| General Flash Fiction posted May 17, 2022 |
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A possum-trapper's encounter with vandals. (100 words)
A Back-country Tale
by LisaMay
Words couldn’t describe Mike’s anger at the scene of destruction when he returned to his forest campsite. (Well, they could, but they wouldn’t be allowed on this site!) His tent was ripped and supplies scattered.
“How the hell would vandals find my camp in this remote valley?”
Mike had been trapping possums and stoats, which were decimating the native bird population. Frustrated by this setback to his efforts, his dismay suddenly turned to delight.
A pair of juvenile mountain parrots arrived and began pecking the ruined tent.
“So you’re to blame, you rascals. Proving the breeding program is a success!”
100 Word Dash writing prompt entry
Words couldn’t describe Mike’s anger at the scene of destruction when he returned to his forest campsite. (Well, they could, but they wouldn’t be allowed on this site!) His tent was ripped and supplies scattered.
“How the hell would vandals find my camp in this remote valley?”
Mike had been trapping possums and stoats, which were decimating the native bird population. Frustrated by this setback to his efforts, his dismay suddenly turned to delight.
A pair of juvenile mountain parrots arrived and began pecking the ruined tent.
“So you’re to blame, you rascals. Proving the breeding program is a success!”
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Writing Prompt Take flash fiction to the extreme. Can you tell a complete story in just 100 words. If so, this is your opportunity to shine. The story can be about any subject you wish, creative approaches are of course encouraged. All stories must have the following: Main Character, Setting, Conflict, Resolution. |
Author Note:
(Photograph by Danilo Hegg, Southern Alps Photography)
Conservation efforts are made to control introduced predators that kill New Zealand's native mountain parrots (Kea). Possums are known to prey on them and disturb nests, although not as much as stoats. Rats also prey on kea eggs. Kea are particularly vulnerable because they nest in holes in the ground that are easy to find and get into.
In the story, Mike could tell the birds were juveniles (last year's chicks) because of the yellow ceres (the skin at the top of the beak, around the nostrils) and eyelids. As the kea get older, the yellow slowly disappears and the head feathers darken. An adult kea (4 years+) has dark colouration around the eyes, nostrils and beak.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. (Photograph by Danilo Hegg, Southern Alps Photography)
Conservation efforts are made to control introduced predators that kill New Zealand's native mountain parrots (Kea). Possums are known to prey on them and disturb nests, although not as much as stoats. Rats also prey on kea eggs. Kea are particularly vulnerable because they nest in holes in the ground that are easy to find and get into.
In the story, Mike could tell the birds were juveniles (last year's chicks) because of the yellow ceres (the skin at the top of the beak, around the nostrils) and eyelids. As the kea get older, the yellow slowly disappears and the head feathers darken. An adult kea (4 years+) has dark colouration around the eyes, nostrils and beak.
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