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#181: Standing Tall

The mountains are the place where many people go to seek adventure, whether that be hiking, climbing, or skiing; but they’re also where some go to find stillness, and reconnect with nature. Mountain ranges have an almost spiritual feel to them 一 they stand tall, enduring the test of time, and remind us of our scale in the universe.

In literature, mountains have often served as powerful settings, or as a metaphor for the insurmountable obstacles characters have to deal with. This week’s prompts are inspired by them:

🥇 Winner

“Out of Place on the Appalachian Trail” by Aeris Walker

🏆 Winner of Contest #181

My backpack weighs 31 pounds, and it barely fit into the trunk of Jen and Steve’s Honda. I don’t think they believed I was actually going through with this until I called and asked for a ride up the mountain. Jen gave me that look, that pitying, tight-lipped smile, but she helped Steve and I load up my things, and then they bought me lunch before dropping me off at the trailhead. Jen cried, and Steve gave me a can of pepper spray and an awkward side hug. So here goes nothing. I’m at Springer Mountain, Georgia, with zero miles down and only ...

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⭐️ Shortlisted

“Violet or Red” by Liv Chocolate

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

You were born on National Maple Syrup Day. Your mother names you Alcyone (pronounced AL-SEE-OWN-EE) because Alcyone means calm. It’s a cruel, unfitting choice given your family’s history of anxiety. You wish your name were something simple and easy-to-say, like Hannah.By the time you turn nineteen, you've grown tired of constantly having to correct people. It’s Al-see-own-ee, you tell them on the days you have more confidence than usual, but they don’t hear you, and if they do hear you, they forget. As far as they’re concerned, you are Aliso...

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“Talking is not permitted.” by Kelly Sibley

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Talking is not permitted. Line up. Look forwards, don’t engage with anyone. Keep your hands to yourself and makes sure they’re clean. Don’t look at other people. Don’t look at others’ food. Don’t look at individuals when they’re eating. Sit still on your chair. Make sure you wash your tray and spoon when finished. Remember your number. Remember your password. These are the rules for eating. They are simple, and they will keep you alive. They say slavery was stamped out a hundred years ago. And if y...

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“The Wizard of Washington Square” by Lee Disco

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

There is a wizard in Washington Square. He wears a billowing cloak, bundled in a pile on his shoulders; he is a tall creature, and with the ebony fabric wrapped up to his ears, he looks even larger. The rest of the cloak drapes down his legs, swaying in fraying threads at his ankles. His jeans—black, too—are too short for him, yielding to gray ankles and ragged shoes. He is pale all over, with skin dead blue pale like a corpse. His hair is like pale wheat in need of a glinting scythe. For all his magic, he must cut it in the dim reflection o...

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“Doomscrolling Mountains” by Akash Joshi

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

You open google and type “unsplash.com”. The site is simple, functional, and promising. You know you are at the right place when the most prominent thing on a site is the search bar. And there are two of them. Search free high-resolution photos, they say. You know why you are here. Your life is lacking. You need inspiration. Or is it motivation? Or is it both? You decide to go with the former. It’s long-term. Choosing your desktop wallpaper is an important business for you. Because of the nature of your job, you are constantly chan...

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“The Sunset Hike” by Erin Keagan

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

“Take your meds, Pa” Felix said as he cleared the dinner dishes from the table. He pointed to the small medicine cup filled with pills of different shapes and sizes in front of the old man. Reluctantly and with shaky hands he brought the medicine cup to his mouth. “I put your pain pills in there too. You’re going to need them.” Pa froze and shot him a look of annoyance, “You know these make me sick” “I know,” he responded. “Take some of your Zofran too. It will help with the nausea” He opened a bottle and hande...

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“Forged in Fire” by Noel Turner

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Ancient hinges groaned stubbornly as she opened the door. A quaint mountain cabin seemed a drastic understatement. Aged red cedar, warped by more than one hundred years of extreme weather, whined against her efforts to push it open it. “Well,” she said, “at least no one can sneak in, Mabel.” She set down the large cooler containing her groceries. Running her fingers along the wall, she flipped a lone switch. Nothing. “Fabulous,” she said flatly, then scanned the room, eyes adjusting slowly in the fading light before moving further insi...

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“The Miners of Mount Elgon” by 𝔊𝔲𝔞𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔲𝔭𝔢 𝔗𝔢𝔩𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔞𝔯

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

As the sun sets on the extinct volcano of Mount Elgon and the red light of the African evening fades, a female dung beetle scrambles over a pile of elephant droppings, forming her find into a ball. Once completed, it will be at least three times larger than the shiny, black-armored insect. She will roll her prize away backwards, a single egg enclosed within, to be buried in soft ground.Though the deed of the lady dung beetle is both fascinating and commendable—for it is she, and all her kindred, who help prevent the putrefaction of the land—...

