“Not the finest of foods, but it will be tasty,” I said as I passed a plate to Lenna, who sat next to me in front of the fire.
She smiled as she took the wooden plate, discretely sniffing at the food.
Dinner was simple; roasted steaks and some potatoes that Benny had stored away. Not that many, since he wante...
2025-04-23 14:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostFor a moment there, I wondered if I needed to get involved. While Alex was much less squishy than before, someone like the Knowledge-bearer was far above him.
Just like I was. Then again, I had to admit that the Knowledge-bearer was rather far above even me.
Part myth and legend, she’d fought during the war and on our ...
2025-04-21 14:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostIt wasn’t the only movement I felt along my border. The Grizzled Spinosaurous was traveling in this direction. He skirted the edges of the territory, barely touching it, but close enough that it felt intentional. Like he wanted me to know he was on his way.
He stopped upwind of the other creatures that were poking at my border...
2025-04-18 14:00:14 +0000 UTC View Post“This is a great location, between the water and the cliff. We need to check out the cavern first, though.” He smiled. “You did good, Sprout.”
I cringed at the nickname.
He chuckled as he moved closer to the water’s edge.
“Be careful. Something powerful is in the deep, but I don’t think it means us any ...
2025-04-16 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe rope tied tight around my waist felt strange, but if this worked, it’d make the fight much easier. In the far distance, the moon vanished beyond the horizon and only the stars sparkled in the sky. The sun would rise soon.
Now, I needed the Spino to stop whatever it was working on in that cave and get its massive self out h...
2025-04-14 14:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - 31/58
Well, my second edits on book 1 haven’t moved in a long bit. I...
2025-04-13 16:24:55 +0000 UTC View PostThe trees weren’t spaced as far apart as last night, and the moon hadn’t risen yet when I took off on my own. I knew the general direction I needed to go, and followed that pull marking the quest center.
My dark vision kicked in as I traveled, traveling as quietly as possible. My stealth kept each footstep silent, but it was...
2025-04-11 14:00:09 +0000 UTC View PostMary stood next to my father, both of them staring up at me.
I waved.
“I’ll be down in a moment,” I shouted down to them, before turning back to the cliff face.
I yanked the crystal off my wrist and shaped the sharpened flat edge into more of a point. Then, I approached the crack. Inside grew three air crysta...
2025-04-09 14:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post“You did need to sleep,” said Noseen from somewhere near my right shoulder.
I blinked several times, trying to figure out what was happening. The tent was gone, and I lay on a bed of grass, staring at a bright blue sky without a cloud in sight.
“I’m dreaming…”
“Of course,” he buzzed. “I didn’t want an...
2025-04-07 14:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - Done
It is done.
The Devourers of Knowledge and Light have shown me the way.
W...
2025-04-06 16:54:10 +0000 UTC View Post“What? I’ve beaten a boss ten levels above me before,” I muttered, thinking about the boss we’d fought as a group.
My father looked like he wanted to say something, but Lenna cut in.
“This isn’t the same, Alex.” She shook her head harshly. “It has a rank on you. It will have evolved its class. Probably the aggr...
2025-04-04 14:00:08 +0000 UTC View PostThe afternoon sunlight created interesting shadows from the canopy as I hiked through the jungle. My goal was to find the campsite, rest there tonight, and head out in the morning. A good night’s rest while safe and sound felt like the best idea before I went searching for the drop ship. Well, technically, to the tunnel from Sanctua...
2025-04-02 14:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostDengu napped in the sunlight next to me as we rested behind my house. Hanging with Ham and Cass, along with the other young humans, had shown me just how strange Alex had acted during the dungeon run. Between eating lots of food and aggressively fighting beasts, she stood out compared to the others. Not to mention, she felt one with her c...
2025-03-31 14:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post
That Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - 55/60
I am so close that I can almost taste it.
Book three is almost done. There is ...
2025-03-30 17:46:36 +0000 UTC View PostI resisted tapping my fingers on my spear as I counted to a hundred in my head, and then started again. It took longer than I’d thought as I traced the path the Healing Maw took toward me. I needed to wiggle my toes in my boots to keep my circulation going and not get too stiff waiting for the dang spider to make its way here. My calves...
