A Hell On Earth

It was so strong that she tasted it in her mouth. The carnage was overwhelming. Bloody instruments and tables lay scattered through out the room. Buckets filled with blood and other fluids were also placed here and there. A half mutilated body lay on one table, still strapped down. It was nauseating. Beyond the room, there was a long hallway that had been converted into a type of cell block. The smell of unwashed bodies mixed with the stench of decomposing ones. Some of the inhabitants of the cells were able to come to come to there doors, begging for release. Others, many with gangrenous wounds simply remained where they were. If there was a hell on earth, this was it.

The Faolchuln

got there?!"

Those were the words her mother had uttered the night Faernyn had brought Inis home. He was small and bony, obviously the runt of the litter and obviously underfed, and covered in grey and black fur. He had followed her home that day. It was raining so she hadn't noticed him at first, but when she did, she'd picked him up and carried him the rest of the way home. Her mother, despite her protests about bringing a stray do home, gave him some scraps and an old blanket in the kitchen to sleep on. Later that night however, Faernyn had awoken to find him curled at the foot of her bed. He had lifted his head, stared at her for a moment as if checking to see that she was all right, and then gone back to sleep. They hadn't know what he was at the time. He hadn't looked dangerous.They found out what was a few months later when her step-father came home. He was drunk, as usual, and was more than upset to find a stray dog in his home. He had started yelling and had even kicked Inis, who was now three hands tall. Inis had shied away but had made no threatening sounds or movements. It hadn't been until her father had reached for her that Inis reacted. As her step-father grabbed her hair, Inis started growling. It wasn't a high-pitched growl from a puppy either. It was a deep, menacing growl from something much larger. Her father had turned to kick Inis again and froze. Faernyn also stared in shock. Inis was facing her father, ears back and teeth barred; but what they were staring at was the fact that he was now twice his normal size and that there were "quill" like spikes protruding along his back. His claws had also lengthened and were digging into the hardwood floor. Her step-father had let her go and left, never to be seen again. Shortly afterward, Inis had returned to normal, all traces of the transformation gone.When she had told her mother about it, her mother had turned pale and asked to repeat, in detail, Inis' transformation. Then she told her that Inis was not a dog, he was Faolchuln. The Faolchuln were a wolf-like creature from the north-east mountains, and were never found far from there. They were the hunting and battle companions of the elfish people who resided in those mountains. They were said to appear as small dogs or wolves, only to transform when their masters were threatened. It was also said that they bonded for life, and that they and the one they were bonded with could draw on strength of the other. Yet none of those were the reason for her mom's reaction. In all of stories and legends of the Faolchuln, there was never a case of a Faolchuln bonding with a human.


*Faolchu- Irish word for wolf.

**"Prequel" for a larger story that's floating around in my head.

The Orphans

Mikhal shushed the children behind him. Then, he cautiously peeked around the corner. They were still there. They had been chasing them for three blocks. All because Jered had punched that rich kid a few days ago. Now, by order of the mayor, all the homeless kids in this area were being rounded up and placed in orphanages or workhouses.  They wouldn't last long there. Ari would be sent back to her abusive father, once they figured out that he was a nobleman. Tym, who was sickly, would probably be worked to death. Jered would last the longest. He was a fighter. He would probably manage to run away again. Mikhal would never make it to an orphanage or workhouse. He was too old, he'd be conscripted into the army. The only reason he hadn't left after the order was passed was Jered. His little brother was such a hothead. He didn't blame Jered for punching the mayor's son, the brat had deserved it. He just wished Jered would show restraint once in awhile. Tym and Ari needed him too. They didn't have older siblings, and other groups didn't want the burden of a sick kid and a girl. He couldn't leave. He had hoped to hoard enough supplies to move them to another city, but now they would have to start over.



Art by: John Foster

For the love of my brother.....

She gripped the knife tighter as she crouched behind the bookcase. She didn’t care what they said, she was not letting them in. He had friends who were cops, she’d seen their badges. They were not going to take her tonight. It was time she fought back, even if she died because of it. Her brother was getting old enough that he would no longer be safe. He had threatened him to keep her quiet and compliant, but soon it wouldn’t matter. He had let his friends use her whenever they wanted. He had also done it himself. What was going to stop him from letting them do the same to her brother? She was the only answer she had. She had to try. She just hoped that after whatever happened, her brother would be alright.

The door crashed open.

She charged.