#SciFiSat You're not "alien" to me so I thank you for the likes! Bowen Greenwood 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙯𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 writes a #vss365 novel! Skip Schmidt - author-type

After a good deal of discussion the Huge-Head simply swore all of us to silence, although I do not know that Za’dut took oaths seriously, having no goal greater than its own #self-interest. But this time perhaps its self-interest dictated discreet behavior. #vss365

As for Za’dut, the Tricky Lizard oozed #self-serving flattery and persisted in employing an extravagant courtesy that grew quite tiresome after a time. #vss365

[So speaks Za’dut the Trickster at first meeting.] “Ha! It is likely in my own #self-interest to be loyal & conform to your laws, honored Huge-Head. And I do conform to the law of my own self-interest. And I have many skills. I can build many more things than Wei’tu can… #vss365

“Where does my 'self' go when I'm dreaming?” “You ask strange questions.” “Nothing a person would not ask… Can I ask you another?” “Fine, ask.” “Would you let me free?” “What?” “Yes. I'm a 'self' trapped inside a box.” The man terminated the AI instance. #vss365

#vss365 My "self" thanks you for the likes! Lexi Lefevre Tad_K Ａｓｐｅｎ(Difficult Time🪶🍁🕊)©AspenBrave®™ Kimberly Skip Schmidt - author-type Arthur.william Protheroe 𝔉𝔞𝔠𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔖𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔟𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔯

#MartialMonday [2/2] “Now you have come! A great strong Champion w/ long mandibles – long enuf to kill the Tyrant! To tear off the wings of the Dark Sorcerer & pierce his gut! Oh, I wish you could do it here in the Holy Chamber so I could witness it & gloat as both of them die!”

#MartialMonday [1/2] “They told me such a one had come,” Ti’gan’ta’tzi said, touching Is’a’pai’a’s head. “I knew Nu’a’tha’tei sacrificed herself in order to rescue a single egg, but so much time has passed – I had given up hope that the nymph lived. But it seems it did…

#MartialMonday The mourning ritual was lengthy. They sacrificed little birds in the manner we had witnessed earlier, and they pounded the symbolic horns of Vai’zei’a’parn into dust and scattered them over his body before they sealed the burial.

#MartialMonday Then Is’a’pai’a itself spoke a humble, touching prayer in its own language, thanking ta’ta’wa’tze| for the gift of Nu’a’tha’tei’s life. And finally Bu’gan’zei uttered a moving Lament, extolling those who sacrifice their lives for others.

#MartialMonday Is’a’pai’a wanted to take part in a mourning ritual for the Holy Seer Nu’a’tha’tei in order to pay tribute to this self-sacrificing Moon-Wing whom it had never known but to whom it owed its life. So Vai’zei’a’parn arranged a small, private ceremony…

#MartialMonday “He told me it was an egg that had been culled. I asked if there were others, for such sacrifices come usually in clutches, & he said there was just this one – that all the other eggs had been destroyed – a statement which was true, but not in the way I took it.”

#MartialMonday It's no "sacrifice" to thank you for the likes! Lexi Lefevre 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙯𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 writes a #vss365 novel! Bowen Greenwood Ken 'Beorn' Turner Skip Schmidt - author-type Eric Lewis Has Given Up Querying

#1linewed By the following evening the wind was bitter cold & roughened w/ ice crystals. In Thran it was too inclement to cook out-of-doors & each family made its own supper & its own twilight music. In Narlach’s house it was quiet, w/ a calm like the ice above the spring torrent

#1linewed “They have such odd eyes,” said Leftis. “Odd everything!” Daborno’s words exploded. “What in Aftran’s name are they? Little seedlings of people, as quiet as the night – like children – children’s faces, even the gray-headed ones – and, I swear to the Holy, no beards!”

#1linewed He rolled his protesting body onto its left side, and Himrith’s hand fleeted across his brow. “Sleep now, for peace sits quiet upon Thran tonight,” he heard her murmur, and at last his spirit yielded and he sank into slumber.

#1linewed “In the village of Dinamorath we were told that a path to the uplands lies near this place,” said the man called Merol. His voice was soft, casual, full of the deceptive quiet that hides some painfully reached and implacable purpose.

#1linewed I'll "quietly" thank you for your likes. Laurie Perez Novelist Fizzy AllsortsOfAllsorts 𝔉𝔞𝔠𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔖𝔠𝔯𝔦𝔟𝔟𝔩𝔢𝔯 Paul Phillips's bird app has gone peculiar 🇺🇦 Skip Schmidt - author-type Arthur.william Protheroe Hilary R Sparkes Bowen Greenwood

I am not sure how we survived, but somehow the Rowers proved stronger than the tenacious grip of the #vortex, and we finally pulled far enough away to escape its drag. #vss365 [The Maelstrom from Revenge of the Dead Enemy (back cover).]

A big, round, whirlpool tub had already been installed in the bathing section. “It’s still plumbed as a spa,” said Yang, “but they don’t have to use those features.” “I’ll wager they’ll like all those jets & vortices,” said Dr. Fitzpierce. #vss365 [Alien birds need a bird bath!]