Maneuvers

Glad you could join us for the next playful episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Winded by her emergency run to Bog, Chloe had a powerful thirst.

Approaching a young frog playing stick-battle with an aggressive young spider among stacks of folded webbing, she caught her breath to ask, “Sweetie, can you tell me where Prince Elliot is?”

The spider used the distraction to smack his stick against his opponent’s belly. “Ha!” he crowed. “That means I killed you! I’m the greatest Knight in the Kingdom!”

“Hey, calm down, Darwin, we’re not supposed to hurt each other.” Rubbing his stomach, Teddy turned to the Runner. “I don’t know, but my daddy does. Do you want me to go get him?” Continue reading “Maneuvers”

Brooding

Glad you could join us for the next brooding episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Photo credit: Jian Gao

Cassandra found her friend weeping quietly outside the entrance to the den she shared with Julius and their brood of little Stingers.

“What’s wrong? Cassandra asked.

Sniffling, Miranda picked up a little one who had just been jostled off her back. “Clark,” she reprimanded, “stop pushing Louise off Mommy.” She replaced the girl and whispered to Cassandra, “Julius has gone to fight against the General’s army. He said he owes it to Queen Lilian, us, and Lady Lucy.”

The Princess’s heart ached. “He’s very brave. You must be proud of him.”

“I am, but lots of The Arids’ soldiers know who he is, and they don’t spare traitors. What if he doesn’t come back? What will I do without him?”

Continue reading “Brooding”

Please, Fence Me In

Glad you could join us for the next over-reactive episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Photo credit: bluecinderella

Princess Cassandra’s unsettling encounter with the frog drove her back to the Bower after she delivered her message to Vernon.

Spending a gloomy morning shut away from the sunlight, dreaming up ways to enclose her Clearing and install a Guard at a single entrance, she finally reined in her runaway imagination. This is ridiculous, she told herself. I refuse to allow my hormones to take me prisoner.

“Agatha,” she called to the Spinner assigned as her attendant and stationed outside her door. “I’m going to visit Miss Miranda.”

Agatha entered and curtseyed. “Do you think it’s safe? Shall I ask the Hive to send an armed guard along?”

Continue reading “Please, Fence Me In”

Invaded

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Photo credit: Jayaram Jahgirdar

The urgent buzz of an approaching bee snatched Drago’s attention from the Crone’s trail. “Clifton!” he shouted as the Queen’s nephew shot past. “What are you doing here?”

Banking hard to reverse direction, Clifton dropped to hang in front of the Runner. “Drago — you’re all right! We were worried when we didn’t hear anything from Fen.”

“What do you mean, you haven’t heard anything? My shift is just starting, but two Runners went out yesterday. The first one should have reached you by last night.”

Continue reading “Invaded”

Unmasked

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“She says she comes from The Arids with information that can save Fen,” Vernon informed the Queen as he escorted her to the Audience Chamber.

“You sound doubtful,” she observed.

“No one here knows her,” he said. “I think it’s wise to be cautious.”

“I think you mean ‘skeptical’,” the Queen teased.

Vernon remained serious. “What if she’s one of the General’s spies?”

Continue reading “Unmasked”

Change of Plan

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Photo credit: Ian Parker

Sunset now at their backs, King Arnie the Former of the Kingdom of Bog and his forces had stood ready since sunrise to meet the enemy. Across the vast expanse of nothing, nothing had moved but the clouds.

“How long shall we wait, your Greatness?” Lieutenant Terrence asked as heat waves shimmered above the sand.

Squinting, the King rubbed his chin and exhaled slowly through his nose. “Send Runners down the line and to the Allied Freelands’ and Arids’ Commanders. We’re in the wrong place.”

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According to Plan

Glad you could join us for the next planned episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Photo credit: JAn Azrol

Sirehta and his companions escorted the General’s prisoners to the tunnel entrance west of the base. As grateful citizens, they disappeared one by one into the dark to return to freedom.

“What of Sini?” Sirehta asked his brother who had kept watch over her.

Continue reading “According to Plan”

His Story

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Photo credit: NicksMacro

The absolute dark in Leftenant Chaz’s brain gave way to the starry dark of night. And pain. Pain in his shoulders. Pain in his—

“What the hell—?”

His wings were gone.

What happened? Clutching his head, he squeezed his eyes shut to sort out the confused images now swirling in his brain. Night raids. Captives. Flying home. A tearful young face begging to be mastered.

Continue reading “His Story”

Commander Torlex

Glad you could join us for the next revolutionary episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Sini followed Viola to the salty playa where the Nocturnals of the newly formed Arids’ branch of the Alliance Army stood ready to deploy south to join the Freelands’ forces.

“—and my brothers will continue to coordinate the Alliance’s covert missions while the forces of Bog engage the enemy from the west,” Cahret said. Nodding toward the dignified iguana on his left, he indicated the next speaker. “Commander Torlex of The Arids.”

The Commander raised his chin, accentuating his underbite. “We who live in The Arids are tough. Our lives are hard, but we don’t abandon our homeland looking for something easier. Our ancestors handed us a history filled with scarcity and endurance, strength and survival.” He scanned the faces in front of him.

Continue reading “Commander Torlex”

Sini

Glad you could join us for the next underground episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

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Photo credit: Thomas Shahan

I should’ve left his damned wings behind. Sini kicked herself for giving in to that moment of triumph, that thrilling instant of complete domination. It isn’t like he could’ve put ’em back on. Yet ripping them off hadn’t been enough; she had to take them as a trophy. But I can’t leave ’em right here for those bastards to find.

Pulling the brush back to expose the tunnel mouth, she shuddered — not only to rid herself of the lingering sensations of grasping claws and strangulation, but also to steel herself for what she was about to do.

Continue reading “Sini”