Fiction in a Flash

I write prose for the games I design–connective tissue binding the system and the setting together. It has been passing rare for me to have an opportunity to write any sort of fiction for its own sake (or, at least, the sake of it being read outside of a game context), so when I saw the Mad Wendigo, Chuck Wendig, announce a flash fiction challenge, I thought I’d take a pass. The hook gleamed, so I had to look. The bait hung heavy, thick with ancient Scotch, and an idea bubbled to the surface. I set it aside. I had no time. I had deadlines and real work to get done, but the idea recurred again and finally yesterday, aggravated and unable to concentrate on the matter at hand, I decided to satisfy my jones, and write the story. It came in a great rush. It was sitting half-formed, crystallized when I first saw the picture of Shackleton. It’s worth noting, I suppose, it’s a Mythos tale. I didn’t explicitly say as such in any sort of direct prefatory and I wondered whether or not it needed the ancient choir to announce such from the mountains and thought better of it. It should be able to stand on its own webbed feet. Distillation is the first story I’ve written for public consumption in a long time. If the response is good, there will certainly be more.

I hope you enjoy it.

Until next time, I bid you, dear reader, adieu!