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March 8, 2023 at 8:41 am #136023March 8, 2023 at 11:26 am #136030
At least for now yes. Much of it is a mystery to even Liren, because Kirrtes doesn’t really speak to him. It only gives vague emotional impressions, but strict commands. Why does Kirrtes do this, why is it so evil, no one knows…
He is perfect in Justice, yet He is perfect in Mercy, even when we fail Him. For this, He is good.
March 8, 2023 at 11:34 am #136033That’s definitely the kind of thing that will keep a reader, well, reading. I know I’d keep reading!
One of my other WIPs (a fantasy) that’s kind of taken a backseat for a while is about dragons. In it, there are certain dragons- either Starborn or Fireborn, that have magic. Instead of their magic being transferred genetically, it comes from your egg being under a clear sky full of stars and moonlight, or from your egg being within close proximity of fire when you hatch. Sol, the main character, has an unusual power- to give dragons not born with magic their own power.
So when a close friend asks for the power to take memories, and resorts to using force, she eventually gives in. She escapes and hides while he grows in power, seeking to take over by taking the memories of anyone who would oppose him. When she is found, he captures her and takes away her memories, and she must learn to trust another dragon, named Kulgar, so that they can escape together.
Don’t know why, but I was reminded of this today, and I think I’ll probably look back into continuing it. đ
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 8, 2023 at 1:49 pm #136047That sounds like a really fun story! So dragons born without either of these conditions are just without magic, what’s the social dynamic between magical and non magical dragons?
He is perfect in Justice, yet He is perfect in Mercy, even when we fail Him. For this, He is good.
March 8, 2023 at 2:43 pm #136053Kings, queens, and other royals generally try to use the magical-born dragons for their own purposes. Depending on the dragon, some will try to have their eggs hatched with magic, while others think they should be killed at birth. Some dragons are afraid of them, others jealous.
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 8, 2023 at 2:54 pm #136061Cool! That makes sense. Well, if you ever get back into it, I would hear more!
He is perfect in Justice, yet He is perfect in Mercy, even when we fail Him. For this, He is good.
March 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm #136066March 8, 2023 at 11:09 pm #136202Oof, this is an infodump, sorry about thatXD I havenât really worked on aâŚsynopsis, I think thatâs the word⌠so hereâs a lengthy jumbled mess of an explanation.
Well I have a fantasy/mystery (hopefully graphic novel) series that currently goes by Insert Title cause Iâm not good with names XD
It has themes of overcoming fear, doing what is right versus doing what is easy, and every life has a purpose.
Superpowers, sarcasm, and secretive shenanigans are involved.
– Teilo
Heâs an ex-prince who gets framed. The only way to prove himself innocent is by confronting his fears (with the help of God)âŚand betraying a friend.
– Derek (XD This was a stand-in name that stuck.)
Heâs a snarky thief/unwilling gang member with conflicted interests. Heâs trying to find a way to help prove his new friendâs innocenceâŚuntil his boss(es) isnât happy with that and holds his famous cousin hostageâŚthen threatens to blame the entire operation (framing the friend, plus kidnapping charges) on him.
– Evander
Heâs an apprenticing detective who feels overlooked. He likes to take the lead, is impatient, and doesnât like to be stepped on (both figuratively and literally XD).
– Luca
Heâs a mischievous child with insatiable curiosity. Iâve been told he resembles a frog⌠*shrugs* Heâs very literal, collects a ridiculous amount of mushrooms, and hates to be alone. Heâs also my profile picture.
– Ingrid
Is character I havenât figured out entirely. SoooooâŚyeah. Sheâs Evanderâs younger sister. She does her best to keep the guys fromâŚdoing anything rash to each other.– Zules
Is another character I havenât figured out yet, but I know more about her than Ingrid. XD
So, sheâs Derekâs cousin. Sheâs gotta learn something and I know what it is but havenât found a way to put it into words yet. She doesnât really have a POV turn until the second book– Thereâs also another POV character that I donât have a name for yet but she also doesnât turn up until the second book. I really like her, but I donât really know much about her. XD
Currently I’m pausing it slightly because I’m perfectionistic-ing on it too much. But I will get back to it.
