Cry of the Wolf (Avalon: Web of Magic #3) by Rachel Roberts

Author:Rachel Roberts [Roberts, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing
Published: 2012-08-01T07:00:00+00:00

WILDFLOWERS SWIRLED AROUND Adriane as she walked down the lush path in pursuit of Zach. Wide, lustrous leaves of purple, pink, and blue sprouted everywhere, lending the glade a gleam of rainbow brilliance. She wished she could explore this extraordinary place, and she had about a million questions for the Fairimentals. But she had to find Storm and get home. Her Gran was used to her going off on her own, but she would certainly worry before too long. Hopefully, Emily and Kara were covering for her.

The path led to a grassy meadow. In the center stood an enormous tree, giant branches stretching out in all directions from a trunk as thick as a house. In fact, it was a house—a tree house. Wooden platforms were cleverly hidden amidst the green boughs. They were connected by natural stairways made of branches and covered by foliage thick enough to keep out any rain or cold, although she wondered if there was really ever any bad weather here.

Zach was sitting on a platform two levels up, gazing out over the Fairy Glen.

“Hi,” Adriane said shyly as she approached.

The boy remained silent.

“Can I come up and sit with you a while?”

“Suit yourself.”

Adriane climbed up to join him. The platform formed the floor of a large room. Branches had grown around and through the floor, forming tree chairs and even a tree bed, with a mattress piled thick with soft leaves. Thinner branches hung down the sides, like green curtains.

“This is an amazing tree!” she exclaimed.

“This is Okawa,” he told her.

She looked around. She didn’t see anyone.

She pointed at the tree questioningly. Zach nodded.

She studied the enormous tree. Gran had always spoken about nature spirits but Adriane refused to believe her, shrugging it off as just plain weird. Yet this tree was very much alive. She could feel it.

Adriane politely bowed. “Hello, Okawa. I am honored to meet you.”

The great tree rustled, and a few of the smaller branches seemed to bend in toward Adriane, enfolding her in the fresh green scent of leaves.

“He likes you,” the boy observed.

“I like him, too.” Adriane sat next to Zach and looked out at the lake. “I feel so protected here, so safe.”

He cracked open a hard-shelled fruit that looked like a small red coconut and handed her half. “Okawa has taken care of me for a long time.”

Adriane took the shell and drank the milky liquid inside. It was sweet and delicious.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You can also eat the stuff inside, it’s good.”

As they ate, Adriane noticed an old steamer trunk next to them. It was open and she could see clothes, some old books, a spyglass, and a few assorted tools.

“What’s all this?” she asked, indicating the trunk.

“It belonged to my parents.”

She reached in and picked up a photograph set in a brass frame. Two smiling, proud parents holding a laughing baby in their arms looked out at her.

“That’s me,” Zach said.

“The baby, I take it.” She smiled.

The corner of Zach’s mouth twitched slightly upward.

Adriane noticed an old pocket watch.

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