For today I would like us all to write a short story. You can use as many of the following prompts, you will be awarded $5,000,000 for writing 200 words. And you will be rewarded 1,000 points for each Bonus word you use (up to 10,000pts). MAKE sure you tell me how many words, which Bonus words you used and the ID for the points in your post – if you don’t, no points for you! 

You have until Midnight to post your masterpieces. 

Prompts: 

1. It was the night before Christmas.... 

2. The wind and snow howled outside.... 

3. In todays News.... 

4. Her laugh broke the silence. 

5. I am the last of my kind. 

KEYWORDS: 

Christmas tree, bell(s), bow, candy, chimney, comet, decorations, eggnog, elves, gift(s), gingerbread, mistletoe, sled, snowflakes, tinsel, turkey, wreath, winter, traffic, grinch, reindeer, Rudolph, family, horse, pony, dog, cat. 

Come and Play!

 I am the last of my kind. I have been wandering for years trying to find anyone that might be my family. Anyone that is like me.  On my travels I have passed a team of howling dogs pulling a sled, a horse and pony in a stable with a cat cuddled in their hay. 

The wind is howling with snowflakes coming down fast.  I brace myself and continue my weary legs on.  This little village is bright with decorations all red and green.  There are funny little people with hats with bells on that jingle and large funny shaped shoes.  They hum tunes while wrapping the most beautifully designed little gifts.  A large tree is in the middle of this strange village decorated with lots of exploding colours.

“Ho Ho Ho!  Do you like our Christmas tree?  Nothing too fancy; just some tinsel and homemade decorations along with our amazing secret gingerbread recipe.”  I jumped back startled as this man sprang from nowhere smiling and jolly.

“Umm.”  I stuttered. 

“You look tired.  Come in and warm yourself!”  I followed him to a big barn as the funny dressed people all gaped at us.  “Never mind them.  The elves thought the reindeer were all extinct.”  We entered a nice big warm barn and I felt my hooves trembling at the thought of a nice bed.  I stopped in my tracks.

“Santa?  Where did you find him?”  A row of reindeer stood.

“He was wandering alone and came to us.  I will leave you to get acquainted – lots of work to do!”  The big man left with a grin that went from one side of his face to the other.

“What’s your name?”  One reindeer bravely came forward.  Not so brave as there were eight of them and only little old me.

“Rudolph.”  I waited for the name calling to begin.

“Rudolph.  Come in and grab a bite to eat although if you want to join our team you will get so many carrots in one night you won’t want to eat them the rest of the year.” 

I went in and helped myself to the tastiest of hay while they told me all about Christmas.  That was how I not only joined the team but ended up leading it with my now very famous shiny red nose.

FAMILY, HORSE, PONY, CAT, SLED

SNOWFLAKES, DECORATIONS, BELLS, CHRISTMAS TREE, TINSEL

387 words

Points on: This mare

Bump Bump

In today's news, Christmas chaos is at it again! There are lines upon lines of elves at the stores, trying to buy all the gifts for the nicest people on Santa's list. On every corner, you can find more of Santa's little helpers putting decorations on Christmas trees, especially tinsel! According to Rufus over here, you can never have too much tinsel on the tree! However, Inka the elf thinks the most important thing to put on a tree is a star, or at least an angel.

In the town square, the annual reindeer games are underway! Santa's other little helpers are competing in friendly competitions such as racing, snowflake-chomping, and gingerbread cookie eating contests! For the children, there is a pet costume show, so dress up your cat and/or dog for a chance at fun prizes!

Also, don't forget to check out the Christmas parade down on Main Street tomorrow! It begins at 6pm sharp. We've heard Rudolph will be in attendance and he'll be signing autographs! Find him next to Santa's sleigh, which will be available for families to pose in for pictures.

I'm Tana Banana reporting from HP central! On behalf of HPNews, we wish you a merry, fun, and safe Christmas!

Word count: 205

Special words used: elves, gifts, decorations, Christmas tree, tinsel, reindeer, gingerbread, snowflake, cat, dog (10)

Points on horse #313467, please and thank you!

