Saturday, May 06, 2017

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Post 1527. Saturday May 6


April's  A-Z Challenge 2017 is now behind us and so it's back to business as usual - at least, for the next eleven months!

A short story in 160 words, 23 of which are from three of this week's prompt sites.



Twigs crackled and snapped beneath his feet, as he dashed twixt naked ash trees and rushed through the thick green grass. He clambered up a clover strewn slope, then slithered down a muddy river bank. Gasping for breath he lay motionless in the shallow water, his thin aching limbs throbbing.

Just hours before, he imagined he’d perish in that tiny cave. He’d heard stories of those that had suffered before him. There had been no happy endings. Hungry, parched; his spirit was gradually draining away. But his captors erred, so he seized the chance to break free. Tomorrow they’d  find him gone.

But for the song of a robin, silence prevailed. He gazed at milkweed flowers drifting by. Suddenly a thousand diamond coronets began dancing on the surface of the water as leaden lumps of rain pounded down from the slate grey sky.

A ring of hope radiated from within him as the past washed away. He felt born again. Soon, a different identity, another life, a new beginning.




At The Sunday Whirl the given words are - born, radiates, rings, snapped, rain, cave, limb, spirits thin, origins, stories, ash.

At Sunday’s Whirligig -  tiny, old, flare, gaze, month, clover, thick, milkweed, drifts, melt, parch, perishes.

The single word at Sunday Scribblings 2 - endings


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22 comments:

  1. I love it! You really left me wanting more. Well done.

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    1. It's all gone, sorry! That's so kind of you Darla.

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  2. Wonderful story, Keith, and great use of all the prompt words. Bravo!

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  3. This was a beautiful, energy-charged story, Keith! I found myself smiling at the end, certain that he was going to be ok!

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  4. Fantastically atmospheric! It's always a treat to stop by your blog ;-)

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  5. Apart from the ice when milkweed flowers were blooming this a beautifully descriptive piece Keith (but where did the ice come from?)

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    1. I didn't think of that! I've got rid of the ice and moved the prompt word elsewhere! Cheers OE

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  6. I hope he's going to end up in Amble Bay for that new beginning :) Very evocative and atmospheric flash, loved reading!

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    1. Now that would be interesting! I'll keep my eye out for him and let you know. Thanks for your kind words.

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  7. Stepping out of our cave and starting again is no easy task.. I love the imagery in this piece

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  8. We are supposed to get frost tonight so I suppose it is possible I could see ice and dandelion seeds blowing around at the same time. It's been a crazy spring.

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    1. Crazy indeed. I'm about to put my heating back on!

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  9. He has my sympathy, i hope he had made a clean get-away.

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  10. Excellent story, Keith. I need another chapter, please.

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