Forest Tales
Updated: 28 December 2023 This is the home of Forest Tales, a series of stories based on the lives of my chakat family. From humble beginnings, this has grown into a complex and imaginative collection of stories following different aspects of the Chakat Universe, with contributions from many other fine authors. I have also written a few non-chakat universe stories, including fanfics of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic universe, which I hope that you find equally interesting. Please read and enjoy! |
NEWS!
LATEST ADDITIONS
UPDATED 28/12/2023
A major update has been done for Mark My Words. (By Bernard Doove)
ADDED 22/10/2023
While The Oceanwalker Process is a well-understood and easy procedure nowadays, when it was first being developed, there were many techniques that had to be created to make the transition from one form to another safer and more comfortable. Follow early adopter Maria Petrou's experience as she takes the plunge to become a chakat. (By Evelyn Gutmann)
ADDED 12/8/2023
Everyone knows the story of how six brave ponies came together to defeat Nightmare Moon, right? Nope! At least, not in this universe where Harmony had other ideas. It Takes Six, but not necessarily the ones you think. (By Bernard Doove)
ADDED 21/1/2023
A new article about 21st Century World History: has been written by Tigerstripe.
UPDATED 14/1/2023
The official Timeline has been updated.
My stories have been provided completely free online for your enjoyment, and will always be available for free. However, they do take a lot of my time and effort, and I have hefty bills to pay, so if you would like to show your appreciation and help support the Chakat's Den, please consider sending a donation. The PayPal link button on the left is a convenient way to do so, and any donation would be hugely appreciated. | |
Alternatively you can support me by buying me a Ko-fi. | |
STORY INDEX | |
As I look back to my earlier stories, I notice how much my writing has improved. And yet I can't simply remove these stories because they contain so much relevant material for the later ones. I hope that new readers will persist with the series because I feel I have much more to offer in the later episodes. The stories have a general theme, hence the different series names. They are: The main stories of these various series are the Forest Tales series. The theme is the life and loves of Chakat Forestwalker (Forest for short), and hir extended family. In these tales, I try to explore what it's like to be a chakat, and how they relate to others. I have attempted to cover the dramas, joys, tragedies, humour and all those other things that make up any person's life, and still put an unusual twist on things. This is an adult series, so occasional sex scenes occur in some stories. Sex is a part of life too, and it would be wrong to exclude it. However, I have done my best to make the scenes relevant and enjoyable. The original stories were not written as such; they began as private email interactions between my characters and Boyce Kline's. However, it was felt that they would also make interesting stories, so I wrote them up properly. These started mostly as erotica pieces, but they also gave intriguing tidbits of information about Chakat customs and pleasures. Gradually the storyline converged with the main Forest Tales storyline, occasionally making reference to events happening, or had happened, in those episodes. The storylines merged completely at A&C#6 and continue on into FT#12. Another spin-off series, this one focuses on the Foxtaurs of the Chakat Universe. Chakats may still cameo in these stories, but it will be the Foxtaurs who will be in the spotlight. All stories occur within the timeframe of the other stories and are listed in order with the other stories. Stories based on and around the Pegasus, flagship of the First Fleet. The principle characters are Admiral Boyce Kline, Commander Chakat Midnight, First Officer Rosepetal Silpurr, Doctor M'Lai Saarath, Chief Engineer Chakat Sparks, and Navigator Lieutenant Murawrr. Quickpaw relates tales of moments in hir life during hir college years and the events that led up to them. These are written by hir player, Christian Neumann. Exactly what the title says stories about the children and grandchildren of the characters in Forest Tales series. I have a number of stories that don't fit into the above categories but still belong next to them which I'll put here. Also, the number of stories that guest authors have been writing that fit into the timeline of my stories keeps growing. To help keep them in order, I am now listing them in the chronological list at right. Unlike the others though, there won't be links within them to the next chronological story. (WIP = Work In Progress - linked back to author's website until completed.) A non-canon spin-off with a twist, The Colony features a large group of humans who were unwittingly drawn into an experimental society by persons unknown. 21st Century men, women and children were kidnapped and, while unconscious, changed into chakats and abandoned on another world in an apparent bizarre social experiment. These tales tell the stories of the various people caught up in this strange situation. The original concept of the Colony is by V. Ducain, but I and others have written our own short stories for it also. |
