I grabbed this prompt with the idea of writing a Yuletide Treat, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it, and on a whim, I signed up for it at the end of sign-ups, and of course, I got assigned it. I then spent the next few weeks freaking out as I tried to write it, because apparently I need to have more structure in my source material. There were just too many options! Too many stories to tell! I actually crossed it over with Oregon Trail in hopes of adding some much-needed structure to my ideas, because there is an easy format to Oregon Trail stories.

And then this story took off, and first it was 1000 words, and then 3000, and then, finally, it broke 6000, and I was in love with it. If I'd had more time, I probably could have taken this to 10k or more. This is so perfectly me, I am surprised that no one guessed it was mine: adding werewolves to a story and writing about the women who hunt while the men support them.

In the end, this has become one of my favorite stories I've written, and I am so glad I was assigned this request.

This fulfilled the Missus Clause Challenge.

Title: Monsters and Me
Author: escritoireazul
Fandom: Pioneer Trail/Oregon Trail
Written for: chase_acow for Yuletide 2011
Characters/Pairings: Bess, Fanny Wildcat, Hank, Bess/Fanny Wildcat, Bess/Hank, Bess/Hank/Fanny Wildcat
Rating: 13+
Word count: 6180

Summary: When she’s a little girl, sitting on Pa’s knee while Ma cleans her guns, Bess hears her first coyote howl. It’s nothing at all like the hunting song of a werewolf, but still Bess shivers and stares out at the darkness with wide eyes. (Every hunter has to start somewhere.)

( Monsters and Me )