by Rich Rurshell “The Leviathan!” spat ‘Gunpowder’ McGregor. His motley crew sneered and cackled. “You think that relic stands a chance against the Cutter? She could take the Leviathan and the entire naval fleet with ease.” Captain Jack Jones cleaned the dirt from beneath his fingernails with a small pocketknife. He glanced around the impressive […]
by Lisa H. Owens “Today, we’ll explore found footage—the Blair Witch methodology.” Professor McDaft drew attention to the film’s glacial backdrop, “Akin to The Ring, you’ll also notice effective usage of stop-motion technique.” A distant waddle of penguins teetered a sluggish approach, then the scene skipped, and the penguins were closer, their eyes glimmering pinpricks. […]
by Sasha Brown One by one, the penguins adopt us. One by one, we disappoint. Tucked under their bulky stomachs, beneath their piss-caked feathers, we screech and flail and struggle. The giant birds stab down–elegantly, surgically, long beaks puncturing our tiny human skulls. I watch, I learn. When it’s my turn, I curl my pale […]
by C. L. Sidell G’day, mate! Want to play a vital role in the well-being of nature’s waddling tuxedo-wearing birds? Do you have a valid ID or permanent address? Folks who worry about you? Know how to swim? Extra points if you don’t. Good news! You’re hired! First thing, let’s introduce you to these little […]
by Scott O’Neill Thunderous roars shook Sydney Harbour. “Deploy the penguins,” ordered Professor Miller from the twin-hulled research vessel trailing the kaiju. “May science succeed where bombs failed.” Hundreds of cybernetically modified little penguins swarmed from shipboard holding pens. The kaiju faltered and wailed plaintively as the chromed beaks of augmented penguins carved cruel radio-directed […]
by Stuart Docherty If you are reading this, then it is too late. Another child has disappeared at the zoo. The police enforced a lockdown and began searching the enclosures. Of course, they went straight for the large predators. I heard they will put down a lion. We were given limited access, allowed to continue […]
by Madas A. Hatter Squelchy and sickening snaps echoed across the frozen tundra, dulled only by guttural grunts of the silky-feathered masses. The creature below had long since stopped squirming. Its pitiful keening had faded into silence. The Great Emperors were glad to have succeeded in this hunt. Red splattered the white snow as the […]
by Dan Peacock The ice tunnel is getting narrower. I’m on my hands and knees, trying not to think about how many of them are behind me. Their beaks are nipping at my boots, but so far, I’ve been able to kick them back. My feet are so cold that I can’t feel my toes. […]
by Rachel Grifno We find him sleeping on the family’s feathers. Most are crushed under his weight, but others flutter in the winter storm. We can smell them—all the adults slain and broiled by the monster himself. We had all feared his bloodlust, but none had known his strength. Now, he sleeps, twice as big […]
by Carys Crossen After decades of global warming, the new ice age left humanity gobsmacked. The oceans solidified, the forests and fields were scoured by blizzards, oil froze into black diamonds. The population halved within a year. The penguins marched up from the south like iron filings towards a magnet. They had been shackled by […]