Forest Tales #1: Reunion Forest Tales #2: Partnerships Forest Tales #3: Fulfillment Forest Tales #4: Family Forest Tales #5: Recreation Admiral & Chakat #1: Closer Relationships Admiral & Chakat #2: The Glade. Admiral & Chakat #3: Ceremony. Forest Tales #6: Goldfur's Story Forest Tales #7: Garrek's Story Admiral & Chakat #4: Good Clean Fun Admiral & Chakat #5: The Glade Revisited Forest Tales #8: Birth Forest Tales #9: Clans Forest Tales #10: Crisis Forest Tales #11: Lessons Admiral & Chakat #6: Truths Forest Tales #12: Mates Forest Tales #13: Ketta's Fate Forest Tales #14: Midnight Incident Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #1: Malena's Choice Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #2: Ketta's Christmas Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #4: A Busy Day Quickpaw, The College Years #2: The Gift Admiral & Chakat #7: Games of Life & Love Admiral & Chakat #8: Becoming As One Forest Tales #15: Unthinkable Deeds Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #3: Harvest Ceremony Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #5: Obligation Forest Tales #16 #18: Transformations (NOVEL) Forest Tales #19: Conclusions Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #15 #17: Savannah's Journey Pegasus: Midnight's Methods Forest Tales #20 #27: More Terrible Than Chains (NOVEL) Pegasus: Unwanted Re-acquaintance Pegasus: The Right Stuff Forest Tales #28: Disastrous Decision Forest Tales #29: Transitions Forest Tales #29A: Introspections Forest Tales #30: Meanwhile... Forest Tales #34: Musical Climax Forest Tales #31: What You See Is Me Forest Tales #32: A Swift Decision Forest Tales #33: And The Children Shall Lead Forest Tales #35: Whatever The Cost Forest Tales #36: In The Family Way The Chakat Universe: Danzhouken Quickpaw, The College Years #3: A Matter of Viewpoint Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #18: Brier Patch Quickpaw, The College Years #1: Winds Of Fate The Chakat Universe: Flight of the Star Phoenix (NOVEL) The Chakat Universe: Loosing The Maelstrom The Chakat Universe: Good Men The Chakat Universe: A Phoenix Christmas Forest Tales: Little Cub Lost Tales of the Foxtaur Clans #6 #14: Life's Dream (NOVEL) Next Generations: Piece Of Mind Next Generations: Stargazer's Folly Next Generations: It Takes Three The Chakat Universe: Cosmic Lotus (NOVEL crossover with MLP Universe) The Colony: The Colony - Parts 1 to 11 The Colony: Taurger By The Tale The Colony: Lessons The Colony: In Search Of Identity The Colony: The Loner - part 1 & part 2 The Colony: Gazing The Colony: A Letter From Cinderflurry The Colony: Campfire Xenobiology The Colony: Interlude In The Dispensory My Non-Chakat Universe Stories: The Wish and its sequel, Second Chance, feature a bear morph who makes a careless wish. Both contain erotica. MLP Stories: Change of Life, is a story about Whirring Cogs, a changeling in the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic universe, who just wants to be an ordinary pegasus. It's a pity Queen Chrysalis had other ideas.
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The following Chakat Universe stories are by other authors. Please note that some of the stories may contain characters and/or situations that are not canonical for the Chakat Universe. Nevertheless you should enjoy them for the different perspectives that they can bring, or they may be just plain fun.
Story Discussions & News
Readers are invited to participate in discussions on any of the stories on this page, or get more deeply involved in world-building and discussing aspects of the Chakat Universe. Come over to the Chakat Heaven group for these, news, or just to socialise with other chakat fans. What did you like about the stories? What didn't you like? Do you have any suggestions? Join up and let us know! If you wish to talk to Bernard Doove directly, send an email to goldfur@gmail.com or contact Goldfur on Google+. |
Flight of the Star Phoenix is a new storyline set in the Chakat Universe that follows the adventures of Martin Yote and his crew as they face the challenges of a small commercial shipping company, and in doing so, find themselves a place to belong. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 388 pages, and contains copious illustrations, including a cover done by Kacey Miyagami. The book's list price is US$17.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Available also in various ebook formats for $7.99 from Smashwords.