~~~My other is a Spider-man fanfic called: [SPY]DER-MANÂ
XD definitely couldn’t tell thatIt’s steampunk and involves betrayal, justice, siblings/cousins, and debates over art.
This story probably has the most developed villain I’ve ever done but I’m not gonna talk about him cause spoilers.I’m just as passionate about these characters but it’s late and I’m tired and can’t think so they get less info right nowAaron: Is an overworked spy by choice and takes on everyone’s responsibilities instead of his own. He’s gotta learn what doing his part really means, and trusting God with the rest…before he learns the hard way.
Cory: Is an idealistic teenager who doesn’t understand people but loves to meet people. She’s gotta learn to step up but also hand her fears over to the Lord.
Gilbert: He’s got a static arc but he’s gotta deal with *SERIOUS SPOILERS*
This is what I’m currently working on.
- This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by Gwyndalf the Wise.
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19March 9, 2023 at 5:17 pm #136282It looks really cool! (And now the profile pic makes sense lol)
Doing a graphic novel would be awesome! Would you do the art for it? Just curiousđ. The profile looks really good.
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 10, 2023 at 7:33 pm #136390@kyronthearcanin
so I didn’t get around to answering people yesterday hence why this is late, sorryThanks!
XD if you ever have questions about things I do, including profile pictures you’re welcome to ask, I may or may not have reasons behind themYeah! Yes, I’d like to do the art. I really enjoy drawing my characters and scenes and their reactions to things. XD It’s hilarious sometimes. Thanks! =)
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19March 11, 2023 at 3:47 pm #136439Alright!
I know what you mean. I’ve drawn reactions of certain characters when one of my favorites, Dune, tries to make a joke. Sorren always manages to look confused and slightly annoyed, and Rina like she’s trying not to laugh. Arew is hiding behind his wing trying to hide his laughter. XD
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 18, 2023 at 2:49 pm #137515This is great!! It hits close to home for me; as a nursing student, almost all of my fantasy/sci-fi characters are medics and healers. (I know, I know, strange mashup of reality and fantasy đ
First off, I loved your characters and explanations of races/kinds. Everything made sense to me in that regard. Plus, I’m a sucker for the idea of halflings. Gotta love those “stuck-in-the-middle” characters! Your Latin-esque species names felt classic and sci-fi at the same time.
I think my brain would like a bit more description in terms of setting and character. You did fantastic describing the Serpenree and I’d love to see that same description of Rina. As far as setting, my brain felt a little lost in what to picture. However, some of that may come in later chapters, so my critique may be unwarranted.
You’ve got a great style and really good dialogue, too!
I love this and I want to read more!! Tag me, please!!
"To death or to victory"
March 18, 2023 at 7:41 pm #137599I’m actually probably getting ready to put up my second chapter for any possible feedback, so I’ll definitely tag you. Thanks for the compliments! I’ve always loved the “halfling” sort of idea and have to be careful not to do that to all of my characters lol. And yeah, I’ve been trying to figure out a way to describe Rina and the setting without pulling readers out of the story, or the point of view, if that makes sense.
Now that you mention it, I realize a lot of characters in my different WIPs are healers… Weird. Maybe God secretly wants me to become a doctor or something đ¤Łđ¤Ł
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 18, 2023 at 7:49 pm #137602@thearcaneaxiom @landric @gwyndalf-the-wise @keilah-h @godlyfantasy12 @anyone-else
Alright! For anyone who wants to read, this is chapter 2 of Healer. It introduces a couple of my favorite characters. This is definitely open to critique, as I want to see what readers think of it. Sometimes the writer can’t see flaws, or even strengths, in their own writing.
All that aside, here’s Chapter 2!
