Tags
apprentice, magic, master, partner, short story, Trifecta, Whispatory, writing prompt
Tonight I’ll begin with an announcement: I have entered Ogre Hunt into the America’s Next Author contest. So go there and grab a copy, read it, review it, and vote for it!
This week Trifecta is having their anniversary challenge, randomly pairing us with a partner for the prompt. My partner is Jennifer from Whispatory, who completed the first portion of the challenge earlier this week. Today I will pick up where she left off and finish the story in my allotted 33-100 words.
The bold paragraph was the initial start to the story given to her. The italics are what Jennifer added to it, and then we’ll transition into the conclusion that I’m adding.
Charts and optimal dates and preferential temperatures. One line or two. As if she could summon whatever it is that makes up the human soul as easily as she could a cab on a busy New York avenue.
She can’t but her mentor can. Her lips press into a grim line, sweat pops on her forehead as she pumps harder straining her quads and calves, weaving in and out of traffic. It’s dangerous she knows, a door could open any second and send her slamming down on asphalt only to be crushed under relentless rubber wheels. But she is far less afraid of that fate than not retrieving the package her mentor sent her to collect in time.
She skids to a halt, teetering on her toes, just in time to avoid being cut off by a red convertible. She sprints down the street, worried that she might be late. She hurdles a door that opens in front of her, thinking that this would be easier if he taught her to fly.
Twelve years as his apprentice and she was still learning basics.
She rounds a corner and cuts into an alley, taking the fire escape into an abandoned apartment. She enters into the room through a broken window.
“Congratulations,” her master says, “today you become a master.”
I agree that you guys did a great job following the prompt before you. It’s pretty seamless. Thanks so much for joining up and helping us celebrate!
Thanks for the huge compliment! I was blessed with an awesome partner. And thanks for allowing us to help celebrate that Trifecta milestone!!!
Yay! 😀 Now she can learn to fly lol Great job to both of you!
A flier she will be. Thanks for reading.
I loved the mission and the whole mentor/master thing! Very interesting and creative story.
Thanks for the compliments. Whispatory set it up nicely!
In vitro ninjas! Next generation bicycle messengers! I’m left wondering: what she is a master of? Fun entry, congratulations.
Perhaps master of mystery, based on the questions you have! Thanks for the comment and for reading.
I love this conclusion. It fits perfectly with the first installment and is an interesting story. Also, the descriptive words perfectly carry the reader along her arduous route.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it.
Oh, David I love where you went with this! I’m sure it would be easier if her mentor taught her to fly, but not yet, not yet.
Thanks Jennifer! I thought it was a nice little twist. I’m sure she will want flight lessons first!
I’ve enjoyed the team pieces that went in completely unexpected directions. The descriptions in both parts were amazing. Well done!
Thanks Tara! These team pieces were certainly enjoyable to read and to write.
I missed signing up for this Trifecta challenge. Probably a good thing too, since it seems after reading this that my chances of winning would have been akin to the proverbial snowball.
I believe your chances would have been brighter than the picture you paint.
If I wasn’t negative, I wouldn’t be me! LOL
Aah . . . grasshopped. When you can grab the stone from my hand . . . _/!\_
_/!\_ _/|\_. _/|\_ .
Stone removed! =D
Clever!!!
Interesting and thought provoking. Your description of the perilous weaving made me feel like I was there. I can almost smell the chestnuts being roasted and sold on the corner. But the mission trumps all. Very well done by both of you.
Thanks for reading! I was grateful to be paired with a talented writer.
ahhh – you have done well, young grasshopper. Ooops, sorry – betrayed my age there. 🙂
this was well done.
You betrayed nothing! Thanks for reading.
Wow! I bet she wasn’t expecting that–to go from complaining about only learning the basics one minute to becoming a master the next would definitely be a surprise.
Glad you liked the twist. It sort of evolved over the course of revisions!