Is there anyway the length limit can be upped again?  I'm not feeling like I'll be able to write a whole story in like, three paragraphs.  Could we have up to 900 words please?

I will join on Team 1!

Byte says vzzt. Three possibilities: 1) He met a bee, 2) He is snoring, or most likely 3) He is fiddling with Emerald's hair dryer again. 

Emerald (in the distance): Give that baaaaaaaaaaccccckkkkk!!!!! 

UPDATED ENTRY AND JUDGE LIST

Booksy Owly  Team ?

Elvina  Team 1

Cho Chang?  Team 1

Micearenice  Team 2

Over the Rainbow  Team 2

Dragonrider  Team 2

Amber  Team 2

Poetic Panda  Team 2

Shadow Dragon  Team 2

Merenwe  Team ?

Horse Spirit Girl  Team 1

Judges

Me

Will?

Scylla

Rose bud, if you want to judge that's fine with me, but you might want to ask Will 

Abigail, if you can join, Will just needs to assign you a team.  

WE NEED MORE JUDGES!!  If you are interested please tell us, we need them desperately!!

I'm sorry guys, but this is a short story contest, so the total will remain 600. I've moved it up twice already, and I really can't move it up any more. 

  As
the clock struck midnight, Hazel Harrier peeped out from behind her tree.
The low toll of the town's bell resounded ten...eleven...twelve times, echoing
back and forth between the snowy crags and the forest that loomed on either
side of its city. Hazel had always come out at midnight to explore, and tonight
would be no different. Routine was everything to her. It helped keep her mind
clear and free of bad thoughts.

 
Hazel inspected her surroundings before advancing. Trees, dark against the
sliver of a moon, speckled a moon-washed field that the townsfolk used as a
recreational area. She leaned forwards to survey the field; however, instead of
seeing the usual empty space, Hazel's brown eyes were met by a crowd of people
conversing in low, excited tones in the middle of their park. Briefly Hazel's
breathing was stopped in astonishment. Were they coming for her?! How did they
discover her?

 
Then the girl pulled back behind the tree, slapping her forehead gently. Of
course! It was New Year's! Today, although it was just minutes after midnight,
was the first day of January. Hazel knew that she couldn’t go exploring at this
time, but she was a bit curious as to what the city’s traditions were on New
Year’s.

  Suddenly,
without warning, a blazing fire soared into the sky, illuminating the entire
meadow. She could see every human's face, every dry stalk of seedless grass,
and every leafless tree that occupied the grassy stretch. It was unnerving being
able to see so much at midnight, and like a mouse frightened out of hiding, she
darted deeper into the woods just as the missile burst open. Sparkling streams
of red and gold showered down with a thunderous boom. Nimbly Hazel dodged
creaking limbs, fat rotten stumps, and weedy saplings that had all gone dormant
for the winter. Another rocket exploded. Why were the townsfolk doing this?! It
was ruining her routine, making her feel unstable. If fire fell into the
parched forest, the world would be set ablaze! Weren’t they cautious to any
extent?

  The
wiry girl swung around before running too far, seeking the shelter of a hollow
tree. She wanted to stay close to the meadow in order to monitor it, just in
case of fires. Upon finding a suitable hollow oak, she crawled inside, swept
away the musty, dank leaves, and settled down. Yet another firework soared into
the sky and exploded.

  Hazel
could see through the thin branches of the forest that it was electric blue,
just like her eyes sometimes were. It took a star shape before slowly winking
out of existence just as another rocket was launched into the air. This one was
actually pretty! Silver flared out with a million tiny diamonds while a
victorious thunder echoed across the land. Mystified, Hazel stuck her head out
of the tree. Another firework, followed by three larger ones, gracefully flew
up to kiss the stars. They exploded with another three-way blast to create the
biggest fiery decoration Hazel had ever seen! She crawled all the way out from
her hole and pulled her knees together. All night she watched the display,
beautiful firework after firework, until the townsfolk packed up and headed
home.

  Hazel
hiked back to her treehouse in the oncoming dawn. Though rather strange, hurling
fire into the sky, she found it wonderfully hopeful. The rainbows had danced
across her eyes, filling them with wonder and light when all brightness
should've been gone. Hazel fixed up her bed, reflecting on the odd night, and
fell asleep feeling renewed and full of hope.

My story is 599 words, in case anyone was wondering. I used Microsoft to count my words. Beware! It counts these: ~  As words!

Joining! I believe I'm on Team 2.

************

As the clock struck midnight, the bowl of salsa landed on my head.

I suppose I should back up a little. It started with a dumb old carpetbag that the Laroches from downstairs left on Father's bus. He must've figured out it belonged to them, because he went to their apartment and when he came back he didn't have it anymore. They've loved us ever since. Always bringing us fruitcake, which I tried once and don't care to ever again.

Anyway, they were a couple of codgers, but they invited themselves over on New Year's to watch television anyway. Everyone except me was eating chips and salsa and ice cream; I just had regular cream. You know how these things are. The television was showing a couple of people all bundled up in their extra clothing people wear when it's cold outside, acting very excited about a large round colorful thing on a pole up above a city someplace.

Old Missus Laroche was asleep. I was very nearly asleep myself, would have been completely asleep if the television hadn't been so loud and Quinn hadn't been throwing power charges all over the place. She really ought to be more careful with those. They make my hair feel all funny, even from across the room. 

Just as the overexcited people on the television got particularly overexcited, the tall wooden clock I am not under any circumstances allowed to climb made its huge BONG noise. Missus Laroche woke up suddenly and made this little yowl and flung her legs out, hitting Quinn (who was sitting on the floor). Quinn jumps too, lets off another power charge worse than ever, and falls over backwards onto that little table I am not under any circumstances allowed to nap on.

Which sends the bowl of salsa flying. Which results in the bowl of salsa landing on my head.

With a terrific screech, I tear out of the room, spilling salsa all over the place. I still have a few spots to hide that the people don't know about; behind the refrigerator is one of them. Once I am safely out of reach of prying people, I settle down for a good tongue bath, paying no heed to cries of "Tabasco! Tabasco Sauce, get back here!" No doubt they just want to put me in a tub full of water and that awful-smelling bubbly people stuff. That never works, and I am covered in salsa, of all infernal things! Tongue baths are far more effective. I do regret worrying the people so, but they will find me eventually, and by then I will be clean and presentable again.

What can I say? A cat must take care of himself.

I'd like to join, if I am to be assigned a team...

Micearenice, Curio, I love these stories!  Now we also know that Jarvis has entered for Team 1, and Rose bud and Anna will also be judging.  Judging starts on Monday, so post your entries now!