Sprig (Book #1)

By Houston Hare

An endless racial war, a magical island, and a lone girl stuck in the midst of it all.

Kaia, one of the last living members of the Treek race, has spent her life in hiding. Each race wields its own form of magic to claim what is theirs and repay the hurt caused by others. When an island appears in the ocean overnight, many see it as a resource. For Kaia, it brings hope that she might one day be with her people again.

Join the journey as Kaia fights to find the family that was taken from her. Will the endless hatred push her to seek revenge? Or will she find another way forward?

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This is the first book in the Sprig series and contains Issues 1 through 7.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tallstrunt Press LLC
• Release date: Jun 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005976163

Houston Hare

A life-long adventurer and explorer, Houston Hare has never stopped dreaming. As a child, he wrote music and poetry, often depicting his journeys into the endless outdoors. As an adult, he hitchhiked across the United States to explore people and the country in which he resides. He has volunteered at farms and in several Central American countries. Through his exploration of the world around him, he found hope. Even though there are horrible tragedies all around us, there is still good.Now Houston has taken on his next adventure: writing a book that encapsulates the world he knows. His first work, Sprig, is an ongoing web serial brought to print with all of Houston's unique perspectives and creativity put into words.

Book preview

Book 1

HOUSTON HARE

Tallstrunt Press LLC

Sprig

Book 1

Copyright © 2021 Houston Hare

Tallstrunt Press LLC

https://Sprig.HoustonHare.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

First eBook Edition 2021

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7342980-3-1

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-7342980-4-8

Art by: Houston Hare

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents either are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Tallstrunt Press LLC

TallstruntPress.com

1.1 Germ

I stared at the rich dark earth, expecting something that never came. No change, just simple, barren soil. I concentrated, willing life and growth, and a green spark burst into existence. It was faint. I focused, causing small tendrils to form roots in the ground. The loose dirt shook and crumbled as the tendrils dug deeper, further under the soil.

With a burst of energy at the surface, a small shoot pushed its way up from the ground. The stem was frail, swaying by even the slightest breeze. I strengthened it as much as I could, keeping it steady despite the wind. I continued to nurture it, and it rose higher. The stalk grew in thickness as two leaves unfolded from it, branching outward. Then two more leaves. Each one began small and expanded until it was about half the size of my palm. The fresh bright leaves soaked in the rays of sunlight, the color darkening until settling into a deep, glossy green.

Next, I guided my energy into three small buds that had formed beneath the leaves. It took a delicate touch. With a slow trickle of energy, the buds burst open, revealing tiny white flowers that could fit on my fingertips. They were beautiful, but I couldn’t afford to get distracted. I pushed more energy into the blossoms. They spread wide, then wilted away, floating to the ground. They hadn’t fallen quite as quickly when Mother did it. It made me nervous. Had I used too much energy? Was I going too fast?

I began breathing heavy, worried that I had ruined it again. The energy started to pour out of me faster and I began to lose control. The stem began to shake and jerk. I tried to reign it in.

Breathe, Kaia. You can do this, said Mother behind me, in a calm patient voice.

She was right. I could do this. I took a deep breath and continued despite my doubts. I grabbed hold of the stream of energy and focused on the wilted flowers. Then beneath the limp petals, I saw a green bulge. The remaining petals fell from the plant, revealing pale pea-sized berries. They started as a light green but grew redder by the moment. When the berries reached a bright red hue, I dismissed the energy. They were ripe.

I reached down, plucked a berry from the plant and popped it in my mouth. I bit down, and the cold, minty flavor of teaberries filled my mouth. I looked at Mother with my eyes wide, amazed that I had actually done it.

Mother was smiling back at me. She was wearing simple clothes; old worn leather made a skirt and top, while the rest of her was bare. Her bark-like skin matched the grayish-brown of tree trunks, causing her to blend in with the forest we stood in. Her hair was dense with vine-like dreads, and she held herself with confidence, like she knew who she was. It was something that I had never seen the Humans pull off.

She stepped forward, trying one of the berries I grew. She swallowed and then smiled. Well done, Kaia. That was by far the best one yet, Mother said. She enveloped me in her arms. Mother gave the best hugs.

