Instant Story

Challenge #04334-K316: Mourning is Broken

They set a flower upon the ground before a stone. When asked, they stated they were an orphan. But how could they be one if their parents raised them? Just because they were now an adult did not mean they were not their family's child. Looking sorrowfully upon the asker, they stated, their voice straining with pain. "In the end, almost all of us will end up orphans one day." -- Anon Guest

Lorin stared at the names on the memorial. How was she supposed to feel about people she couldn't remember? They shared a surname, but there was little beyond that for Lorin to relate to. All she'd known was Unty Dimmas and the monthly visits to these memorial stones.

There were pictures on the side-table at home. Mother. Father. But they were just faces. Just like the names on the stone were just... names.

Lorin had to stay here for an hour, to think. She spent most of the time plucking weeds or random bits of grass until Unty Dimmas came back to fetch her. This time, there was freshly-turned earth in the graveyard. A new stone, clean and shining with its letters sharp.

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Monday: It's ALIIIIIVE!

Finally. We have a permanent fix. Which is an automated daily restart of my hub site. Fingers crossed, everything shall remain normal for a majority of visitors here. If not, try again at a different hour the next day.

For those of you just here for the stories, here's what you missed:

Challenge #04315-K297: Not so Much Bull

The polity had a reputation of shockingly low numbers of rescues coming from there. Curiosity got the better of some who snuck to the polity to the surprise it was cleaner than most, and the people.. while not exactly treated like gold, were also not treated as though they were lower than animals either. Then they heard the tale from one individual, of how the CEO's cared enough to sacrifice their own comfort, to care for others when those others were in

Wednesday, Rant Due, Internet Woes, and Shenanigans

My site is back up! Yay.

My internet is down. Boo.

I'm currently able to send this because phone data works with my laptop.

So. For those of you who missed the updates on my other places, the list of tales you missed before today:

It's only two, but at least they're readily accessed. I will be tagging this blog entry as Instant Story. For the archive.

I'll be posting the daily

Challenge #04312-K294: Holy Miswrit

Ever since us humans reached for the stars, colonizing planets took time. So we needed a lot of hands. so we did what we did best, multiply.

So you’re telling me this is the fury of only seven divine gods?

Would you like to taste 15 trillion? -- Anon Guest

They say faith can move mountains. The better tools are picks, shovels, and determination. That said, belief is still a fantastic power. The wrath of the gods is nothing compared to

Challenge #04311-K293: Certainly Contains Nuts

The Faux-Nuts became a major hit for those who, due to severe allergy to it, could not have terran peanuts. Well, someone decided to make a very common, delicious, treat with the faux nuts and the havenworlder-safe chocolate (Carob). Fauxnut-filled carob candies with little designs on the candy shells.

(My friend is deathly allergic to peanuts, but she's always wanted to taste what recies pieces tasted like, or peanut butter filled M&Ms were like. She can't, but she said they

Challenge #04310-K292: Little Surprises

A mixed band of older adventurers came to the glade seeking aid for a comrade who had been badly wounded, lest the person, their dear friend, die. Due to their advanced ages, they asked if they could help by setting up a nearby hospital, so she didn't have to do all of this work alone. A peaceful life of aiding others in their golden years.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04255-k237-unpaid-respect -- Anon Guest

In the world of Adventuring, thirty is old.

Challenge #04309-K291: Oathbound Help

The human made a Heart-Sworn Oath that, as long as they lived, no matter who it was, they would help them. Then came the day one of the ones that cruelly bullied them for being kind to the unwelcome came for aid. But an Oath does not care if the person was a bully. The bully was shocked when this person also refused to break their word. -- Anon Guest

[AN: In my personal experience, bullies tend to crow about taking advantage

Challenge #04308-K290: Critical Strike

Several older kids send letters to Jay asking him if they will teach them to defend themselves. They have never killed, but each one has used a blade at least once to get away from those that were trying to hurt them.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04247-k229-gratitude -- Fighting Fit

"This lesson is called: How to hurt them," began Jay. "And I'm going to answer the question you all have right now - What if I make them angry? Let's be

Challenge #04307-K289: Ancient Nightmares

The child was terrified as storms raged outside the old building they were taking shelter in, the wind rattling the tightly locked windows. Wraithvine got the fire going while others did their best to help the frightened child calm. Including a gentle, cuddly, feline.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04008-j356-a-lesson-in-trust

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04148-k130-one-link-in-the-chain

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-04240-k222-midwinterfeast-blessings -- Anon Guest

Rain raged against the old farmhouse's roof. The wind screamed in the trees outside, threatening to extinguish

Challenge #04306-K288: Shared Words

They were not a deregger escapee, but out on the edge, had suffered almost as much as one, at least psychological abuse. It was hard for them to stand up for themselves, and they wept often. But when it came to helping others? That is where they showed they still had some backbone left. -- The New Guy

Many Deregger escapees are broken birds. Shy to say the least of it. Soft-spoken, frequently terrified of breaking the rules. Even the rules they

Challenge #04305-K287: An Attempt to Learn

Anger, rage, sorrow, betrayal, resentment, these were all they felt. Bound tightly in the enchanted bonds, the young adult looked upon the wizard with hard eyes and said just kill me and be done with it, finish what THEY started.

The wizard looked sadly upon the youth stating they would not die, but it was time they started to heal, and learned there was a gentler path to life. -- Anon Guest

It's easy to be angry, to paraphrase wise sages, at

Challenge #04304-K286: No Accounting For Taste

These beings were havenworlders, kept hidden by their live suits. When seen outside of them, many humans recoiled at the shock. Cute, they were not, but more like lichen-covered amphibians. -- Lessons

"The suit is not merely to protect me," these Havenworlders recited, "it is also to protect thee." Further enquiry revealed that the Mycophybians gave off spores when they were in season. Many of which were toxic to a significant percentage of the Alliance and further, often evaded a lot of

Challenge #04303-K285: Backburning Request

A: Y-you bastard! You played us like a damn fiddle!

B: oh please, Fiddles are intricate instruments that take years to master.

I played you like the kazoo you are. -- Anon Guest

[AN: I've seen variants of this exchange where the kazoo is described as "cheap" too]

I believed it was for the greater good. I thought the things I was doing were necessary evils. Minor harms in the great, grander scheme. I could only see small fragments of the bigger

Challenge #04302-K284: Desperate Need

They hated hellkin and others like them, and made it very clear, very publicly. Then the time came they were very sick, almost all healers had given up hope. It was a hellkin who saved their life. Sitting with them, talked with them, caring for them. It was then that the hatred learned at the knee of their parental, began to disappear beneath the weight of understanding. -- Anon Guest

There's many places like it. City-states, nations, minor polities all who made

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Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

Challenge #04334-K316: Mourning is Broken

Monday: It's ALIIIIIVE!

Challenge #04315-K297: Not so Much Bull

Wednesday, Rant Due, Internet Woes, and Shenanigans

Challenge #04312-K294: Holy Miswrit

Challenge #04311-K293: Certainly Contains Nuts

Challenge #04310-K292: Little Surprises

Challenge #04309-K291: Oathbound Help

Challenge #04308-K290: Critical Strike

Challenge #04307-K289: Ancient Nightmares

Challenge #04306-K288: Shared Words

Challenge #04305-K287: An Attempt to Learn

Challenge #04304-K286: No Accounting For Taste

Challenge #04303-K285: Backburning Request

Challenge #04302-K284: Desperate Need