Worth Searching For, Chapter 19

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21
Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28
Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

“Roberta!” Celice called as she swung open the door to the Scrollery.

“Can I help you?” a youthful female voice answered from inside.

In the middle of racks of scrolls sat a single desk, piled high with rolled parchment. A pair of head-tendrils and a cascade of curly black hair ducked behind the stack of documents, and a blue Acara came out the other side with an armful of scrolls. “Please, come in, we’re open,” she said, carefully fitting a scroll onto the pile and then cringing as the whole mound shifted, but seemed to settle without incident.

Worth Searching For, Chapter 18

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21
Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28
Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

Hyren had to concede that Brightvale University was a remarkably comfortable place. Its sunny hallways were lined with stained-glass windows that painted the walls with light. Cozy, hidden enclaves had been stuffed with books and cushioned chairs for a secret literary getaway. The university even sported an immense atrium with food vendors offering cuisine from various Neopian lands, and wall-spanning windows that presented a view of the castle town and its outlying countryside. Hyren could see why so many Neopets vied for acceptance into this institution.

After he’d questioned the Brightvale knights in vain, and put in a request for them to keep an ear out for information, he returned to the University to try to keep Blynn out of trouble. During lulls in her mania, he found quiet places to read. While he didn’t outwardly profess to be a scholar like Pharazon did, Hyren couldn’t deny his love of learning, and he had to do something to keep his mind off of everything else. At least waiting for a lead - or for Pharazon to contact Celice again - was bearable in a place like this.

Worth Searching For, Chapter 17

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21
Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28
Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

“Ah, such finesse!” Skoll said. “Good, good, now add in the screlon, let’s see if you can keep up three at once.”

Pharazon didn’t dare blink, afraid that once he closed his eyes, the magic would break and the fruits floating above his head would crash down on him. Sticking out his tongue in concentration, the faerie Draik stretched out his claws to the screlon on the table and willed his magic at it. A stream of faerie dust swirled from his hand and enveloped the yellow fruit, and it began to bob like it was floating in water as it joined the magenorb and jipple pear overhead.

A grin spread up his snout. “I’m doing it,” he whispered. Struck by a sudden surge of confidence, he twirled one claw and the fruits began to revolve around his head like the Space Station around Neopia. “Oh, neat! Look at this, Skoll!”

Worth Searching For, Chapter 16

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7

Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14

Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21

Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28

Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

All thoughts of a revolution seemed to flee the peasants’ minds as they turned in a mass and ran, abandoning the pile of sacks.

“Cowards!” Isengrim bayed after them. “Spineless weaklings! I hope the Monocerous obliterates your sorry village from the face of Neopia after the way you treated me!”

Terra took his arm. “Isengrim,” she said. “I know you’re angry. But your subjects need you right now. You’re the only one who can protect them.”

The Werelupe looked down at her and his fur smoothed, although his crimson eyes still blazed. “Terra—“ he stammered. “Did you see how they spoke to me—the hatred in their eyes—“

The Monocerous crested another rise, rampaging toward them in a blind hunger for devastation.

 My church's general conference is coming soon! 

I invite you all to watch as God's living prophet on the Earth today, and other leaders of my church, deliver divine instruction, guidance, and reassurance. In these times when it seems like things have been turned upside-down, I feel so strengthened and fortified by knowing that God is there and can and will help us through anything and everything. And one way that He does that is through telling us His will and His word through His appointed servants.

As you watch the conference, I suggest you listen closely for anything that may address or answer questions or struggles you have been dealing with. There is truly something in each conference for everyone. And be sure to listen for God's inspiration in your own heart and mind as well! I promise you it will come as you listen for it and are willing to receive it.

The world may be weird right now, but we don't ever have to go through it alone when we have God by our side.

Just wanted to give another update! I know chapters of Worth Searching For have been sparse and cliffhanger-y and I'm really sorry about that! I try to post them as frequently as I can, but my life is kind of insane right now. I am doing my best to take care of everything that needs taking care of while also eating and sleeping, and that does not leave a lot of time for non-work activities.

Speaking of work, I've finished the drawings for this children's book and am waiting to hear back from my client for her final approval before I start coloring, so I'm nearly done! (Okay, coloring will take a while, but at least it's the final phase. Oh, except for the title page.) 

