by Togi Kayako (土宜草子) A dozen and one things drew Thimble’s eyes as they teetered on the tips of their bare toes at the very edge of the dirt path. Their father Hearthside had said to stay on the path and make sure they didn’t go so far into the woods that they couldn’t see […]
Category Archives: Text
25
Jun
If These Mountains Could Talk
by Torino Koji Alexander had been riding in the back of the truck for a little over an hour, jostling about as it made its way down the dirt road. It had only been dirt for the past few minutes, but that was long enough that Alexander could feel it in his bones, through the […]
25
Jun
Fairy in the Forest
by EmboSnoodler Hue crouched down beside a large orange flower and dug a glass vial from a satchel that hung at his side, not taking his eyes from the droplet of nectar that welled at the center. Although the tips of the petals were already starting to brown and turn inwards, the nectar droplet emitted […]
25
Jun
Reverse Cowgirl (Not Gay as in Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, Queer as in Dude Ranch)
by shukyou (主教) illustrated by the Winter Cynic “Mona, I think they’re … they’re all lesbians!” This was not precisely the conversation Pearl wanted to be a part of while standing in the sun, shooing flies from her face, waiting for a horse so they could start their scheduled trail ride. Truth be told, […]
25
Jun
Queen Baiting
by juou no zan (女王のザン) “Tiede!” Arden shouted, pounding his fist on the door to his brother’s quarters. “Tiede! I need advice!” The door swung open, though it was not Tiede who stood behind it. It was Farran, Tiede’s new husband. Farran’s dark, curly hair was loose and wild around his shoulders. He was wearing […]
25
Jun
Glimmerite
by Someone Else Sage stopped in the tunnel just outside of the town of Granite. He took stock of his things: seeds and herbs he’d collected, flowers he’d cut and kept bright by singing to them twice a day, the herbarium he added to when he found new plants, his notes on his routes and […]
25
Jun
Lucky Stars
by Cowboy Rider There’s something about barbeque that makes coke taste better, Amadeus thought as he stared into the dwindling remains in his cup. It was something Pepaw had always said with an exaggerated belch that had scandalized his childhood self. He smiled slightly at the memory, glancing around. The basket, once containing four sauce-slathered […]
25
Jun
Making the Dream Work
written and illustrated by Iron Eater “Good afternoon! Did you know that if you or a friend or loved one have suffered any hardship from the ravages of the Dread Multitude, you’re entitled to reparations?” The person on the other side of the door went cross-eyed as they tried to focus on the brochure that […]
25
Jun
Fallen Dust
25
Jun
The Shape of a Place Out West
by stills The air was still cool, dew clinging to the blades of wild rye and reed grass and the yellow arrowleaf flowers in the ditches, but when JJ slid into the driver’s seat of her ’85 pickup, the weak morning sun had already warmed the creaking vinyl under her backside, creating a cozy little […]
23
Apr
Home to Roost
written and illustrated by Iron Eater “Are you seriously one of those people who writes ‘human’ with a capital H? That’s pretty fucked up, man, especially for an academic paper.” Zofzerit frowned. “Of course I do that,” he said. “It’s a proper noun.” “It’s not, though,” said Seyyed. He rapped a knuckle against the sheaf […]
23
Apr
Head
by shukyou (主教) He stared into the mirror in horror as his hideous visage stared back at him. His breath stank in his own nostrils, coming back to him with a smell so hideous, it seemed only the underworld could have produced it. The eyes that met his gaze were familiar, but everything else was […]
23
Apr
Anathemaphilia, or, how I learned to love the Beast who so loved the world
by Viy Sitante Crunch. Gronch. Crack-schlick-slurp. Harsh and quick is the separation between meat and mouth, with further sounds similar to a garbage compactor when the bones break. When the massive creature in front of Max Arizmendi finishes its current mouthful, a booming gulp reaches his ears—finally causing him to blink, before he continues to […]
23
Apr
Jabberwock
by mihlen & idolkilling The monster first appears four months into the evaluations. It stands in the northwest corner of the psychologist’s office, tucked behind the floor lamp in the corner. It resembles a shadow, just some dimly lit angle of the room so closely that Alexei could almost excuse how no one else seems […]
23
Apr
Sunrise over ice
by Someone Else The boat appeared by Hrun’s workshop door one morning. It was a marvellous little thing. It could be fitted with blades to slide over the ice, or they could be removed to sail on water. Hrun had never seen a sailboat up close before; they’d never been outside their village and, icebound […]
