Tag: sister

The Gods of Bogs and Grasses

“Grandma always said that’s why we’re so ugly,” Raye said, with another laugh. “Our ancestor gave all our beauty away. But she also passed down the fans, so someday, if we figure out the proper magic, we could re-capture that beauty. Or we could just enjoy having a gorgeous hand fan. You know, it might be the perfect centerpiece decoration for the living room.”

She started to reach for the fan, when her sister finally spoke.

“That’s not how the story really goes,” she said.

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Nikola and the Two Crows

There was, in a time not too long past, a youth by the name of Nikola, who walked within a wood beside his town. The paths were well-trodden. Nikola met many whom he met often. He gave and received greeting. He strolled past green leaves and hanging fruit in spring and summer. He strolled past fire-gold leaves in fall and snow-laden branches in winter.

Then, one day, he almost strolled past the most captivating sight he had ever seen in the wood.

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The Wolf and His Circle of Sisters

When the sixth child was born, they were horrified to see that it was a boy. Others told them that they were foolish to fear the curse that they feared would fall upon their son. All did seem well for a while, and they hoped that they were indeed foolish. But in his thirteenth year of life, Adrian began to show signs of transformation.

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The Stickers Are Legion

She blinked. But the scene did not change. She squeezed her eyes, then rubbed them.

The scene did not change.

Her niece was standing across from her, arms crossed, expression even more crossed, glaring down at her brother, who was lying on the ground, squirming and struggling.

Swarming all over Devin were tiny…creatures.

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A Gift From the Gas Giant

“I could live a million years…” Verena trailed off into a series of a shallow breaths that escaped from a face frozen in a wild grin. “…and no one will ever top this present.”

She turned to her right and watched the massive arena, floating on a bed made of water vapor clouds that concealed gravity glaciers underneath. The arena, the vessels of the other attendees scattering in different directions, the stars, the rainbow of laser lights still beaming from the arena’s heart, they all began to blur as her own vessel leapt into hyperspace.

She turned to her left, still gasping with disbelief. “Dad!” she yelled.

He laughed in response.

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Diamond Dreamt of Rose

Clara felt the magic trickle up from the bare skin of her palm. With a cold crackle, the almonds transformed. Seven perfect diamonds. Even in the dim light of fog and cloud, they glittered. Clara sighed as her vigor was drained by the spell.

She looked ahead to the bridge. She had not expected fog. A shape emerged from it.

She held out the handful of diamonds. Enough to pay the toll for the next thousand travelers.

“It is not enough,” the bridge troll said.

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The Margin Alien

Don’t spend too much time looking around, I told myself. Just find Andy, fix the harness, and come on back.

My brother had said the place was amazing and the people were great and that he couldn’t wait to take us there, once he was sure it would be safe.

But I couldn’t let that dazzle me. Especially since a small part of me wondered if he’d somehow gotten enthralled into staying longer than he’d intended. Maybe he’d lost track of time. I glanced over at the kids, who stood thirty feet away. Andy didn’t allow himself to lose track of time anymore, unless someone else was taking care of the kids. And the state of his bedroom, his garage…

Remember why you’re going there.

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