by L. C. Miller
“That could be because Bombers is a two-foot snake. Fintz is a rare wind serpent, remember? Did you read that book I gave you about them?”
Aaron blushed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I forgot.”
Sighing, Abby said, “Either way, I think Elrane was interested enough not to get mad at you. She’s too beautiful to be mad about her.” They laughed as Fintz straightened up majestically.
She didn’t stay in that pose for long, as she quickly lost her balance and slid down the front of Aaron’s robe. Catching her, Aaron sighed at the long rip. Abby was trying not to giggle as Fintz jumped into her arms. “That’s the third hole this week. At this rate, I won’t have a robe come next week.” Fintz chirped at Aaron as they walked. The rock lifted them to the top quickly and they started walking again. “So, what are you getting up to tonight?”
“I need to go into the woods before I go home. I promised Orn I’d give him some more stuff for his cold.” Abby shrugged.
“Should you do that tonight? Why can’t you wait until tomorrow, when it’s light outside?”
“Because I promised him I’d get it to him this week. I don’t want to break my promise. Besides, I’ll be fine.”
“Be careful, Abby,” Aaron said as they parted ways at the trail.
“Abby, what are you doing here this late?” Orn asked, surprised when Abby entered the clearing.
“I brought you your—” Abby started.
Piney interrupted anxiously. “Have you felt them yet? They’re everywhere. There are hundreds of them!” he whispered dramatically.
“She might not be able to do that yet, and there are not hundreds of them, maybe only five or six,” Orn broke in over Piney’s moaning.
“Do what?” Abby asked the giant tree.
“You should not have come tonight, Abby. Something has moved into the woods. Something dark and dangerous,” Orn explained. “It has been more than three hundred years since I have felt these creatures. But I hear the trees; I hear their voices. I know they are back.”
“For sapling’s sake, Piney, be quiet!” Barky snapped at the moaning Piney.
“He’s just frightened,” broke in Abby.
She went and put her hand on Piney. “See, there it is again!” Piney cried. If trees could shake with fear, Piney would have been doing it, Abby thought.
“Are you sure it’s not just the waves or something? It’s been very windy; a storm could be coming.”
“No, this isn’t just some storm. Listen closely, Abby,” instructed Orn.
Abby stood there quietly. After a moment, she heard a low screeching noise. She turned to the sound, straining to hear.
“They sound very far away,” said Abby, looking up at Piney.
“They are very far away. We’re worried they’ll move closer,” broke in Barky.
“Although they seemed to have stopped moving,” said Orn.
“What are they?” Abby asked Orn.
“I’ve never actually seen these creatures, but I hear they are humanlike in appearance but ghostly pale. They were called lightning dwellers in the old days.”
Abby had never heard of such a creature, but before she could ask another question, she could hear her name being called. “Abby? Abby! Where are you?”
“Over here,” she yelled. Aaron came running through the woods, Fintz hanging on his T-shirt.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, slightly out of breath.
Confused, Abby said, “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Now it was Aaron’s turn to look confused. “I could have sworn I heard screeching or something.”
“You heard that all the way from your house? I’m closer and barely heard it,” said Abby, surprised.
“So I did hear something?”
Abby nodded and gazed up at Orn. “How can he hear it all the way there?”
“I don’t know, Abby,” Orn spoke softly.
“Maybe I just have better hearing,” joked Aaron. The ground shook when a large branch fell in between them. “Hey!”
“What—”
“Piney, leave off!” Orn thundered as his roots shook the ground. Piney had been swinging his branches with such force that he broke off a dead branch from Orn. Piney sniffled and seemed to hunch over.
“Oh, Orn, you know he didn’t mean it,” Abby said, going to stand between them with her hands on her hips.
“What just happened?” asked Aaron, staring at the two trees, then back at Abby. He was trying to control the now crying Fintz as she flapped anxiously in his arms.
“It’s the screeching. It’s been scaring Piney,” Abby explained to him. She looked back up at Orn, who was still agitated. “Piney is an infant compared to you, Orn. Don’t you remember how you reacted the first time you sensed these things?”
