He whipped a rock across the pond. “Nice! Seven skips.”
I grabbed his arm, “Let’s go. We’ve disturbed them.”
“The fish?” He laughed.
I glared. “The fae.”
He eyed my fingers, tightening around his wrist. “Who cares?”
“I do. Which is why you’re still alive.”
“I don’t think so, sis.” He smiled and pointed to a cat perched on some driftwood, tail curled around its feet.
The cat yawned, licked its paw, and said, “Fae know what a cat sith can do, child.” It nodded to me. “Make no mistake, I am the reason you both are still alive.”
Flash Fiction Challenge over at Carrot Ranch
July 6, 2016 prompt: Cat – In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a cat. It can be a cute and adorable kitten or it can be mean old tom that swipes a claw at unsuspecting humans. What cat comes to mind and how does it spark a story?
This is what I tapped out on my phone and had to edit down to 99 words. This week, for some reason, it wasn’t easy and I’m not sure I pulled it off for the 99 word challenge.
He whipped a flat rock across the pond. “Whoa. Nice! Seven skips. Did you see that?”
I grabbed his arm, “Let’s go. We’ve disturbed them.”
“The fish?” He laughed.
I glared. “The fae.”
He flicked his eyes to my fingers, tightening around his wrist. “Take it easy. You’ve never cared before.”
I watched the water ripple, a dark form underneath swimming closer to the shore. To us. “I’ve always cared. Which is why you’re still alive.” I let go of his arm. “Just…trust me.”
He grabbed another rock. “I don’t think so, sis,” he aimed at the surface.
“After all these years. After…everything. You don’t believe in them?”
“I didn’t say that,” he smiled and pointed to a cat perched on some driftwood, tail curled around its feet.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me you could see them! I’ve felt like a freak all these years!” I smacked him on the head.
The cat yawned, licked its paw, and said, “He cannot see them. I have made myself visible to him. Now. Are you two quite done? While this human drivel is fascinating, I do have other things to attend to.”
I turned on the cat. “Like those?” I flung my hand toward the water, where spindly insect creatures the size of dogs were beginning to emerge.
“Let them come. Let them see what a cat sith can do.” It nodded to me, “And make no mistake, child, I am the reason you are both still alive.”
awesome!!!! and YAY! MORE!!!! 🙂 ❤
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You’re…asking for more or happy that I included more? 😉 This is the first time I’ve posted a “before” and “after”. It was tough this week to cut it to 99 words. Thanks. ❤
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You’re welcome. I was excited to see more…of course….if you are willing…
#mast ❤
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I will try. #mast ❤️
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Love this fairy tale YA adventure tone to your story. And I’m so glad you shared your longer version. You make great cuts to fit the 99 words.
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Thanks, Charli. It was a tough edit this week for some reason. Glad it comes across as YA. This was a fun one.
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Loved the before and after. Are you sure that cat isn’t a unicorn in disguise?
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It’s entirely possible. 🙂 Thanks, Irene. I wasn’t going to post both but I had such a difficult time editing it down to 99 and wasn’t sure I managed to pull it off.
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I think you pulled it off beautifully. I enjoyed the 99 word story. I enjoyed the longer one too. I don’t really think the shorter one was lacking. It’s an interesting exercise. 🙂
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Thanks, Norah. I don’t usually post both (not sure I ever have) but it is an interesting exercise. Especially when you’re that far over! 🙂
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My flash fiction pieces usually start at 147 words! I don’t know why, but that’s usually it. You always do a fabulous job of telling a lot in a few words. I seem to do the opposite!
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Interesting. Mine usually come in around the 100-110 mark now. I guess I’ve trained my brain. 😉 Yours are fantastic. I love flash. It’s great practice for self-editing.
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You’ve trained yourself well! It is definitely good practice in editing, and even rewriting – finding another way to tell the story, in fewer words!
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