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The Moth and the Bear
My ongoing fantasy series about an aspiring blacksmith and her misadventures with giant bear people as she journeys to find out what happened to her father who's been missing for many years.
Overall, it's your typical “two people from very different backgrounds at first clash, but come to an understanding and venture forth on an epic journey together to find the people they’ve lost, slowly growing closer” type of slow-burn fantasy adventure story, only one person is a young blacksmith and the other is an actual giant monster.
The story features my original species of giants called "Kanai" and takes place in a fictional place called Kellabor. Basically picture late-medieval fantasy Russia and giant bear-sphinxes.
Links to some stuff:
I tag all content related to the story with #tmatb.
Kellabor lore dump here!
Kanai anatomy reference here!
Kellabor Vibes Playlist!
Story inspiration Playlist!
Summaries and content warnings below the cut:
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Book I summary:
Kaelin Belka, the only daughter of her village's late blacksmith, is kidnapped by a family of giant bear people as part of a coming-of-age tradition for their youngest son, Ruyak. Kaelin tries her best to keep her chin up despite the circumstances, but her captor isn't easy to get along with, and not just because he's being constantly tormented by his pushy older brothers. As it turns out, the whole tradition has quite a dark side, and all the skill and charm in the world may not be enough to save Kaelin from her fate.
Art and writing from book I
Content warnings for book I:
There are giant bear people and they can be pretty violent. There is gt violence, kidnapping, dehumanization, threats of violence, threats of eating people, and familial conflict involving emotional and physical confrontation. There's quite a lot of gt interaction, and although most of it is scary and threatening, some of it's cute. Some cursing. Absolutely no sexual content.
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Book II summary (book I spoiler warning):
Kaelin Belka’s blacksmith father has been missing for many years, but she believes he may be alive somewhere and is determined to find him. She'll need the help of Ruyak, whose older sister may hold the secret. However, as Kaelin waits for her friend to make an appearance, things in her village become more uncertain by the day. As Kaelin struggles with the pitfalls of village life, she finds just as many obstacles rising within her own mind. If and when Ruyak finally comes to meet her, it may be to find her in pieces.
As tangled webs become ever more treacherous, and dark secrets find their way into the light, Kaelin will need to discover for herself the boundaries of her beliefs, her willpower, and her trust.
Art and writing from book II
Content warnings for book II:
The giant bear people are still pretty violent, but a bit less explicitly. There is familial emotional and physical confrontation, references to eating people (not explicit, but it gets mentioned several times), hella guilt, lots of general peril including rough handling and near-drowning, animal death, and depiction of PTSD symptoms including depression, dissociation, recurring nightmares, panic attacks, anxiety, and flashbacks. There is an absolute shit ton of cute gt interaction in this one folks. Some cursing, and slightly underage drinking. No sexual content except for one extremely vague and clinical anatomical reference.
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Book III summary (not released yet, don't read this if you don't want book I and II spoiled):
Kaelin and Ruyak have already come farther than they’ve ever been: braving the harsh Kellaborn climate, fording raging rivers, and trying not to get lost as they search for the trail of their missing family members. But the road ahead will be even more perilous, and the two of them will need to learn to rely on each other despite their complicated past. The summer wears on, the mysteries deepen, and as Kaelin and Ruyak venture into new lands with nothing but a cold trail to follow, they’ll find themselves meeting allies and enemies, facing shadows within and without, and learning not just about themselves, but each other as well.
Art and writing from book III
Content warnings for book III:
Similar content warnings as the last two books, in addition to mentions of child abuse. The cute gt shit is really ramping up in this one guys, hold onto your butts. No sexual content except for one crude offhand joke.
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Book IV summary (not released yet, don't read this if you don't want spoilers):
Ruyak and Kaelin have made it through the winter far from home, but their journey is far from over. Kaelin has received a tip that her father may be residing somewhere across the Sunders, the great mountain range bisecting Kellabor.
What they find there isn’t what they expected, and just when things are finally looking up for the two of them, the very conflict that would tear them apart threatens to destroy everything they’ve come to love.
Can Kanai and humans coexist?
Art and writing from book IV
Content warnings for book IV:
There's a lot. Things get a little spicier and a little darker. There are some pretty brutal off-screen deaths. Still no sexual content.
Got some new books that I’m ecstatic to crack open! I followed this story years ago when it was still in its early days on the internet, and I’m so excited that it’s now not only three books long, but in physical form! It’s so inspiring to see the story come so far!
Thank you so much @keydekyie for sharing your creativity with us. I am extremely excited and happy to be a proud owner of copies of these books.