the Dark. But we’re losing ground. The Dark is too powerful. So many people in the world have given up hope. We’re on the brink of defeat. The entire planet and all we hold sacred will be destroyed.”
“The Dreamers?” Caddy said.
“The ones who work for the Light.”
Right. Caddy had had enough. She positioned her bandaged hands casually on her legs in case she needed to move quickly. “Obviously this is important to you … but I don’t see what it has to do with me.”
“Those men would have killed you,” the girl said.
“Then I have you to thank for my life. But I’m sick, and I’m tired, and I want to go home to see my father.”
“I told you, that isn’t possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because your father is already dead.”
Caddy lunged for the lamp but Red was too fast for her. He pushed her back into the chair and held her down.
“Let me out of here!” Caddy screamed. “I want to go home—now!”
Red restrained her until her anger broke into tears. The girl let her cry for a while before she spoke again.
“There was nothing we could do. They traced your addressthrough your phone. Your father was already targeted. It’s amazing he lasted as long as he did.”
Caddy wiped her face with the sleeve of her jacket. “What did he ever do to them? Why would they kill him?”
The girl leaned into the lamplight again. “Because he was one of us,” she said. “He was a Dreamer.”
THE MOUSE
T he recruits filed from the Great Hall into the streets, parading with their flag-bearers to a large green field. Meg hung back when the Warriors began to move, looking to the silver being for guidance.
“You must go,” it said. “And remember to keep your mouth closed.”
“But who will help me?” she asked. “Who will tell me what to do?”
“You will know in your soul.”
Meg didn’t have a clue what was in her soul. It was a twisted knot. She’d made such a mess of things—refusing to transform like the others, clinging to her past so fiercely. And now, after falling between the frequencies and failing the initiation ceremony, she was more upset and confused than ever.
“I’m afraid,” she said.
The silver being touched her forehead and a sense of tranquility washed over her.
“I will check on you when I can,” it said. “Go now. You are no longer my charge. You are bound to the Warriors and must answer the call.”
Meg turned, obedient, though she didn’t want to face the scrutiny of the other recruits. Gliding from the building, she glanced back and saw the silver being watching her. It raised its hand in farewell. She raised hers in return, feeling lonelier than ever. She had no choice but to follow the other Warriors to the meadow.
After the recruits had assembled in the field, a trumpet sounded and a new being appeared. It looked similar to the silver one, only fiercer and bigger. And it was the colour of pewter. It skimmed up and down the ranks, communicating telepathically.
“You will now receive your totem. This is your animal aid. It will assist you and offer guidance and friendship. It will be your eyes and ears. It will resonate with your thoughts and feelings. But it will not make decisions for you. Any action you take, any decision you make, is ultimately your own.” The being slowed as it passed Meg, taking note of her arm. She thought it would say something disparaging, but it simply continued its address. “You do not choose your totem. Your totem chooses you. Stay in position until your totem has made positive contact.”
The being signalled to start the selection and the trumpet blared. Clouds gathered, and the ground tore open with the sound of ripping fabric, the animals bursting forth. The first to come were the elephants, lions and wolves. The sky darkened with flocks of saw-whet owls, ravens, falcons, doves and canaries. To the Keepers of the Charts came the elephants. To the Messengers flew the saw-whet owls. The canaries found the
“The Dreamers?” Caddy said.
“The ones who work for the Light.”
Right. Caddy had had enough. She positioned her bandaged hands casually on her legs in case she needed to move quickly. “Obviously this is important to you … but I don’t see what it has to do with me.”
“Those men would have killed you,” the girl said.
“Then I have you to thank for my life. But I’m sick, and I’m tired, and I want to go home to see my father.”
“I told you, that isn’t possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because your father is already dead.”
Caddy lunged for the lamp but Red was too fast for her. He pushed her back into the chair and held her down.
“Let me out of here!” Caddy screamed. “I want to go home—now!”
Red restrained her until her anger broke into tears. The girl let her cry for a while before she spoke again.
“There was nothing we could do. They traced your addressthrough your phone. Your father was already targeted. It’s amazing he lasted as long as he did.”
Caddy wiped her face with the sleeve of her jacket. “What did he ever do to them? Why would they kill him?”
The girl leaned into the lamplight again. “Because he was one of us,” she said. “He was a Dreamer.”
THE MOUSE
T he recruits filed from the Great Hall into the streets, parading with their flag-bearers to a large green field. Meg hung back when the Warriors began to move, looking to the silver being for guidance.
“You must go,” it said. “And remember to keep your mouth closed.”
“But who will help me?” she asked. “Who will tell me what to do?”
“You will know in your soul.”
Meg didn’t have a clue what was in her soul. It was a twisted knot. She’d made such a mess of things—refusing to transform like the others, clinging to her past so fiercely. And now, after falling between the frequencies and failing the initiation ceremony, she was more upset and confused than ever.
“I’m afraid,” she said.
The silver being touched her forehead and a sense of tranquility washed over her.
“I will check on you when I can,” it said. “Go now. You are no longer my charge. You are bound to the Warriors and must answer the call.”
Meg turned, obedient, though she didn’t want to face the scrutiny of the other recruits. Gliding from the building, she glanced back and saw the silver being watching her. It raised its hand in farewell. She raised hers in return, feeling lonelier than ever. She had no choice but to follow the other Warriors to the meadow.
After the recruits had assembled in the field, a trumpet sounded and a new being appeared. It looked similar to the silver one, only fiercer and bigger. And it was the colour of pewter. It skimmed up and down the ranks, communicating telepathically.
“You will now receive your totem. This is your animal aid. It will assist you and offer guidance and friendship. It will be your eyes and ears. It will resonate with your thoughts and feelings. But it will not make decisions for you. Any action you take, any decision you make, is ultimately your own.” The being slowed as it passed Meg, taking note of her arm. She thought it would say something disparaging, but it simply continued its address. “You do not choose your totem. Your totem chooses you. Stay in position until your totem has made positive contact.”
The being signalled to start the selection and the trumpet blared. Clouds gathered, and the ground tore open with the sound of ripping fabric, the animals bursting forth. The first to come were the elephants, lions and wolves. The sky darkened with flocks of saw-whet owls, ravens, falcons, doves and canaries. To the Keepers of the Charts came the elephants. To the Messengers flew the saw-whet owls. The canaries found the
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