Story! Witches of Athens

The Witches of Athens by Lara Elena Donnelly. This didn't go at all the direction I expected, and left me smiling.

Also, check out this Black-Crowned Night Heron wall decal! That's Oakland's official bird right there. I am tempted. Coyote Brush Studios has other realistic-looking bird decals, stickers, and other fun California-native merch.

Both recs via forestofglory.

From the sidebar at Strange Horizons, I got drawn into a powerful story, Exit Interview, by K.W. Onley.

Across the train tracks from BWI station, a portal shimmered in the shade of a patch of tall trees. From her seat on a northbound train taking on passengers, Dottie watched a woman slip a note out of her pocket, place it under a rock, strip off her work uniform, then walk naked, smiling, into the portal.