#inklings-challenge

December 25: Christmas Day, the Nativity!

December 26: St. Stephen the first martyr

December 27: St. John the Evangelist

December 28: The Holy Innocents, murdered by Herod

December 29: St. Thomas a Becket and David

December 30: The Feast of the Holy Family (traditionally celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave, but on this day if there is no such Sunday)

December 31: St. Sylvester I, pope during the reign of Constantine and the Council of Nicaea

January 1: Octave-Day of the Nativity, traditionally the Feast of the Circumcision (and now of Mary, Mother of God)

January 2: Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus

January 3: Traditionally no particular saint (that I can find)

January 4: Traditionally no particular saint (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)

January 5: St. Telesphorus (second-century pope and martyr) and St. Edward the Confessor (King of England 1042-1066)

January 6: Epiphany! Feast of the Coming of the Magi, the Baptism of Our Lord, and the Wedding at Cana

(An eagle-eyed observer may note that there are thirteen days on this list. Opinions differ slightly as to whether the Twelve Days begin on the 26th or end on the 5th, but I don't think it matters terribly.)

Storge Blanchette’s point of view, age eight

Grandmother is sick. To clarify, Grandmother has been sick for a long while. Ever since…

“Wear this Cloak, my little Blanchette. Can you do that for me?” 

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Good girl.”

Grandmother needs food, and Mother is very busy.  So I must wear my Cloak. I must not leave the path. I must not talk to anyone. Grandmother is sick, and I must deliver her food.

The woods are dangerous. Wolves and Wolf-Men prowl within its darkness and await whatever prey is foolish enough to enter into their domain. 

But Grandmother is sick. 

I take up my basket, fasten my Cloak, and set my feet on the road. 

~*~

The Cloak of Gold and Fire. It is a heavy thing, both in physical weight and its burden upon the wearer.  Passed down with great ceremony from one bearer (always a Daughter) to the next.  It is said to have protective abilities for whoever wears it, to bring good luck to the land its wearer sets foot upon. 

Stories have been told of it rejecting some who would have worn it. Stories of it turning into fire that burned the hands of those who attempted to steal it.  So many stories surround the Cloak; some true, some terrible, some good. 

Blanchette prefers the good ones. The ones her Mother and Grandmother told her at bedtime.  The ones that make her feel safe when she cuddles into her Cloak. The ones that remind her that she is loved.  

Regardless of what story you hear, one fact remains certain: the Cloak has a value not conceivable by mortal eyes, and should be valued above measure. 

Wars have been fought for the right to obtain the Cloak.  

Such wars brought ruin to many lands. For those who unduly go to war for such a great thing often find themselves cursed by it: the Cloak is not a thing to be hoarded away. 

And thus the Cloak was “lost”.  The Daughters of the Cloak went into hiding for a time.   

Many witches and other such sorts would craft their own cloak and pretend they were a Daughter of the Cloak.  Some were deceived by these women, but always they were found out and met their gruesome ends. The Cloak is not a thing to be faked. 

And so the Cloak lived on, passed down as it always had been. 

Blanchette’s Grandmother called for her on her fourth birthday and showed her the Cloak.  Blanchette knew at once it was the Cloak, having heard the stories all her life,  and wondered that anyone could mistake any other for it. 

The Cloak is ornately designed, and double-sided.  One side is red as fire; red as blood.  The other side is golden as the sun.  The wearer can choose which side they wish to show to the world, the gold or the red. 

When Blanchette’s Mother fastened the Cloak around her small shoulders for the first time (Grandmother being too weak to properly fasten it) the red side faced outwards. And there Blanchette had stood, about waist-height to all the adults in the room, utterly enveloped by a blood-red Cloak so big on her that she could have used it for a tent. 

And she was safe. 

But safety is not always guaranteed, and adventures must always start somewhere. 

~*~

Philia

On Blanchette’s first journey through the forest separating her village from her grandmothers, she met a boy.  

Not just any boy, but a Wolf-Son.  Wolf-Men are men (criminals, it is often whispered) who make their living in the wild forest.  They are not to be trusted. 

But this Wolf-Son was just a young boy, and she was just a young girl.  He walked alongside her on the path and they were made friends.  When they had to part ways as Blanchette exited the forest, he offered her a handful of red carnations. 

“Rhory. That’s my name.” the Wolf-Son says abruptly after handing her the flowers. He doesn’t quite meet Blanchette’s eyes as he speaks. “I wish you well on your journey. And I hope-” he stops, as if mustering courage, then continues. “I hope you like the flowers!”

