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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

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

“A Tale for the Gods: Eos Lost” by Khadija S. Mohammad

Submitted to Contest #245

Artemis was bathing in her favourite pool with her dryad friends, when Apollo appeared. Though the temporarily blinding flash of light that came with his arrival was nothing new to Apollo's twin sister, or her nymphs, it still took them a moment to regain their sight. Recovering, they discovered Apollo already before them, shielding his eyes, as well as Aphrodite, who was looking oddly smug. Apollo's hand was over the eyes of young Hermes, his brother.Artemis sighed, and ushered the dryads out of the pool and into their respective trees. Ent...

15 comments 15
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“The Child of the Eclipse” by Charli Adams

Submitted to Contest #245

I was born during the time when the moon stole the sun. They told me I was special because that day was special. My birthday became holiday for my people, but of course, that was after the initial fear and confusion caused by the events that day had been adequately addressed. On the day in question, just before I was born, the elders huddled in conference as darkness spread where light should have touched for hours yet. Their worry was like a wildfire, spreading through the village faster than gossip and amplifying my people's fear. They won...

3 comments 3
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“15,7 hours to Kar One” by Lili Margareta

Submitted to Contest #245

You’d think that interstellar travel would make getting from A to B easier, but galactic rush hour is the absolute worst. Thank the gods for Autopilot- even if the computer flying the ship is a complete- “Thinking swear words will result in a swear-jar penalty. Would you like me to remind you of the terms of our swear-jar policy?”AstroNav, lovingly called Navie, exasperatedly called the “Zero-G-Twit-Machine,” (Zero for short) asked.“No, thank you Zero.” Vega crossed their arms. Just a few more hours.“Loading: Terms of the Nebula Noodle’s swe...

3 comments 3
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“The Celestial Lovers” by Tiffany Delozier

Submitted to Contest #245

Eons ago when the cosmos had just come to be there were just two beings. The first one is a giant being named Solaro; he has yellow skin that glows and bright white eyes that will blind you if you look at them too long. He gives off a warmth that can break through any chill and he wraps his arms around our world to keep us warm. The second one is a slightly smaller being named Celestia, she is almost as dark as the night itself but her white eyes help lead lost travelers home. She is not as warm and inviting as Solaro which is why it is stra...

4 comments 4
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“The Two Lights” by Brittaney Gambrell

Submitted to Contest #245

      Sensitive content warning : violent death/human sacrifice  The sky grows dark as the pains come closer together. I fight against them, begging my little one to stay safely inside. He can’t come yet; I won’t let him go. But my body engulfs the thought as a flood of pain nearly drowns me on the bed.               “You’re doing great Mary, you’re almost there.” The midwife encourages.       &...

5 comments 5
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“The Sun Slayer” by Orchid Childs

Submitted to Contest #245

This a story about a myth explaining a star being consumed by a black hole. Num sat on top of her favorite rock taking a break from her foraging duties. She sat in a dimly lit field under a dying sun. The people of her village told tales of an age long pass, when the sun was a brilliant yellow giant that brought light and warmth to all. There was a demon that was slowly eating away at it until the day star would be destroyed. The elders said it was birthed from their god before he had killed knowledge. Num looked at the colossus and its par...

1 comment 1
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“The Dancing Wish” by Amanda Alexander

Submitted to Contest #245

Today, my son and I are visiting my father. My seven-year-old mini-me loves coming over and listening to his stories. My father is a great storyteller. When I was young, he would read out of dusty old books most nights while tucking my sister and me in our beds. He read to us a lot. Some stories he read so much he memorized them and can now recite them with ease. Today is the first solar eclipse passing through our city in the last decade. Luke is fascinated with space and plan...

1 comment 1
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“The Tides Above - The Eirai Myth Behind Meteor Showers” by B. D. Bradshaw

Submitted to Contest #245

In the days of oblivion, the Tides Above over the realm of mortals were rich and plentiful. It was a vast ocean - not of water, but of aetherium - the cosmic lifeblood from which all existence began. And within the depths of this ethereal sea swam great schools of fish - shoals that would undertake grand journeys across the tides that would last centuries. And such majestic creatures glimmered like the starlight as they caught the gemstones that drifted in the swell, and carried them to the western and eastern shores - their crossing a testa...

