Small-scale Surgery
_ **Small-scale Surgery** _ '_Stopping off at the store later. What would you like for dinner?'_ My husband's text half-distracted me from the patient file I'd almost finished up with. I'd not long since scoffed down some lunch, but that didn't stop...
Hangover
_ **Hangover** _ "Hey," called Dan, arriving back at our table with a beer in one hand and a metal tray balanced on the other. "Which of you got the rum and lemon?" I waved up at him. Easier than trying to shout above the noise of the dusky bar...
Fear and Desire - Part 1: Inner Turmoil
The first part of my latest story, 'Fear and Desire'. I've marked it as clean, but just to give a heads up for anyone who may care, this does contain some strong language in places. I did originally plan on posting the whole story once i'd completed...
The Treehouse
**_The Treehouse_** Jason dashed excitedly through the kitchen towards the back door. A cheerful smile beamed from his little face. "Mum, I'm going out to play in mine and Dad's treehouse, yea?" he cried out. "Hold on a minute!" she called after...
Lunchtime at Riki's (AaO Universe Side Story)
_ **Lunchtime at Riki's** _ "Things are gonna be okay," I called up to Zoran, backing away from the doorway of our apartment as he stormed in with the morning's mail in paw. "Don't get worked up about it." "Don't get worked up!?" he boomed,...
Strained
**_Strained_** The clatter of cutlery against plate sounded, bringing the idle chatter around the dinner table to a halt. "Whacha looking at, Kurt?" "Nuffin," the bulky, mud brown coyote mumbled from the seat opposite, smiling...
Grenzen
_ **Grenzen** _ Our narrow wooden stairs squealed with each descending step. An awkward night's sleep had left my neck sore and my back surely twisted. My kingdom for a bed of quality to match that I had left behind in Linvendia. My manor, too, for...
Breaking News
_ **Breaking News** _ Some lunatic in a truck swerved into our lane, right in front of us. Mick, the wolverine in the driver's seat, pumped the van's brakes. Finn, the white shepherd in the middle seat, swore blue murder at the truck's rear...
Blind Date
_ **Blind Date** _ A wave of noise and a blast of heat crashed into me the moment those automatic doors slid open. I ducked my head to dip inside and escape the gloomy, late-November cold, allowing this new 'VRcade' place I'd been invited to fully...
The Climb
_ **The Climb** _ I'd overpacked my grocery bags. I knew that from the moment I had to lug all four of them out of the store. The decision to do an extra-large after-work shop, thereby granting myself a day off from that part of my weekly routine,...
Rock Bottom
_ **Rock Bottom** _ I stretched my legs, then my arms and back, grumbling as I stirred in this makeshift bed of mine. A faint bar of light seeped between the gap in the giant door ahead, saving me from total darkness at the bottom of this wardrobe I...
Perspective
_ **Perspective** _ "Purpose of your visit?" I'd been standing silent in line so long that I'd almost forgotten how to talk. Jet lag had my head all kinds of mashed up, too. No matter. The ultra-formal, no-nonsense crow glaring at me from behind her...