By: Brandon Case.

Our safari spaceship flies over the sandstone mesa. Cacti and tumbleweeds whip beneath our transparent floor.

A dust cloud announces the herd.

Across the plateau run dozens of wild centaurs, mechanical horse bodies merged with naked human torsos. Wearing cowboy hats and brandishing pistols, they whoop and fire at the sky.

A fierce mare turns to our spaceship. Her wildfire eyes focus on me.

Such passion, such freedom!

She rears, aiming at my chest.

I yearn for her bullets.

Give me scars, give me purpose!

Lead splashes off the transparent floor.

Disgustingly safe, we fly past.

The herd runs on.

© 2025. Brandon Case

Brandon Case is a golden retriever who writes of unsettling worlds. He has recent work in Escape Pod, Flash Fiction Online, and Small Wonders, among others. You can catch his alpine adventures on Twitter and Instagram @BrandonCase101.

Posted June 25, 2025.