Forever Across The Marsh Novels & Stories

* it whispers, not in the Voidmother's voice, but in the First Weaver's. --- The heart of the marsh is a cathedral of bones. Petrified wolf skeletons arch overhead, jaws frozen in silent howls. At the center lies a pool, its surface still as obsidian. Lila waits there, her Crowshrike talisman replaced by a collar of thorns. She grins, blood dripping from her gums. "Took you long enough." Eden's crows dive, but the pool erupts, tendrils of ink binding their wings. He staggers, clutching his scar. "What is this?"

Our eyes are keen and we do not stumble, but we pause, blinking, as we reach the edge of the woodland and the moonlight crashes into us anew. Frost howls, breathless and wild and joyful, startling Centaur-Sarah into greater speed. Laughing at the surprise she pulls to a stop once more, so that we stand on a rock ridge overlooking a sweep of marsh and the silver-black, white-jewelled expanse of the sea. When Frost howls again she joins in, a high note of song, her head flung back and her eyes closed. Far off in the distance I hear Badger’s Den and Goldhawk answer. Our third howl is joined by the deeper note of Thunder’s call.

We bring special allotment baskets, accept a tribute of moonshine from a scavenger with her tits hanging out, and say, “Until next year.” They don’t want us here. We don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be here now, except— My heart slugs against my ribs, a slow, syncopated rhythm, excitement gathering. I smell cloves over the fish heads bobbing in the marsh grasses, and it’s a beacon.

Claire whispered with a soft smile as tears welled up in her eyes, "I'm scared. I'm afraid to think that my life will always be this happy." "You will always be happy, I promise," Alex replied earnestly. "Do you promise never to leave me? I'm too afraid of losing you. My worst nightmares are when you leave me alone. I don't know what to do without you." Claire sobbed, causing Alex to stop playing and turn to embrace her. "Claire," Alex whispered softly, feeling the warmth of Claire's body. "I promise never to leave you. I promise I will always be here for you." Alex took a deep breath and gathered the courage to continue, "Until death do us part."

Twigs snapped underfoot, and low-hanging branches clawed at her arms as she pushed through the dense undergrowth. “Valle! I’m coming!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the forest. The whispers seemed to move, leading her deeper into the woods. The further she went, the darker and colder it became, the sunlight fading behind a canopy of tangled branches. Alexa’s legs burned with effort, but she didn’t stop. Her heart was pounding, a frantic drumbeat urging her forward. Finally, she burst into a small clearing, her chest heaving. Her eyes widened in horror at the sight before her. Valle was tied to a massive tree, his arms and legs bound by thick, gnarled roots. His face was pale, his eye

If my men drew the swarm, it’d give me space to take down one alone. Sacrifices for the greater good—my good. I plunged into the marshes without looking back. The fog swallowed me whole, thick and clammy, like breathing through wet cloth. My boots sank into muck with every step, sucking sounds echoing in the silence. Trees loomed like skeletons, branches twisting overhead. Vines dangled low, brushing my face like fingers. The air buzzed with whispers—faint laughs, sighs that could be wind or something worse. Fox demons were masters of illusion. They’d appear as lovers, lost children, anything to draw you in. Then they’d feed on your life force, leaving you a husk.

Roydo felt his stomach vanish. The Marsh was a desolate, gray wasteland on the border with Vampire Kingdom. A place of despair and decay, filled with endless black swamps, dead trees, poisonous mist, and populated by renegade zombies and outcasts from all parts of the kingdom. Banishment to the Marsh was the worst punishment anyone could receive. "Your Majesty please reconsider." Donton begged. "I have made my decision!" Corpa said firmly. "Father please." Roydo pleaded tearfully, "I am sorry. I meant no-"

He gave me a small smile in return and followed us to Eva. We entered just when Dr. Marshall was running a pin-like thing on the soles of both of feet, asking her whether she can feel it. My heart almost stopped when Eva's scared eyes which were pooled with tears found mine and she whispered... "I can't feel my legs."

Amari looks at me with tears in her eyes as Jasen places his hand on her back, “If we stay, we will only be in the way of what you need to do. Jasen and I have accepted our fate. We will greet you with open arms in our next lifetime, darling.” “Next lifetime? Amari, what are you talking about? What’s going on? Jasen?” I try to reach for her, but she and Jasen stand back. An invisible barrier shimmers up between us and I am trapped. I pound on the barrier and yell for Amari. She smiles weakly and turns her body to be held by her mate. Zeus seems to have recovered from me taking his energy. I try to find a way around the barrier, but I am trapped in the center of the compass rose. Zeus takes a

And they were aware that someone was watching. The wind roared in my ears, and a physical force pushed against me as I stumbled through the undergrowth. Gnarled roots tripped me up, and low branches slashed at my face, each snag a reminder of the relentless pursuit. My breath caught in my throat, a burning, ragged gasp that echoed the frantic pounding of my heart.