Storyfeather

Even before the mountain began to rumble, one mortal had begun to doubt his decadent gods. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt:We are descended from a powerful people. So it is said. The most powerful our world has ever known. Their might unmatched. Their domain unending. Their eyes all-seeing. I am nothing next to them. I am a blade of grass underfoot. A mayfly blinking in and out of existence. A mortal. But today I will discover if there are forces in the world mightier than the gods. For today is the day I bring them down.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Forge of the Forsaker This episode landed on REVISITATION. I'm revisiting a theme from earlier stories, mortal defying the gods. Find more stories and episodes that revisit previous stories here: Year of Revisitation.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Forge of the Forsaker" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Rage" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Ancient gods""On the way""The forest""To Falgalown""Shadow forest""A story of gold""Compass""Burn the sky""Flames on ice""Rage""Infinite land"   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Lyric Voices #2""Lyrics Voices #1""Epic Battle #1 (Looped)""Lyric Voices #5" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Bottom half of frame, a human figure with dark red skin is seen from waist up stands before a rock face. A network of glowing vessels cover the skin. The figure is covered in black smoke so that only one eye is partly visible, and portions of the arms and waist. The right arm is raised, hand in a fist. Glowing yellow spikes of light emanate from the fist. The left arm is bent in front, gripping a chain that is connected to the waist. Through the smoke, more chains are just visible attached to the waist. Glowing streams of lava and gray-white smoke run down the rock face around the figure. Watermark of "Storyfeather" on rock face along the raised arm.

Troubled by the tragic tale of a queen, who suffered because of a quarrel between two gods, three children question and alter the story. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt:For the thing that lurched from shadow to shadow had been summoned by godly powers and imbued with godly powers. As it passed, it left behind a trail of slime that smelled of sulfur and rot. So the guards had no trouble in finding it. What they could not do was stop it.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Queen Niyami This episode landed on ELEMENTS. Water is the element featured in this story. Find more stories and episodes centered on the elements (and senses) here: Year of Elements.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Queen Niyami" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Captain's tribute" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Northern dusk""Dark fields""Fallen leaves""Dungeon of shadows""For the king""Shadow forest""Deep""Sacrifice""The ocean takes it all""In the shadows""Emblem""A last prayer""Captain's tribute""Leviathan"   All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A creature with the front half of a woman and the bottom half of a shark. She's underwater. Foreground, a disembodied eye trailing a nerve stalk lies on the floor of the body of water in which the creature is floating. She faces forward with both hands planted on the floor as if doing a push-up. Her right eye is missing. The socket bleeds. Her open mouth is filled with shark's teeth, and part of a second mouth appears to be growing out of her first and under her right cheek. She wears gold jewelry, metal cuffs, and a scarf wrapped upon her head that flutters slightly in the water. Her tail is visible bending towards the right. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along edge of tail fin.

A philosopher, a mage, and a swordsman are sent on an impossible quest from which they know they will not return alive. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt:The philosopher felt her heart go still. She felt the cold steel of the swordsman's sword quivering by her right side. She felt the warm spark of the mage's magic prickling by her left side.  In that moment, and none other since, she had wished her friends would unleash their might and fury…   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Last Night of Grief This episode landed on CREATURES. Find more stories and episodes about creatures here: Year of Creatures.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITS Story: "The Last Night of Grief" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Flames on ice" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Haven" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Whispers""Scroll of the wind walker""Wide place""Fallen leaves (seamless)""To Falgalown""Signs of desolation""The last stand""Adventure""Haven""Runes""Compass""In the shadows""Flames on ice"   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.  Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Facing forward stands a creature with three dog-like heads with different fur colors. The heads emerge from serpent-like necks attached to a central body from which the top heads of three legs are visible. All eyes are glowing. All the snouts are contracted as if growling, mouths parted, revealing fangs. All ears are perked up. A forked tongue emerges from the head at right. Snake-like fangs drip a drop of venom from the head at left. Behind and above the heads, an armored segmented body is visible extending up out of frame. Extending down from top left of frame is a segmented spiked tail curling upward. Behind the creature is the opening of a cave. Rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders that reflect blurred versions of the faces in the main image. Watermark of "Storyfeather" on cave wall, along right side of torso.

