Sam Becker

Miep Keller

Koen Gieskes

Koen G

Rietje Becker

preston keller

Zoe Becker

Banana Bob

Four sagely birds convened at the tallest tree in Vogel Valley, each carrying a branch from their respective homeland. After exchanging a minimum of words they laid down their gifts, completing a magnificent nest. Before the ceremony was complete a huge shadow engulfed them all.

English

The shadow passed over them quickly and they realized with relief that it was just an airplane. they turned back to the nest just in time to see the dragon smash through it.

As one, they turned and ran for it. All converging on the only cover within sight, a old rickety windowless shed. Stumbling over each other, they shoved their way in. When the door shut behind them, they were left in total darkness hearing nothing but their own panicked breaths.

The shed appeared to be shrinking. Gradually smaller and smaller pushing them closer and closer. They would need to find a way out, no matter what awaited them outside. The only option was a small kitchen window, but they would need to get there fast.

After a desperate sprint to the kitchen window they realized it was already too small to fit one of them. They all knew who's name would be followed by "the shed" on the final scorecard. This was still preferable to the fate that the others would see at the dragon nest stage.

The window was small, yes, but thankfully someone had bird potion. After quick sips all around they were able to shrink down to bird size and flutter through the window to safety, never to encounter a dragon again.

Wingin' It

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Sean King

Ben Syverson

Robin Devereaux

Kara S

Sara strode up the hill. Malik struggled to keep up with her. She reached the crest of the hill, slightly out of breath, perspiration beading on her brow. She lifted one hand to shield her eyes from the sun. On the other side of the hill, Sara saw the source of the strange noise.

The hill itself seemed to shudder and convulse. Malik clambered up behind Sara, wheezing. “Mother of pearl,” said Malik. The hillside shed its blanket of grass and trees, and stood up. Sara felt her blood run cold. The elders were right after all.

Malik and Sara looked up at the towering figure made of earth and plant, not believing their eyes. “What is it you want?” the deity asked through its craggly lips. “Why did you disturb me?”

Malik thought hard to remember the words he had practiced for so long. “When the moon is long, and sun is brief. Why, oh deity, does the caterpillar lose its footing?” Sarah put her hand in his, and they looked to the deity with hope in their eyes.

The expected response came, slow and measured, "Because I willed it so. For a caterpillar only loses its footing when you shake the branch like *super* hard." Looking back at them, the deity winked and then, forgetting all about them, wandered off without a backwards glance.

They watched him go with their mouths agape. What was THAT supposed to mean? Caterpillars? Branches shaking? How did that help them now? They looked at one another. “All we can do is ... move forward,” she said finally. “We have to do the best we can with what we know now.” 
“But

how do we know that that guy isn't crazy? We can't spend the rest of our lives chasing an ambiguous sign, looking at every single caterpillar we see! I'm going back, I've had enough." He started heading down the trail again but all he could hear was her footsteps heading away.

The Hills are Alive

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It was a dark starry night when Lauren and Max ventured into the woods. They had been looking forward to this all week. It was the only night the Sporkle Comet would be visible and only for ten minutes. Not to repeat again for many lifetimes.

After they passed the first bend Max realized they weren't going to make it to the clearing in time. "We need to take this shortcut or we won't get to experience the Sporkle!" he pleaded desperately. Lauren didn't think it was worth it. They'd soon learn she was very right.

Guided by starlight, Max and Lauren sped through winding roads feeling increasingly confident they’d soon be basking in the glow of a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. Then, without warning, a giant winged beast slammed onto the hood of their car. “Holy Sporkle!” they screamed.

For it was indeed the one and only Holy Sporkle! A being so powerful it can cut right through butter with it's talons... But only when the butter is warmed up a little bit. Still, it's powerful though, it's mother told it so.

She said "Holy Sporkle, baby honeybun, you do have one thing to be afraid of and that is margerine. It's just pretending to be butter and will actually coat your talons in oil. You won't be able to grip anything for 4hrs and 27 mins... to be exact. She knew this from experience.

He looked at her when she shared this wisdom and he knew it with such certainty: she's the one! She is beautiful and funny. She has such wisdom and those eyes! For a moment he just did not know what to say and just stood there looking at her in awe!
But this is no time to dream.

And so Lauren and the Holy Sporkle left the mountain together. Leaving Max to his solitude. As he looked up at the sky he saw the Sporkle
Comet pass. Once in a lifetime, he thought. He rolled his eyes and left the woods.

The sporkle in her eyes

Nathan Bilancio

Brad Koehn

UGH why do muffins smell so good, she thought as she passed through the kitchen. This diet was going to be the death of her. She looked at her diet app, only 400 calories left and it was only 2pm. This was going to be a long day.

