Writing Prompts by Anna A. Ilina

The Wish - Audio Story Prompt - The Butterfly Series 2/2Something tickled her nose and brought her back from sleep. Was she sleeping? How did she end up on the floor? A faint smell in the room reminded her of a campfire.Her eyes focused on what caused her to wake up. It flew from her face to her arm and fluttered its wings again. A butterfly.Wait… there was another one hiding behind one of her fingers, and another on her wrist, more on her neck and face… that’s when it clicked. Her spell had worked.She grabbed the butterfly by its gentle wing and let out a laugh that had been brewing in her for what seemed like ages. All her hard work had paid off, the time she put into understanding the writing in the books, making graphs, translating languages… she had finally mastered it all. And these butterflies… they were only the first sign of the power she was about to have.What happens next? Want to receive story prompts directly to your email as soon as they are published? Subscribe for free on substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit annaailina.substack.com

Time was running out. Her wounded arm, now pounding with pain, had slowed her down. She needed to rest.When she opened her eyes she found herself back in the cave. Her body must have brought her back itself, she had no memory of retreating home. The pain, still present but slowly subsiding, faded from her mind once she realized: the butterflies - they were still there. They were still alive, still in the cave, still fluttering around as if nothing had been happening all this time.Outside, things were dark and unclear, but inside life continued in all her glory. She felt a tickle on her face, the small creatures had gravitated to the warmth of her body, and welcomed her home.Maybe there was still hope? Maybe things would get better? She heard loud blasts coming from outside. Her arm pounded with renewed pain. Should she stay inside or leave to continue fighting? What was the right thing to do?She looked up to the light coming from the crack in the cave's ceiling. Where should she find her answer?What happens next? Let me know your story by commenting below.Want to receive story prompts directly to your email as soon as they are published? Subscribe for free on annaailina.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit annaailina.substack.com

Hiding - Writing Prompt - The Blue SeriesSomething caught her eye on the other side of the valley, near the base of the hill. Not wishing to reveal her position she quietly observed from afar. A group of them gathered in the tall grass. The ones on the black horses appeared to swim through the valley. They were much faster than her, she had to stay still.She heard a cry, but the soldiers weren’t surprised by it.Two of them carried forth an old woman with a babe in her hands. What were they going to do? She moved from her spot to get a closer look accidentally snapping a twig beneath her feet.A few heads turned to face the bushes she was hiding behind. She froze forgetting to breathe. They made a few strides to approach her, but the babe cried again, this time louder, hungrier.The men nearest the widow grabbed the child and pulled it away from her. “Please!”, she yelled. “Please, no!”If she ran now, would she be able to get to the child and woman? Would she be able to get away? If she ran in another direction, perhaps the child and woman would be forgotten and spared? The baby cried, its tears mixing with the woman’s. Her heart paced, if she were to act, she had to act now. Any minute, and second now it could be too late. Another wail from the babe, and she forced the bushes in front of her to the side, clearing a path for her to run just in time to see the unthinkable.The valley became quiet.What will happen next? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit annaailina.substack.com

Lifetimes - Writing Prompt - The Blue Series.Three lifetimes flashed before her eyes. A present given to her in each at this very moment.In her first life, she placed it next to her, busy with thoughts about someone she had been searching for. Dust settled on the gift, and it lay there, never opened.In her second life, curiosity got to her the moment the soft box touched her fingers. She grabbed it and ran away, far from the place she called her home.In her third life, her hands, shaking, unraveled the package. Anticipation flooded her veins, but when the ribbon fell to the ground, an empty box stared at her. Once again something she had hoped for for so long was met with disappointment, and she couldn’t take another heartbreak.The visions dissipated in the air. In front of her still lay the present.What will happen next? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit annaailina.substack.com