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Forest Tales collects all the short stories based on the tales told by or to Chakat Forestwalker. They detail events in hir life and that of hir family and friends, including Tales of the Foxtaur Clans, that culminate where the Transformations story begins. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 466 pages, and contains dozens of pieces of art! The book's list price is US$19.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Available also in various ebook formats for $8.99 from Smashwords.
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Transformations, is the story of a man who is transformed accidentally into a chakat, and who must now learn how to live with a new body, new social interactions, and a new sexuality. The Ursa Major Award winning cover art is by Stephanie Stone a.k.a. Cybercat. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 162 pages, and contains 23 pieces of art! The book's list price is US$12.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Now available in various ebook formats for $4.99 from Smashwords.
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Leanna's Story has been collected into a paperback novel called More Terrible Than Chains. An unusual slave fennec morph must learn what it means to be a free person, but there are many who are more than willing to help hir achieve hir full potential. The wraparound cover art is by Kacey Miyagami. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 360 pages, and contains 55 pieces of art! The book's list price is US$17.95, and worth a great deal more considering how much art I've invested in it. It is available through Amazon.com.
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After the events of Transformations and More Terrible Than Chains, Forest Tales continues in this book entitled Other Trails Taken. It collects all the short stories based on the tales told by or to Chakat Forestwalker, and some of the stories based in their future. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 500 pages, and contains dozens of pieces of art! including a cover done by Taodog. The book's list price is US$19.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Also available in various e-book formats for $8.99 at Smashwords.
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Away from the events of the main Forest Tales storyline, important and exciting events are happening. In Tales from the Chakat Universe, enjoy several stories of Foxtaurs, Rakshani, Caitians, and of course Chakats. But that's just the first half of the book! In the second half, for the first time, you can read all the facts and history of the Chakat Universe, including the original Introduction To Chakats and the Lonely Stellar Guide to Chakona. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 320 pages, and contains many illustrations, including a cover done by EosFoxx. The book's list price is US$16.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Also available in various e-book formats for $6.99 at Smashwords.
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The Journal of Pandora & Karl series has been collected into one paperback novel called Life's Dream. Follow the story of a foxtaur vixen and a human male as their lives entwine. Wraparound cover art by Heather Bruton. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 250 pages, and contains two dozen pieces of art! The book's list price is US$15.95 which is great value considering all the art in it. It is available through Amazon.com.
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Step Softly, Speak Loudly is a story based in the Chakat Universe, written and illustrated by James L. Brandt. The crew of the F.S.S. Viceroy has an enigma something is loose within the ship that is not only annoying the crew, but is also compromising a very sensitive cargo. The only one who is certain about this intruder is the most unassuming member of the crew the ship's cat. Can the orange tabby, Witney, solve the mystery and earn the respect of his crewmates in the bargain? The book is 5.25" x 8", has 90 pages, sells for US$7.95, and is currently available at Amazon.com.
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Jazmyn's World is the story of a vixen morph who flees for her life, forced to leave behind her beloved Companion, and ending up in a strange new world where two-legged talking foxes are pure fiction. Now expanded from the original version which includes the Kayde sequel and more. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 212 pages, and contains fifteen pieces of art! The book's list price is US$13.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. Also available in various e-book formats including Kindle for $5.99 at Smashwords.
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Change of Life is the story of a changeling who seeks to take a new direction in his life after the events of "A Canterlot Wedding". Based on the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic universe. The book is 6" x 9", has 144 pages, and contains 16 pieces of full colour art by Kat Miller. The book's list price is US$20.95 (due to colour printing) and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Sequel to Change of Life, Growing Up Dandy focuses on Dandelion, the firstborn daughter of a changeling. Follow highlights of her life from a newborn foal to a young adult, and discover her very unusual destiny. The book is 6" x 9", has 128 pages, and contains 12 pieces of full colour art by Kat Miller. The book's list price is US$20.95 (due to colour printing) and it is available through Amazon.com.
