Gallery

Two young tapejaras scuttled along the cliffs their flock called home. Both tapejaras had jet-black feathers, but the elder, Sunbeam, had yellow splashes on her wings, and the younger Shooting Star had white stripes all along his body. From the moment she was born, Sunbeam never felt like she belonged with the rest of her flock. She had hatched just as the sun came out after a storm, and combined with her yellow markings, it earned he...

Selena woke, as she did most mornings these days, to Mikhail wearing a trench into the ground with his pacing. His tail flicked back and forth as he paced up and down, his eyes glued to his feet. She was lucky—or perhaps, he was lucky—that she’d been moved out of the barracks. Her fellow guards wouldn’t be happy if he tried this sort of stunt there. As it was, she had a stall to herself, so she was the only one who had to deal with him. “Are you alright, Mik...

“You’re an idiot, Mikhail.” Mikhail jumped to his feet, crest and tail fanned out indignantly. Selena was barging into his garden uninvited! To be fair, he usually enjoyed her company, so she had an unofficial, unspoken invitation at all times. But she didn’t have to be so rude! “That’s hardly justified!” Nevermind that he didn’t actually know what specifically spurred her to action. Mikhail was certain he had a good reason for whatever it was he did....