Ren, The Valaran Chronicles: Prequel 2

By Byron A. Wells

This short story continues where Parem left off, and chronicles the friendship of Parem and Ren and the events up to the great plague that decimated the town of Redwood.

While not essential, you should read Parem prior to this short story; both of which provide backstory for Amalgam: the Valaran Chronicles Book 1.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Byron A. Wells
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9780988059047

Byron A. Wells

Aspiring SciFi and Fantasy writer, IT professional by day.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Nightmares

The snuffling of the beast drew Ren’s gaze to the howler prowling at the edge of the scrub brush. He had hidden within them with his friend Jerrod, wondering once again why he had begged to come on the hunt. He was fifteen and his father had agreed that Ren was old enough to join them.

His father, Sean, was one of the three councilmen that governed their town of Redwood. When reports of the howler pack had come to their attention Jonaton had called a meeting to confer with Sean and Dario, the third council member – they had lost three grazers to the pack already and that too many; so the hunt had been organized, and here they were…

Another yowl drew Ren’s gaze back to the beast – muscular legs ended with three toes, capped with lethal looking razor-sharp talons. While the front legs were smaller than the rear they were powerful all the same. The howlers were not large beast, but they were covered with what looked like short, yet very sharp quills over their entire body. Fangs jutted down from their upper jaw, while what looked like tusks jutted upward from the lower – their appearance one of deadly efficiency.

Chills coursed through Ren’s body as the howler growled its frustration. Prowling back and forth it casts its head from side to side hunting for them. It knew its prey was near, yet it couldn’t find them since they were upwind.

Ren wasn’t ashamed to admit that he was afraid. He had no desire to be any closer to the howler than he was at present. He had seen what the howler had done to Merek with a single swipe of those lethal talons. Dario had killed that howler, but not before it had severely injured Merek.

Ren, what do…

Shush. Ren hissed silencing his friend Jerrod.

The howler swung its head in their direction – the black orbs of its eyes attempting to penetrate the shadows that cloaked the scrub. Step by agonizingly slow step it crept closer to where they were hiding. A slight change of the wind, and the howler had their scent.

Coiling its body tight like a spring, the howler leapt into the scrub.

Heeeelllllllllppppppppppppp. Ren heard the scream burst from Jerrod as the howler struck