Book 3: Prologue

Book 3: Prologue

Corporal Claws grinned and puffed out her chest as adrenaline coursed through her tiny little body.

She was the most powerful otter in all the lands and seas, and now she had tamed the sky.

Claws stood atop a mountain of the fallen, their unmoving bodies a monument to her prowess. This was no metaphorical hill—oh no. She quite literally stood atop dozens of the cultivators that had been bagged up like grains of wheat and were being flown through the sky by her valiant steeds.

Claws unleashed a chittering laugh. She held her forepaws high, projecting the sound out over the moonlit landscape as her cackle grew, drowning out even the howling wind that rushed past her adorable ears.

Her mirth knew no bounds. Her strength was unmatched. Her coat of fur knew no equal. Her...

One of her captives was stirring.

Claws whirled, chirping with indignation at the cultivator that had dared regain consciousness while she celebrated. Using the giant net for footholds, she skittered around to find the offending human. She revealed her dagger-like teeth to display her displeasure, but when she found the man, she paused.

It was the man her master had told her to take extra good care of.

“Where...” he groaned. “Where am...” He trailed off as his eyes focused on Corporal Claws.

Understandable, she thought. My form is magnificent. My fur is immaculate. My teeth—

“Glaucus’s cursed herbs!” he swore, his eyes tracking the treetops below. “What’s happening? Where am I?”

***

As Bill soared over the forest while clutching a giant net filled to the brim with cultivators, he wondered, not for the first time, if Claws might be insane.

Her jaw was spread wide as she trilled and chirped with laughter, her needle-like teeth shining in the moonlight. Beside her, Cinnamon peeped along with the same cadence. With each heave of their chests, their laughs only grew louder.

Suddenly, Claws stopped. She turned and spotted another waking cultivator.

Zap.

She struck the woman with a jolt of electricity. Before the poor woman could even hit the net again, Claws was cackling away, arching her back and facing her head skyward.

Bill shared a glance with Pelly, who looked just as concerned as he felt.

They were approaching the meeting place, so Bill let out a warning honk. Claws darted her eyes his way, but when he nodded toward the ground and she saw the incoming clearing, the scowl died on her face.

Claws hunched down low, wiggled her butt, and launched herself.

All Bill could do was shake his head as she flew groundward toward their master like an arrow in flight.