User blog:AdorableEspurr193/Full Claweight Story: Delta Guardians (THIS ISN'T MINE IT BELONGS TO CLAWEIGHT HE'S SUCH A GOOD WRITERRRRRRRRR!!)

Prologue
Sunset.



The cat’s amber eyes, to many, looked as if they had been made out of the dying sun in the evening. There were even rumors he sat at the entrance to the cave every sunset so that the sky, painted with bright oranges and reds, would retain the fierce light in his eyes until the day he laid down when he was old and gray and walked away from the cave, into the embers. The tom was young and often touchy, but made no effort to stop the rumors. They were normally stopped anyway by the elders, who scorned young ones for talking behind the tom’s back.



There were also rumors about his bright golden pelt that seemed to ripple like the auroras when he sat in light. But even the elders said he was white-furred when he was a kit, and gained his golden color.The day he was first carried out of the cave at sunset by a queen when his eyes were still closed, his body turned to the sun and his brilliant, beautiful amber eyes opened, and the sun seemed to melt his white fur away with the purest golden.



He was joined today by a lion. The lion padded out from the cave and sat down beside the cat. “Any thoughts about the prophecy, Roe?” he growled. Roe laughed, and the sound echoed across the frozen tundra the cliff overlooked. “I’ve just started, Gratil. Give me time.” Gratil’s tail lashed and Roe looked away, watching the spurts of pink splashed across the horizon.



“The raven’s child of Epsilon shall fight the wolf of Omega, but the cat of Theta shall slay them both.” Roe mewed the prophecy very softly, and his whisper echoed faintly, very faintly, away from the cliff and the cave and carried far, far away, all the way to a small cabin in the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Chapter One

Rain looked out on the dying embers of sunset, perched atop her favorite large rock. “Rain! Dinner’s ready!” she heard her father, Brendan, call. “Alright!” Rain shouted back, and turned back to the sunset, watching it for a few more moments. It was all very peaceful.



And then she heard a very faint, echoing noise. A soft whisper. She heard “Raven’s child,” “Omega”, and “cat of Theta,” and then the whisper was gone. “Rain!” another voice, a higher voice, called. It was close to Rain. She turned and saw her sister, Sparrow, climbing the large rock, her small hands digging into the grooves, pulling herself up. She reached the top quickly. Rain marveled at her little sister’s skill. She was only eleven, and Rain was fourteen, and it took her longer to climb the rock. Sparrow pointed this out to her. “I do it slowly to admire the sky,” Rain said lamely as an excuse.



Sparrow laughed. “There’s venison for dinner.” Rain hopped down instantly, leaving Sparrow on the rock. “Rain! I can’t get down!” Sparrow whined. “So you can get up quickly, but you can’t get down at all? You’re just like a cat climbing a tree.” Sparrow acted much like a cat, as Rain and Brendan had always said. She was always climbing trees and rocks and dangerous structures and unable to get down without Rain’s help. She would often jump high in the air when startled. Even her eyes looked catlike.



<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain, on the other hand, was more like a wolf. She sometimes enjoyed solitude but often hated being alone. Brendan always said to Rain, “You remind me of the huskies I had when I was young.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She liked being outside at night, and seemed to be enchanted by the moon, no matter how many times she had looked at it. “Rain!” Sparrow’s voice brought Rain out of her thoughts.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Right.” Rain helped Sparrow down and ran into the cabin.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It had a very warm atmosphere; Rain could smell the delicious meat and she hurried into the dining room to eat. There were plates of venison, rabbit, and elk. “Saved all the meat from recent hunts for this day,” said Brendan. To strangers, he looked rather fearsome, with his black mustache and an almost menacing gleam in his eyes, but he was very friendly, and cared deeply for his daughters. He was a very skilled hunter, and often took Rain and Sparrow on his hunting trips. Rain was good at shooting the deer for the venison and was not allowed to shoot at any elk, because they were huge and might run in her direction if she shot off target. Sparrow was too young to use a rifle. She instead made snares for the rabbits and was as good at it as Brendan was shooting elk.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain enjoyed venison with barbecue sauce. Sparrow liked rabbit with steak sauce. She had caught all the rabbits whose meat was on the table and was immensely proud of it, refusing to eat the chewy elk meat or the venison meat, and would not let anyone else take any of the rabbit meat. “Be reasonable, Sparrow,” said Brendan. “We want to enjoy the rabbit meat too. You caught quite a lot last time.” Sparrow swelled with pride, and Rain grabbed several pieces of rabbit meat while she was distracted.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain began to chomp down on elk meat when she remembered the strange whisper she had heard. She told Brendan about it. “Raven’s child..?” Brendan queried. “I don’t know,” said Rain. “That’s what it sounded like. I suppose me and Sparrow are raven’s children, because mom was really connected to ravens or something?” “That’s possible,” said Brendan. “Remember that time I always tell you about...a bit after...she died..” Brendan’s voice trailed off. “When me and Sparrow wandered off, and you found us with a raven, and she had built a nest for us, and wouldn’t let you near.” Rain finished the story for him. He had a hard time talking about Rain and Sparrow’s mother. “Very strange,” said Brendan. “And this.. cat of Theta..” None of them knew what that could be referring to.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They began to discuss the trip they were going on tomorrow. Brendan had planned for them to drive to Gates Of The Arctic National Park, where they would spend a week. They were, at least, until Brendan found out they could only take a plane there. So they would go to the park headquarters in Fairbanks, and then drive to the ranger station in Bettles, a small town south of the Park, and then arrange for a plane to drop them off by Mount Igikpak.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Gates of the Arctic was probably one of the most remote national parks in America. There were no roads or trails, no guides or specific attractions like Yosemite or Arches. Just a Belgium-sized park filled with sheer wilderness. Brendan had looked on the NPS website, which said you must have survival experience in case there is an emergency.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain and Sparrow simply looked at Brendan.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They were all packed up and ready to go. Though excited for the trip, both Rain and Sparrow felt sleepy as they cleared the table, brushed their teeth, and went to bed. They had no trouble falling asleep.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">That night, Rain had a dream. She could not see herself, but she simply stared ahead at a rocky landscape where there was an odd-shaped cluster of rocks. It was shaped in an incomplete circle, with a small open space between two large rocks in the cluster. Rain moved towards it in anticipation, but suddenly everything turned black and she saw a flash of something that looked like a pig.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">And then she awoke.

<h2 style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Chapter Two

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Brendan woke them early. They grabbed their bags and checked for anything they might have missed. They closed doors. Turned off lights. Hid away all electronics (because, obviously, a smartphone isn’t much help in a vast wilderness with no cell service).