Chapter 2
The battle horns of the Serpenree blast across the plain, and I jolt to attention. Quelin blinks his eyes open and stands, stretching. The pounding of a thousand clawed Serpenree feet and their hissing roars follow, along with howls from the Lupinari. I grab my satchel and stumble out of the tent, watching for any wounded Serpenree. A growl escapes my throat. I should be looking to help Lupinari, not stuck here to bandage stubborn Serpenree.
I wince, my pointed ears flattening to the top of my head at the sound of a Lupinariâs final whine, crushed by the blow of a Serpenreeâs tail. I keep my head down with the hood on, desperately wishing to go and fight with the rest of the Lupinari. Anger bubbles inside me. This is what Quelin used to do- crush, bite, kill Lupinari. It was his job. Iâm glad it was taken from him now, but can I forgive him? I clench my fists and growl through my teeth. The Serpenree seem to start wars for no good reason, under Dragorâs command. I would give anything for five minutes with that cruel Serpenree.
I see Quelin point out of the corner of my eye. âThere,â he says. âBig green one over there. Fool Lupinari cut through his leg.â
Reluctantly I run into the fray, making my way towards the injured Serpenree. Iâm distinguished from the other Lupinari only by my lack of armor. After being jostled and shoved by a bunch of lizards, I make it to the wounded soldier. He scowls at me as I duck under his arm, struggling to stand up. My hood comes down, and immediately I hear a growl from a Lupinari. I shoot him an apologetic look as he pulls his sword from a Serpenreeâs gut.
âTraitor,â he snaps, ducking a Serpenree tail. He steps forward and shoves the soldierâs arm from my shoulder, who slumps towards the ground with a hiss. The Lupinariâs green eyes glare into mine, and before I know it Iâm on the ground with a blade to my throat. âAn Arcanin, too?â His eyes flash with rage. âHalfling. Traitor to the Arcanin and the Lupinari!â
All I can do is lay there while chaos unfolds around us. The dagger draws a drop of blood from my neck, staining the fur there red. âIâm no traitor,â I say with a swallow, blinking away the rain. âThey force me. I have no choice.â
He shakes his head in disgust. âWell, that wonât be a problem for long.â He draws the blade back, ready to strike⌠and gets trampled by a roaring Serpenree soldier. I let out a breath of relief, wiping tears from my eyes. I try to forget the Lupinari as I again duck under the injured soldierâs arm. Making my way back to the tent, I can tell Quelin saw what happened. I stare down at the ground, choosing to ignore him. He probably doesnât care anyway. Not really.I stumble into the tent and lay the wounded Serpenree on one of the beds. Thereâs a deep cut in his leg, definitely a Lupinari blade. I take a look at the jars in my satchel, and sniff out the one I need. Quelin watches with arms crossed as I work. The Serpenree soldier just sits there with a grimace painted across his face. Finally, Iâm done, and I give him a nod. Just as I expect, he stands, grabs an extra spear from the back corner of the tent, and charges out into the battle again.
I glance at Quelin. He is tapping his foot irritably, staring out the tent door. âMiss the battle?â I ask, a little growl in my voice. âMiss crushing Lupinari?â
He shrugs. âMaybe a little. Did that Lupinari out there give you trouble?ââA Serpenree got him,â I say, dodging the question. I can tell he knows Iâm avoiding it. âI did my job. I guess it doesnât matter.â
Quelin nods. âBound to happen when youâre a halfling traitor, you know.â
I squint at him. âYouâre saying Iâm a traitor, too? Iâm working for you Serpenree. Itâs not like I get anything for it, anyway.â
âYou get food and water. You get shelter. Be grateful youâre alive,â says Quelin. He pauses, staring off into the distance. âIs that-âI spot what he sees over a hill. A ship- definitely not Serpenree or Lupinari- is slowly spiraling downward, until it disappears behind the hill. âA Felisaro? What is he doing here?â
âI donât know,â Quelin growls, âbut I intend to find out. Stay here.â
I cross my arms. âNo way. I want to see it, too. Besides, your job is to watch me.âQuelin scowls. âIf you think Iâm going to take orders from a halfling like you, you’re out of your mind. Stay in the tent, mutant.â He turns around, stomping off in the direction he spotted the Felisaro. Apparently the conversation is over.
