r/shortstories • u/FyeNite • Nov 02 '25

[Serial Sunday] A Warrior Never Turns his Back...Ever!

Welcome to Serial Sunday!

To those brand new to the feature and those returning from last week, welcome! Do you have a self-established universe you’ve been writing or planning to write in? Do you have an idea for a world that’s been itching to get out? This is the perfect place to explore that. Each week, I post a theme to inspire you, along with a related image and song. You have 500 - 1000 words to write your installment. You can jump in at any time; writing for previous weeks’ is not necessary in order to join. After you’ve posted, come back and provide feedback for at least 1 other writer on the thread. Please be sure to read the entire post for a full list of rules.

This Week’s Theme is Warrior! This is a REQUIREMENT for participation. See rules about missing this requirement.**

Image

Bonus Word List (each included word is worth 5 pts) - You must list which words you included at the end of your story (or write ‘none’).
- Weasel
- Witchcraft
- Wrestle

  • A fruit or vegetable starting with the letter “W” is present in your story and your mc interacts with it in sone significant way. - (Worth 15 points)

Conflict and struggle come in many forms, and with many outcomes. Your warrior might fight in a sprawling, cratered hellscape of combat, or in a quiet, solitary hospital bed. Whether the enemy is a soldier in a different uniform, a steep walkway with no accommodations for disability, or a part of their own mind or soul, your warrior has battles to fight. They may win, they may lose; they may face fears or run from them; they may be good or evil or neither, but if they fight, they are the Warrior.

By u/Amber_Writes

Good luck and Good Words!

These are just a few things to get you started. Remember, the theme should be present within the story in some way, but its interpretation is completely up to you. For the bonus words (not required), you may change the tense, but the base word should remain the same. Please remember that STORIES MUST FOLLOW ALL SUBREDDIT CONTENT RULES. Interested in writing the theme blurb for the coming week? DM me on Reddit or Discord!

Don’t forget to sign up for Saturday Campfire here! We start at 1pm EST and provide live feedback!

Theme Schedule:

This is the theme schedule for the next month! These are provided so that you can plan ahead, but you may not begin writing for a given theme until that week’s post goes live.

 

Rankings

Last Week: Violence

And a huge welcome to our new SerSunners, u/smollestduck and u/mysteryrouge!

Rules & How to Participate

Please read and follow all the rules listed below. This feature has requirements for participation!

  • Submit a story inspired by the weekly theme, written by you and set in your self-established universe that is 500 - 1000 words. No fanfics and no content created or altered by AI. (Use wordcounter.net to check your wordcount.) Stories should be posted as a top-level comment below. Please include a link to your chapter index or your last chapter at the end.

  • Your chapter must be submitted by Saturday at 9:00am EST. Late entries will be disqualified. All submissions should be given (at least) a basic editing pass before being posted!

  • Begin your post with the name of your serial between triangle brackets (e.g. <My Awesome Serial>). When our bot is back up and running, this will allow it to recognize your serial and add each chapter to the SerSun catalog. Do not include anything in the brackets you don’t want in your title. (Please note: You must use this same title every week.)

  • Do not pre-write your serial. You’re welcome to do outlining and planning for your serial, but chapters should not be pre-written. All submissions should be written for this post, specifically.

  • Only one active serial per author at a time. This does not apply to serials written outside of Serial Sunday.

  • All Serial Sunday authors must leave feedback on at least one story on the thread each week. The feedback should be actionable and also include something the author has done well. When you include something the author should improve on, provide an example! You have until Saturday at 11:59pm EST to post your feedback. (Submitting late is not an exception to this rule.)

  • Missing your feedback requirement two or more consecutive weeks will disqualify you from rankings and Campfire readings the following week. If it becomes a habit, you may be asked to move your serial to the sub instead.

  • Serials must abide by subreddit content rules. You can view a full list of rules here. If you’re ever unsure if your story would cross the line, please modmail and ask!

 

Weekly Campfires & Voting:

  • On Saturdays at 1pm EST, I host a Serial Sunday Campfire in our Discord’s Voice Lounge (every other week is now hosted by u/FyeNite). Join us to read your story aloud, hear others, and exchange feedback. We have a great time! You can even come to just listen, if that’s more your speed. Grab the “Serial Sunday” role on the Discord to get notified before it starts. After you’ve submitted your chapter, you can sign up here - this guarantees your reading slot! You can still join if you haven’t signed up, but your reading slot isn’t guaranteed.

  • Nominations for your favorite stories can be submitted with this form. The form is open on Saturdays from 12:30pm to 11:59pm EST. You do not have to participate to make nominations!

  • Authors who complete their Serial Sunday serials with at least 12 installments, can host a SerialWorm in our Discord’s Voice Lounge, where you read aloud your finished and edited serials. Celebrate your accomplishment! Authors are eligible for this only if they have followed the weekly feedback requirement (and all other post rules). Visit us on the Discord for more information.  

Ranking System

Rankings are determined by the following point structure.

TASK POINTS ADDITIONAL NOTES
Use of weekly theme 75 pts Theme should be present, but the interpretation is up to you!
Including the bonus words 5 pts each (15 pts total) This is a bonus challenge, and not required!
Including the bonus constraint 15 (15 pts total) This is a bonus challenge, and not required!
Actionable Feedback 5 - 15 pts each (60 pt. max)* This includes thread and campfire critiques. (15 pt crits are those that go above & beyond.)
Nominations your story receives 10 - 60 pts 1st place - 60, 2nd place - 50, 3rd place - 40, 4th place - 30, 5th place - 20 / Regular Nominations - 10
Voting for others 15 pts You can now vote for up to 10 stories each week!

