The Hidden World

Chapter Five

With Borealis safely tucked away into her new home, some of the twins' problems cleared up right away. For one, it took them a lot less time to feed her. They didn't have to worry about getting trampled by her. Borealis' moods had also cleared up. Kendra played the flute for her every day for about five minutes and she was a kind little dragon for the rest of the day. The habitat they had created for her was suitable to her interest. She burped fire by herself now and they had transferred her to raw meat. Kendra still inserted a few bits of vegetables like celery that didn't stop a dragon from burping fire into her meals. Borealis was not the problem. The problem was the strange happenings in the Forest Glen part of the Espinosa property. The habitat that had been halfway across the forest had been returned to it's original spot. It wasn't just that though. Things were different.

Well, not exactly. The twins had just started to notice the things that had been different for a long time now. Like the purple glow to the trees. And the perfect weather and breezes that brushed the leaves of the trees. The way the animals seemed to always be at home. The way everything was always lush and green. They started feeling like the forest they'd known since toddlerhood was unfamiliar.

They weren't too thrilled about going into the forest after the 'habitat' incident, but they wanted the best for their 'pet' and went in willingly. They played with Borealis daily and fed her. Kendra was biting her lip on something though. Brendan knew her well enough to see that. He was biting his lip on not asking her though. He didn't quite know why, but he didn't know if he wanted to hear what she was going to tell him. As it turned out, he didn't even need to ask her.

"You know," Kendra said one night as Brendan was working on his math homework. "Borealis seems to want more open sky." The twins had been letting Borealis out at night so she could develop her wings more and keep her muscles strong. Brendan barely glanced up.

"Aren't we worried she'll just keep flying then get lost?" he murmured as he tried to figure out just how many hours the kid in the word problem spent playing his cello after school for a week. Kendra chewed her lip thoughtfully.

"I've been thinking about that," she said.

"You want to let her go where she doesn't know where she is?" Brendan asked, appalled, looking up from his math problem.

"If you would shut up and let me finish I could tell you I'm not thinking that and, better yet, you could stop second guessing me and just let me finish! How does that sound?" Kendra asked with a fake looking 'all rose petals and sugar' smile on her face.

"That sounds just fine. You know what else does? You solving my math problems for me. Like that's ever going to happen!" Brendan retorted.

"You think I don't have an idea?" Kendra growled.

"Of course you have an idea," Brendan told her. "Just not one that will work," he added underneath his breath. Kendra heard him but she was now intent on proving she did have a good idea so she didn't pay much attention to it.

"Well, I'm thinking we should fly her." Brendan stared at his sister in horror as if he couldn't believe she'd suggested such a thing.

"What?" she protested. "It can't be much harder than riding a--"

"Oh not this again," Brendan groaned. "You've proved your point already. Horses and dragon leg muscles are the same."

"That's not my point this time!" Kendra exclaimed. "My point is we should fly her ourselves."

"What if we get lost?" Brendan mused.

"Oh c'mon!" Kendra said. "We've lived here for almost 11 years now. What do you mean what if we get lost?"