But my mind is made up. I drop down on all fours, and before Quelin can stop me, race out in front of him, towards the hill where we saw the Felisaro. He roars with frustration and sprints after me, surprisingly fast with his tail flying out behind him. I pick up the speed, wondering what heâll do if he catches me. Is Quelin really a friend? I raise my hood. Maybe the Felisaro could be, if he doesnât know Iâm a halfling. Or an Arcanin, for that matter. I donât know if they get along with the Felisaro. As for the Lupinari, they and the Felisaro have remained neutral, at least as far as I know. Hopefully theyâve stayed that way.
I get a few glances from the soldiers, as if theyâre wondering whether or not to come after me, but they stay in the fight. I try to run faster, but Quelin is gaining on me.
Come on, Rina. Youâre a Lupinari. Youâre supposed to be faster than the Serpenree.
Unfortunately, Iâm not really a Lupinari. Iâm a halfling. A mutant, a creature, whatever the Serpenree want to call me, and while I love to run, Iâm slower than most Lupinari. I glance back at an angry Quelin, his spear getting dangerously close to my tail. He has his orders, even if he is my friend- this will be the second time Iâve really disobeyed the Serpenree. Three, if you count my âdisrespectâ of the soldier back in the hall. Not knowing what else to do, I make a rash decision, turning and running straight into the raging battle.
Iâm hoping Quelin will be glad for the opportunity to get into the fight, and that heâll be distracted by the other Lupinari. I canât run clear to the other side of the field; heâll be sure to see me. So, with little choice, I turn around, hood raised, and fight alongside the other Lupinari. Almost immediately I realize that Iâve never really been in a fight before. Everything slows down, and I see a blur of fur and scales all around me. Then Quelin is reaching over the fighting soldiers to grab my hood. I duck and roll across the ground, and another Lupinari pulls me to my feet.
âWhat are you doing?â he asks, a little bit of snarl in his voice. His snout is inches from mine, and I notice his fur is sleek, not as soft or thick as mine. He looks me over and his silver eyes soften. âYouâre not old enough to be out here, are you?â I shake my head uneasily, a little confused. âI get it. Younglings are so eager to kick some Serpenree tail, eh?â He pats my shoulder. âJust stick with me, and youâll be alright.â He turns and blocks a Serpenree tail with his sword, slicing the tip of the tail clean off. âWhatâs your name?â
I cough. âItâs Rina.â
He frowns, leading me back through the Lupinari ranks, away from the heat of the battle. I donât see Quelin. He must be trapped in the heat of the battle. âYou know, you should be wearing armor. Those Serpenree spears can hurt.â
I glance down at my arm. âI know.â
âWell, kid, my name is Sorren.â He draws a dagger from his belt and tosses it to me. I fumble with it and come dangerously close to cutting my neck. âYouâre not trained for battle, either, are you?â I shake my head. âJust hold that dagger close and swing anytime you see scales. Thatâs what we tell the rookies.â
âListen, Sorren,â I say uncomfortably. âI have to get out of here. I was a prisoner here on Lacertilia, and thereâs a Felisaro-ââA prisoner?â Sorrenâs teeth show in a snarl. âYouâre a youngling!â
âYes, well, Iâve never been in a battle, or even a fight. But that Felisaro had to come from somewhere.â I point over the hill. âAnd if I can get to his ship, maybe heâll help me get out of here. You get it, right?âSorren ran a paw over his head. âI canât just send you with some random Felisaro. He could be working for or with the Serpenree, for all we know.â
âIâll be fine,â I tell him. I try to give him a confident grin and flash the dagger in my hands, wrapping my thumbs around the hilt. âBesides, Iâll have this.â
For a brief moment, I worry heâs not going to let me leave. Then he sighs. âFine. But Iâm going with you. The rest of the Lupinari can hold their own without me.â He motions me forward. âLead the way, Rina.âSurprised and wary, I lead Sorren through the battle, watching out for Quelin and other Serpenree. He does a good job at using his sword while he runs, slashing and bashing the lizards without a glance. I hope desperately that the Felisaro is still here- Sorren and maybe all the Lupinari wouldnât be able to protect me if I remain on Lacertilia. I need to get out. I need to find home. Otherwise, Iâll be here serving the stuck-up Serpenree for the rest of my life.
