Kairos and the Phantom

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.