“I think I knew,” Ivan said slowly. “Back then I mean. I knew but I didn’t want to know.” “When we showed you Pey,” Mava replied knowingly, then added with a hint of reproach, “You didn’t like it.” The two of them were sitting a little way downstream from the clearing, beyond the fern grove,… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part XI
Category: short stories
A Place in the Forest, Part VIII
As if reading his mind, Mava stopped quite suddenly several paces ahead of Ivan. She didn’t turn to look at him, but he thought he could read something in the stillness of her silver-haired head, the poised look of her long, down-turned pointed pink ears that showed like fins on either side. “We’re here,” she… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part VIII
A Place in the Forest, Part VII
“Mava,” Ivan called. “Are you sure about this?” Mava turned and looked back at him. The light coming from him was green but it seemed to be filtered, as if it was passing through a thick fog. His expression was earnest, open, holding nothing back. Even had she not been able to sense his emotion,… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part VII
A Place in the Forest, Part VI
“I’m ready now,” Ivan said. “I want you to show me today.” Mava looked up from where she was planted on hands and knees with her nose nearly brushing the moss, studying a pair of tiny snails with rose-pink shells and pearlescent flesh. Her small horns twitched in Ivan’s direction and he noted that although… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part VI
A Place in the Forest, Part V
Mava sat at the edge of the rock pool, her feet submerged in the cold crystal water, letting the raindrops pelt her. The pattering of rain blended together with the rush of the waterfall and the susurration of the trees, creating a smooth wall of sound on which her thoughts skated. But no matter how… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part V
A Place in the Forest, Part IV
A branch snapped loudly beneath Ivan’s foot, hidden by the carpeting of brown leaves that covered the forest floor. He froze and held his breath, listening intently. He was conducting an experiment; he wanted to find out how close he could get to Mava’s clearing without her sensing him. Every time he went there she… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part IV
A Place in the Forest, Part III
“That settles it,” Mava said decisively, concluding a dialogue she’d been having with herself. “We’ve got to go swimming.” Ivan smiled weakly. “I think I’ll just put my feet in,” he ventured. “I’m really not that hot.” A drop of sweat chose that moment to roll off the tip of his nose, undermining him. Mava… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part III
A Place in the Forest, Part II
“Oh no, I can’t eat that.” Ivan paused with his hand still outstretched offering the smoked trout on its open napkin. “Uh, there’s hardly any bones in it, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said uncertainly. “I’m pretty good at deboning them. But you do have to be careful anyway,” he added hurriedly. “Some… Continue reading A Place in the Forest, Part II
The Visit
“Oh Addy, come on. You can’t wear that.” Her mother’s voice is wounded, as if Addy chose her clothes intentionally to disappoint. Addy looks down at herself, her cargo shorts, velcro sandals, and second-favorite t-shirt, the one with the frog on it. “Wear the dress you wore to Teddy’s baptism,” her mother continues. “With the… Continue reading The Visit
A Place in the Forest
A heavy crashing of branches sent two stealthy ravens up from their cover of leaves, croaking disgruntledly. Mava’s knife was already in her hand when the man landed in an undignified tumble of twigs on the thick moss at her feet. “Lecher,” she snarled, crouching back. “Spying on me, were you?” The man scrambled gracelessly… Continue reading A Place in the Forest
Queen of Elves 