Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

Posted in Fantasy on Apr 5, 2024

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✍️ 48 stories

“The Mound Of Nu” by Helen A Smith

Submitted to Contest #245

Until air, moisture, earth and sky emerged out of the deep, a formless mass existed that looked a bit like a pyramidal mound. It was called Nu. At some point in the mists of time, the sun rose like a goose breaking through the still waters to spread its life-giving light to the earth. In ancient myths, Ra was the Egyptian sun god, the creator of all that followed.Without creation, we do not exist. If we do not exist, what is there?^^^As priests, everything we do, every act and speech we make, every ritual and spell we perform is designe...

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“A Very Big Pile of Ellawyn Crap” by Daniel Rogers

Submitted to Contest #245

"Lord Balister's men are at it again," Oakaford, the captain of the Stumper Guard, said as he entered Lady Nimmo's living room, which was currently serving as the temporary town hall. Lady Nimmo put down her quill pen and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Where this time?" The magical tree stump was carrying a rolled parchment that he placed on the table. The parchment revealed a detailed map of Trungen Forest. "There," Oakaford pointed to a spot on the southeastern edge of the forest. "That man!" Lady Nimmo stood. "Oakaford, assemble the Stu...

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“Allondial and Remu (remastered)” by Michelle Oliver

Submitted to Contest #245

To hear the stories told by old women over the fire, one would believe the world to be inhabited by ghouls and hobgoblins. This is not true. The world is full of magic for sure, but the magic has been here longer than the old women, longer than humankind and longer indeed than memory can express.In the beginning of time, Allondial was born. Her first breath was a gasp that awakened humankind from the eternal sleep of non-existence. Her smile was gentle as she gazed upon all creation as it woke, and humankind smiled back. Enthralled...

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“View From The Window” by Nick Baldino

Submitted to Contest #245

The plane is halfway through the air when the windows start to dim. It’s a connect flight from Houston to Albuquerque and I’m sitting by the wing, dreaming about a conversation long ago. We lived in a shank shack out in the desert, a fifteen minute walk up a single lane road where no one could get to us. The realtor knocked ten percent off the asking price because there was no running water, so we had to use a well in the twenty-first century. Daddy saw that as a plus- thought all that walking would turn us into a real family, one worth its...

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“No Mere Mortal” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #245

“The eclipse has come and gone, and I for one am so grateful.” “And why is that?” “People like me are often affected by celestial occurrences. This one was intense.” “How so?” “It started about a week ago; low energy and high anxiety battling for dominance. Have you ever wanted nothing more than to sleep, but couldn’t turn your thoughts off long enough to nod off? When I would finally pass out from sheer exhaustion, the vivid apocalyptic dreams would infiltrate like a jolt of frantic energy, causing me to awaken abruptly with no chance of fa...

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“Marbles” by PJ Town

Submitted to Contest #245

The children formed a circle in the clearing, chattering and jostling to get as near as possible to Elder Jakintsu. His long white beard and hair spoke of ancient wisdom, but the youngsters were more interested in the stories he told, which were invariably fun. At a loud clap of his hands, all fell silent.“Little ones, you are no doubt wondering why we are gathered here on this rest day, when you might normally be playing,” Jakintsu said. He took a cloth bag from his lap and plonked it at his feet. It made a clinking sound.Sitting opposite h...

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“Sister Song of the Solar Eclipse” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #245

Serena was the female god of the sun. “Goddess” somehow sounds diminutive, so for the purpose of the story, we will call her a god. She had powers that reached beyond any that preceded or followed her. She’d carried the responsibility of giving light since before her birth. Her father had been a lowly peasant, but her mother was a fire goddess, and her light and heat were passed onto her daughter and multiplied a thousand-fold. Serena was born with a halo of light surrounding her. She was hot to the touch. Her parents had to move her onto a ...

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“The Story of the Waterer” by Tamarin Butcher

Submitted to Contest #245

AZYX 963 stretched his arms. They creaked with the sound of rusting metal rubbing against exposed wires. He leaned back, the orange light from the fire contrasting with the flickering blue glow in his remaining eye socket. "Let me tell you The Story," he began. His voice stuttered and blipped, as though it were being transmitted from a great distance across an unreliable connection. Nevertheless, there was a note of confidence in his tone, the promise of a good tale to follow. "In the beginning, there were humans. Millions of them. Billions ...

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“False Gods” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #245

The ship’s log would state that Captain John Tanner was the first to set foot on the newly discovered lands. This was not the case. Tanner was a shrewd and sometimes cunning man. He prioritised survival over the flim-flam of bravery, chivalry and honour. He had a head on him and he used it. His crew, those who were lucky enough to live through the depravations of numerous long and treacherous voyages, would have likely referred to him as dependable. The word would be qualified, but not expanded upon. Not that anyone would have aske...

