BKWildenberg

Thanks for always being here! Not a whole lot of chapters left in this one... I have a good chunk of it written, but I'm still trying to thread the needle on a couple of things. Ultimately, my goal (now that work is slowing down) is to finish by this year's NaNoWriMo so I can focus on something new. Might be more superheroes, might be fantasy. Haven't committed to anything quite yet!

Taran watched the team enter their respective Outfitter stations and fought against the knots in his stomach. He couldn't help but feel conflicted; this was a huge milestone for them, a momentous achievement in their superhero journey. Taran still vividly remembered the first time he stepped into the chamber for his Weather Boy uniform. The days leading up had been spent agonizing over every little detail: was he going to color coordinate with Zephyr or do something different? What kind of mask

"Wisconsin?!" Warren leaned forward in his chair and looked at the team incredulously. "You mean to tell me that this Shadowghast, a personification of death nearly a thousand years old, is hiding out somewhere in northern Wisconsin?" Ronnie looked at his feet sheepishly but thought Crimson Cosmonaut had a point. He had reacted pretty much the same way when Maya first explained it. Such wild, primal evil, only a few hundred miles away in the remote northwoods? It hadn't seemed plausible.

Some new art I've been working on.

The boys gathered their stuff and said goodbye to Greg at the front of the house. Anxiety thrummed in Taran's chest. Lydia had assured him that Maya was resting comfortably in her room, but it was clear he and Ronnie needed to get back immediately. He hoped they managed to avoid Greg's suspicions despite their sudden exit. "I've got classes early in the morning," Ronnie explained. "And you need to get to bed at a decent time," He pulled his dad in for a hug. "Promise me you'll call if yo

Despite everything, the rest of the week passed without incident. The team fell into a routine; mornings were spent in the training room, with the five heroes running simulations together. Lydia monitored everything from the observation deck, tracking each movement on an array of screens while giving out field updates and other communications. Ronnie thought she was the best tactician on the team, and her orders kept them working like a finely tuned instrument. When the computer system inserted

I have had a version of this chapter drafted since about 2018... and I think that line has been in the entire time. I've always gotten a kick out of it!

Ronnie, Taran, and Maya said goodbye to Phillip at the front steps of the Magic Lodge and began their trek back down the winding gravel path. Ronnie stifled a yawn. It had been a long, weird, scary day, and he was exhausted. “Can’t Phillip just poof us home?” he nudged Maya. “I’m so tired!” She laughed. “Not if you want to keep all your organs on the inside. Phillip can appear around the Lodge because he has a clear mental image of his surroundings. Even then, it takes an incredible

Thank you! I will definitely not make you wait 6 months for the next chapter. Life's been pretty busy (work, pandemic, bought a house, etc.) but I really need to get this thing finished

"What the hell is a 'magic lodge'?" Ronnie asked, eyes wide with wonder. Taran gestured to Maya with a sly grin, giving her the floor. "Hoo boy, how to best explain this…," Maya said hesitantly. "Ronnie, do you remember that mental trick I taught you? The one to help keep your emotions in check?" "That tv static thing you and Taran used to do as kids? Sure." "Precisely, please start doing that." Ronnie glanced at Taran, who only shrugged. Closing his eyes, he did his best

Taran stood in front of the whiteboard that took up most of his living room, eyes roaming over the attached reports and messy hand-scrawled notes. He had scoured them so many times they were practically memorized, but he still looked for something new. There had to be something in this mess that would help him. "You know, I'm starting to think your dad only wears that cowl to keep all the bugs off his face when he flies." Ronnie wandered out of the bedroom wearing a pair of sweats, his dam

Taran collapsed onto the locker room bench with an exhausted sigh. A week since giving the team their mission, the days had turned into a grueling routine, and they were starting to take their toll. Every morning was spent in the training arena, where Lydia directed the five heroes through combat drills again and again until they became second nature. The first few sessions had been admittedly rough; Taran was a new addition to the group. All of the previously learned formations had to be tweake

Ronnie wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to focus on his breathing. Training robots whirred around him on shiny chrome wheels, their arms lashing out whenever someone got too close. He whirled away from a blow, only to run directly into Ari, his sharp elbow jamming through the padding of his training uniform and into his gut. Ronnie clutched his side and attempted to push a robot away with a shield, but his aim was entirely off, and he threw his friend to the ground instead. An alarm

Taran woke up well before his alarm, as usual. Today, a sharp beam of early sunlight peeked through a crack in the curtains, cutting across the room to land on his face. Shielding his eyes with the comforter, he rolled over with a grumble. He found Ronnie sprawled across the other half of the bed, sound asleep on his back with one arm tucked behind his head. Sandy brown hair had fallen over his eyes, and his face was set in a peaceful smile. It was hard not to be jealous of how Ronnie effortless

You’ve become unstoppable!