“Piney’s an infant? What did he say?” asked Aaron, staring up at Piney.
“I’m sorry, Piney. I often forget how short of a time you have been with us. And I guess I can’t be too mad, that branch was always itching.”
“He is apologizing to Piney. Technically speaking, Piney is only around fifty years old, give or take a year or two,” said Abby.
“I heard him before. When we were all here last. Why can’t I hear him now?” Aaron asked.
“I don’t talk to two-leggers. I only talk to Earthlings. I mean no offense, boy with the wind serpent.”
Abby translated what Orn said as Fintz and Aaron looked up at him. “It was actually Piney you heard before. Orn doesn’t talk to many two-leggers, and he says no offense.”
Aaron’s gaze once again rose to Orn. “No offense taken, Giant Tree, sir.”
Abby laughed.
“That branch didn’t look good on you, anyway,” mumbled Piney.
Abby giggled first, followed by Barky. Even Aaron, who had heard Piney, started to laugh. He grinned up at Piney, who reached out with a branch and patted Fintz.
It went quiet as they heard more screeching. “Maybe you two should head on home. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you while visiting us. But stay together. They might not be moving closer to us, but that doesn’t mean that couldn’t change.”
Abby patted Orn before gathering her things. “We’ll be okay,” she promised him. They left the trees, heading back to the trail.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“Lightning dwellers?” asked Ethan the next afternoon. “Never heard of them.” He sat with his legs crossed near a small campfire in between Aaron and Abby. Sparks flew into the air when Carly, who sat opposite him, threw a stick into the fire.
“I sent Rainy a bubble last night asking her about it,” Abby said. “I’m hoping to hear from her soon.” They had spent much of their holiday break decorating their cave, and now had log seats surrounding the fire, and each had stashed a change of clothes after Abby’s ordeal with the sea serpent. Books and old cauldrons lined a new shelf, and both Ethan and Aaron had put up posters of their favorite racing teams. The heat from the fire warmed the room.
The four of them looked up as the chimes Carly put up began to ring.
“Looks like the chime warning works,” Rainy remarked as she made her way into the cave.
Abby got up. “Hey, did you get my note?”
Rainy nodded. “I did, but the lightning dwellers are not something I’ve heard of. I got these out of the library tent.” She laid her bag on the picnic table and began pulling books out of it. “Most are creature books and a few history ones, too. You did say Orn hadn’t seen them in a few hundred years, right?”
“Well,” Abby began, “he told me he’s never actually seen one, but the last time he felt their presence was about three hundred years ago.”
They stayed in the cave for several hours before giving up. “Ugh, I feel like I’m in history class!” Ethan muttered, flipping a book closed.
“At least with this, you won’t have homework,” Carly said, reading her book.
“What are you reading about?” Abby asked her. Carly looked up to see they
had all closed their books.
“It’s one of the history ones. It’s about four ladies called—”
“The Four Who Changed Things,” Rainy and Abby chorused.
“Who?” Aaron asked.
“Do you remember me telling you about how there used to be only four Mystic tribes?” Abby asked. “Well, one of the leaders lost her life preparing a permanent placement spell, which is basically like the spell we did to conceal this cave. Only her spell was permanent. She combined so much magic that when she danced at the peak part of the spell, she lost her life to it. The three remaining leaders tried to stay in the area, but no one wanted to remember what they lost in order to have a permanent place to live. So, the tribes started splitting.”
“That’s a crappy way to honor someone’s gift,” Carly spoke, outraged. “The woman gives them the gift of a real home and place to live and they repay the favor by leaving!”
“Not all of them left. The Earth Callers stayed, as did the three other leaders. Though, technically, they weren’t leaders anymore as they had no tribe to lead,” Rainy explained.
“Where was the permanent place?” Ethan asked.
Both Rainy and Abby shrugged. “No one knows. All of the Earth Callers disappeared several hundred years ago.”