The story is told of how nine little gods came to be honored at a feast where they dared not show their faces. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt:The new mortal-made masks were so fantastical and magical that they could not easily be distinguished from the masks of the gods. A few called it blasphemy. (For we humans can be fools this way, don't you agree? Seeking and seeking for wonder, and fearing it when we find it.)   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Nine Gods in Masquerade This episode landed on a mystery spoke that was revealed to be MUSIC. I rambled through my music and found a track that inspired this story.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)   Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Nine Gods in Masquerade" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Medieval fiesta" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Donjon keeper (bonus track)" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Haven" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Oinions""Oinions (second part)""Sand of time (bonus track)""City of magic""Joy""Dragon style""Donjon monster""Donjon keeper (bonus track)""The harbor""Snake charmer""Jesters dance""In the shadows""Shadows and flames""Haven""Medieval fiesta"   All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. An empty masquerade mask facing forward with several asymmetrical elements. At center bridge of nose, a seashell motif. At left of image the top corner of the mask appears to be burning in a sparkling flame, and part of the mask appears to be vaporizing. At bottom is a small chainmail section from which there hangs a row of teardrop pieces dangling from thin strings. Within each eye hole is a star-filled sky motif. The right eye hole is framed with a tiled or scaled border. The left eye is surrounded by a vine motif. At right of image a feather and wing motif drops from the bottom of the mask. Along the side and extending up in a branching tree. A few leaves sprout from a few branches. Two flowers are set beside the tree and above the left eye. A dragonfly-like insect is perched at the base of the tree with two insect wings extending out and two feathers emerging from the bottom. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom edge below right eyehole.

In a realm cursed to lie under a gray veil, one man accepts a job patrolling a neighborhood to watch for unauthorized breaches. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt:He had given up on his childhood fantasy when he realized that people had already found ways to break the curse, and had tried those ways and failed. He had given up when he learned that some of the ways had never been tried and never would be, because the cost was too high. And over the generations, more and more people believed that the gray veil was a blessing, not a curse. A protection, not an oppression.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Through a Sky Gray This episode landed on PROMPTS. I wrote the story based on a writing prompt. Find more stories and episodes where a prompt inspired the story here: Year of Prompts.     MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Through a Sky Gray" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Infinite land" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Don't move" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"A story of gold""A band in the inn""Written in stones""The village near the lake""On the way""White river""Don't move""Back in the village""Fallen leaves""Signs of desolation""Elders wisdom""Compass""Infinite land"   All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.  Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital painting. Bottom half, a variety of wildflowers and grass. Top half, a solid gray expanse is split at the middle by a bright glowing light at top that streams down and expands to the sides to encompass the wildflowers below. Watermark of "Storyfeather" blends with the grass at left.

The terrifying night phantoms that haunt a once-forbidden wood are never seen by day, until one morning when an ordinary man encounters a phantom trapped in the sunlight.  Genre: Fantasy, Mythology   Excerpt:Something terrible had come into the world. Something evil. Invisible, intangible. Some corruption that could not be perceived. And therefore could not be fought. By the time it had a grip on someone, it was too late. The corruption seeped into every part of that person, defiling their heart, twisting their thoughts, draining the very life out of their body. No land was spared. No person was spared, no matter how pure, how honorable, how fit of body, how courageous of heart. No place was hidden from this corruption.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Kairos and the Phantom This episode landed on REVISITATION. I revisit the concept of night phantoms. Here are earlier episodes featuring them. The Watchers of the Western Observatory The Three Circles   Find more stories and episodes where the drawing inspired the story here: Year of Revisitation.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Kairos and the Phantom" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Peacefull place" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Northern dusk" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Deep""The last stand""Between two worlds""Dark fields""Emblem""Shadow forest""The forest""Ancient gods""Seasons""Lonely day""Peacefull place""Northern dusk""Home"   All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketVocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. At right, a man in medieval style clothing stands amid patches of grass and looks shocked. His brows are raised and he holds his right hand over his mouth as he gazes at the figure to the left, a man with a gray complexion bowing as he catches an apple with his left hand. The bowing man is surrounded by a wispy glowing cloak, and the colors of his clothing appear to be bleeding into the cloak. At his right foot is a platter of food. A stone sits on or in his left foot. Part of a stream is visible behind the man at right. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the inner edge of the long vest worn by the man at right. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders that display blurred sections of the main image.

