Every Friday authors from around the world gather around the virtual fireside of fellow WordPress blogger Rochelle Wisoff to share flash fiction stories of 100 words, all inspired by a common photograph, and exchange constructive criticism. Readers’ comments are also welcome. This week’s photo has been provided by John Nixon. Thanks John.
I’m calling this story Black Moon, but I might equally have given it the same name as my previous FF flash fiction story: It’s Not What You’re Looking At. If I’m fixated, maybe it’s because I’m seeing – being shown – that every action we take is perception-driven? And the consequences of this.
I welcome comments. They are how I improve my writing.
Black Moon
“What are we to divine from this vision, Gelderick.”
“Whatever Black Moon wishes us to divine. Look – She is reflected in the standing up water!”
“I see no Black Moon.”
“You look, Barbara, but never see! The old man – Wizard.”
“How do you divine that?”
“Can Ordinaries make water stand up, then penetrate its surface without spill?
“… those floating words – second hand – where is the first?”
“The wizard stirs, trapped beings quake!”
“His prisoners?”
“ See you not the pale witch?”
“Witch?”
“She quakes not. Black Moon shows us – to conquer this planet, we must kill its pale witches.”
Ann Isik
100 words
Related articles
- Friday Fictioneers 100-Word Story Challenge: It’s Not What You’re Looking At (annisik51.wordpress.com)
- Friday Fictioneer: Words From the Past (jimkane.wordpress.com)
Poetic Mapping: Walking Into Art 
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🙂
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Ah.. I didn’t read this as an alien story at all … more like children with a very vivid fantasy… but that’s maybe the whole point 🙂 I liked the story as I read it anyway
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🙂
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Oh I love this. They have no clue. They’ve come to all the wrong conclusions. It makes you wonder how many wrong conclusions we come to everyday. Fun and thought-provoking piece, Ann.
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I come to the wrong conclusions on a regular basis! 🙂
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I do too. I just don’t know it! Haha!
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Haha!! Me too!
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Of course I had to read more than once to understand the whole story 🙂 It´s great! What an outstanding idea to let aliens speak. – looking forward to more!
Carmen
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Thank you. Ann
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I liked the “standing up water, ” too.
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🙂
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Dear Ann,
Quite a story. You’ve certainly internalized the concept of writing what you see. 😉
shalom,
Rochelle
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It must be to do with reading your Thoreau quote week after week!
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Dear Ann,
I love how you interpreted all the different items from the picture. Very cool. Standing up water was my favorite.
Aloha,
Doug
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Thank you Doug! Loved your take on the pic, too. Ann
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Thanks Doug. I’m feeling trapped in the ‘talking heads’ approach and will be stealing ideas to get out of this from your stories. 🙂
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Now that was different! Well done.
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Thanks Sandra.
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We pale witches are in big trouble. I think I’m headed behind the waterfall!
janet
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I’m doomed, too – I’m so pale people think I’m from Scandinavia! See you behind the waterfall.
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Oh dear – so much misinterpretation of what they’re looking at, but they’re going to cause trouble anyway, aren’t they? Very cleverly told – I like it (especially the “standing up water”)!
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Yes, they are set on conquering the planet regardless. It’s just that In this scenario, the blondes will be the first to go. Time to dye my hair! Ann
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Hello Ann what an interesting take on the prompt. Aliens? I find it fascinating that so often we write aliens as malevolent beings, nothing wrong with that only it intrigues me that we commonly see them that way. I also like the language style, gives the characters a feel that I can identify with. Well done.
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Thanks for reading. My perception of the alien thing though, is the opposite. I get irritated reading stories/watching films about aliens who are deemed superior to us humans – only because they have apparently superior technology. I say Down! with the Age of ‘Enlightenment’ and Scientific Determinism. 🙂
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