In a land filled to the brim with magic and wonder, it was no surprise that some creatures found themselves more well-adjusted than others. One such creature was an incredibly intelligent echidna named Go. He was a simple mammal that spent most of his time combing his mohawk and doing pushups. Whenever he wasn’t studying to control the arcane, that is. Whether by coincidence or fate, one day Go met a peculiar fellow that seemed to be in need. The man was hung low over a  bench as if hungover or nauseous, whille flowers in full bloom magically sprouted around him. In the man’s hand was a bronze ball, smooth and cold to the touch. What Go soon realized that the sick man was a messenger for someone important. He was apparently delivering a ransom for that important person’s daughter who’d been kidnapped the night prior. It only seemed logical for Go to check on the man and see if he was well. Fortunately for the both of them, the man was. He introduced himself as Clyde, a psuedonym he used because his real name was apparently too addictive. Having forged a new bond of friendship, Clyde and Go sat for a moment while the former waited for the poison that sicked him to clear from his system. It was an odd magical brew that was meant to kill him slowly by inducing vomiting but instead made wildlife grow. After resting up, the two decided to set off to finish Clyde’s mission. Until a large, black bird crossed their path…. (to be continued)

The animal I have chosen is a Kangaroo
As Patricia walked blindly through the unfamiliar streets, her dress covered in a crust of dust, she couldn’t help but wonder where she had left her guidebook, and how she would find her way out of the city. She could hear her mother’s words echoing in her head, warning her everything in her life would go haywire if she ever left out on her own to the big city. Her mother sheltered her too much, and she was determined to prove her words wrong. She would change her mother’s perception of her as a helpless child, she would not call for help, she would not admit defeat, and she would finish the trip on her own.
As she wandered the city looking for the bridge back into the country, she felt content in her endeavor. Maybe the trip hadn’t gone perfectly, but she had a lovely time at the theater last night, and loved every minute of spending her first night in the city. She giggled to herself as she remembered the silly kangaroo from the play, tripping all over himself and causing so much mischief. The kangaroo would get into the explorers food rations and he’d get so mad and yell at the beast, but they would always end their days as friends. She saw parallels of her own relationship with her mother in that…
As the songs of the sparrow ushered out the calm hush of the early morning time, she rounded a corner and realized that the giant wall she was staring at must border the outside of the city. A rush of excitement fell over her as she realized she had but to follow this wall until it eventually lead her to the bridge out of the city. She would relish her walk back home, down that old familiar country road, knowing that she tried something new, challenged herself, and managed it all without anyone else’s help.

I chose this exercise because I enjoy creative writing, and I relish the chance when I am able to do it. I tried to sign up for a creative writing course last semester, but I didn’t meet the pre-requirements, so challenges like this take the sting out of that a bit.
When I got my list of words, guidebook was the first word I latched onto. I immediately associated it with blindly, then being lost and needing a guidebook. A picture of a young man lost in the city came to mind. I glanced up at the words again and saw dress, so a quick gender swap later and I was establishing my female character and the backdrop of the city with dress and crust. I knew I would need another character for warning, so I added the mother and tried to knock out a few other words in her actual warning. I suppose I could have used it on a sign somewhere, but I didn’t feel like I would get as much utility out of it. Also, the city a pictured was more rustic and the time period I imagined was maybe a couple hundred years ago, and I didn’t want to spoil my city with signs and whatnot.
Originally, I forgot to use Kangaroo until I was writing this part of the assignment (I just realized it, so I’m writing this as if I’ve already gone back and added it). I think it should be easy to go back and make the kangaroo a comedy relief element in the play, as I can’t think of anywhere else it would fit in this context.
I’m pretty happy with the overall work. I feel like it tells a complete story in a very short space, and those are the stories I enjoy most. I’m a huge fan of Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, but I have a very hard time reading the books. They get so bogged down in detail that they can become boring, and I feel like they hold your hand too much by describing the exact shade of green on the grass. I like to make a story my own by adding in those details myself in my mental picture of the scene. Because of this, I try to stay away from great detail in my writings (ironic, because this portion is getting super detailed).

Short Story with random words and animals

Daily Create Assignment #1500: Write a short story with ten random words, using the Random Word Generator (http://www.textfixer.com/tools/random-words.php)

Choose an animal and find a way to add that animal along with your ten random words into your short story. Your story can be about anything so feel free to get creative.  [Note: I chose a horse named Ralph, the king’s “gallant steed.”]

10 Random Words: cherry, bubble, twelve, southern, dinner, blaze, goldfish, bomb, agonizing, king (words are bold and in italics)

Once upon a time, there was a handsome young king named Frank, who had no queen.  King Frank decided that he would marry the woman who could win his heart through his stomach, that is, cook him the best food he’d ever eaten.  Now, dear reader, you must understand that this would be quite a talented lady, because King Frank had eaten many fine meals created by many chefs in his life!

The king sent out a decree that all of the women of the kingdom must present their best dish to him at the castle, beginning the first day of the month.  One by one the fair maidens brought their finest food.  Every imaginable dish from something the simple Southern Fried Chicken to a dessert as fantastic as cherry jubilee set afire before his eyes!  (It was quite a blaze, dear reader, it burned the official taster’s eyebrows!)

The feasting went on for twelve months, and King Frank thought that all of the food was very good, but nothing impressed him.  All the eating became quite agonizing, so one day the King decided to stop the contest to ride across the countryside on his gallant steed, Ralph.  King Frank wished to ride alone, unrecognized, so he didn’t wear his royal robes, nor have his knights accompany him.  Together, Frank and Ralph, galloped through the countryside, looking for the one perfect food.

One day, Frank came upon a fair maiden picking apples in an orchard, near a cottage.  Frank plucked a perfect apple from high off of one tree, dismounted Ralph, and offered the apple to her.  She turned to accept the fruit, and smiled at Frank with crystal blue eyes that twinkled.  He thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen!  They walked through the cool of the evening among the trees.  He talked about his horse, Ralph, and she talked about her pet goldfish, Bubble.  Frank was enchanted.

It was late in the day, and Frank hadn’t eaten all day.   “Tell me your name,” Frank asked gently.

“Amelia,” she responded.  He thought about his contest, and asked Amelia if she planned to cook dinner.  She laughed, her eyes sparkling again, “You know, the King held a contest to find a queen who was the best cook in the land.  I couldn’t even try because I don’t cook at all!  The last time I tried to warm soup it was a bomb!”  Then, she reached into her basket, and offered him an apple.  “Take this.  It’s the finest apple you’ll find anywhere.”  The fruit was indeed the sweetest, most crisp apple he’d ever eaten, and he was delighted.

There and then, in the middle of an apple orchard, King Frank got down on one knee, revealed his identity, and proposed to the fair Amelia.  She was surprised and overjoyed!  Amelia said yes, and as you might expect,…

 They lived happily ever after!