VitaminHeart

Thorn awoke in the cold on the morning air, leaving the tip of her nose numb, every breath sending another cascade of the chill into her throat. Thresh grumbled and shifted above her, the grey light starting to filter in through the gaps on the edges of his wing, that was stretched out over the top of where she lay curled up under the embroidered blanket. The dragon was still fast asleep. She could tell as much as she hadn't been awoken by its rough tongue scraping across her cheek and matting her hair with saliva. This was her companion's customary morning greeting and something she'd resigned herself to now they had been bonded. Jae was

There was an awful lot that could be said for the march of progress. It was something that many of the esoteric researchers were only too quick to point out when people began to get sentimental. Since the reign of the empress had begun, the blanket of fear and superstition that had once covered Valon had been gradually lifted away, into a new and enlightened age of understanding. They could understand how magic worked. They could enhance and control it, focus it and use it as power. The force that had once seen the species of Valon cowed and terrified had become a means for them to better their lives. Through one of the high, vaulted glass

CHAPTER 12 Natrix The pathway down the wormhole was not difficult: the floor sloped gently and was slightly ridged, which enabled Dorie to make good progress without slipping. Io had perched himself on her shoulder, and she felt his warm breath in her ear as he clung tightly to her as they descended. All around them, the air was hot and laden with chemicals, whilst the walls of the tunnel gave out a gentle orange glow which lit their way, and showed the faint silhouette of Serendipity as she spiralled downwards, far ahead of them, until she finally rounded a bend and disappeared from view. "That's her gone again," muttered Io. "Good riddanc

SCENE  4 – Some distance from MK2 (Forfor and Wunwun are supporting Seveno, whilst Delta and Threetoo are arguing.) Threetoo: It’s your fault that she’s hurt Delta.  Why didn’t you make it clear...? Delta:   I told you!  What more did you want  – a demonstration? The trouble  is that you can’t  think for yourselves. Threetoo:  And whose fault is that, then? Wunwun:  Oh for City’s sake stop bickering.  We’ve got enough problems without you two at each other’s throats all the time. Threetoo:  If she cuts out that superior attitude it would help.  I thought we were all supposed to be eq

 The rattling noise in her ceiling has started again. Kora Winter lay on her bed, staring up at the ventilation duct and the overhead pipes, attempting to pinpoint the source of the irritating sound. It was clearly something that had come loose. Whether it was something like a door release or whether it was something that meant they'd be torn apart next time they entered a planet's atmosphere... well that remained to be seen. The Emersed always served to keep things interesting. She had a fairly small room, nothing particularly impressive, mainly as she'd turned up without many things to put in it, and had never shown a lot of inclination to

"Here you go Branwen, the usual. Is right, yes?" With one deft sweep, the dark, taloned hand took hold of a resin bowl from the shelf and tipped a pan full of noodles into it. A pair of chopsticks was sunk into the top before it was slid across the wooden stall front to the waiting customer. "That's right Ori, you know me better than I do." came the reply. The Tengu let out a throaty,squawking chuckle before hopping back over to the steaming pans of ramen and dumplings that he tended to. It was unusual to see a far eastern demon in Arcadia, but the birdlike creature had found quite a niche for his cooking, and had plenty of regulars showi