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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#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:

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 – 62 stories

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

Dialogue – 73 stories

Stories

“The Rapture” by Cecilia L.

Submitted to Contest #181

Albert loved the smell of fresh snow in the morning. He sat on a folding chair by the campfire to soak in the sunrise, bask in the silence of the forest, and enjoy the quiet whispers of the lake and the trees. Behind him, a semi-circle of tents with over 12 friends and a couple of cousins guarded the rest of the group from the biting morning chill. What a show his friends were missing, but he wasn't sorry he had it all for himself. So, when he heard fast, heavy steps approaching behind him, he wasn't as excited as he thought he'd be. He ...

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“The witch who can't curse” by Subha Nair

Submitted to Contest #181

The witch who can’t curse ------------------------- Nathan burst into the library and went running to the inside room where all the thick, dusty volumes are kept and quickly crouched under one of the reading tables. Lucky it was lunch break and nobody saw him running to his go-to hiding place. Tim and gang won’t go to the trouble of coming inside the library to catch him, especially on the inside room. For some reason, most bullies are allergic to books. Thank god for small mercies, thought Nathan. Still he did not take the risk of getting u...

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“Back Up” by Conrado Maher

Submitted to Contest #181

“Man, whose idea … was this? My feet are … burning. I’m tired. It’s 105 degrees. No clouds. We’re climbing this, … what? Mountain?”“Easy, Ray. Easy. Stop. … Catch your breath,” said Karl.Gasping for air, Ray went on, “We’re lugging … gallon jugs of water, and I am … losing … traction. … Loose rocks on … the … trail. This is nuts. Not … prepared for … this. Almost fell … a couple … of times already.”Karl had been following close behind. The two of them had been going up fast. He slowed down when he saw that Ray had stopped.Karl wal...

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“False Leads” by Nupur NS

Submitted to Contest #181

“Some more bread, ma'am?” Yes, please. “And shall I refill your glass of wine?” Not right now, thank you. Perhaps in some time. The waiter walks away and Sunanda notices a slight swagger in his hips, evidently the young man is very aware of how attractively taut his uniform is. She smiles to herself, imagining how many secret corridor rendezvous this one would’ve had with the rich bored housewives that frequent this fancy restaurant. The smirk fades away though as she looks up to find that the observer is also an observee! A man ...

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“The Iris of the Wrong Path” by Fomichi Fomichi

Submitted to Contest #181

Through thick red and white flashes, you break into the giant glass doors. Your whole body pulsates from cold ebbs and warm flows that leave cracks on your porcelain nerve system. As you enter dead blue space, a massive nurse jumps on you like a hungry-for-victory-quarterback and knocks down. The sound of a cracked ripe pomegranate fills the hall as your crucified spine finds itself under her heavy breasts. “Do you have a corona?” A muted vo...

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“Elysius” by C.B. Chribby

Submitted to Contest #181

In the end, Uranius Mons didn't put up much of a fight. Everything went according to procedure. No accidents were reported in the 3 weeks it took to demolish it. According to all corporate standards, it was a financial success. All 15,922 ft of Uranius Mons were completely flattened. The event was messy. Metric tons of dirt, debris, carbon, and granite were flung wildly into the air. The sun disappeared behind the clouds of ashen smog. A great, dark canvas would slowly settle throughout the land as Mars would heal itself. It was a wo...

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“Eyes of Memory” by Russell Mickler

Submitted to Contest #181

A Halfling on the Stairs. A Guard Against the Sea. Names. Gammond Brandyford, a red-haired halfling of the Aevalorn Parishes, leaned wearily against the side of the cliff to catch his breath. He held out his oil lantern to peer over the edge of the stairs and saw nothing but a gaping void of darkness. “Guard rails!” he panted, placing the lantern on the stair beside him. His chest heaved. “It’s the least you dwarves could do!” “Bah! Rails be for children!” Vongur gruffly retorted. An amulet of a cranky dwarf’s head made from copper, silver, ...

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“What Happened to Me?” by Jane Tompkins

Submitted to Contest #181

What Happened to Me? By Jane Tompkins As I set the kitchen up for, yet, another one of my “lessons” I keep thinking of all the hopes and dreams I had as a senior in high school. I was going to “be” somebody. I was going to be successful and make a good living. I was going to meet my future husband in college, get married, and have a couple of kids. NOW, I look at myself in the mirror and see a 38 year old, single, woman who graduated college with a BA in Political Science (thought I was going to be a lawyer) and a Master’s in Sports Journal...

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“The True Story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears” by Michelle Esposito

Submitted to Contest #181

The flames flicked the night air, warming her freckled skin. She looked into the darkness beyond the fire, closing her eyes. She swallowed hard, and started to speak. "Have you ever heard the story of goldilocks and the three bears?" As her words echoed into the night, the air got even more still and ominous around the fire. Tears ran down her cheeks as she choked out the words in a rasp. "This is the true story." Her words echoed into the depths of the night. Goldi followed the path, humming to herself, going further into t...

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“Our Secret Path” by Francois Kosie

Submitted to Contest #181

They said that one day, something snapped inside of you, and without telling anyone, you went off to die quietly in a cave somewhere. They said you had given up. I heard many different versions of it, mostly from well-meaning people who wanted me to move on, but I refused to believe them. I knew you had your flaws, but I never accepted the idea that you had it in you to abandon us like that. And I know it sounds delusional, but I kept your things ready for when you eventually came back.The craziest thing is that I always knew the way to find...

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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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“"Anyone Can Improve."” by Julie Grenness

Submitted to Contest #181

Hilary, aka Hilaria, and her husband Ben, were both retired school teachers. Unfortunately for Hilaria, old Ben had retired early into television land. He was so not interested in travel, hobbies, or doing anything but turn on blaring TV. It was getting to her a bit, she often could not be bothered cooking any more, so they ate takeaway food. Their favorites were pizza, kebabs, or burgers and fries. Really, any home delivery menu provided an option for meal choices. Delish! Time saving. Hilaria did not know what she was saving time for, but ...

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“Throne of the Jarl ” by Henry Azure

Submitted to Contest #181

The sparks flew from the ferrocerium rod like a sparkler on the fourth of July. The wood, though damp, stubbornly sprung to life, aided by the resin trapped within the cellulose. Jarl worked quickly to add small pieces of tinder. The flame needed to be coddled and was just as fragile and demanding as a newborn child. As larger diameter pieces of wood were added, the child sprang to life, shedding light and comfort onto the world around it. Knotted Pine paneled walls flickered into view beyond the confines of the river stone hearth. Large dro...

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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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“Pine Valley Phoenix” by K. Z. Richards

Submitted to Contest #181

Dani stepped off the bus, and the early morning chill cut through her warmups like a knife through tissue paper. Goosebumps prickled across her skin, and her breath swirled in the glow of the floodlights that illuminated the empty race corrals. The sun still slept behind the Pine Valley mountains that lined the narrow canyon, hours away from rising, but thousands of runners had already gathered in the adjacent field, pacing, stretching, waiting. Their Mylar blankets glinted in the night, reflecting the dancing light of the fire pits they enc...

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$250

Prize money

278

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.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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