A person struggling with heartbreak is drawn into the history of a garden filled with morbid beauty. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt:Branches terminating in skulls. Transparent petals whose vessels glow white as bleached bone in the dark. Bright yellow leaves whose soft serrated edges exude a dark red liquid that drips and pools and stains the ground like the signs of a crime scene. Such sights could I have seen in the greenhouse of gruesome growths. The courtyard of the maverick alchemist. The garden of the peculiar.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on TURN AGAIN, and when I turned the wheel again, it landed on a Mystery Spoke…DRAW!!! This means I draw first, then write the story based on that drawing. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Garden of the Peculiar Find more stories and episodes where the drawing inspired the story here: Year of Creatures   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)     MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. You can learn it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Garden of the Peculiar" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"At Night" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Song Visiting Her Forest" by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)  Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Creatures of the night""At night""Whispers""Evidence""Witches"  Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)"Song Mistery""Song Painful Memories Loop""Song Visiting Her Forest""Atmosphere Persecution Danger Loop" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Albert Fernandez, Nicholas Jeudy, and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy, Albert Fernandez, and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com     Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Composite. At center, a flower with three petals shaped like teardrops, one petal at top, two below, each with long tips that extend out of frame. The petals' coloring combined to form the face of a monkey. Behind and at right are bright and shadowy overlapping outlines and silhouettes of a stem with branches that terminate in skull shapes. Behind and below the main flower is a smaller flower with a monkey face tilted to the right, its monochrome color fading into the background. Behind and at left, depicted in glowing monochrome is a flower that appears like a figure wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a flowing cloak. Behind this glowing figure at left is another silhouette of the skull shapes. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the edge of petal at right.  

An uncertified magician, who's not allowed to cast enchantments in the city proper, finds odd jobs to do in the outer city. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt:I got into this business at the wrong time. Now that huge factories could crank out standardized magic components that anyone could use, without even a basic understanding of the primary forces and how to shape them, not too many people were interested in "hand-crafted artisan" magic. That's what the kids called it now. In my grandpa's day, it was just called…magic.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on REVISITATION. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Outer City Magician Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Revisitation.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Outer City Magician" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Shady Town" by CHRIS LOGSDON (Intro & Outro)"Medieval Theme 5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)  Music by CHRIS LOGSDON"Whimsical Town""Shady Town""Haunted Town""Desert Town""Mystical Town" Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Medieval Theme 5""Magic Within""Medieval Track #1""Adventure Track #1 (looped)""Casual Theme #2""Casual Theme #1" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov and Chris Logsdon is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Andrew Sitkov and Chris Logsdon at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. At center, a person seen from waist up, wearing a coat with a wide collar, a vest and shiny necklace, holding bent arms out to the sides, palms up, and looking up with a crooked smile. A tall pointed black hat sits on the right palm, which is surrounded by a glow. Three bees are hovering above the person's head. A wispy glowing line surrounded by tiny glowing balls seeps from the tip of the hat and curves around the bees. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along outside of the person's upper right arm.

