Spunky N Sassy: Hunt of the Fallen

Ralin is an outsider among outsiders. The dominant Users, who can manipulate their souls to create unique and powerful abilities, shun him for his lack of inborn talent. And even among his fellow exiles, he must hide his past. On the very day that he finds a lasting purpose for his life, everything is turned completely upside down.

Wanted by the government, pursued by monsters and mercenaries, and plagued by strange nightmares, the young man must travel beyond everything he has ever known to discover what is so important about him to cause such powerful people want him as an ally, or want him dead. To survive, Ralin and his allies will be pushed to the limit as they battle rock monsters, traitors, the undead, and even Ralin himself.

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R.A. Zaugg (1982-still kicking) was born in Ogden, Utah, to long-time Utahan parents as the first of their brood. His childhood was filled with fun, friends, and family values that have made him who he is today. His first novel "Hunt of the Fallen" began on sticky notes as he worked in a gas station, and was the spark that lit the fire of storytelling. With a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, he is now working on his master's degree. He currently lives in Washington State with his wife and step-son.

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EXCERPT

Nadim sat on the ground with his back toward Ralin. He cradled his left arm as he backed away from his attacker. The enormous yarknaf took slow deliberate steps toward the hunter-turned-prey, seeming to feed on fear as an appetizer. On all fours it stood the height of a full-grown man. Its massive shoulders showed rippling muscles, and the rear legs were short but looked no less powerful than the rest of its body. Green, scaly skin armored the creature and looked slimy. The ridges on its back were spiked and gave it a wicked, unearthly look. Its jaws gaped open menacingly, showing several rows of long, razor sharp teeth, which seemed no deadlier than the purple eyes drilling into Nadim like daggers. Sickeningly sharp claws, the length of a man’s hand, tore into the dirt as the yarknaf neared its next meal. It was strange to see this dangerous animal in the forest. Usually they remained in caves near mountains; only leaving when lost or desperate for food. Nadim had given up yelling and was now closing his eyes, preparing himself for what would come after this life.

Ralin reacted without thinking. He bolted through the trees toward the confrontation, about to create one of his own. Only light brush separated Nadim and himself. Jumping so he would fly over his friend, Ralin erupted from the bushes, long knife already in hand. His momentum carried him to the right of the ugly creature’s head. Neither Nadim nor his attacker had enough time to react to what was happening. As Ralin glided through the air, he took aim and slammed his long knife into the beast’s monstrous head.

Diving into a roll, the young hunter heard an earth- shaking roar that was both low and high pitched at the same time. Ralin turned back and covered his ears, but he only caught a glimpse of the thing’s head with his knife protruding from its right eye before one of the great clawed limbs backhanded his side and sent him flying again. He landed on the other side of the clearing, trying to suck in the air that had been knocked out of him.

The monster was coming toward him, forgetting, for the moment, Nadim, who was now unconscious. It walked uneasily; dazed from the knife in one eye and the blood that dripped into the other.

Ralin still couldn’t breathe, let alone get up and run. He did his best to scoot away before his inevitable demise.

Just as the beast began to open its maw, Ralin heard the familiar song of an arrow flying through the air, and the satisfying thump of a target struck. He saw the shaft and feathers protruding from the animal’s shoulder. Ralin smiled at the efforts of the other hunter, but still believed himself to be a dead man. The green yarknaf flinched but seemed to decide to finish off the one who had impaired its vision before anything else.

It reared onto its hind legs as three more arrows struck almost in cadence. Ralin now had a ray of hope streaming through his veins. The yarknaf gave another deafening roar that was a mixture of confusion, pain, frustration, anger, and fear. Giving up the attack, it charged into the woods.

Ralin watched the retreat in surprise and relief. He would have laughed when he saw the beast make a fatal move, if he could have breathed. It was running full speed when it hit a tree head on. The knife that was imbedded into its eye was shoved so far into its head that it died in an instant. The mountain of an animal fell to the ground like a rock.