When I first planned out this month’s micro-fiction, I’d intended to write two separate stories—one featuring my shifters (which I’ve done) and another centered around Tiatha. But as soon as I revisited that outline, a new idea erupted: what if both tales were linked? It didn’t take long for that spark to take root, and this follow-up emerged as a direct continuation of the previous micro tale. One of my favorite things about this format is that it lets me sidestep overly complex plots while still serializing smaller arcs when inspiration strikes.

Sometimes, silence is more than it seems...

Despite getting off to a slow start this month while preparing a new kind of content, I knew I still needed to spin a tale for my patrons. Thankfully, I was able to leverage one of my short draw videos to inspire a full fantasy story. While the details of that pull will be revealed in its corresponding short, patrons are getting the very first glimpse into what the video will truly highlight.

What happens when the sacred and the desperate collide? This story drops us into the aftermath of a brutal skirmish, where a commander and the battered remnants of his company stand entrenched at the edge of a forest they once swore never to defile...

With the goal of releasing two Wattpad installments every month, the second story continues the world of Mounting Tensions. Last time we visited this universe, we caught a glimpse of Mara’s unease with her portion of the mission, but this month’s entry offers a fresh perspective. Until now, each of the previous flights simply happened. This is the first time we step inside a pilot’s cockpit to feel what it truly means to slip through the gaps Darvin has arranged in Liam’s surveillance net...

Anyone who’s taken a boat ride knows the familiar tug between watching the shoreline slide past or observing the personality of the vessel itself. During this cruise, I spent most of my time absorbing the scenery beyond the rail, though I couldn’t resist capturing a few moments of sea spray as the water crashed against the hull. Sometimes that motion holds its own kind of magic. Other times, a lone home nestled along the coast reminds you just how gracefully human craftsmanship can coexist with untamed landscapes. I originally booked this sunset cruise in search of blazing skies, the kind that transforms glassy water into molten gold.

What I received instead was subtler, and ultimately far more rewarding. Rather than dramatic color, I was gifted with quieter wonders...

In Defending Giant, the dawn’s first light awakens an ancient treant from its long slumber. But peace is fleeting. When word arrives of invaders desecrating the forest and butchering his kin, the guardian does not hesitate. With deep roots and ancient strength, he marches to protect his home, and deliver nature’s wrath.

This chapter is paired with a lyrical, swaying tune that mirrors the treant’s deliberate movements and the shifting rhythm of the forest...

When I finished the first picture prompt for the month, I turned my attention to the second. I skimmed through my favorited images on DeviantArt and came across Sketch by EVOLIRY. Instantly, I knew I wanted to use it as the inspiration for my next picture story. At first, I had no idea where I’d take the scene. With the deadline looming, I turned to ChatGPT for a batch of seeds to explore. One in particular piqued my interest, and though I quickly strayed from the original concept, it gave me enough to spark a story I may want to develop further...

As the cruise continued, a flicker of motion caught my eye. The following two images mark a subtle turning point in the series. Until now, we’ve been focused on the shorelines, despite the boat’s constant movement, each frame has been anchored in moments of stillness. Aside from the brief highlight of the boat and a crashing wave, our attention has lingered on the coast and the interplay between sky and water. Each shot was framed with care but, aside from the vegetation, all of them remained devoid of visible life.

Here, a trio of birds enters the frame, stitching a living thread through the calm...

In Rising Tensions, the fragile alliances between the elves, dwarves, and humans are tested. After Keldon’s mysterious injury, Tarian seeks aid and answers from his new allies, only to discover that help comes with its own dangers. An unexpected arrival brings both hope and suspicion, forcing decisions that could reshape or shatter their fledgling alliance. Join me for another chapter of political intrigue, quiet heroism, and the small victories that can alter the course of survival.

This chapter is paired with my original blues piece Creeping, whose slow and deliberate rhythm mirrors the story’s undercurrent of mistrust...

When the entire month stretched out in front of me, I began reviewing my schedule of stories. Some tales were already planned, while others were inspired by images I’d found online. One such image (see below) had, with the help of ChatGPT, spawned a collection of intriguing prompts. Thankfully, I still wanted to explore many of them. After flipping through the remaining entries, one immediately stood out.

The forest glows when someone is about to die. A guilt-ridden warlock returns to the place where he once made a deal with the Fogwitch—trading someone else’s soul for his own power. Now the forest glows for him, and he must uncover a way to break the curse before the mist claims him...