Category: Original

Insomnia turned out to be a false prediction – and Patrick was never sure afterward if it was because he was that tired or because he needed to be asleep, in order to dream. But either way, he didn’t lie on the ground long with his blanket, staring at the fire, before his eyelids dragged…

“We won’t have much time to go sight-seeing after all.” Alex ran a finger along the railing outside his and Marc’s hotel room. His brother was inside, in the shower; Patrick stood beside him with his back to the railing. “I don’t like sitting around when they know where we are.” “But they’ve already contacted…

There were faint rays of sunlight streaming in through the window in Patrick’s room by the time he was awake enough to open his eyes a fraction and look around. It had to be at least mid-morning – later than he was usually up – and he felt oddly lethargic, a little stiff, and not…

“Over there,” Alex pointed out, his eyes bright, “is the Strangford Lough and there,” he pointed again, “is the Lough Neagh – you saw that when we were in Antrim, remember? You can see quite a bit from this mountain, if you happen to take the road that curves around it.” They were in the…

“What was it?” They were the first words Patrick had felt capable of speaking since he’d been led back to the little grove where Marc had been waiting for them. He hadn’t spoken or been spoken to after he’d been kissed – just helped up and directed onward, with a hand on his arm. It…

Whatever it was that made Marc so noticeable was considerably dimmed by the next morning. Alex, however, was adamant about continuing to walk. It wouldn’t be that far to another rest stop – they could get food and water there, camp out one more night, and go back to hitchhiking the next day. So they…

Patrick blinked. Considered rubbing his ears out. Figured it would probably look rude. Blinked again, and stared down at the picture in front of him. “Sorry?” The picture included a very embarrassed-looking Alexander, whose cheeks were a bit red and who was staring fixedly at some point beyond Patrick’s shoulder, eyebrows slanted down as if…

“Thanks for stopping.” Alex grabbed hold of the back of the truck, pulling himself up beside a pair of friendly-looking dogs and shooting a grin to where the driver was watching him with a faint smile. “Not a problem.” The woman looked a bit eccentric – wild curls of light brown hair shooting up from…

~~~ The old image is banished, Transformed by fire, With me I keep My heart’s desire. ~ Part of a rite for fertility or a successful harvest ~~~ “What time did you say your bus left at?” Patrick Graham leaned against the side of the desk in his shared hostel room, and absently ran his…

~~~ Gone away, peerie faeries, Down come the bonnie angels, Sleep safe, my baby. Away be to Bugaboos, Smoke shrouds the inner room, Sleep safe, my baby. Smoor the peat fire, Gone away, peerie faeries, Gone away, night stealers, Sleep safe, my baby. ~ Baloo Baleerie (fire smooring song to protect one’s children from faeries)…