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Tuesday, April 24, 2018

A to Z: U - Underbrush & Uniform

My A to Z Challenge: Flash fiction written using two words and a photo for inspiration. How did I chose the words? First I brought up a noun list for each letter, then averted my eyes, scrolled the mouse down, stopped and double-clicked. That was the word! The second word was chosen the same way but from a dictionary list of words.
NOTE: Photos are from free to use photo sites such as Pixabay.com and Morguefile.com. No attribution necessary.



The underbrush is dense and cool. I creep along, not rising any higher than necessary. The air around me warms as I move through, staying hidden for as long as I can. I thrive on the privacy, but worry the crackling of the brush will give me away sooner than I desire.

The underbrush opens up and I bolt forward, seeking more of the security I just left. It's time to stand tall as I race across the meadow towards the forest ahead. I get tangled in the weeds but they just feed my desire to continue.

I am hot now, hotter than I've ever been. I refuse to hide in the underbrush. I am growing stronger, I feel bigger, more powerful. I won't cower before them. The sirens no longer terrify me. The uniforms no longer scare me. I can beat them. I can soar!


"Chief, where do you want us?" The team of wildland firefighters stood at the ready, waiting for the go ahead to fight the raging wildfire. 


Stay Calm and Read Flash Fiction!

  


26 comments:

  1. Oh nice! You painted a breathtaking picture of a wild fire. You had me guessing up until the end.

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  2. Nice sense of voice for this fire.

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    1. It was a gamble, I don't often write in first person. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  3. Interesting! Didn't know where you were going with this one. Given the recent fires in our state I can picture that easily.

    Janet’s Smiles

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    1. My husband is a retired firefighter but never dealt with wildfires. His old partner ended up in southern CA and has dealt with them a lot. Terrifying...

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  4. Ooh nice - that was unexpected and a wonderful perspective.

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  5. Wildfires can be so terrifying. Your story really brought it to life. I hope the firefighters win. Weekends In Maine

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    1. Thank you, Karen. Hoping the wildfires this year aren't as bad as last but fear it may be worse with the droughts.

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  6. Very clever turn around there. You had me thinking one way and then you juked me. Sometimes the hunted becomes the hunter, I guess.

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  7. Excellent!!!!! I was a bit worried it might be little Timmy out to play and his hunting father might accidentally shoot him.

    Emily In Ecuador

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  8. Brilliant! I first thought it might be an animal scurrying along... great twist!

    Ronel from Ronel the Mythmaker A-Zing with Everything Writerly: U is for Understanding

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    1. Thanks, that was one of the effects I was hoping for.

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  9. Beautifully done! Love watching the action unfold. The first person perspective so does this justice!

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    1. Thank you...I don't write much first person, so it was a challenge for sure. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. Hi, Donna - I am stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge. I am glad that I did. Your flash fiction held me in suspense until the very end!

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    1. This was one of my favorites...thanks for stopping in taking time to read and comment!

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  11. Stopping by on the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip! I love the surprise of being an inanimate object in this one. I was sure it was in the POV of an animal or human.

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    1. Thank you for dropping by, Jen. I'm glad I managed to surprise you!

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  12. Stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge Road Trip! What a great creative writing exercise!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  13. What a great personification of a wildfire. Beautiful prose! I'm visiting from the A to Z Road trip.

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Heather, and thank you for stopping by and commenting.

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