#ThursThreads - Week 23 - Winners

Week 22 of #ThursThreads had some great tales! Thanks to all who entered this week. I'm honored to see all of you and read your stories. And it was great to have some new "faces" join us along with our returning regulars. Great thanks also goes to judge Madison Woods for reading all the tales. Be sure to check out her #FridayFictioneers #flashfiction site on Fridays.

Entries:

• Raymond C. Morris | @iwrites
• Eli M. Clark | @EliMClark
• Wakefield Mahon | @WakefieldMahon
• Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
• Jeffrey Hollar | @Klingorengi
• David A Ludwig | @DavidALudwig
• Kimberely | @KimmyDonn
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Goran Zidar | @GZidar
• Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ
• Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster
• Revo Boulanger | @RevoBoulanger
• Stacy Bennett-Hoyt | @Rowanwolf66
• Anthony Angeline | @unfoldingmyth
• Jeff Tsuruoka | @JTsuruoka
• Samantha O'Brien | @QuillsWithin
• Cara Michaels | @caramichaels
• Sam Webb | @sammyjwebb
• Aurora Lee | @AuroraLee
• Greg Nance | @acenance
• Rebekah Postupak | @postupak
• Jalisa Blackman | @J_M_Blackman

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

 

Stacy Bennett-Hoyt | @Rowanwolf66

  Madison says: Because I absolutely loved the beautiful descriptive phrases she used even though the story itself was sad.

 

Mark Ethridge | @LurchMunster

Madison says: Different – because it was well-written and illustrates a current real-life topic. In an indirect and non-threatening way, the point is made very clear.

 

Charles W Jones | @ChuckWesJ

Madison says: I loved the vengeance.

Goran Zidar | @GZidar

Madison says: Vivid imagery and a complete scene full of restrained emotion.

Week 23 Winner

 

Samantha O'Brien | @QuillsWithin

 

  Madison says: Because the battle memory was rendered in a way that I felt there on the deck, and it had a feeling of futuristic/scifi about it even though it could have been a realistic description of times current or past. I don't like war stories but still felt compelled to read this one because of the way it was written.

Battle Scars

The dreadnought flew aloft, riding the clouds like Sylphs splitting the skies, the stars a guiding light through the velvet blackness. It was brisk tonight, waking old injuries and causing new creaks in his joints, not so unlike his ship. He smiled at the thought.

“Clear night, Captain.” Mr. Thaddeus Skinner, First mate to the battleship Ares, sidled next to his Captain, watching the lush green treetops rushing below them through the cracks in the mist. Captain Blackmere nodded, retrieving his brass spyglass, tension evident in the setting of his shoulders. Months of battles just to have the winds die down now seemed—odd.

The whir of wings broke the silence. Thaddeus followed his Captain's eyes to the War Airship Hammer just ahead. “Man your stations, gents!” Captain Blackmere bellowed, sending men on deck scattering. Thaddeus fixed his goggles against eyes when the first whine of cannon fire burst through the bow. Ares lurched on impact, sending him and his Captain to their knees. The sting of shrapnel carving channels through the crew drew screams and panic. Another blast took out the turbine engine, plunging Ares out of range. “Make ready the long guns,” Thaddeus roared over the wind rushing in his ears. His Captain lay flayed by the twisted metal. He had to get them to safety.

“Grandpa?” a small voice whispered “It’s only fireworks outside, ” she smiled

Thaddeus returned her smile, still hearing the screams.

It was so long ago, but the memories hadn't faded.

Congratulations Samantha, Stacy, Mark, Chuck, and Goran! Claim your badges and display them with pride. You certainly earned it! :)

Pass on the great news on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, shiny mirrors, Morse Code, and signal flags. Check out all the stories here and I hope to see you all back next week for #ThursThreads. :)