Flash: Prey
February 5th, 2008 12:01 am

By Monica Valentinelli

Read by Christiana Ellis

A musky scent drifts lazily on stale, moonlit air. Alara knows this scent—fear—it holds little meaning to her. Her hawk’s eyes narrow as she circles above the cemetery searching for her dinner. Focusing on a small, brown mouse huddled against a piece of stone, she dives to strike. The mouse spots her and freezes.

Something hot hisses and sparks, burning her dinner to a blackened crisp. Alara leaps to the night air, squawking in alarm. She lifts higher, caught by the smell of pungent, moldy earth and burning candle fat. Faint sounds penetrate the smells; a harsh voice interrupts the monotonous droning. Alara knows the voice—it belongs to her master.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [4:46m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Posted in Flash, Podcasts by Ben Phillips
RSS 2.0
01
Kevin Anderson
February 5th, 2008 8:14 pm

I really enjoyed the alternative (non-human) POV in this one. Very nicely done.

02
Dom
February 9th, 2008 1:59 pm

I’m going to agree with Kevin. I wasn’t expecting something like this, because we’re so used to hearing about humans.

This story felt like a piece of something much larger. I like that.

03
Monica Valentinelloi New Website | Flames Rising Horror & Dark Fantasy Webzine
March 13th, 2008 9:03 am

[...] from Abstract Nova, Worlds of the Dead from Eden Studios, Colonial Gothic from Rogue Games, Prey at Pseudopod.org and [...]

04
Mari Mitchell
March 15th, 2008 12:09 pm

Interesting prospective. The description is, as always, lovely. I too love stories that are rich in description. It is the only way for me to join the writer. This is way for us to become one. Now this will not go down as a fav but I can see why you chose it none the less. It amazes me how intimate this feels. I think it’s because reading a story out loud, I do most often with my children.