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Mike Carss

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  1. Mike Carss
    Sudden hollering caused Callum to jerk awake. He’d unknowingly drifted off. Another yell—undeniably Hindle—had Callum spring up to the front of his cell, trying to catch a glimpse down the hallway. The soldier’s words were muffled, followed by grunts and sounds of struggling. But instead of returning Hindle to his cell, the sound of his voice grew more distant. The guards were leading him outside. Where are they going? Despite being muffled—perhaps he was gagged—the soldier’s voice bounced off t
  2. Mike Carss
    @drpaladin @akascrubber @Salerion @drsawzall It an absolute pleasure to read your thoughts and insights on Callum's plight. It really means a lot to see you invested in his story. Thank you. ❤️ I won't comment on anything to keep spoilers to a minimum, but a number of your questions will be answered in the second part of this chapter that'll be posted this Thursday.
  3. Mike Carss
    You're not wrong. He's overly cautious -- not wanting to give in to hope that things might be okay. At least he believes now that Rym never meant him harm, despite their situation.
  4. Mike Carss
    Despite Callum’s uneasiness of lying in the same bed as his captor, Rym insisted, saying Callum would sleep better than on the floor. Given the hard pallet, Callum had his doubts, however over time he found the dense bed give way, allowing him to sink in. It was comfortable, but he couldn’t sleep. Rym’s pressing question rattled within Callum’s skull all night. What can I do with this information? The simple answer was to tell anyone and everyone, but especially Callum’s superiors. Was it
  5. Mike Carss
    It's never told outright, so I'm spoiling anything by saying your guess is correct. Wood in all its forms has many uses. But I'd say their need for fuel is the greatest. Yeah, his father explains the reason, but Callum will come to greater appreciate his comment later in the story.
  6. Mike Carss
    I won't deny my views on how we treat our planet are heavy-handed in this story. 😁
  7. Mike Carss
    Beautifully and eloquently spoken. 💗
  8. Mike Carss
    'Smart' may not be the best word to use here. While you, as the reader, have the foresight to see what's happening, what Rym has shared with Callum goes against everything he's believed his entire life. It's a lot to accept purely based on what his "enemy" is telling him. Regardless, rest assured that the final question Rym poses will weigh heavy on Callum.
  9. Mike Carss
    The morning hours were long, quiet—painfully so. Once again, Callum had riled his captor, and now he was paying the price. He deliberated how to undo the damage he’d caused, but attempting to talk to Rym felt treacherous. It was only when they stopped to rest shortly past midday—crunching on hardtack—Callum noticed the pactrid had lost his gruff mood and was open to dialogue. “Rym, I want to apologise again for what I said this morning. I was confused, and I guess a little frightened by wh
  10. Mike Carss
    Yes, from what Callum has learnt so far, that's the assumption. Here's a quote from the first chapter regarding his surroundings:
  11. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    I'm happy to have you aboard! ❤️ I only started posting last Thursday so you're essentially with us from the start. (Chapters will be posted twice weekly until early December.)
  12. Mike Carss
    Hah yeah, despite Rym's rough treatment of Callum at times, he's not overly malicious. Rym simply doesn't trust him, and for good reason. From outside Callum's perspective, I wanted Rym to be somewhat likeable from the start -- to show that pactrids aren't the monsters Callum was led to believe -- although this is also shown to a degree in the first chapter during the interrogation scene.
  13. Mike Carss
    No, @VBlew is correct. Callum isn't aware of the mountain range or the border Rym talks about. This is an important point that will be brought up later.
  14. Mike Carss
    I'm humbled by the comparisons. I hope I don't disappoint. 😅 Enjoy!
  15. Mike Carss
    Thanks for sharing the link. I wasn't aware of most of these. But it goes to show how warring against your neighbours can last seemingly forever, to a point where it can become a cultural norm. The Anberans have certainly fallen to such a state.
  16. Mike Carss
    Thank you for sharing. Most of your guesses are pretty close to the mark. It's always interesting to see how readers interpret with the clues they've been given so far. 😄
  17. Mike Carss
    A sudden kick to Callum’s outstretched legs caused him to jerk awake. The pactrid stood there, glaring at him in the near dark. Morning had only just broken. “Wake up, human. We’re leaving.” The last night had lasted forever. It’d been impossible to get comfortable, and while it felt like he’d been awake all night, exhaustion must’ve finally taken over. To his surprise, Callum found himself untied—the rope now in his captor’s hands. Sitting upright all night had resulted in a numb bu
  18. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    Indeed. I've always had deep respect for our natural environment, and this story does nothing to hide that fact. 😉
  19. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    Of course. My comment is based on Callum's (and the reader's) current point of view of the world. Just trying my best to not spoil anything. 😉 More will be revealed in time, however the pactrid does provide a hint: “Your kind—you always take without permission.”
  20. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    Why innovate when you can just throw endless troops at the problem? 😒 Just because a select few are in power of a population doesn't necessarily make them smart. Your second question will be brought up as the story progresses.
  21. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    Yeah, there would certainly be a dissonant whiplash between the peace of home and the clash of war. Callum will discover this firsthand, much to his dismay.
  22. Mike Carss

    The Accident

    Mike Carss commented on Mike Carss's story chapter in The Accident

    @drpaladin and @akascrubber, I'm so happy to have you joining in this new story. I hope you enjoy it!
  23. Mike Carss
    Callum dipped his bloody hands into the washbasin’s cool water. Small eddies drew the blood from his skin—delicate swirls disappearing into a pinkish hue. Sweat dripped from his brow. The stifling air within the canvas medical tent had grown unbearable. Lost in the moment, he pulled in a deep breath and gradually let it go, revisiting the day’s events. The pactrids had attacked mid-morning. How many, Callum wasn’t sure, but their numbers had surprised even the officers in charge at the cam
  24. Mike Carss
    A lie, repeated enough times, can become reality. Callum, a conscript in a century-long war, serves as a medic in the Anberan army. His adversary—a monstrous race of fierce warriors—battles to control the Anberan's stolen territory. A mishap propels Callum far beyond enemy lines, leading to his capture and interrogation. His captor, however, presents a radically different account as to why they’re warring, filling Callum with doubt. The Roaming Sea is a fantasy novel exploring themes of environmental exploitation, generational fascism, loneliness, and finding compassion in the unlikeliest of places.
  25. Mike Carss
    I'm glad Nathan and Brohm managed to break through your defences. 😉
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