The Phantoms' Secret

by Christa Roberts

  The Alphas looked at one another. For now, they had planned to go back to Alphas Hollow—but that wouldn’t be the best place for Greely and Sir Gilbert to meet them. It would waste time that they didn’t have. “Tell them that they should meet us in the morning at the volcano,” Liza said as the others nodded. “We’ll be waiting for them there at dawn.”

  Ivan bowed his head. “I will do whatever I can to help you.” The eagle flapped his powerful wings and disappeared into the night sky.

  Greely was never in the best of moods, and now was no exception. He and Sir Gilbert had spent hours exploring and searching the lands of Jamaa, but had turned up nothing. It didn’t help that neither of the Alphas had any idea what they were looking for. This had begun to gnaw at him.

  Greely didn’t like not knowing things.

  “Perhaps we should visit Mt. Shiveer,” Sir Gilbert suggested. “We haven’t explored any terrain there. If we run, we can get there quickly.”

  “Perhaps we shouldn’t,” Greely muttered sourly. What good would going to Mt. Shiveer do? The pompous tiger Alpha had made one impractical suggestion after the next, and in Greely’s mind, all of them were worthless. The clock was ticking. There wasn’t time to go to Mt. Shiveer. There wasn’t time for anything.

  Crack! A bolt of lightning flashed in the sky above the forest. Sir Gilbert paused. “All right, Greely. Since you have rejected my many futile attempts to solve the third riddle, enlighten me, my friend. Surely, it seems, you must have the answer. What do you think we should do?”

  Greely glared at him. “If I had the answer, we wouldn’t be standing out here in the forest, would we?”

  Sir Gilbert bristled, his mouth twisting into a frown. “Then I suggest that for once you attempt to be, if not agreeable, then at least civil. I am quite certain I don’t have to remind you that working together is the best road to success.”

  “And you call this success?” Greely grumbled, looking darkly at the forest as a heavy rain began to pour down. The wolf Alpha angrily strode from tree to tree. “Going to Mt. Shiveer would get us nowhere,” Greely told him. “You have no idea what we’re even looking for.”

  Sir Gilbert’s voice rose in anger. “We are looking for an answer that will save all of Jamaa, Greely. Even someone as hard-hearted as you knows that Jamaa’s future is resting on our shoulders.”

  Greely sighed in frustration. “I’d be better off on my own.”

  Raindrops landed on the thick canopy of leaves above them. Thunder boomed in the sky. Any fleeting happiness Greely had felt after solving the second riddle had been replaced with something else.

  Despair.

  “You might be . . . but would Jamaa?” Sir Gilbert shouted. “For once, Greely, stop thinking about yourself.”

  Anger coursed through Greely’s veins. If that was what Sir Gilbert thought, Greely wasn’t about to correct him—even though the tiger Alpha couldn’t have been more wrong. “One of us has to think,” he growled instead, stalking toward him. His sopping dark purple cloak clung to his body.

  The two Alphas faced off. Exhausted, cold, and hungry, they glared at each other, each holding his ground in the driving rain. Lightning crashed and thunder boomed. Rivers of water ran down the animals’ fur, dripping from their whiskers. The ground under their feet was soon a muddy mess. Stubbornness and pride took up the space between them.

  And then, suddenly, as they glowered at each other, soaked to the skin, they each had an identical, startling, simultaneous realization.

  In unison, the two Alphas whispered, “Sometimes I’m fast, and sometimes I’m slow. I always fall but won’t stand up, I’m free for all but can’t be bought.”

  Greely’s irises flickered. And Sir Gilbert gasped.

  The answer to Mira’s riddle was all around them. Rain. The answer to the third riddle was rain.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Back at the Alphas Hollow, the four Alphas hashed out the details of how they’d take the Phantom Army and the Phantom King down.

  Liza sat at the Alphas’ large round wooden table, scrolling through the photographs she had taken when the Alphas had been inside Mt. Magma. “As far as I can tell, there’s only one way in—and one way out,” she said. “That makes our mission a little easier.”

  “That’s a good thought, but we don’t know for sure. There could be other secret entrances,” Graham said. He had emptied the contents of his backpack on the floor and was tossing things he didn’t need.

