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Sprig (Issue 1 - Germ)
By Houston Hare
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Start Reading- Publisher:
- Houston Hare
- Released:
- Dec 6, 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780463078594
- Format:
- Book
Description
A seed of hope in a world of hate...
War rages as land runs out. Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and other races fight for control of the limited space they have. When a land mass suddenly appears out of nowhere, people flock to it, only to be caught up in its mysteries.
Kaia, one of the last living members of the Treek race, heads to the new land to find others like herself and escape the war that surrounds her. With conflict at her back, and untamed wilderness ahead, she and the companions she makes discover the truths of the new land and themselves.
Issue 1: Germ follows Kaia as she journeys to the new land, makes some unlikely allies, and begins the search for her people.
Sprig began as a web serial, a story posted chapter by chapter on Houston Hare's author website and is still being released in that format today. The overall story has now grown to over 100,000 words and more are being written every day. Issue 1 is the professionally edited first section of that story. More of these books are scheduled for release early in 2020.
Book Actions
Start ReadingBook Information
Sprig (Issue 1 - Germ)
By Houston Hare
Description
A seed of hope in a world of hate...
War rages as land runs out. Elves, Dwarves, Humans, and other races fight for control of the limited space they have. When a land mass suddenly appears out of nowhere, people flock to it, only to be caught up in its mysteries.
Kaia, one of the last living members of the Treek race, heads to the new land to find others like herself and escape the war that surrounds her. With conflict at her back, and untamed wilderness ahead, she and the companions she makes discover the truths of the new land and themselves.
Issue 1: Germ follows Kaia as she journeys to the new land, makes some unlikely allies, and begins the search for her people.
Sprig began as a web serial, a story posted chapter by chapter on Houston Hare's author website and is still being released in that format today. The overall story has now grown to over 100,000 words and more are being written every day. Issue 1 is the professionally edited first section of that story. More of these books are scheduled for release early in 2020.
- Publisher:
- Houston Hare
- Released:
- Dec 6, 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780463078594
- Format:
- Book
About the author
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Sprig (Issue 1 - Germ) - Houston Hare
Sprig
Issue 1 - Germ
HOUSTON HARE
Houston Hare Stories
Sprig
Issue 1 - Germ
Copyright © 2019 Houston Hare
Houston Hare Stories
https://Sprig.Houstonhare.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by an 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
Cover Design by: Tim Medina
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.
Dedicated to my wife, Meghan,
for her endless support
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8 Interlude: Rodrigo
The Adventure Continues!
A Quick Favor
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Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
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
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