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Hi everyone,

I hope you're having a great week. I just wanted to give you some life updates. This week I had an...interesting experience applying to a remote job. Turns out the person doing the hiring was "plot twist" a former hit man and their current assist was answering the emails while they're in jail. Needless to say, I'm a little put off with finding any more new jobs for awhile. I've also started hearing back from MFA programs. Sadly no acceptances yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

On the writing front, I'm now on Chapter 13 edits for Amy's Rebellion, so I thought I'd share another excerpt for you. This one shows Iris and the others as they make their way through a magical forest to get to the glass mage clan.

Enter the forest of magic

Iris looked over to Eiji, "So who is this mysterious ally to the west?” 

He pointed in the direction of the forest that led to the glass mages, and she cocked her head to one side. "The glass mages? Why would they help us? They're complete recluses." 

Eiji blushed. "Because I may have created an 'alliance' with their leader. His name is Enzo." 

Luna blinked. "By alliance. Do you mean you...?"  She gestured at the air, “Use your Kitsune wiles on him.” 

Fox ears popped up from his head, and his face flushed fuchsia. "Maybe a few times, but that's not important. What's important is they might be willing to help us. You're welcome."  

Iris coughed to cover a laugh, and Eiji led their small group west towards the misty forest that led to the glass mages. 

The transition from the desert to the forest drenched Iris’s body in sweat and caused their clothing to cling like a second skin. Birds with the heads of women swooped overhead, and they all placed earplugs in so as not to be tempted by their song. 

A hooved creature with a woman’s face and snow white wings swooped through the treetops and landed just above Iris’s head. The branch strained under its weight. The creature opened its mouth and let out a loud caw, but when she didn't react it flew off. Fairies the size of thumbnails buzzed around like mosquitoes, but none of them dared swat the pesky creatures for fear of angering the dryads that lurked in the depths of the forest. 

The mist in the air grew thicker as they pushed onward, sending a shiver down Iris’s spine. Hopefully, that didn't mean they were getting closer to the Feth. Iris had no desire to come into contact with one of those creatures seeing as how they could be more than a little temperamental. 

Iris reached out and grabbed onto Luna's sleeve as they continued through the mist. One of the Sirin flew overhead singing their enticing melody. Luna turned back to Iris and smiled. Her thoughts whispered in Iris’s mind “It’s just a little further. On the way back, we can ask them if they have a safer path through the forest.” 

Iris gave a weak smile and tightened their grip on Luna’s sleeve, but said nothing. They pushed further through the forest, and when Luna moved aside a branch, it snapped back hitting Iris in the forehead. A face appeared on the tree, and Iris mumbled. "Sorry." before continuing on. 

When a rushing waterfall came into view, their group paused to fill up their canteens. Everyone removed their ear plugs now that the Sirin, or owl women, had moved on to another part of the forest. 

Iris’s skin itched, and they looked down to see silver scales lining the top half of their left arm. But looking down at the endless depths of the water set Iris on edge. Thanks, body. Giving me the choice between death by mermaid or death from lack of oxygen.

Iris glared at the water. They dipped a toe into the cool placid pond and then jumped into its depths. Scales grew along their skin, spreading to their whole body. Lungs became gills and they went from struggling for air to breathing freely.

Iris froze when shimmering indigo and silver scales glided through the water just under Iris’s tail. Their gaze drifted up to the dorsal fin jutting up from between pale shoulder blades that glowed in the water like phosphorescent moss. Their curtain of silky black hair and raspberry red lips would lure Iris in like a moth to a flame if it were for the sharp rows of shark-like teeth screaming at Iris to stay away. 

The mermaid swam towards Iris, her long fangs bared in a spine chilling grin and she stroked Iris’s scales with a long, curved fingernail. Iris shuddered and propelled themself back with their silver fins. 

"Interesting. It looks like you know what I am. Does that mean you’re a shifter?” Iris tried to push themself back, but the mermaid gripped Iris with her hands. “It seems you are. I’ve heard their flesh makes a delicious meal, is that true?" 

Iris opened their mouth and dug their fang like teeth into the mermaid’s hand. She snarled and released her grip on Iris. Iris spun around and swam up towards the surface, hoping their body would change if they left the water. 

Two mermaids swamp up from the depths to join the first. "Get them before they get away," the first mermaid shouted. 

Iris reached out with their mind, "Everyone. Red alert. There are mermaids in the water." 

A splash rippled the surface of the water, and a mermaid with a violet tail bolted towards the disturbance. She wrapped her arms around a small shifter with light brown hair, Shophan. Iris dove for him, looking back and forth between the mermaid closing in and the one dragging the small shifter under. Come on body change, become something more useful than a regular fish. 

Iris imagined pink flippers and a long snout. Instead of gills, they pictured lungs and a blowhole. At first nothing happened, but then their tail elongated and her scales shed, turning into a leathery hide. They risked a glimpse to the side and saw pink. "Yes." They thought and raced towards the mermaid letting out a loud screech. 

"Where the hell did an Encantado come from?" They grumbled and dropped the shifter, swimming away. Iris grabbed the shifter by his shirt collar using their small razor sharp teeth and propelled themself up out of the water. When Iris’s head broke the surface, they let go of him and sucked in a breath before diving back down.

Several of the others' thoughts reached Iris’s mind. "What is an Encantado doing all the way out here?" 

"I thought she was a wolf shifter, how did she change into a dolphin?"

"Who is that? I don't remember bringing a dolphin shifter with us." 

Iris tried to will themself back into human form, but their flesh felt stiff and unchanging. The mermaids circled, but didn’t approach Iris. Iris swam towards one of the mermaids and butted into her with Iris’s snout and then bared the tiny razor sharp teeth that lined their mouth. 

The first mermaid scattered and the rest followed suit. Once they were out of view, Iris’s body shifted, and they swam full force towards the water's surface as fins contorted changing to legs mid stroke. Their lungs shrank, causing their body to burn with a desperation for air. 

Iris burst to the surface with one hand and one fin. They tread water until the final fin turned to a leg and pulled themself onto dry land. The other shifters stared on at Iris apart from the rabbit shifter who reached out to help them up despite the teeth marks on his hand and the blood still dripping down from his skin. 

END OF EXCERPT

Now, I have a question for you. 

If you could have any magic power, what would you want?

I think for me flying or teleportation. I'd love that freedom of movement and no more expensive plane tickets.

That's all I've got for you today. Have a great day and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Julia

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