300) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 64 — War
We tried. We tried, people of the future, if there still are people in the future. I hope you know, we tried.
299) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 63 — Stealing the Most Powerful Weapon in All the Worlds
She felt…insane. She wanted to do anything, pretty much anything at all, more than what she was about to do.
Everything is about to change.
She took a firm grip on the pommel, and gently tugged.
298) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 62 — Even Stupider than all of the Other Stupidest-things-they’ve-ever-done
“Maybe this is it, Kohra; maybe THIS is how we make a difference. For EVERYONE! For our parents, and Col, for Ms. B, for all the rest of her kids! For Juanita! And Galen! For the good people of the Borderlands! THIS is how we stand up for Eden!”
He took a deep breath. “Besides, Kohra, what IS life, if there is nothing to live for?”
297) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 61 — The Tale of Squirrelly
She scooted toward the stone houses, then up the walls, tiny claws easily gripping the rock as she ran, as comfortable running vertically as she was on the ground. Her mind whirled with exhilaration.
I LOVE being a squirrel!!!
296) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 60 — Strictly business
“Maybe she’s a Prrriest,” Gorb suggested.
Reilly shrugged. “Yeah, I don’t know. She’s creepy anyway. I don't think any of them like her. They're polite and everything, like they…. What's that word called? When you sort of bow down to the other person and do what they want and they're in charge?”
“Grovel?” suggested Lenny.
“Being a doormat?” suggested Dominic.
“Being employed?” suggested Lenny.
“Being a kid?” asked Kohra.
“Life?” suggested Dominic, laughing.
“Defer?” Lenny guessed.
“Yeah! Defer! They defer to her, but they don't like her.”
“Was it really necessary for you to find that exact word?” Lenny asked.
Reilly stuck out her tongue. Lenny stuck hers out too, and Reilly wound up to punch her.
295) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 59 — The Hidden Base
“Leave!!?” Devona choked it out like it caused her actual, physical pain to even contemplate the suggestion. “We practically just got here! We don't even know what this is all about! We haven't even seen the Hooded Man! We know little more about him than we did before! We can't just leave!”
294) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 58 — Secret Tunnel
[Melkorn] was covered in blood, his axe spraying the walls like an insane painter, breaking backs, crushing skulls and severing bodies in a grotesque festival of death.
293) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 57 — A Naughty Goat
Kohra rolled her eyes. This is the dumbest thing we’ve ever done. Which is saying a lot at this point.
292) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 56 — From Shame to Freedom, the First Step
As is so often the case, Kohra’s “failure” was the beginning of true growth. She finally gave up trying to conjure fire, and instead just felt into the Flux with a “beginner’s mind,” like Ms B had always encouraged. She felt into its currents, its ebbs and flows, like a surfer paddling around waiting for the right wave. Remembering the sheer thrill of the Flux, she began to play.
230) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 55 -- Getting better at not falling down?
Melkorn was the perfect student, at least as far as effort and enthusiasm were concerned. No matter what happened, no matter how many times he fell, he never gave up, never got frustrated even. He just kept trying.
229) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 54 -- The Sign-tific Process. And a horsey joke.
Melkorn was so happy, walking toward the barn with Reilly. People didn’t usually ask HIM to spend personal time with them like this.
227) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 53 -- Chief Sign-tist
His mind was alive with ideas. This was the first time in his life that Melkorn had ever felt like this.
226) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 52 -- Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is Form
She could see Grok’s smile in the dim light of the fire. “And this is important to you?”
“Yes it is.”
“Do you know why?”
“Yes, I do.” And I really don’t want to talk about it.
225) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 51 -- A Horse, A Quest, A New Friend, and A Mysterious Villain
“It’s normal for my customers to insist on strict decorum, you might say.”
“They like to decorate stuff?” Reilly asked.
Grok laughed, “Well, I don’t know, Reilly! But I just meant that they expect me to have superlative discretion.'“
Reilly stared, blankly, still waiting for the explanation.
“They hold their cards close to their chests?” Dominic tried.
“You play cards with them?” Reilly asked, even more confused now.
224) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 50 -- A rather strange party
“I cannot just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ because it would lead you astray. Your questions are inaccurately framed, so any answer will likewise be inaccurate in its implications.”
Uhh…. People didn’t usually speak like this. Well, Lenny did sometimes, but not normal people.
223) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 49 -- Reilly and Melkorn get promoted
“I’m Reilly! Reilly Tree-Child, and this is Melkorn the Mighty! He’s really strong! He beat up a mountain giant! He’s my friend!”
Melkorn grinned, placing one hand on top of Reilly’s head and petting, like she was a cat.
222) The Salvation of Eden -- Chapter 48) What if the Universe is nothing but dead matter, and sentience is an illusion? And...what if it isn't?
Without warning, Eyes opened inside her chest, like they were her very heart. Ancient, deathless Eyes. They looked right through her, like she was nothing, like air, completely transparent to their transcendent gaze.
220) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 47 -- Melkorn the Mighty
When you step outside the little bubble of security you might be lucky enough to live in, the world Out There, where the monsters are, is completely indifferent. Unless it wants to eat you. People don’t realize how tenuous their existence is, and what lurks just beyond the border of The Known.
214) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 46 -- Like a farting contest between whales
Melkorn and Gorb stood poised, weapons drawn, Kohra, Lenny and Devona grouped behind, in their now-customary triangle, each preparing to Connect to the Flux. Riley held the rear, Wand out. This is what they had trained for.
What they hadn’t trained for then stomped into view….
213) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 45 -- Tricks and the Secret to Life
Little did they know it then, but this is the Secret of Life. Moving, learning, laughing, sharing, loving. It’s powerful magic available to any person, and it’s more than sufficient to keep evil from overtaking your mind.