Jer Patch

Bk 3 - Chapter 49: I am who I am

We crept through the forest, closer and closer to the camp. The closer we got, the less things moved within the forest, until it felt like a void. There weren’t even any bugs or birds calling out anymore. Using my aura sensing, everything felt muted as well, like fog covered the landscape.

Using the rune on Havi's leg twice, I pinpointed exactly where the camp was. 

A low wall surrounded the three buildings sitting on wide open ground between the trees and the rocky beach. The Forger was somewhere inside the northern build...

Bk 3 - Chapter 48: Harvesters, Survivors and Unease

Five Harvesters crashed through the underbrush, heading in the direction of the death scream of that other Harvester eaten by the flier.

Manee headed directly to the first, her swords slicing into the front of it before I blinked. Havi went for the next, drawing its attention.

That left three.

[Harvester, Level 101, Predator, Chicken.]

[Harvester, Whispering Trap, Level 103, Predator, Chicken.]

[Harvester, Level 97, Predator, Chicken.]

Without even thinking, I went for the one with Whispering Trap. ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 47: Sane Moments

Everyone pulled weapons except for me. I’d felt her presence as we approached the home.

“Mother!” Kabi’s voice came out in a rush, and he darted forward, wrapping her in a giant hug with all four arms.

“You shouldn’t be here. They’re monitoring the barrow,” she whispered, looking up at her son. Her eyes landed on her husband, and she gasped. “But they…”

“Branded me,” he whispered, and moved in for a hug.

She stood shorter than both Havi and Kabi, only coming up to their chins, but still talle...

Bk 3 - Chapter 46: Never leave people behind

That didn’t deserve a response. He’d saved my life. I’d save his, that was the only honorable thing to do. 

I moved him another two feet, but it took more time than I had. 

This wasn’t working. The hovercraft lay on its side several feet away, and I headed to it. I slammed my shoulder into the side, knocking it back flat on the ground. The control panel still glowed softly, and I hit the biggest button. The cart flared to life, rising into the air. I jumped on and steered it closer to Havi.

“There...

Bk 3 - Chapter 45: Step Two - don’t die

I darted faster than before back to the person I’d skipped, then paused, trying to spot the one who’d killed the freed slave. He’d vanished into the shadows, just like me. Everyone dashed in all directions, panicking because of the fighting.

Jalco tackled something black out of the shadows.

[An OFFENDER has been detected in your area, with an active bounty. You have been given a temporary boost to stats and abilities.]

[Feld, Assassin, Level 121, Predator, Unknown OFFENDER.]

I leaped to the next collared ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 44: Step one - don’t get caught

“We’ll need to move fast, then,” said Sile, still not sitting down. He glanced back at us before looking at the five others relaxing. “Alright, everyone. Be ready to move in an hour. Get food and cat naps to prepare yourselves. We strike at dawn.”

“How bright is dawn?” I asked Kabi, thinking of the various lights I’d seen in the forest.

“It will be the blue sun today, not the bright sun. Normally, our people stay inside during it since the beasts tend to be more aggressive, but the Forgers won’t expect ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 43: Meeting the rest of the team

I glared at him, but said nothing as we traveled across the water.

Kabi chuckled and smirked as he gazed over the empty expanse. Somehow, he felt more carefree now that his brother was taken care of.

I let my fingers dangle over the side as we traveled, wishing that my family could see this place. The dark purple sky full of stars felt magical, like we’d gone off into some fantasy land and needed to save it.

Though, that was kind of what we were doing, even though we weren’t the fated saviors. Not at all. Instead...

Bk 3 - Chapter 42: Sneaky Plans

“What are we going to do?” asked Lenna as we sat around the table with Kabi, Cekta and Sile.

“We try to free them,” I said, without thinking about it.

“It has to be a trap,” argued Sile, staring at me. “It has to be.”

My fingers tapped on the wooden table as I pulled up my recent notifications. Four levels from freeing crystals, and one level from helping kill the traitor, or whatever he was. It wasn’t bad progress at all. I needed to allocate some free stats, and tossed some into strength and tough...

Bk 3 - Chapter 41: Collars, Spies, and Dumplings

Noseen shimmered at my touch, but then he blinked. “Fine, just dealing with a couple things all at once.”

“Just making sure,” I said, hesitantly stepping back.

“Lenna’s people visited your territory,” he said with a smile. “Any messages to pass along?”

I wished I’d asked Lenna if she had anything to say to them.

“I don’t think so. She ranked up, but it was necessary since this world is a higher rank. Maybe let them know that. Her class is a little different, but cool. I know she also mis...

Bk 3 - Chapter 40: Abby’s Dealing with Lenna's Family

The presence knocked the ladle out of my hand as I stirred the soup. The soup splashed a little, but not much of it spilled. I recognized the presence as it crossed the territory line, but had to admit I didn’t think it would find us all the way out where we were. To my surprise, movement near the teleportation portal indicated those beings were coming in hot as well. Maybe Alex’s friends would join the conversation, if needed.

