Reeds rustle, day is shackled

Crickets sing, coyotes cackle

Blood red reflection from the small pasture ponds

Yellow eyes glowing from the cattail fronds

‘Neath the blood red moon,

‘Neath the blood red moon.

Little masked devils

Sneak through the corn

To feast and to revel

As night life is born

The lonely howling ghost

Gray, grizzled and grim

Cries out towards the moon

That paints the world sang...

I see you and time stands still

Crowds freeze and my heart does too

But the slowing of time can’t fulfill

That you’ll never notice me like I notice you

My life races by like fire on the field

I can’t keep up with the breakneck pace

But to you, the one to whom my heart yields

The fires recede as time stands in place

There you are, across the way

In this party of people where I stand alone

And ye...

Cyprus lept from bush to tree, melting into the underbrush, fading into the foliage, walking as one with the forest. This was home. Her fortress. She scampered up the tree with the claws and dexterity of a squirrel, ran across a branch without stopping, and soared to the next tree. There was an unfamiliar scent in the breeze today. She intended to track it.

Her heart raced with exhilaration. "Ma...

I'm gasping for air

The skies of her affection

Shine for someone new

And the storm of her unfaithfulness

Rages over the sea of my desperation

I'm drowning in my depression

The ocean of my cold despair

How could her sun refuse to shine for me

Her blue skies replaced by her indifferent thunder

Blue waves roll over me

I succumb to them, sinking, drowning

And as I drown, so does the sound of her sto...

"You killed me mum!" The wild, scraggly little man brandished a rusty knife from somewhere in his bedraggled trench coat. "Now, I's gonna kill you!" He shuffled forward with the speed of a racing penguin.

"Woah woah woah! I didn't kill your mum!" I showed my palms to display my innocence, my non-aggression. I continued talking, as it slowed up the mad squatter. "I don't even know who your mum was...

Why should she not return my love to me

For mighty deeds on your behalf I’ve done

Think you I’ve spoken in hyperbole

I shall display I cannot be outdone

I’ve stolen brother’s car to come see you

And stare at you from outside your window

Remember dates from in your planner too

To follow you wherever you might go

Reality is that my view’s distorted

For to the cops my love you have reported

Felt...

They say it takes guts to leave Mars. I think it only takes common sense.

My parents weren't descendants of the first settlers here. Actually, they were descended from the most recent crew. Flight Omega 12. It was made up of peasants who could afford to scrape the money together to leave. Mars hasn't communicated with earth for the past two centuries.

By then, the classes were pretty well settl...

The sun's first rays warm my exposed skin like a kind, gentle fire, caressing my face. Light blinds me more than darkness ever could--light from the vast sunrise, bouncing off the dunes as a mirror. I shield my dry eyes. These dunes, like an endless sea of waves frozen in place...

This is the Desert of the Lost.

This is my life now.

I must return to the Land Below. The old men of the crags alw...

I couldn't see him yet.

Not like this.

For as long as I'd known Jason, running has been his life. Sometimes running practice even took priority over our dates. Sometimes he forgot about our plans. Running came first. That's ok. I've always admired his dedication and his passion. He is wholly devoted to his passion. I've made changes in my life to be more dedicated because of him. He's changed m...

I’m racing for the cliff. Hounds are hot at my tail, Mage Skinners behind them. I don’t have time to hesitate now. I need to jump.

At least if I fail, the rocks at the bottom will be more merciful than the Skinners.

More mercy in a quick end.

I close my eyes as I sprint. My brother used to tell me to picture vast emptiness, centered on a door. Moving through the door, I’d find my inner stren...