johnnyjet
Western PA High Tech Country Boy
Wow! I'm amazed I got one.
Szekret Sztory: Szection Szeven
- Thread starter Dan Jones
- Start date
Oh, I'm such a fool! Such a dang, dang fool!
There's another story which in my insomniac mania I forgot to publish. but it's a good thing, because now there's a fourteenth story for you to enjoy.
hopewrites: "I like anthropomorphic characters, something (any genre) where the MC learns to be more inclusive."
Winter's Last Ballad
Remus licked at his fangs rolling the taste of copper around his gums. Blood, and old at that. He swallowed eyes intent on the desire that bit in his stomach. Today he would spill fresh. Today he would feast.
His breathe misted in thick clouds as he calmed himself. He had killed before, so why the panic of a pup? Hunching down he took in one last gulp of air baring fang and claw. The Bandasnark edged closer, scooping up the roots of summer that speared the snow in sparse patches. Closer, its teeth chomping and grinding the browned plants into mush. He licked dry lips. A little closer he would avoid those horns, and feast like a prince through winter. He drooled. Launching from the sno--
A ballad of howls chorused in the wood. The Bandasnark jerked its neck catching his snout with a crunch and sending him sprawling. The world tumbled then flipped smacking him hard in the ribs and arse. He rolled to his feet shaking the fuzz from his eyes. A pack, Flea bitten bastards! A massive three-horned blur charged at him. He / Winters' Lost Ballad / 2 ducked beneath a brush and wheeled around lurching into its hide which was hard as stone. A tooth cracked and he slid off, spitting blood, his blood. Remus snarled, and then yelped as a hoof caught his chin flipping the world again and filling his eyes with spots so bright pain pricked his head like fangs. He got to his paws shaking, slavering, exhausted. The Bandasnark charged again. He backed up, tree bark scratched at his fur. Death would be quick, but not clean.
~
This visceral slice of pack violence and primal power comes shrouded with the heady tang of testosterone and copper. Remus, literally a lone wolf, finds himself up against the vicious Fenghar when he makes an unauthorised kill in Fenghar's Prince's territory. but Remus's talent for the hunt is attractive to the Prince, and he has to weigh up whether being a lone wolf is all it's cracked up to be.
That's definitely the last one, promise. And yes, I was incorrect earlier - there was one requestee who sadly has not received anything yet (Johnnyjet) but the author has said there were extenuating circumstances, and may get to finish it at some point, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
There's another story which in my insomniac mania I forgot to publish. but it's a good thing, because now there's a fourteenth story for you to enjoy.
hopewrites: "I like anthropomorphic characters, something (any genre) where the MC learns to be more inclusive."
Winter's Last Ballad
Remus licked at his fangs rolling the taste of copper around his gums. Blood, and old at that. He swallowed eyes intent on the desire that bit in his stomach. Today he would spill fresh. Today he would feast.
His breathe misted in thick clouds as he calmed himself. He had killed before, so why the panic of a pup? Hunching down he took in one last gulp of air baring fang and claw. The Bandasnark edged closer, scooping up the roots of summer that speared the snow in sparse patches. Closer, its teeth chomping and grinding the browned plants into mush. He licked dry lips. A little closer he would avoid those horns, and feast like a prince through winter. He drooled. Launching from the sno--
A ballad of howls chorused in the wood. The Bandasnark jerked its neck catching his snout with a crunch and sending him sprawling. The world tumbled then flipped smacking him hard in the ribs and arse. He rolled to his feet shaking the fuzz from his eyes. A pack, Flea bitten bastards! A massive three-horned blur charged at him. He / Winters' Lost Ballad / 2 ducked beneath a brush and wheeled around lurching into its hide which was hard as stone. A tooth cracked and he slid off, spitting blood, his blood. Remus snarled, and then yelped as a hoof caught his chin flipping the world again and filling his eyes with spots so bright pain pricked his head like fangs. He got to his paws shaking, slavering, exhausted. The Bandasnark charged again. He backed up, tree bark scratched at his fur. Death would be quick, but not clean.
~
This visceral slice of pack violence and primal power comes shrouded with the heady tang of testosterone and copper. Remus, literally a lone wolf, finds himself up against the vicious Fenghar when he makes an unauthorised kill in Fenghar's Prince's territory. but Remus's talent for the hunt is attractive to the Prince, and he has to weigh up whether being a lone wolf is all it's cracked up to be.
That's definitely the last one, promise. And yes, I was incorrect earlier - there was one requestee who sadly has not received anything yet (Johnnyjet) but the author has said there were extenuating circumstances, and may get to finish it at some point, but it wasn't for lack of trying.
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
*downloaded, looking for data cable to connect to laptop, as my phone won't open it*
Yay!!
Yay!!
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
Finally got the file where I could read it. 
I'm guessing sinister42 or johnnyjet.
I'm guessing sinister42 or johnnyjet.