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They packed everything up into the car, said bye to the house, and Brendan began to drive towards Fairbanks. Rain got out of the car as soon as they arrived at the headquarters. It was a short, uneventful visit. Brendan got some info about the park, and that was all. They got back into the car and drove away, all thoughts on Bettles. Bathroom breaks were not a large worry, since everyone was used to going in the woods on hunting trips.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It grew boring fast. Rain tried to read, and then she got carsick, so she had some buffalo jerky instead. About thirty minutes in, Sparrow fell asleep. Rain fell asleep as well, but woke up about fifteen minutes later. “How much longer” was all Rain remembered saying during the ride, and she was half-asleep at the time. “About five hours now, honey,” Brendan told her. Rain had grumbled a bit and then her eyes slid closed, and she fell asleep again, this time for “five more hours,” as Brendan had put it.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It only seemed like Rain had slept for ten minutes. Brendan woke her and Sparrow, and the two got out of the car sleepily and stretched. Sparrow knelt on the ground and did a downward dog pose for a few moments. “Cat,” Rain remarked. Brendan went inside the ranger station and then they were dragging their luggage to the plane. “This’s th’ Stormy Hawk,” said the pilot. “One of th’ best we have.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They loaded their luggage into the back of the plane and got inside. Their car would be there when they returned. After all, there weren’t many thieves looking for cars to steal out in the vast, silent wilderness where there wasn’t much food that you didn’t have to catch with a weapon or a trap of some sort.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The plane ride was about thirty minutes until they reached a small plain and the Stormy Hawk landed. “This’s near Mount Igikpak,” said the pilot. “Just hike about five minutes, you’re there.” They thanked the pilot and the plane flew away.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Seven more days in the wilderness.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">In the darkness, a brown shape huddled. The lion next to her lit a torch, and the tail of the shape’s hat fluttered feebly before settling down again. “In answer to your anticipated question, Gratil, I do not have any complete answer to the prophecy,” said the shape. But you must ponder the wolf of Omega. Think of the leader of that group of malfeasance-filled beings. His bloodline traces from Omega, does it not?” The lion thought for a moment, then growled, “You are getting somewhere, Fireblaze. But do you have any idea of the cat of Theta?” Fireblaze sighed. “I am not entirely sure about this, but perhaps the heathen who leads the group of shameful animals has a bloodline which traces to Theta..?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Now the lion, Gratil, sighed. “Fireblaze, you must learn to speak of the leaders and their tribe’s names instead of calling them silly names.” “I will not,” Fireblaze retorted stubbornly. “They are evil animals. When they die, they will not go to the good place.” Gratil shook his head. “No matter. Thank you, Fireblaze.” “One must need patience at this time,” said Fireblaze softly as Gratil padded away. “Patience..”

<h2 style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Chapter Three

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Brendan had set up the meat rack inside the tent (they had a big one) and went out to shoot a rabbit.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain heard one gunshot, and then silence. But then there was another gunshot. Brendan came back with a rabbit, but he called to the girls: “Rain! Sparrow! Lookit this!”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They ran over and saw a faint trail of smoke emanating from something blue. “It looks like a fox,” said Brendan. “Didn’ shoot it. I just shot this rabbit, and I heard a shot behind me, and here it was.” He bent over it. “S’got red eyes too.” Rain heard a faint rustling behind her. She turned around and just then really took in Mount Igikpak. “Could I go explore?” Rain asked. “Tomorrow,” said Brendan. “S’too dark. Whatever shot this fox could still be out and might accidentally shoot you too. I got shot by a hunter once, in the leg. Thought I was a big caribou.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Brendan put the fox on the meat rack. “We won’t eat it?” said Sparrow worriedly. She didn’t like eating other predators. “Nah,” Brendan replied dismissively. “Might just skin it. We need some warmth other than blankets out in the cold.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They went into the tent, but then Brendan stopped. The fox was gone.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain turned around again and saw what looked like several animal shapes running away with the body.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Brendan was extremely flustered and Sparrow made him go inside the tent. Rain sat guard for bears.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Come midnight, she would wake Sparrow so she could watch. It was a very peaceful spot, and Rain felt as if she could stay there all night. She wasn’t even tired.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Midnight came when Rain thought it had only been five minutes, so she got up, and surveyed the moonless night sky for a moment longer.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly she heard singing. Mournful singing.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rose, Ro-ose Rose, Rose

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Will I ever see thy wed?

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">I will marry at my will

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sire

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">At my will

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Hey-ho, nobody’s home

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Meat nor drink nor money

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Have I none

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Still I will be very merry

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Hey-ho, nobody’s home

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A poor bird

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Take fa-light

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">High above the shadows

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The starred night

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Building bridges

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Between our divisions

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">If I reach out to you

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Will you reach out to me?

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">With all our voices,

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">And all our visions

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Friends we will make

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Such sweet harmonies

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain was very still, and she drank in every beautiful word. The voices started to sing again, but the noise slowly faded away. Rain was suddenly very tired because of the song, and went inside to wake Sparrow.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The very next day they were all tired. Brendan woke them up and told Rain to prepare the rabbit while he rested a small bit. He was the last one to watch for bears that night.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">After they ate Rain asked Brendan again if she could explore on Mount Igikpak.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Alright,” said Brendan, “But be real careful. It’s rocky up there.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow and Rain climbed up the mountain and found a silvery-colored snake. “What’s that?” Sparrow asked Rain, since she was supposed to know about different kinds of wildlife. “It’s some sort of snake,” Rain muttered. “Non-venomous. By now it would’ve bitten you a thousand times over.” The snake was curling around Sparrow’s arm. Rain instinctively tensed, like it was about to pull her sister’s arm off. Sparrow laughed. “Relax, it’s not a constrictor, obviously. It’s not gonna eat me whole.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain did not recognize the snake, although she knew and could recognize almost every snake species in North America. She could tell a milk snake from a coral snake, which prevented Sparrow from picking up something that could kill her on their brief trip to Arizona. They had left early because the tarantulas were freaking Sparrow out.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain studied the snake more. The snake shifted a bit and the light shined down on its brilliant silver scales. Rain looked at the middle of it when this happened and she saw what looked like a cross on its side. Rain flipped the snake so that its head would face away from her and saw it clearly: A flashing, crystal-like golden cross, with bright silver and sapphire ropes intertwined with it. She gasped and nearly dropped it. And then she saw the snake’s eyes.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They were bright blue and crystalline, and the light from the sun seemed to be absorbed by the eyes so that they glowed even brighter than they already are.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow was now examining the cross. “It’s a church cross,” she said. “It’s like the cross Jesus was on. I wonder if it means anything?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Look, Sparrow,” said Rain. She showed Sparrow the beautiful snake’s eyes. Sparrow gasped. “What kind of snake is that!?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They decided to go and show Brendan. It was very queer that a snake was here in the cold Alaskan wilderness at all. Only garter snakes could live up in the cold anyway.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Brendan thought the snake was amazing but he didn’t know what kind it was. They went back up to Mount Igikpak.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow and Rain would remember the snake for a while, they knew. They wondered if there were more nearby. They put the snake on the ground.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Instead of slithering off as the snakes Rain caught normally did, the snake lifted its head off the ground, and gazed at them with its sapphire eyes. Sparrow noticed they were rather hypnotic, but then again, most snake’s eyes were. The snake’s head tilted and the forked tongue slid out for a moment. It was white. Rain heard a faint, whispering hiss for a moment. “Patiensssse...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It slithered away and Sparrow blinked. “Did you hear that?”