  “Do you think there are other secret doors?” Peck wondered. She was lying on her side, propped up on one elbow.

  “There’s no way of knowing,” Liza said. “We’ll just have to prepare for anything.”

  “I had an idea when we were walking back to the Hollow,” Cosmo said, taking a sip of hot cocoa. “I was remembering the long-ago epic battle when Jamaa was saved from the Phantoms. How at first things weren’t going our way, but when we all worked together, everything clicked.”

  Graham nodded. “That’s how we won.”

  Peck jumped to her feet. “That’s how we’ll defeat the Phantoms! We need to get all of the animals to fight alongside us now, too! If we can get everyone fired up, there won’t be any stopping us!” She jumped to her feet. “I’ll run over to Bunny Burrow now and tell the bunnies. They can spread the word for us!”

  “I agree,” Cosmo said, feeding off Peck’s energy. “If we split up and ask the animals to help us, we should be able to get all the species to meet at the volcano door by morning.” He paused. “But it can’t just be the four of us. We need Sir Gilbert and Greely.”

  “They’ll be there,” Peck said confidently. “Ivan won’t let us down. And neither will they.”

  It was still dark in the predawn hour when Sir Gilbert and Greely arrived back at Coral Canyons. They had walked all night to their destination, and Coral Canyons was completely quiet. The two of them had prowled around the area, finally settling next to the pool of water. The blue-gray marble statue of Mira looked like nothing more than a statue.

  Sir Gilbert was lying down, staring at the horizon. Slowly, the sky around him began to lighten. A small red bead of light shone in the distance—the sun. Neither of them had said a word since they had returned to Coral Canyons. But unlike before, the silence hadn’t been uncomfortable. After solving the final riddle together, there was new calmness between them.

  “Soon it will be daybreak,” Greely said, breaking the silence. His gaze flickered down to the statue of Mira and to the still water of the pool. No spray shot from the spout. No ripples fluttered across the surface.

  Yet.

  Sir Gilbert looked at the space between them. There, on a low, flat rock, sat the pearl and the pinecone. And next to them was a small pail they had found hanging from a tree, meant to collect sap. They had filled it with rainwater and carried it here.

  Sir Gilbert sighed. “I don’t know how you do it,” he said to Greely.

  Greely arched one of the white tufts of fur above his eye. “Do what?” he asked.

  The tiger stretched. “Keep so many secrets. You are quite the enigma, you know,” he said. “Spending most of your time alone, far away from everyone.” He chuckled. “The other animals don’t know what to make of you. I daresay they are a little frightened of you. But I know you are not as mysterious as you set out to be. Thank you for your help. I—I am not sure I could have accomplished Mira’s task without you.”

  Greely merely stared back at Sir Gilbert with a puzzled look on his face. “Interesting,” he said flatly.

  Sir Gilbert sighed. “Moving on, then, I suppose.” He glanced down at the ring containing his red Alpha Stone. “It is getting warmer. The sun is rising.”

  Greely moved and the dark blue Alpha Stone on the leather cuff on his front leg glinted in the sunlight.

  “Our Alpha Stones will be strongest at the exact moment of solstice,” S
ir Gilbert declared. He was used to having conversations like this with Greely. For every three or four things Sir Gilbert said, he would get a single nod or shrug.

  But Greely surprised him now. “We will not have to wait much longer,” Greely said, watching the sun climb into the sky. Despite his fellow Alpha’s gruff demeanor, Sir Gilbert could tell Greely was looking forward to Mira’s potential return to Jamaa.

  Something overhead caught Sir Gilbert’s eye. It was Ivan the eagle, flying very fast. Instantly Sir Gilbert knew that the eagle was on an important mission.

  Sir Gilbert leaped up to stand by Greely as the eagle swooped down frantically in front of them.

  “What is it?” Greely asked, staring intently at Ivan.

  The eagle took large, painful gulps of air, trying to steady himself. “The other Alphas. Cosmo, Liza, Peck, and Graham. They—they sent me to get you.”

  “Why?” Sir Gilbert demanded. “Are they hurt?”