On the night of Christmas the candles where lit, the stockings where hung, and the underneath the mantle upon the fireplace was some tinsel hung with care.  Parents had eggnog and filled with glee acting like little elves to make sure their kids where asleep. On top of the chimney was a speck of coal that floated down.. as the magic of Christmas appeared in the house, while the sleeping children slept and left as fast as he came. The next morning, the children run to the Christmas tree to find what Santa clause left for them there.  For lunch their was leftover turkey, and cranberry sauce, and my uncle Rudolph was acting like a grinch, because he was left a switch.  Looking out the window with a coffee mug in my hand and looking what winter had planned, snow falling and accumulating and leaving some with joy and some with not because traffic will be backed up.  Sighing went to lay down on the couch hearing the church bells ring bringing in the Christmas spirit, I smile and fall asleep.  The gifts have been unwrapped and people have gone our family was continent with a little puppy dog.   I wanted a pony as a child, but got a horse as an adult my Christmas was complete.

 words used: christmas tree, gifts, elves, eggnog, rudolph, winter, traffic, bells, horse, dog, tinsel, turkey, grinch, chimney

points on https://horsephenomena.com/horses.php?id=312676

It was the night before Christmas, the Christmas tree was shining brightly with all of it's decorations, where were lights, tinsel, stars and multicolours bells. The gifts were also shining under the tree, all wrapped perfectly with little bows on top, ready for the children and adults to tear them open in the morning.

The turkey was in the oven, cooking on a low heat, ready to be cut into, for that succulent Christmas dinner. It wouldn't be cut to the last minute, just in case the cat and dog got to the turkey, as both of them were masterminds and stole it off the counter last year. It was a miracle none of them got sick.

The sled was placed up against the front door, while the winter snowflakes fell down outside. The wreath was hung up on the outside of the door, shining many bright colours with pine cones on. I wondered if the joker of the family, would insist on putting the mistletoe up to get cheeky kisses of the woman again, he always made everyone laugh.

Not forgetting the fireplace, where the stockings were pinned up, filled with candy, little toys and the miniature pony, to match my daughter's horse outside. The gingerbread house had survived so far this year, then again it was out of the way of the children and the animals.

The whole family would be around the next day, enjoying the dinner that we spent hours slaving over it on Christmas eve and Christmas morning, It was always worth it, to see their happy faces, and the laughter in their eyes and their full bellies. Then Uncle Jack and Auntie Lisa would always be late, and blame the traffic. They always arrived in time just before the drinks, usually as I was pouring out the eggnog.

It would soon be time for Santa to come down the chimney, with Ruldolph leading the way, as long as the other reindeer; Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. The elves had worked hard this year, and they would finally get to wave Santa off, to make all the children around the world smile on Christmas day.

Then there was my husband, who seemed to be acting like the grinch this year. I smiled to myself as sipped the wine, enjoying the last moment of peace before the havoc tomorrow. The smile on the children's faces would be worth it.

WORD COUNT: 407

KEYWORDS: Christmas tree, bell(s), bow, candy, chimney, comet, decorations, eggnog, elves, gift(s), gingerbread, mistletoe, sled, snowflakes, tinsel, turkey, wreath, winter, traffic, grinch, reindeer, Rudolph, family, horse, pony, dog, cat. 

Points on Horse  #314706 please

The wind and snow howled outside the house, trying to find a way inside.

It was Christmas Eve, and preparations were underway for the big day. In one corner by the fireplace stood a grand Fraser fir Christmas tree bedecked with tiny silver bells, scarlet bows, delicate coloured-glass ornaments , red-and-white candy canes, and shimmering tinsel. Below the tree was a bright array of gifts of varying shapes and sizes with bows and tags with names on them. The rest of the house bore decorations too, including handmade snowflakes stuck to the windows, a wreath hung on the outside of the front door; and a garland of pine cones and holly berries snaked its way up the staircase. 

The tantalising aroma of freshly baked gingerbread cookies permeated the house and a large glass bowl of eggnog was available for anyone who wished to partake. In front of the blazing fire a cat and dog had called a Christmas truce, and were curled up together asleep on the rug. 