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In Conversations in a Canterlot Cafe, the True Brew Café becomes the hub of interaction with undisguised changelings, and Frothy Brew must learn to cope, not to mention his customers and the local shopkeepers! The book is 6" x 9", has 154 pages, and contains 23 pieces of full colour art by Kat Miller. The book's list price is US$20.95 (due to colour printing) and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Did you love the previous three pony novels but found the price too steep? Now you can get an omnibus edition of all three together printed in B&W for about the cost of just one! And as a bonus, the short story - "The Best Present" is included also. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 490 pages, and contains all of the illustrations by Kat Miller that were in the colour editions. The book's list price is only US$21.95 and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Long Path, an earth pony, and his best friend, a griffon named Free Agent, team up with Twilight Sparkle in a project to try to better understand other races and cultures. Along the way, they find drama, laughter, and love. Little do they know that the fate of Equestria itself might rest with them and their ability to appreciate A Different Perspective. This novel is the first in the Chrysalis Resurgent Trilogy. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 536 pages, and contains 46 pieces of art by Kat Miller, Baron Engel, and others. The book's list price is US$21.95 and it is available through Amazon.com. |
After Long Path, Free Agent, Roseclaw, and Twilight Sparkle established the House of Path, and fought the Siege of the Crystal City, the founders settled in to build their House's influence and power. However, of greater importance to them were their children. The Growing Years features vignettes in the lives of Lucida, Epiphany, Blue Streak, Destined Path, Flix, and others as they grow from foals to adults, encountering both highlights and lowlights. Their lives are filled with drama, laughter, adventure, and love as they head toward their destinies. This novel is the second in the Chrysalis Resurgent Trilogy, and is the sequel to A Different Perspective. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 256 pages, and contains fifteen illustrations by Kat Miller, with cover art by GrayPaint. The book's list price is US$16.95 and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Five of the youth of House Path are abruptly whisked away by the enigmatic Doctor Whooves, and they find themselves in a Ponyville that they can scarcely recognize. A tyrant queen rules Equestria, alliances were never forged with Griffonia and the Changeling Hives, and three of the group had never been born! Someone has changed history, and it's up to them to figure out when, how, and who did it, or Equestria will suffer, and the rest of the world along with it. Will this odd mixture of ponies, griffons, dragon, and changelings rise to the challenge? This novel is the sequel to The Growing Years, and is the third in the Chrysalis Resurgent Trilogy. . The book is 5.25" x 8", has 550 pages, and contains forty-two illustrations by Kat Miller, one each by Baron Engel and Backlash91, and with cover art by AphexAngel. The book's list price is US$24.95 and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Advances in science and magic had detected the Anomaly – a star in the heavens that was unlike all the others in the night sky. Intense research had only served to deepen the mystery. Although Equus had a vibrant space program, going forty-two light years to investigate had been considered impossible until now. Spearheaded by House Path, the Cosmic Lotus program was created and over a hundred crew-members of multiple species including griffons, ponies, and changelings were sent into the void to discover the unknown. After a journey of years, what they would find would both amaze and terrify them. This novel is set far in the future after Quantum Gallop. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 650 pages, and contains thirty-six illustrations by Kat Miller, four by Seth Triggs, two by Baron Engel, and one each by Floe, Kacey Miyagami, Anhes, James L. Brandt, and with cover art by Mark Gillespie. The book's list price is US$25.95 and it is available through Amazon.com.
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Mark Wells is a young man who has a great job, an even better friend, and a wonderful future ahead of him. He is also a klutz, but even he never expected to literally stumble into another world where he has four hooves, two wings, and a green fur coat. Now, the former human has to learn how to be a pony even as he seeks a way home. Maybe the Great & Powerful Princess Trixie can help him? Then again, it seems she might need his help even more! Follow Mark and his misadventures in a world of monsters and magical ponies as he tries his best to cope while being thrust into a role he had never dreamed of playing or wanting – hero. The book is 5.25" x 8", has 532 pages, and contains thirty-one illustrations by various artists and with cover art by Silfoe. The book's list price is US$24.95 and it is available through Amazon.com.
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New release for 2022
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Chakats are the creation of Bernard "Goldfur" Doove, and remain my intellectual property. Email me at goldfur@gmail.com
The Chakat Universe is also the creation of Bernard Doove. However, I wish to acknowledge that the contributions from many people who have written stories, created background material, and drawn illustrations which have all added immensely to my vision. These people include, but are definitely not limited to, Roy Pounds II, John Plunkett, Terry Knight, Kacey Miyagami, Boyce Kline, Leonardo Maffi, Mayra "Huskie" Boyle, Seth Triggs, and many, many others. Thanks go out to each and every one of you!
Bernard's Art ** Chakat Visions