When we finally break free from the battle, Sorren glances around. âThe hill over there?â he asks, pointing. I nod. âAlright. You might want to take the hood down. It makes you look like one of those magic Serpenree⌠but a Lupinari.â
I fidget with my paws. âThatâs not such a good idea. I think taking the hood down would make things worse.â He cocks his head and gets ready to speak, but I cut him off. âIâll explain later. Come on, letâs go meet this Felisaro!â
Sorren looks a little confused, but to my relief, he follows without asking any questions. I like him already, but it feels wrong leaving Quelin, even if right now he wants to kill me, or at least is going to. This thought is just leaving my mind when Sorrenâs eyes widen. He reaches towards me with a paw, but a second later a sharp pain shoots through my leg. I look behind me to see Quelin, his spear piercing me just above my hind paw. I jerk away, drawing in my injured leg with a wince.
He stares at me without moving. Sorren growls and tries to leap forward, but I grab his tail. âNo! Donât hurt him!â
He whips around with a scowl. âThis fool Serpenree speared you, Rina. Why not hurt him?â
I sigh and peer at my leg. It is bleeding, but not too badly, though the pain is biting. âI just donât want him- anyone to die. Not because of me.â
Sorren growls. âThen let it be because of me. This is war, Rina. Heâs a soldier. He knows the risk.â
I shake my head. âNo, heâs not a soldier. Not anymore. He was guarding me. Just doing his job. Come on, Sorren, and leave him here.â
Quelin grunts. âYou canât leave. You have to stay and help the injured.â
An unbidden growl escapes my throat. âI donât have to do anything for you, Quelin. Youâll do just fine on your own. Find another healer.â
I start to turn away, but he lurches forward and grabs the end of my cloak. âI wonât be fine. Theyâll kill me if I let you go.â
Sorren shoots him a warning glare. âLet her go, Serpenree.â
Quelin hisses, yellow venom dripping from his fangs. âDonât think you can take me in a fight, Lupinari. I was a soldier. I can take both of you at once.â
âIs this fight worth your death?â Sorren challenges.
Quelin scowls. âI will die anyway. She is my job now. Watching her. And if she leaves, they wonât hesitate to kill me.â
Sorren growls, turning to me. âLet this fool Serpenree die. What is his life among thousands of dead Lupinari?â
I sigh. âLetâs go, Sorren. At least give him the chance to brave the other Serpenree. I donât want to be responsible for his death.â
Quelin seethes with rage. âYou will have caused death either way, Lupinari! Donât think I wonât come after you.âSorren brings his blade down on Quelinâs foot, and I look away just as the Serpenree roars and releases my cloak. No doubt it will be hard to walk, and I hope that is enough to stop him from following us. I walk away, refusing to look back. Sorren follows behind, keeping his sword aimed at Quelin until we are a good distance away. I glance down at my leg. The bleeding has quickened, but it still isnât close to fatal. Looking back at Sorren, I nod down at the wound.
âWeâll have to get it wrapped at some point,â I say. âItâs fine for now. Hopefully this Felisaro can help us.â
Sorren nods, thrusting his sword back into its scabbard. âHe can be easily persuaded.â
I try not to roll my eyes. Do all soldiers have to be so growly? Turning back towards the hill, I keep walking. I feel naked outside without my satchel. If only I had it, I could get rid of this limp and be useful to Sorren, wherever weâre going.
