In the Waste Places

By Kate Macleod

Ku-Aya drives her goats towards home, but danger follows close at their heels. Hungry hyenas desperate for food, sure, but something worse that drives the hyenas on.

The fog. It rolls in from the mountains at sunset. The cities built walls to protect them, but Ku-Aya's village lies bare, only standing stones marking the graves of her ancestors keep her safe. If she reaches them in time.

A stranger fights the hyenas but stands in motionless terror at the fog. Ku-Aya knows a citydweller when she sees one, but why so far from the cities?

"In the Waste Places", a high fantasy short story set in the "Goddess-Bereft World", continues the story of Enanatuma from the story "Oil Fire".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ratatoskr Press
• Release date: Jun 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781946552402

Kate Macleod

Dr. Kate MacLeod is an innovative inclusive educator, researcher, and author. She began her career as a high school special education teacher in New York City and now works as faculty in the college of education at the University of Maine Farmington and as an education consultant with Inclusive Schooling. She has spent 15 years studying inclusive practices and supporting school leaders and educators to feel prepared and inspired to include all learners.

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In the Waste Places

IN THE WASTE PLACES

KATE MACLEOD

Ratatoskr Press

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CONTENTS

In the Waste Places

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Also by Kate MacLeod

IN THE WASTE PLACES

Ku-Aya sensed the hyenas slinking all around her and her little herd of goats, although they were careful to stay out of sight. Hunger was rousing them earlier every evening, making them bolder. She changed her staff to her left hand to hold her sling ready in her right. Three more hills until they reached home. Too far. She whistled and little Ur-Tur nipped at the slowest goats, goading the herd into a faster trot.

Then a flash caught the corner of Ku-Aya's eye, the last of the sun glinting on metal. Someone, a man in armor, was walking along the river bank. Where was he going at this hour? The sun was nearly down.

Hey! Ku-Aya shouted, but the sound ended in a yelp of alarm as the hyenas saw her momentary distraction and lunged out of the shadows. Ur-Tur hurried the goats along as Urda emerged from the herd and faced off with the advancing hyenas, growling menacingly, his corded fur making him look even larger than he already was. The hyenas hesitated but then pressed on, closing in as Urda's growl morphed into a snarl.