She knew the tidings were dire when Auro returned that night, pale faced and panicked, wanting to cut off her hair. She’d seen the smoke and fire littered on the horizon, heard the mourning horns and marching drums. The blacksmith stole away each night to meet with Captain Rados. And there were blades to be […]

The carcass of an orca washes up one August morning, on a gated beach preserve just north of Seattle. The boy knows this because he is there on a field trip when it is found. The weather that day is clear and cool. The air smells of pine and water and sand. He hikes with […]

Rafiela turns on the radio before she gets dressed, before washing her face in the kitchen sink, before the weight of reality settles down on her. The radio reports that a dragon has been spotted in Whispering Pines Park, and should be considered extremely dangerous. The park borders the house where Rafiela works, and Americans […]

No one gets in trouble for nothing. Mum used to say that at me all the time when I’d come in hot with the tinboots on my heels. She would cross her arms and ask what I had done. And I would say, because it was as true as I could be and keep a […]

My brother Elliot was a murder of crows. Mom didn’t know yet; it was our big-brother/little-sister secret. Like the time he took me to see Night of the Worm People even though it was rated R, only not as fun and the nightmares didn’t go away after a few days. Still, he took it well […]