Darkness Dreaming Wolf
In the darkness
Wolf dreams his wolfish dreams
In the silence
Sadness pools behind dimming eyes
In the cold
Races run long ago fill his heart
In the emptiness
He sings his songs to the silent moon
In the end
Wolf dreams of darkness dreaming Wolf
Copyright © 2007; all rights reserved
Teaser: Not Precisely
{The Setting: a high-tech underground facility. Lots of people in lab coats with hard-edged features set off in the blue glare of lighting inset into the walls. POV is focused on two men, both conspicuously dressed in conservative suits of the latest fashion., walking down the hall toward the camera. Silver lapel pins catch the light as they walk down the long corridor. As they move forward, the POV abruptly shifts behind them, catching their faces at oblique angles. In the forward field of view, fewer and fewer lab technicians are seen as the two men advance until finally they are left as the only two people in view. The POV remains behind them as they go, their conversation fading in as the walk.}
Man #1: “How exactly did we end up with an undead vampire working for us?”
Man #2: “Undead vampire is redundant. Nor is there any indication that he actually requires blood to sustain him. We think he just developed a taste for it.
Crystal Snow
Any man would have called her beautiful.
In her castle of rose-tinted marble the timid fingers of dawn caressed her satin cheeks and gently stroked the crystal sphere between her long, slender fingers until a gentle echo of the rising sun’s warmth stirred the crystal’s sluggish interior. Auburn hair cascaded from her downward tilted head, but even that thick curtain failed to hide the sparkling green ice of her eyes. She raised her gaze briefly to stare through the open window set high into the tower’s walls. The shining sphere in her hands reflected her form; echoing the curve of her alabaster neck, the swell of breasts gently trapped in the white fur wrap she wore. Read the rest of this entry »
Scattered Seed Part 2
Having rested, the siblings readied for the walk home. They moved along, continuing to gather as they traveled. The early summer season was a great time for collecting desirable items. The elders would laugh at the number of dandelions they would present. The ones from before The Change always joked as to how the yellow flowered plant would be around forever. It was a wondrous plant, however, providing materials for salads, wines, teas, dyes, and medicines. The young ones never understood why the people in earlier times hated them so.
“Father will be pleased with our work today.” Simone affirmed as she shifted her pack to sling a smaller bag over her shoulder.
“Indeed, he will,” Ethan agreed, “as will the rest of the community. What we do means a lot to everyone.”
“I am sure,” he added with a teasing tone, “Jason will be proud of your accomplishment.”
She turned to show him her rolling eyes and a nose wrinkled as if she had come across some foul smell.
“Well,” he continued, “You know he will. Then he will laud your abilities as a medicine woman, a cook, and a huntress. Then he will comment on how beautiful you are and what a benefit you are to the community.”
Simone turned and looked at him as if she had stepped into whatever had created that foul odor she had imagined a few moments earlier.
“You know, Simone,” he said seriously, “I have heard the rumors. He is going to ask father for permission to take you as his wife.”
Simone stopped and sharply turned to face him again, looking somewhat ill.
“No!” she stated emphatically, “No … no … no … no … NO!”
“Father will say it would be a good union between our family and his.”
“I’d sooner marry a tunnel drone!” she said, smacking him smartly on the arm.
Ethan laughed as he rubbed his arm to ease the sting. He believed if Jason asked, Father would agree. He wondered if the ensuing battle would earn a title similar to The Change. Their thoughts kept them moving quietly for some time.
Their mood lightened as they stepped onto the path to their home. The community had been established by those who had escaped the invaders at the start of the battles. It was hidden in a mountainous cul-de-sac for its safety and ease of defense. The initial settlers stayed in caves. Later, after the fighting calmed, they expanded their living area. They built on the land outside of the caves, yet stayed within the confines of the rocky bowl in the mountain.
“They’re here!” the returning gatherers heard as they approached the entrance of the cul-de-sac.
“Miriam,” said Simone,” She is always waiting for us.”
“Indeed,” Ethan responded, “and always wants to hear of every minute of the trip.”
“… aaand ..” Simone continued, smiling, “will pester more then ever to go with us next time.”
They both laughed lightly as they knew the truth of this prediction. They took her on short trips into the areas nearby. Miriam was quick to learn and did well traveling through the hillside terrain. She wanted to go into the tunnels, but it would not happen soon.
Miriam greeted them as they moved closer to them and continued to eagerly ask questions as the trio moved toward the living area.
“Did you see any drones? Did you find any berries? Were there rats in the tunnel? Did you see the traveler? Did you find any pretty rocks? Were the lights still working? I bet you got a lot of dandelions, didn’t you? Simone, did you find any glow powder? Ethan, did you get the vines for some rope? Are you exhausted? Do you want me to make you some tea? Can I see what is in the packs?”
“Enough, Miriam!” Ethan exclaimed, smiling, as he realized his sister had stopped a few steps back.
“What traveler?” asked Simone.
The Boss’ Daughter
[ The caveats: First, this story is based upon characters created for the MMORPG from NCSoft City of Heroes and the City of Villains addition. The names of locations and non-player characters from CoH form the backdrop for this story. Carla and Sergio are characters a friend and I created. There is no intent to infringe upon CoH or NCSoft in any way, just to write what is essentially a fan fiction piece. Second, it's also terribly stereotypical in the vein of old gangster movies. This is not intended to offend anyone, that's just the way we played the characters. I apologize in advance.]
“Ey Carla. Ya mind pointin’ dat blamed Gatling gun da other direction?”
The beautiful young woman standing beside the long black sedan pointing the barrel of a truly huge weapon at the dark figure behind the passenger window did not appear to hear the question. The sound of the slide ratcheting back was loud in the silence.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tentative Title: Echoes of Empire
Prologue:
The Princess Mariss du’Aldra looked coldly at her former advisor cowering on the floor of the dank dungeon that had been his home for the past three weeks. “Did you really think you could get away with this, you pathetic worm?” she hissed. “Did you?” she suddenly screamed and raised the barbed whip in her right hand high above her head. “You think the Heir that much a fool?”
“Please, please, please” babbled the broken shell of a man, tugging uselessly against the iron links chaining him to the cold stone wall, “no more, please!” Read the rest of this entry »