The Beast Shimmered

The lion sat back on his haunches and closed his eyes. Francis did the same.

As the sun stealthily rose Francis could see wings, large wings, drawn back behind this wonderful creature. He was not of stone, hewn not from any rock, nor was he with fur and fibre.

“You are no earthly creature” he blurted, “What do you want from me?”

The massive beast shimmered tossing his mane this way and that, as though he were shaking raindrops off his coat.

He opened his eyes and growled. “I want to tell you a story my son.”

Francis smiled ever so lightly; with a nod, he drew his blanket close.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Huge Golden-maned Lion

Francis had a way with animals - everybody knew that.

He enjoyed making a point of this amongst the mortals, believing it might encourage them to a higher compassion and comprehension.

He could do the unexpected, and frequently did.

But this morning he was not so sure of himself - he found his legs trembling, and his heart fast paced and thumping - so much so, it was difficult to catch a breath.

In his mind he was not frightened of the huge golden-maned lion before him. No, he said to himself - it was not that.


-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Whistle & a Ring

He knelt down to see his little son. Out from his pocket he pulled a small carved whistle, and solemnly gave it to him. It was engraved with a lion.

“I have a ring for you, if you will have it.”

He was so real, standing close to her now, it was him - it really was. All the sadness she had held back over the last few years, came rushing towards her and then ran on by. In an instant her happiness had returned.

“Is it made of moonbeams, gossamer or caramel?” she asked excitedly.

“All three. And some gold of course.”

He lightly brushed her hair back from her face, and she put her hands through his coat, to his waist, to pull him closer. And they embraced one another for a very long time.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Rider from Afar

Charley noticed some movement from afar, and within a few minutes she could just make out in the distance, a rider approaching the homestead below. She watched as the figure dismounted and went to the door, and then alighted his horse once again.

“Perhaps he is delivering the mail”, she said cheerily to Toby, who had forsaken his crimson gum leaf for a smooth bark-less stick, that he started to draw in the dirt with.

“Oh look, he is coming this way” she said, trying to get her young son’s attention.

The rider wore a long oilskin coat and hat that shone in the sun - it was near impossible to make out his age from the distance. He had long boots, and a saddle bag to match, and a dappled dark brown horse.

“That is my favourite kind of horse”, Charley said to her boy. He nodded, absorbed in his artwork.

“I think I will get you a hat like that.” she said, giving him a kiss on the top of his head.

“He can have mine”, came a voice from behind.

It was the rider, who appeared very suddenly at the back of them.

This voice was all too familiar. Charley turned to face him.

His long hair was tied back, his once beard was but a shadow. He looked well.

“Francis?” she said questioningly -

“Yes,” he said softly with a smile “Pietro found his way home at last.”

Francis had managed to reclaim his body the moment his father had withdrawn.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Gum Leaf Tune

Charley had a tight grip around Toby’s waist, as he sat balanced on the thick wooden post, watching the smelly sheep graze. His chubby legs swung to and fro, and in his grasp was some long grass he wanted to feed them with.

Both she and her young son had been staying with the newlywed Johnstone couple.

The days had been hot, and thick with insects, and the unholy fumes of dung and diesel, yet the two newcomers had settled in for their holiday with great zeal.

She had wandered into a paddock which looked out over the rolling hills, with a glittering dam to the right, shouldered by willows, and a winding road from the left, some dozy cows, and huddles of tall grey green gums.

Her little boy was preoccupied with a leaf - his grandfather had been playing a tune with one just the night before, and he was trying to get music to squeak out of his.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Lights Out

Pietro had been exhausted by centuries of activity and needed the replenishment that only a cosmic stay could give. Perhaps this time? It certainly explained a lot about his behavior now.

Being exiled into service at the seaside Hotel had been fine for a while, but once again, the familiar loneliness had exceeded the novelty of being once more a man.

The action of the intoxicants soon persuaded Pietro, that his very soul was fading; and worse than that bewilderment, was that he no longer cared to live at all anymore.

In spirit form, Francis stood by the bedside ready to catch his father as he flew out from the cocaine-strangled corpse he had become.

“Papa, I have come to fetch you” he said tenderly, as the pulsing light lifted up and out, and into the greater …..


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

An Eternal Dance on Earth

Two young women, trailing skimpy couture, scurried hurriedly from the chaotic room; one tipping the concierge to call for an ambulance before joining her thinly dressed friend in the taxi that was waiting at the front of the Grand hotel.

Pietro-Chips had a acquired a taste for partying of late. After his shift he would find a vacant suite and invite guests to stay over - and they would embellish their fantasies with what alcohol and barbiturates they could muster.

Francis had been horrified at his father’s recklessness. He had been drawn to watch over him from the very moment he had departed his dear body at the bottom of the cliff.

One reason for this had been the natural attachment Francis had formed to his physical self. The very molecules in his body were his, and magnetically, inherently, they sought out his presence. And so, Pietro became like a living ‘mummified’ corpse - an astral attraction for its owner no longer inhabiting it.

Apart from this, Francis had made a promise many a lifetime, to help his father out from this eternal dance on Earth that he had been caught in. He desired to help Pietro find a gateway finally through to the Heavens - for that healing rest, that this soul did long for.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances