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191 pages

English

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An action-packed adventure with neverending twists and turns.
Set in a post-apocalyptic earth, it's inhabitants survive segregated until the water supply runs dry. Chosen by a council of elders, Renier must venture beyond the borders of the village. Accompanied by Veruca, a warrior princess, together they must find a path through the ooze of the black mountains and solve the mystery behind the village water supply. The truth they discover will change the course of Earth forever.

Sujets

Science-Fiction

Toute la Science-Fiction

Post-Apocalyptic

Apocalyptic

Science Fiction

Fantasy (canción de Mariah Carey)

The Chosen One

Animals

Sci-Fi

Fiction

Action

Fantasy

Informations

Publié par	iUniverse
Date de parution	17 avril 2023
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781663251718
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

BOOK 1: ANIMALIA
ANIMAL KINGDOM
KRISTIAN STEEL

ANIMAL KINGDOM BOOK 1: ANIMALIA

Copyright © 2023 Kristian Steel.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

iUniverse
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www.iuniverse.com
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6632-5170-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6632-5171-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023904996

iUniverse rev. date: 04/06/2023
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
CHAPTER 1
Renier’s eyes fluttered open as he sensed the sunlight piercing through a hole in his tent. Another dream disrupted by the break of day . Quickly, he removed his journal from beneath his makeshift pillow of hay and dried leaves. With a broken writing tool, he jotted his first thoughts of the new day.
I had it again last night. It was only a few short moments ago. The dream continues to vex my sleep, forcing me to rise confused, sometimes afraid. The images were much clearer this past night.
Once again, the dream starts, and I’m flying, but soon I see a giant beast. It is the griffin, flying above me, and then it’s clear that I am being carried. With the blood of war sprinkled on its wings, the griffin silently flies through the night air, remaining hidden among the clouds and the stars. Clearly, the beast has to remain undetected, but the reason is still unclear to me.
We fly the entire night, and as the first ray of light floods over the horizon, the griffin glides to the ground, making a perfect landing while keeping me protected. Then the beast lowers me to the ground. After taking a deep breath of relief, the griffin calmly approaches the ball of wrinkled cloth squirming on the ground. Baby cries can be heard amid the silence of dawn.
The beast moves aside the cloth with its wing and reveals to me, only I’m a baby, and I’m looking at myself from another viewpoint.
“As you ordered, my emperor,” the griffin says.
“This is the child?” The emperor’s voice is ice cold, and as the emperor approaches the baby, he lowers his brow in suspicion of what to expect next. The emperor closely inspects the human infant, giving the baby the chance to see the black eyes of the beast standing above him. The eyes rest above a peculiar mouth, a feature that extends far from the creature’s face.
A moment later, he says, “Our intelligence was accurate. Your service deserves commendation, Leola. He is small. What to do? What to do? A decision I fear has no preferable consequence. Tell me, Leola: Would you bear the burden of this question?”
“No, Your Highness,” says the griffin.
“I suppose not, for it is not you who is judged for the choice,” the emperor replies. “I am. I value your counsel. Tell me, Leola. You’ve brought the baby to me. Tell me what you think I should do.”
The griffin is slow to respond, but eventually, she answers the emperor. “I do not presume to equal your wisdom; that is why I trust you will make the right choice. Still, if you seek counsel, it is my duty to serve. If the decision were mine, I would not kill this child. I would challenge the human superstitions and put them to a test.”
“A test?” The emperor encourages the griffin’s counsel.
“Yes, banish this child to the camps. If his destiny is written in a prophecy, his path will lead him back here. If he does not return, you can put an end to these stories of prophecies and silly superstition—perhaps even the war. A choice like this would show strength and wisdom, but I’m sure you already know these things,” the griffin says.
“Yes, your counsel is a very real option. However, should he return, that could mean the end of our kingdom. If I kill him now, I may wipe out any chance of a revolt in the future.” In silence, they stare at the small baby responsible for so much chaos.
Suddenly, a bright light glows from behind their bodies, and then immediately, the emperor and the griffin are swallowed into the blinding glow of light, leaving nothing in their wake.
That is the last part I remember clearly, but the feeling of curiosity lingers in the absence of these beasts. I’m left to wonder where they come from. How did they get inside my head, and why do I continue to dream the same dream?
He continued to scribble notes with his broken writing tool, but soon his mind erased the remaining images dancing in his head. If only he could have remembered more, then perhaps some understanding could have been made about why he had such dreams and why he felt compelled to keep them secret from the rest of his camp.
Renier was certain if he couldn’t explain why he was having the dreams, the elders would question their safety and perhaps the safety of the camp. The young man knew that type of uncertainty must be avoided at all costs—a lesson taught to him by his guardian, Volvox, the supreme elder of his camp, at an early age.
Still, his journal, a gift from his guardian, was the perfect place to speak his mind and understand his peculiarities. The journal served as a close friend to Renier, especially when growing up without parents, a circumstance unheard of among his camp. Only a few months after Renier had been born, his camp had experienced a terrible fire in the middle of the night. Many families had been killed, including his parents, but Renier’s life had been spared. When he had been found, the only burn the baby had sustained was a mark on his shoulder, shaped like an X . He had shared these stories with his journal many times but could never find reconciliation with his own memories. He knew luck hadn’t been the only force at work. He believed fate had had much more to do with his misfortune.
As he pondered these thoughts early in the morning, from outside his tent, Renier heard his name called by his tutor, Patrick. His voice was a welcome sound, for it usually meant there would be work in the fields, a place where Renier could forget what vexed him and focus on his skills as a farmer. He found a certain satisfaction in raising a crop to harvest and then sharing that crop with the rest of his camp. Those moments gave him purpose and value, and so to work Renier prepared to go.
“Renier!” Patrick yelled.
“I’m here, Patrick! I’ll be out in a moment!” Renier yelled from inside his tent. He tucked his journal beneath his pillow and picked up his weathered gloves and dirty goggles, and wearing the same clothes he’d slept in, the young man left the tent.
The sun warmed the young man’s ruddy olive cheeks, which were still dirty from the previous day’s work. His body was strong for an adolescent but not developed. His average height and heightened imagination prevented him from pursuing the same regiments of physical activity as his peers. He preferred to study the properties of the food he grew versus digging a well.
Once outside, he was greeted by Patrick, a tall fellow perhaps a decade older than Renier in age but a century older in wisdom. Patrick was the apprentice to Volvox and had been placed as Renier’s mentor since Renier’s eighth birthday.
From Patrick, Renier learned about the earth and its power to grow the food they ate and about the natural forces of the planet at work. While Patrick was designated to teach Renier the ways of a farmer, over the years, Patrick had managed to share a great many other details with the boy. He taught Renier religion and the purpose of the council elders, and Patrick especially focused on teaching Renier the purpose and significance of the supreme elder.
The latter topic was of little interest to Renier compared to the air of the fields, the heat of the sun, and the beauty of a girl. Veruca was the most beautiful girl in the camp and the daughter of his guardian, Volvox. In her favor was where Renier longed to be, but that was a privilege Volvox expressly denied the young man. Her life was kept separate from his, and as a child of an elder, she was charged with the protection of the camp until such a time when she assumed her own place on the council, an achievement of least importance to the young Renier.
Veruca, on the other hand, was always serious about her role in the community. Attending private lessons with her father to study the chemistry of plants and then joining the boys for combat lessons were average activities in her day. She would also spend hours in the fields, practicing her balance and weapons training with Patrick. Renier spent many a day laughing at