<h2 style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Chapter Four

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The next day, Tuesday, Brendan told them they would be staying six weeks, instead of one.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Six weeks! Alone, fighting these animals?” Sparrow shouted, thinking of the beasts that ran off with the blue fox’s body. Maybe they were coming for Brendan because they thought he had shot it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“It’s going to be fine,” Brendan assured her. “I’m going to go hunting.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain could not contain her excitement.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">After playing with the marbles Rain and Sparrow brought for entertainment, Sparrow said, “Let’s go to Mount Igikpak again!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain wanted to go up again. She wanted to see the snake. Maybe it was still there. She knew it was unlikely, but even so, she seemed like it would be waiting for them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">In her haste to leave, Rain did not notice her emerald ring falling off her finger, onto the frozen ground.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow ran off a short distance towards a patch of fresh, fluffy snow. She returned with a slightly dirty snowball she threw at Rain’s head, who was examining some blue stones on the ground.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Hey!” Rain cried, and fell into another patch of snow. She added some nearby fragments of ice and a small twig to her snowball and threw it at Sparrow’s body.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">On and on they went, each adding little things to their snowballs and experimenting with size and shape, to see how different they felt when they hit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain ran over to another patch of snow, but then Sparrow tackled her and they ran farther and farther up the mountain. At almost the same time Sparrow and Rain pounded past a few large, circular stones, and then Rain felt a sudden blast of cold air. Rain stopped and Sparrow grabbed some snow, not even bothering to form it into anything, and threw it at Rain. It hit Rain hard although it didn’t hurt very much, but it had a lot of force. She stumbled back, struggling to regain her balance, and the wind also helped blow her several yards until the circular stones were far away.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain finally fell down, but her back hit some tall rocks in a circle pointing upward and she fell through a gap in the circle. Rain laid there until Sparrow’s laughter came into earshot over the cold wind. Her catlike eyes were filled with amusement, Rain could tell, when her face appeared in the gap.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow was nice enough to help Rain up and outside of the circle. They looked at the pointy stones, marveling at how perfect the circle they formed was.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, Rain remembered her dream. The stone circle! The very same!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">But how had it appeared—

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“''Oi! Watry ven krn denging ih Deltaen terniterk?”''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain and Sparrow spun around to see a pure golden cat with shining amber eyes, staring down at them fiercely. They fell back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat closed his eyes for a moment, reopening them a second later.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“...Quid tu agis?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain and Sparrow stared.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Who’s talking? And how is that cat’s mouth moving...?” Sparrow whispered fiercely.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat closed his eyes again, shook his head, and looked back up.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“What are you doing here?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow jumped as she finally decided the cat was the one talking.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Wh—How are you talking?” The cat stared at Rain and Sparrow in amazement. “You can hear speech, not mews?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Well... Yes...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat closed his eyes yet again. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“No....”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain just then began to look at the cat and take it in. She and Sparrow were both sitting, so they were at the cat’s level. Perhaps just below, because he was standing on a slightly raised ridge near the circle of stones.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat opened his eyes and Rain saw a glint of mischief in them, which had been prominent throughout the encounter. She couldn’t make out the cat’s real personality quite yet. Rain had a gift for seeing into people’s souls, as Sparrow put it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You are... From that camp?” The cat gestured with his tail to the foggy abyss below. Rain realized he meant their tents, which could not be seen due to the snow, which was now quite heavily falling down.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Yes,” said Sparrow shakily. She was obviously still trying to grip the concept of a talking cat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You must follow me,” said the cat. “I have a good feeling about you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“What! What do you mean? Are you trying to trick us?” Sparrow accused.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain jumped as the cat grinned. “I bet if you were an animal, you’d be a cat.” He turned and began to pad away up the mountain. Rain, being curious, and trusting of animals, followed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow ran after her in protest. “Wait! What if it’s a magic illusion and he’s luring us? What if it’s a trap? What if someone is trying to kidnap us? What if it’s a magical cat that will lead us to a narrow place and then turn into a cougar and—“

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You are such a cynic,” Rain grunted, and began to pull her along.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain still had a lot of questions. She tried one, struggling to keep up. The cat was padding daintily against the howling gales now attempting to push them back.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You’re a shortfur, aren’t you? How aren’t you cold?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“My fur is short, but thick and accustomed to the winds,” the cat replied. He paused to lick himself. “And it’s still smooth and fabulous.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">His fur, indeed, looked quite soft.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain asked another. “Do you have... a name?” The cat smiled. “Of course. Every creature, human or animal, has a name in the Deltean Tribe.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He snorted. “Not sure about those other two heathen groups...

