Ep 8 - Bright Eyes and the Lantern Path
5/26/202620 min
New Orleans has always had its share of darkness. Tarantulena and her cat, Bright Eyes, have seen it all. When poison starts felling the city's finest families, the witch sets her trap — and something older and more evil takes notice.
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Bright Eyes and the Lantern Path is by M. D. Smith IV
M.D. Smith IV of Huntsville, Alabama, writer of over 350 flash stories, has published digitally in Spillwords, Flash Fiction Magazine, Flash Phantoms, and many more. Retired from running a television station, he lives with his wife of 64 years and three cats.
Find more of his work at: https://mdsmithiv.com/
If you loved this story and want to read another Bright Eyes story, check out:
"They Don’t Walk Alone" here: https://literallystories2014.com/2026/03/29/sunday-whatever-they-dont-walk-alone-by-m-d-smith-iv/
Special thanks to our Biosphere Patreon supporter Shanella!
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAlex Zubin· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Welcome to Biome. I am your host and narrator, Alex Zubin. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are having a wonderful week. Dear listener, today I am excited to share Story Eight of Season One with you. If you believe in supporting great stories and the authors who write them, subscribe to this podcast and share it with your friends. You can also support us on Patreon and get early access to all episodes and much more. Our story today is "Bright Eyes and the Lantern Path" by M. D. Smith IV. M. D. Smith IV of Huntsville, Alabama, writer of over three hundred and fifty flash stories, has published digitally in Spillwords, Flash Fiction Magazine, Flash Phantoms, and many more. Retired from running a television station, he lives with his wife of sixty-four years and three cats. And now, let's live this story together. [upbeat music] The French Quarter is our home. Tarantelina claims she's my owner and calls me Bright Eyes, her black cat. She insists she rescued me from a storm drain when I was a half-drowned kitten, but the truth is, it's the other way around. Otherwise, why would she take me with her everywhere along the cobblestones, parks, and alleys?