Isle of the Fairy Ring

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.