flaxen-finch

Starling Byrne is tired. Tired of living in the city of Idyll, where everything is perfect - if you stay in line and don't speak out against its tyrannical leader and his android army. Determined to make a difference, Starling deserts her position in the strict, highly revered Idyllic Regiment and steals an object that might be the key to dismantling the dystopic way of life once and for all-if the broken android in her escape car doesn't get in her way.___Written for ONC 2025. Keep in mind that since this is a contest entry, this is an unedited draft and, as such, there may be some grammatical errors I've missed.This story was inspired by the following prompt:70. After stealing something vital from the city, you flee in a car, only to find a discarded human-like android in the back seat. The android has a critical flaw - and you must protect it from those who want it back.…

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| ONC 2024 HONORABLE MENTION |Pretie Panton, princess of Aecora and sole heir of the Panton bloodline, does not want to marry - at least, not the prince her father has arranged for, who Pretie has never met. However, when her attempt at escape is quickly put to an end, Pretie finds herself in an even worse predicament: cursed to take the form of a mermaid and live isolated from the world she has always known.Driven by the desire for revenge, Pretie seeks the help of an adventure-seeking mermaid named Ephyra, who has heard legends of a mythical stone that may just be able to transform the princess back into her human self... If it truly is her deepest desire.｡𖦹 °Written for ONC 2024. Keep in mind that since this is a contest entry, this is an unedited draft and, as such, there may be some grammatical errors I've missed.This story was inspired by the following prompts:(Main Prompt) 88. Your father is forcing you to marry someone you have never met. The night before your wedding you tie your sheets together and make your escape through the window. Half way down you make eye contact with someone doing the exact same thing a few windows over.24. A desperate wish, made from the heart, is always answered. Sooner or later.28. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."Word count: 31,006 wordsStatus: Honorable Mention…

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| ONC 2024 SHORTLIST |Nikolas Hoffman just wants to lay low. After coming out as transgender in high school, he made a vow to draw as little attention to himself as possible, diving headfirst into his work as a copy editor as soon as he graduated college. Now, Nikolas has finally decided to give himself a much-needed vacation to a small beach-side town in upstate California. However, everything takes a turn when an all-too-familiar face shows up at his hotel.Axel Reed is the well-known guitar player and lead singer of The Kissing Teeth - and just so happens to be Nikolas' ex-friend. Much to the latter's dismay, Axel has a nasty habit of drawing crowds of paparazzi everywhere he goes and is always down for a little mischief. It's safe to say that Nikolas' vacation just got interesting.◦✭◦Written for ONC 2024. Keep in mind that since this is a contest entry, this is an unedited draft and, as such, there may be some grammatical errors I've missed.This story was inspired by the following prompts: (Main Prompt) 9. After some long months of working harder than ever, you finally get to your well deserved vacation getaway but when you arrive at the hotel there is this one star that brings all the paparazzi and trouble with them and makes your vacation a one to remember.8. You start singing along to a movie soundtrack late at night forgetting that your window is open. Someone from the outside starts singing with you.33. A broken heart beats with all its pieces. And it still wants the same person.Word count: 29,030 wordsCurrent status: Shortlister…

flaxen-finch

Two girls. Two dragons. One war.The two nations of Ledah and Dreg have lived in relative harmony for centuries. However, this all ended a little over five years ago with a dispute involving a slain dragon and a stolen egg. A war was sparked by the conflict, bathing the once-peaceful land in blood and tears. For many years this war has raged, and lakes of blood, both human and dragon, have been spilled. The end is obscured in the cries of the dead, and a thick mist of disharmony and mistrust blocks all resolutions. Only a true union, forged on trust and caring, could return peace to this land.Aneira, lead captain of Ledah, strives to make her nation proud. Devyn, lead captain of Dreg, strives to keep her position and life. When Aneira is captured by the Dregian captain, she finds herself forced to travel on a dangerous quest with Devyn-one that both are reluctant to depart on. Their mission: to find and retrieve the magical weapon that may just put an end to this war. That's assuming something won't come between them first._____If you're a fan of dragons, queer characters, sword-fighting, and enemies-to-lovers romance, this is 100% the book for you!…

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Balor has served as the Keeper of the Dead for literal eons and as the years have gone by, he's grown tired of the job. He'd much rather spend his time frequenting his favorite haunts and overindulging on cider than keeping up with the ever-growing demands of the dead.Still, when the ruler of the Underworld herself grows fed up with his party-going ways and threatens to assign him an assistant, Balor knows it's time to get his act together.Balor works alone; he always has. And he refuses to let that change.---An Honorable Mention and the @antiheroesgalore Profile Pick in the Halloween Vault 2023 contest. Inspired by the prompt from @antiheroesgalore:"You've been the Keeper of the Dead for eons, but you were never very good at the job. The dead have such demands and you'd much rather spend Halloween visiting your favorite haunts. But this year, things don't work out as well as they do each year."…

flaxen-finch

A collection of short (and often unfinished) stories that have been collecting dust, showcasing a variety of genres and characters.…

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Brynn Fletcher never expected to be a part of the Salem witch trials. Since, you know, those happened in the past. But when she is fated to find a new perspective by a tarot reading while on vacation in Salem, Massachusetts, she finds herself swept back in time to the witch trials. Teamed up with a unique team of accomplices, she is set to rebel against the witch hunters. But can she change history that's already been set? And what will happen if she can't?Highest awards:#5 in historicalfantasy#6 in salemwitchtrials - 4/25/22#12 in novella - 1/14/22#35 in portalfantasy - 2/23/22…

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The classic story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf... with a twist._______________Carden is a shepherd who's lived in the same town his whole life, a small village with old ideas that had been perfectly bearable... Until Wolf, his best friend and lover, mysteriously disappeared. Everyone says that he's died, killed by wolves while walking in the woods (ironic, considering his name). But when Carden swears that he sees the boy and believes that he might still be alive, no one in the town believes him. In this retelling... who's the real liar?_______________Awarded an honorable mention in the Rewind the Classics 2021 Contest.Word Count: 4,738…

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* I haven't yet started the process of editing, so please ignore any grammatical errors or possible holes in the plot because parts (especially towards the end) were a little rushed. I promise that these will be fixed in the future. *Alexis O'Neal - or Captain_Daydream, as she's known by her loyal followers - is your average, nerdy teenage girl. She spends most of her time online, on a site called Written Fantasies, roleplaying and writing her own magical novel. She doesn't focus on real life, and tries to ignore the hardships that go along with it. Which is why when she begins to develop feelings for a girl (whom she suspects is her internet best friend) she finds it hard to believe what's right. After all, her stories are just fictional, right?Highest awards: #1 in bookish#103 in author…