The Land of Broken Roads

The age of mankind is over, its empire reduced to a land of rubble and broken roads. Vicious things nest in the old, forgotten ruins, and what's left of humanity huddles in tiny communities that grow smaller every generation. But when a young boy is taken in by an unlikely ally, a glimmer of hope is born. After waking up in a mysterious forest with no weapons, supplies, or even memories of his life before, Dirt should have ended up a barely adequate snack. Luckily, he attracts the attention of a gigantic, curious wolf pup, who rescues him, and they quickly become friends.

Having survived against goblins and the undead, Dirt and Socks are striking out on their own, leaving forest and den behind. Their spirits are high, but the reason for the journey is serious: Socks is being hunted by a mysterious entity called the Devourer, and it'll catch them if they stay in one place too long. To complicate matters, they finally encounter some real, live humans: a small group of adventurers wandering the wilds in search of a lost city in hopes of saving their people. Because it turns out humanity is on the brink of extinction.

After a summer of adventure, Socks must return to Father to make an accounting of himself. It's time to justify what he's been up to and demonstrate that he remains the predator he was born to be. Failure to meet expectations could easily mean death. Meanwhile, Dirt continues to receive special tutoring from the trees, which comes with its own set of dangers. They're teaching him to speak with beings who dwell beyond perception, hopefully without accidentally getting himself killed. It's proving to be no easy task.