Aura

Chapter Six

  When they arrived at the Boreas Mountains, their feet sank in cold, white snow. The wind blew snowflakes in their eyes. It was the exact opposite of the Pyla, and Rowan couldn't believe the only thing between the two was a small stretch of forest.

  Starlight didn't seem to like anything except the cool comfort of the jungle, and she retreated back into the trees. Rowan shivered as they set off towards the line of majestic mountains in the distance. It was cold beyond anything he had ever felt before, and he found himself glad he had the small comfort of a sweater.

  The snow-covered trees and the sight of sparkling ice crystals would have been beautiful if only Rowan hadn't been half-frozen to death. He glanced over at Seraphina, whose raspberry curls were glittering with frozen ice. Rowan could hardly stand the fact that just moments ago he had been melting in the desert; he was longing for his cosy home, a pile of books open on his lap as he sipped hot cocoa.

  Rowan wanted to just turn around, head back into the woods, and walk through the gate, but most of all he wanted his grandfather back. He had started to hate the always-moving world of adventure, and he desperately needed a moment to catch his breath.

  It was right then that Zoe tapped him on the shoulder and silently pointed to the side of the mountain. There stood a beautiful wolf-like creature, with fur whiter than snow and softer than down. Its pointed ears twitched, and the glowing crystal blue eyes stared at the group struggling through the cold. The creature's fluffy tail waved, but Rowan couldn't tell if it was in friendliness or impatience. It was breathtaking, more beautiful and wonderful than anything Rowan had ever seen, and the air its appearance made was like the creature was the ruler of the snowy mountains. Its fur, studded with pale blue crystals, glistened in the dull southern sunlight.

  "That's an Admirari," Zoe breathed. "They hate people, but they are like the soul of the mountains. There's so few left of them, because people used to kill them for their furs and their crystals."

  The Admirari stared at the group struggling through the snow for just another moment, before dipping its head down and disappearing into the side of the mountain. Even though Rowan couldn't see the Admirari, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was still watching him.

  They walked on, through the sleet and through the snow. They were frozen stiff, but they knew they had to keep moving. Ahead of them was a small patch of pine trees, caked in white, and as they approached the trees, Rowan shivered, not from the crushing cold, but from the stillness of the trees compared to its surroundings.

  Something rustled behind them, and Zoe startled. The four of them were standing in the middle of a clearing.

  They were about to move on, until they heard it again.

  "Shh," Zoe shushed, and everyone stood still.

  Out of the trees emerged a man. He must have been a native Ayisi, and not older than 25. He was bundled in jackets and furs, and the lining of his hood was covering his hair. The collar was high, and it concealed his face so that all that was visible were two fiery emerald eyes, set in dark skin. He looked so strange, so abnormal that it itched to Rowan, for all he had seen that week were people with wings and people with the tails of forest animals, except for Zoe and this man.

  He did not say anything, but the Admirari from the mountain padded out to the clearing. Rowan suddenly spotted a flash of pink behind its ear, and he glanced over to Seraphina. She was thinking the same. One of the keys to the Aura was stuck on the Admirari.

  Two more Admirari, these ones smaller and less magnificent, appeared on either side of their leader. Without warning, the largest one of them gave a howl that shook the four of them to their bones. The man hopped onto the leader.