Joanna Smart

“The Monster and the Child” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #215

Vaughn paced through the forest, dappled shadows chasing the sun patches through the swaying trees as he made his way down to the stream. He growled at a fox that crossed his path, his normal indifference to the woodland creatures fouled by the human who dared to enter his domain. At the river he drank deeply, ridding his mouth of the bitter taste of human blood.  It had been decades since anyone had been foolish enough to enter the Forsaken Woods (a stupid but apt name in his opinion).  Well, anyone except the elf.&nbsp...

4 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“What the Darkness Hides” by Joanna Smart

Darkness. Ryker blinked slowly, trying to remember where he was, yet the darkness remained as if he had been shut away from the world.  He had an irrational thought, wondering if he had suddenly gone blind as he sorted through his muddled memory. It came back in bits and pieces - the fight with that, thing, like a beast from the Witcher. The claws that had cut through his skin as easily as scissors through paper.  The two strangers that had tried to save him and, something else, a feeling of fear and anger – a flas...

1 like 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Sibling's Battle” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #203

The ringing of metal on metal echoed as Lynx blocked Ace’s blade, parrying and pushing back to put some distance between them. She watched him stumble a step before recovering, his ragged breaths mirroring her own. Apparently, he hadn’t been idle these past ten years either. He fought with a voracity that told her he had been waiting for this fight since the moment their last fight ended. “What’s the matter Hellcat? Weren’t you always better than me? Have you gone soft since we last fought - after you destroyed ever...

7 likes 1 comment 1

Read story

“Nimue's Chance” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #199

Jericho stumbled down the garden path, taking another pull from his flask and enjoying the burn of the whiskey. It was official, weddings were the worst.  He pulled off his tie, cummerbund and jacket, discarding them on a bench as he walked past – not noticing that they fell to the ground. He was drunk and he knew it but he didn’t care. As long as he got away from the party, from her - no from them, that would be fine. He didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of knowing they were the reason for the drinking. The...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Truth about Heroes and Sidekicks” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #195

Harrison knew it was stupid to be mad. They hadn’t meant the comments as anything other than compliments, but still. They didn’t understand. They hadn’t lived through what he and Lynx had. He heard the steps in the distance behind him, Ryker judging by the slight limp he still had, and for just a second he thought about putting up a veil. It would be so easy to disappear, use his magic to hide and go back to the camp later like nothing happened. But he was tired of putting on airs. He thought of the others ...

9 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“A Time for Kindness” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #192

Jack sighed, glaring moodily as he cast around for any sign of Sherrie. One Hour. That was the deal they had struck when he had begrudgingly agreed to come to this circus of peddlers. His first Saturday off in weeks, and he had allowed his boisterous little sister to convince him to take her to the monthly flea market. He felt his scowl deepen. Convinced wasn’t the right word. Blackmailed was more appropriate. In exchange for taking her to the market, she would keep quiet about the dent he put in their parent’s ...

8 likes 0 comments 0

Read story

“The Fox and the Flower” by Joanna Smart

Submitted to Contest #189

“What are you doing?” Hana jerked her trekking pole away from the wolf pup she had found, swinging it blindly in the direction of the voice. A strong hand closed around the shaft of the pole. A young man was attached to that hand, making no attempt to move other than to prevent it from hitting him.  He may have been her age, mid-twenties, with high cheekbones and narrow features. His hair was hidden under his dark hood, but the shaggy locks that framed his face were so blond they were practically white. He was talle...

21 likes 8 comments 8

Read story