ThinkWrite Challenge LXVIII

Question

Thank you for the honor doug!  I'm excited to hold the torch again!  :D

You may work with the words:

Mountain

Dark

Silver

Alone

Surmise

Flight

Freedom

Barrier

Chill

Touch

 

If possible, please keep to the word count of 168.  :)  Any sort of writing is accepted!  Have fun, I look forward to reading your writing!!

Comments

And a time scale, two weeks?

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Blah, forgot it!  :P  Thank you Saxon....

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April the 15th!!  That is two weeks from today!  :D

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Because of the "dismal" atmosphere floating around on this site right now, I'm going to extend this challenge to the 22nd of April - Easter weekend.  I've been wanting to write something myself, but somehow TW just makes me sad right now...
Keep writing, I've enjoyed your submissions so far!

Answer 1

I haven't written in a while, but here is my attempt! 168 all the words are there, enjoy.

 

A thousand stars shone laughing in the night sky bathing the world below in a soft light, turning the dark wood of the ship to silver her high prow glistening under the touch of the light, her sails billowing in the chill breeze that caressed her sleek sides pushing the grass back away from her hull. Here in the field she sat alone, her destination the moon.

The slender hand of the elven queen took the wheel guiding her up over the forest, above the mountains, around all barriers, steadily rising in her flight until the river below was just a silver thread in the midst of a silver haze, and then even that disappeared only to be surmised that it was still there beneath the clouds. As long slender wish-dragons reveling in their freedom flew out of the clouds and pushed the ship playfully upward the elven queen looked down. She lifted on hand in farewell, and then turned her eyes towards the ever approaching moon.

Comments

Nyle... you got it... :)  I think this is what I had in mind when I put together the word list...

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Thank you, I will put a list together as soon as I possibly can!

Answer 2

Cader Idris

    The mountain sits in the southern reaches of Snowdonia, a high barrier between Dolgellau and Talyllyn. Its upper slopes are barren crags and dangerous scree slopes, softening to greener vegetation at its foot, but it is always rugged and harsh. No road crosses it and the paths are few. At night it can be a sinister black mass, lost in darkness. Even in summer storms can suddenly cover it in an impenetrable cloak of swirling cloud. Yet from a distance on a summer’s day, standing alone, it has a beauty of grandeur.

    The long steep climb to the summit is spectacular. Once there, on top of the world, one has a feeling of total freedom, with the chill touch of rushing wind on this exposed promontory. The sunlight sparkles on the silver rock crystals down the southern slopes, but it has dark brooding shadows on the cold north face. Your thoughts take flight and you can surmise what you will in this stark and magical landscape.

Comments

Beautiful, Saxon!!  I loved this, it caught me up and took me through those crags and slopes until I was standing up on that huge mountain!
Kudos to you!

Answer 3

I set out on my journey to the dark mountains. The freedom was amazing. As I walked up the cold, silver mountains my bones chilled. I was all alone, and on my way to my aunt's house. While I was walking and daydreaming of a warm torch full of fire, I rammed into a rock. The touch of the frozen rock chilled me. Then I remembered when I tried to have a flight here and then the plane broke down. As I traveled further, I could see the barrier of my aunt's house.

Comments

ross19, it was good!  The ending was a bit rough, but all in all, it was a great story.. :)

Answer 4

Justin looked out his window at the mountains. Those mountains were the backdrop to his life – he couldn’t imagine a world without them. During the day, the green of the evergreen trees covering them contrasted the blue sky. At night, they became a dark silhouette, surrounded by the silver of stars.

It was a clear night, and he was alone with his thoughts. He could never surmise why he found himself sitting awake when everyone he knew was sleeping, but frequently he sat and looked out his window long after most people had turned in.

He wanted to stand on those mountains. He’d looked at them so often, but never set foot on one. He thought about what it would be like to stand atop one and take flight – oh, the freedom – to break the barrier of human limitations and soar through clouds and clear air!

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice the hand on his shoulder, until a chill raced down his spine at the touch.

Comments

Wow this is honestly one of the most touching things I've read it is amazing and there is really no way to describe it.

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ooooohhh!!!  I love the cliff at the end, the whole thing was mysterious.  Well done midnight, as usual!

Answer 5

168 words - all words present and correct. No title though...sorry

It is cold in the shadow of the Silver Mountain. Winter’s chill touch has driven all but the hardiest souls indoors, those who have to be outside, those who have no option but to keep moving. Her continued freedom depends on keeping her wits about her. She approaches the deserted looking barrier, a relic from a bygone era. The concrete cabin is dark; what dangers lurk in the hidden recess? She has to quell her fight-or-flight reflex, approaching cautiously. It’s at times like these she feels keenly alone, hyper aware of her surroundings. She shifts the pack on her back to a more comfortable position, shrugging her shoulders, rolling her neck. Her hand slides deeper into her pocket, fingering the gun. John would know what to do here, she surmises, and the memories almost overwhelm her. She fights the rising tide of tears, fights to get her breathing under control. A noise behind startles her. She ducks under the barrier, into the badlands, a step closer to home.

