This week’s Friday Fictioneers’ challenge : can you write 100 words inspired by this photo ?
QUEST
Baroar strode through the icy stream, gashed, his blood staining the water in his wake. He must reach the seaport or the Gunnars’ clan, sworn to kill Boraor, will end his bloodline.
His strength ebbs. Here is the seafront, and the whaling-ship Skarpa. Huge waves crash against the shore. Where is Hallfroer, captain of the Skarpa ?
Hallfreor stares at the tumultuous sea, salt bitten, frowning. No sailing today. Boroar begs with the dregs of his strength. I must reach the Island today, find out who my real father is. Will you take me ? Hallfreor nods, voice drowned out by the dark dread sea.
November 26, 2018 at 7:04 pm
“Begging his strength” really clarified his desperation. You’ve given us a wonderful backdrop for great adventure story.
November 26, 2018 at 7:40 pm
Your comment is much appreciated – I feel tempted to write more adventures for the characters !
November 25, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Oh this must be a beginning… I want to know what happened next. Love the names (one of my names is Gunnar)
November 26, 2018 at 7:44 pm
Thanks so much Bjorn – I feel tempted to write more… well, isn’t that amazing – that one of your names is Gunnar. Do you think part of your heritage is Icelandic ?
November 26, 2018 at 7:50 pm
Gunnar is a Nordic name, and since I live in Sweden I have a few of them… Björn, my first name is Nordic as well and means Bear. Gunnar means warrior..
November 24, 2018 at 10:53 pm
Dear Francine,
Begging his strength….well put. Good build of tension. You left me wanting to know more.
Shalom,
Rochelle
November 25, 2018 at 6:27 pm
I appreciate your feedback – really pleased you wanted to know more.
November 24, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Well told, you really get the sense of his imminent struggle
November 24, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Thank you Michael, I appreciate your feedback.
November 24, 2018 at 12:08 pm
An enticing prologue.
November 24, 2018 at 2:52 pm
Glad you felt drawn in, thank you Sandra.
November 23, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Very atmospheric. I hope the captain doesn’t end up regretting taking him out in the storm…
November 23, 2018 at 6:07 pm
Thank you Ali, so glad you liked the story.
November 23, 2018 at 9:41 am
Wonderful. Would love to read on about their voyage in the storm-tossed seas.
November 23, 2018 at 6:15 pm
Thank you – pleased you’d like to read more of the ‘saga’. Think it’d be fun to expand the story, with more heroic deeds…
November 22, 2018 at 11:01 pm
Most intriguing story, Francine. I want more!
Did you change the tense from the first paragraph to the rest on purpose?
November 23, 2018 at 6:24 pm
So glad you were intrigued- it’d be fun to continue the story I think ! The change of tense was intuitive – back-story then events in the present perhaps ?
November 23, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Makes sense.
November 22, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Pulled me in and made me want more. Nice.
November 23, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Thanks so much Jo. I’m encouraged that you want more.
November 22, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Is this an excerpt from a longer story? Nice piece of writing.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
November 23, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Thank you Susan, appreciate your feedback. No it’s a ‘mini saga’ all on its own. Maybe there’s scope for a longer story ?
November 22, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Great sense of a very challenging bleak place. I hope the two of them know what they are doing.
November 23, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Thank you Jilly – appreciate your feedback.
November 22, 2018 at 5:07 pm
You’ve built a whole world there in 100 words
November 23, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Thanks so much Neil, lovely feedback from you.