Short Story Contest! 

Chatterbox: Inkwell

Short Story Contest! 

Short Story Contest! 

This is where we can write a short story and enter it in a contest! The theme will be an animal at Christmas time. Whoever wins will be the next judge. The first person to comment is the judge. Story must be submitted by the seventeenth or it is disqualified. Judging is also the seventeenth. Whoever wants to can join. Have fun!  

submitted by Leeli
(December 10, 2016 - 4:15 pm)

back to the Inkwell
submitted by Claaws, Joining!
(December 11, 2016 - 12:26 am)

Ahoy! So I guess I'm the judge now.

submitted by Ahoy!, age 12, Colorado
(December 11, 2016 - 12:28 am)

Claaws, you are the judge! Thanks for joining!

submitted by Leeli
(December 11, 2016 - 8:22 am)

Hey, Ahoy, you're from Colorado 2? Nice! That means we were both up at 12....

submitted by Claaws
(December 11, 2016 - 11:33 am)

I'm going to enter a story. I'll put it on here as soon as I finish it!

submitted by Dragonrider
(December 11, 2016 - 7:29 pm)

I'm entering!

~

It was warm in the box. There was a fleecy blanket scrap tucked around the kitten, and the holes in the box let in warmth from the nearby fire. The kitten snuggled happily into the blanket, purring slightly.

The big man had put it into the box in the evening, tucking the blanket around it. The kitten had previously only been allowed in the big man's den, which had been fine, but lonely. The kitten had spent most of its time alone, sleeping on a fleecy pillow offered to it by the big man's mate.

But when it had been put in the box, it had felt the man pick it up and carry it away. He had deposited the box somewhere that the kitten didn't recognize, but smelled like wonderful trees and cinnamon. The man had made some comforting noises and then gone away.

Now the kitten slept in the box, tail tucked over nose, and it knew deep down that in the morning, things would be much different.

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Footsteps pounded through the house and the excited yelps of the big man's kitten could be heard. The footsteps came nearer, rousing the kitten. It pricked its ears forward, rustling around in the blanket. 

Soon the man-kitten's steps were joined by two heavier sets; the man and his mate, the kitten decided. It stuffed its face against the holes in the box, but couldn't see clearly, so it settled back into the blanket to wait.

The people exchanged some noises, and the kitten was aware of them sitting down around it in the tree-scented area. Excitement fizzed through its little body. This was the time!

Suddenly, light flooded the box. Two big, soft, brown eyes were peeking under the lid. Their owner gave a gasp of delight, lifting the kitten from box with furless, pudgy paws. The kitten mewled, tabby fur ruffled, as the child held it. She cuddled the kitten against her chest, eyes filled with happiness and wonder. She tickled the kitten under its chin, making some joyful noises to her parents. 

The kitten purred, quietly at first, but swelling to a rumble. It basked in the warmth and joy of the moment, resting in the girl's arms. Yes, this was different. But it was much, much better. 

 --()[]()--
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I may edit it later, so don't count this as a final entry. It was fun to write, though! 

submitted by Scylla
(December 11, 2016 - 10:58 pm)

Wow, Scylla! This is great! I love it! Ok. 

submitted by Leeli
(December 12, 2016 - 8:00 am)

Thanks! The cat and gift keyboard emotes were kind of messed up. They looked different in my draft, so I guess I can repost them as images, if you want.

submitted by Scylla
(December 13, 2016 - 11:14 pm)

ah, I wondered what those were. XD they're cool now that I see them! I'm sure they were great in your draft. Ya, feel free to repost them as an image!

submitted by Leeli
(December 14, 2016 - 8:07 am)
submitted by Toppi Wingfeather
(December 13, 2016 - 10:48 am)
submitted by TOP
(December 13, 2016 - 1:34 pm)
submitted by Top! Join!
(December 16, 2016 - 8:59 am)

I dash up the steps to the back door, paws skidding on the patches of ice that sparkle in the December sun. Annie catches up, her cheeks rosy, and giggles at the sight of me struggling to regain my balance on the slippery surface of the deck. She pulls open the heavy sliding glass door that keeps out the cold in the winter, but in the summer lets in the warm rectsngles of yellowy light that I love to lie in. I hop inside, Annie following close behind, and a gust of frigid wind blows a cloud of snow through the open door. Annie's mom takes her daughter's soaked hat, mittens, and jacket, and hangs them up to dry. Then she lays out a warm red blanket in front of the roaring flames in the fireplace for us to sit on. Annie warms her numb fingers and toes, while I enjoy the warmth of my fur. 

