Hunted by an empire, haunted by prophecy—
Auren's power could save or destroy the world.

Shadow Stalker

Episodes 1 - 6

Shadow Stalker Bundles Part 1

Renee Scattergood

Genre: Grimdark Fantasy

The shadows are calling—and they know her name.

For eighteen years, Auren Trask has lived under the watchful eye of her foster father, Kado. He’s trained her in combat, wilderness survival, and strategy, but never explained why. His strict rules and secrecy have left her feeling trapped, desperate for freedom and a normal life with her friends.

That all changes the night she sneaks away for a simple camping trip. When the Galvadi Empire invades, burning villages and capturing innocents, Auren’s world shatters. She and her friends barely escape with their lives—thanks to Kado’s sudden appearance and skills that suggest he’s far more than a reclusive courier.

As the Galvadi tighten their grip on the Serpent Isles, Auren discovers she is at the center of a prophecy that has haunted the empire for generations. She is the delohi-saqu, a shadow stalker destined—according to Galvadi belief—to plunge the world into darkness. To stop that future, they will hunt her without mercy.

But the truth is far more dangerous than the Galvadi know. Auren’s powers are awakening, shadows whisper secrets in her dreams, and even Kado can no longer shield her from the path ahead. To survive, she must confront the terrifying legacy of the shadow stalkers and decide whether destiny is a prison…or a weapon.

Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1–6) launches Renee Scattergood’s dark fantasy serial, a journey through treachery, prophecy, and the struggle between fear and hope. Perfect for fans of epic adventure, morally complex heroes, and worlds where light and darkness are never simple.

Praise for Shadow Stalker

"This is the first time I’ve read a serial and I didn’t know what to expect. I was pulled into the story right away. The pacing was cleverly crafted so that while the action had the pages turning, there was enough back story to keep you rooted in the plot."

~ Melissa Barker-Simpson, Author of the Morgan and Fairchild Series

"Scattergood's writing style is simple and straightforward and her characters very believable."

~ Grant Leishman, Author of Tortured Minds

"One of the best things about the series are the characters, who are human and sympathetic. The heroine is both a tough, capable young woman, and a naive and self-centered teenager; the tension between the two sides of her personality as she is suddenly forced to leave childhood behind and enter into adulthood is often well-captured, as is her ambivalent relationship with her foster father."

~ E.P. Clark, Author of The Zemnian Trilogy

“Hunted by an empire, haunted by prophecy—Auren’s power could save or destroy the world.”

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Episode 1 — The Hidden Truth

Chapter 2 | The invasion begins

By late afternoon, the fire was hot enough to cook. Jade and I had to make another trip for wood to keep the campfire going. As we returned to the campsite, we heard thunder rolling in the distance. I looked up and caught the first stars flickering as the sky darkened. There were no clouds, so I sniffed the air—the wind carried the salty tang of the ocean, but it lacked the ozone scent or electrical charge usually present before a storm.

"I thought it wasn't going to rain this weekend," Jade whined, dropping her stack of wood beside the fire pit.

"My dad said the weather would be fine," Deakan said.

"Obviously, your dad was mistaken."

Anxiety stabbed at my gut, and I missed the rest of their spat. It seemed irrational, but I sensed something was wrong, as if my life were in danger. A rumbling echoed through the valley again, and I resisted the urge to run.

"Guys, we should go find a cave or something," I suggested, interrupting their bickering.

"Are you afraid of a bit of a storm?" Deakan teased.

I didn't respond. My eyes shifted to the southern mountaintops, where the sky had just illuminated with a reddish-orange glow instead of the typical white flash of lightning. It looked like flames and sounded like an explosion rather than thunder. Something caught my attention as I looked down the slopes. Small black dots swarmed into the valley, split into groups, and moved toward the villages.

"Deakan, do you happen to have your binoculars?"

He was busy mixing something in a pot. "Yeah, why?"

"I need them! Quick!"

He reached into his bag. Jade stood, squinting in the same direction I was looking, and her expression indicated she saw nothing unusual.

"Hurry, Deakan!"

"Damn, you're impatient. Here," he said, handing them to me before turning his gaze towards the valley.

I adjusted the settings and looked through the binoculars, spotting hydrocars with the Galvadi Empire insignia surrounding the village. Men emerged from the vehicles, but the chaos made it hard to make out details. I couldn't tell if they were killing anyone, but they started burning the houses. Suddenly, I saw one hydrocars detach from the group and head directly towards us.

"Put out the fire!" I yelled. I shoved the binoculars back into Deakan's hand and started throwing dirt from the hole we'd dug for the fire pit onto the campfire. Jade helped me while Deakan looked through his binoculars to check for himself.

"What's happening, Auren?" Jade asked.

I worried Jade might panic, but hiding the truth wouldn't help when something was clearly happening. "The Galvadi are invading the island, burning villages, and a hydrocar is coming our way. They must have noticed our campfire."

"It might be someone coming to warn us." She stood and looked out over the valley again, hope in her expression.

I shook my head as Deakan stored his binoculars in his bag. Jade may not have noticed the hydrocar nearby, but she definitely saw the flames consuming the village. She and Deakan silently helped me cover the fire pit, after which Deakan hoisted his backpack.

"We'll need to get to your hydrocar and get off the island," I said, studying the gap in the trees to the north, where Deakan's hydrocar waited just beyond the forest. From our angle, I couldn't see it, and I couldn't spot any of the darker Galvadi vehicles. I doubted it would take them long to reach the island and cut off our only escape.

"Are you nuts? It's too far. We'll never make it before they get here!" Deakan said, pointing towards the Galvadi heading our way.

He was right. "Let's head towards the northern forest, and we can make our way to your hydrocar from there."

The forest was about two kilometres away, but the Galvadi were far enough away that we could reach it if we ran.

Deakan nodded, set off, and Jade and I followed with our backpacks. His long legs quickly put him several metres ahead. Seeing how far behind we had fallen, he paused to scan the hilltop, then let us go ahead so he wouldn't lose us.

Halfway there, Jade stopped and bent over, panting hard. She was less fit than Deakan and I. "I can't—"

I grabbed her arm and pulled her behind me. "Run! They're almost across the lake."

Renee Scattergood lives in Australia with her husband, Nathan, and adult spawn (yes, that’s what they like to be called). She has always loved fantasy and was inspired to become a storyteller by George Lucas, but she didn't start writing her stories until her late twenties. Now she enjoys writing dark fantasy. She is currently working on a novel series, Shadow Guardians of the Serpent Isles, based on her serial, Shadow Stalker, and a new series called The Emperor’s Blades. Aside from writing, she loves reading (fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and watching YouTube Videos with her spawn.

Visit her site for more information and a free copy of Shadow Stalker Part 1 (Episodes 1 – 6): https://reneescattergood.au

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