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“My name,” said the cat grandly, “is Roe.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow burst into a fit of laughter somehow hearable in the howling wind. “Roe?” Like fish eggs?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat, Roe, turned around. “No, in fact,” he said hotly. “Roe, in the language of Animalun, the same I attempted to speak to you with earlier...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“That was the one that sounded Welsh, right?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“As you say,” said Roe. “The second one was Latin.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“But that’s not the point. My name means in Animalun, Snow Field. I used to be white-furred as a kit, but I stepped outside as the sun came up, and my fur turned the purest golden, as corn is when the sun rises.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain shot an insulting look at Sparrow. “There’s also the Roe Deer, Sparrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, the wind stopped. “Here we are...” said Roe as they came to a cave, lit by torches.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain wondered what awaited them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A few miles from the mountain, a snowy, swamp-like environment sat, the snow clinging to the lovely willows there. The swamp was beautiful, yet almost everyone who entered felt terrified.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">In it lay various snow-covered stones of all sizes and shapes, but you could tell that they didn’t start out like they are now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">On each stone were carvings. Some were languages humans spoke, in the far north. Some stones had various languages on them, all conveying the same message to the visitors.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Most of the stones had text in various dialects of Animalun. Some even had strange runes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Some were blank, except a small gemstone with iridescent color. If you were to look at it, you would think, “that gemstone looks as if it is glimmering in the wind,” although you would know that was impossible. But how else? Barely any light from the sun came to the swamp, because it was always foggy and snowing; you could never see the clear blue sky. Even when you thought it wasn’t snowing, it was snowing, very, very lightly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">At the back of the field of stones, there lay a fair-sized hill, covered in snow. Beneath that snow was a tomb.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Moving across the snow, now, was a cloaked figure. Just visible was a black snout and a dark grey nose, poking out from the hood, as well as two pointed, black, bushy ears on the top.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The thing’s legs were invisible under the cloak and it was quite large and tall, so whether it was standing up or on all fours was not clear.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Let us call it The Watchman.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Large paw-prints, a bit larger than an adult’s hand, were produced in the wake of the cloak as Watchman continued on. But then the paw-prints dissolved into the snow, restoring it to its original, perfect state. The paw-prints ahead upsetting the frost were soon to follow. The beast left no trace.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Perhaps this was what everyone who entered was so terrified of—that they would meet a beast such as this one. The Watchman was advancing on one stone in particular: one that had an iridescent gem on it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Its snout opened wide to reveal sharp fangs. They were jagged, pointed, pure-white in contrast to its fur, and bloodstained.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">When the mouth opened in what I presume to be a cruel smile, like a predator toying with the prey, a few drops of deepest crimson hit the snow, giving the appearance of a bleeding rose. I assure you, it was disgusting to watch but the blood on the snow was somewhat fascinating.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Slowly, the hem of the cloak rose, and out came a long leg and paw. The leg was pure black but slowly faded from flecks of grey to only a few bits of black here and there, amongst dark grey fur. A few strands, if you were brave (and rather stupid) enough to look closely, were white. The paw looked as if it had been singed. If you were even braver (and stupider), you might hear, at that moment as Watchman looked down at its paw, a quiet, aggravated growl.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The paw rose, and the claws touched the gemstone. Immediately the thing shivered, as a series of sounds echoed through its body, hearable only to the one who triggered them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The beast nodded soberly to itself, and continued on, to a larger stone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">This stone had a series of runes on it, painted on with slick purple ink.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Watchman knew what these symbols meant. They were of its dialect of Animalun. It closed its eyes and could see the text in his mind, in the alphabet of the polluted ones:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The Watchman knew what those words, nonsensical to most, were meaning. They meant something sinister. Watchman thought it was best not to dwell on their meaning, and continued on.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Now, the beast came to the hill. As it scraped away the snow the cloak fell away, and now you could see: this was a huge, black wolf. He was much like the landscape around him: beautiful, but terrifying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He turned to the now-apparent engraving on stone before him, whispering what it spoke.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Hakj koqie eflkl woqjkm kwlfpo whjja tehghuok fmhktol mnvbnhu.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">In case you wondered, that was pronounced:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Hakjoo kokuigie efleekl wogg-jikim kuhwilfpo whjeeja tehgwok fumhk-tuh-tol menevbenhoo.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It was an extremely complicated dialect of Animalun.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The stone rumbled, and pulled back into darkness to reveal an entrance.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The Watchman grinned his bloodthirsty grin again, showing his black tongue that was like a snake, speaking so smoothly and deceptively.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Not noticeable before, pure purple eyes were set into his face, like amethysts, filled with a greedy hunger, two dark mirrors of shadows.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The Watchman’s tongue flicked out, licking his lips. <h2 class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Chapter Five <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:14px;">Roe led Rain and Sparrow through the mouth of the cave. His long, slender tail reached into the darkness and drew out an unlit torch. Sparrow watched, entranced, as he lit the torch on one of the other ones. “That’s like an arm for you,” she said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I practiced,” Roe replied, swelling with pride, and led on with his head held high.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain was less interested in Roe’s feats, and said nothing, instead paying attention to the fact that the wind was dying away as quickly as it had come, and Rain saw the first rays of sunset.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“How long have we been out here?” Rain yelped.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“We were up on Igikpak at about nine...” Sparrow muttered. She turned to Roe. “When did you find us?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Judging on the length of the shadows then, and since the days grow shorter now, it was about three,” said Roe.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Now that I think of it,” Rain realized aloud, “We were out there a while. That was one huge snow fort you made, Sparrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“It took me an hour.” Sparrow looked proud.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“So one, two, three, four, five hours...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Brendan must be worried!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“No, remember, Brendan usually is out until, like, five or six.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“But still!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Don’t be a worrywart.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Are you done?” Roe interrupted impatiently. “It’s the time you humans call four-thirty. Let’s go already.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“We were walking up here for an hour and a half?!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Come on, Sparrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They walked farther into the cave, the light behind them fading.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You’re kind of accustomed to a talking animal you can understand now, right?” Roe asked as the light behind them disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I suppose,” Rain replied. “In fact, I’d like to meet more talking animals. As long as they’re friendly.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow suddenly got excited. “Are there wolverines here?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe squinted in the dim light. “Nearly there,” he mewed. His face scrunched up in thought, but Sparrow could only see his amber eyes glaring. “Hmmm... Oh, yes, yes, there was that one wolverine there...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Where!” Sparrow cried.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, seven flashes of blue flicked about before them—stones. “Here,” said Roe.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">His paw unsheathed, and his claw touched the central flickering blue stone.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was a rumbling noise as the darkness slowly parted.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe stepped forward.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Welcome to the home of the Delta Guardians.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">And then the chamber exploded with light.

Chapter Six
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:14px;">The place they entered was filled with animals of all sizes—if Rain looked closely in the noisy crowd, she could even see a few humans.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The entrance was elevated, so Rain and Sparrow were above the crowd. Several animals turned to look up, and whispered to the other ones. Soon half the crowd was staring. Roe yowled to get the rest of the crowd’s attention.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Almost automatically the crowd was hushed. They turned to look. Whispering ensued at the sight of Rain and Sparrow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was a stone staircase that Rain and Sparrow could walk down. The crowd parted to admit a hurrying brown shape, with a glimmer of white above its head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">It went up the staircase towards Roe. Looking closely Rain could see it was a pig, with a foxlike hat perched atop her head. She looked old.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Whiu aner thal?” she hissed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe rolled his eyes. “Stallni beioin si susprincion, Fireblaze.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He continued in what Rain assumed to be Animalun. “Plare transilati feor makal ih thea languagenio onf thea poulitned woes.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe turned to the crowd. “Hello, fellow Guardians. You are all undoubtedly pondering why there are two unfamiliar humans in our home.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Halli, falei Guardinils,” the pig muttered, still irritable. “Krn ven aili undobetenely pouletering whii thera ere tawen unfamierilan quazartrazikas ih oer hoeme.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The pig snorted and said, “Not doing this... those who understand that polluted tongue can tell it to their friends who don’t.” She sat down, still eyeing Rain and Sparrow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“...But these humans,” Roe continued, “They can understand my speech. They don’t hear meows. They hear... Words.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was a collective gasp in the crowd. The curious, annoyed, and even distrustful looks on some of the animals’ faces changed instantly to amazement. Rain heard several whispers about “the second prophecy.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe turned around suddenly, and stared at Rain and Sparrow intensely. Rain felt a strange feeling inside, like something was being pressed against her. The feeling stopped quickly and Roe turned around as if nothing had happened.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“...Rain and Sparrow are their names.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow poked Rain in the shoulder. “How did he do that?” she whispered. “I felt like I feel when you stare into my soul...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Oh, stop,” Rain snapped.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The pig stared a moment, then said, “They must stay.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe nodded agreement.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A voice called out from the crowd. “There’s an open room, near mine!” it called.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Hm?” Roe looked around.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A lemur hurried out of the cluster of animals and padded up the stairs. It wore gauntlets of Russian Sage on its paws. It also had a belt around its underbelly, which several knives hung from. Both Rain and Sparrow felt uncomfortable somehow when he had reached the top step.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I’m Deser,” said the lemur, wearing a smirk that seemed like it wouldn’t come off. “In Hallway Nine, left of the blacksmith’s tavern.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:0px!important;">“Ah,” Roe replied mildly. The pig, too, seemed to look uncomfortable, but Roe looked normal.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;margin-top:0px!important;">“Over this way,” Deser called.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He turned and went down one of the numerous smaller hallways, out of the main entrance. “That big, main room is called the Grand Tavern,” Deser told them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“How many animals live here?” Sparrow asked curiously.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“’Bout a million, in the state of ‘Laska alone,” Deser replied, smirking.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow rolled her eyes. It was obviously not the answer she was looking for. Sparrow felt the walls, and jumped back in surprise. “They’re made of clay!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Terracotta, to be exact,” said Deser. “It was quite abundant down here, so the original Delteans decided to keep it that way. It’s real easy to work with.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They continued down in silence. Rain curiously studied the etchings on the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Nearly there,” Deser told them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Eventually, they came to a large, dark tavern, lit only by several torches.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">An owl was visible inside (Sparrow identified it as a Barred Owl), and in one talon it clutched a hammer. A seal was next to the owl, murmuring something.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The seal looked up in surprise, and then scooted out the door.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Here,” said Deser, pointing to a door next to the one closest to the tavern. “That other one’s mine and I’m roommates with...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The door to Deser’s room opened.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A creature stood below the frame. It looked like a cross between a wolf and a hyena.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“...Alex,” Deser finished briskly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Had a fun time, sneaking out?” he asked cheerfully.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“...While you were sitting in here, sulking because El Nino took away our hunting privileges. He’s never any fun.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Oh, come off it, he’s just sad because La Nina was shot last reflect-sun...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“La Nina... That’s the blue fox, en’t it?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain and Sparrow froze.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Did you say... blue fox?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Deser nodded. “She was out near the campsite that—“

