Zombiology

By Melody Hewson

A collection of short stories featuring zombies in the wild. Animals such as raccoons, bighorn sheep, box turtles and even an orca are just a few of the species who have to deal with the invasion of the undead into their lives and their homes.
Fair warning, not all of these short stories have happy endings, for the animals or the undead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody Hewson
• Release date: Dec 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463736159

Melody Hewson

I am an author, a teller of stories both long and short, real & imagined. So for the sake of my own amusement, here’s a bit of information about me, written in the form of a short story. Whatever information you can gleam from these words is what you are worthy of knowing about it's creator.Hazel eyes stared up at a cloudless sky before falling to take in the house below it. To some, it would be judged by its flaws ; it's fading paint and scuffed floors. But to her it was perfect. It was hers. And it was home. To one side, a wild forest whispered sweet nothings in the breeze, which was answered by some distant bird's call. "Life is good." She said softly to no one. "And today is a good day."The sudden squawking of wild fowl pulled her attention to the shaggy black and white dog that rarely strayed far from her side."God damn it, Jackalope! Quit chasing those turkeys!""I looked heavenward for angels, while beautiful demons showed me the way." - Shannon Nacyl

Book preview

ZOMBIOLOGY – Zombies Versus Animals

Written by: Melody Hewson

Smashwords Edition

Copyright: Melody Hewson 2019

cover art from postermywalls.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

INTRODUCTION

Almost everyone loves zombies. They're one of the most popular monsters in the world. We've all seen the countless movies, books, games, survival guides, songs and countless other such things. Zombies have always been a popular Halloween costume, zombie stories have been shared around many a campfire, and the myths go back long before modern history.

We both love and loathe the walking undead, and I think that duality is not just because they're dangerous, it's because of what they are. They are us. But unlike other previously-human monsters such as vampires and werewolves, they are without control of themselves. Whether it be a virus, magic, or some alien entity, zombies are mindless slaves forever left yearning and empty, subject to the whims of their lowest natures.

But this collection of short stories is not really about them. Rather than tales of human endurance and ingenuity in the face of tragedy and overwhelming odds, this collection is about an often overlooked underdog.... mother nature.

There are plenty of stories about what happens to US during a zombie apocalypse, and there have even been the odd cat or dog to add their perspective, but that leaves so many stories left untold. What happens when an orca comes across a floating corpse? What happens to the exotic pet bird when the undead attack? How do the animals of the wild handle an invasion of the undead? What happens to the world we leave behind?

It is with those questions and more that I decided to turn my focus to a new set of heroes and victims. Just like a group of hopeful survivors, trekking across zombie-infested lands in hope of finding safety, not all of my non-human protagonists make it out alive. Some, of course, fare better than others.

I hope you enjoy reading about their journeys as much as I did writing them.

COCKATOO

Rawk! Pretty bird! Pretty bird! Woohoo! The cockatoo furled and folded his magnificent pink crest as he spoke. His owner cooed at him encouragingly and slipped him slices of freshly cut apple through the bars of his cage.

"If you keep that up, Caroline, that pretty bird is going to become a pretty dinner." Her husband complained as he checked the security monitors.

Oh shush, Tom. Caroline chided. They can't hear us in here.

Pretty bird! Pretty bird! The cockatoo agreed with a flap of his unclipped wings before giving another raucous squawk.

"The deaf could hear that