A dog and a boy wander through a carnival. One of them is terrifying. One of them is sweet. Guess which is which. Genre: Fantasy   Excerpt:"There's a pit bull in the ball pit!" someone cried. The children saw Angel, and they began to flee. Angel opened his mouth enough to bare his teeth, but not enough to use those teeth. Children screamed and flapped their arms and were pulled up out of the pit by the scruff of their shirts. Little Sam was somehow oblivious to the mayhem.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on CHALLENGE. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Angel at the Carnival. Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Challenge.   PIRANHA-DOG MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring Angel, the piranha-dog?Here's the direct link:Part Dog Part Piranha merch on TeePublic Please visit my Store page for up-to-date info on where you can buy merchandise featuring my artwork: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Angel at the Carnival" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Experiment (Electronic Rock Theme)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro)"Medieval Theme 5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Abstract Vision #3""Abstract Vision #9""Medieval Theme 5""Army of Death""Casual Theme #2""Experiment (Electronic Rock Theme)""Casual Funny Track (looped)""Loop #5""Loop #3""Evil is Near""Scary Theme #3""Epic Drums (Looped)""Heart of Warrior NEW (Lyric Part Version 1)""Revival of Hero""Heart of Warrior NEW (Lyric Part Version 2)" All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Two figures at center. Left, a toddler boy wearing overalls with a patch at the chest bearing an image of the hand-horns sign. The boy's right hand is outstretched and is conjuring a cloud of cotton candy. His other arm is bent at his side. Right, an animal that appears to be half-dog and half-fish. The dog-like body is sitting up. The fish-like head is turned to the side with mouth open, displaying piranha teeth and a pointy outstretched tongue. The creature's eyes are red. It has a long tail bearing fins, ending in a caudal fin. The creature wears a studded collar with a tag that reads "Angel." Behind them is the hazy shape of a Ferris wheel with glowing lights. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the boy's right side.

A folklorist is swept up in a journey to find the proof that supports her seemingly preposterous notion about porcupines and fairy tales. Genre: Fairy Tale   Excerpt:Tommie's conjecture concerned the many fairy tales where a sudden growth of thorny vines encompassed a tower or a castle to protect, or more likely imprison, a young woman possessing some degree of power—a princess of surpassing beauty, say, or a sorceress. That growth was typically attributed to a magic spell cast by an evil witch or jealous warlock. Tommie allowed that magic and wickedness may have been involved, or not. Either way, the wild thorny thickets that held back princes were cast out by a creature. "Have you ever heard of the prickly vine porcupine?"   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on CREATURES. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Isle of the Fairy Ring Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Creatures.   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Isle of the Fairy Ring" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Quizitive" by LEE ROSEVERE (Intro)"All the Answers" by LEE ROSEVERE (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by LEE ROSEVERE"Awkward Silences Version b""All the Answers""Small Steps""Betrayal""Expectations""Not Alone""Heat Haze""Quizitive""Puzzle Pieces""Making a Change""Awkward Silences Version a" Track by Andrew Sitkov is part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A porcupine with an array of glowing greenish quills, facing and looking forward, seen from the right flank. The wispy shapes of yellow and purple mushrooms surround the porcupine, suggesting the shape of a ring. At top right, there floats a bright glow, surrounded by hazy pink light. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the inner part of the porcupine's left foreleg. Rectangular image made square with top and bottom borders that display blurred sections of the main image.

A humble seahorse reconstructs his form by studying his fellow fish, and emerges as the most magnificent creature to grace the sea. Genre: Mythology, Fable   Excerpt:"We are only one of many different kinds of horses," his mother said. "And all of us, the ones who fly through storm, the ones who canter on land, the ones who wander in dreams, we all came from one place, the sea. We all came from the first horses, who dwelt in the sea, and dwell there still, though they haven't been seen in many ages." The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on REVISITATION. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Last Magnificent Seahorse Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Revisitation.   SEAHORSE MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring the seahorse (hippocampus)?Here's the direct link:Bubblegum Pink and Blue Hippocampus merch on TeePublic   Please visit my Store page for up-to-date info on where you can buy merchandise featuring my artwork: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Last Magnificent Seahorse" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel   Music:"Exploration Mystical Place (loop 1)" by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ALBERT FERNANDEZ (Audio Alchemist, Potion Studio)"Exploration Cave (loop)""Exploration Forest of Magic""Exploration Mystery (loop)""Exploration Mystical Place (loop 1)""Humorous Exploration (loop)""Battle 1 normal (loop)""Humorous Stealth (loop)" Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Secrets of Kingdom""Magic Within"  All tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration. Find more music by Albert Fernandez and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. Floating in water among small bubbles, the mythical creature known as the hippocampus. Seen from left side, the front half looks like a horse, except that the mane is replaced with a spiny dorsal fin, and the hooves are replaced by fins. The forelimbs appear to be in mid-gallop. The back half appears like a fish with fins protruding from the sides. The tail arcs toward the front. The creature's coloring is vivid and shimmering like a fish. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along middle of back.

