explaining his first encounter with Catrina, back in the Grimble hospital, and then told Jae about his dreams, finishing with his encounter with Balloch’s ghost.
Jae listened without interruption, and afterward, let his body slide down the edge of a red rock formation, which he had perched himself on.
“And you believe she is here, somewhere in the E Valley?” Colin nodded yes.
“I don’t understand how you could have seen her in Grimble, though. She’s from another group. Are you sure?”
Colin nodded yes again, hoping his instincts had been correct, to confide in Jae.
“I don’t know how to explain it all, Jae. I just know I’m right! And I need to save her.”
“You could get into so much trouble, Colin,” Jae blurted unexpectedly. “I mean, we don’t know the whole story. Maybe there’s something important we’re missing, maybe you should just forget about it!”
This was not the response Colin expected. His heart filled with dread. Thus far, Jae had always agreed with the twins, if not actually perpetrating their previous troublemaking escapades. Before Colin could argue his side, Jae’s attitude took an all too familiar turn.
“On the other hand, if she really is in trouble, I suppose you’d have no choice, would you?” Colin could practically see Jae’s mind churning through the information, struggling with what it meant. He must have been thinking the same thoughts Colin had. How could she be in two different groups at one time?
Just then Billie Sadorus jogged by.
34
“Gettin’ dark, you boys. Better be gettin’ to home.”
They hadn’t realized how late it had become. The duo raced back toward their cave dwelling, reaching the entrance just in time.
Off to the side of the dwelling, standing not too far away in another doorway was the Three D’s.
Colin and Jae were at least thankful that the oncoming darkness would keep them from adding insult to injury. As it was, Irving Mochrie glared and shook his head at Jae and Colin as they entered.
“Sorry, dad,” Jae apologized rapidly. “We lost track of the time.”
“Time for bed,” was all Irving replied.
As Colin and Jae headed to bed, followed by Mireya, Sheila appeared.
“Oh, good, Colin, I believe these are for you.” She then handed him a stack of papers.
“Papers from Corny,” he whispered.
Sheila looked amused as she handed them over.
As soon as Mireya was asleep, Jae snuck into Colin’s cubby and they studied the papers.
They moved them around, trying to put them together so they made sense. After a few tries they still spelled nothing. They shortly gave up, leaning against the back wall. Neither was in the mood to sleep.
“If you decide to go searching for Catrina, Colin,” whispered Jae, “I think that you should go during the Feast of the Blest Arcane. No one would miss you for a day or two.”
“That’s true, huh. You said it would be a busy time. It really lasts an entire week?”
“Yes, and good busy, since unlike the retelling festival, it’s not just one big gathering.
People have smaller parties and dinners to go to, so it’s an easier excuse if you’re not around.
And I can handle mom and dad, I’ll tell them you were invited to dinner with someone else.” Colin’s mind began to race. The thought of searching for Catrina, all on his own, was daunting. Could he really do it? He took a deep breath, knowing that somehow, he would find the strength and bravery he needed.
Concentration escaped Meghan. Since moving in with Juliska, she felt sidetracked, not quite settled in. Then, there was the extra time spent with Ivan; he had been attending her training at least once a day.
At what felt like a snail’s pace, she was learning how to create fire in the palm of her hand.
The trick was for it not to spread to her entire body, or, to someone or something else.
Juliska and Ivan both agreed this was a vital ability needed on any journey. The ability to create fire anywhere, any time,
Jae listened without interruption, and afterward, let his body slide down the edge of a red rock formation, which he had perched himself on.
“And you believe she is here, somewhere in the E Valley?” Colin nodded yes.
“I don’t understand how you could have seen her in Grimble, though. She’s from another group. Are you sure?”
Colin nodded yes again, hoping his instincts had been correct, to confide in Jae.
“I don’t know how to explain it all, Jae. I just know I’m right! And I need to save her.”
“You could get into so much trouble, Colin,” Jae blurted unexpectedly. “I mean, we don’t know the whole story. Maybe there’s something important we’re missing, maybe you should just forget about it!”
This was not the response Colin expected. His heart filled with dread. Thus far, Jae had always agreed with the twins, if not actually perpetrating their previous troublemaking escapades. Before Colin could argue his side, Jae’s attitude took an all too familiar turn.
“On the other hand, if she really is in trouble, I suppose you’d have no choice, would you?” Colin could practically see Jae’s mind churning through the information, struggling with what it meant. He must have been thinking the same thoughts Colin had. How could she be in two different groups at one time?
Just then Billie Sadorus jogged by.
34
“Gettin’ dark, you boys. Better be gettin’ to home.”
They hadn’t realized how late it had become. The duo raced back toward their cave dwelling, reaching the entrance just in time.
Off to the side of the dwelling, standing not too far away in another doorway was the Three D’s.
Colin and Jae were at least thankful that the oncoming darkness would keep them from adding insult to injury. As it was, Irving Mochrie glared and shook his head at Jae and Colin as they entered.
“Sorry, dad,” Jae apologized rapidly. “We lost track of the time.”
“Time for bed,” was all Irving replied.
As Colin and Jae headed to bed, followed by Mireya, Sheila appeared.
“Oh, good, Colin, I believe these are for you.” She then handed him a stack of papers.
“Papers from Corny,” he whispered.
Sheila looked amused as she handed them over.
As soon as Mireya was asleep, Jae snuck into Colin’s cubby and they studied the papers.
They moved them around, trying to put them together so they made sense. After a few tries they still spelled nothing. They shortly gave up, leaning against the back wall. Neither was in the mood to sleep.
“If you decide to go searching for Catrina, Colin,” whispered Jae, “I think that you should go during the Feast of the Blest Arcane. No one would miss you for a day or two.”
“That’s true, huh. You said it would be a busy time. It really lasts an entire week?”
“Yes, and good busy, since unlike the retelling festival, it’s not just one big gathering.
People have smaller parties and dinners to go to, so it’s an easier excuse if you’re not around.
And I can handle mom and dad, I’ll tell them you were invited to dinner with someone else.” Colin’s mind began to race. The thought of searching for Catrina, all on his own, was daunting. Could he really do it? He took a deep breath, knowing that somehow, he would find the strength and bravery he needed.
Concentration escaped Meghan. Since moving in with Juliska, she felt sidetracked, not quite settled in. Then, there was the extra time spent with Ivan; he had been attending her training at least once a day.
At what felt like a snail’s pace, she was learning how to create fire in the palm of her hand.
The trick was for it not to spread to her entire body, or, to someone or something else.
Juliska and Ivan both agreed this was a vital ability needed on any journey. The ability to create fire anywhere, any time,
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