Desert Stories

| An Apocalyptic Mystery (Romance) | "Everything about him simply intoxicated me. Allowing myself to think of him left my body under a wave of his fading security, even though I was the farthest thing from being safe again." - Life is never what you expect, especially for Ava Percy. Ava has never seen anything significant besides outside the windows of her home; the torrid lands of Arizona always stare bleakly back at her. As the apocalypse continues, Ava continues to battle the mysteries of what she has to find: the cure and her father. But after escaping home, the first man she's ever met besides her father - Quince - pulls her off course, leading her to experience a whole new, eventful chapter of life she never saw coming. But... without choice, Ava's past looms behind her, putting every new friendship she's made on the line. She knows she's different. She knows she herself could be the key to founding a better future for her new friends. It's in her blood. So what is it going to be?

'The Obsidian Mirage^_^ A legendary city of black glass. A blood-red moon that demands a sacrifice. And a mystery buried deep in the lethal sands of Africa.

???: "To anyone listening who has not been infected, this is a message from the Environmental Logistics & Solutions Enterprise. As you are keenly aware, our dear Earth has seen better days before the Great Desertification. And to make matters even more dire, our own attempt at combating it has turned against us. This planet is beyond our control, and beyond our help. Which is why we have taken to the stars for a fresh new start." "By the time you've received this -- we, among the rest of humanity's remnants, have set a course for the identified exoplanet Si-[**static**] confirmed to support life. As for you and anyone else unfortunate enough to've been left behind, our organization has left a parting gift to help mitigate this global ordeal. And so, we ask that you be well-advised." "If you happen to come across any carrier of the Absolute Zero virus, direct skin contact is to be avoided at all cost. It cannot be treated, and despite our best efforts, there is no known cure. So in terms of safety precautions, long-ranged heat-based weaponry is highly recommended; Flame throwers, explosives, lasers, etc. But keep in mind that they can only slow them down, not kill them outright. The cold from within will not allow that." "Furthermore, hiding from plain sight is not a viable option. They will know where you are. Not by your tracks, but by-[***static***]-atter-[***static***]-verall survival strategy is to stay as far away from the carrier as possible -- and allow our trusted St. Helio units to intervene. Rest assured, they will keep them subdued. And if all goes according to plan, the virus we created will spread no further." "Those of you who remain here have our deepest apologies. As well as our sincerest hope that you may persevere, just as human life has done since the very beginning. Farewell, good luck, and Godspeed. This world rests in your hands now." [*****static*****] Joleen Marzé: "... ... ..."

To pay for his crimes of piracy, the criminal Xyde Druta must investigate a strange planet. Just a few weeks ago, it held a population of over eight billion, now, there are no life signs detected whatsoever. On top of that, a strange everlasting dustcloud circles the entire planet messing with all instruments that try to pierce it. Even with all that, when Xyde thinks he's finally getting somewhere on this strange mission, he finds that the alien world has one more surprise for him. This story is a submission for the ONC 2026, it follows prompt 116! I couldn't get the banner to download properly :(

Following the death of his son, a great architect journeys through the desert with his family to start a new life in another country, using his brilliance to build their future.

NOTE: THIS IS AN OLD DRAFT. The new draft can be found in my book 'Terres' Wren is afraid of marked ones. Their steely demeanors and the wings on their backs send a cold shiver down her spine. She knows they don't have it easy. The very lucky ones end up as guardians of the caravan. The unlucky ones end up reaver food. Just when she's gotten used to their presence, the childhood friend that abandoned her suddenly reappears, sporting wings on his back and harboring dark secrets. Wren can't just forgive him for the awful things he did to her, and she tries to distance herself, but she is forced back into his life when she runs to the other side of the caravan to escape the arranged marriage her family has plotted for months. But the people on the other side are destitute, hungry, and angry. They're resentful of the guardsmen who do nothing to protect them, and of the merchants who pay them to turn their heads. And some of them are angry with her. She finds herself trapped in a conflict she did not ask to be involved with, for a goal that was never hers. An unpleasant surprise forces her back home just in time for an uprising to erupt, then spill into her backyard. With her best friend nowhere to be found and her parents gone as well, her childhood adversary may be the only one who is able to help her. CONTENT WARNING: This book is not explicit but references violence and death of family members. Readers who find this kind of content triggering may want to steer clear of this book. Cover by @seventhstar :)

Prince Leonardo is, by far, the most respected and beloved leader amongst his people. Knowing he's going to be King, having a high approval rating is pretty nice. The problem is his conscience. He feels he hasn't earned the admiration others feel for him, often attributing his brilliant projects in the humanities to the help of his younger twin sisters and brother. Especially his brother. But Prince Damien isn't one for the spotlight at all. Instead, he suggested Leonardo try doing a project completely independently if he feels so undeserving. So Leo set his sights on one thing no one has been able to achieve since the deaths of King Edward and Queen Rosa Fresthan of Yaquir. He wants an alliance with Remembauri. ^^^ Princess Maala can't remember the last time she's felt truly free. Imprisoned in her desert oasis, more so than her tower, she has given up on escape. She longs to see the world, but she can also recognize a curse when she sees one. She'll most likely never live to escape her prison or truly see her family again. With only a bodyguard, a magic mirror, and an unfortunate male acquaintance for company, how will the only princess of Remembauri save herself from wasting away? This is the fifth book in the Light series. As with all other books, it can be read as a standalone. Updates will be every Saturday.