  Ivan shook his head, his feathers quivering. “No. It’s the Phantoms. They’ve invaded Mt. Magma. They’re trying to get the volcano to erupt at the exact moment of the solstice,” Ivan sputtered, taking a breath. “The Phantoms want to destroy everything and make the Phantom King ruler of what’s left of Jamaa!”

  Greely let out a ferocious howl. The horrible sound echoed across the canyon.

  “Where are the other Alphas?” Sir Gilbert asked, his whiskers taut.

  “They will be at Mt. Magma,” Ivan said, looking from Greely to Sir Gilbert. “They were going to be waiting for you there at dawn.”

  “What?” Sir Gilbert cried. “The only chance we have to help Mira come back to Jamaa is now!” the regal tiger Alpha shouted. “Today, when the sun will be at its highest point.”

  Greely was striding back and forth, back and forth, snarling. “I can’t let Mira down.”

  “We. We can’t let her down,” Sir Gilbert roared angrily. “We’ve done everything she asked. This might be our only chance to ever get her back! We cannot leave!”

  “So what should we do, then?” Greely hissed, coming face-to-face with Sir Gilbert. “Let the Phantom King take over Jamaa? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “No! Of course not!” Sir Gilbert smacked his paw furiously into the dirt. “This is an unbearable choice.”

  Suddenly mist rose from the pool. The marble statue glowed with a soft light, and water began to spray from the fountainhead.

  “Mira,” Greely whispered, sprinting to the edge of the water.

  “You have come back to us,” Sir Gilbert cried, joining him. “But we are in a terrible predicament. We’ve just learned that the Phantoms have invaded Mt. Magma and that the other Alphas need our help. Ivan—”

  “Yes, Sir Gilbert. I know,” Mira’s mystical voice interrupted the tiger Alpha’s worries.

  “We cannot leave without you—but we cannot let the Phantoms take over,” Sir Gilbert declared as Greely stood silently next to him, hoping for some guidance from their guardian spirit.

  The water glistened as Mira’s celestial voice spoke to them. “Sir Gilbert. Greely. There is only one true choice. You must join the other Alphas. You must save Jamaa.”

  Greely lowered his gaze, realizing what that would mean.

  “But—but the riddles have all been answered,” Sir Gilbert protested. “We have the pearl, the pinecone, and the rainwater. All the things we need to help you return to us, Mira. As you said—the alignment of the planets means that this year’s solstice is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Now that his hopes had been raised, he couldn’t bear to let the dream of having Mira back in Jamaa perish.

  The water shone bright now, the sun’s rays bouncing off the surface. “You did everything you were asked to do, and I am proud of you,” Mira said, gently. “Yet, how can I come back if Jamaa is in ruins?” Mira’s voice was tinged with sadness.

  “We will do whatever you wish,” Greely said, raising his gaze to look directly at the statue. “Always.”

  “And I hope one day we have another chance to be together. But, you must always remember what I am about to tell you.” Now Mira sounded resolute. “The world of Jamaa is more important than I,” she said. “And it is more important than you.” The water rippled. “Your fellow animals, and your fellow Alphas, are more important than anything. Never forget that.” She paused for a moment. “And never forget this: I will always be with you.”

  The mist vanished. The water smoothed. And the glow around the statue of Mira disappeared.

  Greely turned to Sir Gilbert. “We must go.” He looked up at Ivan, whose beak hung open, stunned at what he had just seen. “Fly back to Sarepia Forest. Tell the other eagles—all the animals—that we will need everyone’s help. We will not be defeated.”

  Greely glanced back at the now quiet fountain. “Not after this sacrifice,” he murmured.

  Sir Gilbert closed his eyes. Then he nodded toward the pail. “Drink before you go. We—we do not need the rainwater anymore.”

  Ivan obliged by taking several sips. Then, he flapped his wings and soared up into the bright blue sky. Greely and Sir Gilbert locked eyes, grabbed the pearl and pinecone respectively, and without saying a word, dashed toward Mt. Magma.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “They should be here by now!” Peck whispered impatiently. She and the other three Alphas were outside Mt. Magma, waiting for Sir Gilbert and Greely to arrive. But the four Alphas weren’t alone. Hundreds of animals had heard the Alphas’ battle cry—and had rallied to the volcano to help save Jamaa. Raccoons clutched rocks to defend themselves. Lemurs leaped around in anticipation, ready to claw the Phantoms with their nails. Deer clustered together, prepared to run forward and charge as a group. Every species in Jamaa was ready for battle.

