Cleria Brave Frontier Novels & Stories

She thought I was nothing. Jane—no, Talia—smirked from the steps, admiring the execution. “Well,” Chloe said, looking over the crowd with supreme confidence. “I’ve shown my bloodline’s worth. Does anyone else from the lower territories want to come up and test their hand against the high script?” The room remained silent. Chloe’s eyes didn't leave my face. “Dr. Mercer? Why don't you show us what the West Coast wolves are made of?”

Most packs aggressively guarded any water spots near their borders, that was true. “Zach’s spot has two guards that are ours, not rogues,” he said. “Clay’s trying to get closer to the front gate for a look, should be about ten minutes,” he said. “Damn risky for him to get that close,” I whined. “He’s gonna do what he’s gonna do, his parents are still there,” he shrugged. It was quiet for a while, and I continued to search the area with the binoculars while others looked for scents nearby.

I launched myself at Leah, my claws swiping at her with a ferocity that would have terrified any ordinary opponent. But Leah was no ordinary opponent. She was a skilled fighter, and she met my attack with a fierce determination of her own. The two of us clashed, our movements lightning-fast as we exchanged blows and dodged attacks. The forest around us was a blur, the trees looming above us like sentinels as we fought for our lives. Leah's blade sliced through the air, narrowly missing my ear as I ducked to avoid it. I retaliated with a swipe of my claws, but she dodged it easily, her eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.

Sinking to the floor, she closed her eyes. The Black Cliff was plunged into the darkness of the night, illuminated by blinding flashes of lightning. The sea and the sky staged an unspoken battle: the opened whirlpool twisted a lone ship in its grip, high waves rolled noisily onto the shore, hit rocks and protruding reefs. The terrified sailors held on to the masts, but the raging elements flooded the deck, flowed down the cut-water onto a mermaid-amulet carved from wood. From the bright flashes, the face of the sea maiden turned into a grinning mask, and the tail was hidden by another wave, wanting to separate the "wooden mermaid" from the hull and pull it into its arms. Black, impenetrable

Ares POV The realm collapses behind us like a dying star. One blink and we’re back on the shoreline. The sand. The air. The scent of salt. It all hits at once. Except nothing feels familiar. The sky flickers with leftover divine static. The waves move like they’re bowing. The ground hums beneath our feet. Claria causes all of it. She stands beside me like she’s wearing the world for the first time, turning her head slowly as if learning what “horizon” means.

They made good progress. The forest in front of them began to change. It was thicker, darker and much more impassable. They were approaching Velas. In Raal, there were no traditional borders, but there were natural ones. The southwestern border of Malfer and Velas was marked by the largest forest in Raal, Sene. Sene was one of Raal's great wonders. Thousands of years old trees with big dark green leaves. Even the constant sun could not fully penetrate this natural fortress. As they approached this dazzling wonder, Nio sensed danger. He stopped. Going around Sene would mean wasting days of travel. No, straight was the only way forward.

“I don’t feel very brave.” “You don’t have to. Brave isn’t about not being scared, Lis. It’s about showing up anyway. And you’re doing that. For him. For yourself.” I blink hard, the tears refusing to stay put this time. “Thanks, Claire.” She grins, wiping at her own damp eyes. “Alright. Enough sappiness. I smuggled in snacks.” I laugh as she pulls a granola bar from her purse like she’s a rogue operative on a covert mission.

She smiled and continued, "My apologies for not introducing myself. I'm Claire Raphaela de Zielony. Nice to finally meet you, Minerva Chrysalis de Ivrea." What... the heck?