Cresting the hill, we spot the ship. Itâs not small, but it isnât really big either. The ship is silver and sandy yellow, colors I donât see a lot on Serpenree. The Felisaro is fixing a smoking panel along one side of the craft. How heâs doing it, I donât know. Repairing ships is not a skill of mine. In fact, the only time Iâve been on a ship is on my way from Lupus to Lacertilia, and that I barely remember.
I try to shout to him, but Sorren puts a hand over my mouth. âWait. We have to get close enough, so he doesnât just bolt when he sees us.â
The Felisaro arenât cowards, at least not most of them, but I nod reluctantly. Sorrenâs older, and might have been in charge of me if Iâd really grown up on Lupus. He seems pleased that I obeyed and leads the way. The Felisaro is on all fours holding what looks like a wrench in his teeth when we approach him. Our sun, Blasyx, is just barely past its peak in the sky, peering through the storm clouds.Sorren coughs. âSo⌠Whatâs a Felisaro doing on Lacertilia?â
The Felisaro jumps a few feet into the air, lands, and turns around with wide eyes. I notice he stands on all fours, and as far as I can see he has no thumbs. Maybe thatâs why he had the wrench in his mouth. He relaxes a little when he sees us, and he drops the wrench out of his mouth. âOh. I thought you were a Serpenree.â
I try to look around him to see what heâs fixing. A jumble of wires and metal and flashing lights lies underneath the panel, and I decide not to ask. Turning my attention back to the Felisaro, I notice his brown fur, with red-brown and light brown stripes crossing through it, all the way out to his thick tail. He has large ears, wears reddish armor and a dagger strapped to his right front leg, and his deep green eyes watch me curiously.
âWe are Lupinari,â Sorren says, which I think the Felisaro has figured out by now. âWhat happened to your ship?â
The Felisaro shrugs. âI crashed it. Just a minor fix, I think. I kind of landed in a roll down that hill.â He nods towards the hill opposite of the one we crossed, where the ship has uprooted grass on its way down, leaving a path of dirt.
âWell, Iâm Rina,â I tell him. âThis is Sorren. Who are you?â
He gives me an odd sort of grin. âDune.âI put my hand absent-mindedly to my cloakâs hood, making sure it has stayed in place. âThis might be asking a lot, but does your ship have room for two more? We really need to get out of here.â I glance at Sorren. âWell, at least I do.â
I try not to think about the consequences if the Serpenree catch me. Torture? Death? I shiver. Nothing would be able to stop them. The Serpenree donât show any mercy to halflings, Arcanin or not. Iâm just a healer. They can find someone else who can find the right kinds of medicine. And Quelin wouldnât even care if I died, besides the fact that he would probably lose his life, too. The thought stings, but I know itâs true. Thatâs just how the Serpenree are.Dune looks from the ship, to Sorren, and finally back to me. His eyes fall on my injured leg. âYouâre hurt.â
I frown. âItâs nothing. Just grazed by a spear.âDune stretches out his neck like heâs trying to see above the hill to the battle. âBy the looks of that cloak, youâre a prisoner,â he said. He studies Sorren for a moment. âAnd youâre a soldier. What are you doing away from the battle?â
Sorren still has a hand on the hilt of his sword, which I can tell is making Dune nervous. âI am here to help Rina. I canât just send her off with some random Felisaro.â
Dune narrows his eyes. âHey! I just told her my name. Which, by the way, makes just about one person I actually know, not counting you.â
I cock my head. âReally? That has to get kind of lonely, traveling around on your own.â
Dune shrugs again. âI guess.â He thinks for a moment. âYou know what? I wouldnât mind the company.â He nods at Sorren. âI mean, as long as he doesnât try to kill me.â
Sorren gives a kind of half smile, taking his hand off of the swordâs hilt. âOnly if I have to.â
Dune looks a little wary. I roll my eyes. Soldiers.
