Dame Brigitt Meadowsedge, a Knight of the Order of the Sun, a Paladin of Threnna, returned from her Seventh Quest of Valor, which had taken many months. She rode Fade her trusty red-tailed hawk, her companion in battle, himself a cynic that kept her gleeful optimism realistically grounded. Their path home, though, they’d seen a trail of orc destruction stretching between two kingdoms already, a trail that alarmingly led her straight back to her own home. They’d seen too much wide Orcan devastation for some individual band in such a short time, razing and plundering villages along many paths. Fade said it was calculated for orcs. It suggested a plan. But oh, Threnna’s Beads! (Doom F*ck, said Fade) The last smoldering human village was only a short distance away from the Autumn Woods. She shouted to Fade to fly faster, and his mighty wings hammered the air. She could not let herself believe that she might be too late.
Go to Chapter 9
“Protect the Autumn Woods!” is an illustrated story by Jerome Stueart in 33 short flash fiction chapters. The story features D&D-inspired magic-using forest animals who fight to protect their homes. This story was at first a response to a prompt list created by Jenn Reese and Deva Fagan for an October Art Challenge in 2021. You can now read all 33 parts of the story, “Protect the Autumn Woods” with the search term, #AutumnWoods. “Protect the Autumn Woods!” Art Show at the Dayton Society of Artists (48 High Street, Dayton, OH) from November 1 — December 15 2024.
“Protect the Autumn Woods!” is adjacent to a larger show of amazing Dayton Artists, “Small, but Mighty.” Come see all of the art, any weekend, Friday 12-5, Saturday 12-5 to experience the art yourself.
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