Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-two
A sensation of being suspended beneath water greeted Martin as he came to. His head swam and muffled sounds washed toward him in ebbing and flowing waves. Martin lifted his head as he heard a thump, a yell, and then pain—his own pain, throbbing pain as...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-eight
The unsubtle scraping of metal on metal and the streaming in of morning light stirred Martin from rest. He blinked his eyes blearily, pressing his hands down his face to clear the sleep from his eyes as quickly as possible. He sat up and looked to his...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Nineteen
The travelers departed Uat’sn with somewhat less ceremony than in Benuun, which was more than fine as far as Martin was concerned. Still, despite the borderline routine nature of their time in Uat’sn, the anxiety at the back of his mind continued to...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-nine
The hulking steel machine arrived with the squeal of metal under friction and a great puff of smoke. After a moment, side doors opened on several of the brightly-painted railcars, allowing throngs of people to hurriedly disembark with the train. The...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Fourteen
Subsequent a tearful goodbye between Uyutuk and Namo and a promise to return when she could, afternoon found the pair on the metaphorical dusty trail toward Uat’sn, which, in this case, was also a literal dusty trail. As Martin inspected the map, still...
01 - Knock, Knock. Who's There?
'i'm feli, the special envoy here on cultural exchange.' guy frowned in confusion. 'gomen, but, i have no idea what you're talking about.' 'the cultural exchange between humans and felines?' she said, raising one eyebrow.
A Place in the Pack
A human begins his stay in a beastman village as part of a cultural exchange program. shortly after arriving at the home of his wolf host family, he realizes (with a smile on his face) he may have gotten in over his head a little.
Tangled Vines - Prologue
The human husband and wife diplomatic corps team of william and cassandra nicolini were excited when they learned of their assignment to the new terran embassy on mûr zhæn, where they would be in charge of cultural exchange.
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Fifteen
The first sign that the travelers were closing the distance to Uat’sn made itself apparent in the transition of plant community from semi-arid chaparral to a more dense, but still open canopy, scrub woodland. The dominant “canopy” plants, if they could...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-three
PART TWO: ECHO Martin gazed over the cliff southward. An antarctic wind stung his cheeks as leaned against the stone fence toward the water that crashed against the smooth-worn cliffs well over a hundred meters below him. The white spray battering...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-four
Namo’s left-field question caught Martin on the back foot, and the rogue felt the foundation of the courage he had built up crumble beneath him like wet mud amidst a rushing stream. “No… no it’s not about English. It’s about you and me, err, more like,...
Vast, Our World and Our Resolve - Chapter Twenty-five
Martin sat in his cell, the pounding of his heart bordering on tachycardia belying his utter stillness on the cot. The thoughts swam by like crayfish in turbid water, muddied by his anxieties, fears, and self-flagellation as the tramp processed his...