This was written for a friend who wanted a story to go with a picture he had drawn.

OK, bro, I read your story, geez

It is, as always, good, but I feel like it falls victim to the fact that the format of Ficly leads you to a twist ending

Or not a twist, so much as a reveal, but I think that it would be good if you wrote more stories with straightforward endings, as opposed to the majority of Ficly stories

I think you’re right that something this short naturally lends itself to having a twist or reveal at the end. It’s difficult to establish character enough to make the reader really care about what happens such that a clear and logical outcome is sufficiently satisfying. Thus do most of us take the easy path. I’ll see what I can do about writing something more straightforward.

It’s a little ham handed. I think “nightmare-plagued” could be removed and you wouldn’t lose anything worth keeping.

Also, “assignment” isn’t the word I’d use there, but whatever.

I so like unicorns so I dithered about the uncool person who would kill one. Seeing as its not real anyways I liked the story.

Dang you big meanie face unicorn killer.

well the twist ending, while a common tactic here, got me. i was all concerned for her three day stay on a bluff, laying down to wait, but i think she suffers enough for her assignments.

For me, since this was based on a picture, the question wasn’t “who would kill a unicorn?” but “what is this sniper killing?” The idea that certain animal parts can be used for healing has been around forever, and what could be more beneficial than a unicorn’s horn? But at the same time, unicorns are supposed to be so pure and good, hence the moral dilemma.