I stood up and faced the north gate, which stood open, given the bright light of the sun. During t...

Bk 3 - Chapter 39: Boots are made for fighting

“1100 credits?” I repeat her price like that was going to change the answer. My lips parted, and I frowned at the boots on my feet. I wanted them badly, but couldn’t afford them with my measly 100 credits. 

“A member of the water tribe paid for them already,” said Bente, watching my face. “You did good work freeing those people. I’m glad to help outfit you to do more good work.”

I snapped my mouth shut and nodded. While I would have helped those folks without new boots, they were comfortable. It was a ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 38: Real food

I panicked as I focused on the crystal beneath the rune. Then, I melted the connection points. The rune shook and vanished, as the reinforcing structure disappeared. The connections between the ring and the other four lines shattered.

My chest pounded as my eyes snapped open.

“Well, the rings are all connected to one another,” I blurted. The ring in my palm no longer remained pitch black. Instead, it appeared like a clear crystal, with hints of air, fire, and forest inside it.

“What happened?”

“Someth...

Bk 3 - Chapter 37: Betrayers, Spies and Controllers

“Leave them for the harvesters,” said Jalco. “They can be forest food.”

“I’d rather the Forgers don’t find out that I exist,” I said, looking at the two of them. The last crystal in the area was near the Forger’s body, and it kept pulling at my attention. 

Kabi’s eyes hardened as he stared at them.

“Either they come with us, or we need to kill them.” My words came out dry.

A rush of air behind me as Lenna landed felt reassuring.

“Alex is right. We can’t chance that the For...

Bk 3 - Chapter 36: Abby’s Problems in Lakeside

I swore at Alex again inside my head, for the second time of the day.

That friend of hers up in the north had brought with him two beasts almost level 200. Before they could hide their presence, they scared off everything around us. It meant that those hunting were having a hard time finding things to bring back. While we didn’t need to eat as much as before, even the meat from the kills in the inventory crystals was running low.

John and Hammy were busy with the teleportation thing, so I couldn’t just ask John to take...

Bk 3 - Chapter 35: Time to prove themselves

“The water tribe is going to war with the Forgers?” asked Kabi.

Rees nodded his head slowly. “Our people were captured during a fact-gathering mission. We need them back.”

He motioned to one of the water people behind him, who approached.

“Geto knows where they are being held, along with a group of Forest-dwellers.” He hesitated, then bowed his head. “They all have collars on, but from what we’ve gathered they only have a little time before they will be taken to the camp.”

Geto and a few of th...

Bk 3 - Chapter 34: Hunting

He pulled the pant leg up, showing off a knee with multiple scars running across it.

“Does it still hurt?”

“Yes, but I can live with the pain.” 

Again, Kabi glared at me. I didn’t care about if this was sensitive; Gan didn’t seem to mind answering.

I knelt and touched it with a finger, then pulled out my necklace and tried to send healing energy into him. The soothing energy flowed from the crystal into his knee. The redness reduced, and the raised scar flattened a little. Unfortunately, the cr...

Bk 3 - Chapter 33: Crystal Clear

“You have crystals from the enemy,” whispered Allo, sounding shaken. Her eyes were wide, focused on the necklace in my hand.

“They're not from the enemy,” I said, trying to not sound angry. I tilted my head in Lenna’s direction. “The Forgers stole them from Lenna’s people after enslaving them, just like I bet they stole the knowledge of runes from your people.”

This time I glanced at Cekta for confirmation.

“They have targeted rune users, and were excited to get their hands on me.” His voice was q...

Bk 3 - Chapter 32: A moment of rest

Now, the bond stretched both ways, from Kabi’s aura to mine and back again. I touched it and Kabi jumped like he’d touched the edge of an electric wire.

Interesting. 

“What happened?” I asked.

“You accepted the bond, like one of my people would,” he whispered, smiling for the first time. Suddenly, his spine drew straighter and his head came up high. “It will bring me much honor to follow you north. Though, we will need food and water stored away before we start that trek. Enough to skirt by the Rus...

Bk 3 - Chapter 31: Lenna leads the way

“We can’t go there,” whispered Allo to me at the front of the crowd. “It’s cursed.”

“You don’t have anywhere else to go that Jabba didn’t know of.” I understood now why Alex had offered to stay back and watch our rear. Normally, I stayed in the back with my bow, but this time, she urged me to stay with the front of the group. It made sense, but it also meant I now needed to deal with the Elder. She reminded me a little of my grandmother, which made my heart ache. 

“It is safe from the Harvesters,...

Chapters Incoming

I have no clue what happened.

