Photo courtesy of Sebring’s Snapshots.*

So I had a thought…a memory really. When I was young we had these books that would give you choices as the story went on. They were called Choose Your Own Adventure books. Remember them?

A. You run away screaming (Go to page 17)

B. You stand and fight (Go to page 23)

C. You duck under the couch (Go to page 30)

Photo courtesy of Sebring’s Snapshots. *

And so on. I loved those books! They allowed me to be a part of the story, to pick the key turning points in the book. Where else do you get such a choice instead of being just the bystander? Video games…that’s about the only place I can think of at the moment. And I’m not a game programer. But I am a writer…

So, my thought is to blog such a story and you, the readers, get to choose A or B in the comments. Whichever option gets the most votes gets posted the next day with the story finishing on Friday.

Whatcha think? Sound fun? Let’s do it!

Moonrise Mountain

That morning you left the cabin with a warm cloak slung across your shoulders and a sack full of apples in your hand. The day dawned warm for a late winter day. So you figured the cloak was enough for the short trip in mind.

At the top of Moonrise Mountain lives a herd of wild horses. The towns people say that if you hold out an apple very still in your hand than a few of the horses will come to you and if you give them a few apples, sometimes, if you’re very lucky, they’ll let you ride across Moonrise Mountain bareback like the heros of old.

So you’ve set out to find out if the stories are true. The bag of apples swings with your step and your cloak is thrown back on your shoulders because, as the sun rises over your left shoulder, the day warms to the point that you don’t really need the garment.

It’s about noon when you realize there’s a storm rolling in. The black clouds obscure the sun and the wind kicks up, throwing drifts of snow into your face.

Pulling you hood up, you quicken your step to reach the woods that surround the foot of Moonrise Mountain. Just as you reach the towering pines great flakes of wet snow begin swirling to the ground.

A few steps into the trees you glance back and see the snow has already covered your prints.

Shrugging your cloak snug around you, you still shiver and begin contemplating going back but another look behind makes you question. The snow’s heavy enough you can’t see the edge of the trees anymore.

Stumbling farther into the trees, the ground gives way beneath you and you tumble several feet until the sheer depth of snow makes you stop. Before you looms a great dark circle, the mouth of a cave that slants into the forest floor.

It could be a wonderful refuge from the storm but trolls inhabit the woods. Great White Snow Beasts and they love to hibernate in just such caves.

You could scramble out into the swirling blizzard. Your chances of getting home are slim without getting lost but your woods instructor, a Mister Shaffer, taught you how to shelter under pine trees for survival. You might even be able to get a small fire going for warmth.

Do you…

A. Enter the cave with the possibility a troll will eat you for dinner?

or

B. Pull your cloak closer and head out to find a pine and attempt a fire?

Please submit your choice before 10:30pm Mountain Time. This’ll give me enough time set up the post for tomorrow.

Blessings,

Jennifer

P.S. Comment as much as you like but please, only one vote per post per person=) Thanks.

Books pictured:

*Foley, L. O. (1985). The mystery of echo lodge. New York, NY: Bantam Books Inc.