âOkay,â I say, drawing out the word. âThanks, Dune. Youâve pretty much just saved my skin.â
Dune grins at me, then turns, twists a couple bolts, and screws the panel back into place. It looks tough to use his mouth like that, but his sharp teeth probably grip well. âThere, that should do it.â He tosses the wrench through the shipâs door, and it lands with a clang. âWelcome to my humble home. I call her the Ombryn.â
âWhy?â Sorren asks, wrinkling his snout.
Dune looks embarrassed. âI probably shouldnât have told you that, but just keep your mouths shut. The Felisaro would really kill me if they knew. Ombryn means âgood fortune.ââ
I smile, trying to figure out what he just said. âWell, hopefully it brings us good luck, then.â
Limping aboard the ship, I canât help but stare around in surprise. Iâve never seen so much technology in one place. The dashboard is covered with buttons and lights that make no sense to me. A bed along with a few blankets rests in the back left corner, right beside a bookshelf lined with thick volumes. Why Dune was afraid of Sorrenâs sword, I have no idea. The wall of his ship is lined with what look like guns, but I would have no idea how to fire them. I doubt even Sorren would. Maybe Dune wanted it that way.
âImpressive,â Sorren says with a nod. âDifferent from the Felisaro vessels Iâve seen.â
Dune grins. âI added a few tweaks of my own. She started out pretty much a pile of scraps, but now sheâs unstoppable.â He walks to the front and pushes a few buttons, and a flashing red light comes on above his head. Smoke rises from a panel on the wall, making him cough. He growls. âNo, no! Come on, girl!â
I blinked at him. âWait. It can still fly, right?ââI thought she was unstoppable. Sheâs supposed to be.â Depends on what you mean by fly. Here on Lacertilia? It will fly like a Falcor. In space? Not so much.â
Sorrenâs ears prick as he hears the triumphant hissing of the Serpenree. âCan you fix it? We donât have much time.â
Duneâs ears flatten to the top of his head. âItâs not that easy. Iâve been on this ship for years. Itâs my home, and I know it.â He glares at the panel. âAt least it was. That panel controls a good part of the ship. Thereâll be a lot of fixes in the wiring, and in the radarâŚâ He trailed off, staring into space. âWe need a new ship.ââWhere are we supposed to find a new ship?â I ask. âItâs not like they grow on trees.â
Sorren peers out the shipâs large doorway. âNot that it would help. This place is a wasteland. No trees at all.â
I look up at him. âItâs not a wasteland. Itâs justâŚâ I stop, a little confused as to why I am arguing for Lacertilia. âYeah, youâre right.â
Duneâs eyes scan the Ombryn. âWeâll have to come back for the supplies, you know.â
âWonât there be supplies on the new ship?â I ask. âTheyâre normally ready just in case.â
Dune shrugs again. âYeah, but not this kind of supplies. Thereâs some valuable stuff still on my ship.â He takes one last look around, then walks out the door. Iâm pretty sure I hear him sniff before he covers it with a cough. âThe Ombryn was a great home. Iâm sure gonna miss her.â
Sorren shakes his head, following the Felisaro. âItâs a ship. I think youâll be okay.â
Walking after them, my tail flicks nervously. Going back wasnât an option just minutes ago. I know it most likely means death. And yet, to escape death, the only option is to return. My mind is racing, trying to come up with an alternative, but I know there isnât one. The grim weather of Lacertilia matches my mood. If only I knew my magic, the magic that had imprisoned me here in the first place. Why couldnât I have been born as a normal Lupinari? Halflings were practically born to struggle.My leg protests with every step, until finally I stop. Weâre reaching the top of the hill now, and I see my tent. âI know this is going to sound crazy,â I say, knowing full well it probably isnât worth it. âBut my satchelâs in there, and if Iâm going to be useful, I need whatâs in there for my leg.â
âIn the tent?â Dune stretches his legs. âYouâd better be ready to run.â
Sorren scoffs. âA Felisaro telling a Lupinari to be ready to run. Lupinari are born to run.âI nod quickly. If I try hard, I could usually keep up, but if theyâre at a full sprint, I know Iâll slow us down. Luckily, they havenât mentioned anything about my thicker-than-normal fur. Just blame it on the leg. No one has to know youâre a halfling. Not yet, anyway.
