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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#41: Fuzzy Friends (or Foes?)

Hey, writers! I'm Tracy Gold, an editor, writer, and mom to a toddler, horse, and dog. And this week, I'm taking over Reedsy Prompts!

As an editor, I've enjoyed working on young adult fiction (like Amanda Searcy's Watch You Burn), non-fiction (like Gary Vikan's The Holy Shroud), and sci-fi/fantasy (like Nikki Richard's Demon in the Whitelands). Visit my Reedsy profile to learn more about me and my work!

My theme for this week is "fuzzy friends." From Hedwig in the Harry Potter series to Enzo in the The Art of Racing in the Rain, nothing captures hearts like a beloved animal. Animals can be powerful antagonists, too: just look at Jurassic Park! Perhaps what I love most about books featuring fuzzy friends (or foes) is that they mine the depths of the human heart by exploring how we interact with animals. I hope these prompts help you sniff out a good story!

This week's prompts

Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Kids – 232 stories

Write about an animal species that doesn't exist in real life — an alien, new discovery, imaginary creature — it's up to your interpretation!

Middle School – 145 stories

Write about an animal who goes on a journey.

Kids – 69 stories

Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations (like a snuggly tiger, or something more magical, like a literal fish out of water).

Kids – 69 stories

Write about an animal who causes a huge problem.

Middle School – 99 stories

Stories

“The Bay Window ” by Mary Rothery

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #41

A light caught her eye. The smallest flash of a spherical rainbow, a chink of light captured on the breeze. It floated, alone, past the window, the large light-filled bay out of which she had been staring for a lost amount of time. The shadow of years lengthening in the afternoon sun.The lawn was littered with the detritus of a summer's day; a straw hat crushed in its centre - trodden and abandoned -, a bottle of sun cream, cap open and oozing, bleeding summer into the grass. The bubble continued its solitary path across her line of vision, ...

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“With Its Feather” by Deborah Angevin

Submitted to Contest #41

Creak!I open the door of the abandoned building, sliding myself in, walking myself to the rooftop area, shaking in fear. Fear that keeps increasing as I get a step closer to the edges of the rooftop.And when I reach the short fences surrounding the rooftop area, I can only gulp down in nervousness as I glance the scenery below me; dark alleyway with nothing but the concrete road. It will hurt, wouldn’t it, if I fall directly from the tenth floor?Fear swirls inside my mind make me take a step backwards, distancing my body from the fences...

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“A rainbow of flying emotions” by Anja Z

Submitted to Contest #41

HELLO there. I am Anna Darcisa. I am 16 years old living in Sedgefield , Western cape. I love lily flowers and warm hugs andmy grandmother is my favourite person. My mother is a little jealous of me and my grandmother relationship, but I know it’s just because she misses her grandmother. I like warm sunny days and long runs to the park. It was a usual Sunday morning, Mom was making my favourite: pancakes with nutella, but somehow the day wasn’t as inviting as yesterday. Today was the day of my grandmother’s funeral and all ...

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“Corax and the Hatter” by Kathleen Mawhinney

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #41

I settle on the curve of a telephone wire and ruffle my feathers, for the benefit of the humans below. Of course mortals these days have little reverence for creatures they don’t understand; I’ve heard them joke about popping me with an air rifle just to watch the feathers fly. There was a time, a thousand thousand years ago, when they had more respect for those who came with messages from the gods. But that’s no reason to deprive them of the glorious flash of my jet-black wings against the bloody sunset. A harried-looking woman hurrie...

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“Lucky Penny” by Aqsa Malik

Submitted to Contest #41

I’ve been through my fair share of litters (thanks to my imbecile owners who never cared enough to get me spayed, fuck you always) and hardships in my life (my singular life, not nine, just one. Humans always have to go and make whacky assumptions. I’m just a sentient cat who happens to remember her past life, not some magical, freakishly long-living fairy. Come on.) As I was regaling before being rudely interrupted by, well, my own thoughts; I’ve been through rough shit, a lot of it, but never have I been so grieved as I am now. And I’...

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“Deep Space Canine” by Joshua G. J. Insole

Submitted to Contest #41

1“Grrround Control, mission has successfully been completed, repeat, mission has been successfully completed, Grrround Control.”“Roger that, Major Rover, thank you for your hard work. Huzagudboi, huzagudboi, yoragudboi, yezyoragudboi.”“Huzagudboi yourself, Captain. Major Rover over and out.”Major Rover allowed himself to drift for a moment, taking in the sights. He never got tired of it — and doubted that he ever would. He sighed to himself, contentedly, as he floated through the pretty void, all manner of stars and planets lacing the cosmic...