The rustle of nearby leaves interrupted our embrace. My mother pushed me behind her back as she turned to face the noise. After a moment, I felt her body relax. I poked my head out from behind her to see Father pushing his way through the dense bushes at the edge of our camp. His catch today hung over his shoulder. On the other was his bow, and at his side was a quiver of arrows. He walked up to our camp, careful not to make noise as his bare feet stepped on the fallen leaves. His skin was like mother’s, dark and rough, and his short black hair looked tousled as if he had been running.

Mother let out a sigh. Lyndon, she said. I thought you were going to be longer.

I thought so too, but the boar came right to me this time, said Father as he heaved a boar onto a large rock.

I stepped out of my mother’s protection and hopped towards him. Ooh! Thank you, Father. Boar is my favorite! I said with a wide smile.

Kaia, we owe it to the boar to respect him even in death, he said.

I looked down at the ground. Sorry, Father.

He kneeled in front of the animal, placed his finger near the arrow wound in its side, and drew three bloody lines on his forehead and cheeks. Father leaned his head onto the creature’s side and said Thank you for your sacrifice. May you rest in peace.

With that, he drew a crude dagger and began cutting open the animal’s stomach.

You’re right though, said Father. They are tasty. I looked up to find a smirk on his face and smiled back at him.

Mother sat by the fire pit of stones that we collected from a nearby stream and began to build a teepee of small sticks. Kaia, why don’t you show your father what you learned today?

I reached down and picked the last berry off of the plant I had grown and presented it to my father. With his hands busy preparing the boar, he opened his mouth and I dropped it in for him.

Teaberries! he said, I love teaberries! acting more like a child than I had about the boar. He chewed the berry, cherishing the taste. He looked at Mother and said, Well, I am happy to see you are finally teaching her something useful. He gave Mother a playful look and she chuckled back at him.

Father finished skinning the boar and then ran a stake through it to hang it over the fire. I sat on a rock nearby, poking the fire with a stick. I noticed the small wintergreen plant I had grown was too close. It no longer looked as perfect as it once had, shriveling back from the heat.

When Father stood from the fire, instead of going to wash his hands at the stream like he normally would, he froze in place with eyes wide.

A voice broke through the silence. Hello there.

Shocked to hear someone other than my parents, I poked my head up to see past the bushes that surrounded our camp. A lone Human was standing in a clearing, with blond hair cut short on the side and left long on top. His pale skin stood out against the dark wood. His hairy chin was cocked upward. He wore a red shirt that was swallowed up by a series of crisscrossing belts on his waist and chest, each holding several vials containing a tarish liquid. Father shoved my head behind his back cutting my view short.

The polite response would be to say ‘hello’, maybe a ‘how do you do?’, but you savages were never much for manners, huh? the man taunted.

Mother and Father said nothing. He went on. No response, then? Well, you all must have been squatting in our woods for a long time. Heck, I didn’t even think any of you Treeks were left, but here we are. And this whole time, you have been, what? Hiding in our forests and eating our game? Leeching off of our land? That doesn’t sound fair now, does it?

From the trees, other Humans spread out behind the one wearing the belts. A few of them chuckled along with belt-man’s question.

We mean you no harm, Father said. Let us leave and you’ll never see us again.

Hah. That’s what I’m afraid of, said the man. But you see, bringing you in to pay for your crimes is the right thing to do. I’d get a nice ransom too. So why don’t you come with me and we’ll get this all squared away.

More Humans came through the woods. I counted at least eight as they encircled us.

Father looked at Mother. They stood in front, hiding me from the threat. Alright, just don’t hurt us, Father said. He bent down as if he was going to pick me up. He looked at me with damp eyes and gave a subtle nod. A strange look came upon his face. Was it worry? Remorse? Was he saying goodbye? In an instant, instead of picking me up, he grabbed his bow with one hand and an arrow with the other. By the time he stood with an arrow nocked, Mother had already raised a thicket of thorns, entrapping the man. All at once screams from the Humans cried out. Father released his arrow, hitting an archer in the shoulder. Mother turned to me.

Run, Kaia! she said. We’ll come find you, but you need to run!

I was shocked. I stood in place, not knowing what was happening. My legs shook as I processed the fear building up inside of me. We had run from the Humans for so long. What would happen if they caught us? What would they do to Mother and Father? To me?

Mother turned to one of the charging Humans, and with a tree branch, slapped his sword from his grasp. Blasts of fire shot from the thicket of vines that trapped the man and arrows flew by us.

