The Clam Before the Storm: Skyler's Story Before he became a Sky Knight, Skyler Paige was just a boy with big dreams, a battered reputation, and everything to prove. In the dinosaur-steampunk world of Cretacea, every teenager serves-but Skyler refuses to settle for "good enough." With the town whispering about his father and his grandmother convinced he'll never amount to anything, he's determined to rise above it all. But earning a place among the Air Force's best is far harsher than he imagined. Freezing dawn drills, brutal instructors, and the constant threat of washing out push him to the edge. Alongside a ragtag squad of a rancher gunslinger, a sharecropper's son, a street-smart runaway, and a privileged boy far from home, Skyler learns what it truly means to fight, fail, and stand back up. In a world where magic clashes with machinery and nations ride into battle atop prehistoric beasts, one young flier will discover that becoming a hero isn't about glory-it's about surviving long enough to earn it. The Calm Before the Storm launches Skyler's epic journey with high-flying action, fierce friendship, and the unforgettable adventure of a boy discovering who he's meant to be.