Tag: Flash Fiction challenge

For whatever reason, the general put a lot of stock in the old wizard. I was never one for ancient superstitions and parlor tricks.

To me, battles are won by strategy, force of numbers, and iron will.

But the general would not even begin a campaign without the wizard’s counsel.

He had persuaded the general that the weather would favor our victory. On this assurance alone, we had proceeded into Thrax territory in the late fall. Now the water kegs are frozen solid and the horses are dying.

I heard Captain Manx crunching through the brittle, thin snow behind me. “Looks like you were right. It was too late in the season to begin a campaign in the North,” he said, through chattering teeth.

I could not keep the bitterness out of my voice as I replied, “Being right is cold comfort to a dead man.”

But the gods play funny tricks with both weather and war…

In 250 words or less, tell us a story incorporating the elements in the picture. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Continue reading “Flash Fiction Challenge: Cold Comfort”

The dogs picked up the scent on a bed of pine needles beneath a large tree. The area was so densely forested, the helicopters would be of no use.

I noticed some of the leaves beneath the tree were tinged with dried blood. Perhaps all the shots in the earlier exchange had not gone wild.

The dogs were following the trail toward the creek and I was worried he might have hit the water just to double back on his trail. As the hounds sniffed the water’s edge, baffled at the abrupt break of their quarry’s scent, I noticed a wet spot just downstream. As it happened, I noticed it just a second too late. I heard the unmistakable cocking of a pistol behind me.

In 250 words or less, tell us a story incorporating the elements in the picture. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Continue reading “Flash Fiction Challenge: The Tracker”