A Short Walk to the Past
The sound of new shoppers at the door convinced me to withdraw my forepaws, but not too swiftly. I tried telling myself that it was in order to let Darkstar move to greet them, welcome them, ask if he could help them find anything, rather than that I...
Artisanry
We stayed in the kitchen long enough to tend to the mugs and accoutrements that Lightwing had brought outside, then padded our way back through the dining hall, past the living room, and out the front doors. Back in the sunshine, I quickly reoriented...
Tea and Empathy
My impulse, at that point, was to go back to my room and hide away from everything and everyone. I felt more tired than anything else, although I also felt uncertain of how everyone really felt about... No. That wasn't true. The welcome was real. I was...
Bloodline, Part 3
I took a few seconds longer than I'd wanted to, staring at Johnny's appearance. When he shifted a little on his hindpaws, I came back to myself, holding my expression neutral. I unlocked the door and ushered him into his apartment, following in without...
Bloodline, Part 2
I got his call a few days later, with his mildly stumbling apology for "passing out" on me. He thanked me for locking up for him and, after another few exchanges of relative banalities, he asked if I'd like to see him again. I arranged to take him to...
Bloodline, Part 1
It had been about two months since that first night with Abram. For a long while, what I felt most was a peculiar kind of emptiness, a sensation of a large hole in my spirit. When that image finally came to me fully, I realized exactly what it was that...
Attar of Blue Roses, Part 1
"If you value your life, drive." A fury of feathers and feathers, of wings and hooves, of two or more shades of white and a spun white-gold of mane and tail, of speed and desperation, earth and wind in fear-full motion. The large side door of the...
The Stag and the Ocean
_A beginning is a delicate thing..._ _The old wolf sat alone at his table in the café, waiting to meet his friend. "I have a story to tell," his friend had told him, "of how I came to be born. I have told the story in music; it's time now for you to...
Attar of Blue Roses, Part 2
It was a long time before the sobbing became the hushed tears of relief, and from there came the quiet moments of recovering from both the pain and the ebbing of pain. Through it all, Regan simply held the Pegasus close to himself, offering warmth and...
Jumping Mouse, Part 1
"Mrs. Peel... you're needed." I'd have jumped out of my fur entirely, if I hadn't caught a whiff of wintergreen a few seconds earlier. As it was, I pivoted in place and looked at the tall, lanky figure leaning against the coat closet door of my condo,...
Sins of the Father
Francesco LeClair tossed his duffle bag gently onto the bed and took the moment to look over his motel room. Pretty good, all in all -- king-sized bed (expertly made), comfortable work desk, a couple of chairs, the usual vid options. The bathroom was a...
Jumping Mouse, Part 3
It took four days for it all to happen. During that time, Madame Roma (who had us call her Katarina when we were in private) took some time, twice a day, to send our message to Wally. Lillian had graciously allowed her to keep the rose quartz pendant...