Whether you call them gods or spirits, the Southwestern United States has always had its stories about Coyote, Raven, Dog, and many others who dwell in a plane alongside ours and sometimes crossover. In this fantasy set in the twenty-third century, Selena flees an abusive relationship to a small town in the Historic Zone with only a small suitcase and her dog Copper. Sadly, the aunt she hoped to stay with has died, but everyone assures her that she's very welcome and the small house is hers if she wants it. Can it be that easy? Well, there's scorpions, rattlesnakes, and the strange visitors her aunt took in, but they tell her it will be fine. Turns out those visitors weren't human and while I don't agree with this being classified as "horror" that is one evil Roadrunner and getting him to back off involves a shotgun, a demi-god, and a trip to the Spirit World.
Snake-Eater - the Roadrunner in this fantasy is nothing to laugh at