Cats of the Fey

Three fantasy short stories by Matthew D. Ryan.

THE DEVIL'S CAT—IN GOLAI

A fantasy short story of a mystical, diabolical cat with potent magic powers. In this fairy tale, the hunter Pedro Billman is hired to assist another hunter bag the Devil's Cat in a small Central American village named Golai (fictional place). But it is a treacherous hunt that will require all Pedro's wits and wiles to survive. The cat is evil, they say. It's magic power is legendary. A terror of the jungle, the diabolical cat is said to be unstoppable. The natives are terrified of the diabolical cat and its fey magic; they'll be all but useless on this hunt. Plus the hunter who hired Pedro … he is a little crazy to boot. But that won't stop Pedro. And he'll have a story to tell, before this tale is done.

THE DEVIL'S CAT—THE BARGAIN

Another fantasy short story about the mystical, diabolical cat known as the Devil's Cat. This time the cat is terrorizing a small village by the name of Shedra. It exists on a world different from Earth (and Athron), one where magic and mystery are common. This time it is a woman named Ierrin Thomai and her lover Thaemien caught in the diabolical claws of the magical cat. And the Devil's Cat is not one to give up, once it's got wind of the hunt. Too much is at stake for Ierrin: life, love, virtue. And if she isn't careful, this tale of magic and woe will not have a happy ending. The Devil's Cat is on the hunt, and it's magic knows few bounds.

THE WHITE PANTHER

A different world (Athron), a different cat. This fantasy short story tells the tale of the lithlyn Dedicated, the finest hunters in all the world of Athron. Askariel is soon to join the Dedicated. He has but one task to complete to make his dream reality: hunt the legendary White Panther, a mystical cat with a whole slew of magic powers, and kill it. The cat has walked the magical lithlyn woods for uncounted centuries. It has timeless wisdom and knowledge. Can Askariel take it down? Or will the cat win the day? Will he become the hunted? It is no small feat to hunt an ordinary panther down; but one with magic and power at its beck and call … that makes a tale worth telling.