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“Jabberwock Keys” is a complete just-for-fun short story that could use some polishing.
“The Jabberwock are deadly creatures, vicious and cunning, and perfect for guardians of treasure,” the shopkeeper said.
The sorcerer considered, staring thoughtfully around the magic shop. He’d already browsed before he came to the counter and summoned the shopkeeper to ask for his available hoard-guards. So he’d seen all the crystals glimmering in the dim light, the murky potions swirling in glass stoppered jars, dry and yellowing bones, herbs hanging from the rafters, and odd objects lurking in shadowy corners, but he studied them all again.
“I don’t know,” he said finally, “aren’t the Jabberwock a little… old-fashioned?”
“Jabberwock have never gone out of style, sir,” the shopkeeper said. “But if they don’t suit your needs… we have dragons, trolls, and ogres. And for the subtle shopper… sirens, basilisks, and banshees.”
caitlinsternwrites 
Chuckled about the banshee being subtle. Great snippet 🙂
Subtle is relative. When the next thing is a dragon, I feel I can get away with it. 😉
I snickered all the way through this. Love the line about the Jabberwock being old-fashioned. I agree with the shopkeeper-some great monsters never go out of style! Definitely want to read more of this.
🙂
Can’t you just imagine a presentation of say, this Winter’s Monster Fashions? Cyclops are in! Hydra are out!
You should do it! I would become a devoted fashion follower. 👹
Love the visual writing. I can see the shop and all it’s details and snickered about the old-fashioned puns. Great opening.
The best kind of magic shops are cluttered and mysterious, I think. Even if well-lit and organized would make it easier on the customers…
Oh a Jabberwock with eyes aflame…that can never go out of style! I want to take a trip to this shop.
Everyone needs a rent-a-monster for their hoard, right?
What a laugh. Caitlin, you’ve got it all with this eight. I’m going to the shop with Millie. Where in this world is it?
I bet it’s well-hidden behind layers of spells and booby-traps, but if I ever figure it out, we can organize a shopping trip! It’s probably safer in a group, anyway, so the merchandise doesn’t eat you.
I’d love to visit that magic shop! Who wouldn’t want to purchase a fantasy creature?
Tragically realistic people. 🙂
Rent a siren to liven up your pool party! Hire a minotaur to escort guests around your corporate offices! You’ll be the talk of the town!
Wow, great shop! Colourful snippet full of character.
Thanks. 🙂 Hundreds of fantasy novels permanently warped my childhood dreams, and I’m okay with that.
I’d like to see something in an affordable dragon, please. Love the description- very engaging snippet!
All sorts of young dragons looking to build their gold stocks are available for reasonable rates. Please remember that short-changing your dragon will end in a fiery death.
Snicker-snack, baby! 😀
Would they happen to sell a solar-powered phoenix? Our last one had a wonky resurrection cycle because the battery wouldn’t take a charge. 😀
Only the finest phoenix, burning with the fire of a thousand suns. Resurrection guaranteed, but no compensation for damages incurred in the process.
I want to SHOP here. Please? Loved the snippet, tweeted it Just enchanting LOL.
Magical shopping–the best kind. And book shopping, which is magical, if you think about it. 🙂
What, no stuffed alligator?
Nope. There’s something toothy and scaled wandering the floors that would take offense. 😉
Nice scene setting with this. It seems like a fun world. 🙂
You could so some serious thief scaring with a Jabberwock, I think. It always seemed like a seriously dangerous beast.
Love the whimsy throughout this excerpt. The title is fabulously clever too! Great job, Caitlin!
The whole idea came from an app that generates sentences from your FB statuses. Most end up gibberish, but one of mine was something like “The Jabberwock, with key returned.”
And I thought–I could make a story out of that…
Haha… love this! It made me chuckle, and I totally want to read the entirety of the short. If you post the entire thing let us know!
“Jabberwock have never gone out of style, sir,”… too funny!
They’re definitely a classic monster, I’d say. 🙂