Fallen Thief by A. M. Robin

Author:A. M. Robin [Robin, A. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: A.M. Robin
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

A few minutes before midnight, Mira and Kay tiptoed past Appoline’s closed bedroom door and down the stairs. Mira was thrilled that the floorboards on their new staircase weren’t nearly as creaky as their old ones, and they made it silently out the front door.

Mira had never been outside in Crispin when it was this dark. The faint moonlight illuminated the streets enough so that they didn’t trip over anything as they hurried to Peter’s house first. Peter saw them through the shop’s display window and came outside, shutting the door behind him with care.

“Think you’ll need those?” Kay asked, pointing at Peter’s bow and arrows.

“I don’t know about you,” Peter hissed, clearly uncomfortable as they walked the deserted streets, “but if things turn sour, I’m not going down without a fight.”

They saw the first jewel bat flit through the air before they even turned the corner around the last house on the edge of the Mosswoods. Its glowing eye was a mesmerizing green. Mira had never quite paid much attention to the jewel bats before, and now that she got a good look at one, she pitied the insects that were sure to fall under its deadly spell. It flapped its leathery wings and flew into the dense trees, where Mira could make out a few more of the glowing eyes peeking through the leaves.

Collin and Garth were already standing on the edge of the woods.

“Thought you chickened out,” Collin whispered with a coy smile.

“Looks like your buddy did,” Kay said, stopping a few feet away from them.

“Oh, Wil couldn’t be bothered by this sort of thing. Besides, we didn’t know you’d bring your puppet along. No matter. It’s still an even match.”

Mira inhaled sharply to retort, but Peter grabbed her arm.

“Don’t,” he murmured. “We can’t risk disturbing the bats.”

Collin’s eyes sparkled joyously under the moonlight.

“Right,” Collin continued. “Whoever’s first to make it to the creek wins. If anyone runs out of the woods before making it to the creek, they forfeit their group’s first pick of playing in the Mosswoods. That’s the deal.”

“Let’s get on with it,” Kay hissed, turning to face the trees.

“All right. Ready—go.”

Collin and Garth bounded forward through the path, dry leaves crunching loudly beneath their feet. Peter held out his arm to stop Mira and Kay, pressing his finger to his lips.

“We’d better watch where we step. Got to be as quiet as we can.”

They stepped into the woods. Collin and Garth were still within sight, but they soon slowed down and started cowering under the swooping dives of the bats. It seemed Peter was right: the only way to get across in peace would be to stay completely silent.

Mira followed close behind her friend. He led the way off the path to avoid the racket Garth was making as he clambered over the thick roots of the trees with Collin close behind him. As Mira watched, another jewel bat darted down for Garth’s head and made a sharp turn right before ramming straight into his temple.

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