Along the mantel, cards were displayed. One portrayed Santa Claus about to make his way down a chimney, laden with a red sack of presents, as Rudolph, Comet and the other reindeer waited patiently. Another showed a Victorian scene of a family in a sled, drawn by a chestnut-coloured horse. Yet another bore a winter scene of a rosy-cheeked child on a little skewbald pony with bows in its mane.

On the opposite side of the fireplace, a grandfather sat with a little boy in his lap, reading a story about Santa and his elves. The old man changed his voice to represent the various characters and the child laughed with delight. On the floor by the armchair lay a dog eared book about the creature called the Grinch and how he stole Christmas. 

Down the hallway in the kitchen, the boy's fathers were busily peeling vegetables, making stuffing for the turkey and making cranberry sauce whilst singing Christmas songs along with the music on the radio, and laughing. During a news and traffic update, one of the men produced a sprig of mistletoe and stood with eyes closed and lips puckered awaiting a smooch. 

A few hours later, plate of cookies and a glass of milk had been placed to one side on the hearth just in case Santa fancied a snack, and everyone was cosily tucked up in bed, dreaming of the excitement the next day would bring.


413 words. All key words used. 

Dog 203, please!

    day 16 short story 

It was the night before Christmas, The wind howled outside, and the snow was piled aganst the window.

My daughter Windy was watching something out the window, it was her dog and cat chasing each other in the snow. Her pony was in the barn, muching on carrots. I had been reading todays news when I heard her laugh, it had been so quite up until then. We had decorated the christmas tree earlier in the day, we put bells, bows, snowflakes, tinsel, lights and some garland on it. There was a wreath on our front door, the turkey was in the oven.

Her dad was away in the city trying to find a sled Windy had wanted for a few years now. Even with all the winter traffic we were hoping he would make it back before dark. The rest of our family was on their way. I went to the window after Windy went back to reading a story about Rudolph and the reindeer. She had asked me about the grinch just the day before, she thought he was acting that way because he was sad.

As I looked out I didnt see anything at first but then I saw a comet streak across the sky. The sky lit up like a bolt of lightning, and then I saw a large wolf it looked like it could be a shape shifter (a human that can change into a wolf) I wondered then if I was really the last of my kind.

approx 252 words

KEYWORDS: christmas tree, bells, bows, comet, sled, snowflakes, tinsel, turkey, wreath, winter, traffic, grinch, reindeer, rudolph, family, pony, dog, cat 

total 18 used 

pts on horse 313544 

 Sorry Im not very good at this kind of thing but I can rebuild a car engine :)

The wind and snow howled outside, leaving all living things cowering down inside their homes. Deep within a forest was a small grove a trees, where a reindeer mare lay with her young foal trembling at her side. They lay in silence, listening to the wind through the trees, knowing there was nothing they could do until it ended. What felt like days later, but was mere hours, the baby reindeer opened his eyes, shaking his head to scatter the snowflakes that covered him. The family of two stood, calm eyes surveying their new domain.

The human family inside their cabin woke and readied themselves to do the farm chores as on any other morning. The cows and pony still needed to be fed, no matter what the weather was outside. The children made their way slowly to the barn, sadly observing their Christmas decorations now fallen and torn from the wind and ice. The cat meowed, ready for her milk, and the dog bounded past them, glad to stretch his legs.

Once their chores were done they turned to go inside, seeing the thin curl of smoke rising from the cabin’s chimney, and hurried inside to get warm. Warm eggnog was pushed into their hands and they sat beside their Christmas tree. The weather had tried to grinch them all, but as long as they had family, everything would be okay.

242 words, 12 keywords used. Points to horse #311648

yea ill be using the word search as this replacement XD

What Maharet said. xD Apply my word search freebie day to this day! Lol.