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“Wedding Gone Wild” by Lori Colt

Submitted to Contest #41

It’s the biggest day of my life. The one I have been dreaming about and planning since I proposed to Jake at The Rusty Bucket—everyone whose anyone in our neighborhood’s favorite foosball, well-worn pool table, beer-scented kind of establishment put on the map by the reckless and the restless. Like all brides, I want my beachside wedding to be memorable and amazing. I’ve spent hours poring over every detail with surgical precision. Guest list: check. Food: check. Inexpensive flowers: check. Dress that doesn’t make me look like a ...

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“The Bat, the Wolf, and the Stranger” by Arthur Tiberio

Submitted to Contest #41

It began with the sound of footsteps. They were sharp, outlined in dazzling clarity by the sleek texture of the granite floor, and approached in a gradual crescendo of professional poise. When their owner appeared around the flawless angle of the corridor, it was with all the dramatic flourish of a stage magician, his coattails flapping carelessly behind him until he came once again to a stop, this time in front of a small man who nodded at the sight of him, and snapped closed a golden watch."Not a second too soon," muttered the smaller, "an...

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“Dog Day” by Thomas Mai

Submitted to Contest #41

It’s a hot and sticky day. One of those that makes your clothes damp and clinging on your skin like leeches, sipping sweat, and soul out of you. There’s a foul smell riding the light breeze that crawls on the street, whistling through cracks and holes; it’s the morning dragon breath of a dying god.The new world is enveloped in a noisy silence, whether it is not the booming wind that squeezes through a fissure, it's the eerie screech of iron or the trampling collapse of walls and buildings into rubble.Joe is sitting on a rusty white chair in ...

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“A blessing and a curse” by Marte Van Der Linden

Submitted to Contest #41

“In hindsight, it was a bad idea.”“Ya think?” Inspector Dixon stubbed out his seventh cigarette and glared at the man sitting on the other side of the table in the dingy interview room. That man was Dr Hennessey, curator of the Museum of Archaeology. He was short and bald, with eyebrows that made him look like a particularly dispirited vulture and a moustache that just looked stupid. He was also the reason that Inspector Dixon was spending his Friday evening at the police station rather than at the theatre with his wife. Not that he particul...

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“The unicorn History” by Annabelle Cserni

Submitted to Contest #41

Their hair is like that of a buffalo, and their feet like those of an elephant. In the middle of the forehead they have a very large black horn…. Their head is like that of a wild boar, and is always carried bent to the ground. They delight in living in mire and in mud. It is a hideous beast to look at, and in no way like what we think and say in our countries, namely a beast that lets itself be taken in the lap of a virgin. Indeed, I assure you that it is quite the opposite of what we say it is.Best stock photo search ever.It's not hard to ...

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“Smokey's Shadow.” by Lourdes Cruz

Submitted to Contest #41

A little Grey kitten made his way under a large wooden structure, his sparkling blue eyes shining with amusement as the two-legged creatures called his name. "Smokey" was what they yelled. The fact that the creatures were calling his name alerted Smokey they had begun his favorite game. Silly creatures, he thought to himself, a playful grin decorating his fuzzy features. "Smokey!" Called the eldest male creature with a deep voice. The male walked towards his hiding spot, causing smokey's tail to flick anxiously. He knew the creatur...

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“A thread unfurling” by Chloe-Ly Grimont

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #41

The first accursed vibration resonates through me, causing my flower’s petals to bounce and sway precariously as they take in the shock. Plop. A tremor runs up my legs, and I struggle to stay put as I sway back and forth. Plop. Another drop descends almost directly upon me, and a shiver racks my body. I flutter my wings and half-fly, half-fall towards the nearest patch of undergrowth. I hear the pounding up above, beading and reaching past the shady foliage that protects me. After several feverish hours, the pour abates. In the storm's ...

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“la cucaracha” by Masha Kurbatova

Submitted to Contest #41

“I was born at the wrong time too. A week early. If I’d stayed put, I’d be a capricorn. I’m sure I messed up Mama’s plans. I always did. She was just twenty-five then, just starting to get her career off the ground and move to a totally different country. Terrible time to have a baby. And then when I was born, I’m sure I was a terrible bother. Babies are rude, you know. They cry in the middle of the night, poop themselves at parties, get hungry on a walk to the park, it’s all on their own timetable. I think Mama was always glad to leave on h...

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“Tales of a Dragon” by Keri Dyck

Submitted to Contest #41

He sits in his usual place in the tavern, downing his usual amount of ale. The empty tankards collect on his table as the people collect around him. His face is covered in ancient scars. He can tell the most marvellous stories. Whether they are true or not, no one can tell. He laughs. If it is free of misery or full of regret, no one can tell. You know, I used to be much younger. Good looking too. What, will no wench give me a kiss now? ’Tis alright. The glass tells me the same thing ye see. But it did not always show such a face, such ...

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$50

Prize money

614

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 15, 2020 EST

Won by Jack Basson 🏆

Title: A Cat of Ganymede

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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