The Horse Phenomena Writers Guild

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_{Hello beautiful people, and welcome to the first event for The Horse Phenomena Writers Guild!} 

_{For the month of September, we will be holding a flash fiction competition!} 

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_{The Challenge: Write a story on any topic, under 300 words.}

_{Theme: Open theme.}

_{Word Limit: 300 words maximum.}

_{Prize: $20,000,000 HPD.}

_{Send Your Entries:}

Here, Here or email: skyedavidson@msn.com

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_{Entries Close: 20th September.}

_{Voting Begins: 21st September.}

_{Winner Announced: 28th September.}

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Visit here for more information! 

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_{If you have any questions, please feel free to message me! Good luck everyone!}

_Bump!

Ooooh I love this! Been wanting to dust off the cobwebs when it comes to writing so I'll for sure be participating!

I might try this! 

Ooh this sounds kinda fun! I may participate! 

Thank you for doing this- I can't wait to read eveyrone's entries! ❤️

I will 100% be writing fanfic because it's the only thing that inspires me lmao.

@mango biiiiiig same lmfao

Very excited to see everyone's stories! 

Two incredible entries so far! 

This is awesome! I haven't written anything in such a long time, but I can't wait to read the entries!! 

Love this. Can't wait to read the entries 

Three fantastic entries so far! 

Ooooh, sounds fun! I may try this. 

Please do! x

Bump!

Last minute entries welcomed! 

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_{Thank you to everyone who entered, entries are now closed! Please have a read through and vote for which story you enjoyed the most!} 

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_{The Escape by Tifisati}

_{Riley snorted and stamped his hoof reining in his instincts to flee.  The herd raced past him as riders chased them on fast Thoroughbreds.  He pranced on the spot nervously desperate to follow the herd but knowing it was his duty to ensure they all made it.}

_{A rope sailed through the air just missing him as he shied and he whirled and galloped off after the herd. He raced across the moorlands jumping gorse bushes and heather evading the riders. Splashing through wetlands and muddy puddles he pushed himself on as hard as he could.}

_{His white coat was soon soaked with foam from his sweat and brown from the mud being thrown up.  He caught up to the herd, “hurry!  Keep going! Faster! He encouraged the younger ones as they started to flag.  They raised their heads, determination showing in their eyes as they mustered and pushed on.} 

_{They were so close to the forest where they knew the trails so well that they could lose the riders if they could just reach them.  The trees were so close and the riders behind were hollering to each other trying to cut the herd off.}

_{Riley saw the front of the herd make it, their coats disappearing in the foliage.  He neighed and tossed his head in victory although he was still a way off from being safe himself.}

_{The riders had managed to get alongside and were trying to push them away from the forest but the herd kept on.}

_{Surging on he found himself in the forest, the green branches brushing his sides as he raced on down the trails ducking under branches and the frustrated shouts of the riders left behind.}

_{Coming to a clearance the unicorns came to a stop, breathing heavily but safe.}

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_{Point Me Towards Your Darkest End by Jade}

_{Luna had felt prepared to share the news, but as his fretted gaze hit hers she felt herself falter and the weight of their decisions grew heavier. It was too late for repentance or to waver in their resolve; stage one was over and another would follow like a line of dominos until their end was achieved. Now she had to deal with her brother looking at her like some wounded animal. It was unfair. It was his guidance that had brought them here.}

_{“Little star..”}

_{But as he spoke a term of endearment and drew her against his ribcage, her agitation eased. Her arms lingered at her sides, but Luna allowed her cheek to descend against his shirt and her lids to close. His rhythmic heartbeat filled her ear; it was a soothing song it would seem she was willing to murder to preserve.}

_{“I’m sorry.”}

_{The brief respite shattered. Her tired view traded dark for light as she felt his hand upon her head, but tension and displeasure intensified with each word spoken.}

_{“I’m so sorry, Luna. I’m sorry you had to do that.”}

_{“Don’t,” she muttered lowly. Luna adamantly twisted from his grasp, taking a step back as her vision aligned unflinchingly with his own. “Don’t do that.” Her firmness waned again as she felt a single defiant tear seep from its duct. She promptly sank her chin into her neck to allow her hair to hide her face and elevated a hand to erase it.}

_{“We do not apologize for this; not to them and certainly not to each other. We decided on this.” Luna spoke with an unexpected assurance that even she wasn’t sure where it originated from, but she was glad it was there. “I’m fine.”}

_{Will be, she amended within.}

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_{The Gardener by Mango}

_{The hill is doused in color. Vibrant green grass rolls under the wind as it sweeps up a gentle slope towards a brilliantly gleaming stone. Piercingly white, the grave juts up into a flawless cerulean sky. Beneath the cool marble is a sea of flowers. Splotches of roses, swathes of daisies, splatters of sunflowers – an artful canvas of delicate life to honor the one that was lost.}

_{He never understood flowers.}

_{They’re all she has left of him now.}

_{Hair tossed in the breeze, she kneels in the grass, tending to the flower beds. She pulls every weed and clips every dead bloom with the utmost care. She checks leaves with tender hands, taking the time to breathe in the scent of jasmine and lavender.}

_{They’re growing strong here. It brings a notion of peace to her weary heart.}

_{Every flower that flourishes is a new reason for her to stay. It’s a purpose for her life.}

_{So she continues to tend to her garden, the garden at the grave. She sings as she waters the hydrangeas, and she tells stories to the snapdragons.}

_{He never thought he’d have someone to lay flowers at his grave.}

_{They grow so thick that it’s impossible to step close enough to touch the stone – not without crushing the delicate violets and bluebells.}

_{The day the lilies bloom and cover his name is the day she runs out of stories to tell.}

_{Her hands fall heavily to her lap as silence washes over the hill.}

_{Ever so softly, there’s a whisper of sound. The gentle flutter of leaves against stone. The merest creak of blossom-heavy stems swaying in the breeze.}

_{A petal brushes her cheek.}

_{Eyes closed, she lifts her face to the sun, warmth washing over her skin.}

_{She smiles.}

_{Notes: It’s actually a song, “You” by Keaton Henson > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGo4KJYzuBo&ab_channel=KeatonHenson}

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_{Birthright by Skelletor}

_{The woman approached the maw looming before her. She was born for this, raised and trained and shaped for this. There was no other purpose for her in this world. It was decided for her, long before her birth. The twisted fingers of fate had reached upward into the blackened sky, grasping at stars and selecting hers, the brightest glow.}

_{Her heart at peace and her mind certain, she stepped towards the abyss. Wind lashed at her face, whipping her hair behind her. It screamed through the cavern below, or was that the sound of all the souls who had gone before her? She didn’t know, she didn’t think. She was vessel for the prosperity of her village; she was not born to think. As her thin robe slapped at her bare ankles, the rough stone beneath her feet felt solid, unyielding. She inhaled deeply, long and slow, and jumped.}

_{She fell, sudden and heavy and sure. Down she went, into the darkness to be consumed by the maw knowing wholly that the fingers of fate would catch her, and place her star back into the sky to grow and shine once more. Ready, waiting.}

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Voting form is here. 

(I hope this form works properly, I'm learning as I go :D)

To view the entries on the site, go here.

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Voted! These were all lovely reads. It was difficult to pick just one. D:

Oh my gosh, the TALENT! I want more of all of them, super tough to pick one for voting! This is such a cool idea!

WOW! The absolute creativity and talent on this site never fails to impress me! Way to go everyone, this was super hard to decide!