After the Rain - #FridayFictioneers

4/20/2012

28 Comments

 
It's Friday Fictioneers time again.  This week's prompt reminded me of a particular day just south of Seoul.
Picture
It stopped raining for the first time in two weeks.

I want to wipe my hands clean of the mud. Even if that was a good idea, there isn’t a part of my uniform that isn’t already covered.

South Korea has more distinct breeds of mosquito than I’ve seen in my whole life prior.  One of the fifteen on my trigger hand wears tiger stripes.  I don’t dare move though.  The enemy is after me and my unit gone.

I don’t have any live ammunition because this was only a training exercise.  At least it was until the dragons arrived.

A scene from “Rise of the Dragons”

28 Comments
Sandra Crook link
4/19/2012 11:02:50 pm

You've conveyed the sense of waiting, being stalked, remaining still very well. Fifteen mosquitoes - I'm out of there, dragons or no dragons. Nice work.

Mine's at: http://castelsarrasin.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/spellbound-friday-fictioneers-april-2012/

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:42:53 am

Mosquitoes are definitely unpleasant. Thank you for your comments!

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Laura link
4/19/2012 11:20:49 pm

OH my, a slice of real life - that I see is integrated into your book - memoir, novel?
Interesting - gritty, but gives us pause in that old war...
Yours,
Laura

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:44:31 am

While the war is technically still ongoing, I'm not quite old enough to have been in the original conflict, but the scene is MOSTLY from real life.

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:45:20 am

Oh and thank you for your comments

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Jen link
4/20/2012 12:03:37 am

This definitely feels like an extract from a longer piece. I assumed we were in the Korean war, but with the training exercise and the dragons I'm wondering if there's more to it than that. Either way, you took me right into the bolt hole, and I can't wait to find out the rest of the story.

I'm over here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/friday-fiction-maturity/

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Wakefield
4/20/2012 02:47:12 am

Thanks Jen, I'm not sure yet if Dragons will be a novella or my first Sci/Fi Novel but I'm definitely growing attached to the story.

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Jen Pendergast link
4/20/2012 12:04:52 am

Captivating story. I thought at first we were in the korean war, but the dragons and the training exercise have got me wondering... I would definitely love to read the rest of the story - you took me right into that bolt hole with your character.

I'm over here: http://elmowrites.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/friday-fiction-maturity/

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Reading Pleasure link
4/20/2012 12:07:25 am

So much intrigue and suspense. Would love to know more of this real life experience.

Here is mine: http://readinpleasure.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/fridayfictioneers-diamond-tear-drops/

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:48:41 am

Thanks so much. As I noted above, it's only mostly true. ;)

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Elaine
4/20/2012 12:12:02 am

Very interesting take on the prompt. Lovely description, the sudden appearance of dragons surprised me. I want to know more.

Here's mine
http://tollykitsjourney.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/flash-fiction-story-2-for-fridayfictioneers-flashfiction/

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:49:07 am

Thanks Elaine!

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rich link
4/20/2012 12:55:37 am

love the last line. nice job.

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:49:37 am

Thanks Rich!

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CC link
4/20/2012 02:20:04 am

Uh oh. I hope he survives!! Training session gone wrong is right. Nice.

My attempt: http://unduecreativity.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/water-the-earth/

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Wakefield Mahon
4/20/2012 02:50:38 am

I hope he survives too. I have a feeling there will be quite a lot of blood spilled before this story ends. Thanks for your comments, CC!

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JKBradley link
4/20/2012 05:35:33 am

Enjoyed it. Could feel how wet and clinging the uniform, how caked with mud and filth, the penetrating probiscus, almost see him watching the little suckers expanding flush with his blood. Then you go and toss in the dragons.

http://thebradleychronicles.wordpress.com/

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Wakefield
4/21/2012 05:07:41 am

I'm glad I conveyed the memory well, those dragons really got people talking. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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Madison Woods link
4/20/2012 06:56:12 am

Your bit about the mosquitoes reminded me of the woods near a slough in s. Louisiana where I went once to gather wild cherry bark. The mosquitoes were so thick it was hard to breathe without inhaling one. Yuck. Great story with strong scene-setting!

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Wakefield Mahon
4/21/2012 05:10:03 am

I hate mosquitoes and they are already swarming this year because of our wimpy weather.

I'm so glad you continue to host this program. Every week brings a new challenge and new friends.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Trudy link
4/20/2012 07:10:36 am

Gotta love anything with dragon's. It's like a rule or something.

Here's mine:http://teschoenborn.com/2012/04/20/friday-fictioneer-5/

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Wakefield
4/21/2012 05:10:57 am

Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by Trudy!

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LupusAnthropos link
4/20/2012 08:40:18 am

Very well set. We have those tiger-striped mosquitoes down here, too, and they really leave a mark when they're done!

Here's my story: http://wp.me/p24aJS-3Z

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Wakefield
4/21/2012 05:12:56 am

Hello my lycanthropic friend! You are right about those mosquitoes, nasty little buggers, I've yet to see them stateside though.

Thanks for stopping by!

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The Drabbler link
4/20/2012 01:10:19 pm

Ah! I am never going outside again thanks to your description of the mosquitoes.
And now I wonder: who are the dragons?
Wait. Are they real dragons? They're almost as bad as the blood-suckers!

Here's mine:
http://the-drabbler.com/splat/

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Wakefield Mahon
4/21/2012 05:00:36 am

They are worse than real dragons ;)

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lora
4/21/2012 01:44:34 am

I got the mosquitos (ouch) and training exercise gone bad...but got thrown by the dragons. Who are they? What are they? In his head? Guess we will find out next wk. Here's mine:
www.triplemoonstar.blogspot.com

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Wakefield
4/21/2012 05:15:27 am

Thanks for stopping by Lora!

The dragons are invading alien race. Hopefully I can share more of the story as prompts permit. There are pieces of the story in my other contest entries. Feel free to browse.

:)

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