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“The Meeting” by Joshel Cartagenas

Submitted to Contest #245

The boy looked up at the sky. The sight of the unnatural event left him in a state of awe, unable to look away. “You’ve never heard the story of how the meeting came about, have you?” The old man named Seki asked. The boy didn’t reply. “It’s a story that sheds light on a few things, and a story that every person should be told. It’s a story of why the moon chases the sun so, how desire came to be and at what cost.” He sits down next to the old man. As he crosses his legs, he can feel the cool, damp grass tickling his calves. “It takes place ...

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“Dreams and Stars” by Eridian Prenowitz

Submitted to Contest #245

Do you know how the sun fell in love with the moon? When the wind howls around a cottage in a forest on a mountainside, you hear it more clearly from inside than out. That was how she felt when she stepped inside the cottage, wanting a place to stay for the day until night came and she would have to leave once more. Pulling down her hood, her long, wavy, silvery hair tumbled out and down her shoulders and back. She drew her bluish black cloak around her and shut the door behind her, looking up at the owner of the cottage. She knew the cotta...

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“The Sun, the Moon, and the deep, dark Sea” by P. C. Lepelblad

Submitted to Contest #245

Before the Beginning, when the world was mostly rocks and beasts, and much less interesting but altogether more quiet—the Moon loved the Sea. She loved them most terribly. With every intake of her even breath, she watched the tide pull inexorably closer, and with every exhale, observed the lapping of their gentle waves. The Moon wanted nothing more than to speak to them, to learn the rhythms of their froth and blue. And so, after a long mustering of courage, she approached her mother: The Centre of All Things. "The Sea?" exclaimed her mother...

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“Don't swallow porcupine fish” by Orwell King

Submitted to Contest #245

Under the cloak of a tranquil starlit night, beneath the vast canopy of the sky, a young girl named Liana sat beside her father, gazing up at the moon. sitting together outside their home in a small coastal village, they were nestled in a cozy spot near the shore, surrounded by the gentle sound of waves lapping against the beach and the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the night. It was an evening unlike any other, for the moon was gradually being enveloped by darkness.Fascinated yet perplexed, Liana turned to her father, her eyes wide wit...

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“The Bat Folk of Betelgeuse” by Joseph Ellis

Submitted to Contest #245

Across the galaxy, some six-hundred and forty light years from our own blue planet, sits a small, rust-and-green world as populous and strange as our own. As we zoom in on this planet, we pass through its red-tinted atmosphere, to a range of gray mountains surrounding a steaming, green swamp. Notice how many creatures fill the sky. A great host of birds, many of them as smart as you and I, coast from one mountaintop city to another. They have built a civilization comparable to our classical era, though if you go by their social media, f...

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“Because The Stars Vanished ” by Kaelyn Klaus

Submitted to Contest #245

Holly walks out from one of the tall towers in New York City. She sets her jaw as she walks out from one of the tall towers in New York City. She has had a long, hard few days of working to write an article about space but more importantly, the stars, and then when she finally turns it in…her manager says it’s too scientific. What does he want? Is it a fun bedtime story with kittens and teddy bears? It’s about space! It’s not a bedtime story, and it’s definitely not cuddly. Being a reporter is difficult, but she can’t just q...

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Imagine an origin myth that somebody might use to explain an eclipse, or some other celestial event.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 48 stories

“The Mound Of Nu” by Helen A Smith

“A Very Big Pile of Ellawyn Crap” by Daniel Rogers

“Allondial and Remu (remastered)” by Michelle Oliver

“View From The Window” by Nick Baldino

“No Mere Mortal” by Myranda Marie

“Marbles” by PJ Town

“Sister Song of the Solar Eclipse” by Keelan LaForge

“The Story of the Waterer” by Tamarin Butcher

“False Gods” by Jed Cope

“The Meeting” by Joshel Cartagenas

“Dreams and Stars” by Eridian Prenowitz

“The Sun, the Moon, and the deep, dark Sea” by P. C. Lepelblad

“Don't swallow porcupine fish” by Orwell King

“The Bat Folk of Betelgeuse” by Joseph Ellis

“Because The Stars Vanished ” by Kaelyn Klaus

🌟 Similar prompts

Set your story during a total eclipse — either natural, or man-made.

Write a story in which a character navigates using the stars.

People have gathered to witness a once-in-a-lifetime natural phenomenon, but what happens next is not what they expected.

Set your story in a world where astrology and the movements of celestial bodies deeply impact the lives of inhabitants.

Contest #245

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

224

Contest entries

89

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: