The night of no moon

On the wind‑scarred world of Boyd III, three moons wrestle the oceans into relentless, confusing tides. Surveyor Pete Guthrie has touched down on a bleak coastal plain, his rocket barely secured against the surge, and must navigate a landscape where only the toughest survive. The native Skirkhi—short, squat beings with blunt features and a language that feels alien—watch him warily, their customs shaped by the planet’s brutal weather. Guthrie’s uneasy partnership with Polf, a local guide, offers a glimpse into a culture forged by constant storms.

As dark clouds gather and the next great tempest looms, a strange, pulsing flare streaks across the sky, arcing toward the horizon. Both men sense that the lights herald something beyond ordinary weather—perhaps a new threat or an unexpected rescue. With the village of two hundred people holding its breath, Guthrie must decide whether to trust his strange allies or risk being swept away by the planet’s unforgiving forces.