The Natural Flow of Water
A dandy breeze was blowing, whispering, invisibly eddying. Warm and slightly moist. Muggy, if you will. The endless months of rain and unpredictable weather giving way to this current normalcy. This current comfort. The red-winged blackbirds,...
With Open Arms
They were in the 'repli-mat,' the open eating area on the Promenade, which had tables, chairs. Food processing kiosks. From where they were sitting, they could see the infirmary doors, as well as the lift that led to the science lab. The simulation...
I Know Where I Live
" ... gonna quill me, porcupine? Mm?" the tawny-furred, red-maned lion prodded. His paws cuffed together. "Why didn't my old pawing partner come? She's the chief of security, after all. The constable," he said, as titles on space stations differed...
None and Much the Richer
"You're not an officer." "No." "Never seen you ... " A wide, gaping yawn, showing all his teeth. " ... before." He cleared his throat, shaking his rusty-red man. The rest of his fur being a tawny gold. "Mm. An otter, huh? What's it they say...
Stress Fractures
"I thought it didn't rain in the desert," Desmond said, through squinting eyes. His tall, rabbit-like ears drooped over, trying (in vain) to be umbrella-like. His muzzle still got wet, and water droplets still weighed down his whisker tips. His...
Better Than Shiny Objects
The skunk was resting, lazily, on her bare, pretty belly, on the cool, navy-blue sheets of their bed. Her chin propped up on a pillow, chocolate-brown eyes half-open. " ... but I bet you can fix anything, mm? My favorite ring-tailed, masked-faced ......
Black Sheep Wall
"Oh, I'd love to hold you close, but I play it cool and keep my thoughts in a jar marked 'dangerous.' And everyone says, 'Never fear ... ' But my eyes want to close you out. I'll close you out. Why do you keep coming back over Black...
Hush
'You gonna come inside?' was the thought-spoken question. More a concern. As she padded, in her bare, pink foot-paws, through the green, uncut grass. It hadn't been cut in two weeks. Dandelions (both feline-yellow and cotton-white) bobbed in the yard,...
Debatably So
"She wasn't all that happy," the mouse said quietly, whiskers twitching, darker-blue eyes staring at the cornflower-colored horizon. The rural vista, all these rich, verdant fields and wild pastures, all these snowy cottonwood and noble sycamore trees,...
All Aflame
"This is Commander Peregrine of the Federation Space Station Redwing. Please identify yourselves." He let out a breath, waiting. Waiting. Still waiting. Continuing, "According to our sensors, your ship has been this way before. The last time...
Exit Strategy
"You wanted to see me?" The casually-dressed otter strode into the captain's ready room. A moist, muggy place. The environmental controls were stifling in here. "Yez, I did," wisped the yellow-spotted salamander. His skin smooth, slightly-wet, a...
Buttons
Padding in her bare foot-paws, lightly, primly across the room, her bobtail flickering behind her, the snow rabbit said, "Computer, deactivate force-field A-15." With a faint-blue light and a soothing shimmer-sound, the force-field went down....