All of July's chapters have been scheduled out since May, and I'm talking to support about why they haven't posted. You'll see them pop up as soon as possible.

I'm sorry about this and trying to troubleshoot the problem as best as I can.

Bk 3 - Chapter 30: Abby accepts the trade

Alex was either going to get a cake baked for her by the time she got back, or a wack on the back of her head. Or maybe both. Making me the leader of her territory, then taking off into a rift unknown all to rescue poor Lenna. Definitely both.

Days later, a scar hung in the air floating almost like an eight-point star. It hadn’t changed, and nothing else had come out of it, but we hadn’t heard anything from Alex or Lenna, either.

“Alpha lives, Lenna lives,” said Dengu from beside me near the lake. The velociraptor ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 29: Turncoats

I almost snorted to myself, hearing the conversation in my head about me. Lenna wasn’t wrong, per se. I just liked to get things done, and eat hearts… if I was being completely honest with myself. 

The trail led to a cluster of people resting under a mushroom not far from where I’d started tracking them. Looking around, it didn’t seem like the little girl was with them. 

Silently moving through the darkness I found her and her father sleeping under a different mushroom, away from the others. 

S...

Writing Updates

That Which Devours:

Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - Done

Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done

Book Three: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done

Book Four: Rough Draft - 23/60

Book 1 my second round of edits is done. I’m getting feedback to see if it needs a line edit.

The mockup for book 3 is done and sent over to the cover artist. They will get it done during the second half of July.

While I'm waiting for that its time for me to get ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 28: Steal Swords

Cekta entered first, followed by me, then Shelli. Kabi took the rear with his sword out. Inside, a smooth stone hallway reminded me of the mines headed into the depths. Bright blue mushrooms lined the ceiling, providing a soft glow of light. The scent of dirt and fresh air came from farther inside.

“The armory isn’t far. Everyone had to disarm before entering the city,” explained Cekta. “There was no fighting allowed inside.”

We crossed several areas where the stone had come down and blocked the hallway, but had ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 27: Lenna and Alex finally talk

Lenna sat on the ground with her back to the mushroom stalk, and I sat beside her.

A hunk of Harvester meat appeared in my hand, and I took a massive bite. Seconds later it was gone, and I had a second one waiting.

Lenna waited until the second hunk had settled in my stomach before she started talking.

“I’ve always wanted to travel the stars and see all the worlds. While this wasn’t how I wanted to do it, now is as good a time as any.”

“But what about your parents?” I asked. “They don’t have a c...

Bk 3 - Chapter 26: Ramifications of the Rift

“What was that?” I asked under my breath.

A dark shape crept around in the distance, but there wasn’t enough light to see it clearly, even with my low-light vision. 

“Strange creatures showed up before the southern outpost was built,” said Kebi. “Great beasts with wings stretching from side to side. They stand tall while on the ground, but while in the air will swoop you up.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Lenna. “Fliers…”

She nodded, her eyebrows drawn close together. “They must have ...

Writing Updates: 6/21

That Which Devours:

Book One: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done, Second Edit - 30/58

Book Two: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done

Book Three: Rough Draft - Done, First Draft - Done

Book Four: Rough Draft - 23/60

I’ve pivoted to working on the editing of Book 1. I plan to get that wrapped up this week, and then talk to my editor about whether it needs a line edit at this point. With the September release coming up this is my priority. I did get a few chapters written this week in book ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 25: Kabi deals with Needlecrest

We couldn’t stay here. The harvesters that had stolen away people would be back, and this area would be searched with a master. No, not a master, a Forger. They were not my masters. I was free.

I tossed my sword into my inventory, wishing I had my second, or any other blade, but during my capture I’d only had the one on me. The twin of the one I carried was lost now, either in our barrow or to the Forgers. The other two were in for repair.

“You saved us,” whispered an older woman, bowing her head and holding that position...

Bk 3 - Chapter 24: Saving others

The Harvester ripped into the mushroom in front of Kabi before leaping toward him. No sound came from it at all. The music halted as it crossed some invisible line.

A rune glowed on the ground providing a dim light under Kabi.

“Going for it,” I sent as I leaped from my mushroom, hitting the creature in midair. My spear pierced through its armor, and into its center. Its beak opened wide as it screamed, but nothing came out.

I forced even more energy into the tip as the ground rushed up to us. Three silver arrows ...

Bk 3 - Chapter 23: Let’s hunt the hunter

His presence washed out in a wave, full of bloodlust and killing vibes.

Then it snapped off.

“So Alex, the First in more ways than one?” I asked, in a joking manner.

Noseen blinked, then chuckled a little. “Yes, squishy one.”

“Hey, I ranked up and I am a Giant Slayer, you know.” I tried to keep a light mood and figure out why it was so important to keep me alive. Not that I minded. Staying alive was top on my list of things to do, right next to continuing to grow and eating a real piece of fruit. No...