Once upon a time there was a supercilious captain who travelled through the infinite ocean, buying and selling slaves and traded with other -obviously stolen- valuables. But this one was way more valuable~ ─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─ This is an adventureous story of 2 very different types of boys with way more different families and backstories what they'll share with each other and of course with you, my dear reader, while they're trying to survive and fall in love with each other while doing it. ─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─ Btw sorry for my bad English this isn't my first langue but my first bl so far, I tryed okay? 🥹🙏

The Fabulous Four work seamlessly. They're good at what they do, extracting and creating and bombing and stealing from Better Living Industries, keeping the desert's group of killjoys alive. At least, they were. Until someone had a shot too many, in more ways than one. And they don't know how to fix whatever the hell broke them in the first place, not without interventions and yelling and empty threats that evolve back into something a little less than normal.

The third book in the Bobby Braw series. The Braw Agents were just having an ordinary day. Walking around town, eating snacks and watching TV in the mild weather. But it won't be like that for long. It turns out that two mysterious emperors are trying to eclipse the world into hot and cold halves. Why would they do this? and will the world succumb to a humid and frosty fate?

Some books open themselves. Some reflections hunt their owners. When a forbidden text begins to bleed, three lives collide to prevent an ancient terror from being unleashed. a princess, a conqueror, and a scholar slowly discover the most dangerous secrets.

In a desolate desert town ruled by a devout and unsettling church, a young girl struggles with depression and schizophrenia- conditions no one around her believes are real. When she begins to witness disturbing rituals within the church, her warnings are dismissed as madness. As her mind and reality blur, the question remains: is she losing herself, or is she the only one seeing the truth?

Lyra Corvin has lived her life on the run- hunted, alone and branded a monster. Then she meets Finn, a boy with jade eyes who sees her for more than her family's sins. AUTHORS NOTE: I'm a teen author who just writes for fun, this is one of my first stories. I would really appretiate any feedback or suggestions to help me grow! (new chapter every friday)

You were only trying to get to the Hidden Sand Village. You never expected to run into the infamous S-rank bomb terrorist, Deidara. Now, you're caught up in a heap load of drama and falling in love with him. The real question...does he love you back?

On an alternate planet called Ikolar, the Kingdom of Slahi rose after the destruction of Earth, where people had migrated to survive. Several years have passed, and now Ikolar itself is on the verge of destruction due to the long span of time its people have lived there. Dark shadowy forces led by a witch named Yuza, are pushing this destruction forward. Along with her, one of the nine sub realms of Slahi is trying to betray the world from within. Zia, an eighteen year old young girl and the third daughter of the chief of the Gorak Tribe, must stand against Yuza and defeat her once and for all to save the last habitable planet in the solar system. She is the only one upon whose birth a rare flower called Hwegi bloomed, giving the people of Ikolar hope that their world could still be saved. However, time is running out. The prophecy says that the moment Zia plucks the Hwegi flower, everyone will die, leaving only her alive. Each day the flower wilts little by little. Zia must save the Kingdom of Slahi and her Ikolar through every hardship before the flower fades completely. Complete destruction is near. Can Zia restore the destiny of all through her sacred birth? For she is the only Hope of the Fall after all.

THE CHOIR OF ASHES by Egwumba Mmesoma Kingsley In a galaxy where civilisation has mastered the stars, humanity discovers something older than history itself. Hidden beneath dying worlds and burning suns lies an ancient network known only as the Wells - a cosmic architecture built by extinct civilisations to prevent the collapse of existence. But activating the Wells comes at a terrible cost. When reluctant explorer Taren Solis becomes the first human to integrate with a Fragment of this forgotten system, he awakens a force known as the Choir - a collective memory of every species that has ever faced extinction. Now hunted by the brilliant and ruthless strategist Serat Vey, and feared by the very civilisation he is trying to protect, Taren must navigate a galaxy descending into war, myth, and belief. Religious cults rise. Empires fracture. Stars themselves become battlefields. As more Fragments awaken, one terrifying truth emerges: The Choir was not created to save life. It was created to reshape it. And Taren may be its final instrument.

We bring the Ultimate Zoo DLC cycle to a close with a collection of DLCs to finish out the animal roster with a bang.

"It's Sasori by the way...My name.It isnt red-sand." Kankuro and (Y/N) were the twins of terror.Always adventuring,causing mischief.But what happens when the two friends find a broken down puppet in the middle of the desert?

After the events of stealing Christmas, the Homies are separated, just how Ms. Schilling wanted.. Gabe goes into a deep coma for 4 years, and eventually he wakes up and seeks revenge on Jacob, along with the help of his friend Dylan.

Gaara spent his entire childhood after the age of 5 in Konoha, under the loving protection of his Aunty Anko Mitarashi and his cousin/best friend Naruto Mitarashi. how will the sand react when their weapon comes back as a human