A turtle of great renown receives a great gift, and with that gift, a terrible burden no other turtle has ever known. Genre: Fable, Mythology   Excerpt:When Gaharalil slipped into the water, he was seized by a sensation. It rippled across the surface of his body, his skin. The spark of sensation bolted through his skin to his muscles, his belly, his heart. It flooded him with joy. It raised him up like a cresting wave. He floated in the sensation to the water's surface and beyond, up into the heavens, where the stars dwelt and all was wonder.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on ELEMENTS. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Gaharalil Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Elements.   TURTLE MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring the turtle?Here's the direct link: Smiling Turtle With Purple Flowers merch on TeePublic   Please visit my Store page for up-to-date info on where you can buy merchandise featuring my artwork: STORYFEATHER STORE The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written? I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "Gaharalil" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel  Music:"Adventure Track #1 (looped)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by TRG Banks"Lake in the woods""The silver bus""Father Green""Packed lunch""Horse ride 4""Interchange""Great Aunt Henrietta"  Musci by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Scary Theme #3""Medieval Track #1""Medieval Theme 2""Adventure Track #1 (looped)" Tracks by Andrew Sitkov are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by TRG Banks is licensed under CC0 1.0 UniversalSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.  Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by TRG Banks at freemusicarchive.org/music/TRG_BanksFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description:Digital drawing. A turtle seen in left profile facing left, resting on a patch of green earth at the edge of a body of a water. The forelimbs are visible. The turtle's mouth is open wide. Bunches of purple flowers with five petals surround the turtle. The sky is bright and bare of clouds. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the turtle's left forelimb.

The unlikely encounter between a river fisher bird and a slug of the sea inspire both to strike a bargain to explore the powers and limits of their forms. Genre: Fable   Excerpt: Halceyx cocked her head. "I've never encountered a poisonous river slug before. This is most adventurous." "I am not a river slug. I am a slug of the sea. I am called Irsid. And I have come to the river to explore."   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on PROMPTS. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: River Fisher and Blue Dragon Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Prompts.   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "River Fisher and Blue Dragon" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Spinning Tavern" by JONATHAN SHAW (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by JONATHAN SHAW"Checking Inventory""Afternoon Chat""In Tranquil Spring""A Tale of Wind""Out of Time""Spinning Tavern""A Tale of Water""Cold Sanctuary""A Tale of Peace"   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Jonathan Shaw and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, a bird in right profile, head tilted up, beak slightly parted and holding a slug-like creature. The bird is perched on a patch of earth, at bottom left corner, along the shore of a river. At top of frame, glowing balls of light float through the air. The bird appears to be a river kingfisher of the Ceyx genus. The bird bears feathers of many different colors. The front half of the slug has the shape of a garden slug, with streaks of many colors. The slug's eyes are directed toward the bird. The bottom half of the slug appears like a blue dragon sea slug with blue coloring and plume-like appendages. Both animals are speckled with sparks of light. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the bird's chest.

