To get there....(A golden compass fan fic)

Prologue

A tall girl the age of sixteen crouched on the old rooftops of Jordan Collage . Her long Crimson hair flared out behind her as she scanned the gardens below.

Beside her,her dæmon changed into a hawk and circled above,squawking loudly .
"Hush Taröön," she snapped to the bird,concentrating.

He quietened and landed beside her,preening himself.

They stayed like that for a few more minutes until the girl spotted her friend below.

Her friend was walking through the gardens,her short gold locks bouncing and her dæmon as a meerkat trotting beside her.

When she spotted the girl on the roof she smiled and waved with mud covered hands. The girl on the roof returned the gesture and started to climb down.

She was nimble and free with her movements and in a few seconds she had successfully planted her feet on the gravel ground.

"Ello Chelsea," the girl with mud on her hands said.

"Hello Nora,finished work now?" Chelsea asked, Nora rubbed her hands on her dirty top,
"Yep"
"Great! You still coming to see Gray tomorrow? He gets back at noon" Chelsea said. Nora grinned and nodded .Their other friend Gray, was a gypsy and he loved to travel on his uncles boat. His most recent adventure was down south,helping some distant kin with trade.

Gray was the eldest out of the trio and it wouldn't be long before his Dæmon; Rawnie would settle in her true form.

Chelsea looked over at Taröön,who was now in his favorite form, a black and Grey wolf and wondered when he would settle. Nora's dæmon;Champion was a fox,jumping around Taröön. When would he settle ?

"I have to go and help prepare dinner for tonight" Nora informed,breaking Chelsea out of her thoughts .She nodded and said goodbye to her, Nora had the job of tending to the Collage's gardens and some nights ,help cook for the guests.

Chelsea sighed and walked up to the nearest door.

After about an hour of wandering the halls aimlessly and bored out of her mind, she ran into Mrs Harlow.
"Look at you! What are you doing here all dirty and such? You have to attend the dinner tonight so go up to your room,clean and change!" She ordered annoyed .

Chelsea grunted and headed up to her room, Taröön changing into a mouse and curling up on her shoulder.

Since her mother was a very busy,important person, Chelsea was forced to live at the collage. It had been 12 years since she last saw her mother and she couldn't even remember what she looked like.

But her mother had a lot of money and always sent her nice clothes.So that was the only contact she got from her.

Once in her room, Chelsea washed in the tub and changed into a nice dark blue dress. She braided her hair and twirled it up into a bun,making it stay with a matching blue clip. She slipped on some nice navy blue flat shoes and sat down on her bed.

The picture on her bedside table caught her attention and she reached over for it.

This was the only picture she had that gave her any idea what she used to do before she came to Jordan collage.

Chelsea looked about four and was sitting on the back of a massive ice bear. She was laughing and the bear also looking happy . There was a tall building behind them and it was made completely out of stone and perfectly carved with snow falling on it.

Chelsea assumed her mother took that picture,seeming as there was no one else there.

Taröön sat on her lap as a fluffy black cat, nuzzling her as in attempt to comfort. He knew that photograph made Chelsea upset and it made him upset too,so he would comfort her. It would always work and she smiled and hugged him.

It was time to leave for the dinner , Taröön changed into a stunning Bluejay and perched on Chelsea's shoulder.

Seeing as Taröön hadn't settled yet, the master ordered him to be in one animal form for every dinner they attended. It was apparently frowned upon that he could still change from guests in the past.

"Ready?" Chelsea asked,
"As I'll ever be" Taröön chirped and they both left the room.