The Only by Katherine Applegate

Author:Katherine Applegate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2021-02-10T00:00:00+00:00

22

Dark News

That night, the wobbyks provided us with a lovely hut reserved for distinguished visitors. My bed was a cushioned platform suspended by blue vines dotted with tiny, fragrant white flowers shaped like butterflies. A crackling blaze in a nearby hearth meant that I could turn to one side and then the other, warming myself pleasantly. Tobble had a matching bed on the other side of the fire. Although our hammocks were underground, a wide opening far above us revealed a circle of silver stars.

I was deeply weary. Our talk with the elders had gone on for hours, through two delicious meals and a post-dinner toast. After that, Tobble had insisted on introducing me to many, many, many of his relatives.

Many.

I expected to fall asleep instantly, but the sky was so clear, the stars so bright, that I lay awake for hours. Early the next morning, having finally allowed sleep to overtake me, I was awakened by frantic shrieking coming from every direction, it seemed.

“Peril! Peril! Wobbyks arise! Peril!”

I tumbled out of my hammock. Tobble was already awake and quivering.

“What is it?” I asked.

“We’re under attack!”

“What? Who? Who is attacking us?”

He pointed skyward. There, floating in the early morning air, was a raptidon.

“Wait,” I said, grabbing Tobble by the arm. “Didn’t we see that hawk with Rorid Headcrusher?”

Rorid Headcrusher lived far away to the southeast in a large rookery. He was a terrifying old bird, but he’d provided us with help early in our journey, and I knew him to be fair and honest. In fact, he was the one who’d sent Stimball to our war council.

“I think you’re right,” said Tobble.

“We need to get to the surface,” I said.

“Climb the vine or take the stairs?” Tobble said. “Your choice. Or I can call for someone to haul you up.”

“Stairs,” I said. Stumbling repeatedly over my too-large feet, I slowly made my way up the narrow staircase. Tobble followed behind me.

Once outside our hut, we were buffeted by a rush of wobbyks racing past. I could see just how prepared they were for raptidon trouble. Two hundred archers, arrows nocked, awaited orders.

“Please! Don’t attack!” I cried. “At least not yet.”

The wobbyk in charge made a hand motion, and the archers stood down, to my relief.

“Hey, up there!” I called. “Have you come from Lord Rorid?”

The circling hawk stared down at me with pitiless black-and-yellow eyes. I could well understand the wobbyks’ terror. Raptidons have no trouble carrying off creatures the size of wobbyks.

“Aye,” the raptidon replied. “I am Dothram. I have a message from Lord Rorid and the Lady.”

The hawk circled down to land atop a hay cart. He had a sharply curved beak, red-and-orange wings, and a shimmering black tail.

“You were one of Rorid Headcrusher’s guards, I believe,” I said. “It’s good to see you again.” I very nearly tried to shake his “hand,” but you don’t grab a raptidon’s talons any more than you’d grab the wrong end of a knife.

“I am delighted to find you still alive, Ambassador Byx.

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