On the verge of death, a penultimate god leaves behind a terrible enemy and an unexpected legacy. Genre: Mythology   Excerpt: "If the tunnels aren't dangerous, why would anyone close them on purpose?" "I didn't say they weren't dangerous."  I nodded. Of course. Knowledge was dangerous. And knowledge was what we would find at the end of this tunnel.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on CREATURES. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: Silent Serpent Under Sea Find more stories and episodes featuring this theme here: Year of Creatures.   SERPENT MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring the serpent?Here's the direct link:Coiled Green Sea Serpent merch on TeePublic(You'll land on the t-shirt, but you can scroll down a bit for more stuff.)  Please visit my Store page for up-to-date info on where you can buy merchandise featuring my artwork: STORYFEATHER STORE   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   CREDITSStory: "Silent Serpent Under Sea" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Immortals" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Haven" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Secret water""Emblem""Runes" "Immortals" "The ocean takes it all""Dark lord""Scroll of the wind walker""To Falgalown""A last prayer""Dark fields""Haven"   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. A sea serpent, facing forward, floating in water. At right, near bottom, the head is directed downward. A crown of spiny fins extend from the back of the head and around the face. The serpent's body extends up and then arcs down and loops to the left.  The end of the tail is directed up to upper left corner and ends in spiny fins. Fins also arc along the top third of the serpent's back, and one set closer to the tail. Some of the scales bear glowing marks that appear like characters or letters of an unreadable language. Vertical image is made square with borders at left and right with bubbles. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along right side of serpent's head.

The Ace of Pumpkins is invited as the guest of honor to a peculiar dinner at the High House of Clovers. Genre: Fairy Tale   Excerpt: The Pumpkin Ace did not know whether to expect favor and praise or horrific humiliations. She only knew that any who left the table may not return. She only knew that the price for leaving the table before her host might be a terrible one. Might be. Her triumph or her doom depended upon the whims and fancies of her esteemed host, the King of the House of Clovers…   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on WILD CARD. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Ace of Pumpkins   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Ace of Pumpkins" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Jesters dance" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by JONATHAN SHAW"Midnight Creeping""Cold Sanctuary""Lingering Evil""Encounter of Misdeeds"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Seasons""Jesters dance""Unsolved""Whispers" "Inspector""Of sun and sand""The bard" All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market. Music by Nicholas Jeudy, Jonathan Shaw, and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy, Jonathan Shaw, and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Jonathan Shaw at jshaw.co.ukFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, a woman facing forward, seen from waist up, sitting at a table. Her face is in three-quarters profile facing right. She looks forward with right brow and the right corner of her mouth raised. Her bent right arm rests on the table in front of her. Her left hand is raised beside her, holding a fork with a piece of food on the tines. On the table in front of her is a plate full of food. In front of the food is a name card with partially visible letters that read "Ace of Pumpkins." At left is a small hourglass and two wine glasses. At right is a folded napkin wrapped in a band and a bowl filled with liquid, and with flowers, flower petals, and a bundle of herbs floating within. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along outside of the woman's upper right arm.

Two ordinary transport technicians, working their first shift together, are assigned to drive a high-profile prisoner. Genre: Science Fiction   Excerpt: "Proximites and humans are both relatively fragile species—no offense—when it comes to space travel. But here on solid earth…well, you're still fragile, but you have certain qualities that come in handy should there be any problems with this particular prisoner." Javier felt a lurch in his fragile human gut. "Should we expect any problems, sir?"   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on ELEMENTS. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: A Proximite and a Human   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE CREDITSStory: "A Proximite and a Human" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Particle Voyager" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro)"Neon city" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Negociation" "Master""Particle voyager""Under the mask""The deal""Comatose" "Fist of fury""Doubts""Trojan horse""Neon city""Men in black""Reloaded" All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketSound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg)Vocal effects created with AudacityChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At middle, a human man sitting on the ground, facing forward, turned slightly to right of frame, wearing jacket, pants, and boots. His left leg is drawn up and his hand rests on his knee. His right leg is extended, partially bent. A bandage is wrapped around his right thigh. His right palm is pressed to the ground beside him, supporting his weight. His face is looking down. Two characters hover beside him at the level of his head. At left, a sphere. Near the bottom of the sphere are two recesses with domed tops and flat bottoms. Within the recesses are smaller spheres, giving the appearance of eyes. Next to one eye, from a circular recess, a jointed appendage made of rods and nodes extends down. Liquid leaks from two of the recesses. At right, a face divided into three parts with one eye, one nose, and a mouth on each part. Each part is elongated. Eyebrows appear both above and below each eye. Straight wrinkles appear at the forehead and on each nose. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the man's lower left leg.

