The Swarm Novels & Stories

Sawyer just had her little girl about three months ago. Here is what only I and the Death Kings know: Sawyer and Carmen run the town of Grêle. Every crew or club must pay a levy to them and ask their permission to run jobs or own buildings. They are the leaders of the Death Vipers, sanctioned by the Death Kings and the Death Riders MC. Sawyer’s call sign is Seraphim and sometimes Viper King. Carmen’s call sign is Serpent’s Witch, or just Witch for short. “Carley!” Carmen screeches. “It’s so good to see you again! Working a job together, just us four girls again, is the best!”

oh so many teeth. "HellSwarm!" Tarloh shouted. "Where the hell were the sirens?!?" Shield was throwing up his magical force walls between the swarm and the grouped Strays when he replied, "I don't know! Everything was in place just an hour ago!" The Swarm consisted of millions of hungry mouths, but those mouths served a single purpose. Like a pulsating arrow, they shot towards Red, eating there way into the shimmering force shield that now separated them. It was obvious to all what their target was.

Adrian admired Clyde’s determination but still had doubts. The super beast swarm, which occurs only once every ten thousand years, might easily break through defenses. Taking refuge on Celesta Rain Island could be the true path to survival. Adrian needed to plan for himself as well. Before the beast swarm fully formed, Adrian spent his time not only being affectionate with Lexie but also searching for small beast swarms. He hoped to gather dark spiritual energy for the Exile Realm and was deeply concerned about the Invisibees.

she continued, sweeping at the leaves with her feet. "Ever effort I make to get out, goes horribly wrong," she grumbled. Suddenly her foot hit something hard. She took a step forward brushing away more of the leaves, when she realized what it was. Trix's eyes widened in shock as she glanced at Tristan. "Duck," she yelled as a 7ft creature entered the clearing, swinging a huge bat the size of a human leg. It may have even been one. Tristan moved out the giants way just in time as the bat, hit the ground with a bang. Trix swore she felt it shake. She scrambled to her feet and rushed to Tristan's side. Suddenly a smaller one ran from beyond the treeline.

With his fall, the walls closed in. People gossiped openly now, calling him a cheat, a scumbag, a man who discarded his wife and child. Only then did Michael begin to understand the depth of the pain I had once lived with. The next time I saw him was at a company retreat. It was a barbecue and camping trip in the countryside, and everyone gathered with their families. I brought Ryder along, of course. That day happened to be his birthday. I had planned to pick up a small cake on the way home. Out of kindness, someone had already ordered a giant cake to surprise him.

Yes-you-did Hailstorm _________________________________________________________________________ TO: LiamTaylor@Ravenwood.com FROM: CodyRavens@Ravenwood.com SUBJECT: Human territory _________________________________________________________________________ Liam Rumours have spread that the Hemsworth pack is now attacking the human population based next to the warrior territory. Think they want to send a message or something. Please will you ensure that you place warriors in that perimeter? There is no need for innocent bloodshed Regards Alpha Ravens _________________________________________________________________________ RESPONSE TO FROM: LiamTaylor@Ravenwood.com

"If we aren't careful, Audrey, we’ll stop being individuals and start being a 'Colony-Mind.' We’ll become the very thing the First King feared—a swarm." Audrey stood at the observation port, watching the emerald light pulse through the streets below. "The First King feared the swarm because he couldn't control it," she replied. "But we don't need control; we need Coherence. The planet isn't taking our minds, Lucas. It’s giving us a common language."

CHAT REQUEST FROM Hayley.Hailstorm@BearsParademics.com (@Hailstorm) to Lace.Lacy@Ravenwood.com (@Lace) and Kira.Killer@Ravenwood.com (@Killer) CHAT ACCEPTED HAILSTORM: Hey girls! LACE: Hello my fellow weirdoes KILLER: Hey you two, how are things going? LACE: Ugh, you know how it is. We’re not allowed to go to base camp this year but I’m sneaking in, in any case. Who is going to know?

The drone swarm poured into the riverbed. Forty-two multi-legged combat units, moving faster than infantry, spreading into the riverbed's width immediately with the algorithmic efficiency of a system that didn't need to coordinate through radio or be convinced to advance through fear. Their targeting arrays were already active, the automated repeaters on each unit already humming at the frequency that preceded firing. Forty-five wolves against forty-two machines that didn't get tired or scared. In a riverbed with crumbling walls and no exit behind them. Xander looked at the swarm spreading toward his line.

Harmony preserved without amputation. The swarm mind considers for 0.0007 subjective centuries (a blink to it). Then it discards the culling model. The planets continue to disagree, loudly, creatively, inefficiently. No one dies. No one is silenced. The swarm is slightly less perfect. It is also slightly more alive.