2 comments 2
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“Solus and Lumos: A Tale of the Eclipse” by Jared Thomason

Submitted to Contest #245

So, you want to know how and why eclipses occur? Well, I know there’s a correct answer, the real reason that involves how our planet moves and the orbit of the moon and all that stuff. However, among my people, there is an old story we used to tell for generations that explains this bizarre and sometimes frightening phenomena. Personally, I’ve always found that version to be more interesting, and I would very much love to share that story with you. Interested?Great! Grab a snack or something to drink, have a seat, and listen.In the begi...

4 comments 4
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“Solara and Lunara” by Dixie Sullivan

Submitted to Contest #245

(Myths where passed down from person to person orally for years. This is what made so many end up with different variations or be hard to completely understand due to bits and pieces being lost or changed from person to person. I wanted this one to have that feeling of being old and being something you would hear from someone who was told it by someone else. I know its a bit odd but I hope its enjoyable.)Long ago, when there was no sun nor a moon, the days were dull and nights had no light. The crops grew slowly in the dull light of the days...

2 comments 2
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“On the Origins of the Archflame” by Michael Jurasek

Submitted to Contest #245

Author's note: This is a scene from a longer piece of high fantasy I'm working on. It's my first shot at lore-building in a fantasy world. Let me know what you think! “Gather round children, gather round,” Yarna instructed, beckoning the youth in the room to her. One-by-one, young faces turned toward the old woman, tearing their attention away from the games of fivestones or wisher’s dice that they were playing. Others, particularly the older ones, peeled their bored gazes away from the scenes of dreary rain and fog outside to look at the wo...

4 comments 4
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“The Unending Battle” by Regina Khao

Submitted to Contest #245

 At first, there was only darkness in the world. It covered the face of the entire planet and was unbroken. During this time, the Great Dragon alone inhabited the eternal night. But eventually, the Dragon grew lonely and decided to create herself a family. First, she gathered mud and leaves and sticks. She molded shapes out of them, imagining different kinds of strange animals, and gave them the spark of life. But the animals alone were not enough to keep her company, and so she thought of creating a special kind of animal, one that wou...

2 comments 2
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“Creation Moon” by Kat Davis

Submitted to Contest #245

What happens the moment before Creation? The Book of Genesis begins with the following: B'reshit bara Elohim et Hashamayim v'et ha'aretz: In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. But the Greeks envisioned a moment before Creation which was a backdrop, a reason for Creation. It was called CHAOS. ChaosBeyond the deep,lost, spinning, mad--the children of Atomin infinite cladColliding, gliding,by splendor surrounded--black masses gather,form darkness unbounded.No fingers to grasp,No true hands to hold,Still quick spirits gras...

1 comment 1
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“Lunar Calling” by Bethany Walters

Submitted to Contest #245

Nellwynn Thatcher was drawing water from the well when the sky went dark. She screamed and dropped  the bucket.  With a clanging splash it landed back into the well. Using its sides, she slowly slid to the ground. What was happening? Was the world ending? She didn’t dare lift her head to look at the sky afraid of what she might see or not see. Nellwynn began rocking back and forth, humming a lullaby her mother would sing to her when Nellwynn was a little girl. What about her mother? Was she okay? She was out tending to the garden, ...

2 comments 2
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“The Perfect Time, The Perfect Dance” by Writey Pen

Submitted to Contest #245

Once upon a time, there was a strong, young, and powerful king. He ruled over the kingdom, bringing light and life to everyone in his sight. Places thrived from his touch, creating peaceful, enjoyable days. The king had everything well, almost everything. He ruled the whole universe but he ruled it alone. People loved him and planets respected him, but he was missing a piece of his heart. His heart was so big, full of love, but was missing that love in return.  Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl. She lived on the outskirts of...

4 comments 4
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