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He stopped. “Your campsite, was it not?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow hid behind Rain as if Deser was about to hit them. Alex laughed at Sparrow’s fear. “Relax, I don’t mind if you killed ‘er, she was always a pain in the neck,” he said lightly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Alex.” Deser shot a warning glance at him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Joking, joking...”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“We didn’t shoot her,” said Rain. “My father, Brendan, was out and he heard a gunshot behind him, and then he saw the fox... La Nina.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex sighed. “We’re in big trouble, now. Who will stir up the water after El Nino’s through?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow came out from behind Rain. “So you’re saying, those two cause the El Nino and La Nina to happen?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex grinned in response. “El Nino’s gonna be fiercer than ever next time. La Nina was his sister. They were close.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I’m hungry,” said Sparrow suddenly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex beckoned inside. “I got food.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain then noticed the thick gloves on his paws, with steel-tipped claws.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“What are those for?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Slicing the food.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They followed him inside.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The room was medium-sized, and consisted of two beds across from each other, with soft, extra bedding at the foot.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was also a large, grey box, and a furnace next to it. When Alex opened it, a cold gust burst through the room. Alex drew out a large chunk of meat, grabbed the flint and steel lying on the furnace, and got the fire going. After it grew large he threw the thawing meat in.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“How many animals live here in the mountain?” Sparrow tried again.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“One hundred-fifty, at least,” Alex replied. “Right... I should tell you ‘bout the animals living near you. There’s a room to your left, occupied.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Who lives there?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“A great fat bear called Maxim, and the sabertooth, Oak.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“There are prehistoric animals here?” Sparrow asked.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Why, ‘course, I’m an Andrewsarchus,” said Alex. “There are animals you humans deem ‘mythical’ too, there’s a jackalope here and I believe there’s what people call the Loveland Frog at Cuyahoga Station...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Cuyahoga Station? Where’s that?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“In Ohio... You see, there’s at least one Deltean base in every state. Many of us believe in Christianity, so everyone knows there were animals before humans. There were tribes for each letter of the Greek alphabet, and each tribe nowadays has two heirs: a human one, and an animal one.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“At each base, there’s either a concentration of Delteans, animals rescued, Deltean Christ missionaries, sea-mags, or Druid refugees.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Druid refugees?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex shivered. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He checked the meat. “Nice and smoky,” he reported. Alex noticed Deser sulking in the corner. “It’s not my fault I’m the more talkative one,” he told him. “It’s your fault, in fact, that you spoke up and...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Deser buried his face in his paws. “Oh God, here we go...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“....And took these humans here. In fact, it’s amazing how you didn’t question their sudden appearance...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I overheard...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“That’s what you say, eh...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You overheard too, else you’d be questioning all this--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The door burst open. Sparrow and Rain whipped around from the rather entertaining scuffle to come face-to-face with a large, brown sabertooth.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“That’s enough, Deser, Alex,” she growled testily. “Maxim’s hearing you. He’s getting stressed out again and he’s trying to eat his bed--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Deser’s smirk had returned. “No doubt after he’s done choking down the frame he’ll eat his way through the walls to find Oak the sabertooth, his savior...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Kindly shove a cork in it,” the sabertooth replied shortly. “Maxim’s a little unsteady, that’s all. Also, the door for the room of Condor and Nanna is jammed. After this I’m going to help them out, and if you’re still bickering I’ll have her come in here with her drawer rails. It’s a wonder you didn’t hear her before.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The room was silent. Not too far off, Rain and Sparrow could hear loud, fast slamming noises, like someone trying to kick a door down.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Yes, yes, of course, Oak,” said Alex quickly after whoever making the noise gave an angry yell.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Who’s Condor?” Sparrow asked nervously. Oak turned to her. “Oh, you’re one of the humans,” she said admiringly. “Yes, as you may gather, my name’s Oak, I live in the room next to the one reserved to you... Oh right, Condor is a human, like you, she’s just a little feisty.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex sliced the meat into chunks and gave them to Rain and Sparrow. Oak said it was “time to rest” and shooed them out of the room. The two girls bid Deser and Alex farewell, Sparrow laughed a bit cruelly at Alex’s attempt to impress Oak, and they entered their room.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The beds were a lot more comfortable than Rain thought. She suddenly realized how tired she was. After a short commotion outside consisting of Oak’s voice, a few angry protests from someone else, and a softer voice that Rain couldn’t recognize, she found herself falling fast into sleep.

