Gripping as usual, Shaina. You write so vividly. I'm a bit confused about the character though. He thinks like a wolf, obviously looks like a man, can talk, etc, but doesn't know what police or sirens are. He could be partly feral, or mentally handicapped, or some kind of mutant but I can't get a clear idea of what he is. The description of how he runs is really interesting, like he's manipulating parts of his body like a machine.
Shaina, this is a delicious puzzle you have dropped as a prequel! My theory goes like this...The present day opening it seems is to set a reference point in this creatures evolution since coming out of the desert. This is beautifully executed to slide deftly into the key section with the flashback. Where ever the creature first originates, it encounters human civilization first as an intelligent cunning wolf then rapidly adapting and assuming the characteristics of the most lethal and cunning animal in this world. Also we get an indication of its current level of confidence in his superiority and we learn that there is likely more than one of them by now. Thru all of this evolution is one constant, the blood lust. I think that in Chattel we may be seeing the continuing evolution of the creatures killing eating efficientcy. The world should be terrified! Of course I maybe completely off base here?
Frank, I don’t want to give too much away but you’re definitely not off base at all and I’m thrilled that you can see what I’m trying to communicate! The world should be terrified indeed.
Gripping as usual, Shaina. You write so vividly. I'm a bit confused about the character though. He thinks like a wolf, obviously looks like a man, can talk, etc, but doesn't know what police or sirens are. He could be partly feral, or mentally handicapped, or some kind of mutant but I can't get a clear idea of what he is. The description of how he runs is really interesting, like he's manipulating parts of his body like a machine.
I liked that you can’t exactly tell what he is, for me it heightens the tension. The unknown is scarier, we don’t exactly know what to expect.
Shaina, this is a delicious puzzle you have dropped as a prequel! My theory goes like this...The present day opening it seems is to set a reference point in this creatures evolution since coming out of the desert. This is beautifully executed to slide deftly into the key section with the flashback. Where ever the creature first originates, it encounters human civilization first as an intelligent cunning wolf then rapidly adapting and assuming the characteristics of the most lethal and cunning animal in this world. Also we get an indication of its current level of confidence in his superiority and we learn that there is likely more than one of them by now. Thru all of this evolution is one constant, the blood lust. I think that in Chattel we may be seeing the continuing evolution of the creatures killing eating efficientcy. The world should be terrified! Of course I maybe completely off base here?
Frank, I don’t want to give too much away but you’re definitely not off base at all and I’m thrilled that you can see what I’m trying to communicate! The world should be terrified indeed.
Got me 'til the end.