“It’s not in any of these?” Ethan asked, gesturing to the history books.
Rainy shook her head. “The location isn’t mentioned in a single one. Some Mystics don’t even believe it ever existed.”
The four off them made their way outside. “Hey, Abby, can you help me with the books? I nearly crashed into the ocean getting them here.” Abby took the bag from Rainy and jumped on her Glider. Rainy climbed on her smaller carpet as Ethan, Aaron, and Carly got on their brooms.
“When are you going to tell people about your Glider?” Ethan wondered.
Abby shrugged. “Sooner or later. I’m getting tired of crashing my broom.” They all rose into the air and headed back home.
~*~
“Hey, Abby, I forgot to tell you,” Rainy started as Carly and Aaron veered toward their home, “the Madam needs to see you whenever you come back to camp. Also, Mia wants to talk about the dances you know.”
“Okay, I was planning on coming by tomorrow morning,” Abby said, stopping on the Herrins’ lawn. She gave Rainy a hug and walked into the house with Ethan.
After getting up early the next morning, Abby practiced dancing for the trees before she went up to the camp. “Wasn’t there another young girl who used to dance here?” Barky asked as she finished her last dance.
“Yes, there was. She was the first Mystic I ever saw. She danced beautifully,” Orn answered.
Abby’s stopped stretching. “There used to be a Mystic Dancer here?”
“Yes. It was a long, long time ago.” He sounded far away and sad. “Her name was Helen ... No, wait that wasn’t it. Nancy, Tara ...”
“He used to talk to about her all the time,” Piney remarked, swinging his branches. “Said she was the best thing to ever happen to this area.”
“What happened to her?” Abby asked.
Piney lifted his branches as if to shrug. “No one knows. He never said. Isn’t that right, Orn? Orn? Orn!”
Orn jerked. “What! What are we talking about?”
Piney sighed and Barky spoke up. “We were talking about your friend, the Dancer from years ago. Didn’t you call her Tanie or something like—”
“Zantara!” Orn interrupted excitedly. “But all of her friends called her Zanie.”
Abby couldn’t remember hearing that name. She looked up at Orn. “Zanie was a Dancer?”
“No, she wasn’t a Dancer. Not in the end, anyway.”
Orn wouldn’t elaborate, no matter how many times Abby asked. “You should get going,” Orn spoke. “The lightning dwellers, though still far, are gathering in numbers.”
Defeated, she grabbed her bag and headed toward the camp. It was buzzing with activity when she arrived. “What’s going on?” she asked as Rainy rushed up to her.
“One of the guards was attacked in the woods. He’s being treated now.”
“What? What happened?” Before Rainy could explain, the Madam joined them.
“Abby, a word, please?” Nervously, Abby followed the Madam into her tent. “I’m sorry. I forgot you were coming today or I would have sent someone to walk with you. Until I say otherwise, you need to inform me of when you intend to come to the camp. You are not to come here alone, and you will be escorted as you leave. In case you haven’t heard, Jerrity was attacked in the woods sometime in the night. He hasn’t woken up yet, though the majority of his wounds are already healed. He should be fine. But until we know for sure what attacked him, you are not to be in the woods alone. Is this understood?”
Abby nodded. “Does anyone know what happened?”
The Madam shook her head. “He was alone when it happened. Rollen will escort you to practice and then escort you home.”
Rollen was standing outside and they left to go to Mia’s tent. “I’m sorry I followed you, Abby,” Rollen said in way of greeting.
She realized then how long it had been since she talked to just him. “It’s okay. I understood why the Madam asked you to.”
Rollen shook his head. “I’m not sure you do. She was worried about you being on the other side. You know about the Watchers, right? Our guard?” He emphasized guard with his fingers. “Well, they can’t watch you over there. It wasn’t allowed because while you’re still a Mystic, you’re also a Wielder. So when you and Rainy became friends, she asked me to keep an eye on you and if I was caught, I could say I was looking after Rainy for Marcella.”
