M B

“The Tiger's Fangs” by M B

Submitted to Contest #288

The breeze from the open window brushed against Captain Sphinx’s face as he groaned and settled into the rickety chair at their makeshift headquarters. His head was still pounding from the aftereffects of Mai's potent concoction. Webster paced anxiously while Tex leaned against the wall, arms crossed.  "We need to be careful," Webster said. "This Tiger woman is playing games with us. How do we know she won't just feed us to the wolves once we've outlived our usefulness?"  Sphinx rubbed his temples. "We don't. But she's our best lea...

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“Tea and Intrigue ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #287

Days had passed since Amber Zazuetta had received that fateful letter - alleging she was in fact, not a Zazuetta by birth - at her newsroom desk. The letter that alleged that she was adopted. While the meerkat was fully an adult, the news was a shock, even to a seasoned investigative reporter such as herself.  On top of this already shocking news was the news that her birth mother had passed - and under suspicious circumstances, no less! Amber now found herself in a small town nestled at the base of a mountain range, riding with another...

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“Mother's Pendant ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #284

Amber Zazuetta, ace meerkat reporter, sat at her desk in the newsroom. Her claws went to the jar on her desk and fished out a gummy worm which she devoured mechanically as her pen tapped against her temple.  Things had been far too quiet lately: she’d even had to resort to a few puff pieces just to justify her existence. She scanned through her many emails when her ears perked at the creak of wheels on linoleum. Amber looked up to see Dusty, the rabbit from the mailroom.  “Delivery for you Miss Zazuetta,” the rabbit grinned, handin...

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“The Tiger's Gaze ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #283

Captain James Sphinx angrily jerked his leather flying helmet from his head, his sandy brown hair plastered to his skull as he grit his teeth. He and the rest of his Misfit Squadron had just landed at the Shanghai aerodrome they’d called home for the past few weeks.  Climbing out of the cockpit of his P6 Hawk, the young pilot stormed away barely acknowledging the ground crew as he met up with the rest of his men. He was hating this entire infiltration game he was playing with “The Tiger,” or “Mai,” whatever her actual name was. The smug...

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“The Blade Dance” by M B

“I’m sorry Lorelei,” Red said with concern, “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”  Daedalians resembled bipedal jackals. Lorelei had the common brown-and-black fur patterns, while Rejita had the uncommon reddish fur. The fur was why she had taken the name ‘Red’ while in exile, and it was the name her closest friends called her.  Since her triumphant return, ‘Red’ was now usually known by her true name: “Queen Rejita of Daedalia,” but she loved her friend, and would respond to ‘Red’ if necessary.  She was panting, fur soak...

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“The Party Crasher ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #281

“Come on Yvette, it’ll be fun!” Estrella shouted.  The blonde fae was grinning ear to ear as she danced in her sundress, her butterfly wings twitched in excitement and Yvette half expected to see her friend spin into the air like a helicopter. Yvette - her raven familiar perched on her shoulder - nervously ran her fingers through her brunette hair, a frown on her freckled face.  “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to go to a party, Estrella.”  “PARTY TIME!” Cole called from her shoulder, Yvette put a hand to his beak...

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“The Tiger's Claws” by M B

Submitted to Contest #280

“Are you surprised to learn that the infamous ‘Tiger’ is a woman?” Mai asked. Her eyes glinted in the halflight of the dockside warehouse, draped in a formal silk dress while her henchmen stood nearby, looming over the young-looking pilot in front of her.  Free of her disguise as the lowly cigarette girl in the Phoenix club, she now looked as elegant and as dangerous as the crime empress of Shanghai she was. Captain Sphinx shook his head. “No, I’ve learned over the years not to underestimate a woman. I’m more surprised you passed yourse...