A self-help instructor helps himself to the most dazzling part of his newest protégé…her soul. Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery   Excerpt: This 'man who dazzles' seemed to be the real deal.  Under the smoothed down hair, and the pressed suits, and the glinting gold cuff links, the rings, the chains, and that slight brush of coppery glitter just at his temples, there was substance.  There was a man who could teach others to dazzle as well. I wanted to meet him and talk to him.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on REVISITATION. See a story trailer and a (satisfying) video of the wheel turning here: The Apprentice Who Dazzles   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Apprentice Who Dazzles" Copyright © 2022 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music:"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro)"Try Anything Once" by LEE ROSEVERE (Outro)   Music by LEE ROSEVERE"Baldachin" "Try Anything Once""It's A Mystery""Heat Haze""Slow Lights""Under Suspicion""Thoughtful" "Small Steps""How I Used To See The Stars"   Music by Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketMusic by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0Vocal effects created with AudacityChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more music by Lee Rosevere at freemusicarchive.org/music/lee-rosevere and leerosevere.bandcamp.com Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. At center, a man seen from thighs up, facing forward with head raised up, eyes and mouth slightly parted. He wears a sparkling shirt with a ruffled front, fancy cuffs, and ornate belt. A sparkling half-cape hangs from his left shoulder and is tied over his right shoulder. His right arm is bent, hand raised to his temple. A dangling earring with linked golden hoops hangs from his left ear. His shoulder-length hair is loosely pinned behind the ear. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along the right side of his torso.

Three siblings created their own game to play each year at winter solstice, a game that has grown and changed as they have, sometimes in unexpected ways. Genre: Fantasy Excerpt: No one knew anything in the beginning of their journeys. They only started knowing things by going on the journey. By making decisions before they even knew what the right decision was. And they told me that it was better to learn some lessons in a game than it was to learn them in real life.   The Wheel of Fiction Turns. What did it land on this time?Each Season 9 story follows a theme chosen by the Wheel of Fiction. Thirteen spokes. Eight are the themes from previous seasons. One is "Turn Again." One is a wild card. And three are covered in question marks and will be revealed when the wheel lands on them. This episode landed on CHALLENGE. See a story trailer and a video of the wheel turning (if you're into that sort of thing) here: A Carnival of Cakes   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create)Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)  Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork?Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "A Carnival of Cakes" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. PatelNarration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Donjon keeper (bonus track)" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Intro & Outro)"Joy" by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Outro)"Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)  Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music)"Percussion Loop #11"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)"Compass" "Fallen leaves""Scroll of the wind walker""Adventure" "A story of gold""The harbor""Winterheart (seamless)""Donjon keeper (bonus track)""Joy"   All these tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev MarketChanges made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.  Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.netFind more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. Background, a two-layer round chocolate cake with a slice cut out, with orange frosting, chocolate glaze on top and dripping down the sides, and overlapping round orange slices wrapped around the bottom. Tall glowing triangles of sugar candy crown the top. Foreground left, a square piece of two-layer cake with sprinkles, frosted with whipped cream, topped with three berries in a diagonal, and sprigs of tiny leaves. Foreground right, a square cake seen from top and along one corner, with frosting piped at the bottom and top borders. The word "Farewell" is written on the top. The word "Level" is written on both visible sides. A shadowy hand emerges from right and reaches for the cakes. From below, another hand grasps the first at the wrist. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom of cake at right.