Chapter Seven
<p style="font-weight:normal;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:14px;">When Rain awoke, she was promptly greeted by glaring amber eyes. She jumped and tried to push whatever it was away.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The thing jumped back. Rain rubbed her eyes, blinked, and saw a blurry golden shape.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Roe!”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Today I will be giving you a tour,” said Roe in response, ignoring Rain’s shock at his sudden appearance. “Do you mind waking your sister?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain struggled to gather her bearings. She was only half awake, but rolled out of the comfortable bed and shook Sparrow.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She woke up almost instantly but gave a ferocious-sounding grunt and buried herself deeper into the blankets. Rain backed away. “I never cross her this early... What time is it?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Young-Sun,” said Roe. “or, six-thirty.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Six-thirty!” Sparrow roared. “You’re mad! We went to bed at ten, right?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe shook his head. “You went to bed at settling-time, eight.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">After a heated argument between Roe and Sparrow, Rain persuaded her sister out of bed and they went off to explore.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe talked about the ranks and apprenticeships. “The Guardians-in-training, once they reach 20 moons, have a variety of apprenticeships to choose from, including Orienteering, Foraging, and Blacksmithing...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Most of the classes went on out in the open, in spacious areas with only three walls: in the front and the sides. The back was left entirely open for spectating. Rain understood why this was for some of the classes as she watched Deser with his daggers silently duel a yowling, lance-wielding bobcat. If one of them fell back, they wouldn’t slam into the wall. Instead, they would most likely fall onto the woven rug. It was a much softer landing.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Those are demonstration rooms,” said Roe. “Most tiers and basic training classes have their own closed-off rooms, but this is when they’re practicing fighting. The advanced Guardian training tier, for those who are exceptionally good at close-combat and other fighting methods, use the demonstration room almost every day.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Those Guardians-in-training have bright futures. And the apprenticeship has chiseled out fine fighters.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain thought of Oak.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">On their way to the kitchen, Sparrow noticed a space in the wall near a demonstration room. It was a doorway, almost completely hidden from view by the tapestry hanging down from the wall. She snuck a peek anyway.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was a timid-looking hare at the front of the class, holding a blue stone and speaking to about fifteen different animals facing him. Sparrow could just barely hear him, for everyone was clamoring and they all seemed either excited or nervous.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow slipped in quietly.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She just noticed, then, that the hare had antlers and huge ears.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Settle down, settle down,” he called.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Everyone eventually stopped. The room was silent, but the air was brimming with excitement. Sparrow hid behind a large camel in the back. She was so quiet nobody even took notice of her, stepping nimbly without a sound.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The hare with antlers began. “As you may know, my name is Henry. I’m a jackalope.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You’re a Guardian-in-training,” someone called. “A Forager. How come you’re teaching us?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Henry stiffened. “Because Gratil wishes me to do so. I am a student, but I know quite a bit in the field of shape-shifting.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow accidentally stepped on a twig one of the animals had tracked in, due to excitement. A fox in front with goat horns turned around, but she ducked behind a very large bear before she could be spotted.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The bear was really huge. On top of his head was a small fur hat, ensuring his head was an inch from touching the ceiling.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Even though he was big, his fur looked soft. Sparrow couldn’t resist poking him as softly as possible.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The bear jumped and nearly knocked the nearby goat-fox over.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Maxim,” he hissed. “What’s the matter with you?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow made herself look as small as possible.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Maxim stuttered a bit.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Well I-I-oh... Well, egh, Idon’t rreally know, Bellde --”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Make sure it doesn’t happen again, Bolshevik,” the fox snapped.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I weel not,” Maxim whimpered. “Sorrry.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow looked to the front and realized Henry had not yet begun the lesson, due to his arguing with a purple snow leopard.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“All right, enough,” he said impatiently. “Let’s start.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“This is a transformation stone,” Henry said. “They are all different colors, but this one is blue, meaning it can make the holder shift into several different aquatic forms, depending on who they are and their personality.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Anyone can shift into any form, but if the form in question is in contrast from the user, it will be much harder. In contrast, you can transform very, very easily into a certain form if it is a form in your soul. With practice, you will not need to take out the stone at all but simply keep it tucked away with them.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Fireblaze sometimes goes up to the peak of the mountain where the Enchanted Pool is, and receives a special stone for someone specific. That stone is colored specially corresponding with the user and holds only the spirits of the forms in your soul.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Henry turned the blue stone towards the class and moved around the room to show everyone. There was a peculiar pattern on the stone, like a cross. Sparrow didn’t want to risk being spotted so she didn’t move, but the curiosity was overpowering so to let out her frustration she poked Maxim again.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Maxim knocked Bellde over and just about flattened him. Bellde showed his teeth and snarled but Henry hit him on the head and told him to pay attention.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“In order to use the stone, one must trace a claw, hoof, et cetera across the design on the front of the stone. There are other methods, as there are other items used for shifting forms, but the stone is the most common in the state humans call Alaska.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He lowered his voice. “Except Kobuk Valley, of course--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Henry jumped a little, as if he was suddenly realizing he spoke out loud, and continued on in his normal voice:

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“But anyway, you must do this several times, and as you do it, turn the stone upwards and close your eyes... And concentrate. If you do this properly, you should feel a changing sensation in your body. Without thinking of an animal form specifically, you will always turn into the animal, other than your form now, that is the closest to you in mind.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“If you want a challenge, do the same thing but think of a certain animal, whether it be monster or man. The harder you have to concentrate until you change, the less alike it is to you. Most stones’ colors are themed, so to attempt to become a camel with this aquatic stone would be so unbelievably strenuous you’d collapse on the floor with exhaustion before you got hooves and humps.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Now, I will proceed to demonstrate. If you wanted to become a crane, for example...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He closed his eyes, slowly lifting up the stone and tracing the cross furiously with one paw, stretching up as far as possible on his hind legs.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, bands of blue light came up around him. They encircled the jackalope and lifted him up into the air. Henry’s fur moved about as if the blue light was creating wind. Sparrow looked closer and saw odd symbols engraved on the bands, like hieroglyphics. And Henry was changing color, his front arms outstretching into wings that grew feathers, his hind legs growing thin, bony and longer than before, all fur changing into only skin and stripes...

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Then he fell down, as a crane.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Everyone gasped and leaned forward.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“As you can see,” Henry squawked in a very serene way, “the stone has disappeared entirely. When I wish to change back, I must only close my eyes, think of my original form, and spin about gracefully, and my feathers will turn to fur and my beak shall shorten and my antlers shall grow back and I will be a jackalope again.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">He did so, closing his crane eyes and spinning around in an entrancing, beautiful way, and a single, thin band of blue light followed, turning him back to his old self.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“The whole hullabaloo when you transform will be gone, when and if you choose to master your forms.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow, by this time, decided to sneak out again and tell Rain.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Quietly, just as she had come, Sparrow slid out of the room and in the direction of the good smell in the kitchen, hoping they were still there and thinking of herself transforming into a cat.

<p style="font-weight:normal;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:14px;">Rain was not worried about Sparrow very much as she pigged out on some fresh malasada from the kitchen. She had obtained it after excessively drooling over a batch, having not eaten since yesterday morning. The Portugese rooster bragged about his mother’s special malasada recipe and how good he was at making it, and gave one to her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe asked Rain where Sparrow was.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Oh, she’ll turn up. She won’t mess up anything I’m sure, and even if she did she would do her best to fix it. Probably off hiding in a classroom or something.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Roe did not seem to believe her, although, as Rain insisted, she had known her sister eleven years and Roe had only known her about sixteen hours.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">However she began to grow worried as she finished her tenth malasada. What if she got in trouble?

