Wednesday, 3 April 2019

THE PHOTOGRAPHER - 100 word story

This week's Friday Fictioneers photo led me to revisit and rewrite an old story. Hope you like it.

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio


THE PHOTOGRAPHER


She trudged into the forest with her camera bags.
Up ahead, the stench of an unidentifiable carcass. Twilight upon her, she swiftly set up her shots.
A hyena yipped.
Excellent!
A photograph of a hyena scavenging on the carrion would be amazing. But twilight yielded to darkness. Damn! Too late. She left.
When, minutes later she smelt the familiar stench, she realised she had walked a circle.
Unseen in the murk, the hyena yipped again.
A lone hyena wasn’t a threat; they only attacked live prey that was hurt or vulnerable.
The hyena giggled softly as the night engulfed her.



I hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments. 


If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE


If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields 

- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.


On a final note - I always try to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been able to find your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign in first. 



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60 comments:

  1. Neil MacDonald3 April 2019 at 14:29

    Nicely menacing. And I like it that we know before she does

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rochelle Wisoff-Fields3 April 2019 at 14:37

    Dear Susan,

    I wouldn't be so self-assured were I her. That last hyena giggle sounded ominous. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 15:55

      Yes, I'd say that someone disorientated in the dark could be a target.

      Delete
  3. Dale3 April 2019 at 15:12

    Creepily well done, Susan!

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  4. Linda3 April 2019 at 15:33

    OOo. Giggling hyenas. Raises goose bumps. Well done!

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 15:57

      I've heard them at night and they really do sound like they're giggling. It's unnerving.

      Delete
  5. Birgit3 April 2019 at 15:38

    Oh this is downright creepy and scary. She should know hyenas are not to be toyed with

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 15:58

      Especially when on foot in the dark! Thanks for commenting, Birgit.

      Delete
  6. Gah Learner3 April 2019 at 16:11

    Oh trouble. I hope she has a backup plan. Great progression from relaxed to creepy.

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 16:30

      Yes, she could be in trouble. Thanks for the feedback.

      Delete
  7. Adele B3 April 2019 at 16:29

    Sounds like she's in big trouble. Hope she finds a way out of there and fast!

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 16:31

      It doesn't look good, does it? Thanks for commenting, Adele.

      Delete
  8. Anita Sabat3 April 2019 at 16:42

    Laughing Hyena means trouble.
    What pains photographers have to go through for such shots, especially wildlife photographers...
    Hope all is fine at the end.
    Have a great week :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 17:22

      Patience and courage required! Thanks for commenting, Anita.

      Delete
  9. Iain Kelly3 April 2019 at 16:54

    Never trust hyenas, I've seen The Lion King! Hope she knows her way home...

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 17:22

      Only if she can find it in the dark, Iain. Thanks for the comment. :)

      Delete
  10. theministryofshrawleywalks3 April 2019 at 22:09

    Oooh scary, 1 hyena or 10 hyenas I would not be comfortable in those woods!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames3 April 2019 at 22:18

      He he - me neither! You have to know your limitations.

      Delete
  11. plaridel4 April 2019 at 00:03

    was the hyena giggling with delight? it must be so excited to find dinner tonight. :)

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 15:05

      I've heard them at night making a helluva racket over a kill, so the giggling is probably linked to excitement.

      Delete
  12. The Dark Netizen4 April 2019 at 07:41

    What an ending! Just the right dose of dread! :D

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 15:06

      Yes, sometimes a story works better if you leave the ending ambiguous.

      Delete
  13. draliman4 April 2019 at 08:17

    Uh-oh. The hyena will eat well tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  14. C. E. Ayr4 April 2019 at 08:32

    Excellent piece, Susan, well-developed to heighten the tension and ultimate unease

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 15:08

      Thank you for the feedback - appreciate it.

      Delete
  15. Darlene4 April 2019 at 08:39

    A good use of words. Well done!

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  16. Sandra Crook4 April 2019 at 11:56

    A giggling hyena, what a terrifically scary description.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 15:10

      Yes, they do sound ominous when they do that!

      Delete
  17. liz young4 April 2019 at 13:13

    She might not be hurt but she's definitely vulnerable if she can't find her way home. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 15:11

      Yes, it might depend on how bold the hyena is.

      Delete
  18. Brenda Cox4 April 2019 at 17:55

    A foreboding feel to the ending. I think she's in trouble. Eerie tale!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames4 April 2019 at 21:41

      Yes, I think she could be in trouble. Thanks for the comment, Brenda.

      Delete
  19. Spicedmullings5 April 2019 at 09:22

    Now that's irony!👌

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anurag Bakhshi5 April 2019 at 10:40

    Oooohhh, that was creepy, and scary :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames5 April 2019 at 13:07

      Yes, don't stay out after dark when predators are about.

      Delete
  21. Penny Gadd5 April 2019 at 15:15

    Good build of tension in your story, Susan. Your main character needs some light. I hope she has her cell phone with her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames5 April 2019 at 18:55

      Or maybe her camera flash could scare the animal off? Thanks for the comment, Penny.

      Delete
  22. Woman Walks Max5 April 2019 at 18:52

    Great sense of rising tension. I could smell the stench. Like the line where the hyena giggled, waiting for its dinner I guess.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames5 April 2019 at 18:56

      They're excitable animals who don't do stealth. Thanks for commenting.

      Delete
  23. Sabio Lantz5 April 2019 at 23:50

    Loved the ending giggle !

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames6 April 2019 at 09:56

      Thanks for the feedback, Sabio - appreciate it. :)

      Delete
  24. Subroto6 April 2019 at 11:42

    I liked that ending. The giggle makes it ominous and menacing. Nice one.

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames6 April 2019 at 13:23

      Thanks, Subroto. Glad to know you liked it. :)

      Delete
  25. Magarisa6 April 2019 at 21:28

    It's easy to get lost in the woods during the day, let alone at night! What a chilling ending... a giggling hyena is scary indeed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames7 April 2019 at 00:17

      Yes, I think this photographer made some serious misjudgements. Thanks for commenting, Magarisa.

      Delete
  26. margirene8 April 2019 at 00:11

    Oh no. She's in trouble. Love the lurking presence of the hyena. Great shift in atmosphere throughout the story to the scary ending.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames8 April 2019 at 11:43

      Thanks for your feedback, margirene. Always good to know when a story works for a reader.

      Delete
  27. Violet Lentz8 April 2019 at 11:38

    Excellently told. I would still be scared to death!

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames8 April 2019 at 11:44

      Thanks for the comment, Violet. I'd be scared too! :)

      Delete
  28. Dawn8 April 2019 at 14:40

    Oooo...this was creepy good!

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    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames8 April 2019 at 17:35

      Thanks, Dawn - I wanted this to be 'creepy good' so it's nice to know I achieved my aim. :)

      Delete
  29. The Silver Fox8 April 2019 at 23:49

    Hmmmm. This does note bode well....

    ReplyDelete
  30. Nobbinmaug9 April 2019 at 02:16

    Ooh, that's an ominous ending.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan A Eames9 April 2019 at 10:52

      Yep - she's in trouble. Thanks for the comment.

      Delete

Many thanks for commenting. I appreciate your feedback.

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