“Really? I thought it was because she didn’t trust me,” Abby said, stunned.
Rollen sighed as they continued to walk. “You’re about the most trustworthy person I know, Abby.”
“Why did Arika hit you?”
At this, Rollen laughed. “I told Arika what I was up to because she wondered why I missed so many practices. She wanted me to let you know you were being followed and why. She knew you had the wrong impression.”
“So why did she punch you?”
Rollen hung his head sheepishly. “I sort of told her I told you so she would leave me alone about it. She’s got a mean right hook.”
Abby was still laughing when they entered the tent. All of the dancers were already seated. “Hello, Abby. Rollen,” said Mia as she ushered them in. “As you know, we will be performing a spring dance at the end-of-year event at the school in a couple of months. Due to the extra watchers, we will have to rehearse more in the tent. I hope everyone has been practicing and knows their steps. Pebbles, I’m sorry, but you cannot stay in here.”
The baby griffon sniffed at Natt’s shoes and ignored the shooing noises. Surprised that the once tiny griffon was now the size of a medium dog, Abby volunteered to lead her outside. Pebbles stretched her wings wide, knocking all of Mia’s scrolls off her shelf in the process.
Sighing, Mia waved Abby and Pebbles away. “Come on, sweetie, this way.” Abby led the baby griffon outside by her shiny gold-and-red collar.
“There she is. I’m sorry she got away again. This is the third rope she’s eaten through.” Estella came forward to take hold of Pebbles. Abby said it was fine and gave Pebbles one last head rub before returning to the tent.
Mia had everyone standing up and stretching when Abby came back. She went to stand next to Natt, who grinned at her. “Ready to show them how it’s done?” he said, as they got into their lines.
“Don’t you know it,” Abby replied excitedly as music began to flow.
“On the count of three we will begin with the first part. Micah, spit out whatever you are chewing, please. Thank you.” Mia raised her arms high as if conducting a symphony. “And … go!” Abby kept her hair the same color as they danced, a dark rich green. She felt it was appropriate for a spring song.
They had to stop halfway through as Mia made adjustments to a few dancers’
positions on one side. Her shadow did the same to others on the other side. It shot Abby a look because she giggled when it waved Micah a couple feet to the left. Because shadows could only touch the person who holds their emblem, it had to wave a hand in people’s faces to get them to move to the right spot.
Abby noticed that Teresa was having difficulty with some of the new moves. By the time they rested for a few minutes, Abby went to talk to her. “Are you okay?”
Teresa, whose face was red and splotchy, nodded. She pulled her blonde hair into a ponytail. “Yeah, I’m a little off today. Jerrity is my half-brother. I’m the one who found him.”
Still watching Teresa, who looked as if she would burst out crying, Abby said quickly, “They said he would be okay, right?”
Teresa nodded again. “Yeah, but I was really worried for a while. He’s all I have left. I lost my mom a few years ago.”
It was then Abby remembered hearing about an unfortunate incident involving hair spray and a flammable potion. “I’m sorry. Why did you come to practice? Surely Mistress Mia would’ve given you the night off to be with him?”
“She offered, but there really wasn’t anything I could do. Maude said dancing would probably keep my mind off things. Hasn’t really worked so far,” Teresa muttered, shrugging. Abby was interrupted from saying more as Mia had them get back into their lines.
By the time practice was over, Abby was feeling a little livelier. Instead of returning straight home, Abby went into the Mystics’ garden. “What are you looking for?” Rollen asked as they passed rows of tomatoes.
“A flower for Teresa. She needs some cheering up.” Abby walked through rows of pretty flowers. Almost all of them waved their petals at her. It wasn’t long before she saw a gleaming white flower.
“Hello,” the little flower whispered to her.
Abby smiled as she picked it. “A friend of mine needs cheering up. Think you could do it?” she whispered to the flower. Nodding vigorously, the little flower opened its petals wide.
“Did you say something?” asked Rollen, staring at Abby. Shaking her head, they left the gardens.
