AWC Round 48 Winners!
I got quite a few AWC entries this time around; I was pleasantly surprised! I don't have much room to type, so let's get straight to it!
Poetry
First Place
zapspeed
A meloberry falls
Then many more
It's Autumn time
I'll stay indoors
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Short, sweet, and to-the-point, zapspeed's AWC entry made me once-again consider the age-old question of what meloberries taste like. Congratulations to zapspeed-san!
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Short Story
First Place
Pish
"Winner Winner Cider Dinner"
"The tides have turned, the story told, and for the shining beacon of summer, it is slowly fading away..."
An Earth Muris sat at his desk, chewing on a pencil, his diary laid out before him. Normally his entries flew across the page, pencil fearlessly scribbling with abandon, but today Boston's heart was set on other things, it seemed. Summer was over and fall had begun to show herself to Anatheria, her chilly caress tickling leaves and changing their hues. Fall was a season that Boston particularly enjoyed, but this past year, things had changed... As the new school year was beginning, he would be able to spend more time with his newest friend, Derek, who was two grades ahead of him: a senior. Boston hadn't always been the nicest to Derek, and vice versa, so he felt that making Derek some of his "famous" apple cider could help strengthen their bro-bond. Derek was a tall, slender Crystal Hiricus whose dark eyes gave off an almost-constant icy glare. In fact, Derek's whole aura was icy and unforgiving, as was his sharp wit and lack of patience with Boston. Being younger, and an Earth Muris, Boston was full of pep, and always needed to be the center of attention. He also came off as bratty at times, spewing crocodile tears at the drop of a hat if necessary; beyond all that, Boston wore his heart on his sleeve, and after a long period of bickering and almost losing his loosely-defined friendship with Derek, he felt it was time to make things right. Determination set in his brow, Boston set off for Applebough, happily abandoning his diary.
As he neared the store, his stomach fluttered with nervousness. What if Derek didn't like apple cider? What if he was allergic to apples?!? So many thoughts flew through Boston's mind - it was dizzying! His fears melted away as soon as he spotted the apples were in stock! He took a healthy amount, as well as a few meloberries (the secret ingredient to his cider!), paid the nice shopkeeper, and scurried his way back home-- not before stopping at Chilly Willy for some ice cream, though.
Boston's cider recipe was actually his mother's, and he would never change a thing about it. Not even the meloberries. Frankly, it tasted better with them anyway. The Muris hunkered down in his kitchen and began the task of cider-making. His Talon, called Ziggy, was perched nearby, watching Boston move about. Ziggy's eyes had a knowing shine about them, as if he could sense Boston's determination to win over Derek.
"Okay Boston, you can do this. Everything is riding on this apple cider..."
The batch of apple cider took all weekend to make-- it was a painstaking process of love, and the end result was worth it. When Monday morning rolled around, Boston was nearly late for school and just about forgot the bottle of cider waiting patiently for him in the refrigerator. He'd ran out the door, his mother wishing him good luck, and had met his best friend Underling--a quiet Lunar Monkmus obsessed with scythes who always had his hood up, and was a year older than Boston--for their daily walk to school.
First period dragged on slowly. Halfway through it, Boston realized there was a bottle of cider in his locker. He remembered his plan. At lunch, he would give the bottle to Derek as an apology and to start things anew... The next few classes were just as bad, if not worse, and by time his last class ended, Boston was a nervous wreck. "Undie, I'm not sure I can do this..." The Earth Muris' big blue eyes bore into Underling's soul. The older male's eyebrow twitched at the nickname, "You'll be fine. The worst he can do is say he doesn't like it..."
Wrong response. Boston's eyes welled up with tears. "D-Don't say that...! OMIGOD there he is! I'msonervous hide me Undie!"
Time stood still the moment that Derek and his friend Teacup walked into the cafeteria. Boston stared at the pair, clutching the bottle of cider in his hands as he peered over Undie's shoulder (which was difficult as Undie was quite a bit taller than Boston). His fears were quickly reaching their paramount! Underling gave him one of those "I-can't-believe-he's-overreacting-again" stares, which strangely calmed Boston down to the point where he suddenly found himself standing in front of Derek and Teacup. "U-um, hi guys!" the Muris choked out, trying to smile, "I, um... brought you a gift, Derek! I'm not happy with the way I've treated you in the past, and I'd like to really be your friend. So, um, here..." The bottle came into view as Boston held it out, his arm shaking ever so slightly. "...It's apple cider. I made it!"
Derek silently regarded the bottle, skepticism evident in his cold yet sparkling eyes. His pale, thin fingers took the cider from its owner, in order to look at the bottle more closely. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity to Boston, the Hiricus opened the bottle and took a swig.
Boston swore he saw something flash across Derek's face. Was it disappointment? Disgust? Bliss??
