“Many years have passed since the day Harat took the Phoenix Tree’s bag from me and dropped it into a portal that spit fire, but I can still hear the screech of rage as it burned. I was sent home then. Quite literally, the portal Harat opened dropped me right inside my kitchen. The portal exit left a seal on the wall, forever reminding me of my journey.

What was the point of that trek I took from the fields of my childhood play into fantastical land beyond? Some lessons like not judging someone by their first impression come to mind, but I was right in sensing that Harat could rip me to shreds. Perhaps the lesson here is that some experiences are just meant to provide a good story. The world needs more stories anyway right?

And so ends my tale.”

~Excerpt from A Traveler’s Journey

“I tumbled into a great hall. Was this the beast’s feeding chamber? The walls were dissolved into brilliant light; I’d never seen so much stained glass in my life. The light turned my fear into wonder.”

~Excerpt from A Traveler’s Journey

“The beast threw me among the sea of doors. I scrabbled across the cosmos like atmosphere and flung myself into the nearest door I could amidst his howls of rage. Stumbling into the crystal cave, I realized that I had uncovered a deep, ancient and evil. As the beast sacked me from behind, the creature shifted, it’s enormous frame sending tremors through the earth. Of course, I only caught a glimpse as I was hauled away, but I saw a broken sword in it’s skull. It seemed to lock the creature into an eternal sleep.”

~Excerpt from A Traveler’s Journey

“Forget the Phoenix Tree. I had grape now. We were going to strike out on our own, me and grape. We didn’t know where we were, but we were going to figure our way home from this place. For a few blissful moments, I thought life was good. Why wouldn’t it be? I had a crunchy grape the size of my head. Just what I’ve always wanted.”

~Excerpt from A Traveler’s Journey