Tag: Sam

Above and Below

Glad you could join us for the next tangled 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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Image credit: mirmiran-architecture / fogdenphotos / S.T. Ranscht

The gluey silken lattices fell like a curling wave, spreading across the battlefield as the Alliance Flyers approached the Hive. Enemy land troops ran, but the smothering webs overtook them and trapped them where they stood. Arids Flyers, circling low after the retreat sounded, tangled in the ropey strands and fell, unable to escape. Webs continued to rain across the clearing, blunting the impotent struggles of the doomed, advancing toward the Hive.

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Flights of Death and Glory

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Image credit: Tomás Saraceno / Guido Limardo

The Alliance’s call to retreat rang out beneath the approaching shadow. All land and air forces, except the Freelands bees, pulled back to the Hive tree, beating away the closest attackers to defend and hold the royal residence to their deaths if necessary.

Ripping away from its parent darkness and speeding toward them, a smaller shadow became Sam and Clifton leading their company in a desperate race to reach Central Fen ahead of the growing darkness. Sweeping past the swarm still tormenting the enemy vulture, Sam yelled, “Retreat! Run! Get back to the Hive!”

“Captain,” Clifton called, “those are Freelands bees—”

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Short on Time

Glad you could join us for the next time-sensitive 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: Elvis Kennedy

“But, Mother,” Andre implored, “what was I supposed to do? Samantha’s team wouldn’t leave her alone with us, and when she took us to the front, I watched her kill two wasps with a single move — like it was nothing.” He stared hard at her as if that would communicate the full horror of what he’d witnessed. “There’s no way I could have forced her to do anything.”

Covering her face, Queen Madalena tried not to begrudge her son the senseless deaths and injury his friends had suffered. She tried not to blame him for the head-strong willfulness of his sister, even as anger, disappointment, and remorse tried to tear her heart apart. Her silence lasted longer than she knew.

“Mother?” Andre pressed.

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Volunteers

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Photo credit: Alamy

“Fine!” Andre agreed, rolling his eyes. “Where are we going?”

“To the front,” Captain Sam tossed over her shoulder as she took off.

Reuben dashed to catch up with her. “You mean we’re gonna see some action?”

Bouncing in the air, Bram called, “Do we get to fight?”

“Knock it off!” Andre yelled. “This has nothing to do with us, that’s why we’re supposed to bring her home.”

Sam somersaulted backward to drop into the midst of her half-brother’s little gang. “You’re welcome to enlist. I can assign you a training officer so you’d have some hope of surviving.”

“What?” Reuben sneered. “We can already fight.”

“We’ve developed some advanced techniques,” Clifton pointed out. “You’d really need instruction.”

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Taking the Meeting

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Photo credit: itchydogimages

In a foreign Kingdom, news travels faster than bees. Clifton intercepted Andre and his pals before they reached the camp.

“Welcome, Andre! We’re glad you’re here,” Clifton called. “Is it true you’re signing up to serve?”

“Well, if it isn’t Sa-man-tha’s little shadow.” Lee tapped Andre on the back. Andre ignored him. “So what’s your job —” he asked Clifton, “camp clown?” Lee tapped him again. Harder. “What? Can’t you see I’m talkin’ to–” He followed his pal’s point.

Captain Sam’s entire squadron of Stinging Flyers had gathered behind them.

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Blood Oath

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Image credit: S.T. Ranscht

Sam led Clifton to a secluded blind. Facing him, she took his hands in hers. “I want you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” he answered.

Sam laughed, “Don’t you want to know what it is first?”

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First Shift

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

Photo credit: Alamy

Wind screamed past Captain Sam’s face, whipping tears from her eyes as she streaked toward the wasp bearing down on her an instant from stabbing death into her heart. She dropped, spun, and rolled, tearing sideways across his abdomen, so close to his weapon that she left it dangling and useless. She didn’t bother to look back; she knew he was done.

But where one fell, three more appeared.

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Seek and Retrieve

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Photo credit: Laurent Geslin

Madalena, Queen of the Hiverarchy of Free Bees, paced the length of the Inner Chamber and back, over and over again. I never should have let Samantha leave. This colony had been built on the promise of peace and self-sufficiency. No good could come of her daughter fighting in a war that didn’t have anything to do with them.

“You sent for me, Mother?” Andre stood at the room’s entrance.

“Yes. I want you to find your sister and bring her home.”

He sauntered in. “If she’s still alive, you mean,” he drawled, not even trying to hide his smile.

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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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Captain Harper

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Photo credit: National Park Service

Captain Harper of Fen’s Hive Elite left The Arids the same way she’d arrived a week ago: hidden in plain sight among a cloud of desert bats. At the border, deepening dusk covered her departure from the colony to deliver her covert mission report to Queen Lilian.

The Queen granted her an immediate audience.

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