Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 81

Good Monday Morning Flash Fictioneers!

I hope everyone had a peaceful weekend. I found out this weekend that a wonderful writer, Judi McCoy, lost her battle against the diabetic coma she fell into several weeks ago. She had been struggling, trying to find her way back, but her body couldn't take what the coma was doing to it. She was a romance suspense writer and she helped many young writers find their way. She was a retired gymnastic judge, so she helped young people make way their way through the jungle of competitive gymnastic, something close to my heart. She taught at the Romantic Times convention, to reach out to aspiring authors. Her dog walker series supported canine rescue. She was a mentor to many with a great sense of humor, and she was loved by all. Though I didn't know her personally, she always had a fun tidbit to post on facebook, and made me chuckle on more than one occasion. She will be missed, a loss to the romance community.

This week's Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge posed a challenge to me this weekend. I searched far and wide for something that would pushed the comfort zone a little. Nothing outlandish or too racy, just a couple maybe embracing love or something along those lines. I gathered a bunch of new images, plus the new images that B sent, so we should be good for a while (but as always, if someone finds some images they find inspiring, or they would have to have as a flash fiction image, send it to me, always happy to have more!). I have a special image planned for next week too, but I'm not going to spill the beans just yet. All I have to say is, it is something new for us as well... and I hope everyone will try it (fingers crossed, really pushing the comfort zone).

This week's image in one I found by starting a search for Luis Royo since his images tend to inspire me. I hope everyone enjoys it. I was looking for something erotic, but nothing too explicit. What I was surprised to find is that a lot of the images we've already used (which are all fantasy images for the most part) were considered erotica or at least that's what the search pulled up. I will also say I saw a lot of interesting vegetables, images I consider porn (my eyes, my eyes!), and Conan the Barbarian type of images (also a lot of snakes...all I can say about that is ewwww.....snakes are so not my favorite animal nor do I see them as erotic). I did see some great dragon images (so maybe in the future?) and a great medusa type image that captured my imagination, so maybe someday, we'll have a mythological type flash? We'll see...

I like the feel of this image, the colors, nothing overly sexual or too explicit, but the imagination is led to what could be a great story (back story, future wonderings, a remembrance). I hope everyone enjoys it and we see some great flash!

But, since I don't know how everyone will like the image, I'm going to post an alternate image, so everyone will have something...

This image also pulled up on the fantasy erotica search. I thought it lovely, great colors, wonderful image. If you'd rather use this image, that will be great too.

As always, the rules remain the same, 350 words (or thereabout) and come back Friday to post your response.


Have a great week my lovelies!!

Ciao!

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 80.... The Friday Post

Well, I have to say, my muse is happy today or maybe I'm finally shaking off the flu. Either would be great. I only wish I could breathe without coughing up a lung! I managed to write a flash this morning AND add 1000 words to my MS. The story is flowing again. I hate it when my muse hides from me. Maybe it's the Two Towers playing in the background??

Anyway....

And here's this week's image for the talented Mr. Luis Royo.... I hope everyone found it as inspiring as I have.

On The Next Moon Rising

by: Dottie Taylor

word count: 730

He had turned his back on her, walked away from what could have been to what was needed of him. His destiny.

Rashad grew up in a small village, he would be the leader one day, this he knew, this he would be.

“Shellea will rule at my side.” He said, a rueful smile filled his young face.

“I will take orders from no man.” She playfully, but truthfully said, leaving his bed.

“Not even from your husband?” He questioned, an eyebrow crooked with desire to know the truth.

She smiled. “Especially not a husband.” She pulled on her warrior garb, leathers, an armored plate for her chest. A sword at her side, arrows and a bow covered her back. Small daggers for her wrists, and a knife filled the ankle of her boot.

“When will you see, woman, warriors are meant for war, not for filling a chieftain’s bed?” He too stood, covering his manhood with leathers, equally armed. Theirs was a dangerous world.

“And when will you understand, husband to be, if it is to be so,” she smiled, “warriors are what our people need. Not bed warmers, warriors.” She stood proudly, her palm rested on the hilt of her sword.

He covered the distant between them with two powerful strides. She stood nearly as tall as he, and met his gaze with a bold stare.

“It is to be.” He stated, no doubt filled his voice.

“It shall be decided by the elders, tonight.” She chewed her bottom lip. The elders decided everyone's fate, sometimes fairly, sometimes with malice. She was not an elder favorite.

