Achievement
A Promptoberfest story
© 2024 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  tegerio

Prompt: struggle


The elderly wolfess adjusted her robes and headdress and addressed the wolf lying sprawled and panting on the floor before the altar. His breathing had a soft wheezing note, and his fur was matted in spots with dried and still-clotting blood. At the priestess’ approach, he raised himself up enough to look up at her, too weak to even wag his tail.

“You have undergone every trial,” the priestess said. “You failed to be tempted by the Dozen Delights, remained unmoved when the Seducers of the God of Desire pleasured you, run alone and without water across the Iron Desert, mortified your flesh with hooks and hung from the Tree of Wisdom for a fortnight, and used those hooks and chains to drag a stone symbolizing your mortality and failings.”

She allowed a small smile of approval to grace her usually stoic features. “Through all of your fighting and striving against yourself and your trials, you have proven yourself worthy.” There was a tumultuous roar as the watching crowd voiced their approval.

Slowly the wolf gathered his strength, pulling himself painfully first to his knees, then to one knee and finally standing on his feet, swaying as the crowd chanted his name. They quieted and he said, “I claim the prize.”

The priestess nodded. “You are indeed worthy of it, but you might wish to choose what the acolyte has behind Door Number Two.”

Raising a shaking paw to his chin, the wolf considered as the crowd went mad.





[Write your own ending, folks!]