I kind of flopped at the end, but this is as good as this non-writer is gonna get! xD

The wind and snow howled outside as the smoke from the (chimney) rose into the wintery skies. A (wreath) stirs as it hung on the outside of the front door.
Stockings were hung on the living room mantle and (gingerbread) was busy being made in the kitchen.
A little girl laughs as the (dog) tries to lick frosting that splatted onto the floor while her older brother was helping their father out in the barn.
Unknown to the little girl, that this Christmas was going to be the best one yet! Her wish of a (pony) would finally come true!

With the (Christmas tree) all decorated in (tinsel) and lights, the (gifts) for (family) and friends were all wrapped and under the tree.
All that was left was to watch (Rudolph) and head to bed.
The little girl was fast asleep with her (cat) curled up beside her dreaming of sugar plums and fairies and a (reindeer) named (Comet).
Her parents went downstairs to put the last bit of (decorations) together for the following day's family gathering.
With some (eggnog) and a kiss under the (mistletoe) they retire for the night already tired from all of the festivities.

Morning came and much to the kid's surprise it looked like little (elves) had a party in their living room in the middle of the night!
(Candy) was stuffed in their stockings and the (Grinch) was playing on tv. (Turkey) was on the menu for when the relatives arrive later that day.
In the meantime as they waited for them to get out of (traffic) the parents decided it was time to reveal the big surprise.
Her brother went first and got a new (sled), a bright shiny and sleek red one!
While outside the little girl stood with her mother, eyes closed and giggly. Moments later her eyes opened to her father leading a dapple grey (horse).
A big (bow) draped around its neck and little (bells) jingling with each hoof step.

The little girl couldn't believe her eyes! Santa delivered the best present of all!
"What are you going to name her?" her father asked. The girl staring up at her horse in amazement didn't stay silent for very long.
"(Snowflakes)!" She exclaimed! Her mother laughs but smiles seeing as it all fits with the (Winter) season and dappled pattern on the horse's coat.
Best Christmas ever!

Words: 397
Keywords: All of them!

Points on Horse: (#316379)

It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring… oh wait, there’s a mouse!

Out from a slumber, the cat’s senses were piqued and up the Christmas tree, the mouse and cat leaped!  Tinsel and tree bells, candy canes and bows; all of the decorations went flying, OH NO!

The cat and mouse commotion then woke the dog, startling him so much he knocked over Santa’s plate of gingerbread and eggnog! Before the three knew, the tree had been tipped. It seems the trio had quickly earned a place on Santa’s naughty list!

Out through the window, the animals could soon see that Santa was coming- with coal for all three!

They tidied in a hurry and the mouse would soon scurry, as Santa landed his sled that Rudolph carefully lead.  On down the chimney, Santa did float.  He would not be a Grinch, the three cleaned up in a pinch!

The coal was quickly exchanged for gifts galore...Christmas was saved, no need to worry anymore!  The snowflakes were falling as a white Christmas was calling. Relief fell over the house and soon, snuggled by the fireplace was a sleeping dog, cat, and mouse.

---

KEY WORDS (14): cat, Christmas tree, tinsel, bells, candy, bows, decorations, gingerbread, eggnog, sled, Rudolph, chimney, Grinch, snowlakes

201 words

Points on #313137 please!

"In today's News," the 6 o'clock news anchor, Candy Rudolph announced from the tv screen while my family and I sat around in the family room, decorating gingerbread men and wreath cookies while drinking eggnog. It was Christmas eve, and the cookies would be a nice dessert to our turkey dinner we would be having tomorrow. Our Christmas tree was up, with all the bells, bows, tinsel, and mistletoe-festooned ornaments covering its surface, gifts underneath it's branches. Decorations had been hung throughout the house...stockings on the chimney included. Mine was the one with comet and some elves on it.

As Candy droned on about some grinch stealing packages off front steps dressed up as Santa, and fleeing on a sled pulled by a dog dressed as a reindeer, I looked out the window, out to the field behind our house. Living in a warmer climate, we often didn't get a winter filled with snow, but by the looks of the snowflakes falling on my horse Abby, and my pony Sam, I figured we might actually have a white Christmas this year. 

