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Raye McLaughlin

Author on Reedsy Prompts since Dec, 2024

Stories (7)

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14 Followers

9 Following

7 Stories

202 karma pts

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A Poem I Wrote From The Branches Of A Cottonwood Tree

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #288

I want to share a poem I wrote about the wind, but since Reedsy requires at least 1,000 words to publish something, I am offering you the story of how the poem came to pass. If you are interested in my silly ramblings about the wind and trees and how much I love being outside in the place I live, you are welcome to continue reading. Otherwise, I will not be insulted if you skip to the poem at the end of this work. Summer in my home is enchanting. The winters are cold and exhausting here- and seem to drag longer than their allotted season...

18 likes

The Dusk

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #287

I flinched as Caprio delivered the killing blow, my hands forming tight fists. Inside, I knew the elven guard he was fighting didn't have to die- and worse, he did, too. Yet he still chose to kill her. “ Rivvil-” I muttered the slur to myself, trying to keep in mind how many lives I was saving by traveling with this man, however morally neutral he was. Still, she was a graceful and disciplined fighter, only doing her job. And I hate to see elves die. They are an intelligent peo...

13 likes

$526.41

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #286

“Don’t forget your paycheck!” Will’s manager called from the back room as Will clocked out of the hardware store he worked at. He went behind the desk and picked up the legal envelope that contained his current life savings. As he stepped onto the sidewalk of late-night Rocky Springs, Wyoming- the small city he resided in- he ripped open the envelope and did a double take of the amount. $526.41?! he thought, sighing slightly. Will was 18, fres...

14 likes

"When winter comes, where do the forest folk go?"

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #281

The night air carried a storm and a stranger. The storm came from the North and brought with it thick, dark clouds that hung low about the trees, the power of them almost tangible in the air. The temperature dropped steadily with the sun, and just as the last light of sunset glittered away, snow began to fall. The winter came like a dam breaking. By morning, the land was painted white. The snow had slowed to a gentle dusting, but still fell steadily...

12 likes

QE1012 and Knightly's Origin Story

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #280

THIRD WINTER MOON - ACMAJ KINGDOM - HIGHMOON Hello? Hello! Yes! ♪I stole a magic book! It writes what I say!♪ Hello! This is QE1012, slave of the Dragonborn Kingdom of Acmaj on Jasper Island, Zoso. My bros call me Twelve. Actually, I just have one bro, but if I had more, I’m sure they'd call me that, too. I stole this magic book from the High Mage for three reasons. Number one: I can’t write worth ____. It’s that dar...

12 likes

What Others Have Forgotten

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #280

“What does ‘hardihood’ mean?” Glen’s voice carried softly through the great cave to where Steelio sat on a fur seat, dozing. Steelio Windfacer hated children. He hated crying and giggling and kid-germs and everything else about them. As a rule, he wouldn’t even talk to someone unless they were old enough to grow a beard. But despite his disdain for younglings, this one was his own. The child, Glen Copperfield-Woods, was not Steelio’s child by blood. He was the son of a young couple of musicians who liv...

8 likes

The Granite Cliffs

Raye McLaughlin

Submitted to Contest #279

My eyes opened, suddenly, pulling me from my sleep in an instant. I looked around my room, wondering what had woken me up, but all was still. The moment I closed my eyes again, a sound came. Click! A pebble hit my window. I sat up, wide awake now, and looked at my alarm clock: 1:00 a.m. . Blinking away the last remnants of sleep, I stood and walked to the window. It’s Probably a serial killer waiting to kill me victorian-style. I mean, who throws pebbles at a window to get someone’s attention this century besides a cereal killer? The thought...

11 likes