Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 55
55 "- animal. You got that, Tim? We're dealing with an animal, so don't think of it in any way other than that. It's not a big black Fox, it's not an intelligent Soul, it's just a stupid animal and it's got our sister. Understand?" Tim nodded,...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 54
54 There was already a sizable group gathered by the statue. Dorin could make out the distinctive shapes of Hyker, Ivio, and Wardo, but there were more huddled together in a little palaver, whispering furiously at each other. Dorin recognized their...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 60
60 "Look at this, Sai!" Denko said, poking around in the snow up ahead. He was the best tracker they had in this group, so he was leading the way. "Sai!" "I'm coming!" Dorin hated this. He hated it so much. Several times he came so close to just...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 59
59 The first thing he became aware of was the pain. It was always there in his fingers and toes, boring deeper and deeper. It was the first thing he felt when he woke up each morning and it was the last thing he felt as he struggled to get to sleep....
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 69
69 Luke jerked awake, completely smothered in darkness. He covered his mouth and nose, not wanting his panicked breathing to wake his siblings. Perhaps sensing their big brother's distress, Valery nuzzled against him, moaning softly in her sleep, and...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 68
68 There was no light save for the pale glow of the moon. No flicker of orange flames shining through the gaps in the trees, no beacon to guide him. He was sure they would have made a fire by now, but there was nothing, only emptiness. All the colour...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 58
58 James knew he had been a fool the moment he saw Luke rise up with that axe in hand, and he knew the time for talk (if there ever really was such a thing) was over the moment Banno grabbed his son by the throat. He wasn't there to protect Emily...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 47
47 - midnight. Renna pulled her head back inside the tent, more frightened than she has ever been in her entire life. Nilia had told her to be ready to go when the moon reached its highest point, but she didn't know if she'd be able to. She hugged...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 75
75 There was a giant pit dug at the base of the Cora statue, at least two Wolves wide; a gaping, crumbling hole. There were wooden stakes planted all around the edge, anchoring dozens of chains that fed into the shadowy depths like spokes on a...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 74
74 It was the longest, most tiring journey of his life. The sun had already started to crest the mountain by the time they finally made it back home. The gate swung open with a groan, scraping the ground clear of snow. It made a shape like a pair of...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 81
81 Nilia's muscles ached and her lungs burned with every inhale. She was cold and tired, but the weight on her back was a constant reminder not to slow down. She could feel his blood running down her spine, the smell of it so thick and cloying she...
Ander - Part 5: Subchapter 70
70 Banno stuck his hand into the snow and swept it aside, hating the feel of it against his burned palm, all slick and cold. Even the noise it made as it fell to the ground annoyed him, so muffled and soft, as if the nothingness had gotten into sound...