What are you afraid of?
by Jessica E. Subject
People fear many things. Some things are physically real. Others are emotional fears, or simply imaginary. I have fears that fit into all those categories, but if you hang around with me, the one you’ll notice is that I’m afraid of bugs. Now, my reaction to insects varies depending on the type, time of day, and number of them. Any bug that comes into my house is going to meet with a swift death as soon as I see it. Outside is a different story. At night, or early in the morning while I’m outside in the dark to let my dog go to the bathroom, any insect that touches me (imaginary or real) elicits a flinch, cringe, scream, swatting, brushing off my skin, blowing it away, or some other reaction. During the day, bees and butterflies are welcome in my yard. I give hornets and wasps a wide berth. Anything else flying will get swatted away. Any ants might die. And I will seek vengeance on any earwig I see. I laugh when I start the barbeque and they come leaping out only to be squished by me. I’ve never seen a cockroach except on television and at a science center, but they creep me out. I get repulsed just thinking about them.
Now, I’m not afraid of reptiles or amphibians. Not snakes or frogs or anything like that. Though I have learned respect for those in the wild, and will leave them in their habitat. And I do not fear any domesticated pet. Though there are some I prefer over others. There are people afraid of various domesticated animals, whether fearing dogs usually based on a bad previous experience, or not wanting to go near a snake because they believe they are slimy (which they aren’t). Others are afraid of small rodents like mice and rats because of their association with dirty, infested places. I’ve met people afraid of bats, birds, and many other creatures as well.
In Gib and the Tibbar, my story that is included in EMBRACE THE ROMANCE: Pets in Space 2, there is a Defender with a similar fear. Zair is assigned watch with Gib, and when a tibbar darts past them, Zair’s fear becomes clear. You can experience his reaction in the excerpt below....
Question: What creature(s) are you afraid of?
BLURB:
Gib and the Tibbar
A Novella in the Galactic Defenders Series
By Jessica E. Subject
A dedicated Defender to the core, Gib is willing to go to any planet the Galactic Alliance sends him. That is, until he’s sent with his squad to Hemera for their Alorama ceremony, far from any threat of Erebus invasion and with no chance for promotion.
Vilarra has lived on Hemera all her life, working hard in the kitchens of the royal palace until she achieved lead hand. But learning of the universe beyond her world reveals her insignificance and shreds her sense of accomplishment and purpose.
About the anthology:
The pets are back! Embrace the Romance: Pets in Space 2, featuring twelve of today’s leading Science Fiction Romance authors brings you a dozen original stories written just for you! Join in the fun, from the Dragon Lords of Valdier to a trip aboard award-winning author, Veronica Scott’s Nebula Zephyr to journeying back to Luda where Grim is King, for stories that will take you out of this world! Join New York Times, USA TODAY, and Award-winning authors S.E. Smith, M.K. Eidem, Susan Grant, Michelle Howard, Cara Bristol, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Laurie A. Green, Sabine Priestley, Jessica E. Subject, Carol Van Natta, and Alexis Glynn Latner as they share stories and help out Hero-Dogs.org, a charity that supports our veterans!
10% of the first month’s profits go to Hero-Dogs.org. Hero Dogs raises and trains service dogs and places them free of charge with US Veterans to improve quality of life and restore independence.
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EXCERPT:
A small, furry white creature scampered between the Defenders and the fire. Gib yanked his feet back and gasped. He tried to follow the path the animal took, and when it disappeared into the grassy field, he relaxed a little. Not that he was afraid, only startled by the sudden appearance of the critter.
But his watch partner reacted differently. The cowardly Defender stood on his bench, reaching for a low branch on the ropral tree as if to lift himself farther off the ground. “What in Gaspra was that? No one told me about any deadly creatures on this planet.”
Gib laughed and slapped his hand on his lap. “I wouldn’t call the fluffy little thing that raced by us a deadly creature.”
“Okay, Hemera is infested with vermin, then.” Zair examined the area around him before he dared put a foot on the ground.
A high-pitched squeak sounded, and Gib’s surveillance partner returned to reaching for the branches. The little creature stood on its hind legs below Zair’s bench, peeping as if telling him off.
Gib couldn’t hold in his laughter. Not just at the other Defender’s reaction, but also the thoughts running through Zair’s mind, thoughts he’d failed to block in his fear.
“It’s not going to eat you.” Gib shook his head, wondering how his squad mate could see the creature as dangerous. “Would you please get down from there? Defenders are supposed to be brave and fierce. Right now, you’re neither.”
“Go to Gaspra, Mingot. And stay out of my head.” He yanked his plazer from his hip holster and aimed it at the critter. “If I don’t destroy it, it will bring death to everyone on this planet.”
Stepping into the line of fire, Gib yanked the weapon from his squad mate, thankful the safety remained on. “You’re being ridiculous. Besides, if you fire your weapon, you’ll cause a panic. The Hemera will think Erebus have arrived.”
The frightened Defender shook a foot at the creature. “Fine, then. Kick it into the fire. Or you could stomp on it.”
“Don’t you dare!” A Hemera woman burst from the bushes, storming toward Zair like a mother rehn protecting her young. She shoved him off his bench and shouldered past Gib before scooping the noisy creature into her hand. “This is my tibbar, not some kind of vermin.”
“Tibbar? Try nasty rodent that tried to eat me.” Zair smoothed out his uniform but kept his distance from the creature now perched on the woman’s shoulder.
“You’re both on nehbred.” She kicked dirt at them, her pink lips pursed and her dark eyes set in a deadly stare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to my pet or my planet.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you could not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.
When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.
Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com.
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Things I fear/am repulsed by:
ReplyDeleteGiant pythons (I'm talking 28 feet and larger)
Maggots! Once I managed to pour thousands of maggots down my chest and legs. That was a true horror.
Once I opened the refrigerator in my dead grandmother's trailer and there were thousands of cockroaches inside. Some alive, some dead and being food for the live cockroaches. They were literally rolling in waves of dead and live cockroaches. Fortunately not on me, so this was less creepy than the thousands of maggots on ME.
A large lizard like creature who chased me out of the woods. I have no idea what it was and how it got in my woods, but I never went back there again. The fellow was over three feet tall. Honestly, I thought it was the toxic Komodo Dragon, but why that would have been in Arkansan woods I've no idea. However, I wasn't just hallucinating, because my friend saw it as well.
While I was constantly pestering or stepping on water moccasins, I didn't fear them. However, I did carry a snake bite kit with me when I was a kid. It just seemed like a good idea. Never had to use it. Since I tended to go barefoot, when I stepped on a snake, I could feel it's cool silky skin. I'd immediately jump with all my might and run away it. Then I'd get a stick and try to capture it. As an adult, I leave snakes alone, but I don't fear them. But those maggots...I still shiver thinking about them.
Oh gosh! I couldn't imagine coming across those maggots or cockroaches. I'd be running away while screaming. Not sure how I'd react with the lizard in the woods or the water moccasins, but I'd definitely be cautious.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting me! After I wrote this post, we had a hot spell, and the bug population went crazy. Thank goodness it's cool again. Most of them are gone now.
Bears. I consider this fear highly reasonable, because bears can eat me. Or bite me. And I would like either of those things. (grin)
ReplyDeleteDepends upon where you live. NJ bears are very docile as long as you don't strike them or climb into their caves they want to sleep in. Montana's bears will chase you down and EAT you just because they are slightly hungry and they spotted you a mile away.
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