Loved the underlying weight of nature and history here that contrasted so well with the mutability of modern life. I could feel the Sluagh and the Winter Hag, not sinister so much as inevitable, and the ending with her carrying on the tradition of the candle on November 1 was poignant. Well done!
The atmosphere is so controlled… like the story knows exactly what it’s summoning and takes its time getting there. That quiet dread running underneath everything… it never lets up.
I especially loved how you used ritual and “wellness language” against itself. That tension between modern intention-setting and something much older and less forgiving was really effective.
And that ending…
not explosive, not chaotic… just cold, inevitable, and complete.
Loved the underlying weight of nature and history here that contrasted so well with the mutability of modern life. I could feel the Sluagh and the Winter Hag, not sinister so much as inevitable, and the ending with her carrying on the tradition of the candle on November 1 was poignant. Well done!
Thank you. You helped me brainstorm this one to life. I appreciate it.
So glad to have helped a bit. Thanks for participating in Spring Fever!
This felt ancient in the best way.
The atmosphere is so controlled… like the story knows exactly what it’s summoning and takes its time getting there. That quiet dread running underneath everything… it never lets up.
I especially loved how you used ritual and “wellness language” against itself. That tension between modern intention-setting and something much older and less forgiving was really effective.
And that ending…
not explosive, not chaotic… just cold, inevitable, and complete.
Beautifully unsettling.
Thank you so much Waymon. I am happy that you enjoyed my story. So very lovely to cross paths with you here. ❤️
I’m really glad we crossed paths too ❤️
There was something about that piece that lingered… that quiet, controlled dread is hard to shake (in the best way).
I love finding writers who are playing in that space between ritual, emotion, and something a little more… ancient.
I’ve been exploring a similar tension in my own horror… where the beautiful and the unforgiving sit right next to each other.
Looking forward to reading more of your work.
Thank you. I noticed that exact element as I read your story. The layers are magical in the best, chilling and curious, ways. ❤️
“magical, chilling, and curious” …honestly, if that ends up on my gravestone, I’ll take it 😄
That really means a lot, especially coming from someone writing in that same space so beautifully. ❤️
🫂❤️🫂
fantastic piece, i loved all the references to modern culture, we'll buy this ritual piece off Etsy and film this on Tik Tok and enough was enough. ✨🦋
Thank you!