The Arrivals: Speculative Fiction Modern Parables

By C. C. Brower and J. R. Kruze

One young woman - while out on a simple hike, becomes trapped by a sudden storm in a long-forgotten mine. Then finds herself dressed for a ball in the middle of a snowy wilderness.

A young single rancher - who rescues a young newborn calf, only to find himself tricked into meeting elemental spirits - who tell him he invited them.

And now she has to rescue him - or did those elementals create this scene as a trick? What do these spirits actually want from them?

Between these two are several mysteries, and the couple meet in a snow-covered supernatural wonderland. They find their unique talents and abilities pit themselves against all-powerful elemental spirits - to survive, and maybe fall in love. If they can overcome being spelled into romantic scenarios against their wishes...

Will they ever return to the lives they knew before?

Not the way they started out that morning, anyway.

- - - -

Contains the sequel to the previous published short stories: Snow Cave and Snow Gift

Excerpt:

When she turned at the sound, I was amazed by her beauty. And spell-struck for a bit. Dark eyes and brows, a light tan to her rounded face. Athletic shoulders, trim waist and hips. When she turned, it was with one hand on her long gown, as if she were admiring her dress. The effect made me speechless.

Her first words broke the spell. "You, too?"

"Me, too?"

"Shanghaied and dressed up for something not our usual scene. Like out of a movie, but without the camera or script?"

I looked down at what I was wearing. Tux, cummerbund, Red handkerchief in my pocket. Not anywhere near my work clothes.

Just had to smile at that. At her.

"Hi, I'm Jules."

"Donna."

And since my hands were full, I handed her the flute of bubbly in my right.

Of course, she smiled at that – and I was spellbound all over again.

"OK, Jules. Now what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Other than I think I should tell you how great you look."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. I know it's been awhile for me, but – well, I like your idea of being dressed for a movie set. That would explain a few things."

"Things?"

"Well, you wouldn't believe me, so..."

"Oh go ahead and try me." Her smile melted my heart all over again.

"Talking red and blue lights."

Her cute mouth dropped open and her dainty eyebrows raised. "You, too?"

Her laughter was the sound of a bubbling spring.

I had to chuckle along with her.

Donna sipped her drink. "Ooh, this stuff is pretty good. Not bitter, but sweet. Apple cider, maybe."

I sipped it. "Yes, that's probably it. Can't tell if its the spiked version or not."

She turned to look up at me with those dark eyes. "We'll know soon enough. Anything either of us say will be funny and we'll start telling the other about some truly embarrassing incidents we've been trying to forget for years."

"Or – maybe we just start mooning at each other like it's the first time we've ever been in love."

"There's that."

I raised an eyebrow as I looked down at her radiant face. "I think it's those talking lights doing this..."

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Living Sensical Press
• Release date: Aug 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386378372

C. C. Brower

A central Midwest author, C. C. has been imagining stories since she was young. Her love of speculative fiction made her a perfect match for Living Sensical parables.  While she likes writing straight-ahead adventure-type stories, she also tries different structures as she collaborates with other co-authors.

Book preview

The Arrivals

by J. R. Kruze

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE ARRIVALS

First edition. August 25, 2019.

Copyright © 2019 C. C. Brower and J. R. Kruze.

ISBN: 978-1386378372

Written by C. C. Brower and J. R. Kruze.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

The Arrivals (Speculative Fiction Modern Parables)

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

Book Universes Notes

Did You Find the Strange Secret in This Story?

Related Books You May Like

Further Reading: The Lazurai

Also By C. C. Brower

Also By J. R. Kruze

About the Publisher

To all our dedicted and loyal fans - 

We write these just for you.

(Do get your bonuses at the end of this story...)

ONE YOUNG WOMAN - while out on a simple hike, becomes trapped by a sudden storm in a long-forgotten mine. Then finds herself dressed for a ball in the middle of a snowy wilderness.

A young single rancher - who rescues a young newborn calf, only to find himself tricked into meeting elemental spirits - who tell him he invited them.

And now she has to rescue him - or did those elementals create this scene as a trick? What do these spirits actually want from them?

Between these two are several mysteries, and the couple meet in a snow-covered supernatural wonderland. They find their unique talents and abilities pit themselves against all-powerful elemental spirits - to survive, and maybe fall in love. If they can overcome being spelled into romantic scenarios against their wishes...

Will they ever return to the lives they knew before?

Not the way they started out that morning, anyway.

I

WHY I WAS OUT HERE no longer mattered. More important was just living to make it back – if that was still an option.

The storm came in faster than expected. Being up on the side of that mountain left me exposed to the fickleness Mother Nature shows at times. While I was prepared for a lot, being buried under two feet of suffocating snow wasn't something to live through and tell your children. Even if you wanted the morbid experience of it.

Some people like to say snow was a blanket. But nothing you'd ever wrap yourself in. Unless you wanted to die. The only other option was to keep moving. Moving. My feet and my staff as an extra leg. One step, then next. Move staff. Next.

My memory said there was an old mine just ahead, somewhere along this overgrown and slide-filled trail. This I got from all that map-study while the rest of the crew laughed at me during their endless poker games. The games those men played all through long winter waits under weather like this.

Memory isn't something the worst storm could suck out of you. Even though those storms screamed the snow, dirt, and leaves past you while dropping visibility to a doubtful If.

Through all that blowing snow and trash, at last a darker shadow and unnatural, straight crack told me I'd found it.

When I pushed through the icy gales up against that old mine entrance, I realized my bad luck just got even worse. The heavy rusted door had been propped open with a 6-inch wood log, someone's leftover firewood. No telling how long ago it had been like that. Those hinges now weathered and corroded.

Moving a three-inch thick door made of heavy dark oak and ruddish-black cast iron worried me. The door looked to fill an actual opening big enough to drive a semi-trailer-truck into. What