Inside the Animal's Mind [an unofficial challenge]

Hellooo Vocal Creators!

I have noticed a few other creators doing their own unofficial challenges, and I thought I'd try to hop on the bandwagon! Let's see if we can get some contestants! (And hopefully it can become a monthly thing!)

The Prompt

Write a story on the inside of an animal's mind/told from the perspective of an animal.

This is really open-ended, so here are some ideas for inspiration:

What is going through the mind of the elk during rutting season? Or the lion during the hunt? The mouse as it tries to flee the chase? The bat in the cave? The polar bear in the glaciers? The ladybug as its picked up by a child? A butterfly as it comes out of its cocoon? Heck, even Sasquatch as it's sighted in the woods?

Some tips: I am open to anything -- but I love darker pieces of writing that explore danger, terror, and risk. However, I am also open to beautiful/inspiring pieces, if that's your thing. The more out there, the better!

Also! The animal does not have to be REAL. It can be a mythological creature or something fantastical.

The Criteria

Word Count: Aim for around 500 words! But I'm not counting. Anything between 350 and 650 is fine! (But again, I'm not counting.)

Link back: At the end of your work, include a link to this page so this challenge prompt comes up!

Comment: Come back and comment the link to your submission once it has been published! I can't wait to read them!

More than one submission?: DO IT! I'd love to see what you have to write if you have more to say! I just ask that each submission be in its own publication.

Deadline: This challenge will end on May 31st at 11:59pm MST! That's as long as there are actually people who submit to it. Let's hope so! (If there is an adjustment to this date, I will notify all contestants and edit this publication.)

Invite!: So this is not a requirement, but (please) invite your friends to join the challenge! I'd love to see more responses/submissions, if at all possible! Exciting!

Judging

So, I will be doing the judging after it closes. It should take me approximately a week (I am not anticipating many things to read for my first shot at a challenge), so let's shoot for June 6th.

(P.S. If you are worried about my credentials for judging, I don't claim to be the most eligible judge, but for piece of mind, here's a little about me: I am an English major in my BEd and have had a passion for creative writing since I learned to pick up a pen.)

I will judge the works based on writing, plot/story, language, and creativity. Another publication will be written and published on June 6th with the winner (or top 3 if we get enough submissions!) as well as a little blurb rationalizing my choice. Links to all submissions (regardless if they made it to the top) will be included!

Prizes? I am not entirely sure yet about prizes, as ridiculous as that might be. I would like to be able to give tips in the future, but for now -- I will be reading and commenting on 5 of the winner's works as well as subscribing. I hope that this will help boost your page, and hopefully in the future I can start utilizing tips!

Thank you all! I am excited to start this! Happy writing!

(If you comment below that you are planning to enter, I will send reminders out at two weeks before and one week before the closure date if you haven't made a submission yet.)

Here are some (very simple) possible images for inspiration: (though I invite you to look elsewhere for inspiration, create connections between ideas, and build something amazing!)

The Entries

1. Rachel Deeming "Dreams of the Savannah"
2. Rachel Deeming "Waiting for the Ice"
3. Mark Gagnon "SSSSnake"
4. Hannah Moore "Strutting"
5. Rachel Deeming "Whale Song"
6. Mark Gagnon "Secret Squirrel"
7. Mark Gagnon "Dead! Who Me?"
8. Angie the Archivist "Her Majesty Mia and her minions"
9. Mark Gagnon "The Real Snoop"
10. Christy Munson "She loves me"
11. Shirley Belk "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"
12. Mackenzie Davis "This Kindred Tornado"
13. Lisa VanGalen "Can I Tell You Something?"
14. Paul Stewart "Wisdom Over Ivory"
15. Andrea Corwin "Silently, I Watch"
16. Rick Henry Christopher "The King"
17. Lamar Wiggins "The Darkest Widow"
18. Novel Allen "Inside the female animal mind"
19. Novel Allen "The rabid wolf"
20. angela hepworth "The Caged Bat Sings"
21. Andrea Corwin "Ivan"
22. Andrea Corwin "Big Friendly, BF7"
23. Cathy holmes "I Told My Cat about Vocal's Off Leash Challenge for Dogs, and She's Pissed!"
24. Cathy holmes "Home"
25. Anna "The storm"
26. Catsidhe "I Just Want A Friend"