The rumble snapped Fauna’s attention ― horse hooves pounding into hardened earth. She cautiously peered down from her cave; a cliffside hideaway perched more than ten meters above the forest floor.  A golden misty glow surrounded four horsemen who came to a halt directly below. Three had crossbows at the ready while the fourth lit their path with an oil lamp. The steeds, clad in royal garb, stamped and reared nervously in...

PART ONETHE CULTURE OF ME Once upon a time, there was me living on the planet Earth. And the next story has begun, when my planet was strong enough to start on the program for the near space exploration. In the one hundred anniversary of the Saint Seraphim Sarovsky, I was riding a bus in the Russian city of Chicago. And Russian woman was sitting near, frightened by the loud parental advisory containing talk of two young m...

“Tell me a story, Lucy,” Alice murmured, staring skyward, watching the clouds form dragons or, possibly, cats. “And give it a happy ending this time, please.” Lucy shrugged and lay down her pen aside, deep in thought as she plucked blades of grass from the summer lawn and twirled them between thumb and forefinger. “Would you like to hear of Goldilocks and the three bears?” “Anything, as long as it doesn’t involve Rapunzel...

Moon-Light returned that night. He had obtained a wound somehow, a thorn in his paw. Red-Rose examined it with care but even so the cub pulled back in bitter pain.“You know Moon-Light there’s this story that ma used to tell Snow and I when we were younger. It was about a prince and a princess. They were young, much too young to get married or even have romantic feelings for each other. They were the best of friends and sp...

Chapter 3 Red-Rose had set Moon-Light free for the day. He had run off toward the amber forest. She wrapped a scarf around his neck to keep him warm. Snow and Rose wrapped up in warm clothes and petticoats for their walk to the village market. More snow was starting to fall and the radio forecast said only more was to come. “Aren’t you so excited Rose?! Maybe the handsome young man in the bakery will talk to me now that I...

Chapter 1 In a time not too far ago but long forgotten there lived an old widow by the name of Charlotte. She was a very lively and strong willed woman; middle age had only done her justice. Her shoulder length strawberry blonde hair was mildly graying and her skin showed no signs of wrinkling. Her eyes were a light sullen gray that watched over her two beautiful young girls with love and admiration. They lived in a small...

Once upon a time a Prince so handsome, sought a Princess, and would give a Kings Ransom; For a Lady so delicate, one who would suit? One who was born and raised, via the correct royal route. He travelled the world and found many Princesses, adorned with jewellery and very fine dresses, but one who was genuine was difficult to discover, one who would forever be his Princess and lover. The Prince returned home full of gloom...

Beautiful like the morning mist,She was born in sand dunes amidst.The sand woman with sand carved features,One that would lead astray any mortal creature.She would guide lost travelers in the desert,And bring them back on tracks reverse.And as time passed by,The sand particles from her face would fly.The once carved features were to be rounded and how,Yet the smiles and wrinkles on her face remained proud.One day a little...