The Spider Lady, @Ashleyne. B. Watts – Tapping into primal fears, this ghoulish story tells of a woman whose predilection for arachnids proves an unexpected boon for her neighbours.
Wishing Well, @Vaz – A ‘black widow’ invokes eldritch forces to dispose of her latest victim. These unnamed dark powers clearly enjoy the taste of infidelity.
Promote the General Welfare, @Victoria Silverwolf – In a world where usually inanimate objects are anything but – strange gestalts of organic and other – this story details the hopes of would-be parents (parent?) and their quest to be granted a child.
A trip to the Linear, @Ajid – A jumbled mish-mash of past, present and future, this story – if such a term can be used to describe something so non-linear – explores the possibility of a creature that lives all eventualities.
Volant, @sinister42 – This touching story tells of a winged servant who comforts the dying, bringing life to an age-old story.
Heyday, @Coast – What begins as an epic saga of a warrior’s past glories descends in to mundanity when it is revealed that these are tales from a
very distant past and leaves the reader wondering if they even happened at all.
Mr Benevolent they call me, @Luiglin – This story of a mysterious entity that offers benediction to the depressed and downtrodden leaves us wondering of its motivations. Can a creature that feeds on misery truly be good?
What Horton Heard, @Cory Swanson – With disturbing parallels to real-world parasites, this story tells of a woman, desperate to prove herself a kind soul to the voices that only she can hear. Completing her quest leads only to a gruesome and terminal discovery.
Planet of the Drapes, @Droflet – A curious tale of a world populated by sentient animals and a traveller’s observations of their behaviour. Owls channelling Yoda? And what
did happen to all the bananas?!
From Riches to Rags, @LittleStar – This tale of high adventure on the high seas details the piratical career of one Captain Robin, an oddly-familiar brigand who roams the seven seas, enjoying the rich pickings of the hapless trade ships. Confronted with a downtrodden previous victim, the good captain reveals her softer side.
