Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 7

Earth

AURORA BREATHED IN DEEP AND FOCUSED. HER ARMS AND SHOULDER muscles tightened. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and zeroing in on her target. It was as if there was nothing but her, the bow and the small target painted on a tree just under a hundred metres away in the whole world. She took in a deep breath and released. The arrow soared through the air and struck the target right in the centre. Aurora raced over and retrieved her arrow.

"Not bad," she said to herself.

Aurora had learnt to use a bow since a very young age at her father's constant encouragement. He told her to hone her skills, challenging her to hit the bullseye every time. Now after years of practice the bow felt like an extended part of her.  

She pulled her warm coat tighter around her as a bitterly cold wind picked up. She trudged on through the forest, pine trees rising high into the sky, shrubs covered the ground in patches and pine needles created a soft carpet for Aurora to walk upon. She smiled as the small wooden cabin came into view. She entered the cabin, the door slamming closed behind her with a bang.

"What is it with you and banging the door?"

Aurora took off her jacket and boots. She unslung her quiver and collapsed on the couch beside her twin brother.

"You do it too," she said.

"Do not," Alex said, not really paying attention. He was engrossed in the novel he was reading.

"Sure," Aurora said, dismissing the subject with a wave of her hand. "Has dad made dinner yet?"

Alex didn't even look up from his book. "He salvaged what he could from the foxes. Luckily they didn't get too much. But we'll have to make a trip to the mainland soon." 

"Is he still at the lab?" 

"Yeah."

Aurora shrugged as she jumped off the couch. She tossed a few logs into the large fireplace before walking over to the window.

"Alex, do you think there's really a volcano on this island?"

Alex and Aurora's father, Roy, was a scientist specialising in volcanology. He had been investigating the dormant volcano on the island, which had been emitting a strange energy signal and slight trembles unlike any volcano on the planet. Roy was determined to unravel the mysteries of what they were. But four years of living on the island had yielded no results. Roy had ordered his kids to stay away from both the mountain and his laboratory. The twins had never seen any of their father's research and were now getting tired of being kept in the dark. 

Alex put his book down, his eyes meeting Aurora's. "Why do you say that? Dad's been studying the volcano for years."

"I know. But have you ever wondered why we never see any volcanic activity? No lava or ash."

Alex sighed. "I've been thinking about that too. I asked him if I could go with him to his lab but he said no."

"Big surprise there."

"I also swiped some paperwork he brought home."

"You what?"

Alex looked a bit sheepish. "Yeah. Anyway, do you know what they said? Nothing about a volcano instead they spoke about some energy impulses."

"So..." Aurora trailed off as she sat down beside him.

Alex swallowed hard. "Dad's been lying to us. There is no volcano. That's just a smokescreen. He's actually researching something else."