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Just then Sparrow burst through the cafeteria’s tapestry. Upon seeing Rain she ran towards her sister’s table and promptly smashed into a passing snow leopard.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain went over and helped untangle the leopard’s sheathed swords and cloth from Sparrow’s long hair.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Thanks,” the snow leopard panted. She looked up and stopped on awe. “You’re one of the humans that-- the prophecy--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The leopard’s paw rose to grasp Rain’s hand and shake it.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“My name’s Seshlen,” she said. “It’s an honor to meet you! I have a sister, Illaw. She’d love to meet you too! Would you mind stopping by the healer’s den in two hours?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain smiled. “Sure. You probably know this, but my name’s Rain.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow came up from behind Rain and shook her shoulders. “Hurry up! I have to tell you something!”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“In a minute, Sparrow,” she snapped in reply. Looking back at Seshlen, Rain apologized and promised she would go to the healer’s den as requested.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“What is it?” Rain asked irritably. “And where were you?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“In the Shapeshifting Classroom!” Sparrow replied excitedly.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain’s expression changed. “Shapeshifting?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow told her everything.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Really!” Rain cried. “So I could transform into a wolf! Or an owl! I’ve always wanted to fly!”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“It takes practice,” Sparrow told her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Before Rain could reply Roe entered from the kitchen.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I want you to get a feel for our territory,” the cat said. “So I’m sending you on patrol with Oak, Milo, Alex and Deser.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow then grew very excited and dashed off with Roe. Rain sighed and followed. She began to think, What if Brendan lied? What if he knew about these groups and shot that fox... on purpose?

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Half an hour later, Rain and Sparrow sat by a classroom as they waited for Oak to return. Roe had told them she was off on a trip with her Orienteering mentor. Alex and Deser waited with them. Alex was busy asking deliberately stupid questions about Foraging to Milo, who turned out to be a very large blue moth.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Deser slumped next to Rain, sulking.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Oak’s got a mentor all to herself. All the Orienteering apprentices do. They take whole trips away from the base for weeks at a time. The way Maxim’s so fragile I don’t know how he gets by.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex stopped asking questions to a struggling Milo and looked over at Deser. “He doesn’t get by. He pounded his fists against the walls in the middle of the night when Oak was off having a whale of a time somewhere in Olympic?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“No...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“See, that’s the thing,” Alex grunted irritably. “Since your bed is on the other side of the wall, you sleep like a rock...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Before they started bickering Oak appeared out of nowhere in the middle of a flat stone disc on the floor, in the center of the grand hall. The sabertooth used Milo to hit Alex and Deser over the head. “Let’s go,” she said briskly. Setting the bewildered moth down, she added, “Sorry Milo, it was necessary. Now that I think of it I should’ve just slammed their heads together.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain and Sparrow put on their fur coats back in their room and began to climb the long staircase to the exit.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Hold on,” Oak called. “Come over here.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She was standing at the center of the stone circle again. They all went over.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Oak muttered something and suddenly they were all outside, at the foot of the mountain. Igikpak stretched down into another plain.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">They wandered a ways before coming to a small stone circle. The circle had three symbols on it. One symbol was like an upside-down cross, with an imperfect square encircling it. The symbol seemed to be pointing to the clear, bright stream ahead.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“That’s the Druids’ territory, across the Cleansing Stream.” Oak spat out the last two words as if she had just eaten moldy bread. “The big circular stone here with the symbols is the Territory Divide.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Oak pointed east of the stone. “Over there is the Shadowbringers’ territory. Those old gnarly oak trees make the border all the way to the Stream.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“This is our territory marker,” Alex said. He grabbed several smooth, shiny stones from the bank of the cleansing stream and laid them out in an untidy line an inch away from the Territory Divide. “We own the stone, but not the big fat strip that is made up of the distance from the gnarly trees to the Land’s End Cave. Apparently,   according to the Druids’ logic, they own it.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex looked over at Milo. The moth was lazily flying in circles about six inches off the ground.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I could go for some tea right now mbhmmmhmhm,” he muttered, apparently unconscious.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Alex grabbed him and hit Deser over the head to wake Milo up.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Oak, Deser and Milo all slapped him at once.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow thought this was very funny but Rain was tired of it, so she went off to explore down the Stream. Something about how Alex shivered after Rain asked what Druid refugees were gave her a feeling of foreboding so she was careful not to stray across the line of stones that Alex had added onto earlier.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“A human,” said a calm, cold voice behind her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain whipped around and saw no less than a patrol across the Stream. A brown lynx with large, piercing eyes and what appeared to be a half-metal face stared at her threateningly.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The patrol was headed by an ivory-white cat with glaring yellow eyes. Dark green vines crisscrossed her paws and around her face and body. A shattered white mask covered her right eye and some of her face.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The mask reminded her of a math chart about fractions with circles. The mask looked like a third, but it also covered some of the cat’s right ear. Cracks and vines ran across the mask.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“A human,” the cat repeated. The lynx nodded.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“The prophecy,” the latter hissed, taking a step forward. The white cat, smaller than him, growled, “Stop, Legion. It will happen soon enough...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain took a step back and checked that she had not strayed over the line of stones.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I wouldn’t go over there, if I were you,” the cat said. She pointed with her tail to a hill sloping down. The hill cut through the gnarled old oak trees.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The cat turned away and the rest of the patrol followed. But then she stopped and her head turned.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I am Ingress,” she said in her cold tone. “Supreme Overseer of The Druids. Do not forget it in a hurry.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">And with a flick of her tail the patrol padded away into the distance.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain glanced over at the hill. She wanted to take Ingress’s advice even though she might as well have been her mortal enemy, but the hill seemed to call her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Before she knew it, Rain was over the hill and into a chilly swamp filled with weeping willows and tall grasses.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">And what looked like tombstones.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A sense of dread filled her from head to toe.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Suddenly, Rain heard snarling and something heavy leapt on top of her. She felt hot breath on her neck and sharp teeth, ready to slice into--

