This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a koala in a kingdom. You can create a character out of Norah’s koala and give it a Vermont adventure. Or you can make up a story however you want! Can you pull off a BOTS (based on a true story)? Go where the prompt leads!

Since the prompt was prompted by a tiny koala I’d sent as my proxy at the inaugural Carrot Ranch Writers’ Refuge in Vermont, I thought I’d better join in. And since Charli is busy out of State this week, she’s given us two weeks in which to respond so there’s still plenty of time to join in with your own koala story if you wish.

Here’s mine. I hope you like it.

A Kingdom for a Koala

“Bring me a koala!” The king bellowed, sending servants scuttling.

His zoo was complete with all, except a koala. The omission stoked his anger daily. He wouldn’t accept that his destruction of eucalypt forests had decimated their population.

From the shadows came a tiny voice. “What will you give for a koala?”

“Anything!”

“Your kingdom?’

“Yes, my kingdom! Anything! Just get me a koala.”

“I have a koala. First, your sceptre and your kingdom.”

Blinded by rage and desire, the king complied.

The koala removed her mask. The king gloated pre-emptively.

“Throw him into the dungeon. Free the animals!”

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.