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“Bullets and Feathers” by Ian Gonzales

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

“Sigma Station Control, this is Shuttle D177 on approach, please confirm.” I release the transmit key and sit back in my command chair, feeling that sense of weary satisfaction that comes at the end of a long day’s work, done well. “I’ve got one giant hunk of rock, all ready to deliver.” There’s a moment of silence, then the comm crackles to life. “Roger that, D177. We have you on our scopes. Your approach vector is clear and set. Come in nice and slow; we don’t need that ‘hunk of rock’ missing its orbital slot.” “I’m all over it, Sigma Cont...

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“Everest Every Day” by Elisabeth Bridges

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Opening your eyes in the morning is like making it to Base Camp. There’s been a long, cold trek through the night just to get here. You turn off your alarm and lay there in the darkness, testing your emotions like a bruise. No extraordinary pain; just the usual gray morning sludge. Maybe today won’t be so bad. The jeans on the floor aren’t too badly wrinkled. They might even be clean; you can’t remember. You tug them on and pull your hair into a bun, feeling the weight of consciousness settle across your shoulders like a pack. You’re begin...

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“Running Man” by Sav Lightwood

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Sports jerseys. Defunct firearms. Leather notebooks bound by thread and twine. Dilan was a man of memorabilia. Mountains of gimmicks and curios, littered and stacked and filed with seemingly no order. This was far from the truth, however. Dilan was an organised man. For what he was, he had to be, and he loved all the qualities that came with it; clarity, understanding, peace of mind. His belongings were exactly where he intended them to be, his time protected like a princess in a castle. In another life, he could be a project manager, doct...

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This week's prompts

Write about someone who realizes they're on the wrong path.

Character – 69 stories

Write a story about someone who has to “move mountains” to get what they want.

Angst – 15 stories

Write about a character who’s climbing a mountain, whether internal, external, or both.

Adventure – 59 stories

Write about a character who, for whatever reason, retreats to a remote cabin.

Mystery – 61 stories

Write a story that includes someone saying, “Let’s go for a walk.”

Dialogue – 73 stories

Stories

“Out of Place on the Appalachian Trail” by Aeris Walker

🏆 Winner of Contest #181

My backpack weighs 31 pounds, and it barely fit into the trunk of Jen and Steve’s Honda. I don’t think they believed I was actually going through with this until I called and asked for a ride up the mountain. Jen gave me that look, that pitying, tight-lipped smile, but she helped Steve and I load up my things, and then they bought me lunch before dropping me off at the trailhead. Jen cried, and Steve gave me a can of pepper spray and an awkward side hug. So here goes nothing. I’m at Springer Mountain, Georgia, with zero miles down and only ...

298 comments 298

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“The Promise” by Thom With An H

Submitted to Contest #181

Distance and time—that’s how adults measure journeys. But because we were just boys, distance didn’t matter and time didn’t exist.Now, as I retraced the familiar path of my youth—the path that led to our tree—I realized that the distance hadn’t changed, but the journey that used to take 30 minutes had taken me twelve years.The turn off to the trail was still hidden. I was glad about that, it's what made our place secret. There were also short stretches where the route had been covered by overgrowth and the canopy of trees that surrounded me,...

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“Violet or Red” by Liv Chocolate

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

You were born on National Maple Syrup Day. Your mother names you Alcyone (pronounced AL-SEE-OWN-EE) because Alcyone means calm. It’s a cruel, unfitting choice given your family’s history of anxiety. You wish your name were something simple and easy-to-say, like Hannah.By the time you turn nineteen, you've grown tired of constantly having to correct people. It’s Al-see-own-ee, you tell them on the days you have more confidence than usual, but they don’t hear you, and if they do hear you, they forget. As far as they’re concerned, you are Aliso...

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“A PSA about Ivory, Gold, and Grey Matters” by Wendy Kaminski

Submitted to Contest #181

The odds are good that you may never have never held nor even seen a genuine ivory trinket in your lifetime, especially if you live outside of Africa. Ivory is seen by many as a relic of a bygone era of cruelty we like to think we’ve risen above. It wasn’t so long ago, though, that the jetsetters felt otherwise. I see ivory trinkets at least annually, in my capacity as a Guardian and Conservator for elderly clientele with advanced dementia. Ornate hand-held Japanese-style carved fans; bracelets, rings, brooches, pendants; delicately-carved f...

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“The Siblings’ God Forgot to Give Us” by Kathleen Fine

Submitted to Contest #181

“The key is under the flowerpot, next to the frog statue.” Casey recalled the instructions Muriel had given her a few days ago. Bending down, she lifted the heavy terracotta pot with both hands. She watched as a large earth worm raised its faceless head towards her, assumingly agitated by her interrupting its dark slumber.“Sorry, lil’ fella,” she whispered as she grabbed the brass key, placing the pot back down carefully as to not squish the tenant underneath. “We haven’t been there in a couple years…since mom and dad passed away, so I ...

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“Strive for the Light” by Corey Melin

Submitted to Contest #181

James wept more than he has ever done in his life. A life so full of happiness quickly taken away by the evils of the land. “If I was only there to protect you,” he said of his wife, Rene, as he looked at the mound of dirt. “I could have protected you or at least gone with you to the afterlife.” It was two weeks ago that James left his cabin and his lovely wife in the woods to go to a sma...

