Story

Revelations, catharsis, and unwanted kisses are…in a word…taxing. “FalalalaFalalalaLalalala”      Nuria sings the notes she and Valine came up with to fill in the spaces of Cwen’s solo spots. Three … Continue reading 3.3: We R Who We R

There I was dancing with some boy, enjoying my life more than I should’ve been without them, and I froze.      The tart stench of the frozen building permeated the … Continue reading 3.1: When Within Strikes

I’ve made dumber decisions to end up on bed rest.      Bookkeeping is not Reddic’s favorite thing, and even less to watch. Being hunched over a desk to count and … Continue reading 2.10: Night Light

You’ll never guess who I ran into on the road up there!      Pan slams her head against the door when her ID card fails again, even though she knows … Continue reading 2.9: Cutting Loose

Only this time, it’ll have a happier ending.      “Did you really have to drag me out of Lynald’s class?” Nuria asks.      Stark leads the young lady down one … Continue reading 2.8: It Doesn’t Matter

I didn’t want to make him look bad in front of his friends, so I said yes.      Due to her penchant for expanding her vocabulary and the state of … Continue reading 2.7: Hot In Here

Needless to say, he’ll stay away from me now.      Koren slams his head down on the table, hiding Nuria’s note underneath his forehead. He groans and ruffles the shaggy … Continue reading 2.6.5: You Wouldn’t Do The Same, Pt. 2

Needless to say, he’ll stay away from me now. “What does this officer- No! What do any of the people on my right know about our poverty and our struggle? … Continue reading 2.6: You Wouldn’t Do The Same, Pt. 1

One more week to go!      “I’m not sure that this is a wise idea,” Tyra says. In her hands is a paper with bullet points under sections for “ConcerT”, … Continue reading 2.5: B.O.A.

When I asked to talk to Rum, she said he was in class. Sweat and lack of phoenix eye activation aren’t the only things hampering Nuria’s sight during her pursuit … Continue reading 2.4: Stressed Depths

Coffee plus first-time snowboarding was a hilarious disaster.      Talas had an even greater knack for pissing off Keria than I did, especially during our Star Derby game trials. He … Continue reading 2.3: For The Fun Of It

One thousand and one.      Trigonometry is Norris’s least favorite subject, well, math is in general. Sine, cosine, tangent, and their variations, none of those angles much matter to him. … Continue reading 2.2: First Mark

We exchanged a few stories but it became clear we were both trying to not spoil surprises for the other and both laughed when we realized that.      The snow … Continue reading 2.1: V.I.P.

They’re busy ladies and I understand that life.      Fanger loves the car windows to be open on the road. The cavalier breeze ruffles his fur soothingly. He stretches out … Continue reading 1.9: A New Team

I tried to apologize (genuinely) but the look in his eyes screamed bloody murder.      No, a sling and swathe would only prolong stress to the area.      Sutar groans, … Continue reading 1.8: Pathology

They’ve been looking for a safe way to get closer since a herd of moose frequent that area.      “The fear center?” Valine asks, sitting atop one of the S’nue … Continue reading 1.7: Attack From Within

Hopefully, I get out of this desert soon.      “Learn what her training regimen consists of”, “She always hits her mark”, “and “First try and first-time Arrowhead Junior Model” are … Continue reading 1.6: Open Hearts

Then I froze.      Nuria soars around the miniature forest dome excitedly, ducking branches and weaving around the heart trees (characterized by roots partially exposed above ground). As she learns … Continue reading 1.5: A Hair’s Breadth

Man, I miss her so much!      The shower curtain rings rattle against the pole they grip as Nuria emerges with an “Aah”, refreshed from her bathing. She drapes a … Continue reading 1.4: Conduct

I got up on that karaoke stage to perform my favorite TFF song, “Losing Games To Butterflies”.      “And just so you guys get the whole picture, my daddy was … Continue reading 1.3: Bunks

“Surprise, surprise.”      Nuria tries not to let the excitement get to her but finds herself leaning forward, feet tapping, and heart thumping. Allowing herself to be lulled by expectation … Continue reading 1.2: Plus One, Plus Five

“Am I home?” Auriel marched down a long, black-bricked stairwell lit by mounted furnaces spaced fifteen apart. Her three shadows moved on the walls, her only company beside her executioner’s … Continue reading 1.1: Execumama

His hair and hood blend in with the blizzard, making it appear as if orbs of emerald are floating in space. Even the white case holding his longsword is barely … Continue reading Cover: Antlers

First-time criminals often suffer from greater anxiety following their first successful lawbreaking journey, typically obsessed with the thought they’ll be found out, or that they already have and law enforcement … Continue reading Cover: Bastion

“We’ve spent all of last week going over the periodic table of elements. It’s time to test your retention of those studies,” his father says. He turns and reveals a … Continue reading Cover: Compound

