Fire & Metal, #1
Metal Slinger
by Rachel Schneider
Contents
Chapter 33
Overview
Jovie and Acker fall into the Dark Forest and are swarmed by vicious bat-like creatures. Jovie unleashes overwhelming light, incinerating the horde and purging the forest, nearly losing control. They rescue a dying Messer and reach Kenta forces, where a soldier reveals Acker’s royal status. Jovie collapses from exhaustion.
Summary
Jovie and Acker land in near-total darkness, their magic smothered, unable to see more than a few steps. As they call for Messer, winged creatures attack, tearing into them. Overwhelmed and enraged, Jovie detonates blinding light, burning the bat-like horde midair as they panic and fall. The glow reveals a forest floor littered with bones.
Acker warns Jovie not to let the magic control her, but her fury swells and the light expands, chasing back the darkness and vaporizing the last of the creatures. Her power surges outward until the sky breaks through and the Dark Forest is left smoldering and bare. Acker tackles Jovie to stop her, and she regains herself.
They search the ruin and find the Roison shifter panther—Sven—unconscious and failing. Pressing on, they locate Messer in leopard form, grievously torn and moments from death. At Jovie’s plea, Acker hoists Messer and drives them toward open ground.
They burst from the trees to meet Kenta soldiers. Acker loads Messer onto a horse and orders a healer; a soldier addresses him as “your highness,” revealing Acker’s royal identity. As relief hits, Jovie’s vision blurs and she collapses.
Who Appears
- JovieUnleashes overwhelming light, incinerates Dark Forest creatures, nearly loses control, insists on saving Messer, collapses afterward.
- AckerSupports Jovie, warns her to rein in power, carries wounded Messer, revealed as Kenta royalty by a soldier.
- MesserLeopard shifter found mortally wounded; carried to Kenta soldiers for a healer.
- SvenRoison shifter panther, unconscious and failing after battles in the forest.
- Kenta soldiersArrive at the forest edge; take Messer to a healer and reveal Acker’s royal status.