That's when the idea struck her. She would engineer a muffin that had absolutely no flavor or smell, and be as nutritious as kale. She immediately ran to her lab.

By the wee hours of the morning, the formula had been perfected. She looked down lovingly at her creation, unaware of the events she had set in motion. Who would have thought a tasteless, odorless carbohydrate could change the course of history?

It is hard to state how different the world was before the invention of Nutri Slop. It was a truly revolutionary engineered food product.

Too bad that their slogan, "Nutri Slop, Nutri Slop. Mmm Mmm good! You won't want to stop." Turned out to be prophetic. As more than half the population became hopelessly addicted.

But that was Nutri Corp’s plan all along, and now that they had everyone hooked, they could activate the nanobots that we’re inside them all.

Attack of the nanomuffins

Leora Kenney

Annelie Gieskes

Preston Keller

This weekend’s honored guests had traveled from near and far to be here tonight. The last couple arrived just before midnight; they approached the looming gothic doors, carrying nothing but one backpack between them, and knocked three times with determination.

As the host opened the door he was surprised to see two sets of large ears and furry paws. He had invited the new neighbors, but they had not met yet. All he knew was that the Wolfersons were newly vegan, and looking for friends with similar interests. They opened their backpack.

"Welcome Wolfersons, please make yourselves at home." He said, hopping aside as they slinked in, mumbling something under their breath, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't catch that." 
"Thank you" came the growled reply but he was sure he'd heard, "Remember, rabbits are friends, not food".

He dismissed this, it couldn't possibly be true. "Here help yourselves to some carrots and lettuce!" The response to this was a big big growl, a pounce, and a snarl. "Oops, my bad" says the big bad wolf". He spits out a rabbit foot and sits down at the table "what's for dessert?"

The rabbit sadly looked down at his leg, now without a foot. “Well I was going to serve you my famous carrot cake, Mr Wolf, but since you just bit my foot off I think you should leave!” 
The wolf smiled at the rabbit, “it’s your lucky day! I’m a famous reconstruct I’ve surgeon!”

But the rabbit didn't believe him and hobbled away quickly, jumped in the sea and swam to an exotic tropical island.

The little rabbit lay down on the beach. In the sun she dreamt of the wolf. He suddenly looked so attractive. Am I falling in love? Could he really fix my leg? Could he be my hero after all? He does have beautiful eyes.

Then she snapped out of it. Mother made this fatal mistake - I can't let it become my fate too! Wolves evolved beautiful eyes for the sole purpose of seducing us. I know this, but, then again, he said he would protect me when the time came. Then it's decided. I will call for him.

Severance

Jack Becker

Greg Perez

Rebecca nervously cut the turkey with her brand new carving knife. Once finished with the light meat she allowed herself to momentarily gaze down the packed banquet table at familiar faces. After a second or two she wiped the sweat from her brow and returned to the bird.

She had been craving the turkey for what felt like hours. Her new knife had been discounted, and now she knew why. It was dull as a butter knife. She made eye contact with a panicky Larry, her date, who had been making strained conversation with her father.

She tried to convey her message to him through that brief eye contact. Larry gave no outward sign of understanding, but quickly pulled out a short big sharp knife.

Larry had many hobbies. His most recently acquired hobby happened to be knife juggling. He tossed his knife into the air to the sound of an audible gasp.

Since he thought he'd been alone, the gasp made Larry jump in fright. Now, he could do nothing but watch as the tossed blade slipped between the fingers of his outstretched hand.

And with that, Larry came to realize why his particular brand of barbershop schooling was known as ‘bladerunning’ to the elders. Scratching his chin and staring into the polluted Los Angeles sunset, Larry became at peace with his chosen destiny. Whence would the blade run next?

Butter Fingers

Her toes tingled as she moved closer to the edge of the cliff. Heights had never been her strong suit. “Harold, is that you?” A hand reached over the cliff drop off.

The hand was quickly followed by a head peeking over the edge of the cliff. It was not Harold. He was groaning, or she thought it was a 'he'. She stepped closer, although every instinct was screaming at her to run away.

Oh no, it was a scary devilish looking monster, run, my instinct said, run as fast as you can.

I burst out of the ball shed and past the canoe rack, not once daring to look over my shoulder at the hideous beast. Why hadn’t I followed the fortune teller’s advice?

Although, I still don't know why, "don't let the man with two hats touch the comb" would have been useful in this situation. Besides, he was wearing a beanie and a helmet, not two hats. Now, I need to find a safe place to hide from the beast and plan my next move.

Of course no hiding place in sight. I better start running, maybe i can hide in the forest. Dark in here, i don't like it at all. Did i just hear something? Total silence... something grabbed my ankle. My last thought, I wish I didn't eat so much last night.

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