I hope I shall see him again, Blanchette thinks to herself, absently smelling the red carnations he had given her. He was quite fun to talk to.

After that day, whenever Blanchette ventured on the path through the forest, Rhory walked with her. 

~*~

Blanchette’s point of view, age twelve

“Halt!” A voice commands, and a tall figure steps out from behind a tree ahead of us. We stop.  The figure is that of a man and he bears no markings as a Wolf-Mam. His stance is imposing and searching, as if he is daring us to take a step closer and find out what he can do to us with his bare hands. “Why are two children traveling alone in the forest?” Before we have a chance to answer, he looks us both up and down and his eyes narrow as if he does not like what he sees. “Who are you?” He demands again. 

I step forward. “He is Rhory, a Wolf-Son. My friend. I am Blanchette, a Daughter of the Cloak.”

“I know a Wolf-Son when I see one, lass.” He says gruffly, suspicion lurking in the downturned corner of his mouth. Beside me, Rhory ducks his head in shame and I feel fire stir within me. “But a Daughter of the Cloak is not so easily determined by sight.” The man continues, eyeing my Cloak distrustfully, perhaps to determine if he thinks it fake or stolen. I swallow my anger -it would do me no good to appear as a child throwing a tantrum to this strange man- and straighten ever so slightly to perhaps seem taller and more mature. To make it seem as though the Cloak I wear is not almost too large for my childish frame and dragging along the forest floor. But what of it, if my Cloak is slightly too big? Does it not cover me all the better for it?

“I inherited the Cloak from my Grandmother.” I say, careful to keep my tone both respectful and confident.  

The man’s eyebrows raise. “Your Grandmother.” he says, doubt coloring his words. “And where is she?”

“She is at home. I am going to see her now.”  She has been at home for a long time, sick. That is why she passed down the Cloak to me so early. 

The man hums doubtfully. “And how do I know you’re not just a thief?” 

“Has the Cloak ever submitted to being worn by someone not of it?” I ask, only slightly petulantly. 

The man shifts back, seemingly satisfied if no less grumpy for it. “I concede you that, miss. But better it’d be for you to keep yourself and the Cloak away from those who might have a want to snatch it.”  He looks pointedly at Rhory, and my face flushes in anger.  

I take Rhory’s hand in my own and practically stomp away from the stupid man and his stupid words, muttering unkind things under my breath. 

“Don’t listen to stupid men like him, Rhory.” I say once I’ve quite recovered myself.  The man must be miles behind us now.  

Rhory tilts his head at me, a small smile gracing his lips. “How could I listen to him when all I can hear is you mocking him?” He laughs, and I have to remind myself that he is laughing at me and that his laugh is not cute why would I think that.

“Well!” I sputter, red returning to my face as it did earlier for a far different reason.  “He was being rude!  And mean!”

Rhory shakes his head. “Overall he wasn’t that bad. I’ve heard worse.”

The silence lingers for a moment.  “You shouldn’t have to, you know.” I say quietly. 

Rhory shrugs. “Eh, well.  You shouldn’t have to walk through the forest alone, yet here we are.” 

I blink. I think of my Grandmother, ill these last eight years of my life, yet always so grateful when I go visit her.  I think of my Mother, always so harried and busy with a neverending list of things to do, yet always pausing her work to give me a smile or press a kiss to my head. 

Yes, I may walk the path alone, but their love walks with me. And besides…  I lift my and Rhory’s still-clasped hands. 

“But I’m not alone, see!” I say, “You’re here with me, aren’t you?”

He smiles at me again, and my heart flutters the teensiest amount. “That I am!”

I nod fiercely. “And that’s the way it should be.”  Suddenly possessed by a spirit of mischief, I let go of his hand and take off at a run. “Race you to the forest’s edge!”

“Blanchette!” he exclaims, and I laugh at his dismayed cries from behind me. He quickly catches up, however, and soon overtakes me, every now and then slowing down just enough to tease me. Both of us are laughing and out of breath when we part ways.  

~*~

In some stories, Little Red Riding Hood walks the path alone. 

She does not meet a friend. 

And the Wolf invades Grandmother’s home

But for this Daughter of the Cloak, I like to think she has a better end. 

Knowing that she carries the love of her family with her

And holding the hand of a friend. 

In which Arin meets a dragon, and the dragon gets a name.

The Event

The Inklings Challenge is an invitation for Christian science fiction and fantasy writers to create stories that fit the Christian worldview. Writers will be randomly assigned to one of three teams, each challenged to write a particular type of speculative fiction story. Writers will also choose at least one of seven Christian themes as inspiration for their story.

