Rising Phoenix

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Across
  1. 3. Written by Austin Korff. This story involves the protagonist’s discussion of a dream where they are haunted by addiction. (___ house; Halloween)
  2. 6. Written by Dan Hatland. A story about a man washed ashore on a deserted island told through the perspective of a coconut tree and a masked booby. (Tropical fruit also used as a bra)
  3. 9. Written by Whisper McDonald. In this story, a woman is left as a sacrifice for a beast, but when the beast comes she is given the choice to accept his proposition or die. (Found in the 2021 Spring issue online)
  4. 10. Written by Kelsey Langlitz. This story is about a woman’s feelings regarding the man she was with prior to a life-changing event that leaves her pondering the impact he had on her life. (Overworked)
  5. 11. Written by Sarah Chayer. "The ___ Breath" is about a girl who struggles with her thoughts and the pain of being alone. After letting go of someone she loves she faces the difficult choice of whether she even wants to be alive. (___ Bad; popular drug show)
  6. 12. Written by Conrad Kamschulte. "Call upon the ___" is about a cleric who goes to an artistic young boy to stop him from creating art. (a member of the clergy)
  7. 15. Written by Jean-Marie Mayer. "The Cat That ___ Back Through Time" is about a group of girls growing up, with a hopscotch path and a black cat being the only constant. (children's game)
  8. 16. Written by Camilla Doherty. In this story, a woman is given a cactus to take care of, which she does successfully. This gives her hope and leads her to grow more plants. (Newest Rising Phoenix winner; 2024)
  9. 17. Written by Ashley Mellenthien. In "The ___", the protagonist chronicles their tendency to be impatient, and discusses several methods they have heard to make waiting "easier". ('Ring, ring, answer the phone.')
  10. 19. Written by Josette Ott. In this story, a husband’s drinking leads to his daughter’s death. His wife reevaluates her decision to marry him. (Learning how not to die in water)
Down
  1. 1. Written by Samuel Hansen. "Today on _____: Your Story on Shuffle", a conversation between friends where one tries to convince the other of the virtues in non-linear story-telling. (phrase; daily reading)
  2. 2. Written by Crystal Zvitkovits. "Alex’s ___" is about someone’s brother fighting during the Vietnam War. What the family and the world had to endure, all told through a fifth grader’s perspective.(what you look out of)
  3. 4. Written by Madeline Perry. This story personifies a mushroom that gets harvested in the forest. (The scientific name of the mushroom known as Fly Agaric)
  4. 5. Written by Nichole Rued. "Manorexic" is about a high school boy who is in ___ and is unhappy with his weight and decides to go on what he perceives to be a "diet". (High school sport that involves pinning)
  5. 7. Written by Cole Heyn. This story is about an old man who is observing a river and contemplating his life alongside a young man who is there to fish. (opposite directions; hot or cold)
  6. 8. Written by Conor Lowery. In this story, a girl wants to see the sun. (The line where the sky meets Earth)
  7. 13. Written by Mike Eserkaln. This story is about a man who is recounting all of the mistakes he has made and openly admitting his shortcomings to the reader while playing Russian roulette.('___ that'; call of agreement)
  8. 14. Written by Austin Korff. In "___ 18:48", a little girl is scared of the tornado that is coming, but is it really a tornado or something else? (Book of the Bible; sacred song or hymn)
  9. 18. Written by Jeff Ott. "The Worm ___" is a story that follows an old man as he digs a hole deep into the ground and learns from the worms. (Greek titan that holds up the heavens)