Of Birds and Branches

  When Mima looked at Ist’av’s branch, she saw so much more. She saw the care Ist’av had taken in selecting something that would appeal to her, not simply a tribute to themself. She saw a partnership, built around affection and understanding that had nothing at all to do with mating.

  The late queen had seen the bird she loved. Mima saw the love of the bird for her. She saw everything they shared, and she saw everything they could be, could achieve, together.

  “Mima?” Arli’s voice held a kernel of doubt.

  It was perfect. Mima looked up and found Ist’av watching her. Their eyes shone dark and deep.

  “Yes,” Mima said again, gave the answer she’d always meant to. “Of course, yes.”

  Ist’av puffed their cheeks and nodded.

  “The branch is accepted.” Arli used the ritual speech, made truth of a thing that had always been. “These two are joined as mates, and the branching rite is complete.”

  Ist’av wobbled to their feet. Mima moved to their side, slid a wing beneath theirs, and steadied them. They leaned against her, and they walked from the temple together, in perfect step.

  The queen and her mate emerged from the Temple of the Twin Moons, Mima blazing like the noontime sun, and Ist’av with one foot dragging. They emerged to the cheering of their people.

  And they walked with their wings entwined and their hearts open in honor of the heavenly bodies.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Frances Pauli writes books about animals, hybrids, aliens, shifters, and occasionally ordinary humans. She tends to cross genre boundaries, but hovers around fantasy and science fiction with romantic tendencies.

  She has won two Leo Awards, two Coyotl Awards, and been nominated for an Ursa Major award.

  She lives in Washington State with her family, a small menagerie, and far too many houseplants. You can find her contact information, some free short stories, and a reading list of her published work on her website at francespauli.com

  ABOUT THE COVER ARTIST

  John Ramsey is an artist based in Upstate New York. He is best known for bright fantastical settings with a variety of unique characters. Visually his work is a combination of painterly coloring techniques along with energetic linework.

  You can find more of his work and purchase prints at www.jramseyillustration.net

  ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

  Goal Publications, a subsidiary of Ottercorrect Literature Services, was founded in 2015, and publishes original works of anthropomorphic fiction, striving to publish more QUILTBAG+ work (both authors that fall into that category and/or characters that do), work written by women, work written by people of color, and work by other marginalized groups we have not specifically mentioned here. We want to hear these voices, and our readers want to hear these voices.

  For more titles and information, please visit their website at www.goalpublications.com