Arena: Smogust's Story Hoard

August 12, 2026

Sunflowers — Aug 12

Aug 12, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

A wounded dragon finds safety in a field of sunflowers, where others come to aid it in its recovery.

Write a story or poem about the day when it is finally healed enough to fly again…

Genre: Healing, Hopeful, Inspirational

Responses

"Velvet Golden Years" — Leeron Heywood : She was old. Which, for a dragon, meant over three hundred years had flown with her.

"The Field of Recovery" — Bradley Hurt : A wounded dragon thinks its fate is sealed until camaraderie intervenes

"Death As an Option" — Laurie MacIntosh : The dragon, Clementine, thought the idea of dying in a sunflower field might be just the ticket.

"He Wanted a Pig. She Brought Buckets, Bandages and a Knife" — Substack : On dragons. Rawr. A bit cosy, a bit tender, a bit moody, a bit magnetic.

"Always wear suncream, fellow kids" — Tales of Pictavia : Tanned skin is damaged skin

"See That Girl" — Leanne Shawler : In Lllallogan's dream, he sees a great light. At least there are no oncoming trains underwater...

"Sunflowers and Sincerity" — Hallie Jules : A journal entry from a young dragon who escaped a land of stifled creativity and found solace in the Sunflower Meadow, where creatures of all kinds are free to express themselves.

"A Place to Die" — Gracie Autumn : Silakai chooses is final resting place in a field of flowers. Unfortunately for him, the stars have other plans.

"Day 12th: Sunflowers" — Mercedes de Santiago : The massive dragon had been severely wounded. The huge chest of the reptile had now a hole in it. No one knew who or how it had been caused, but the result was obvious...

August 13, 2026

Shattered Moon — Aug 13

Aug 13, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

D’veen’s sky is defined by its shattered moon. A reminder of how the Aluthian Titans tried and failed to terraform another world beyond D’veen.

Write a story from the perspective of a dragon who witnessed the moon’s destruction…

Genre: Sci-fi, Eye-witness account, Cosmic horror, Apocalypse

Responses

"An Eon Of Stargazing And Collaboration" — Leeron Heywood : Since long before I hatched, dragons have watched the night sky and longed to know the truth of the stars…

"Recollections of a Dragon Warrior" — Bradley Hurt : A veteran of the battles for D’Veen recalls how its venerated moon fared through vicious fighting

"One of Us" — Leanne Shawler : Elpis is shattered by grey-robed Geraint's response, the morning after .... ....

"Scars of D'Veen" — Verdant Butterfly : Poem D'Veen: The force hurled me across the clouds, As burning fragments fell, Pale rivers streamed between the shards, A horror I now tell.

"Day 13th: Shattered Moon" — Mercedes de Santiago : I am Krunak. I am a dragon. Yes, I can speak your language too, even if you don’t speak mine. But your lack of knowledge about reality does not mean the inexistence of the facts, people or whatever...

August 14, 2026

What the Farmer Saw — Aug 14

Aug 14, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

Write a story or poem about a farmer who witnesses the impossible: a dragon soaring overhead.

They go into town to tell everyone what they saw, but no one believes them. That is, until the dragon comes back…

Genre:Adventure, Folklore/myth

Responses

"A Displaced Guest From Way Out Of Town" — Leeron Heywood : Thing is, Craig had never been an imaginative sort. Not even as a child. So him rushing into the tavern blathering about a monster from tales was… odd.

"The Hermit Returns" — Laurie MacIntosh : Lachlan Shaw, the hermit, was used to being ignored. Granny Abernathy was not.

"The Proof is in the Sky" — Bradley Hurt : Dragons are a thing of the past. Or are they? One farmer faces ridicule in town when he tells of his unique encounter.

"Though I Try How Can I" — Leanne Shawler : After being rejected, again, Elpis goes wandering through the palace gardens and comes across a special bridge...

August 17, 2026

The Dragon Real Estate Agent — Aug 17

Aug 17, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

It’s a rough real estate market out there for dragons. Castles are in short supply, most of the caves are taken, and don’t even get me started on how the economy is affecting treasure hordes…

Write a story or poem about a dragon who moonlights as a real estate agent. They’ve just been given the listing of a lifetime: a castle on the edge of a mountain.

**Genre: Comedy **

Responses

"Castle of Your Dreams" — Bradley Hurt : This castle has a great view and so many unique features and amenities! It’s to die for!

"Here Be Homeowners" — BentButTrue : A dragon moonlighting as a real estate agent receives the listing of a lifetime: a crumbling mountaintop castle with undisclosed ghosts, a hungry portal, and a load-bearing giant.

"The Travails Of Draconic Subletting" — Leeron Heywood : “Now, I’m SURE you read the listing very carefully, but to be sure we’re all on the same page, yes the castle has a genuine dragon living in it, who is the LEGAL OWNER…”

"Dum Dum Diddle" — Leanne Shawler : Llallogan goes in pursuit of the impatient Geraint only to be caught up in a flashback....

"Stone Cold" — Jenifer Jorgenson : An arrogant dragon learns the hard way that not every castle is as harmless as it looks. A dark fantasy flash about pride, predators, and one very bad flyby.

"Selling Drakendell: A Smaugust Prompt Story" — Hallie Jules : A rookie dragon realtor gets caught up in Blazerick's revenge plot

"Day 17th: the Real Estate Dragon" — Mercedes de Santiago : Smilo was a dragon who liked working on real state. But people ended up being very scared of him

"Open House" — Elizabeth Hagenlocher : A dragon stakes his claim on a totally-not-inhabited castle to make his real estate dreams come true.

"Market Value" — Andy Scotts : When an unexpected guest storms a for-sale castle, the agent is in for more than he bargained for.

August 18, 2026

Robot Friend — Aug 18

Aug 18, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

The dwarves of D’veen were known for their incredible inventions, including lifelike automatons that seemed to think and feel like a living thing.

The dwarves are long gone, but their inventions live on. Write a story or poem about a dragon who repairs and befriends one of these ancient robots, discovering there is far more to them than history describes…

Genre: Found Family

Responses

"Ninety-Eight's Long Vigil Validated" — Leeron Heywood : The human leans forward, eyes wide, their disbelief mirrored by the rest of the group. “Wait. You mean there’s a STILL FUNCTIONAL Progenitor automata??”

"The Strong, Silent Type" — Jenifer Jorgenson : A lonely dragon finds the perfect companion: attentive, accepting, and an excellent listener. A whimsical fantasy about friendship, love, and finally being seen.

"The Dragon & The Iron Giant" — Verdant Butterfly : Poem D’Veen: “They forged me once to hunt your kind, To strike you from the sky.” He looked upon his dragon friend, And could not fathom why.

August 19, 2026

Witchery — Aug 19

Aug 19, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

Witchery A witch prepares a spell that will be her masterpiece. It requires careful preparation and strange ingredients, including the blood of a dragon, given willingly.

Write a story or poem about how this witch convinces a dragon to part with a vial of its blood so her spell can finally be cast.

**Genre: Ghost/gothic/witchy, horror **

No approved submissions yet

August 20, 2026

The Vault — Aug 20

Aug 20, 2026

Word Limit: 3000

The Endarian Expanse is an ocean surrounding the continent of D’veen. In its depths, locked in glass vaults, lie ancient treasure and the secrets of the gods.

Write a story or poem about a dragon who has grown up inside one of these vaults, longing to one day escape to the realm beyond those curved walls.

Genre: Sci-Fi

No approved submissions yet