Run, Kaia! she said again, and this time I obeyed.

I ran from the flaming thicket of thorns toward the only gap in the circle of Humans.

I pushed through the bushes at the edge of camp. As I did, two Humans ran for me. A woman yelled as she charged with a battleaxe, her tight braid slapping against her back with each stride. A short man supported her from the side, holding a growing ball of fire.

The woman was closer, so I flicked my hands, snagging her foot with a root. She stumbled, skidding to a halt as I slipped past her.

I heard a loud groan as arrow impacted flesh, and I looked back to see my Father hurt. An arrow stuck out of his thigh. He pushed himself up onto one leg and began drawing another arrow. Father! I yelled.

Rapid footsteps approached. I returned my gaze to the Human wielding the fireball. He joined both hands together and sent a torrent of fire barrelling at me. I tried to dodge, but the distraction cost me. It blasted my arm with a surge of searing pain. The pain overtook me and I fell to the ground.

My arm throbbed. I went to touch it, but a hand slammed against my head, pressing my face into the dirt. It clenched, grabbing a fist full of hair, and lifted me off the ground by the base of my scalp. I screamed in pain as the hand pulled me up higher. The man looked me in the eyes and spoke. His teeth were rotten, and his breath was acid to my nostrils. Even their children are ugly, he said, talking through me.

An arrow flew past me, causing a feminine groan to yell out. A faint green glow appeared in the tree above us. A vine shot down. It wrapped around the man’s neck, forcing him to let go of me. He clawed at the vine noose that was pulling him upward, but it didn’t help. The vine lifted him off of his feet and he disappeared into the treetops.

I stared up, but pain interrupted my shock. My arm throbbed. I touched it, feeling the seared flesh. I struggled to stand upright as I heard my mother’s voice.

Kaia, run!

I looked at my mom, my face streaming with tears. Humans surrounded her as the campfire roared with fire magic.

Run! She said one final time, and I obeyed.

I ran.

It’s all I had ever known.

1.2 Germ

7 years later…

Welcome to the new land of Daegal!

The captain’s voice was barely audible over all the chatter. He let out a hearty chuckle. Now get off my boat, ya filthy lot. At his command, Humans began shuffling down the gangplank and onto the docks.

I hung back with my hood up, staying behind while the crowd of Humans dissipated. I kept a small sack over one shoulder while Chipry sat on the other. I looked over at him.

We made it, Chirpry, I said. The colorful tropical bird made a trill chirping noise. Maybe we’ll find you some new friends after all.

The captain yelled out once again. Everybody off! No getting cold feet on me! He directed his gaze at the stragglers, me included. He laughed again and snorted. I’ve put up with all of you for long enough.

I made my way to the end of the line, shuffling down the gangplank. The salty air of the ocean was something I was happy to leave behind. After I reached the dock I made my way through the crowd of Humans. I could see the colony past the shore. The supposed attempt at working together. Yeah. Good luck, I thought to myself.

Move aside! said a burly man in a tight shirt as he carried a large chest over his shoulder. I stepped out of the way in time to avoid him walking into me.

The dock bustled with Humans shuffling to shore. I squeezed to one side of the dock to get a better view of my surroundings. On the next dock over was a ship of similar size to ours but of a noticeably different style. Where the one I had ridden on was practical, the other ship was ornate, the hull made of dark, delicate wood. It was pristine and looked as if it was almost untouched by the waves. All the railings and edges were coated with yellow shimmering paint while the rest of the boat was dark charcoal. Where our ship had straight lines, theirs had curves and spirals. Their large yellow sails were stylized with paintings of storm clouds, with bolts of lightning striking downward in an arc.

It was the Elves. People crowded their dock as well, most of which were tall and slender. As far as I could tell from the distance, they all had pointed ears too.

As I watched, I felt that some of the paint on my skin had rubbed off my hand and onto the pole I was holding myself up with. It had been on for about a week, so I wasn’t surprised. I covered the mark with my hand and checked to make sure no one was looking. I pushed off the pole and ducked back into the crowd.

I’m sure I’ll see the Elves soon enough anyway. Now, it’s time to find some fresh water, I thought. I was parched due to the dwindling supply of fresh water on our boat and the caution I had to use around Humans.