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“Martians on a Drowned Earth” by Graham Kinross

Submitted to Contest #181

TW: Swearing Agent Belle Nguyen stared down the gun in the Spectrum droid’s hand unblinking. “Purple, really? Going to shoot me? Someone force feed you shit mood soup?” Her voice was a mix of posh English and French. “What are you doing aboard my ship?” Detective Arthas Jacques asked, holding up his metal prosthetic hand towards the droid to keep it from acting on deadly impulses. “Waiting for you,” she said. “Put the gun away, Purple.” Arthas threw off his coat and fanned his shirt beneath. Sweat from running all day had soaked his clo...

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“The mistake” by Anand Sachdev

Submitted to Contest #181

We often discover throughout our university years that we are drawn to the person we value most in the world. I experienced that as well. The finest part of it was that she showed me the same level of love and care in return. I, however, was unable to handle it. I made a few blunders, and before I knew it, she had left. My breakup had happened on the mountains. I didn't believe I would ever experience another love. I'm aware that everyone expresses the same sentiments following a breakup, but I'm not experiencing that. I don't have a negativ...

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“Lilies” by Keira Shinn

Submitted to Contest #181

They were both young when they fell in love. Just out of high scool; she was seventeen, and he was eighteen. Many, at first, called it infatuation, but they knew it was love right from the start. Not a day went by where they weren't together, utterly enraptured in each other's presence. They loved adventure and the outdoors, and he never grew tired of the way her auburn hair fluttered in the wind on top of a mountain or cliff they had just climbed. Her hand fit perfectly into his, and his strong embrace brought peace to her heart. Dialogue w...

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“One Rule For One” by PJ Aitken

Submitted to Contest #181

What was taking him so long? Liz sat in her favourite armchair tapping her purple fluffy slippers on the shiny marble floor. Her three dogs were sound asleep around her, poised to wake up in ten minutes, like dopey alarm clocks in time for their dinner. Since moving into her new home she had been feeding the dogs herself which she was not used to at all. It had taken a number of months to get the quantities right, meaning all three dogs looked like plump furry beanbags. In the old days there would have been a helper to do the feeds but Liz h...

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“Talking is not permitted.” by Kelly Sibley

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #181

Talking is not permitted. Line up. Look forwards, don’t engage with anyone. Keep your hands to yourself and makes sure they’re clean. Don’t look at other people. Don’t look at others’ food. Don’t look at individuals when they’re eating. Sit still on your chair. Make sure you wash your tray and spoon when finished. Remember your number. Remember your password. These are the rules for eating. They are simple, and they will keep you alive. They say slavery was stamped out a hundred years ago. And if y...

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“The Wrong Bus Home” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #181

There is nothing irrevocable about getting on the wrong bus. The next stop offers you the chance to hop on the proper bus home. You get on the right bus and you’ll only be home fifteen minutes later than usual. The chicken will be defrosted. Matt will have finished his homework. Christy will still have hers to do, because she’s on the phone with Erica. You’ll have to chide her, but not by much. She’s a good girl. They’re good kids. You’re happy that they’re good kids. The other night you were laying in bed and Richard turned to you and sai...

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“Mount Philbert” by Michał Przywara

Submitted to Contest #181

Mount Philbert was a mountain the same way Pluto wasn’t a planet. If you measured it from the summit, it clocked in at just under 300 metres high. If you measured from the big rock on the summit, it was 301.4 metres. Experts were divided, some screaming about how the rock wasn’t part of the hill and others howling that it had just broken off the mountain and that didn’t diminish it, but everyone agreed that Mount Philbert was the most forgettable of all the Rockies.But when Brent got out of his SUV and stared up at it, he gasped.Yolanda wadd...

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“The Collector” by V. S. Rose

Submitted to Contest #181

The air was unrelentingly frigid, yet he did not feel its cold. His hands were blood-covered, chafed, and worn. A frozen bloodied body, skull cracked, laid on the white snow beneath him, slowly turning it a deep crimson. The heat, still radiating from the body, melted the surrounding snow like warm butter. The corners of his mouth spread into a satisfied grin; it was his fifth kill today. He reached across his body and pulled a serrated knife from its sheath on his hip. The blade glistened in the starlight, blood stains twinkling u...

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“It's not the mountains we conquer, but overselves” by Miss Maggie Maria

Submitted to Contest #181

It all started off with a whole lot of trauma, stress and grief; but it soon became happiness, joy and relief. It is funny beginning a story in a positive way when you are so use to the negativity. Your reality became a negative canopy that had just clouded your thoughts, your visions and your life. You think to yourself, is this how life is suppose to be? Is this what I have in store for me? What can I do to change my life? How can I conquer and climb these mountains? Those are all questions that I had asked myself again and again. It feels...

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$250

Prize money

277

Contest entries

125

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jan 20, 2023 EST

Won by Aeris Walker 🏆

Title: Out of Place on the Appalachian Trail

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

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