Right, I’m making up for missing several months by giving you a bit more of the story early. I’ve got to the end of the handwritten draft now, so I’ll be back to the notebook, scribbling away to finish off the story. I do want to get the first draft completed by late October, when I go away to Brighton for World FantasyCon.
Continue reading “Maria and the Space-dragons investigate – Chapter 16”Tag Archives: draft novella
Maria and the Space-Dragons Investigate #1 -November 2024 Instalment
In this month’s instalment, Sarah reveals her true identity, and Maria realises just how dangerous Aurox is.
Enjoy!
Chapter 11 – Sarah McLintock – Aurox
Maria was solidly asleep, and snoring loudly in the guest room, it was safe for Sahrai to be herself now. She stripped, stretched and shifted.
Her wing nubs strained to grow, pushing against the caps the Elder had insisted be installed while she was on this mission. Her snout lengthened, eye and nose ridges rising. Her human ears shrank into her skull, leaving her ear holes unprotected. Her tail unwrapped from its place along her spine, curling around her newly lengthened feet and claws. Her haunches thickened, while her arms became smaller.
It was a relief but hurt!
Maria and the space-dragons investigate #1 – September 2024 instalment
Chapter ten – Maria – On Aurox
The carriage shuddered to a holt. The aurochs screamed again. Maria felt the creature’s pain shudder through the vehicle.
“Come on Doc, this is our stop.”
“I’m not a doctor.”
“You will be soon.” McLintock grinned.
“Thanks.” Maria responded, doubt showing in the lines of their face.
The steps dropped down, orange light and damp air filtered in, lighting up the face of the major, Collins, and the other soldiers. They looked grey and exhausted to Maria.
Maria and the space-dragons investigation#1 – June 2024 Instalment
And we’re back!
Chapter 5 – Maria
Maria had watched the space-dragon explain the mission, feeling confused and angry, but couldn’t work out why. When Pjang-Nich had insulted humans, she didn’t think her words were insulting, but Maria had felt insulted. It was that communication thing again. They were speaking the same words but meaning different things. Pjang-Nich’s tail had swung backwards and forwards like a metronome until the Elder had marched out, the door banging shut behind her.
“She really doesn’t like humans, does she?”
Maria and the Space-Dragons #1 – May 2024 instalment
We continue the story at the tundra base, as Elder Pjang-Nich explains why Maria and Lah-Shah have been called to the distant base.
Chapter 4 – Pjang-Nich explains
Pjang-Nich whistled, a light-screen appeared above the table. A star map lit up on the screen, tool tips showing their location and the location of their target. It was some distance across the galaxy but still easily done with the jump gate system. Pjang-Nich clicked her tongue a couple of times, the screen shifted and zoomed in on the target system.
A star, bigger, older, redder than Ascend’s star, surrounded by two rocky planets and two gas giants. The rocky planets orbited each other. The first gas giant orbited close to the star, while the second gas giant seemed to be nearer to the star than expected, with dozens of moons, squeezing the rocky planets between them.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 