I reached the end of the dock and followed the other arrivals up the beach to the entrance of the colony. A tall palisade of rough-hewn logs stood before us. I could make out two people standing up top, armed with bows. They weren’t particularly interested in any of us.

Facing the docks were two large wooden doors, providing passage for the weary travelers into their new home. Some of the veteran colonists, standing by the entrance, were pointing the way and answering questions for the more vocal Humans. I kept my eyes down. They were all Human as well.

The veterans guided the groups into a part of town that was devoid of buildings. Instead, a sea of tents awaited us, aligned in winding rows, separated by muddy, uneven walkways.

As we walked, I kept my head down to keep from sticking out, but I still snuck glances at the residents of the encampment. We passed a group of Saurians, eight-foot-tall lizardfolk, covered in scales and wearing crude bone weapons on their sides. They were outside their dome-shaped tents cooking over a fire. The aroma of roasted fish penetrated my nostrils.

Next, we passed a series of smaller huts that seemed a bit silly in their whimsy. With the irregular shapes of each hut, they looked more likely to fold in on themselves than stand upright. Two half-sized folk walked out of one of the huts and watched us as we passed. Gnomes. One may have winked at me, but I wasn’t sure. I broke eye contact and ducked away, finding myself on the other side of the crowd.

There, I saw short tents lacking all the whimsy I’d seen from the Gnomes. They were a basic A-frame of sticks with canvas draped over the top. They surprisingly looked more unstable than the Gnomes’ huts. Two half-folk men with stocky builds and thick beards fumbled as they attempted to stand up their own crude shelter.

I guess the Dwarves don’t go camping much, I thought.

We passed the Beastfolk last. Their shelters could barely be called shelters. They only consisted of a single canvas with a few poles to form a portable lean-to-like structure. The Beastfolk themselves were hard to look at. They all walked on two legs and were about the same height as Humans, but they looked like animals. One had a face resembling a wild boar, tusks and all. Another looked like a wolf with sharp teeth, and a third had the head of a cow, the pattern of black spots on white fur running across her body. They glared at us as we passed, never turning their backs away.

We reached the end of our racial tour of Daegal at an open part of the field, still within the palisade. The Humans I came with began assembling their own tents. Canvas and long poles turned into rows of tents tall enough to allow a Human to stand up straight. The veterans informed us that we would all need to meet at the town square before dusk to learn the rules of the colony. Then, they left us to set up.

I didn’t have a tent with me. In fact, all I had was a small backpack with a hammock, a few rations, a knife, and some seed to feed Chipry. I needed water. I was too thirsty to be concerned about preparing a place to sleep.

With everyone focused on claiming their plots, I made my way toward a row of buildings overlooking the tent city from a hill. I kept my head down as I walked so that my face would be covered in shadow. Chipry chattered on my shoulder.

From the top of the hill, I looked down at the sea of tents and found two more sections that I had not walked through. At the end with the Humans, further from where I stood, was another race setting up. The only detail I could make out from where I stood was the charcoal grey color of their tents. It was probably the Elves. Near the other end, closer to the gate we entered through, there was one more set of tents that looked different than the rest. The Avians maybe? I thought.

I shrugged and headed for the town square. It was already starting to fill in with people. Clusters formed throughout, each race sticking with their own.

My eyes widened as I spotted a well in the middle of the open courtyard. I hurried to it, drew the bucket, and drank the water from my cupped hands. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was until I had the chance to drink as much as I wanted. As I tipped my head back a third time to sip the water from my hands, my hood flew off. I choked and spit out water in surprise. I tried to pull my hood back up, but it was being held down. I turned to face whoever was holding it and found a large Beastfolk scowling above me.

We’re harboring Treeks here too? she said.

We’re going to do this already? I just got here, I thought.

She resembled something like a bobcat, with golden tan fur over her whole body, covered with black stripes and spots throughout. Black fur lined the tops of her ears and came to a point. Across her face was a raw gash, still healing. As she held me down she kept her free hand behind her back.

I looked around, trying to determine how she found me out and discovered a white puddle forming on the packed earth of the town square. Flecks of paint swirled about. I inspected my arms and found that the water had washed the paint from them. It was no doubt missing from the lower part of my face as well.

Gasps echoed through the square as people of all different races saw me. Not one of them was a Treek, like me.

Scum like you were supposed to be killed off! the Beastfolk woman said. Her words seethed with anger.