Comments

I like the aura of mystery around the whole thing, morshy!  You did an awesome job of putting it together.  The only part that was a little iffy was when you switched from talking about the mountain to the character... I didn't know quite what happened...
Good job!!

Answer 6

Touch the chill sky.   Embrace the dark silver moon.  Give flight to the fancy that  you are not alone in the universe.     Surmise that you are...and feel the cold pang of that.  Abandon barriers that  leave you bereft of your freedom.    Touch the sky, embrace the moon,  be all that you are, atop the mountain.

Comments

Very nice, oomiak!  Short but full of meaning... Love it!

Answer 7

Mount Shore, good name for a "mountain" if thats what you want to call a big hill projecting its dark shadow across the west shore of Cedar Island. If you were to back head east the sand is released from the shadows tight grip and turns back into the silver and gold sand we know.

Suddenly I chill ran down my spine as I was swallowed by darkness. I felt something touch me. Something was grabbing my wrist and trying to help toward shore again, that's when I knew I wasn't alone. I guess I got in a riptide while staring at Mount Shore, I didn't say anything to the person or thing that was pulling me, I didn't get the chance before being consumed by yet another wave. Whoever was helping me must have let go because I was pulled harder by the wave's grip out to sea.

I surmised out loud "We are close to shore," but I knew this wasn't true. Another wave knocked me under water, the current was a barrier fighting against my attempts at freedom. Then I felt the hand on my wrist again, I felt myself gliding and slicing through waves. I landed hard on shore. I opened my eyes, where was the person who had just saved my life? Who was that? Where did they go? Would they come back?

I looked around, then stood up. As I glanced at Mount Shore, I did a double take, a figure was standing on top of it. In all white he was looking at me, just staring as if he were confused. I ran closer suddenly the shadow went away, as it tore away off the beach I saw the figure clearly. I felt my lips curve up as I saw God take flight.

Comments

Hmmm.... a very interesting story, flower...  I'm not quite sure it made complete sense to me... but I definitely got the ending..
Good job!

Answer 8

168 words, no title, just for fun...

 

The chorus sings, “Go tell it on a mountain…”.

Can’t you find some needful soul to sing to? I’m at rest, finally, a silver shadow of loneliness creeping in my dark abode. Oh, the light! Shut those lights out you fools. I hear whispers of willowy voices and a few muted cries. Save it for Oprah! She touched my hand!! She recourses like I sent a shockwave of chills throughout her body, but I surmise it would have been strange.

Is it freedom I feel or is it the nothingness that accompanies my position? Flight of fancy or reality careening through my cranium or what’s left of it? I can smell the aroma of fresh flowers as if they were a spray can of car air freshener that has imploded releasing noxious gases. I don’t think I can really smell; it might just be a leftover sense, my last urgent attempt to flee my fate.

It’s getting dark.

I am alone at last.

My final rest has begun. 

Comments

Very nice doug... I have no comments except that it was great as usual!

Answer 9

Here's my own response to TW this time around... a story that wrote itself... it's 168 words and all words are present.  Take what you want from it. 

NOTE: Just a reminder that the new TW torchbearer will be chosen tomorrow.  Please let me know if you do not have the time for the torch before then if possible...

 

Deep in the forest, further than most will ever dare to go, live the trees.  They have been charged with the safekeeping of a silver mountain and they guard their treasure carefully.  Within, alone in this dark place, lives a young girl.

She loves the trees and cares for them, using their needs to push away the emptiness in her heart.

 The trees know what sacrifices she makes and it saddens them.  Although they have complete freedom, they choose instead to create an impassable barrier and protect the girl and her immense vault of secrets from everyone.

And yet, despite their efforts, the girl slowly becomes paler and the trees begin to know that the chill of death is upon her.

Day by day, the color leaves her cheeks and tears begin to glisten in her eyes whenever she touches one of the trees.  She knows the day is coming and she can only surmise the awesome glory that will take place when her soul finally takes flight.

Answer 10

Alone, amongst the mountains of socks, dust

Chill pre-dawn, a mere promise of morning.

I wake in the dark, your touch a dark long-time memory.

Despite me, comes the flowers in unturned soil.

This thin silver morning light, bush tits are working, unconcerned with

The meaning of flight,

They surmise, freedom is

And regardless sing.  Sing the sun and despite this lack of faith

Beyond the barrier of bed, a cocoon forgotten lingering warmth.

Despite and still, no expectations.  I rise.

Comments

Very interesting, holly!  I like the way you described everything in short phrases and simple words... very good!