Setting That Eats [an unofficial challenge]

Hellooo Vocal Creators! Welcome to my Unofficial Vocal Challenge #5!

For those who are just tuning in, I post regular unofficial challenges every month! I post (always) on or around the 1st of each month, and then (sometimes) on or around the 15th. The challenge stays open for a month to gather entries, and then the results are posted (about) a week after the deadline!

This past month has been a little shaky, as it's been much busier than I anticipated, so I haven't been great with deadlines (as you can tell; I was supposed to post this on the 1st, but it's about a week late!).

You can find all of my open and closed challenges (with links) in my pillar post below!

My June/July 2024 challenge is also still open (until July 15th)! Go check it out if you'd like! You can find it here:

Now that that's out of the way, let's dive into unofficial challenge #5!

The Prompt

Write a story based on a setting which feeds on living beings.

This prompt is a little bit loaded, so let's break it down a bit!

• By "setting," I mean just a place or location.
• By "feeds on," I mean that the place/location must somehow require (or perform) the feeding on/absorption/consumption/eating of living beings for sustenance (or fun).
• By "living beings," I mean anything that is alive (I wrote this instead of humans as to not limit your outlook)!

Examples of Settings That Eat:

• The house from Monster House

• The vines from The Ruins

Some rules and tips for inspiration:

• The setting does not have to be on earth. It can be manmade, like a structure or building or vehicle. It can be natural, like a forest or biome. It doesn't have to be just one singular structure either - it can be a specific town/city or island. It can be on land or in water (or the water itself).
• The method or process of consumption does not have to be how we know it. It does not have to be a mouth eating something. It can be consumption by absorption (like the dissolving of a being).
• OR it can be the consumption of attributes of living beings! Such as their sanity - the setting can feed on people by driving them insane. It does not have to be their life that is being consumed!
• The genre is yours to choose! However, the setting should be the main focus of the story! In other words, it should not be something casually mentioned and never brought up again just to fit the prompt. It should be a necessary part of the plot!

The Criteria

Word Count: I typically suggest a word count of 350+ words, but I have a feeling this one will go over that, so instead of suggesting a minimum, I will just ask that your responses do not go over 1,500 (or maybe 1,750) words. 2,000 is the definite cut off! Well, not really, but please aim for below that! I will accept all entries, no matter their length.

Link back: Not actually a requirement, but a nice touch for me! If you could embed the link to this post in your entry so that others can easily find this challenge, that would be amazing!

Comment: Come back after you've published your submission and comment the link to your entry! If you don't come back to comment, I won't know you entered, and your work won't be submitted!

NOTE: I will be adding all of the entries to the bottom of this post. Please come back the day after the deadline to make sure your entry is there! Otherwise, I might have missed it!

A note on editing: I won't be reading stories until after the deadline, so you are free to edit your work up until that point, but PLEASE DO NOT EDIT AFTER THE DEADLINE! Or at least between the deadline and the release of the results!

FAQ

Can I make more than one submission? Yes, you can! I welcome more than one entry if you have multiple paths of inspiration. I just have one rule! In the case you do enter more than once, only one submission per creator can be featured in the Top 3!

Can I submit a story I have already written? If you have a story that fits the prompt and meets the criteria, go for it!

Important Dates

Deadline: This challenge will close on Thursday, August 15th, at 11:59pm MST.

• Originally, this challenge was supposed to be my July 2024 challenge (open from July 1st to 30th). However, I got late to posting it, and I have a feeling this one will need more time, so I've made it my July/August 2024 challenge, in which it will stay open till mid August!
• I will (try my very bestest to) send out reminders one week before the closure date (on August 7th)!

Results: The results for this challenge will be posted on (or around) Thursday, August 22nd, a week after the deadline!

• This post will include the Top 3 entries (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners), as well as little blurbs rationalizing my choices. There will be links to all submissions included at the end.
• Prizes? Currently, my prizes are community-based, not monetary. The prize goes to the 1st place winner, in which I will read, like, and comment on five of the winner's works that I have not read yet, as well as subscribe if I have not already.

I think that's it! If you have any questions about the prompt, the challenges, or any feedback on my series, feel free to comment below! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Happy writing, everyone!

♡♡♡ Belle ♡♡♡

The Entries

(All entries will be listed here in the order they are submitted.)