Welcome back to More Odds Than Ends, where the odds get prompts and the prompts get written. As the end of the year and darkness approaches, we are apparently thinking of seasonal kittens. An impromptu theme!
| Rock | Paper | Scissors |
| Becky Jones | The wyverns and the cats stared at each other before cautiously approaching to sniff noses. | Leigh Kimmel |
| Padre | The songs of the season. | nother Mike |
| Leigh Kimmel | The snowstorm caught everybody by surprise. | Fiona Grey |
| AC Young | The kitten’s favourite Advent activity was to chase the baubles across the carpet. | Becky Jones |
| Parrish Baker | The fortune cookie said ‘Duck’ – three seconds later, a bullet whizzed past my head. | AC Young |
| nother Mike | Kittens! Why did it have to be kittens! | Padre |
| Fiona Grey | The kittens planned for war. Surely, those red baubles on the tree were grenades. | Parrish Baker |
Want an extra challenge or to play along? Grab a spare!
| Spare | Your son/daughter ran away from home, leaving only an envelope full of pictures… |
| Spare | The druggist had several bottles of snake oil for sale… |
| Spare | Slay bells jingle, are you bleeding? |
| Spare | The ATM started a flood of change… |
| Spare | The keys were in the cake! |
| Spare | The kitten yawned, displaying sharp fangs, then rolled over to stretch her wings. |
How about an inspirational picture?
That’s it for this week – see you in the comments!
Images rendered by Fiona Grey using Midjourney.
More Odds Than Ends 
https://urnasemper.substack.com/p/the-kittens-planned-for-war-surely
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who or what will come out of the door? Cliffhanger ending…
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Mine’s up: https://acyoungauthor.substack.com/p/the-fortune
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Oh, we’re off to the races with a new mage and his familiar! Go, go…
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Lovely. I hope to hear more about this unexpected duo!
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On my way home today, I had an idea that might work for Fantastic Schools Familiars. If I can get it to work, and it gets accepted…
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Happy to beta read if you need one!
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Padre postulated…
The songs of the season.
[oh, no! Muzak has strains to bend the ear? Earworms galore…]
He stepped into the mall, and the assault began.
“Oh little town of Bethlehem…”
One step, and…
“I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus, underneath the Christmas tree…”
Then he covered his ears, but…
“Come, they said to me, ratatatat…”
Somehow, he had to keep going…
“The first Noel, the angels did sing…”
He could swear there was snow falling around him as Bing began to croon…
“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas…”
Then he saw the reindeer charging…
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer…”
As he sank into a bench in the food court, the bells began…
“Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock…”
Finally, he reached up and turned off his hearing aid. Ah, blessed silence…
[well… which earworm did you want me to play?]
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Blessed silence, indeed. 😀 Though I have to admit, I find the new Apple hearing aid commercial pretty heartwarming.
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https://professorornery.substack.com/p/bauble-and-squeak
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[…] Thanks to Leigh for this week’s prompt, and mine went to Parrish. Check them out over at MOTE! […]
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This week, ‘nother Mike suggested, “Kittens! Why did it have to be kittens!”
Darkness wrapped itself like a cloak around the Brass Iguana. He always felt more comfortable in the shadows. The less light, the less likely that a spare glint off his armor would give him away.
Every time he had one of these stealth missions, he wished he had a better costume and superheroic theme. The brass armor he wore did wonders for turning aside enemy blades and bullets. But it made skulking in the shadows very, very difficult.
He probably should find a new team. Or at least find a different role, like being the big obvious distraction that drew the attention of the villains while the rest of his team slipped in and saved the day, but he liked his team and they didn’t like to leave anyone behind… Not since Mouse Girl had been caught in that trap… He stopped his thoughts there. He needed to focus on the mission at hand, not mourn the lost.
The Spotted Leopard, barely visible ahead of him, nodded to him and motioned for him to follow him. He had gotten the door to the warehouse unlocked and it was time for the team to go. Their other partner, the Hellhound, dressed as usual in her black skintight suit with razor sharp claws and snarling mask was already in position on the opposite side of the door.
Look both ways to make sure it was clear, the Brass Iguana stepped up to the door and nodded to his partners. The Spotted Leopard nodded back, then carefully twisted the knob to crack it. “Go,’ he said.
The Brass Iguana kicked the door ajar and leaped into the warehouse, rapidly taking in the scene inside, then stepped out of the way as his friends slipped in behind him. He heard their collective gasp as they took in the sight.
Below them, spread across the entirety of the floor were cages and cages of kittens, the one thing that neither of his partners could resist putting everything aside to rescue. Kittens! Why did it have to be kittens!”
The Brass Iguana closed his eyes for a second, then looked around the warehouse. He quickly marked the room on the far side, jutting out over the floor of the building from the second story catwalk with windows to survey the entirety of the interior. That was where the villain had to be. He was moving for the ladder and swarming up and across even as the voice came over the loudspeaker.
“Not so fast, there heroes! I have this entire building wired for detonation! I am three steps ahead of you. You think you can defeat me?!!! This deed will cement my place in the annals of supervillaindom! I, Ratkin, will be known as the worst of the worst! Not only am I threatening a room full of kittens, but I have your partner wired here as well!”
“No! Please! Let me go! I won’t let you use me against them!”
The Brass Iguana stopped in shock. He knew that voice. What was Mouse Girl doing there? How had she escaped the trap? And, how could they get her… and the kittens… out of there safely before that vile rat blew them all to bits?
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And now mine is up on my LiveJournal at https://starshipcat.livejournal.com/1638916.html. A fun bit after a very difficult week.
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Aww. May your ginger tabby’s memory be a blessing. I’m sorry to hear that, Leigh – virtual hugs to you.
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