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“The Tiger's Den ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #279

Captain James Sphinx, leader of Misfit Squadron, stared out across the neon lined street, where trolley cars and autos plied the streets, the buildings all had a distinctive European design. If the young pilot didn’t know any better he’d have sworn he was in Europe. The distant hum of a jazz band seeped from the open windows of a nearby club, mingling with the scent of street food—garlicky dumplings, fried skewers, and an undercurrent of opium smoke that whispered of darker dealings. This was Shanghai, where East and West blended together.&n...

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“The Horsemen ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #271

“Have we met before, sir?” Marsha asked the man sitting at the far side of the counter. Marsha was tending the counter of the general store, and felt a twinge of recognition when she looked at him. He was different to say the least. Marsha had the distinct impression that he was a sailor: Beneath his tricorn, his brown hair was tied back in a manner popular with seafarers, his skin tanned and weathered. He seemed to be still quite young but his blue eyes held an aged weariness. He wore a greatcoat, which would open on occasion, and Marsha’s ...

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“Slipping through her fingers ” by M B

Danny grumbled as he held the digital camera in his hands. The old-school photographer and journalism major flipped it over and over in his hands like a jellyfish. “Amber, I’m still not used to this thing. I really don’t know how this is the future of photography.”  The meerkat merely shook her head in response as they stepped out onto the well-maintained lawn of the ‘Historic Varunkirk Mansion’: home of the Varunkirk Historical society. The manor itself loomed before them as other tourists were lining up for the guided tour.  “Alm...

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“The Treasure of the Mille-Louise ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #267

Ben held the model ship close to his chest as he made his way through his grandfather’s home. To him it was magical, full of things he recognized the importance of mixed in with things that seemed outlandish and exotic: Paintings of old starships, alien masks on the walls, trinkets from worlds lightyears away... It was, in actuality, a modestly sized home, but the retired merchant spaceman had used the space well. Ben made his way to the bedroom his grandfather slept in. He knew the old man was awake from the light under and around the door....

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“Scent of a Rose” by M B

Submitted to Contest #265

I knew this was a bad idea. Meeting mysterious people in mysterious places in the dead hours of the night was how chumps like me got murdered.  I’d seen the aftermath of such ill conceived rendezvous first hand back when I worked homicide on the force. I’d never been to Baltimore before in my life, but one thing I could say for certain was it wasn’t my New York. Here I was: a nobody, a stranger in unfamiliar territory. I had no contacts, I didn’t know any ‘hidden gems,’ or the secrets only locals knew.  I was back to square one.&nb...

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“Blind and Hungry ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #262

This was supposed to be my summer vacation.  I was on leave god damnit!  It was a small little island in the Carribean. Never heard of the country before, but the brochures were pretty enticing so I took a chance and went. Now there I was: hiding in a cave along the shore with a cracked rib. I could hear the sound of my pursuer’s massive body pounding down the beach outside - It sounded like thunder. He was looking for me, and I knew when he found me, that was the end. It was one thing after the other.  Guess I should start th...

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“Up, Down, All Around ” by M B

Submitted to Contest #259

Grisha’s alchemy shop was bustling with activity, and not just from the various beasts that walked in to buy ingredients or seek aid from the blind hyena shaman and her apprentices: An odd group had currently taken up residence in the backrooms of her shop.  The most noticeable one - a large reptiloid with dark scales, long horns and piercing yellow eyes - sat upon a cushion too small for his frame. His arms were folded as he spoke to a female meerkat who was transcribing everything he said to her leatherbound notebook. “So you and this...

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“Tears in Space” by M B

Submitted to Contest #257

The alarms were blaring as the ship drew closer to the wormhole. Systems were failing and the vessel shuddered like it was having a seizure. Theodore Sphinx was floating in the chaos along with various other objects that had either broken loose or were never secured before the gravity drive failed.  Using a crate to propel himself to the other side of the wall, he moved like the experienced spaceman he was: He hadn’t made it so far up the ranks of the patrol just for looking good in uniform.  How had this all gone wrong, The blonde...

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