Mershark and Tritonia at the Coral Market

Far from the mountains of the Vale and the bustling seaport of Clemens is a far off coastal village. It is home to the popular Coral Market, the destination for oceanfaring monster girls, their families, landwalkers, and the merchants both above and below the water. Such a popular venue has drawn in monsters from even the distant deep ocean like Klara the Mershark and Geneve the Tritonia.

This story flashes out some concepts from other, earlier parts of the Vale’s story like a bit of the world’s history and what it means to become more monster like. I hope you enjoy.

Thank you to Winrarphile and Yanon for helping with this.

Fox Spa

“Oh, did you hear?” Raza asked from under her bundle of extra expansive, extra plush winter coat and earmuffs. “A Mythfolk family took over the Rosé spa. They open in a few weeks. What’s it called now-?”

“The Pamper Me?” Youko warily answered. Raza clapped her paws together.

“Yeah! That’s it. Oh I’d love to go, but I don’t have a free weekend again for like, a while. At least until after Stephen’s birthday in February.” Raza was at her red Civic ready to step in. Lola was still half celebrating as she glided into the driver’s side of her Toyota van.

“I think my Aunt’s family owns it. I got a weird email this morning, but uh, she wanted me to invite some friends to try it out early. If you, uh, want.”

Both of Youko’s coworkers ran back to her side in an instant.

Holly, Mint, and Visgali

A luckless Nightgaunt drowns her misery at the bar of her friend Holly who has an interesting proposal.

“What’s my soul like then?”

“Eh, like an Ogress. Big, full of… hard stuff. Pulpy.” Visgali’s abyssal eyes were mesmerizing, but the comparison stung the bartender’s own pride. “You’re a stiff drink, but I need a- a-,” the nightgaunt’s eyelids lulled over as she drifted off to sleep mid-sentence.

Good Vibes

My first non-contest entry set in the Vale setting.

Clay rubbed his aching head as he tried to stand, but the fall down the pit rattled his senses something fierce. His bruised arms and battered legs were unsteady and weak as he struggled to loosen his backpack from his person. It was a great and painful effort to brace himself against the pit’s wall under the late afternoon daylight. He needed to take stock. “How long was I out?”

Rat Trap

Another contest entry, this time from Halloween. Rika, Pina, and Neen are three Rat Girls striking out on their own when they come upon an abandoned mansion in the mountains surrounding the Vale. A different setting than my previous stories, this fantasy world has been affected by a great Change 100 years ago. The stories of this setting focus on the Vale, its mysteries, and the different inhabitants who live there.

Eloise and Marin

A contest entry focused on an injured Holstaur, her husband, and their journey together.

“You broke my nose,” wheezed Snake as he stumbled back. He was clutching his nostrils as blood gushed down into his mouth. He spit out viscera as he pointed at Marin Le Tiec. “Why the fuck-” He reeled back again as the smaller Frenchman lunged past his accusation like a dog unleashed. A straight punch from Marin’s left drilled into Snake’s ribcage. It broke a few lower rib bones and elicited second, shallower gasp from Snake as his bulk crumbled onto the gravel parking lot of the Silver Bar. “What- what do?” The beleaguered ranch hand uttered between desperate gasps. Marin tossed something the size of an unfolded wallet to Snake. Under the pall of the Bar parking lot’s dim lamppost, Snake squint and tried to make out what it was. The pain kept the answer just out of reach despite its alarming familiarity.

“Don’t recognize your handiwork?” Marin asked in his best Midwest impression. He grabbed the birch-core, Lousiana Slugger from his back. He choked up on the grip as he saw the American batters do just before stepping up to the plate. He tested it with a swing above Snake’s head. The sound it as it cleaved through the air reminded Marin of a whooshing plane taking off next to him.