Ailouros Tails book 4: The Return

Chapter 11~Explanations

I glanced at Ailouros as she sneezed again. If those Dementors ever touched her again I swore to myself that I would burn them to a crisp. If what Nico said about his brother was true, then I have to keep him from ever meeting her. "Hey Nico, what does your brother look like so we can keep our eyes out for him?"

"He is pale, has black hair, and typically wears black or dark grey clothing. He can turn into shadows and control nightmares." Nico replied.

Ailouros giggled a little, "sounds like a vampire to me."

Feeling her forehead I could feel the slight fever before she sneezed right into my face. "How much further is this place? I think she's caught a cold." I glared accusingly at Jack who just smiled back at me.

"Just around the corner," he said.

We came out of the trees and from across a large field could see an odd-looking house that had clearly been added onto. The house would have seemed empty if not for the woman outside hanging up her laundry using magic.

Jack went up to her and gave her a hug. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley."

I noticed that the rangers were warily keeping close together with Ailouros between them. Halt was glaring at Jack hard enough I was slightly starting to worry for the icy boy's life. Even Will, who is normally so cheerful, looked unhappy about being there.

"You're sure this is the only blasted home for miles around?" Halt demanded icily.

Jack looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong with here? The Weasleys are really nice folk and Molly is really good at healing magic. I'm sure she can help AIlouros with her sickness."

Will looked at him testily. "Ailouros wouldn't be so sick if she hadn't been here in the first place. Those shadow creatures terrorized her." His normally gentle tone had an alarming darkness to it.

"Why don't you tell us exactly what happened?" I suggested glancing at Ailouros who had fallen asleep again.

"We got here just behind these weirdly dressed people and that pink lady who was leading Ailouros outside. Ailouros seemed confused and almost stunned. She looked scared so Gil snuck behind her and wrapped her in his cloak while Halt and I distracted the others. Those black floating creatures came out and started to surround them. They got really close to Gilan and this old man showed up yelling for Ailouros not to hurt them just before she defended Gilan from one of them with his seaxe knife. They swarmed around her. She had pushed Gilan out of the swarm. The old guy said something and this fiery ghost bird flew out of his stick and chased away the creatures. She was terrified and cool to the touch so we wrapped her in the cloak and took her away from her." Will said glancing around as though expecting to be ambushed.

"It'll be okay Will. Between the five of us, we will be able to keep her safe." I reassured them.

Jack looked confused and visibly counted those who were standing there, putting up a finger for each person. Himself, Will, Halt, Gilan, Am, and Nico. "There are six of us."

"Just see if it's ok for us to stay here for a little," I responded purposefully having left Niico out for the time being where he was so exhausted from all the shadow traveling he had done.

The red-haired woman followed Jack from over by the clothesline. She looked at Ailouros worriedly.

"She looks so ill! She shouldn't be out here, she'll get worse. Come on, bring her inside." She headed in calling for Charley to get a bucket of cool water and some washcloths.

Gilan set her on the couch gently. Halt glanced at her worry in his eyes as he felt her forehead while she coughed. For Halt's worry to show, I knew it wasn't good.