Dune starts off down the hill at a dead run, all four paws gripping the ground and thrusting him forward. I follow at a slower pace, and Sorren stays with me. I give him a grateful smile and set my focus on the tent. The satchel should be just inside the door. If I can just get in-
âThe healer!â I flinch but keep running. A Serpenree- by his black armor I assume a commander- is pointing in my direction. âOne of you fools go grab her and make sure she stays at her post!â
Dune reaches the tent, and Sorren and I are only a few yards behind. A few Serpenree soldiers look our way, but theyâre too invested in the battle to leave. Quelin and a guard standing at the border of the city are rushing towards us.
Sorren growls deep in his throat. âI knew I should have killed that Serpenree when I had the chance. Heâll be the death of us!â
I donât respond. I donât want to think about Quelin right now. Unfortunately, all I have to think about is Lacertilia, and the Serpenree, and my traitorous job. Hopefully this will work and Iâll finally be free of this blasted planet.
Dune emerges from the tent, my satchel dangling from his teeth. His voice is muffled as he yells, âCome on!â
He tosses the satchel to me and I dive to catch it. Realizing Iâm still tightly gripping Sorrenâs dagger, I shove it into the inner pocket of my cloak. The Felisaro draws the dagger from the scabbard at his shoulder with his teeth and charges the Serpenree guard. Sorren draws his sword, keeping an eye on Quelin as we run.
Stop, I think at my guard. Just stop. You donât have to get hurt.
Quelin doesnât answer my thoughts.
Forging ahead, I trust Sorren to handle Quelin. I canât make his decision for him. If he wants his heart at the end of Sorrenâs sword, so be it. Heâs probably killed too many Lupinari to count.
Dune doubles back, spinning around to run beside me. The Serpenree guard is motionless in the grass. âYou know the city,â he says, panting. âWhere are the ships?â
I draw a map in my mind. âIt would have to be on the far side of the city. Iâve only ever been on this side, but Iâve seen ships taking off from there.â
Dune nods, setting his jaw. A thin line of blood trickles from a small gash at the base of his ear, most likely from the Serpenree guardâs spear. Heâs lucky it didnât catch him in the eye. Maybe if we make it to the ship I can try to stop the bleeding.
Sorren runs right behind us, and Iâm glad to see Quelin has stopped. He canât defeat the three of us at once without serious risk.
As the ground underneath us changes from grass to stone, I notice the wind is picking up. Mere moments ago it had been a fairly gentle breeze, but now it whips through my cloak. Fat raindrops land on my fur, and I shake them off. There are two kinds of weather on Lacertilia- storms and really big storms. I hope this isnât becoming the latter.
With the battle behind us, now all we have to do is steal a ship.
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.
March 18, 2023 at 8:52 pm #137608Nice job on your chapter two! (I’m super invested now, by the way. I’d totally already be on chapter fifteen if this was published. XD)
Okay, a couple of things that are jumping out at me on my first read-through…
- I think you could use a bit more battle description. Maybe I got lost somewhere, but exactly what started this fight? (Sorry if I missed something!!) Who’s in command of each side and are they important? I know this fight specifically doesn’t play into the story too much, but I feel like those parts could use a little fleshing out. One thing that I’ve learned through novel writing (especially in the fantasy world): if you’re going to mention a battle, even if it’s quick, people will want more details.
- I wasn’t sure how to picture the ship. What exactly does it look like? Your standard flying saucer deal or is it something more high-techy and aerodynamic?
- What does Rina look like?? I’m dying to know!! XD
I really enjoyed reading chapter two and can’t wait for more! Your concept is great and as a fellow world-builder, your solar system/races/languages are fantastic! It really gives room for your reader’s imagination to take off.
Keep up the good fight!
"To death or to victory"
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