My Illustrations for an incredible short story written by a good friend of mine: a tale of two rival clans settling a debt, in a trial by blood and fire….
“The two clans gathered as the singing moon set, leaving its brother framed by the indigo of dying day. There was little discussion, only lines of tension across antennae and heads holding violent eyes. Only the occasional, nervous trill from a child broke the silence.
The clan to the southeast, those of the Tayenna river, parted to allow their matriarch forward. Like her kin, her fur was near the color of the clay riverbank they lived upon, lightly flecked. She was richly adorned with polished shells set into lattices of wood running along her chest and back, treasures many years of leadership had afforded her. She stood in front of her people, canting her head so only one red eye observed the clan opposite.
They of the Keeshor valley bristled at the arrogance. Their leader was already at the front, as bay as Tayenna’s matriarch, though his coat was solid in pattern and youth, and he wore simple paint. He took several solid strides forward to meet the matriarch, both eyes fixed on her….
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