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Detail

Excerpt: Maiden of a Darkness Shining

Eliciting a slight groan, Heather awakened. However groggy, she felt uncomfortably hot and sweaty. Eyes closed, she reached to grab her blanket and throw it off of her curled form, but realizing she wasn’t wearing pajamas, it dawned on her that she wasn’t at home.

The ground suddenly hard below her, heat emanating from behind, she began feeling about and discovered the hairiness of a large animal beside her, its thick fur pressing at her back.

Heather’s eyes popped open. Warily, she pushed herself up, and half-turned to discover the robust, sphinx-like form of a golden Archmount directly behind her. Not bothering to cover up, Heather slowly, silently rose to her feet and backed away, the animal unperturbed. She then glimpsed about, finding that her clothes had been carefully laid out to dry, spread among the nearby bushes, most basking in the filtering sun.

Seeing the beast turn its head to calmly observe her, Heather returned its strong, steady gaze.

    You are not of this world.

Caught off guard, awed by the Archmount and his MindSpeake, Heather barely shook her head.

    And word has it you’re the One.

The girl whispered, “I might be.” She added, “If all goes well.”