My eyes went wide. I raised my clean hands as a sign of peace and tried to back away.

You don’t get to walk away from this, she said.

At that, she began to transform. She rocked forward and landed with her hands on the ground as her muscles grew and her limbs realigned. Her fur darkened to black and orange as she unleashed a thunderous growl. I stood five and a half feet short in the middle of the town square, staring down a massive tiger. She roared, then spoke with jungle cat vocal cords, causing a thick purr to corrupt her words. "You’re a monster!"

1.3 Germ

The tiger dove toward me as groups of other races watched. Not one stepped in to protect me, an unarmed teen, from the Beastfolk warrior. I took cover on the far side of the well, trying to keep the small structure between me and the tiger. As I dodged Chipry startled, taking off and flying high into the air.

With another lunge forward, the tiger closed the distance by jumping onto the well’s brick and mortar. She raised a meaty claw and swiped sideways. It connected, slicing my arm and launching me several feet away. She stepped down, putting the well behind her.

Nowhere to hide, she said, my blood dripping from her claws.

Before she began another charge I came back to my feet and moved my arms in an upward motion. A faint green glow radiated on the ground ahead of her. She broke into a run with her eyes locked on me, and when she came near I forced vines to rise upward. The vines caught her, snagging her front leg and throwing her off course. She stumbled and skidded to a halt.

I gave the Beastfolk a curious look. Tripping her was easier than expected. I thought a tiger would be more nimble, even if it was just a Beastfolk disguised as one. She rose back to her feet. I realized she was standing strange. One of her front paws hung limp and she refused to put any weight on it. Strange, I thought. My vines couldn’t have done that.

She caught me looking and snarled. She picked herself back up, looking even angrier than before, but I was already prepared for her next charge.

I pulled back my arms, draining the life from the vine I had used to trip her, and pushed it into a wider area in front of her. The ground between me and the tiger glowed. Small vine-like plants pushed their way out of the packed earth. I added a few blooming flowers to make my intentions less obvious.

The Beastfolk didn’t wait for me to finish and began her charge over the bed of vines. With the first step, I saw her face twist in pain. She jumped back. She looked at her paws, then at the vines, and discovered thorns hidden beneath flowers.

Never fought a Treek before, huh? I said. I couldn’t resist. I was proud of myself for holding off a jungle cat by poking it with plants.

She roared in response. The Beastfolk charged over a clear part of the stamped dirt, dodging the thorns. All my guile was replaced by fear. I wouldn’t stand a chance if she pinned me down. I tried to grow more thorns along her path, but I couldn’t do it fast enough to keep up with her run.

I drained the energy from the thorns and raised a wall of vines directly in front of me instead. They were thin due to the lack of time and fertile soil, but at least it was something.

I braced for impact.

HWWOOOOOSSHH!

I stumbled back as my eyes tried to adjust to the blinding light. The shield of vines I made was set ablaze. The fire danced and crackled, slowly burning my vines to ash. Through my magic, I could feel the heat draining the life from my plants.

I looked around for the source of the fire and found a man with a long red coat standing away from us. His gray hair was tied into a ponytail, and he wore a harsh scowl on his scarred face.

Enough! he shouted. He looked from one side of the wall over to the Beastfolk warrior, and then back to me. His eyebrows raised when we made eye contact.

You don’t have to like each other, he said. But there will be no fighting in this colony! His voice was stern and commanding, used to giving orders. He spoke as loud as possible as he reined in the spectators watching us.

He looked at me as he said, And yes, even the Treeks are allowed here. So long as they are here to help.

He let the words hang in the air for a moment, looking between the two of us. I looked through the flames and saw the tiger still staring me down.

Are we in agreement? the man asked. His words were more of a statement than a question.

I looked at him and nodded slowly. A moment later the wall of fire dissipated, revealing the bobcat Beastfolk raising herself up from all fours. As she did, I spotted the source of her bad footing. Her left arm ended in a stump, where her hand should have been. It was wrapped in bandages that were stained with blood. She hid the wounded arm in her pocket once more, glared at me, and turned back to the crowd in a huff.

The man walked over to me and spoke in a hushed tone. What’s your name? the man asked.

Kaia, I said. The entire square watched our interaction.

