Eloquent Tales & Blues

Tarian rushed to the center of the crumbling defenses and seized a rifle from one of the fallen. A tear welled, but he blinked it away. The dead deserved better, but mourning would have to wait. Among the fallen, he recognized Soren, one of the youngest members of this expedition. He had hoped to start a family here. Tarian's chest tightened as he kneeled beside him, fingers brushing the man's cooling skin...

As he paced about the wall, Tarian stopped when he came to a devastated section. He ran his fingers along the shorn stone and glanced at the boulder, now entrenched in the ground just behind the wall. Thankfully, the defenders stationed there evaded the massive rock hurtling past them, saved only by a defender's shout. Tarian shook his head and turned back to the swelling ranks of monsters...

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...

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...