Annie's mom also brings a large mug of steaming hot chocolate, piled high with fluffy white marshmallows to Annie, who happily accepts it. I sit up a little straighter. The hot chocolate smells delicious! I want some! I make my ears flop forward, and give Annie my cutest sad puppy dog eyes. Then I nudge her mug with my nose to make sure she knows what I want.

"Ouch!" The scalding cup burns my little wet nose, and I stop begging for the hot drink. 

Annie laughs. "Sorry Lucky. Hot chocolate isn't for dogs. Would you like a bone instead?" she asks.

I wag my tail so hard that every time it hits the floor, it makes a loud "Thump." 

"Ok, I take that as a yes," she says.

She brings me a brand-new unchewed bone, fresh out of the bag, and I  can't resist the wonderful meaty smell. I happily take it from her hands, and hold it akwardly in my mouth. It's a huge bone, but that doesn't discourage me. Curling up in front of the fire again, I begin to chomp on the hard rawhide. Annie lies down with her head against my warm, black fur, and her eyes start to close. Soon she is sleeping contentedly. This is definitely my favorite thing about Christmas time.

 

 

submitted by Dragonrider
(December 16, 2016 - 10:47 pm)

Home for Christmas

Splinter was running, running toward his family. There they were, he could see them all now: little Mike and Jenny, and their pup, Jamie. Splinter let his tongue loll out as he ran toward his people. Here he was, he was about to find his people after all this searching! Splinter couldn't wait. He could smell them from here! 
Splinter awoke to the sound of his empty food dish clanking against the metal side of his cage. He shifted his head to lie on his paws. This was the fifth time he had had the dream since that awful day when he lost his family. He remembered it so vividly: the squirrel, the truck, Jenny screaming his name. He hadn't paid any attention. He just kept running, until he lost the squirrel's trail and eventually, he gave up. But then... He was lost. Alone in the city at night. Splinter was a country dog. He wasn't used to loud noises or big buildings or dark alleys. He spent that night lost and afraid. The next morning, a kind old lady fed him, before taking him away to a large scary building and leaving him there. This had happened when the leaves were turning colors, but now Splinter could see snow on the ground when the humans put him out in his lot. But he knew his people hadn't given up on him. And he hadn't forgotten them, either. He was going to find a way out. Tucker, the big dog in the next kennel over, had told Splinter that where he had been before, dogs only had a certain amount of time. If you were cute, you got chosen. Adopted into a new family of nice people. But if you weren't chosen, it was only a matter of time before you were taken to the back room. And dogs who were taken to the back room never came back out. Tucker had a narrow escape in one such situation, and barely made it out alive. But only to be taken here. Splinter admired Tucker's courage, and Tucker had promised someday to get both of them out together. Splinter stood up, stretched, and sniffed underneath the chainlink wall that separated his and Tucker's cages. "Tucker! Tucker, are you awake?" Splinter whined excitedly. "No need to get yourself worked up, pup. I'm up, I'm up." Tucker replied from the other side of the wall. "Is today the day?" Splinter asked. "Yes, today is the day." Tucker answered, ever-patient with the younger dog. Tucker's plan was this: when the humans brought the feeding to him, Splinter would dart out the open door and into the lobby. From there he would find his way into the cat area, and let out Tucker's old friend, Angel. Splinter would continue running after he escaped the building, until he reached the decided meeting place, a large grove of trees. Meanwhile, Angel would return and free Tucker, and the two would find their way to the pine grove and meet up with Splinter. Then Splinter would take them to his home, where it was agreed Splinter's people would welcome Tucker and Angel as they would Splinter. Since they lived on a farm, Splinter's family was already in need if a barn cat and another beagle or two. 