2025-03-28 15:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostI needed to think fast, before those smaller spiders came back. The Healing Maw might have scared them away for the moment, but the pack was huge and getting into a fight with them would bring the Healing Maw back. Fighting both groups at once felt like a bad idea.
Or a brilliant one.
The blue light was completely gone, bu...
2025-03-26 14:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostAlex was back.
The connection snapped into place, making my wings speed up. The squishy one had really good timing. I flew high above the clouds, skirting around the Sanctuary on my way back north. I’d found what I hoped for deep to the south, and couldn’t wait to post the quest for Alex.
It wouldn’t be easy, but it...
2025-03-25 03:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - 51/60
This week went sideways, but that happens when you have a kiddo. I already know goin...
2025-03-23 16:43:50 +0000 UTC View PostTime to find a way past this door, without a specialization or bond with a single crystal type.
“Here we go,” I said, my voice sounding weird in the cavern. I held the knowledge crystal up to the dark archway. The crystal in my hand flashed a weird color, then the old man appeared.
“It is time for you to leave the du...
2025-03-22 02:00:05 +0000 UTC View Post“We have been forced to close the portal off our world, but we’ve stagnated as a species. Our world can only get us so far, and the Elders are trying to find a way for us to keep growing, but… I fear for our people.” He let his face fall into his hands. “We can only hope they find a different world to hunt for.”
The ...
2025-03-20 03:00:01 +0000 UTC View PostUncertainty filled me as I examined the inventory crystal. Words from the librarian echoed in my head. ‘May you pass the final challenge and be free to take up your duty. Study hard, learn all that you can, and never forget your song.’
Not to mention, who the heck were the Forgers? They sounded like a group of blacksmiths...
2025-03-17 15:00:32 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - 46/60
I am on a roll with book 3, which is heading toward the final battle. The writing is coming today in a way that I love, but I’m a lit...
2025-03-16 16:39:29 +0000 UTC View PostThe early morning rays through the canopy made me smile. Birds chirped in the distance, and the closer we traveled to the village, the safer it was.
Dengu pounced ahead, energy racing through the bond between us. He’d unlocked his next quest on the path to citizenship, which we’d already accomplished by completing a dungeon....
2025-03-15 14:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe hunk of meat slipped from my hand as I hit the stone floor in shock. Everything moved in slow motion as I carefully wrapped my fingers around the meat. I shoved it in my mouth, almost choking before swallowing. That helped the worst of the shakes.
Unable to stand, I slowly crawled across the rough floor to the pot next to ...
2025-03-12 15:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostMy brain hurt, but it was worth it. On the workbench in front of me sat a lantern made from a fire crystal, a healing crystal from a water crystal, and a protective crystal from a forest crystal. Without the sun, every day was the same in the caverns. Sleep called out to me and my eyes felt heavy, but every time a new quest task popped up...
2025-03-10 14:00:32 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - 38/60
I am over halfway into book 3 of That Which Devours. This book is coming together though Alex just discovered something that wasn’t o...
2025-03-09 17:41:54 +0000 UTC View Post“Think this will be a suitable area?” asked John. “I think these are the rocks you wanted me to check out.”
I stood up from the floor, pushing away the thoughts about the scientists. While I hoped we’d find them at the same time, if all of them vanished forever, that’d be great. I’d almost pulled the rest of the family...
2025-03-07 16:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostDengu gnawed on the bleached bone I’d seen appear before my level shock, while Lenna had a second quiver tossed over her shoulder.
That left the round token on the edge of the fountain for me.
I lurched across the pavers, each step feeling easier as my body adjusted to its new, much more powerful stats.
[Weap...
2025-03-05 16:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe sand shifted near the opening and I paused, holding a hand up.
“Anyone else see that?”
It moved again, like someone stirring cake batter. Then the sand vanished, leaving a dark impression.
I approached by myself, finding a deep hole with a set of stairs and the symbol for the path carved into them. Th...
2025-03-03 15:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostThat Which Devours:
Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 10/58
Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done
Book Three: Rough Draft - 31/60
I found a cover artist for this series! They are working on sketching right now for book 1 and I’m super excited to see what they com...
2025-03-02 16:53:11 +0000 UTC View Post