Seem and Substance
_Let be be finale of seem; The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream._ --Wallace Stevens A sharp double-trill resounded from several locations in the large, empty house. After several untended rings, the answering machine, that delightfully...
Signing Up for the Tour
Sydney went back to his own life and left Manny to face his sister alone. Given her current state, that was probably a wise course of action. After the wolf had gotten back inside the warehouse, Rosie slammed the heavy door behind him, pivoted upon...
Clean-Up on Aisle 1
"Why am I always the one who has to haul out the trash?" "Because you're the only one big enough to handle the kind of trash we get in this place." "You need a better lock on the door." Manny grinned softly at the large black bear. A full two...
Only Love Survives
The young vixen, her white fur almost glistening in contrast to the dark muted blue of her outfit, waited as patiently as possible given the circumstances. Even from a distance, she could smell the myriad scents of the crime scene - sweat, blood,...
In the Moonlit Mist
In Latin, the moon is_luna,_ which is where we derive the term "lunatic." Originally, it meant to be "touched by the moon" or "moonstruck," because it was thought that the full moon affected people's minds, perhaps the way that it affects the tides....
Baby Steps
"I didn't want you to go to any trouble." "Stop being silly." Jerry watched as the younger of his landlords continued to straighten up the living room of the big house, waiting for the auto-set electric kettle to chime its announcement that the...
The Jam Jar
For Neil Gaiman, who unknowingly gave me the seed crystal _ _ _ "Ye gods, that thing is repulsive."_ _ "Yes, I know."_ _ "Why do you keep it?"_ _ "It needs me."_ \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* The rat, mid-sized for his particular feral...
Family Treasures
"I can report with confidence that Niceville, Florida, is just that, but that there's one house that should not be allowed to stand." Bobby Harris could only nod in agreement as he welcomed Duncan and Daniel Lamar back to their familial home with as...
Behind Blue Eyes
"Pardon me..." Cory Wind Runner looked up from her book, expecting to see Benedict before her, not merely because the accent sounded like his but also because who else would be haunting the Extra Credit café at this point of a midweek day in...
The Radiant Lion
Body-surfing the waves as only a lean young otter could do, Javier coasted toward the shore and the spaces where only the knowledgeable few could gain entry to the old boardwalk. He reached the wet sand at the tide's edge and performed a happy...
Grayson's Triad Book 1 -- Prologue
# Dedication This is for all of us who would rather include than exclude, and who wish to love another for who he is rather than who we hope he'll become. And for Nickey Froberg Drayer, who helped me learn this. I miss you, Hyzenthlay. _Quote:_ _"I...
Trigger Effect
Jerry Bunting knew how to drive, although he'd never owned a car. Something about cars was vaguely unnatural in his mind, as the use of a car contravenes that law of nature which holds that the paws should be in contact with the ground when traveling....