Later that day, a human wearing the green paw-print shirt opened the hatch where they sometimes slipped the food dishes through to retrieve Splinter and Tucker's empty food dishes. A few minutes later, the human returned and set the bowls, now full with kibble, inside the cages. There was only one problem: the human hadn't opened the door, and there was no way to get out by a food-flap the size of a doggy dish. But Tucker was no dumb puppy, and had already thought of a way out if this were to happen. The back up plan was that if Splinter hadn't reached the cat area of the shelter by the evening feeding, Angel would find another way to escape and free the dogs. So, at exactly five thirty PM, the white cat picked the lock on the swinging door with her needle-like claws, and before they knew it the three companions were darting through the streets. They ran as fast as Tucker (who was starting to age) would allow. At the grove of pines, Splinter begin to lead the way to his farm. The trio sojourned from the thicker city areas of town, to the lesser-populated suburbs. They finally  reached a long dirt road and began to follow that for a while. They passed fields and ponds, bright and illuminated from the moonlight. The trees which grew on either side if the road cast long shadows across it. Splinter was happier than he'd been in a very long time. He'd soon be reunited with his family, and just in time for Christmas! Joy pulsed through him like never before, and Splinter quickened his pace, anxious to get home. Tucker and Angel were a bit unsure. They didn't know Splinter's family, and had both been let down by humans in the past. But they were eager and willing to start a new life, with humans they might be able to trust. "We're almost there!" Splinter called back to the others as he raced ahead into the night. The old dog and the slender cat tried their best to keep up, and were soon side-by-side with Splinter, walking up a worn gravel driveway. To their right was an old grey barn, and to their left was a white farmhouse with a pond behind it, and a forest around the border of the land. Splinter slowed as he neared the house, and jumped up to put his paws on the windowsill. When he looked in, he saw them. Jenny, Mike, and little Jamie. They were sitting around the fire. And by the hearth was his dog bed. Splinter let out a little bark, barely audible through the thick glass. But someone heard him, and it wasn't one of his people. A little puppy crawled out from behind a chair tugging a rope, and jumped onto the couch. Splinter expected him to be scolded and set back onto the floor, but to his surprise, Jenny picked him up, and set the pup on her lap. The puppy looked at Jenny and barked, then looked at the window and barked once more. But Splinter had already given up and walked away. "Splinter, aren't we going in?" Angel asked. "No." Splinter answered gently. "I've been replaced." Tucker didn't need an explanation. He turned and walked away beside Splinter, and Angel followed shortly. The three companions slept under a bridge, huddled together for comfort as well as warmth. 
In the morning, Splinter heard crying from above the bridge. "I just wanted my dog..." Splinter wondered at this statement from above, and raced up the hill that lead to the bridge. He sniffed the air, and then trod onto the cobblestones. Leaning over the railing was a small boy, and Splinter recognized him as Jamie. Splinter ran to him, and Jamie looked up in surprise, and then spread his arms wide to hug his dog. Angel and Tucker were awoken from the noise, and hung back when they saw the scene playing out. But Jamie ran over, and picked Angel up, and patted Tucker's head. Then, with worried expressions, Jamie's parents drove up in a grey van and took them all home. 
The day after Christmas, the three friends lay in the barn with Joy, the new pup, racing around them. Splinter's eyes fluttered open for a few seconds, and he felt the rising and falling of Tucker's flank pressed against his own. Angel purred loudly, and her tail waved back and forth slowly. Splinter let his eyes droop shut again; he knew the dreams would never come back.   
submitted by Leeli
(December 17, 2016 - 9:01 am)
submitted by TODAYISJUDGINGDAY!!!
(December 17, 2016 - 9:02 am)
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