I briefly tune back in to what Candy was saying in her next story, about how traffic was expected to be brutal tonight with this unexpected snow, stroking my fluffy cat Ella's head. It wouldn't be Christmas without traffic!

Points on 315913 please!

Anchorman: “In today’s news a huge Christmas tree scandal has been the top story we are following. According to our sources, which I don’t know if they are credible anymore as we have recently received word that they are in fact elves who have had to much eggnog to drink this evening, however it’s the only source we have besides the grinch and the two legged reindeer, Rudolph the III, so we will have to go with it. Candy Bow, the head elf has been quoted as saying that last evening between peak winter traffic and the national gingerbread competition on South Main Street, a pony, a cat, and a dog were spotted hitchhiking with what appeared to be the Town Square holiday Christmas display. Nobody has found a motive for the thievery, but the police suspect that it could have been due to a recent outbreak of E-COL-mistletoe in a large amount of local turkeys that are causing family members to do strange things once they have ingested the infected meat. Comet, the local town horse (not to be confused with Rudolph the III) witnessed the whole account.”

Comet: “It was like a scene straight out of a chimney after santa pops back out. It was dirty, it was sneaky, it just wasn’t right. They took with them the gifts! Why the gifts!! They were just decoration! And don’t have me started on what they did with the tinsel and the wreath. They strung them all together in some sort of sombrero apparatus and wore it around. They were so proud. WHY WERE THEY SO PROUD!?”

Anchorman: “Whoa, whoa, someone get that guy a hard glass of snowflakes or something, calm him down!”

*clears throat*

Anchorman: “From what we can tell the town is in a horrific rage as the only thing left was a sled, which they painted black and promptly yelled ‘BELLS TO THE WALL” and promptly ran away. The police have no further information currently but urge anyone to call in with tips on catching the perpetrators.”

341 words

27 keywords used

pts: 311935

I cannot write for the life of me. So this is what you get.. lol

It was the night before Christmas and mother was finally wrapping gifts. She has been so busy with the family to really get around to it. Earlier that week they went to the tree farm. It was a beautiful winter day, they caught snowflakes with their tongues, ate gingerbread and drank eggnog. Then ventured out on a sled driven by a horse. It was the childrens first time doing this, you should have seen the joy on their faces! Finally they could pick out their own Christmas Tree!

Yesterday they got out the decorations and made the house full of Christmas! Rudolph, Comet and the other reindeer were on the roof, the wreath was on the door. Even the mistletoe was hanging on the dining room door! There was notes written to the elves in the tree, for Santa to take back to the North Pole. Tinsel was hung on the tree.

Everything was all set for Christmas day. The stockings were hung by the chimney, the presents were starting to pile below the tree. The cat - who is not very helpful - is enjoying the warmth from the fire when not helping her with wrapping.

She couldn't wait to see the looks on her boys faces when they see that Santa has arrived!

213 words.
18 words used.
Points on 113860 please!!

It was the night before Christmas, and inside a cozy house with glowing, frosty windows, a happy family sat together by the fireplace, in their special Christmas eve pajamas. They were all curled up together with warm spiced eggnog. While they sat together, they were admiring the beautiful decorations on their Christmas tree. Outside, smoke gently billowed out the chimney and snowflakes fell softly to the ground. The tree had been trimmed with bells, tinsel and a giant red bow at the top. The children were eyeing the gingerbread cookies left out for Santa. When the clock struck 10 o’clock, the parents ushered the children to bed, telling them that if they stayed up too late, Santa would not come and they would not get their gifts. So quick as a reindeer, the kids said goodnight and sprinted to their beds, and promised to fall asleep at once. The parents stayed in the living room and waited until they were sure the children had fallen asleep, then went ahead and ate Santa’s cookies and went to get the presents for the children from the front hall closet, where they had stashed them earlier that day. After setting the scene, the parents sleepily went to bed knowing they’d only get a few hours before the kids woke to open their presents!

bonus words (10): 

Christmas tree, bell(s), bow,, chimney,, decorations, eggnog,, gift(s), gingerbread,,, snowflakes, tinsel, 

total words: 220

points for dog 112978