Thursday, March 20, 2014

Fractured Fairy Tale Contest - The Twelve Dancing Walruses



This tale clocks in at 385 words w/out the title. Please note that a "let" ( In Sedna's poem, line 3 of the story) is the collective noun for a group of walruses. Please leave a comment & I promise to read your tale, too. Thanks & appreciation to Susanna Leonard Hill for hosting this contest.

The Twelve Dancing Walruses

     Every evening as the Northern Lights flashed, Sedna, the Sea Goddess, sang a sea shanty that only twelve walrus pups could hear.
     “My lovely let* of twelve,
     Come to me where I dwell.
     Dance with me under the sea.
     I’ll catch you in my spell.”      
    The twelve slipped into the sea and swam to a secret cove where Sedna held court until dawn.      Her song enraptured the calves. The sociable sea creatures flapped their flippers. They danced a jig. They jostled and jumped ‘til the wee hours.
     The next day the calves slumbered in the sun. Old Tooth snorted when he saw his pups still dozing  Hmm… they sleep too soundly as if they’ve been up all night.
     First Born felt his father’s gaze and barked. “Look lively, brothers, especially you, Little Bit. Father suspects.”  
     Sedna’s mesmerizing voice continued to compel the calves to dance. The pups waltzed. They wiggled and even did the wobble. Each night promised more fun than the last.
     However, Little Bit dragged his flippers as the twelve shimmied and swayed. He blubbered to First Born, “My flippers flop. I’m ready to drop.”   
   The next night as the Aurora Borealis danced its way into the sky, Little Bit waited. While his brothers and sisters snuck out, he floated over to Old Tooth, seeking out his father’s warmth. Old Tooth woke as Little Bit crawled closer.    
“Is that you, little one? Where are the others?”
     “My flippers aren’t dancing slippers, Father, but if I tell my brothers’ secret, they will tease me.”    
     “Son, I questioned why your brothers lay listless. I was once like First Born, but I have a plan. My brother Grimm entrusted me with a magical net before he died. Now we use it.”
     Under the Northern Lights Old Tooth and Little Bit paddled to Sedna’s cove. While the pups frolicked, an invisible net scooped up the let and pulled them home.
     The twelve brothers rose early the next morning, famished and forgetful. Old Tooth swam over to the twelve.
     “I am pleased, my pups. Tonight we feast on the shrimp, crab, and clams I caught with Brother Grimm’s net. We will dance by the light of the moon. I decree that First Born and Little Bit shall lead and I will call the tune.”

37 comments:

  1. I love it Kathy. Beautiful, mystical and moving :-) x x

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  2. What a funny collective word for walrus! I like the imagery and the incorporated poetry! Good luck!

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    1. Julie, appreciate it. Had more poetry, but only 400 words, hard.

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  3. I agree with Emi, it's mystical.

    Beautiful job!

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    1. Wow kathy! You are unbelievably quick! I like what you have done with it!

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    2. It was really bothering me, Pam. I take ur praise as a high compliment.

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  4. What a lovely story, Kathy! Who would have fought 12 dancing walruses could be so beautiful! Love the language and imagery! Great job! Thank you so much for joining in the fun!

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    1. In the water they are lyric! Actually, living in the West, I liked the Corn pone Boy!

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  5. Aw, shucks, I had to wrestle this story down. TY from the Walruses. Pups win: Walruses 1 Sedna - 0

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  6. I love, love, love this story. I mean it! My favorite line is “My flippers aren’t dancing slippers, Father, but if I tell my brothers’ secret, they will tease me.” The imagery is spot on. You did a remarkable job. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Jackie, this was a true struggle for me. It wanted to go too many places.

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  7. This turned out so well, Kathy! I know how hard you worked on it.

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    1. There still may be a MG story in it, too, with Sedna as a main character in another book. Thanks for reading, Patty.

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  8. Sedna. Now there's a name I haven't heard since my university days. I am glad that you are using a more unconventional tale and introducing the character to many who have never heard of her.

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    1. Linda, I am becoming fascinated by Arctic mythology. Who knew where this tale was going?

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  9. So adorable Kathy and so well written !! Great job !!

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  10. This is enchanting! What a lovely tale. Well done, Kathy!

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  11. Great story! Your walrus names were so cute, especially Little Bit!

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  12. What a clever tale, Kathy! Northern Lights and dancing walruses...and mystical magical nets...it's a beautiful story...I can definitely see it as a picture book one day. :)

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  13. Such lyrical language and a great fairy tale choice. Have you been over to ChapterBookChallenge? They are looking for short stories about mermaids and other sea folk for their upcoming anthology.

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  14. Susanna's March Madness Contest is great, I've really enjoyed reading all of the different fairy-tales. Your is very lyrical and has great use of language. Good job!

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  15. Okay not sure where my first post ran off, but I wanted to come back and let you know how much I enjoyed your work. My goodness! You are a crafter of word, for sure. I can totally see you expanding this and making it a chapter book. So glad I stopped by.

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  16. This is beautiful. What a wonderful change from princesses. I really enjoyed this story thank you.

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  17. What a unique twist. Also, lovely language. I am having so much fun reading the entries.

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  18. There are so many wonderful details in your story. What great use of names, and creatures like the Sea Goddess. Little Bit is adorable.

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    1. Thank you Author Amok. I look at your blog from time to time, too! Little Bit is actually the name of a rescue dog I know TY for reading this.

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  19. Nice story Kathy. Beautiful language :)

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  20. Very creative--and walruses...who would've imagined they could be so lyrical?

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  21. I love myths and arctic ones are my favorite. Great story! :) Like the others I love the imagery and names. :)

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  22. clarbojahn, Ty for reading & stopping by.

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