Vaz
We're in the pipe, five by five.
I really enjoyed mine, if I had to guess who wrote it I'd go for Chrispy
Not relevant to this particular SS challenge, but I thought I would throw it in here since it stands the best chance of being seen by anyone who might care.
Big thanks are due to Hope and Victoria, because my SS2 story (assigned by Victoria, for Hope's request) is the one that was recently accepted for the Woodbridge Press fantasy anthology!
Big thanks are due to Hope and Victoria, because my SS2 story (assigned by Victoria, for Hope's request) is the one that was recently accepted for the Woodbridge Press fantasy anthology!
Well Vaz, you got one right
And hope, you got.... none right!
Actually, it's about time I put up the answers and closed this thing off.
So here is the final reveal, attached as a table. Be sure to send thanks to the author of your story (even if you didn't like it, it pays to be courteous!).
And that concludes this edition of Sekrit Santa! Thanks to everyone who participated, thanks to everyone who wrote something - there were some blinding stories in there - and thanks to everyone for putting up with my increasingly dubious relationship with the SS deadlines as Real Life threw me a few recent curveballs.
See you all next time, when somebody else will take up the reins.
Ciao
And hope, you got.... none right!
Actually, it's about time I put up the answers and closed this thing off.
So here is the final reveal, attached as a table. Be sure to send thanks to the author of your story (even if you didn't like it, it pays to be courteous!).
And that concludes this edition of Sekrit Santa! Thanks to everyone who participated, thanks to everyone who wrote something - there were some blinding stories in there - and thanks to everyone for putting up with my increasingly dubious relationship with the SS deadlines as Real Life threw me a few recent curveballs.
See you all next time, when somebody else will take up the reins.
Ciao
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
Go kiss your baby you delinquent
I'ok pop back by after work to give proper thanks, but til I open the secret envelope and see, my author will have to accept my gratitude with out my knowing where I'm directing it.
I figured I had 30% chance with my guess.
@TheDustyZebra that is AWESOME!!!
Um. What did I ask for? I know I've got the copy you sent me then on my comp, but I'm at lunch atm and just phoneing this post in.
I'ok pop back by after work to give proper thanks, but til I open the secret envelope and see, my author will have to accept my gratitude with out my knowing where I'm directing it.
I figured I had 30% chance with my guess.
@TheDustyZebra that is AWESOME!!!
Um. What did I ask for? I know I've got the copy you sent me then on my comp, but I'm at lunch atm and just phoneing this post in.
Shyrka
Friend of Ulysses
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2016
- Messages
- 842
Thanks to @johnnyjet for my story. There were some really cool ideas in there - the country-corporations, everything being reliant on cloud computing, etc. I never quite got over seeing my own 'name' in there but it certainly made it feel personal!
I'd like to apologise for utterly failing to come up with a title for my own story. It was a desperate scramble to get it finished at all - I was floundering for ages and didn't have an ending until the final days before the deadline. I've been trying to think of something since and never come up with anything I really liked. The best I've come up with since is Empires of Bronze or Of Fire & Bronze, so take your pick.
I'd like to apologise for utterly failing to come up with a title for my own story. It was a desperate scramble to get it finished at all - I was floundering for ages and didn't have an ending until the final days before the deadline. I've been trying to think of something since and never come up with anything I really liked. The best I've come up with since is Empires of Bronze or Of Fire & Bronze, so take your pick.
johnnyjet
Western PA High Tech Country Boy
You're welcome, @Shyrka! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The story did get out of control a bit and I too was rushed to come up with an ending that flowed naturally from the story. Of course, the Shyrka character was intended for the surprise and fun, but I also wanted her to be a realistic and strong character.
Vaz
We're in the pipe, five by five.
@chrispenycate thank you so much for stepping up and writing mine. Love the escape with Slianka dressed in fireman gear
Errrm it was something about a high-shamanistic adventure across shifting landscapes, or some such, "or a singing frog".
And it was both.
Thank you, @hopewrites. I loved my story, and I didn't guess you at all!
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
I'm curious, who did you think?
The AI's dialogue gave me the most trouble, trying to find UI phrases that matched his intended phrases ... I'm glad you liked it!
The AI's dialogue gave me the most trouble, trying to find UI phrases that matched his intended phrases ...
I'm glad you liked it!
I can't remember. I had it narrowed down to two suspects, but you weren't either of them!
hopewrites
Crochet Streamer
One of these days I have to finish it. I know the cat keeps trying to help the AI come to grips with what it is, becoming an antagonist of sorts, as the megalamaniacal AI refuses to stop seeing itself as god.
O1 and O2 pop in as pov characters to reground the story in the reality it inhabits, and remains mostly unaware of.
But I couldn't figure out how or what I was writing beyond that.
O1 and O2 pop in as pov characters to reground the story in the reality it inhabits, and remains mostly unaware of.
But I couldn't figure out how or what I was writing beyond that.
Yes, please finish it!