And then I can start working on Earthkeepers! I'm super excited for it. Not gonna lie, Miette, Kieri, Mathchis and Fraa were my favorite characters to write in Skydwellers, so it'll be fun making them the main protagonists in the sequel. Wilder and Rohui will make an appearance too, but it'll be more of a cameo and they won't be as directly involved in the main plot. There will also be several new characters who I'm really looking forward to writing, including a cute robot sidekick, Fraa's nerdy teenage nephew, and a mysterious old guy who is not an antagonist like most other mysterious old guys in my writing! (Kinda thought it was time to break that trend.)

But yeah, just wanted to let everybody know that I'm very, very busy, but I am trying my hardest to keep up with writing and providing new content for all you lovely folks!

Actually, if you didn't already know, I have an official author page over on Facebook that I try to post on at least once every weekday! It's the place to go for regular engaging content from me. Right now I've just started posting a corny old story that I wrote in junior high, one installment at a time, so that's been fun.

Hope you're all doing well!

Worth Searching For, Chapter 15

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7

Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14

Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21

Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28

Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

After Terra’s and Isengrim’s return, the banquet proceeded much more smoothly. Once the short induction ceremony finished, the Werelupes turned to merry-making, surrounding Terra with music and storytelling. She and Isengrim talked and laughed with each other, sharing the things they had seen in their travels, commiserating over tripping on sleeping Turtums, and savouring a dessert of rare Meriberries harvested by a few of their packmates earlier that day. Now that Isengrim had put his issues aside, Terra found him to be quite pleasant company, and he seemed to greatly enjoy listening to what she had to say, while she was equally enthralled by his tales of adventure in the woodlands.

Terra didn’t get a chance to talk to Pharazon, as he and Skoll seemed to have slunk off sometime during the festivities. But she was glad that her youngest Neopet had finally found a way to handle the situation besides complain. At any rate, she had made a huge breakthrough with Isengrim and she wanted to focus on that.

After dinner, he took her to see some of the subterranean wonders that the Burrows held, and she marvelled at the things wrought by eons of rock and water processes. This place had a unique beauty of its own, and Terra hoped that she would get to visit the Burrows again often once she returned to her family. She was excited about the prospect of introducing Isengrim to Blynn and Hyren—she hoped they would be as excited as her that one of their old foes was now a friend.

 

I was doodling for my niece earlier, and I drew this picture of Marshmallow that was so cute that I couldn't bring myself to delete it. I love that little guy and his pink ears, and his super fine white fur that showed his pink belly when he stretched out, and the way he started purring super loud as soon as we gave him even the least bit of attention.

He may no longer be with us in this mortal sphere, but I know he's looking out for us from the other side as our ministering Mallow-angel. I'm excited for the day when I get to see him again and give him lots of cuddles.

I choose to disregard all the times he straight up chewed through cardboard to access the fireplace so he could roll around in soot. 

Weird cat. 

He loves us.

Worth Searching For, Chapter 14

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7

Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14

Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19 - Chapter 20 - Chapter 21

Chapter 22 - Chapter 23 - Chapter 24 - Chapter 25 - Chapter 26 - Chapter 27 - Chapter 28

Chapter 29 - Chapter 30 - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32

“Ahhh, Brightvale!” Blynn said. “The wondrous land of a bunch of stuff I’m not allowed to touch!”

“In a kingdom where one of the main exports is glass,” Hyren said, “you had better bet you’re not allowed to touch anything.”

Hyren, Blynn, and Gwyneth had traveled out of Meridell after breakfast the previous day. Hyren made sure to give them plenty of time to rest along the way, especially important because Gwyneth was still recuperating from her injuries. Anshu’s medicine helped, even though they had to disguise it in the Ganuthor’s food.

Although it was only the beginning of Awakening, the past couple of days had been sunny, and rather warm for winter in Meridell. It seemed spring would come early this year. The skies were clear and the bare, wintery ground free of snow, but mounds of clouds loomed on the western horizon, promising rain soon if it didn’t get cold enough again for frost.

They spent a leisurely night camping in a fallow field off the side of the road, kept warm enough by their fire mote and Gwyneth’s thick fur, and set out again in the morning once everyone was good and ready. Blynn remained exuberant as ever, but Hyren wanted to make sure to allow Gwyneth all the time she needed. The fact that he had led her into injury still ate at him, and he was determined to find some way to make it up to Pharazon. If they ever saw each other again.