Eden's Tears
cover art by Steve Beaulieu
Victory is fleeting...
Though the Green has been temporarily pushed back, Reyes and Thanata face a new challenge in a deadly strain of coral biota that has spread over the region. It taints the planet’s rainfall, rivers, lakes—and all the wildlife that depends on them.
But there is a swarm-like signal inherent in the coral, which originates deep within Phoa’s biomorphic sea. Reyes and Thanata must rush to its source and stop the coral growth before it suffocates everything they have struggled to preserve—including the bond between them.
Don't miss this alien planet survival tale perfect for fans of J.N. Chaney, A.G. Riddle, and Horizon Zero Dawn. Grab your copy today!
Though the Green has been temporarily pushed back, Reyes and Thanata face a new challenge in a deadly strain of coral biota that has spread over the region. It taints the planet’s rainfall, rivers, lakes—and all the wildlife that depends on them.
But there is a swarm-like signal inherent in the coral, which originates deep within Phoa’s biomorphic sea. Reyes and Thanata must rush to its source and stop the coral growth before it suffocates everything they have struggled to preserve—including the bond between them.
Don't miss this alien planet survival tale perfect for fans of J.N. Chaney, A.G. Riddle, and Horizon Zero Dawn. Grab your copy today!
EDEN's TEARS is published through Aethon Books. Buy it in multiple formats on Amazon.
Eden's Tears: Excerpt
Reyes crept in the damp high grass to the village as the munching sounds grew louder.
The light swish of his biosuit sliding through the wet foliage set his teeth on edge. He had to keep quiet. He’d hailed the village leaders on the radio two days ago about administering the Enkidu angiopods to their people for protection against the Green. Now, no one answered the radio. No sentries waved from the palisade. No lights.
Nothing except moist chewing noises.
Hovering three meters behind him, Seven kept its mini-guns ready as ordered, but he worried the drone would shoot anything it considered a threat to him or Thanata. Its security algorithms were hard to override when traversing Phoa’s wilderness. Especially given the chaos of the past month.
Four meters to his right, Thanata crept through the grass better than a natural predator. Her limbs were splayed in graceful poise, and she had a short rifle in hand, ready to strike. Even now, after three months in the wilds with her, Reyes found it hard to be so patient. The waiting and anxiety ate at him like a virus.
Virus. That’s what some called the growths. He’d not initially believed all of the reports, since many villages south of the Safe Zone were in thrall of superstition or Cathomen propaganda. But he’d been wrong. The crusted growths hindered their attempt at stealth. Every step crunched through grass coated in yellow-brown, tubular proliferation.
While waiting for Thanata to lead them forward, he opened his left palm and activated his focus. The holographic display showed sensor data from his scanner, as well as the devices installed in Seven’s drone shell. Radiation was slightly higher this far south but nothing to worry about yet. Traces of silica in the air reminded him that the Cathomen and Wayfarers were still fighting over the old Orion fabrication facility in the Canyonlands—the burning structures polluted the atmosphere with the particles.
The sensor data became jumbled for a moment, then the focus rebooted itself as a security measure. Reyes withheld a sigh and closed his palm. It’d been like that for the past several days. All electronics had experienced glitches the farther south they went. He wanted to blame it on the Green, but their efforts had pushed it back enough to allow more radio traffic in the region. Still, he--
Thanata raised a hand.
He went still. Stared. Waited.
Savanna grass crackled as a light breeze passed over them. The disturbance caused the crusty glass blades to rub against one another, creating a dull, raspy ambience that heightened his worries. Thanata continued watching the settlement, hand raised. By now they should have spotted someone out and about. Or heard voices at least.
Again, the chewing sounds.
The light swish of his biosuit sliding through the wet foliage set his teeth on edge. He had to keep quiet. He’d hailed the village leaders on the radio two days ago about administering the Enkidu angiopods to their people for protection against the Green. Now, no one answered the radio. No sentries waved from the palisade. No lights.
Nothing except moist chewing noises.
Hovering three meters behind him, Seven kept its mini-guns ready as ordered, but he worried the drone would shoot anything it considered a threat to him or Thanata. Its security algorithms were hard to override when traversing Phoa’s wilderness. Especially given the chaos of the past month.
Four meters to his right, Thanata crept through the grass better than a natural predator. Her limbs were splayed in graceful poise, and she had a short rifle in hand, ready to strike. Even now, after three months in the wilds with her, Reyes found it hard to be so patient. The waiting and anxiety ate at him like a virus.
Virus. That’s what some called the growths. He’d not initially believed all of the reports, since many villages south of the Safe Zone were in thrall of superstition or Cathomen propaganda. But he’d been wrong. The crusted growths hindered their attempt at stealth. Every step crunched through grass coated in yellow-brown, tubular proliferation.
While waiting for Thanata to lead them forward, he opened his left palm and activated his focus. The holographic display showed sensor data from his scanner, as well as the devices installed in Seven’s drone shell. Radiation was slightly higher this far south but nothing to worry about yet. Traces of silica in the air reminded him that the Cathomen and Wayfarers were still fighting over the old Orion fabrication facility in the Canyonlands—the burning structures polluted the atmosphere with the particles.
The sensor data became jumbled for a moment, then the focus rebooted itself as a security measure. Reyes withheld a sigh and closed his palm. It’d been like that for the past several days. All electronics had experienced glitches the farther south they went. He wanted to blame it on the Green, but their efforts had pushed it back enough to allow more radio traffic in the region. Still, he--
Thanata raised a hand.
He went still. Stared. Waited.
Savanna grass crackled as a light breeze passed over them. The disturbance caused the crusty glass blades to rub against one another, creating a dull, raspy ambience that heightened his worries. Thanata continued watching the settlement, hand raised. By now they should have spotted someone out and about. Or heard voices at least.
Again, the chewing sounds.
