Contest October-November 2023 Short Story Contest Entry Thread

It is officially closer to October 1st than September 1st, so let the October-November Contest begin. The theme for our 36th seasonal short story contest is "Stranger in a Strange Land" brought to you by @Killer Angel
The Rules
-We would like you to try to keep your story between 500 and 2000 words. I am requiring that entries do not exceed 2400 words. This is counting title, poems, quotes, any add-ons. If I get a submission that exceeds 2400 words, I will trim it till it meets the limit, and you may not like what words I choose to cut. Even prepositions are not safe...

-Your name must appear nowhere with the story. There is no point in having an anonymous competition based on skill if we know whose entry is whose.

-You must send your story via private message to Scalenex before midnight (US Central time) on November 8th 2023
-The story must be new. No dragging up a story you wrote months or years ago.
-No plagiarism. This means no stealing a story verbatim. You are free to use characters or settings from other works including other writer's fluff pieces and past short story contest entries.
-The story must involve Lizardmen (or Seraphon or Salamanders or Saurian Ancients or Rangos), at least a little.
-The story must stick roughly within the theme, at least a little.
-No comics or illustrations. This is a short story contest. Visuals are limited to fonts and text colors.
-Only one entry allowed per person.


Once again, the winner of this contest has the honor of choosing the next contest theme if they so choose.

If you want to talk about the theme or your eagerness to write or read something. Please do so below!

 

I'm happy we're officially on this one

 

What the marhlect, I got an entry already...

 

Well, that's impressive.

 

I am extra happy today, so I need to make an extra exuberant display.



We got a first time writer throwing their hat in the ring!

 

oh, that's great!

 

Good, I was about to start prodding since we had a very strong start and then a fairly long doldrums period.

 

I wont be able to join my own theme.
That fills me with frustration.

 

Indeed you are right, that was the first reference i've had in mind.

if that can help, it's also the title of a good Iron Maiden song (which is unrelated to Heinlein's book).
And also a quote from the Bible.

 

I would still run the contest with two competitors. And everyone get 2/3 of a vote.