I've talked about our GayAuthors.org community many times, but I have to say, in seeing some recent comments and posts - I am once again just so privileged to be a part of GA. A few years ago, when Myr asked me to be the Member Advocate and among other tasks, help support and foster the community here, I immediately said yes and have had no regrets since.

One of the great ways I see the community coming together is weekly here with our Friday writing prompts, courtesy of the great Comicfan. I have seen new members, barely on a few months or so with few posts to their name yet, see one of these prompts and take the plunge and try to write a short piece themselves. Or they read the pieces that other post in the Writing Prompts forum, and comment and review on them - again, providing that support and necessary feedback. So - a heartfelt thank you to Comicfan and to all of you who, our GA community, who may be reading this.

This week's great prompts are:

Prompt 224 – Challenge
Tag – The Mystery
Create your own mystery story. The only thing that must be included is a clue must be a blood red ruby.

Prompt 225 – Creative
Tag – Magic
You just turned eighteen and your mother has come to tell you a terrible secret. You were born with magic. What you do with it will determine the outcome for everyone for the next one hundred years. What is the secret of your magic?

Last week, one of the prompts, #223, read "You were on your way home, arms loaded down with your groceries when you were attacked. The men who attacked you made no secret of the fact that they intended to kill you. Suddenly, from the dark a large creature came forward, destroying them and saving your life. What is this beast that saved your life?"

The ink was barely dry on the prompt post when Mann Ramblings already posted his take

Groggily, his eyes were open and functioning even if the rest of him was not. The groceries he was carrying were strewn about the ground, the broken eggs picking off a faint glimmer from the small amount of moonlight that peaked between the buildings.

When he was pulled into the alley he recognized the three men. They were part of the vocal group protesting the LGBT center that had just opened. Shawn had told them all to fuck off before and after the police arrived to break up the group as it began to get out of control. He was not about to be bullied by a bunch of homophobes.

They had waited for him.

Shawn could smell the overpowering stench of liquor on the trio even before the first blow struck. It dropped him to the ground and they took full advantage, cursing and battering him until he prayed they would just kill him and end it all. Someone above took mercy on him and made his consciousness finally blink out.

Now that he was awake, Shawn struggled to look around and assess the situation. He couldn't focus well or see far, it was simply too dark, but there was a figure crouched over another not far from him. The figure stood and with a single hand pulled the other from the ground. He seemed so huge. An animal like growl sent a chill through Shawn as the limp man was shook like a rag doll and slammed into the brick wall with an effortless toss.

“Common garbage,” he growled. The voice sounded almost inhuman, but that could have been the swaying senses Shawn was dealing with.

The body on the ground caught a sliver of moonlight. Shawn could recognize the gaudy tee-shirt worn by one of the trio. It was spattered in blood and he didn't appear to be breathing.

Even with all of the pain coursing, Shawn could feel the touch of hands drawing up his prone leg. Fear skittered his spine like insects as he could hear the distinctive sound of being sniffed. The standing figured whirled and ran towards him. Shawn wanted to scream but the sound gurgled in his throat. The figure kicked out and with a grunt and a fleshy impact, the weight at his legs was suddenly gone.

“Don't touch him!” the figure snarled.

COOL - huh? Oh, want more? He posted a bit more and here is the rest!

Enjoy!