Note From a Triceratops
Storyfeather
We think we know their story. The asteroid. The extinction. But one person believes that the dinosaurs may have left more than their bones behind. Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery Excerpt: They saw it coming. And at first they were helpless. Despite how far they’d come in their hundred-million-plus years of existence, they were helpless to stop the asteroid that was headed right for them. So they didn’t stop it. But they didn’t stay helpless either. What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode?Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or...
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The Alien in My Headphones
Storyfeather
A young woman becomes increasingly convinced that the radio receiver in her bargain headphones is picking up an alien transmission. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction Excerpt: And I, as always, am Glormynx. As you know, this week, I’m interviewing citizens at all levels of society—soldiers, politicians, bakers, mongrel-walkers, scientists, and of course, poets. And I’m asking what they think about the planned invasion of Earth. 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...
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A Specter in Amber
Storyfeather
A woman observes an unnatural change in her sister linked to a chunk of amber that her sister stumbles upon and begins to study. Genre: Mystery Excerpt: I heard her climbing up to check on the source of the clatter, just as I had. And when I heard Marta enter the room and scream, half of me wanted to turn around and comfort her. The other half of me wanted to keep locking gazes with the specter that was floating outside the attic window.. What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each Season 8 episode is a standalone story, but it’s connected to or...
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The Dark Organ Factory
Storyfeather
Two friends uncover the truth behind the mysterious industrial accident that shuttered an organ preservation factory and cast its owner into ruin. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction Excerpt: Jordan then glanced around the room, the basement room that was part of the secret underground laboratory beneath the abandoned factory that was once owned by Sabrina’s mother, Alectrona Fabron, the famed pioneer of organ preservation technology. It seemed Alectrona had figured out how to preserve more than just organs. What story or stories am I revisiting in this episode? Each...
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Unstable Blood
Storyfeather
A woman with unique blood and a man with an uncanny sense of smell are targeted by a shadowy corporation seeking to shut down all research into synthetic blood. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction Excerpt: Too much blood. Too much blood is dripping. He’ll smell it. He’ll find me. Once again, she stopped for a moment and leaned against a wall under the flashing red bulbs and the piercing alarm. She inhaled and drew the blood back into her body through the poorly sealed gash that arced over her shoulder. A dozen rivulets trickled up her bare arm. What story or...
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What Is Permanent Damage?
Storyfeather
A locked door, surrounded by scandal and rumor, stands in the middle of an office. No one ever goes in or comes out. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction Excerpt: Every day on my way to my desk, I passed by a door with the words “PERMANENT DAMAGE” written on it. No one ever went in or came out—not that I’d seen anyway, and I’d been working at the firm for about a year. I asked people about the door, and the sign. They said there used to be another firm occupying our floor and the two below it. That door supposedly led to a defunct elevator that shuttled executives...
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My Every Existing Memory
Storyfeather
An inventor of a memory management device realizes his invention is showing him a memory he hasn’t experienced, a dangerous memory. Genre: Mystery, Science Fiction Excerpt: “Memories are unreliable…” Max paused, hesitated actually. He’d rehearsed aloud what he was going to say so many times— despite not needing to remember the words— that he’d fooled himself into believing it all sounded reasonable. But now, he was about to say the words out loud to another person, the most critical person he could possibly tell his truth to.. What story or stories am I...
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The Wandering Winsome
Storyfeather
Wil Winsome is a magician-for-hire, whose newest case may involved excising a possessing spirit from a beloved and fragile grandmother. Genre: Fairy Tale, Horror Excerpt: What I got from my mother was her hands. I am the only one among my brothers and sisters who can do real magic. It took study and struggle, true. I’m only half-fairy after all. I am also the only one because my brothers and sisters chose other paths. Paths less littered with singed parchment, bearing symbols written in the faded sepia of dried blood. Paths less meandering into the mouths of bat-filled caverns....
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Lucinda of the Ashes
Storyfeather
When Lucinda’s dream of studying magic is dashed, she finds another chance in a grand royal contest that she’s been forbidden to enter. Genre: Fairy Tale Excerpt: “Every spell I try turns to ashes. It was not my intention to teach myself. I merely have no other choice.” 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. This story joins the several others...
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Why Beauty Sought the Beast
Storyfeather
To be a beauty is both a burden and a boon. Genre: Fairy Tale Excerpt: Imelda’s beauty—while it may not have impressed in a city or even a large town—was quite surpassing in their little village. Surpassing enough to catch the eye of those with greater means. The girl wished to be learned. She wished to explore. Perhaps her beauty could make it so could do what she dreamed of doing. 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...
info_outlineTraveling on a road at night that cuts through the woods, one driver fears encountering dangers both natural and supernatural.
Genre: Horror
Excerpt:
The car had been behind me for a while, even before we turned onto Dollortop, the road that just barely split the sprawling woods that separated the counties.
I gripped the steering wheel at ten and two, and glanced at the rearview mirror, as I eased my foot off the accelerator. My car began to slow.
What’s the Writing Prompt that inspired the story?
Looks like this story was inspired by “Over the River and Through the Woods,” a Thanksgiving nursery rhyme.
“Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandmother's (Grandfather's) house we go.
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow.”
And so on. It’s a long rhyme!
MY FIRST BOOK IS OUT!
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 as an eBook, paperback, and hardcover.
The book title takes you straight to the book on Amazon.
Or you can visit my Store page: STORYFEATHER STORE
(Haha, hear me spell "store" incorrectly in the outro.)
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CREDITS
Story: “Through the Woods at Night” Copyright © 2020 by Nila L. Patel
Narration, Episode Art, Editing, and Production: Nila L. Patel
Music:
“Trip-Hop Lounge Abstract Background” by Digital Emotions (Intro/Outro)
Music by NICHOLAS JEUDY (Dark Fantasy Studio)*
“Unsolved”
“The killer story”
“I’m sorry”
“Ruined”
“Silence is dead”
“Hope is gone”
“Human monster”
“Discovering the truth”
“Whispers”
*These tracks were part of a music and sound effects bundles I purchased from Humble Bundle and sourced from GameDev Market.
Music by Nicholas Jeudy licensed from GameDev Market
Sound effects from AudioJungle and GameDevMarket
Changes made to the musical tracks? Just cropping to align with my narration.
Find more music by Digital_Emotions at audiojungle.net
Find more music by Nicholas Jeudy at gamedevmarket.net
Find more stories by Nila at storyfeather.com
Episode Art Description: Digital drawing. View from inside a car at night facing the front windshield. At left, the driver’s arms extend toward the steering wheel, held in both hands. On the dashboard, the radio dial, air vents, and glove box are just visible in the dark cabin. Beyond the windshield is a narrow road, bordered by bare-branched trees. In the rearview mirror appears a hazy shadow of shoulders and a head. Borders at top and bottom make the rectangular image a square. Hazy trees extend into the top border. The bottom border contains smears of color from the bottom of the image. Watermark of “Storyfeather” along the glove box.