Wellspring of Magic by Jan Fields

Author:Jan Fields [Jan Fields]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Annie's

CHAPTER EIGHT

Full of Surprises

Kaida scooped up a rock on the riverbank and threw it hard toward the monster’s face. “Duck, Marisol!” she shouted as she bent for another rock.

But Marisol raised her hand, and, as if at her bidding, a wave rose up from the river to slap the rock away before it could hit the dragon’s face. Then Marisol’s laughter rang out across the water. “Don’t be scared. The river dragons won’t hurt me. They wouldn’t hurt anyone.” The huge head bent low and Marisol patted the end of his snout.

“That thing tried to drown all of us!” Kaida shouted. “It isn’t some kind of puppy, Marisol!”

“He only wanted us to come into the water and play,” Marisol said. “Especially me. He didn’t know we ... well, you ... might drown.”

“It’s dangerous!” Kaida insisted.

“No, it’s not!” Marisol said, just as firmly. “Don’t you recognize him? He’s the river dragon from my key. I was supposed to meet the river dragons—it’s my destiny!”

“So you can talk to those things?” Rachel asked. As Marisol patted it, he river dragon seemed to wriggle with pleasure. Rachel had to admit that it didn’t exactly look vicious, but it sure was big.

“Not exactly,” Marisol said. “River dragons don’t think in words like we do—just in feelings and pictures. I can share their thoughts and send them mine.”

“Do you think it could find Stripe’s boat for us?” Kaida asked.

“He could do more than that,” Marisol said proudly. “They’re very fast. He could tow the boat for us. I think we could reach the Guarded Forest sometime tomorrow. When I pictured the bear Guardians in my thoughts, I got the feeling it wouldn’t take long to reach them.”

“Could we just go now?” Kaida asked.

Rachel looked around and shivered. The gloom over the water was deepening. It would be fully dark soon, and she really wanted to dry out and get warm. “I think it might be better to wait until morning. But we need that boat.”

Marisol nodded and turned toward the dragon. She leaned close to it and, in a moment, the dragon had turned and flung himself downstream. Just before he disappeared under the water, his tail broke the surface and slapped it, sending a cold wash over Rachel and Kaida.

“I think I could really hate those things,” Kaida grumbled, wiping water from her face and arms.

“We need to get back to the others,” Rachel said. “Can you swim up to where we left them?”

“I can swim anywhere!” Marisol said happily. She turned and, with a flip of her tail, raced upstream at an amazing speed.

“Wow!” Kaida said. “I bet the swim team would love her in this condition!”

“I’m sure there’s something in the rule book about tails. I just hope the Guardians have some good ideas on how to turn her back into our regular Marisol again.” Rachel turned and began pushing back through the underbrush. As she stomped and squished, she was suddenly struck by a thought that made her laugh.

“What?” Kaida asked as she paused to pluck a briar from the trailing hem of her skirt.

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