Well, Kaia. Let’s do our best to stay out of trouble. Our eyes met and he gave me a stiff expressionless nod. He turned and headed back to a small group of various races watching the confrontation.

I tried to head back into the cover of the crowd, but as I walked it parted around me. People of every race stared silently and backed away. Their conversations hushed and their expressions soured with worry—or fear. Who knows? I thought.

I walked out of the square into a nearby alley. I scanned the rooftops for Chipry. I let out a whistle and he flew into view, danced around me for a moment, and then perched on my shoulder.

Just like old times. Huh, Chip? I said. I looked down at the blood soaked into the sleeve of my Human-style shirt. The wound stung as I touched it, but it wasn’t deep.

People went back to their conversations as I left their sight. In the distance, I saw the man who halted the attacking jungle cat climbing onto the front steps of what looked to be a tavern. With him was a blue Saurian carrying a book, a male Gnome with black hair and a mustache, a balding Dwarf, and a white feathered Avian.

The Avian stood tall and still. When his head moved, it was in quick bursts, like Chipry. Feathers covered the Avian’s entire body. In place of a mouth was a yellow hooked beak, protruding from his face. I watched with intrigue as the Avian, and the group it was with, followed the man.

People filled the town square, and I was having a hard time seeing the group of mixed races from where I stood. I backed down the alley until I found a house suitable for climbing. I grew a stiff vine to give me a boost and made my way onto the rooftop, giving me a bird’s eye view of the square.

I put my hood down, allowing my wavy brown hair to blow in the breeze. I looked down at my hands and saw the flaking paint. I rubbed my hands together, letting the dust drift away. I rubbed it off of my face as well. It was trivial now that the cat-beast revealed my identity in front of the whole colony.

The man who stopped the fight earlier turned to face the crowd and gave a nod to the Gnome that accompanied him. Why would they be working together? I thought.

The Gnome raised a finger to his mouth like he was shushing someone and began muttering words. A hushing noise swept through the crowd, and conversations ceased. The crowd stared toward the Human on the steps.

Hello, everyone. My name is Rodrigo, and I’d like to welcome you all to Daegal, the Human said. His face remained expressionless as he spoke. Maybe he was as concerned as everyone else that this was all going to fall apart in a moment’s notice.

I was appointed to facilitate this colony and I have some rules to go over before you all get settled in, Rodrigo continued.

Who says you get to be in charge? yelled a faceless voice in the crowd. A couple of other voices served to echo the statement.

I am in charge because I was deemed to be the most capable of doing it by the Humans, said Rodrigo. Another voice started heckling, but Rodrigo cut him off. And I am not acting on my own. These folk here are among the council that will govern this settlement. They will ensure every race is properly represented. I am just the one that got stuck with speaking to you today.

I watched the crowd, anticipating more retorts, but they seemed to accept Rodrigo’s answer.

"Now, I know this is not an ideal situation. We are enemies. Everyone’s people have fought and killed everyone else’s people, but there is a greater threat here than each other.

We all sent our people to Daegal to explore and colonize this land. But they have all disappeared without a trace. This colony exists to find our people and prevent this from happening again.

I turned to the crowd as he talked. Everyone stayed in their respective racial clumps. I did spot some outliers at the far end, however. Close to the Elves, but not part of their group, was a younger boy, about my age, who wore a storm-gray hooded Elven cloak. He kept the hood up and stayed near the edge of the square.

Rodrigo continued. "In accordance with the peace treaty, we will not attack or provoke each other to violence until this issue is settled. This colony will be a sanctuary from the wars, even after we find the missing people.

If you cause trouble in this colony, if you attack other races or commit acts tantamount to war, you are no longer welcome among these walls. Either choose to tolerate each other, or leave.

I spotted another person that did not seem to have a group. A Gnome with white hair and a white pointed beard pushed through the crowd to get a better view of Rodrigo. He was the only Gnome that I could see that was not with the others.

You are also expected to help, Rodrigo said. "Use what you have to make this colony continue to operate. For some, this may mean farming, hunting, or some other craft. For the vast majority of you, being military folk, you’ll be searching for our missing people or clues of their whereabouts.

"Now, we have found this land to be dangerous. Not only did it swallow up a hundred or so people without any sign of struggle, but we also have reports of powerful creatures inhabiting this land. Some of which have never been seen anywhere else. Because of this, it is imperative that you go out in groups and only in daylight. Two in