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A very loud yell, louder than the snarling, filled the air and the weight was gone... As if it had been knocked off.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain turned around and saw a black wolf wearing feathers and some other rubbish-looking items. By the wolf was a young-looking girl, about Sparrow’s age. She appeared to be wearing a long cloak that made her look like a bird. In her hands were two long white rails which she was using to beat the wolf about the head.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The wolf yowled like a cat and was off like a shot across the swamp, the girl following close behind, yelling and waving the rails.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain blinked and in a few minutes the girl returned, and ran across the swamp. “Are you hurt? I bet you are. That scum was out on his daily sulking about some Guardian, he’s much more ferocious then.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">The girl, now close enough, panted and peered at Rain’s shoulder.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I’m fine,” said Rain.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You’re not fine,” said the girl, pointing at the deep cut that had sliced through the skin of Rain’s coat. Rain looked over and winced, suddenly noticing the pain.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">There was a rustling from behind and Sparrow came parading into view with the rest of the patrol in tow. Oak somehow immediately saw the incision on Rain’s shoulder and cried, “Condor! What happened! It was that dirtbag Aquilo, wasn’t it! Oh, I’ll knock him into next week--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“The human needs medical attention,” the girl, Condor, snapped. “Come on.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Before she knew it Rain was in the healers’ den, sitting on a chair next to a wooden table, facing Seshlen and a white snow leopard whom was introduced as Illaw. Illaw wore light blue gloves and some daggers on her back. She also had light blue rings under her eyes as if she hadn’t slept for a week and the black circles had been frozen over.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“It got ya pretty bad,” said Seshlen. She turned away and called over to someone. “Branch, could you make a honey cover?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A strange looking serpent thing came into view. It hovered in the air with tiny wings, and held an odd curvy yellow bandage in its claws. It flew over and handed Seshlen the bandage. Rain was reminded of a hummingbird.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Illaw got up and went to another part of the room where there were cabinets, retrieving what looked like a bundle of sage and some thin, wispy blue leaves Rain didn’t recognize.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“The Weavers will patch up this coat when we’re done,” said Illaw. “If you’re lucky they might even put some sort of charm on it. Gratil’s thinking of your apprenticeship. He says since you’re one of the Chosen, you won’t need much training... Maybe he’s told the Weavers and they’ll put a corresponding charm on...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Her voice trailed off and she unwrapped the sage and the blue leaves. She set down the thick sage on the table, and when she was done, Illaw put a single blue leaf on top. Every time she did this her paw would thrust forward and there would be a sound like ice cracking.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">When this was finished she bundled the sage and the blue leaves, who now appeared to be stuck together. She went to the cabinets, got out a mortar and pestle, and put the leaves in.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“This blue leaves are Kihlik leaves,” Seshlen told Rain. “They help with infection and other things. The juice tastes like honey...” Seshlen sighed wistfully. “Illaw won’t let me have any, though...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain listened to the pestle grinding the leaves. Illaw went over to what looked like a mini-well next to the cabinets, took some water, poured it on the grinded leaves, and stirred the goo.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Then she tossed the bowl, sending the contents soaring in an arc above her head. In a flash one of her daggers was out and she threw it at the arc of goo which seemed to slow as it was pierced, and yelled, “Kihliksaggi blen frie!”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">As soon as the words had left her mouth the goo solidified in front of Rain’s eyes and tumbled to the floor in a heap. It was blue-green, and looked like gauze and tape.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She opened the cabinet and withdrew what appeared to be a set of metal teeth. Illaw opened her mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and pressed the metal to her teeth. The metal teeth molded perfectly into Illaw’s fangs and she used the teeth to pick up the Kihlik-Sage bandage. Illaw padded to the table, grabbed the honey cover, and pressed it into Rain’s wound. Rain winced as Seshlen helped wind the blue-green bandage about the honey cover. Seshlen ran over to the far end of the room where there were several jars and mixtures of things, grabbing a large jar of honey. She dabbed some on the end of the bandage, making it sticky. Illaw pressed the end of the bandage onto the rest of it, sealing the splint. Seshlen took some more honey out, making her paws sticky. “Oops,” she said. “Guess I’d better go groom.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“That’s disgusting, Seshlen,” Illaw snorted as her sister padded away to make conversation with Branch, the brown, little winged reptile. Rain watched him and saw little multicolored flowers and vines entangled around his body. They seemed to glow faintly whenever he got excited.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Sparrow jumped into the room. “There you are!” she exclaimed. “There’s been a big bear following me around and--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">A long serpent-lion slunk into the room. “Greetings, I am Ferris,” she said. Ferris was light blue and grey, with a long dragonlike tail and a pendant-looking item around her long neck. She also had light blue whiskers and antlers. “This is your sister, right? Maxim was bothering her. I guess he saw you at some point, and wanted to talk to you or something. He’s weird, don’t ask. Hard to pin down.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain shrugged. “Okay. Thanks, Seshlen and Illaw!” Seshlen waved bye, sending honey flying through the air.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:0px!important;">Illaw smiled.

Chapter Eight
<p style="font-weight:normal;margin-top:1em;margin-bottom:1em;font-size:14px;">Rain wandered around a while and talked to some animals. She gathered that Gratil was a lion and leader of the Delta Guardians.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">All the animals (and even a few humans, who seemed more than willing to waste their time talking to another of their kind) seemed to expect Rain was going to stay there with them.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">She met Ferris at one point, who was especially going on about apprenticeships. “You have the perfect build for an Orienteer, or maybe you might be a Healer! Or a Spy...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain laughed. “If that’s what it sounds like, I bet Sparrow would be perfect for that... She loves sneaking around and scaring me at the worst times... well, both by disappearing and jumping up behind me..”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Ferris agreed. “Oh, she probably will. I heard rumors that Gratil’s going to start your training tomorrow--”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“I hate to interrupt,” a voice hissed, “but Gratil issss wanting to sssee you, Rain.”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain looked around and saw a silver snake with crystal blue eyes. She gasped.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“You’re the snake from the mountain,” she said. It nodded. “I am Patiensssse.... I was sssent by... Oh, that’sss right... I need to get you to Gratil’sssss den...”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain said bye to Ferris and followed Patience down a few halls and stairs, eventually leading to a large tapestry hanging over a door. Patience turned to Rain.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Farewell for now,” the snake hissed. Rain noticed though Patience’s voice seemed full of wisdom, it was young. Rain smiled. “Thank you for showing yourself to me then.” She knelt down, and touched her hand to Patience’s head. The snake paused, then suddenly lifted her tail-tip and touched Rain’s head. Out of the blue, a blurry memory came to her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">''A raven’s hoarse call can be heard. Three children are in the middle of a snowy forest; one is older than the rest and the other two look nearly identical. The older one is huddling with the younger two, who are crying. They shiver in the cold. ''

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">''A raven sweeps down with large dusty wings and looks at them. They look back. The raven comes closer and nuzzles the young ones. Cautiously, the older child lifts its arm forward and touches the raven’s head.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">''There is a flash of light. The three children are sitting in a nest. The call of a man is heard. It is distant, but the man emerges from the bushes. The raven tilts its head at him and hops away. Laughing, one of the younger ones crawls after, grabbing its tail feathers. The raven’s wings spread and the bird seemed to grow larger, its back expanding. The young child is now on the large raven’s back. The raven takes off.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">''The man’s startled cry rings through the forest. He looks up at the raven in shock. It circles overhead for a moment, still comfortably carrying the child, and its black, sunken eyes flash at him for a moment. It flies off into the fog. Snow begins to fall.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">“Yuka?”

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">Rain blinked. The memory had gone as quick as it had come. Patience had disappeared. Slowly, Rain walked over to the doorway, lifted up the tapestry, and stepped inside.

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">This isn't mine :P I'll add more later cause it's kinda boring typing ctrl+c and ctrl+v over and over again

<p style="font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;">I need to catch up on dis :P