Decorative suitcases rest on a luggage cart behind the raven-haired owner as she and her snowy-eyed friend watch the wreckage of their campus filmed by several news crews as Headmaster … Continue reading Cover: Look After Our Own

Nuria awakens from another dreamless night, so the week-long streak stands. She didn’t notice in the nights following the war, distracted by her peers, but she’s had no visits to … Continue reading 3.8: Mount Handreau

Rum takes the soapy plate from Auriel and rinses it clean. He makes a face for the ceramic surface to reflect, his smile full of teeth. Auriel snickers and nudges … Continue reading 3.7: Crimson

Nuria watches Tyra’s town car vanish into the sea of shuttles, standing safely on the side with her egg, its heat pulsing in her arms. Her farewell to the angel … Continue reading 3.6: A+

There’re the vultures!      Stark pulls into the lane outside of Jupiter Central Hospital, the sidewalk parallel crowded by a flock of reporters. The second they see the “FHA_030” license … Continue reading 3.5: Restoration

Wallace scratches at his arm bandage again, only to be stopped by Sutar. Their argument right after amuses Roy and Donovan seated off on the side of the tent.      … Continue reading 3.4: Broken Convictions

“I’d hug you goodbye,” Carnya says with pursed lips, “but I don’t wanna risk a bloody nose.”      Nuria looks to Syl guiltily, a red tissue plugging his right nostril. … Continue reading 3.3: My Best Friend

Stark’s fingers slid down each time she avoided touching anywhere near the hole in Tameri’s chest. Each of the professor’s pained breaths came before garbled speech and were followed by … Continue reading 3.2: First Aid

Viary walks down a long corridor with chrome walls, the missing sections showing exposed clay, carrying a set of blood-stained keys. A pair of chakrams rotate as they levitate above … Continue reading 3.1: Worldwide

The second Nuria’s fist collides with the ice wall erected to fit the courtyard entrance, she feels her body temperature plummet.  If not for her stockpile of solar energy, she’d … Continue reading 2.6: Monster

“I’ve never really been a tea person,” Stark said. She sat down on the couch in the teacher’s lounge, choosing the end with the broken legs.      “Spoken like someone … Continue reading 2.5: Ice

Shuri’s biggest takeaway from the Drijadi Hills training was how to use kinetic force to control the weight of his WEBs (wind energy blades). The faster and more intensely he … Continue reading 2.4: Holes

Nuria flies in circles, using a light spray of her golden flames to evaporate the puddles around her party, the professors, Tyra, Evic, and Roark. After securing a moderately safer … Continue reading 2.3: Partner

Aven jumps and downswings his scythe. The assassin casually sidesteps the strike so that the scythe goes for Neth’s bed. Like Aven desired. He simultaneously releases his scythe while arresting … Continue reading 2.2: Rain

Tameri dances through the rain on her tiptoes. The wet ground and drops of rain extend and expand the variety of Liamria’s attacks. Tameri only keeps the bottom of her … Continue reading 2.1: Helmet

“Nobody told you to come after me!” Sutar argues, standing as a guardian for her medical gear.      “Are you insane? Some blood samples are not worth running into a … Continue reading 1.5: Team ’92

Tameri resets her target as Victa’s clones charge in all at once.      An ability like his, the definition of a one-man army, needs to be understood to counter properly. … Continue reading 1.4: One Man Army

Koren’s body is locked in place behind a door. His legs and bent and cemented. He breathes through his nose, too scared one breath will catch in his throat, forcing … Continue reading 1.3: Students Of FHA

Tameri steps away from Charlotte’s body, the violet staining around her neck and torso no longer any of the professor’s concern. Nothing behind her is. She trusts the security of … Continue reading 1.2: Professors Of FHA

Liamria rounded their war table, a map of Four Hearts Academy taped down at the corners. Various stamps are applied to the separate buildings. The dorms (minus Ibri House), and … Continue reading 1.1: Versus The Pure

Tameri stops in the doorway leaving the S’nue dorm, the clouds in the sky a grave annoyance. Liamria’s first-ever attack was during a rainstorm, and the power she displayed was … Continue reading 3.5: End Of An Academy

The warmth of Nuria’s vermillion egg and the biting disappointment on Reddic’s face battle for control of Nuria’s mood. Shall the egg prevail, she’ll feel ecstasy over pulling off Manifestation. … Continue reading 3.4: Ignition

The lights in Tameri’s room blazed so brightly when cut on remotely that they maintained a one hundred percent success rate for forcing the teenager awake. The wiring throughout the … Continue reading 3.3: Time Is Ours, Not Theirs

Nuria panics as she plummets through the sky, none of her powers at her disposal to arrest her momentum. With her eyes not at their peak, the rush of wind … Continue reading 3.2: Fury Of A Phoenix