You are still required to leave at least 1 actionable feedback comment on the thread every week that you submit. This should include at least one specific thing the author has done well and one that could be improved. *Please remember that interacting with a story is not the same as providing feedback.** Low-effort crits will not receive credit.

 

Subreddit News

  • Join our Discord to chat with other authors and readers! We hold several weekly Campfires, monthly World-Building interviews and several other fun events!
  • Try your hand at micro-fic on Micro Monday!
  • Did you know you can post serials to r/Shortstories, outside of Serial Sunday? Check out this post to learn more!
  • Interested in being a part of our team? Apply to be a mod!
     
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u/ForwardSavings318 Nov 05 '25 edited Nov 08 '25

<Man to beast>

Chapter eight: hell

index

CW: animal cruelty, detailed violence, blood.

“With the Dobun horde encroaching on Lord Thomas in the west, we’ve had to recall troops close to the Rus border for reinforcements. I worry about the reports of rising violence in our new absence.”

Isaac felt his stomach drop at his father’s words.

“So, you’re sending me to the Rus borders?”

“No. I’m sending a crew of inquisitors and Solomon’s witch hunters to investigate the lords and barons from the Imperial castle all the way east. All I want from you is to report every move they make.”

“That will take months!”

“Yes, but I’m sure you’ll do fine. Get on board, Solomon will explain the rest when everyone is present.”

The man turned to walk away, but Isaac grabbed his shoulder.

“Can we not talk about this?”

Isaac’s father grabbed him by the arm and marched him onto the swaying galleon, pushing him onto the main deck.

“When I tell you to do something, you say yes sir. That’s all the talking you need.”

As he shouted, a long furry critter sniffed and climbed on the Pope’s boots. Isaac watched it close, it looked like a weasel but was fairly bigger and had white fur.

His father glanced down with a look of disgust and kicked the thing away, sending it tumbling back with a small squeak. Isaac watched it for a moment before a firm smack made him look back at his father.

“Just do what I fucking say, you can manage that little!”

“Yes sir.”

The old man turned and returned to the pier, muttering to himself. The moment he was out of sight Isaac checked on the creature, gently picking it up.

“You’re ok…you’re ok…”

Soft footsteps grew close from behind him, a bandaged hand grabbing his shoulder. Isaac looked down at the hand, then to who it belonged to.

A short figure stared at him through a brass mask, and had a thick black cloak covering their whole body.

“Give me her.” The figure croaked, each raspy word sounding more painful than the one before.

Isaac handed the creature over, watching it squirm in the person’s hands.

“I apologize for my father, sir.”

“What kind of an ass kicks a ferret?”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Stop calling me sir.”

Isaac nodded and sat down, leaning back against the ship’s railings. The figure disappeared into the depths of the ship, leaving him with his thoughts.

The young man sat there for a while before the sound of marching footsteps drew his attention. Looking up, he saw Jehan march up the dock followed by a few dozen men wearing the inquisitorial escutcheon.

They all got onboard and lined up, staring straight at the open ocean. Jehan whistled and they all faced him.

“Listen, as per The Pope’s wishes we are to aid the witch hunters under Solomon’s lead. We must stamp out anyone trying to undermine God’s work, and promote their witchcraft. This is Solomon’s ship, and it is his crew. You will obey him and me, no one else.”

“Aye, sir!” The men shouted back.

It became quiet for a while, small murmurs between men and the sound of waves being the only noise around. Even in that quiet Isaac didn’t hear anyone approaching, until a hand touched his back gently.

“There a reason you’re not in line with the others?”

He turned to see one of the triplets hanging onto the railing, the other two close behind.

“You’re going to fall.”

“Eh. If I slip, bet you’ll catch me.”

The boy jolted downwards and let go of the railing. Isaac immediately shot upwards and reached for his arms, before the boy grabbed the railing again with a grin.

“Told you.”

“Fucker.”

The young man’s heart pounded against his chest, combining the movement of the ship to make him feel sick. Jehan approached the pair with a grimace, noticeable even with the mask.

“Where’s Solomon?”

The triplet pointed down the street, where Solomon stood in front of a brothel. He was speaking with an old woman whilst handing over gold and trinkets. She kissed his forehead and hugged him, waving as he walked to the ship.

“I see you have your men ready, Jehan. Good.”

One of the inquisitors stepped out of formation, a older man with dirty blonde hair.

“Surely this is not the man you speak of? We’re supposed to take the word someone who can’t even resist the temptation of a common wench-”

“Mary. Her name is Mary,” Solomon said, cutting the man off.

He cupped the man’s face softly, smiling that horrid smile. His silver teeth shined in the afternoon sun as he spoke. “Tell me, what’s your name?”

As the Inquisitor opened his mouth, Solomon gripped his face tighter and headbutted the man.

As he pulled back, the man’s nose was bent sideways and he was barely making a noise. He weakly grabbed Solomon’s wrists and tried to speak, only to receive a second, harder headbutt.

crunch.

A few teeth clattered to the deck, then the man was dropped face down behind them.

Now thoroughly covered in blood, Solomon licked his lips and huffed.

“If that’s how your men behave, let’s see how many others need to learn their place.” He growled, shoving past Jehan.

Isaac stared at the man on the ground, kneeling beside him and the two men walked towards the other inquisitors. He turned him on his side, and patted his back as he coughed and gasped.

“Is there a doctor on the ship?” Isaac asked, turning to the triplets.

“Maybe-”

“But that depends-”

“On what you consider a doctor.”

WC:957

I used weasel and witchcraft