Eloquent Tales & Blues

Once upon a time, a young girl woke on Christmas morning, a broad grin stretching across her face as she bolted from her bed. She flew down the stairs, stopping before the glittering Christmas tree. The little girl ignored the presents under the tree, locking her gaze on the hanging stockings packed with goodies. She picked up her stocking and found a thread trailing from its edge into a nearby closet.

She eased the door open and followed the thread...

Keldon froze beneath a ring of arrows. When he shifted his gaze to study the deadly points, every bow pulled tighter, as if daring him to move again. Keldon raised his hands, gesturing his surrender to their silent command. "I'm not looking for a fight."

"Why are you here?" asked one creature, preparing to release his arrow...

Walking down the corridors of the Gemini, Samantha held her mother’s hand with her right and clutched her most precious possession, the doll she had gotten for her birthday, to her chest with the other. As the two journeyed towards the ship’s hospice ward, Samantha spotted a lot of the people wearing a black armband with a series of red dots running along the center of it. The child shifted her gaze from the metallic corridors of her home to her mother’s left arm...

Caleb stopped at the closest tree to check his weapons. Once done, he reoriented and scanned for the faint trail left by his team's last hunt. The landscape offered no guidance. Everything looked the same. He sighed, holstered his sidearm, and lifted his rifle before continuing. A fine mist hung heavy with the scent of moss and earth, obscuring his view.

Even the birds had stopped calling...

Jemma and Charles weaved through the heart of Comic-Con, their senses alive with the buzz of neon lights, distant cheers, and the scent of fried food hanging in the air. Cosplayers brushed past them in elaborate armor and silk capes, laughter echoed from panel rooms, and the murmur of thousands of fans filled the space like a living machine.

For the twins, the event held significance beyond simple escapism...

Tarian and his closest advisors stood atop the wall, staring out at the horde of alien creatures massing below. Through his telescope, he spotted trolls, goblins, and new, even more terrifying creatures. He lowered the scope, looked over his shoulder, and addressed his advisors. "Kel, there's more of them than last time."

Keldon reached out, and Tarian handed the scope over to his friend. With a sigh...

Tarian marched through the dense forest, his detachment trailing behind. Upon entering a small clearing, Tarian retrieved his radio. “Everyone on me, I’ve found a clearing, and I want to regroup.” As a series of confirmations rang out, he switched his radio to another channel as he leaned against a tree. “Kel, has your team found anything...

Tarian stood atop the partially constructed walls as his gaze swept across the writhing mass of monsters. As he surveyed a source of his nightmares, he rubbed his brow when he recognized...

A scouting squadron, responsible for finding safety, found it moored to the coast like a forgotten legend, scarred and silent, yet still afloat. A seemingly operable battleship, untouched by conflict or the passage of time. They hoped the vessel would be their chance to escape the dying world. Although it appeared safe, the fear of humanity’s bane terrorized the remnants of civilization...

Keldon brought his radio to his mouth as he walked up the hill. "Tarian, there's no sign of the missing colonists yet, and we've covered most of this sector."

Over the radio, Tarian's voice crackled with a mix of frustration and weariness. "Kel, during the last few months, we've dealt with everything from giant wolves to dragons...