"...I've got to say, your sudden interest in befriending me is, shall I say, puzzling, kid. What ulterior motives you may have, I do not know, but I will accept your request." Derek nodded and smirked a bit, the closest thing to a smile Boston had ever seen, "This is good cider, by the way."
And with that, Boston and Derek's friendship blossomed anew.
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Boston is so cute!
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Second Place
Wolfy-chan
"Halloween Time"
A time when everyone dressed up in their favorite costumes and went door to door
receiving different treats. Everyone except Zarek.
Zarek sighed as he looked out his window and saw the many happy faces running to
and fro. how he wished that he could be part of the fun but, just like every other year, he
knew he would be shunned if he tried to join the others. He was born a miasma Xyion, a
rare type and for that one reason, everyone feared him or shunned him.
He was the weird pet.
The odd pet.
The scary pet.
No one ever gave him the chance to prove he was not what everyone rumored him to be.
Pushing away from the foggy window, Zarek started toward his room, his blue and
yellow stripped tail, dragging the floor behind him. He knew on one would come trick or
treat at his house. They never did. He curled his swirling black and purple neon body
into a tight ball and closed his tear filled milky white eyes. He wouldn't let the others
get to him, not this year. He was almost lost to his dreams of acceptance when his
doorbell rang.
Zarke's eyes popped open as he cautiously got up to go see who dared to ring his
bell. He knew some cruel kids that would ring his door bell in the past and throw things
at him when he answered.
Opening the door, Zarek was shocked to find a small chumbuddy standing at his
door. The small Liger chumbuddy smiled up at him and asked the one question he never
thought he would hear...
"Trick or Treat?!"
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The ending to this was as sweet as could be, and it put a smile on my face as I read it. It seems Zarek has found a friend! Congratulations to Wolfy-chan-san! (Those honorifics tripped me up!)
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Third Place
M_MirrorThief
A young topaz lios was watching the fall leaves fall from the trees he saw one about to hit the ground and pounced on it his mother an amber lios said let's go dear stop playing in the leaves he said awww but its so much fun she said but we must get to the market she started off he followed her pouncing on leaves and running threw piles of leaves that formed when the wind blew there was a huge pile of leaves off to the side near a large oak tree he backed up then took off and took a flying leap into the pile but instead of landing in the pile he went threw it and rolled down a tunnel he heard his mother yelling for him but it faded away till he heard nothing soon he crashed to the bottom into another pile of leaves but this pile was different they where green and alive but then the pile started moving he screamed and jumped off and looked closer at the pile as soon a huge caterpillar crawled out that seemed to be its home he said sorry if I messed up your home he looked around there was a lush forest with trees and flowers everywhere he didn't know how to get out so he started investigating this new place there where lots of new sites and smells so many new flowers and trees there where trees taller then he has ever seen in all colors one the bark was blue and the leaves where teal and bushes that looked like esper tails the flowers where strange one looked like a star shape like star island he had seen a map of it once and weeds that swayed in the breeze that looked like ears from a lunarii he had a story book with one in it but it didn't take long till he felt something was following him he got scared and asked anyone there ? but no one answered when he turned around he was face to face with an air gaik the lios screamed and fell backwards the gaik flew and hid behind a tree the young lios had never seen anything like it he slowly walked up towards the tree the gaik poked his head around the tree the little lios said I won't hurt you I promise the gaik came out it wasn't long before him and the lios became good friends but the lios knew he had to get back to his mother he explained to the gaik how he had become lost the gaik showed him the way back to the tunnel but the young lios couldn't climb it it was like a slide he thought he would never get home or see him mother again who was now worried sick she had everyone out searching for her baby but then the air gaik picked up the little lios and started to fly him to the top the lios has always wondered how it felt to fly well now he was but even in the tunnel it was a little high up he couldn't wait to get back on all fours they flew out of the tunnel and high into the air the lios was scared but he looked down and saw his mom there! He shouted that is my mother the gaik flew him down to his mother who was never so happy to see her son she asked him what happened he told her about his little adventure and she met his new friend and thanked him well everyday the lios and the gaik go on grand adventures together friends forever
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This is a sweet story with some lovable characters and imaginative imagery. I like the "bushes that look like Esper tails" the most. Congratulations to M_MirrorThief-san!
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Honourable Mentions
"Anaoween"
Every year after midnight the children would come out of the dark and play in the streets while the humans fear for their lives muwahaha. Spooky laughter’s of ghost children gave anyone a fresh start to run away, to the slow dripping of red melted candy on the wall from the screeching sounds of screams in the attic...Bingo! No one was safe on this special day, no matter where you go or hide the children of Anaoween is creeping behind. So what are you waiting for come on down to the last door down the hall where the light is afraid to touch but the dark is always welcome. Beneath the cracked floors someone is always watching…. Waiting to drag you in for a spook party! Muwahaha.
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princekagome's short story is devious and very fitting for the Halloween season. Thank you for your entry, princekagome!
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That's all for this round! Onwards to the next competition!