Words from Days 25-28 of Writing - Lunar Wolves: The Unwanted

Endings... Why are they always so hard to write, or, in this case, to even get to. It appears there is more to this story than I thought.

Starting Words: 86,106

Finishing Words: 92,114

Words Written: 6,008

Other Words: 3,788

Other Project/Project Aspects Advanced: 3

Excerpt: in which Lewis and Oliver discover a second race of reptiloid:

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Lewis caught sight of a large, fast-moving shadow coming over the shelves and launched himself to intercept it. His body collided with something that suddenly had too many teeth and claws…and made its displeasure felt.

His target swiveled in his grasp, a long-clawed hand finding his throat as two strong legs wrapped his waist. Lewis jerked his head to one side, avoiding an overly large fist, even as his victim turned them in the air, making sure Lewis hit the floor beneath him.

The air left his lungs in rush and the hand on his throat tightened.

“Yield,” came with unfamiliar sibilance, as he fought for breath and tried to collect enough control to move his arms.

“Yield,” Oliver echoed, and there was another thump as he slammed his own catch into the wall.

“If you would all calm down,” Korazon ordered, and the snap of ozone filled the air as another weapon hummed to life.

Lewis blinked, wanting to turn his head to see, but not wanting to take his gaze off the large…creature…lizardine…pinning him to the floor. All movement ceased, but neither Oliver or Lewis’s captor let go.

“If I use this, we’re all going to be in a lot of trouble,” Korazon added, and Lewis’s captor looked away.

“Korrie,” he said, easing his grip on Lewis’s throat, and shifting off him, “you know that’s not necessary.”

“I know no such thing,” Korazon snapped, as Lewis curled slowly onto his feet.

A large hand came into his field of vision, palm open and outstretched in an offer of help.

Cautiously, Lewis took it, closing his fingers around the solid wrist as it closed around his forearm.

“Melerom,” the giant lizard told him, “and I am not lizardine.”

“No,” Korazon confirmed sourly. “You are jelonar, and a royal pain in my behind.”

“I am not royalty,” Melerom argued, “and I have caused you no pain…but I might if you don’t explain.”

“What’s there to explain?” Korazon asked. “I am seeing two clients to the station and equipping them before they go.”

“And you don’t know who they are?” Melerom made it clear he didn’t believe that.

“I am well aware of their identities,” Korazon told him, "Just as I am sure it would be best to let them continue the quest they’ve undertaken.”

“Best for who?” Melerom demanded.

“Best for the girl, best for Odyssey, and best for lupari-human relations,” Korazon replied, “although perhaps not so best for Nettles.”

Melerom gave a soft hiss.

“They will cease to exist in every port I visit,” he promised, “and in a few ports I have never officially been to.”

Oliver glanced over at Lewis and gently lowered his captive to the floor, propping him against the cabinet wall.

“I may have damaged your…”

“Aide-de-camp,” Melerom snapped. “How badly?”

The young man groaned and coughed, hurriedly pressing a hand against his chest.

“Ribs,” he grunted, then coughed again, and spat blood, his breathing shuddering.

Oliver reddened, his expression a mixture of regret and defiance as he looked at the jelonar.

“Humans are ridiculously fragile to be taking on wolves.”

“That’s the last time you get to call me ridiculous,” the man told him, pushing himself to his feet and sliding his back up the wall.

Oliver reached out to steady him, and he flinched but didn’t push the wolf’s hand away.

“I will pay for healing,” the alpha told Melerom. “I am sorry.”

“This from one who infected his friend?” the jelonar asked, and Oliver froze.

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Thanks must go to my cover artists, from left to right: Mihaela Voicu, Jake at JCaleb Design, and Moonchild Ljilja at Fantasy Book Design.

 If you wish to check out the Magic Below Paris series (on the left), you can find all the necessary links here: https://books2read.com/rl/zQAlXz/

If you wish to check out the Mack 'n' Me 'n' Odyssey series (on the right), you can find all the necessary links here: https://books2read.com/rl/zRAO7G