Category Archives: Book 4
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Introduction Book 5: First Awakening
Posted on November 20, 2008 by Aywren in An Introduction 5Date: 31 Passes Ago Okay… so things aren’t exactly going as planned. ZenToYa ran, dodging through the long streaming vines and deep forest vegetation. Running away wasn’t usually his favorite call to action. But at the moment, any other choice was as good as suicide. I forgot how good the Spiral warriors were. Somewhere, not [...]
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Ch20-1: Search for Hope
Posted on December 4, 2008 by Aywren in Chapter 20“What are they?” AsaHi’s question came out as a breathy whisper. Her green eyes fixed on the dancing lights that floated throughout the small bedchamber where Zemi was resting. Now and then, they alighted upon the hand-painted murals that scrawled across the rough golden stone walls. Sometimes they sparkled as they fell upon the reed-wood [...]
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Ch20-2: Enduring
Posted on December 18, 2008 by Aywren in Chapter 20The Spiral lands stretched out before Zento in every direction, reminding him how far he was from home. Soft rolling hills of yellow-tinged grass ran up to greet the edge of the lilac-leaf forests. Groups of stone huts huddled together in their tell-tale circular patterns. Banners emblazoned with a glittering gold lion snapped in the [...]
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Ch20-3: Nightmare Renewed
Posted on January 1, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 20What is this place? Lucci peered around the strange chamber, taking a cautious step forward. His limbs felt suspended and his motions were sluggish. Light flickered from above through draping veils of various colors, casting twisted and eerie shadows over the walls. The floor was caked with grime and decay, somewhat squishy as he walked [...]
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Ch20-4: Spirit Ally
Posted on January 16, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 20It was good for AsaHi to see Suzume again. It was only a matter of moments before the dark haired girl was inviting them inside, pulling them both over to the wicker chairs in the center of the room. Just as quickly, AsaHi started up conversation – asking the girl all about where she had [...]
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Ch20-5: Fighting Failure
Posted on January 30, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 20Why… is everything so fuzzy? Something appeared to be wrong with his vision portals, though Zemi didn’t know exactly what the issue was. In fact, he didn’t even know where he was. Why he was there. And why the world was so white and floaty. The sensation wasn’t painful or really that undesirable. His physical [...]
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Ch20-6: Almost Earthian
Posted on February 12, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 20“Sooooooooooo what are you? The King of the Spiral?” Oren beamed his trademark grin as he hooked a friendly arm around Aur’s shoulders. JouKa winced a little. It was not the sort of thing that one randomly did to the Watcher from the Time Before. Luckily, Aur didn’t appear to be annoyed by it — [...]
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Ch21-1: Exile Encampment
Posted on February 27, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21“Remember what I said,” Kudako’s quiet voice echoed back to them as he strode towards the light of the Exile Encampment. “These were Clans of old. Let me do the talking.” SoYa shifted nervously from one foot to the other. Letting Kudako do the talking was not a problem for him. Not at all. Exactly [...]
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Ch21-2: ShinRe
Posted on March 12, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21“ShinRe,” Kudako shook his head slowly. “I thought you were dead… killed in the Raze!” “I could say the same about you, Kudako,” a welcoming smile spread across the Leader’s face. He wasted no time in embracing his brother and ushering him through the doorway. “I looked for you, but I never found you. I [...]
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Ch21-3: Watcher’s Apology
Posted on March 26, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21The morning light shown peacefully upon the Exile Encampment leaving dappled patterns across the wooden platform where SoYa stood. There was a delicate wood railing on this overlook, for which he was grateful. It helped to give him the courage to take a moment to look out over the edge. When he did, the view [...]
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Ch21-4: Arweinydd Grief
Posted on April 9, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21“It’s good to see you finally come out of your hidey hole,” chirped a familiar voice. Zento turned to find himself face to face with a flicker of his past – the cheerful face of his old friend, NaDoTu. He didn’t know how many decades it had been since he had last saw the funny [...]
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Ch21-5: One Final Roar
Posted on April 23, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21“These Dragons of yours are quite fascinating creatures,” ShinRe remarked to at Zemi. He brushed his shirt front off with one glance over his shoulder at the Dragon who had just flown them into the Spiral Proper. The way he watched the creature, it was obvious that he had seen few before, if ever, and [...]
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Ch21-6: Within the Keep
Posted on May 7, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21The heavy doors to the Lion’s Keep rumbled inwards, admitting the small group under the great stone arches. AsaHi spun slowly around and around as she walked, trying to take it all in. Up until then, all she had heard were the stories and legends — especially the account made by ZenToYa of the pivotal [...]
