Thirdly

And I'm slapping electric tape on those balloons because we have a whole 9 months for the anthology piece and there is no deadline for the other four pieces.

But, Aaron, who said you had to post them all in the anthology? The other four could just be regular posts. *scampers away*

Hang in there!

Right, right. I forgot all about that. My mind split that into Creature and Features seperately. 🤣

Why did everyone immediately think horror? My mind went immediately Creature Feature- Werefox Movie...then Alpha/Omega Dynamics. 🤣

Wait, wouldn't that mean you'd have to write 5???

Of course. I've been plotting since the minute I saw it. It was like 2025's anthology had my name stamped all over it. 😂

That...is a problem I don't have, they all speak to me. All prompts, all themes...I just can't write them all out. 🤣

On Creature Feature interpretation: Mine isn't horror, but parts of it might come off as horrific. 🤔 On Feature Articles for Different Genres: Let's go!! Can't wait to see them as they come out! 🎉

🤣Agreed. Yes. This. In the real world, betta fish would be too small for a shark's meal. 🤣 Your take on it had me laughing! - 🤣 GASP! Now I'm really curious about what you're writing, Ben!

I would join you on that hill, but I wouldn't let you die. 😂

So true! If anyone reading hasn't any ideas for their anthology entry, this is one right here!

Don't even joke about that. If I liked both choices I'd have tried and died in the process.

🤣 I see that more than one of my besties is indicisive! So much love for you, Adi.

The following morning, I stealthily left the caverns, my heart pounding with fierce determination not to let Balar interfere with my time with Griffin. I sped past the bay root and reeds, my anticipation building with every stroke until I arrived at the spot where I hoped to find him. At first, I saw no one. But then, a sudden movement behind a boulder just beyond the brackish water barrier caught my attention. As Griffin swam over to the edge of the barrier, I was taken aback. In the

I'm terrible at poetry. And lyrics. But maybe one day. So, I can't speak for the poetry crowd. This may not be the place to ask it, but is it too hard on the team to offer multiple themes? My prompt for the last Prompt Event had an A or B and I was glad of it. So, I just wondered why everything else doesn't also? For example (and I don't mean it has to be right now) but Diversity as option A, Family as option B...Creature Feature as option A, Suspense Thriller as option B etc.? I'd throw in an option C, but that's when anyone that is highly indecisive (like my best friend) would never be able to choose...sometimes just one or the other is plenty.

And that's why it's the perfect cake for me. 🥰 I still owe myself an actual birthday cake this year. It was a milestone bday, an even 40, and I didn't plan ahead enough to bake or buy a cake.

Status Update:

Status Update: Grandma seems to be doing a little better. She was transferred to a physical therapy facility. I'll hopefully be able to visit her in 3 weeks' time in person! 🤞

They are in a non-existent ocean-lake fusion that is separated into haphazard sections by brackish water, keeping the saltwater mermen in saltwater sections and vice versa with the freshwater mermen. Since the boundaries are sporadic, in rare regions, there is a saltwater segment next to another saltwater segment and vice versa. Usually, the pattern is saltwater-brackish water- freshwater -brackish water -saltwater, though. 🤞Hopefully. I wouldn't want to retire in either clan if my goal was rest and relaxation. Think of the brackish water kind of like space (Without a space suit, a human would lose consciousness in about 15 seconds, die after 90 seconds, and freeze solid within 12 to 26 hours)...only instead of freezing, they can't regulate their salt levels and dehydrate. In the case of the saltwater mermen, they could last for about 90 seconds in brackish water before swelling up and suffocating, but only 15 seconds in freshwater. Similar case for the opposite, freshwater into salt water, only they are drying up instead of blowing up. Betta mermen in this story, however, can survive for longer in brackish water than their brethren. Several minutes instead of seconds, as some betta fish (in real life) are adaptable and can thrive in a wide range of water conditions, including brackish water (it depends on the adaptability of the fish to brackish water, the salinity of the water, and the species of betta fish). In the story, I just made them able to withstand it for longer than their saltwater brethren.

This chapter was brought to you by the magical @Cia who managed to fix what I broke so that it could post normally. Thank you, @Cia~

I dove towards the reeds again, zooming past the bay root, picking up speed until I tucked myself away into the cavern I shared with my aunt, deep within the underground maze. The maze was a complex network of tunnels and chambers, each with its unique features and dangers. More bettas lived in these caverns, but no one knew the specific paths leading to one another's abode. My aunt and I had frequently lost our way during our first few moon cycles living here. I peered over my shoulder to make

The movie Wicked mimics the Wizard of Oz title by using the same font. But imagine if they titled it Shrewish instead. 🤣

They are more than useful, they're enticing. I only read some of these stories because of your reviews!