother. She was suppose to be stronger than the sounds and smells. Stronger than the temptation. The truth was she was an addict and as she sat and rocked her baby back to sleep she pleaded with him to forgive her.

By Danielle Steele

25 Challenges, 1 Week of Rest

We have done 75 Challenges! Woo!

To give ourselves a pat on the back, we shall be taking a one week hiatus. That means that on everyday after today, you will see Fan Submissions! These will be chosen at Random. Why? Because we have so few and so many. This means that you might see repeats. Oooo~

Anywho, we shall resume writing next week! What challenge would you like to see us complete? Just e-mail your suggestions to inkedfeathersfink@gmail.com!

I See the Moon

I see the moon

and the moon sees me

The moon sees the somebody I'd like to see.

God bless the moon

and God bless me

God bless the somebody I'd like to see!

            Home alone again. He said he would be home late, but I guess that he isn’t coming at all. May stay at a friend’s house tonight, again. As usual. It’s become common for him to stay at a friend’s house when he would be working late, and he works late often. I once asked him why he just doesn’t come home, since he ends up here in the morning to shower and eat before taking off for work again, and he said that it was just easier this way.

            Looking at the little sliver of the moon that was left in the sky, I wondered if he could be cheating. And then I knew that he was, and I didn’t care. Of course he would be. Why wouldn’t he be? I’m nothing special and there are plenty of girls out there who are. Maybe even men, who knew. The moon.

            The moon can see everything, just like the sun. Only difference between the two is what they are more likely to see. The moon, it would see the secrets that we want to hide. It has two faces, so of course it would see the two faces that we all have. It would see his.

            I wished he was here, with me, and looked at the moon. I wondered what he was wishing for. Probably not to be married to me. He probably wished he were free of me. I could do that. I could give him that wish. All he would need to do is ask, and I would. Divorce, of course, not death. Although, that would make things easier, for me at least.

            Laying in a bed that’s not my own. Again. I don’t know why I do this to her. My wife. I love her, I care about her, I tell myself that as long as she doesn’t know it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt her. I look at the girl sleeping next to me. She’s my coworker. She thinks I’ll leave my wife for her even though I have told her many times that I won’t. I don’t know what to do to get rid of her and keep my wife in the dark.

            I look out of the window from the bed. I see the nail clipping of a moon and wonder if it would be too late to go home. I should, but my wife would smell the sex and perfume. And my coworker would get fussy. I just wanted some simple sex. I didn’t want this.

            Looking at the moon, I wonder what my wife is doing. I think about how I would feel if she were doing what I was doing and feel rage and jealousy. I know it isn’t fair, but nothing in life is. Would she accept me like this? Would she want to sleep with other men in return? I can’t think of it. My fists are in two tight fists and I need to calm down.

            I try to calm myself down and think of the sweet release death would give me. Everyone would be better off if I wasn’t around, I know this. I should, but there are people relying on me, and people I don’t want to give up. I wish things were simpler. I wish I was with my wife and I had her in the bed next to me. I look to the moon and wonder if she is wishing for anything. I hope she is wishing for me. I turn on my side, away from my coworker, and stare at the moon. I should give her a divorce, but I’m too greedy for that. Maybe I should just die.

Life is But a Dream

Row, Row, Row your boat

Gently down the stream,

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,

Life is but a dream.

                The boat drifts down the water as Layla sleeps. It gently rocks her body as it moves down the river. Suddenly a tiny red leaf drifts down from the sky above and lands on her nose. Instantly she is awake, her eyes opening to the beautiful world around her. With a gasp, Layla sits up in the boat and is stunned by what she sees.
                The water is made of stars and galaxies so bright and beautiful that she can’t help but stare. It’s as if the boat is floating through the universe. When she looks up she see’s big and bright clouds made of cobalt blue and gold. She takes a deep breath, trying to take it all in. The land around her is green and vibrant filled with gorgeous giant flowers. “Where am I?” She asks herself. ‘This place is too beautiful to be real.’ She thinks to herself. The boat keeps drifting down the river made of stars. “This must be a dream.” She says.
                In the distance she can see something flying towards her. An owl lands in the boat with her and Layla is unsure if she should be scared or not. A bright pink light surrounds the owl and then suddenly a radiant young woman is sitting before her. Layla’s mouth hangs open in wonder as the women smiles at her. “Hello Layla.” She says.
“How do you know my name?” She asks.
“I know many things, and some of these things I need to tell you and it is imperative that you listen closely.” Says the young women.
“This might be difficult to understand, but it is the truth. You are not dreaming Layla, this world is real.” She gestures to everything around her. “The world you come from is a dream, and in that world you are in coma. That is how you came to be here.” As the women says this little bits of memory come back to Layla.
                She remembers being somewhere very unpleasant where someone who is supposed to love her, hurts her instead. As Layla remembers these things, tears start to form in her eyes. The young women grabs her hand and suddenly a warmth fills her up, taking away her tears. “You may no longer be sad Layla, in this world there is no sadness, No pain, and no worries. In this world you are free.”
“But you have to make a choice. You can either stay in this world that you do not know, full of mystery and wonder. Or you can go back to the world you know, the world you are used to.” The women said. Layla knew her choice was clear and easy. “I want to stay! Of course I want to stay.” She said happily, the excitement of being free from the monster that raised her gave her so much joy.
                The boat floated over to the land and Layla couldn’t believe how green the grass was and how good the flowers smelled. When she looked back the women was gone, but she could see an owl flying away in the distance. Layla smiled and when she stepped out of the boat and onto the shore, something magical happened. Giant white wings appeared on her back, as if she were an angel.

~*~

“Nurse, Please notify the Green family that Layla has passed away.” The doctor said. “But Doctor, I thought you said she would make a full recovery. I thought you said..that she would be out of the coma any day now.” The nurse said, her brow furrowed.
“I don’t understand it myself, all her vital signs were improved and she was beginning to heal. I just don’t understand.” The doctor said. “She’s in a better place now I guess.” 

Challenge #75

Hello Everyone!

Challenge #74, I am sorry to say, was not posted. The challenge was to write a story based off of your Halloween costume. Like a back story of sorts.

This week, for Challenge #75, we must write a story based off of a nursery rhyme!

For Fan Friday, we will be accepting both challenges for entries! Remember, you can send us art, pics, poems, short stories, anything!

See you Wednesday!