After The 7 Virtues

The 7 virtues blog challenge is the first blog challenge I’ve taken on. I found it daunting at first, but after writing the first one, Chastity, I realized that though writing a story in 100 words wasn’t easy, it was not impossible. Once I remembered the advice: “short stories rely more on the idea than novels”, I took the dog out and sought ideas that would encompass the 7 virtues. Once I’d found one I would begin adding layers, just as I do with longer stories.

I learned from 7 virtues blog challenge that even 100 words can tell a story, as a result when writing or revising I choose the words with care. A few well-chosen words can help set the tone for the scene and keep it up. “Blades of grass that bent under the terrible force of the wind” tell that something awful is about to happen, while “Morning dew dappled the gently swaying field” is much calmer, setting the mood for contemplation or a love scene; even though we’re essentially describing grass. Description can be a powerful tool; I got to see it in action. There were many great stories that essentially described a person doing something with little or no dialog. The words they had chosen, the actions of the characters and the looks on their faces spoke more than words.

Reading what the other participants imagined when faced with the challenge of creating stories inspired by 7 virtues was rewarding. Some went the less virtuous way, creating horrific tales with gruesome endings, while some had truly virtuous characters whose example should be followed.

Thank you Lady Antimony for throwing us the gauntlet and thankyou everyone who picked it up, it has been a pleasure reading your stories. Hopefully the next challenge will be just as fruitful.

1. Chastity

2. Temperance

3. Charity

4. Diligence

5. Patience

6. Kindness

7. Humility

7 virtues: Humility

Snow crunched beneath Duro’s paws, cold clutched at him, but his bloodlust kept him moving. The human was near.

Duro was the only one left of the search party, the others died of the poison. He would hunt down the humans who dared kill shapeshifters and kidnap the children.

The prey was sleeping; with a leap he was upon the human, pinning him down.

“This human might not be one of them…” He sniffed the shivering body, but smelled only fear. He could not determine his innocence. ”Perhaps I’m not the one to decide over matters of life and death.”

7 virtues: Kindness

She wore black as befit a grieving woman. It was her first time out in months, yet she was beginning to regret it. Shouts filled the air as he hurried onwards.

“We found the shapestealer pup!”

She stopped and turned. Pushing her way through the crowd she found what the men had hunted: a small green dragon hissing, spreading its puny wings.

“Get away, it’s just a child!” She lifted the small thing into her arms and ran through the parting crowd.

She risked a glance down; the dragon had changed into a fair haired boy.

“My child, now.”

7 virtues: Patience

“Mine,” the big black dragon growled.

“I’ve already laid my eggs here.” The smaller one’s voice dripped with venom.

“I dug that nest last year; I’m not digging a new one. Move!”

“What’s the problem, madams?” Veetra ran to the fighting dragons.

“Mine!”

“No, mine!”

The shapeshifter looked at the dragons; they would kill each other in a moment. She had to think fast.

“Oi, Diggory!” She called to the fellow shapeshifter who preferred the shape of a huge mole. “I have a job for you!”

The big black settled in her new nest without complaints. Veetra sighed. She’d kept them safe, for now.