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Ch21-7: Echoes of Future Past
Posted on May 21, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21NaDo looked like he was about to have a heart attack (as the Earthians often stated). His pen flew across the surface of the writing scroll, detailing each and every happening there within the Lion’s Keep. Every now and then, the winged man would mutter under his breath. Something that sounded like, “Amazing. Absolutely amazing.” [...]
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Ch21-8: The Stone Lair
Posted on June 4, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 21It’s all there… Every last bit of it. Images of Zerom’s coming. The fall of Nefol. The Migration from Ceiswyr. The battles with Zeromus. The fall of the Islands. And now the coming of a new leader to the Spiral lands. But the images didn’t stop there. To Zemi’s growing trepidation, they spanned even into [...]
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Ch22-1: Shadow’s Threat
Posted on June 18, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22Lucci found himself standing over the yawning mouth of the Dragon’s Cleft. He had never been to the Cleft before – only seen the deep squiggly line running in a dark crevice dividing the Inner Realms from the Outterlands on some of Master ZenToYa’s old maps. The maps that Master TsuYa would never let him [...]
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Ch22-2: Words That Must Be Spoken
Posted on July 3, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22“How does it feel to be coming back to your homelands?” SaRa asked, linking her arm around Kudako’s arm. She never knew how he felt about the interaction… but she had done so since she could remember. And he had never pulled away from her. She always marveled at the feeling of the raw strength [...]
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Ch22-3: Spiral Scouting Party
Posted on July 16, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22“Please, Master Kudako, let me come with you,” Lucci begged, dogging the Dragon’s steps as he strode up and down the line of Spiral warriors that had been assembled. Master Kudako didn’t reply. In fact, he didn’t let it show if he had heard the young Sygnus’ request at all. He simply pulled the leather [...]
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Ch22-4: Loss of Light
Posted on July 30, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22“How have you been holding up, dear?” Aunt SaRa asked, gently stroking her fingers through JouKa’s hair. “As well as I can,” the girl answered quietly. Though JouKa appreciated the concern from everyone around her, she just didn’t feel like explaining the extent of how she felt. She doubted words could describe the emotion. To [...]
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Ch22-5: The Passing Light
Posted on August 13, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22-Quickly, Lucci-boy! Quickly!- Kaz’s voice echoed in his mind. We’re too late! The Marked are everywhere! Lucci’s breath whistled through his nose, every inch of his body burning from the long run back to the Spiral. The moment they had entered the city, the Spiral warriors had scattered into smaller groups, rushing to cover as [...]
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Ch22-6: Haunted Eyes
Posted on August 28, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22“What’s going on?” AsaHi asked, holding tight to SoYa’s shoulder. She could hear the muted sounds in the world outside of the Lion’s Keep. “Something terrible has happened since we went down to the Stone Lair… hasn’t it?” “I don’t know,” SoYa told her. He was listening, too, eyes narrowed and flicking around from one [...]
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Ch22-7: To Understand Loss
Posted on September 11, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22The last of the Esgyll fell from the sky under heavy focused fire of Dragon flame. Zemi watched the charred body drop and land somewhere outside of the town’s borders, followed by the victorious swoop and flourish of his Dragons in the night. Having secured the skies, the winged armies of Ceiswyr were able to [...]
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Ch22-8: Sorrow of the Earthians
Posted on October 22, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22-You can come down from there, now.- Zazo’s voice resounded in her mind. –They’re all gone.- AsaHi looked up from where she had been curled up in the crook of one of the tall trees. Blinking, she realized that after the terror of the evening had worn off and she had found a safe place [...]
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Ch22-9: Silver Wings
Posted on November 7, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 22The sky behind Lucci was filled with smoke, even though he knew that the fires in the city had been doused. The air was thick with the smells of ashes and blood… and his mind was clouded with the pounding of emotion that choked every inch of the city. Lucci had fled it all, running [...]
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Ch23-1: Divided in Heart
Posted on November 12, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23The Marked army of Zeromus was on the move across the Outterlands. And they were moving fast, with renewed purpose. Zemi didn’t question. He knew there was only one place Zeromus would strike next – the mountain city of Wyndor. With Ceiswyr in ruins, Wyndor was the last bastion of safety afforded to those who [...]
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Ch23-2: Luccious
Posted on November 19, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23“Lucci! Lucci, you CAN’T do this!” Kaz’s voice pleaded from behind him. The cry was so desperate. So hoarse and filled with fear. It was so unlike how his friend usually sounded. Lucci turned, pausing just a moment on the long, broken stairway to look back. The Sygnus’ long silver hair swayed with a ghostly [...]
