The Luna101: Book 1

The Quest

As we step out the front door a strong smell of gasoline enters my nostrils.
"Follow me!" Says Ember.
We follow her down a small trail that goes behind the house. Large bushes poke out into the path making it hard to figure out where the path goes. When we reach the back of the house Ember stops walking.
"Watch," She says.
Then she steps towards a large tree and rests her hand on it. She closes her eyes and scrunches up her face. Beads of sweat start to appear on her forehead as a small purple circle appears in the air. It grows larger and larger until it is as large as Ember.
"This is a portal." Whispers Ivy.
"I will step in first and disappear. You will follow me in the order I tell you." She says.
"Alicia, Jayden, Nina and Samantha. Ember will go last."
And then she steps into the portal, vanishing with a loud pop.
"Go Alicia." Says Jayden, giving her a tiny shove.
Alicia takes a deep breath and pops away. Then Jayden goes, and it's my turn.
"Go." Says Samantha.
I halt for a fraction of a second and then step through. At first it feels like I am simply stepping through a cold mist but then the strangest sensation starts happening. I feel as if I am being swirled into a ball. I open my eyes for a second and see the deepest black that I've ever seen. "Is it not working?" I think. But as soon as the sensation starts it ends and a loud bird song fills my ears.

I open my eyes and am overwhelmed by millions of shades of green. Around me is a thick rainforest. What seems like 100 bird songs mix with the chirps squeaks of insects. The leaves are wet with dewy drops and I feel a light drizzle of dew. In front of me is a long rockity old wooden bridge. It's falling apart all over. And then a loud pop makes me jump and nearly fall into the water under the bridge. Behind me Samantha appears. We both move over to where Ivy, Alicia and Jayden are. As we wait for Ember, Ivy starts to explain.
"When we cross this bridge you will notice that no spells or tricks cross your path. The only thing you have to worry about is keeping your balance."
"But isn't that too easy?" I ask.
"Oh don't worry, it will get harder. The Crimson sisters liked to trick you into a false sense of security." She explains.
Then a loud pop announces the arrival of Ember.
"Sorry for the wait." She says.
"It's all good." Says Alicia.
"Are you ready?" Asks Ember.
"Yes!" We all say.
"I will go first," She says.
Then she steps onto the bridge and walks across calming as if she's walking on flag ground. Samantha and Jayden make it across and after some persuading Alicia does too.
"Your turn Nina," Says Ivy, smiling.
I take a step forward making sure not to let my foot fall through the opening. After lots of careful balancing I make it across. Then Ivy walks across as calming as Alicia.
"Okay, this is the second obstacle," Says Ivy.
"How are we supposed to get up there?" Says Alicia pointing at the rock solid wall in front of us.
It looks like it is around 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
"Remember the spells we taught you." Says Ember in her crisp English accent.
"Oh! I know!" Says Jayden, his eyes lighting up.
He holds out his hand to the wall and closes his eyes.
"Enlarge" he whispers.
In front of him a lump appears on the wall. I look at him, puzzled.
"Good job Jayden!" Says Ivy.
"Now you three get to work." She says pointing towards us.
And then it clicks.
"Oh! We're making hand holds so that we can climb the wall!" I say.
Ivy smiles and nods. We all start working on adding more hand holds. Ember raises her hand and adds the last hand hold.
"Perfect," She says.
Then we all start climbing it. I used to climb a ton with my dad and make it up first. Streaming down the other side of the rock wall is red boiling lava. And then I spot the baby hippo fall into the lava. "NO!" I yell.