#ThursThreads - Week 25 - Winners

Week 25 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 Cara Michaels for reading all the tales.

Entries:

• Dee | @Dee_768
• Sankara Jayanth | @sankarajayanth
• Aylah | @Aylah50
• Daniel Swensen | @surlymuse
• Nicole Wolverton | @nicolewolverton
• @Phoenixlavan
• Sheilagh Lee | @SweetSheil
• Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman
• Goran Zidar | @GZidar
• Miranda Gammella | @MLGammella
• Miranda Boers | @PurpleQueenNL
• Kimberly Gould | @KimmyDonn
• Anthony Angeline | @unfoldingmyth
• Nellie Batz | @solimond
• Aurora Lee | @AuroraLee
• Jalisa Blackman | @J_M_Blackman
• Rebekah Postupak | @postupak

Winners Announcement:

Honorable Mentions

Aylah | @Aylah50

  Cara says: Sweet and sad. I would have liked to see a more emotionally complex ending, but I loved the rest though, so you earn the HM.

Ryan Strohman | @rastrohman

Cara says: Yikes on the health food poisoning tips. *Note to self: Flaxseed soaked in water = bad. Way to stick it to a faithless spouse, Ryan.

Miranda Boers | @PurpleQueenNL

Cara says: Another faithless spouse entry, but this time from the perspective of the other woman. And what a homewrecker! Great story, Miranda.

Week 25 Winner

Daniel Swensen | @surlymuse

  Cara says: Well-written and the magic underlying the tale is implied well enough for the reader to gain an understanding of what is happening. I loved the way this sense of magic mixed with the weariness of a character living by its rules. Erik trades the enchantment of his long life for a few moments to walk beyond the confines of whatever has kept him going. I would love to see this tale fleshed out with more details on Rebecca and her relationship with Erik.

They reached the edge of the forest before sunset. Rebecca saw the huddled sentinels of the trees give way to the slopes of a meadow, limned with orange dusklight.

Erik grabbed her arm as she made to step forward.

"We're here," he said. She followed the line of his gaze and saw the silvery glint of the magical circle that bounded the forest, half-buried beneath fermenting piles of autumn leaves.

She smiled. "I guess this is where we part ways again."

"I'm coming with you."

Rebecca frowned. "You can't. You'll die."

His smile drew haggard lines along his cheeks. "I'm tired, Becca. More tired than you can imagine. I don't want to go back. I want to come with you. Just a few steps."

A thousand arguments raced through her head, silenced by the plea in his gaze. Rebecca swallowed her grief.

"Okay." She held out her hand, and he took it, his flesh like soft bark.

They stepped across the threshold. The sterile forest air gave way to a breeze, carrying the scent of lilies and fresh-cut grass.

"It's nice," she heard him say in a contented voice -- and then his hand collapsed in hers like plaster. She turned just in time to see his smile, before the centuries caught up with him. In moments, his skin was parchment. Crushed brown fragments blew away on the breeze.

She didn't say goodbye, but lifted the last of him in her palm and blew it toward the setting sun.

Congratulations Daniel, Aylah, Ryan, and Miranda! 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. :)