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ch23-3: Comfort Giving
Posted on November 26, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23“Zento?” the golden, familiar voice echoed off the glassy walls of the Wyndor chambers. SoYa looked over to see Lady KaiShi, in her person form, walking towards the slumped blue and white figure of his father. The slick floors reflected them from below, images of sorrow and concern. They had not been in Wyndor for [...]
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Ch23-4: Siege of Wyndor
Posted on December 10, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23The sound of dragon-alarm echoed through the depths of the Wyndor chambers, startling AsaHi from her restless sleep. She didn’t know how long she had been sleeping or how much time had passed since they had arrived in the Dragon city, but she could feel that it had not been enough time to get things [...]
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Ch23-5: Could it have been different?
Posted on December 19, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23“Fall back! Fall ba–” the winged soldier’s words were sliced off in mid-sentence in a bubbling froth of blood and devouring silver mists. Zento watched with wide horrified eyes as the man crumpled, then collapsed in a spray of red. Screaming and writhing, the mists surrounded him, ripping at the very fabric of his life [...]
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Ch23-6: Champion’s Passing
Posted on December 19, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 23-Zento…- The voice echoed within his mind. Everything was fuzzy. Growing darker. So hard to breathe. So hard to see. So hard to try to respond. -ZenToYa?- He knew the sound of the voice. It was the same voice that came to him so long ago. The voice that led him to safety from the [...]
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Ch24-1: Arweinydd Tears
Posted on December 20, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24“That is very peculiar,” Kudako muttered as he strode back into the Cynosure chamber. “Another group of men have arrived here, claiming they were ordered to the evacuation point. Did you give this command, Lord Zemi?” Zemi didn’t answer. He simply stood, motionless, staring into the reflecting light of the great rifting stone. “Lord Zemi?” [...]
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Ch24-2: Denying the Darkness
Posted on December 23, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24“Can you sense Tsu anywhere?” SoYa asked, holding tight to the scruff of the She-Wolf’s neck. -No… everything is distorted in here. It must be the Sygnus energy.- “Then how do you know that he’s even here?” the Athrylith asked. -Are you doubting me?- she snapped with a sharp tone. “I didn’t say that!” SoYa’s [...]
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Ch24-3: Leavetakings
Posted on December 25, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24AsaHi’s tiny fingers folded over the back of Zemi’s broad hand as he strained to draw the rifting energy into the Cynosure chamber. He was shaking. Every now and then, a spasm racked his body, nearly causing him to fall. And every time, Kudako or Aur were there to offer him strength to stand. The [...]
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Ch24-4: Glimmer of Hope
Posted on December 27, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24“Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my,” NaDo repeated to himself over and over again. The sunlight reflected sharply off of his glasses, making it hard to see the expression in his eyes. But SoYa could sense the scientist’s crushing sadness as he learned about the death of his long-time friend. When the invasion had begun [...]
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Ch24-5: Final Redemption
Posted on December 29, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24The thick forests closed in over their heads as the group made their way as quickly as possible towards the waiting Vision Stone. Though the Stone was within view of the Shellab, there was still a good distance between. And unlike the winged people who had already made their way to their destination, not everyone [...]
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Ch24-6: The Old World’s Passing
Posted on December 30, 2009 by Aywren in Chapter 24“Kudako…” Zemi’s voice cracked as he spoke the name. “Zem,” AsaHi took his arm in a comforting motion. “He’ll be alright. I’m sure.” “No… He isn’t alright,” the Dreigiau turned his gaze downward, face pale and strained. Words didn’t have to speak the feelings that were emanated. SoYa didn’t have to hear it. He knew. [...]
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Epilogue 1- Fragments
Posted on January 1, 2010 by Aywren in EpilogueThe Vision Stone was cracked, a sliced that cut straight through the clear, flat face in the place where the rift had once reflected in blue light. The soft glow of the crystal spluttered, broken, weakening from its cankerous wound. No longer would it protect these lands… lands now marred by the darkness and the [...]
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Epilogue 2- Final
Posted on January 1, 2010 by Aywren in EpilogueDate: Many, Many Passes In The Future He woke as if from a deep, troubled sleep. There had been no dreams. Just the darkness and a lingering feeling of something terribly sad sitting heavily in his chest. He did not recognize the room. It was draped in long deep blue curtains and tapestries. Even the [...]
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