While investigating a murder, a single-celled detective encounters bacterial filaments, proto-multicellular colonies, and a new concept called "love." Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction   Excerpt: "It's not an accident," Dina said. She spun out a flagellum to wave to him. Harry sighed. "I wouldn't be here if it was." He glanced over at the couple of uniformed diatoms who were keeping any floaters-by from getting too close a look at the crime scene. He glided toward Dina. "How's your day so far, Doc?" he asked. "Same as yours, I imagine. But much, much better than his." Dina moved out of the way, giving Harry a better view of the victim.   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it's connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. I've written at least a couple of previous stories about single-celled organisms doing and being more than they're expected. Here are those episodes: Amoeba: A Modern Fable Rise of the Prokaryotes   MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me)   Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)     MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "The Unicellular Detective" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "Smoke" by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL (Intro & Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by RAFAEL ARCHANGEL "Persistence With Beat" "So Cold" "Deep Dive" "Smoke" "Forgotten" "Persistence"   Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY* "Unsolved" "Inspector" "Trojan horse" "Under the mask" "Whispers" "Doubts" "Master" "Negociation (seamless)"   *These tracks are part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.   Music by Nicholas Jeudy and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Music by Rafael Archangel is licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more music by Rafael Archangel at Bandcamp Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com     Episode Art Description: Digital image. Cartoon depictions of anthropomorphized unicellular organisms in a line. From left to right, three filaments of cyanobacteria, a Stentor, a paramecium with flagella who's wearing a fedora, a slime mold, and a dinoflagellate with glasses. The rectangular image is made square with top and bottom borders that extend the background texture. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along inner side of the Stentor.

Six kids explore the possibility that dogs have been trying to warn humanity about a terrible enemy in their midst…vacuum machines. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy   Excerpts: They were right all along.  "What do they know that we don't know?"  "What are they trying to protect us from?" "This is my home too! And it is in danger…"  "If the law won't help us, we'll have to turn to…the outlaw."   What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it's connected to or inspired by a previous story through a character, a place, an object, a concept, a continuation of events (ahem, sequel), and so on. The kids who wrote an original play for a school production are now aiming to make a movie with an original script over their summer vacation. Somehow the theme is again about an alien invasion. Here's the link to the previous episode: "Attack of the Giant Cyclops Worm"     MY FIRST BOOK (yay)Ever wonder how I've gotten all these hundreds of stories written?  I have a method. And I talk all about it in my book called Fictioneer's Field Guide: A Game Plan for Writing Short Stories. It's now available from Amazon as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover. You can also get there from my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE   The Store page also has sign-up forms for my two email newsletters: Storyfeather Gazette (if you'd like to keep up with the fiction I create) Fictioneer's Field Guide (if you'd like writing tips and guidance from me) Choose what you want. (Either way, you're choosing high jinks.)   MERCH!Interested in merch, like mugs and notebooks, featuring my artwork? Please visit my Store page for info on where you can buy: STORYFEATHER STORE   CREDITSStory: "Attack of the Vacuum Machine Army" Copyright © 2021 by Nila L. Patel Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production:  Nila L. Patel   Music: "The Superiority" by ANDREW SITKOV (Intro & Outro) "Casual Theme #2 (looped)" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro) "Abstract Vision #5" by ANDREW SITKOV (Outro)   Music by ANDREW SITKOV (MuzStation Game Music) "Casual Theme #1" "Casual Theme #3" "Casual Theme #2" "Another World" "Space Discoveries" "Steel Enemy (looped)" "The Superiority" "Freedom" Music by BENJAMIN CARR (Scythuz) "Abandoned Spacestation" "Gearworks Factory" "Wasteland Ruins"   Music by Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov is licensed from GameDev Market Sound effects from AudioJungle, GameDevMarket, and Soundly (through Hindenburg) Vocal effects created with Audacity Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping of some to align with my narration.   Find more music by Benjamin Carr and Andrew Sitkov at gamedevmarket.net Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com   Episode Art Description: Image Description: Digital drawing. Art deco inspired poster. At bottom center, a terrier with a determined expression, wearing a collar, standing and facing left, seen in three-quarters view. Flanking the dog are the ghostly images of two modern vacuum cleaners. Behind the dog is an art deco marquee pattern of a fan set in a holder. Above the dog's head is the title of the story. Above the title, at top center, is a vintage vacuum machine with the hose missing, facing front. Watermark of "Storyfeather" along bottom right edge of marquee.