Maidens of the Fall, Arc 5, Parasomnia, Chapter 6
Chapter burrows down through mountain stone, safe and sound in rocky heart, chewing worms and grubs deep beneath the bones of the earth.
https://hungryshedgerow.net/maidens-of-the-fall-parasomnia-5-6/
Password is: volcanism
An epub version of the chapter is also attached below!
It is the final chapter of the arc! The finale! The climax! The ... things I can't say before you read the chapter. Ahem. Seriously though, arc 5 is ending much sooner than I expected, and this is a surprisingly good thing. I'm really glad with how tight this one stayed, since I expected it to sprawl, especially with how much Octavia and others defied or 'adjusted' my plans at every step of the way.
Anyway! That's it, there we go. Next chapter it's onto arc 6, with some surprises hanging like a sword above Octavia's head. I am so very much looking forward to it, dear readers, and I hope you are enjoying Maidens of the Fall just as much as I am enjoying writing it. Thank you all so very much!
This week I have a small scheduling announcement; I have adjusted the upcoming schedule, over on the MotF Contents Page.
I've moved the break week to next week, a week earlier than it should be; after that, chapters will resume as normal.
I never like having to do this, especially after I had to move the break week last month as well. However, I'm currently very sick (nothing serious, don't worry, I'll be fine); every previous time I've had a similar flare-up, I've always attempted to power through and get the next chapter done on time, which almost always leads to taking more days to edit a mess of a chapter, and having to skip a publishing date.
This time I've decided to try the opposite strategy; I am giving myself the extra space in advance, rather than cancelling the chapter halfway through next week.
I'm still going to be working and writing; if everything goes well, I'll publish next week anyway and the adjusted break week won't happen! But if I don't recover quick enough, chapters will resume afterward. Hopefully this isn't too disappointing, and I do apologise, especially since I had to do something similar so recently; I'm hoping (knock on wood!) that the rest of this year is going to be much, much smoother.
Anyway! Whatever happens, more Maidens soon!
Comments (16)
Let's send This Machine to punch your health problems!
This Machine soothes and heals. This Machine reduces inflammation. Hooray! (And thank you!)
what an utterly incredible, insane chapter! i hope the poor zoog is okay
Thank you!!! Very glad you enjoyed this one so much! As for the zoog, well, Octavia seems concerned, but she's protected it with everything she's got.
Well Jesus fucking Christ that was delightful and delicious. Little Octavia said fuck you rules and fuck your dreams she's in charge. And now she knows even more things she wants to kill. I find her design delightful. I love the implications of an iterative nature, where now she is fulled by rage she could later be fulled by hope, or love, it every emotion between. It seems that so much of This Machine was cater built to take on Willow, subconscious remberings of her and what she really was, and I adore the idea that she will iterate for every single of the dreams who were stupid enough to show themselves to her. Some might say she's too stupid to know when to quit. I say she's beautiful when she's dying.
Yaaaay, thank you! Really glad you enjoyed this! Octavia has indeed taken charge, proven to the world that she moves for nothing, and to herself that she can do things she once considered impossible. Mmhmm! This Machine is a prototype, or perhaps a mark 1, a thing that Octavia's own engineering skills might be able to improve upon, or iterate in new directions. And while anger served so well as fuel, perhaps other sources might be even more powerful. "Some might say she's too stupid to know when to quit. I say she's beautiful when she's dying." Gosh. Goodness me. Thank you so very much, that's one of the best pieces of description I've ever heard.
Hope you get well soon and thank you for the notice and the chapter.
Thank you very much! I'll be fine, just gotta keep on looking after myself. And you're very welcome indeed, very glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Oh this chapter. This is beautiful. This Machine finally delivered exactly what Willow deserved, save for the final blow. Even Dawn got to see the superiority of This Machine running flat out.
Thank you thank you! Yeah, this felt so deeply satisfying to write, Octavia finally unleashed, This Machine at full power. The whole Trio got to experience a little bit of her, too!
Another absolutely magnificent chapter, I keep falling more and more in love with this story despite it already being in my all time top two of all time (and I'm tempted to give it the number one spot at this point)
Awwww, thank you so very much! Gosh, that's a very flattering compliment, and I'm delighted you're enjoying Maidens. All time top two! Yay!
You either move out of the way or This Machine will move you on your behalf!
This Machine stops for nobody!
Congratulations dreamers! You've all just earned yourselves a place on This Machine's hit list!
This Machine has discovered a new set of faces that require punching.