I very much liked both entries, but even considering the author in question—[i]Un-American Activities[/i] was a real tour de force. As such, it gets my [@vote].

Critiques at this point are mostly for the sake of formalities. Both entrant are above the level my aid is most useful.

>A+
[hider=Un-American Activites]
A masterful work, with a well-paced plot and characters that keep the reader invested. Columbia really did grow as a character throughout the story—both in her portrayed actions and in her manner of speaking—which beyond anything else helped to drive home the core theme of the piece. [color=#cccccc][i](Or at the very least, the core theme that I cared most about—self-direction. Or liberty, as is the American word for it.)[/i][/color] In general, the dialogue was very strong, and very much helped to tie the characters into the setting and plot.

As usual, the writing itself is of high quality. One moment that really stood out was the «[color=#999966][i]Clack, clack, clack[/i][/color]» before her assassination, calling back to her military training. Not only did it call back some of her first moments relating to humans—which ultimately led to her decision to join the rebellion—it also showed how far she had come in developing as a character, [i]and[/i] set the overall tone for the scene.

Very powerful stuff.

[color=#cccccc][i](Honestly, I think this might be my favourite entry from you yet; rivalled only, perhaps, by your very first submission: [/i]Never Forget[i]. Much like that entry, every moment seemed to build upon the others, never aimless, all for one great purpose.)[/i][/color]
[/hider]

>B
[hider=Dryads]
A generally strong entry; well-written, with an intriguing plot and cast dynamics. The end result between the father and son was particularly endearing, even with [color=#cccccc][i](or perhaps especially due to)[/i][/color] the insinuations of impermanence and imperfection.

The main challenge posed by this entry in investing the reader is the generally detached nature of the narration—the actions were always described from a distance, which makes it more difficult to connect to the characters. [color=#cccccc][i](Such is not necessary in a short story, but is something I find desirable.)[/i][/color]

There was, however, a bit of a lack of information on the setting. Trees learning in a class setting, for example seemed off-putting—and the cannons seemingly came out of nowhere, as there had not been any real indication of industry prior. The growth-politics of the dryads was well-developed, still.
[/hider]

I wish there were more votes to go off of—it seems a bit unfair that my vote alone should determine the winner. But alas, such is the flow of seasons, not all as productive as the last. With only two entries to choose from, I am glad both were of high quality.