  Liza bit her lip. “Come on, come on,” she said to herself, looking up at the sky. The solstice would soon be here. Where were the missing Alphas?

  Cosmo tilted his head upward, listening for a sign from the jungle.

  “What is it, Cosmo? Do you hear something?” Peck asked, her long ears perking up.

  “The trees promised they’d let me know when Greely and Sir Gilbert are near us,” Cosmo explained, wringing his paws. “There’s no sign of them.”

  Graham was huddled with a group of monkeys, teaching them how to make slingshots using branches and nuts. Soon there was a crowd of enthusiastic monkeys newly armed with slingshots. They hopped about, eager to let their ammunition fly.

  The Alphas heard a commotion coming from the jungle. Branches began to shake and twigs snapped loudly.

  “Is it Greely and Sir Gilbert?” Peck asked Cosmo as a group of bunnies huddled around her.

  Cosmo shook his head, looking pained. “Phantoms,” he whispered.

  The Phantom army’s tentacles hacked at branches and vines as they marched through the forest. But when they saw the animals and Alphas, they stopped, momentarily stunned. Phantoms faced off against the animals and the Alphas.

  Liza stepped forward, unafraid. “We know what you’re up to inside the volcano,” she boldly told them.

  “Yeah, we’re on to you. And it’s not going to work!” Peck added, puffing out her chest. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll give up now!” The bunnies around her all nodded.

  The Phantoms looked at one another and began to chuckle. “What’s this?” one of them said sarcastically, holding up his tentacles in mock horror. “A bunny and a koala? Oooh, I’m so scared.”

  “When will you silly little animals realize that you can’t stop us?” one of the Phantoms shouted out, pushing a raccoon aside. “No one can!”

  “Monkeys! Now!” Graham shouted. The monkeys began shooting off their slingshots, raining nuts down on the surprised Phantoms. The deer surged forward, pushing the Phantoms in the direction of the Lost Temple of Zios. At Liza’s urging, pandas pelted the enemy with rocks and the bunnies
brandished sharpened carrots. Kangaroos hopped on Phantoms, slamming them into the ground. Owls dive-bombed Phantoms while the lemurs began chasing Phantoms in all directions, waving their arms in the air.

  “We should head inside the volcano,” Liza shouted above the din as a fox chased two Phantoms into the jungle. “The animals have this under control.” The others nodded and Graham unlocked the hidden door. They raced inside the passageway toward Mt. Magma.

  When the four Alphas rounded the corner and reached the lookout point, what they saw made their hearts sink. Fiery lava was already rising, the molten red liquid bubbling and churning. Phantoms surrounded the lava pit, using fans to blow air onto its boiling surface.

  “They’re working together,” Cosmo exclaimed as the pit belched out puffs of steam.

  “Hey, up there!” Graham pointed to the small sliver of sky at the tip of the volcano. Sunlight was coming through.

  Peck panicked. “We’re too late!” she cried out as the air inside the crater grew hotter. “The solstice is going to happen! Mt. Magma is going to erupt!”

  “Calm down, Peck! We can’t give up yet!” Liza shouted. “Everyone is counting on us!” Her cry seemed to snap all the Alphas into action. And with that, the battle inside the volcano began.

  “Liza’s right!” Cosmo said, leaping over the wall. He raced toward the Phantoms with such force that they stumbled backward, fleeing their posts.

  A gust of steam blew Peck’s ears backward. “We can do this, guys!” she shouted.

  Graham scaled up the crater walls, using the bumps and crevices as footholds. Small vents along the wall were gushing out vapors. “I’m going to climb out the top!” he yelled. “We need to warn the animals that this thing’s about to blow!”

  Liza realized that the sun was almost at its apex. She leaped over the wall to where several Phantoms were fanning the flames, catching them off guard. Taking her staff, she began striking them, sending them flying into the crater walls.