Teams will be assigned on October 1, 2021, and writers can sign up to participate any time before that date--either by responding to this post or sending a message to this blog. After the teams are assigned, writers will have until October 21, 2021 to write a science fiction or fantasy story. There is no maximum or minimum word limit, but because of the short time frame, the challenge is focused on short stories--and these can be very short, if the writer prefers.

The Teams

Inspired by a similar challenge between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to write, respectively, a time travel story and a space travel story, the Inklings Challenge will use these authors (and G.K. Chesterton) as the inspiration for the categories. Each team will be given both a fantasy and a science fiction option, so writers can choose the genre that is most comfortable for them. (However, writers shouldn’t be afraid to use the science fiction option as inspiration for a fantasy story, and vice versa. They can even use both options in their story, if they like).

Team Lewis

Portal Fantasy: Stories where someone from the real world explores a new world

Space Travel: Stories about traveling through space or exploring other planets

Team Tolkien

Secondary World Fantasy: Stories that takes place in an imaginary realm that’s completely separate from our world

Time Travel: Stories exploring technology that allows travel through time

Team Chesterton

Intrusive Fantasy: Stories where the fantastical elements intrude into the real world

Technology: Stories exploring how a particular technological advance could affect people right here on current or future Earth

These teams will be assigned at random on October 1st, 2021. Writers are then encouraged to write a story before the deadline on October 21st.

The Themes

To provide extra guidance for writers, and to add a Christian flavor to the event, writers will choose at least one of seven Christian themes from the list below as inspiration for their stories. These themes are purposely broad, to allow for interpretation, or for exploration of a particular facet or nuance of the broader theme.

The themes, as well as several possible (haphazardly written) interpretations of each one, are as follows:

Incarnation: One of the central, unique points of Christianity--God became Man, and thus sanctified matter.

Man as the image of God.

How God reveals Himself to humanity through creation

The act of living as an embodied person, balancing physical and spiritual reality

People imitating their Creator by giving truths physical form through the act of creation

Marriage and the family as an image of the Trinity

Stewardship: The act of taking care of the things or people God has entrusted to us

Mission:Responding to a call to do a certain work

Authority: Rightful use of a position of power when one is called to care for people and/or possessions

Responsibility: Fulfilling one’s duty, and accepting the consequences of one’s own actions

Sacrifice: An act of giving up something valued; giving of oneself

Christ’s sacrifice to redeem us

Giving up something for God or other people

Giving of oneself for other people or for God

Suffering as a source of joy

Humility: Understanding of one’s true importance in the universe, unaffected by pride

Trust: Humble trust in the love of God to provide. Opening up oneself enough to trust in others

Obedience:Submitting our own will to the will of God or to rightful authority for the sake of a greater good

Poverty: Trusting in God rather than in possessions

Gratitude: Being humble enough to recognize the true source of gifts. Being thankful for help, whether from God or other people

Grace: The free gift of God’s love

Recognizing God’s gifts

Receiving inspiration that allows one to change

Receiving unexpected and undeserved blessings

Eucatastrophe: An unexpected moment of victory just when all had seemed lost

Hope of salvation even in bleak circumstances

Mystery: The awareness that God’s universe is vast and mysterious

Wonder: Awe towards God, creation, the natural world, etc.

The search for truth

Knowing that the world works through understandable rules and seeking to understand them

The joyful acceptance that there are some things that we can’t understand

Reconciliation: The healing of a breach between two parties

Redemption: Christ’s sacrifice redeemed humanity and reconciled them to God

Forgiveness: Receiving forgiveness from God or forgiving the wrongs committed by other people

Mercy: Healing a relationship by showing compassion for those who have done wrong

Restoration: The reconstruction or renewal of something that was once lost.

The Stories

Completed stories can be posted to a tumblr blog with the tag #inklings-challenge, as well as the writer’s assigned team: #team-lewis, #team-tolkien, or #team-chesterton. The stories will then be shared to the main Inklings Challenge blog. Even if the story isn’t finished by the deadline, writers are encouraged to post whatever they’ve written, and to post the completed story whenever they finish it.

@inklings-challenge

Sorry for posting so late; I wrote it last month, and I wanted to run it by someone first. (Who gave me the advice to end this part here with a cliffhanger rather than go through the first conversation as far as I’d written.) (Hopefully, you’ll see part two fairly soon? Maybe?) But I’m on Team Lewis, and this is my Portal Fantasy this year. :)