Angela was laying on her back, with Circe's head resting on her thighs as they watched the column of smoke and fire climb into the Florida sky.

"What was the last one called, dearest?" drifted up from her legs.
"Apollo. Fifty four years ago."
"Hmm."

Suddenly Circe sat up, and got to her feet. Angela didn't know what had prompted it, but she leapt to her own feet and started scanning the area for threats. "What is it?"
"There is a power here. Come, we must be polite."
"Yes, ma'am."

Angela followed Circe as she strode across the grassy bank, and stopped near an athletic woman who made her instincts scream 'Danger!'

Circe bowed, and Angela copied her, making sure to bow a little deeper. "My Lady, I had no idea any of you still walked the human world. My apologies for not making the proper observances."

The mystery woman turned her eyes from the rocket's trail, and looked at them, and then looked again. "Circe, you are awakened in this time. How unexpected. My name has been called so many times over the past few years, it has been sufficient even if they do not make the offerings. My brother found the same fifty years ago." Then she turned her eyes to Angela, and looked back at Circe. "A fine working. What is she to you?"
"Bodyguard at first. Partner now."
The woman was suddenly in front of Angela, who found she could not move, or change. Her eyes went wide. The woman reached out and stroked Angela's face. "Fine work, indeed. What brought you to me this day?"
"To pay our respects, nothing more, my lady," Circe's voice was deferential.
The woman was back in front of Circe, and stroking her face the same way. "You come before me without an offering?"
"Only our respect, my lady."
The mystery woman laughed "Oh, dear Circe, you never fail to surprise." Suddenly Angela could move again, and she stepped up next to Circe. "Oh, do not look so fierce little guardian. I will do no harm to your mistress or yourself. You are too perfect a hunter, and I would not break such a work of art. Have my blessing, and continue as you are." With those words, she vanished.

"Circe, who was that?"
"That, my love, was your patron. The Goddess of the Hunt," and she pointed up towards where the rocket had vanished.
"An actual goddess?"
"Oh yes. We will have to establish a shrine if she is back in the world. Even if it is only temporary."

#SF #SFF #IAmWriting #microfic #tootfic #Microfiction #Circe

What do you get when you cross the greatest nautical adventure series written (Hornblower), with the most wholesome swashbuckling romance ever put to film (The Great Race), rewritten from the viewpoint of a young woman as the heroine of it all?

ARABELLA OF MARS by @daviddlevine

That's what. And it's AMAZING.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#Bookstodon #SFF

#Norwescon is this weekend, although I noped out this year and won't be there. Even for the barcon…

However, if you are attending? Make sure to go to the Endeavour Award party. (There will be fliers with the date/time and room number.)

> https://osfci.org/endeavour/

#SFF #writing #PNW #Seattle

Thoughts on the Artemis mission, from someone who grew up in Apollo's shadow.

https://www.noahchinnbooks.com/2026/04/02/go-artemis/

#rpg #ArtemisII #goartemis #fuzzyknights noahchinnbooks #offtheshelf #sciencefiction #scifi #sf #sff

New Issue: BCS #454 out today, featuring stories of outsiders experiencing community conflict amid epic events by returning BCS authors @mercwolfmoor and @jonolfert.bsky.social , behind cover art by Silas Goewey.

https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/issues/issue-454/
#fantasy #sff #shortstory #litmag

Ebook and paperback: https://books2read.com/TheInvertedGlass

After encountering the worst life has to offer, including the death of his wife and child, destruction of his home world, an addiction forced on him by the one responsible and a third of the galaxy falling under the heel of that tyrant, Levi Jacobs, a wizard, seeks to unravel the secrets of time and fate.

@bookstodon
#author #indieauthor #writing #fantasy #scifi #sciencefiction #sff #sciencefantasy #scifi #actionadventure #fiction #books