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Cera Chronicles - Murder Most Fowl - #atozchallenge

Murder Most Fowl – Part C #atozchallenge

Posted on April 3, 2014April 4, 2014 by Loni Townsend

For the A to Z challenge, I present Murder Most Fowl, an unedited serial story from the unpublished Cera Chronicles. Please excuse the grammar mistakes. This hasn’t been critiqued yet. If you’re just diving into this story, you may want to start with .

Cowboys surrounded us.

The girl aimed her weapon at the furry face of the badged man. Tiny copper gears whirred and cranked on the device. Steam whistled from a valve. The weapon shook in her hands. “Leave me alone, Bobby. I’m warnin’ you!” Her corset seams strained with each inhalation. “You’re unfairly branding me the—”

Bobby’s nostrils flared at the mention of branding.

She flinched. “Sorry. Bad choice of words.”

Bobby’s jaw worked, ruminating over the wretched remains of half-digested vegetable matter. The curled ends of his greasy mustache twitched with each slavering bite like a pinned rodent in its death throes. “Now Miss Molly, you don’t wanna be rilin’ up the boys. How ‘bout you put down that there ray-gun.”

Molly snorted. “Oh yeah? Make me!” Her finger twitched on the trigger. The tip of the weapon bobbed in the air, never holding a steady position. It dipped slightly, momentarily leveling with his waistband.

He cleared his throat and shuffled to the side.

The aim swayed again. Right toward my head.

I scooted to my left and bumped into a pair of legs. Criminy. How did I end up in the middle anyways?

“Who’s this?” Bobby asked, staring down at me. He readjusted his hat. I was impressed it stayed on his head, what with the pair of horns poking out from his skull. His maw opened, gracing me with an unwelcomed glimpse of stained teeth and the foul stench of regurgitated, decaying flora.

I flashed a smile and batted my eyelashes. “Don’t let me interrupt your little feud here. I’m just passing through.”

Molly’s gaze darted to me then back to Bobby. “I’m bettin’ she’s your real culprit.”

Culprit? Why that little— “I didn’t do it!” My hand bumped the fowl corpse of the feathery stalker lying next to me. “What didn’t I do?”

Bobby spat a slimy reddish-brown glob on the ground. It struck the dirt and splattered in a star-shaped pattern. He drummed his holstered gun. A hoof-like shell covered the back of his hand and all three fingers. “Well, Miss…”

“Cera,” I supplied.

“Well, Miss Cera. You’ve just been accused of murder.”

If you want to start at the beginning, . Don’t forget to visit other bloggers participating in the A to Z Challenge.

16 thoughts on “Murder Most Fowl – Part C #atozchallenge”

  1. SD Neeve says:
    April 3, 2014 at 1:56 AM

    Brilliant! What else can I say! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Julie Flanders says:
    April 3, 2014 at 6:10 AM

    Oh no, poor Cera! Have to say I loved her, “what didn’t I do?” LOL. Great dialogue.

    Reply
  3. Crystal Collier says:
    April 3, 2014 at 9:32 AM

    Lovely imagery. I think I’m getting a grip on this story world, and way to present such a complex one in so few words!

    Reply
  4. Danny Simon says:
    April 3, 2014 at 10:55 AM

    Gripping! When some one looks at you and accuses you..now that’s not easy at all! Great going! Can’t wait to read more!
    Danny

    Reply
  5. Cristina says:
    April 3, 2014 at 11:36 AM

    Cowboys, Culprits and Cera! You, my dear, have a trifecta!

    And my attention! Well done!

    Reply
  6. Debi O'Neille, writing against the wind says:
    April 3, 2014 at 11:42 AM

    You’ve got me hooked. So glad I’m following your blog. Good reading.
    Best,
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

    Reply
  7. Cat says:
    April 3, 2014 at 2:08 PM

    Love this, Loni! So imaginative and creative to write a serial story and present it this way. Great writing, too! Can’t wait for the next installment.

    Cat

    Reply
  8. Liz Blocker (@lizblocker) says:
    April 3, 2014 at 3:34 PM

    I’m thinking Mr. Cowboy looks like a cow – in which case, “branded” – LOL!!!! Love the fun tone and puns!

    Reply
  9. Christine Rains says:
    April 3, 2014 at 4:34 PM

    Love this! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

    Reply
  10. Kim says:
    April 3, 2014 at 7:08 PM

    I really enjoyed this piece! Love Cera and the cowboys 🙂

    Reply
  11. S(t)ri says:
    April 3, 2014 at 9:33 PM

    My curiosity level is increasing day by day!! Btw our time zone difference -_- now only I read your C, should wait for 24 hours now for D

    Reply
  12. MAJK says:
    April 3, 2014 at 10:19 PM

    I am enjoying how this story is progressing, I can’t wait to read more.

    *~MAJK~*
    A-to-Z Challenge 2014
    Mighty Minion of Co-Host Nicole Ayers
    @Safireblade on Twitter
    http://www.safireblade.com/

    Reply
  13. Rajlakshmi says:
    April 4, 2014 at 1:41 AM

    woaa this is becoming even more intense … I love your style of storytelling. waiting for next part

    Reply
  14. Kajal says:
    April 4, 2014 at 11:42 PM

    Am enjoying this story. Looking forward to how this is shaping up.

    Reply
  15. Corinne Rodrigues says:
    April 8, 2014 at 5:10 AM

    This gets better and better, Loni!

    Reply
  16. Doreen McGettigan says:
    April 14, 2014 at 8:48 AM

    I have such vivid pictures on my head. Good job!

    Reply

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Welcome to my blog. I post here on Wednesdays most of the time, but you can find me on social media any day of the week. My topics include my stories and writing, life at the Town's End, creating and tinkering with graphics, things I learn and think might be helpful to others, and the occasional amateur photo. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around.

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