Boiling Point
_ **Boiling Point** _ My walk from the station was more like a swim, the swampy summer morning air even more overwhelming and oppressive than the metro journey that'd got me there. A journey made up of three trains, two transfers, and nearly an entire...
Blessing Day: Part 3
_ **Part 3** _ _(Sam)_ The living room sounded awkward enough from out in the kitchen. Not much sound to be heard. Even less chatter. But it took actually being there to fully get how cold the atmosphere had gotten. Only the TV saved us all from...
Lost & Found
_ **Lost & Found** _ The air stifled so very much. Even on a morning that was not so hot, how difficult it was to breathe came as the first thing to my notice upon disembarking the train. To walk through the streets, the crowded, overloaded streets,...
Blessing Day: Part 4
_ **Part 4** _ _(Marek)_ We left our game of Regicide half finished, and while it hadn't whipped up the positive, lively atmosphere that I'd hoped for, the six of us had at least enjoyed what had come so far. At least, nobody had got bored enough to...
Breaking Summer
Breaking Summer Home. A place Pinball hadn’t stepped foot for months, years in fact, before this wonderful long-weekend visit to see his family. A place that still held a deep, unmistakable familiarity. As if he’d never left it in the first...
Helping Hands
_ **Helping Hands** _ I grabbed a slice of sourdough outta the pack I'd brought from my kitchen section down below. Being up on the sun-soaked main counter, right next to Tomas, made me an easy target for his pleading over breakfast prep. "Sorry,...
The Gift of Giving
_ **The Gift of Giving** _ Friday night. I was still feeling frosty from heading out to top up on groceries earlier that evening. All the more motivation to wrap myself up extra tight and sink even deeper into bed. Sure, I was still sleeping in the...
Perspective
_ **Perspective** _ "Purpose of your visit?" I'd been standing silent in line so long that I'd almost forgotten how to talk. Jet lag had my head all kinds of mashed up, too. No matter. The ultra-formal, no-nonsense crow glaring at me from behind her...
Rock Bottom
_ **Rock Bottom** _ I stretched my legs, then my arms and back, grumbling as I stirred in this makeshift bed of mine. A faint bar of light seeped between the gap in the giant door ahead, saving me from total darkness at the bottom of this wardrobe I...
Voices
_ **Voices** _ '_Dear Jiri,. Thanks for taking the time to meet us the other day to discuss our Line Cook vacancy. I'm getting in touch to let you know that while we were very impressed with your knowledge and your enthusiasm, competition for the...
Torchbearer
_ **Torchbearer** _ Blake sank to his knees, placing a paw to his battle-felled brother's chest. The pain-stricken grunt it drew threatened to pierce his own. Blood oozed between his fingers. Drenched his palm. He recited a silent prayer for any and...
At Capacity
_ **At Capacity** _ Another step, another bump. I caught the coldest stare from the wolf whose seat my thigh collided with. Following up by thwacking my tail against his leg can't have helped matters as it trailed behind. I decided against glancing...