“They will see my way or I will remain wifeless.” Rashad pulled her roughly into his embrace. Brave words for one who lived by the elders's wisdom. In his heart, he knew, the elders would force his hand, one way or the other. The only question was how.

****

That evening, a great fire glowed from the elders's chambers. The pronouncement they had been waiting for was about to be spoken.

An elder, one of the young ones, barely a century old, stepped forward. “The elders have declared that Rashad is of age, he must produce an heir.”

The crowd cheered, their leader though young at the time of his father's death, had grown strong. He welded his sword with powerful swings, saving more than one life. A woman warrior already stood as his side. Surely it was time for them to be bonded.

The elder's voice rang through the crowd, quieting them, drawing their attention to his words. “It has been decided that Shellea will lead the next battle. Rashad will wed Mellia with the next moon's rising.”

Shellea stood tall, it was what she expected. They would rather sacrifice her than allow her blood to flow in the next chieftain's veins.

Rashad turned to the elder, a stricken look on his young face. “I will have Shellea at my side.”

“You will not, young Rashad,” the elder claimed, “unless you are willing to give up your place as chieftain?” A tight smile stretched across the elder's ugly face. “An elder may be more apt to lead these people.”

“You know that is against our law. No elder shall take a chieftain's place.” Rashad strode forward, forcing the elder to meet his eyes.

“Then you will obey our commands or the law will cease to matter.” The elder smiled wickedly. For Rashad to claim his true destiny, elder proclamations must be followed.

“I will follow the order of law.” He said as his eyes found those of Shellea. He had just promised himself in marriage to another. Something, hours before, he had sworn to never do.

“Mellia, step forward.” The elder called. “Come, stand next to your husband.”

Mellia was a mousy girl, no warrior genes in her family history. Rashad's eyes fell upon her. Now he understood the elders's desires. To keep the chieftain in his place, they would make sure his child only carried half the genes of the warrior class.

But, life stirred elsewhere. The elders were not all knowing. A warrior chieftain would exist. And one day, the elders would find the people had outgrown them, they had become obsolete. The next cheiftain had already been conceived.



Well, anyway, I finished a flash! It's been a while, but then I've had the flu for more than two weeks. Whenever I think we finally kicking it, the fevers come back and everyone's sick all over again. *sigh*

Has anyone heard if the plague is making a comeback??

Have a great weekend everyone, and remember to come back Monday Morning for another....

Ciao!!

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 80

Good Afternoon Flash Fictioneers!!

Well, I can't believe we've reached the 80 week mark!! Wow!! That's means we've passed a year and a half mark of flash fiction (by a couple of weeks)! Amazing!

(Sorry this post is a tad late, hubs had the day off....)

So... without further delay... it's time for another edition of...

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge!

Today's image is another of the fabulous artist, Luis Royo. His images vary from American Indian to Dark Gothic to Erotica. I was looking for something we hadn't had in a while, so I hope everyone enjoys it. Next time, I might try a little more exciting image, nothing too racy, this is a PG 13 blog, lol. Let me know what everyone thinks. It would be pushing the comfort zone.

It doesn't seem like very often that we have a male image....

The rules remain the same, 350 words (or thereabout) and come back on Friday to post your response.

Have a great week everyone!!

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge, Week 79

Good Monday Morning!

We still have the freaking flu. Kirsten brought this home two weeks ago, slowly moving through the ranks... Nuff said.

Today it's time for another edition of...

Monday Morning Flash Fiction Challenge...

Today's wonderful image is another from the lovely Blodeuedd!

I love this images! It feels a little like knights and dragons, a little like warrior princess, and a little like magic. Lots of good ideas here!!

The rules remain the same, 350 words (or thereabouts) and come back Friday to post your response.

Have a great week!!

Ciao!

It's Groundhog Day!! Happy Groundhog Day?

General Beauegard Lee has news for Punxsutawney Phil.... No shadow for him!! Regardless...(and we all know winter isn't over for at least six more weeks anyway when March 20 rolls around, but if you want to put you're faith in a rodent, either way, who am I to stop you? LOL)

It's Groundhog Day!

Have fun with a quick Groundhog Day word search!!

Now..... A little fun with Father Guido Sarducci (I know this is a little irreverent, but honestly... who cares? It's the chuckle at the end).