The Inks of Time, B1E1: The Blood Witch

“Nine by nine, told in nine by nine times. In the end, ninety-nine. A full life of youth. That is your fate. This is your warning.” Lilian is a wandering nomad full of regrets. Then she hears about the Inks of Time: a way to go back and change her mistakes. But the journey to find the Inks of Time will take far longer and much more than Lilian could ever imagine.

The Valley of Autumn

From above, the valley had the appearance of being drenched in blood. Autumnal colors were in full sway, but that was what it looked like year-round. No one who lived outside the valley knew that. The few people who came near the valley would notice the sweet scent of fresh rain. Beneath that sweet scent …

Blood in the Pantry

Act perfectly normal. Understood? Entertain the guests, smile, chat, and make sure they enjoy their pie. When they walk through the door and ask about the giant red stain, say that a stray cat chased a pigeon into your house and murdered it. Unfortunately, you’re still in the process of cleaning up the mess. When …

Hey You, predator and prey

https://open.spotify.com/track/7F02x6EKYIQV3VcTaTm7oN?si=4a8869a8473e436b Hey you, out there in the cold. There, ahead, was a small light. A fire. There were creatures gathered around it, chirping and chatting to each other. Their breath appeared as steam. Can you feel me? The creatures were unaware of the predator until it hit them in a flurry of talons and fur. …

The Stolen Ocean of the Red Desert

Once upon a time, the Red Desert was an ocean. But Daniel “Dandy” Dandelion was feeling reckless. On a whim, he stole the ocean and hid it in a pouch. This pouch was misplaced in Dandy’s house, much to Dandy’s chagrin. Dandy hadn’t meant to keep the ocean, but that was what he did. In …

Monster Vignette: the Crab

You smell salt, you see the sunset, but you never see the crab. Your gaze is fixed on the sunset bleeding into the water. You are too busy listening to waves crash against the cliff to hear the deep rumble of the crab leaving its domain to catch an oblivious human.  The crab is red, …

Lady Scales

Her skin was peeling away. The more she itched the more skin that came off. Instead of red, raw skin beneath, there were green scales.  She looked like a mess. No one had noticed the scales yet, but that was why she wore sleeves. She'd shown a doctor and she'd shown her friends, but they …

A Cardboard Box

When the candleflame goes out, a sigh of relief escapes you. You can no longer see it. And, hopefully, it can no longer see you. You stand and fumble around the barren room. The walls are stiff but give slightly when you press into it. You remember seeing a door on the other side of …

Larry and the Teleporting Parrot

Larry was about to install his new toilet when his parrot activated the teleportation spell. The white bathroom tiles vanished and suddenly he was on his back, staring up at a very blue, very bright sky. “Defenestration,” the parrot cackled. “Never stand by the windows.” Larry sat up, his head throbbing. It was hot, which …

The Monster of the Rain

The children in Gilbets learned to never leave the safety of their houses when it rained. The Chenquin came when it rained, and when it came, it never failed to drown a child. People shuttered windows and locked doors when it rained. Only the adults ventured out. At fifteen, Heather was old enough to be …