The Runestone Guardians book 1: Secrets of Sølvefalske

Chapter 9: How to (Not) Catch a Rabbit

Ylvana's dry eyes watched sunlight creep into the cave. Outside, the storm had upset the land, knocking over trees and leaving raindrop speckles in the snow. She breathed in the cool air, taking her share of the morning peace. It calmed her, but she did not let down her defenses, pausing at every rustle and movement. Jay had not killed them in their sleep, and the Crows had not found them. A lucky break, but luck changed quickly.

A precipice caked in snow gave a perfect view of the obstacles waiting in the East. Coniferous forests carpeted the valleys between the mountains whose icy peaks stabbed the orange sky. It was a creature of the most beautiful plumage, luring prey closer as it slept, intoxicating them with its wonders as it readied its fangs. Ylvana knew to fear the land.

Movement pulled her eyes to a large black bird, staring at her from a dead tree. Her teeth flashed at the threat.

"At ease." Jay trotted up beside her. "It's a raven, not a crow."

"Are you sure?"

"Ravens are bigger, and their pinion feathers are different, so you could say the difference between a crow and a raven is a matter of a pinion."

"Oh."

"That... was a joke. A pinion, opinion. Not funny?"

"Sorry, my brain's junipered1 right now."

"What?"

"It's a human saying. In early winter, the juniper berries ferment. When the birds eat them, they get 'drunk', so being junipered means acting crazy."

"Huh. I've never heard that in the S–in the wild." Jay coughed. "We better hit the trail."

Once everyone was awake, they fell in line behind Jay. Most of the morning, they walked in silence, until the lead wolf took an odd turn.

Ylvana paused, looking at another trail that seemed better. "Why don't we go this way?"

"Oh, that trail doesn't go anywhere," he answered, glancing over his shoulder.

"But that one turns West, towards the Crows."

"Ah, I see why you're worried-"

"And she has every right to be," huffed Månen, "considering what she's been through."

"The trail only looks like it's turning West."

"The same way you look like you know what you're doing?"

"Ha ha. Cool it, Angry Bird. It's not like I'm trying to lead you guys back to the Crows."

"Please don't let them find us!" Pine whined, running between the wolf's long legs. "They're all so mean and scary, and if they find me, they'll turn me into a hat. I don't wanna be a hat!"

Jay sighed, looking into Pine's soft round eyes. His face was ridiculously cute, with giant ears and a little button nose. Not one to swoon over cute things, even Jay couldn't' resist. Defeated, his ears fell back. "Fine, we'll go the other way."

"Right," Mo said, raising her beak, "we may not know everything, but we know better than to walk in the direction of our enemies. I stand by my opinion of not needing you. We're strong enough together to survive these mountains."

A heavy thunk behind her startled her a few inches into the air. Ylvana had fainted.

She woke to three faces staring down at her. "Woah, what happened?"

"Dear," Mo said gently, "we've put a lot of work into rescuing you, so it would mean a lot to us if you lived."

Ylvana rubbed her throbbing temple with her paw. "I felt really weak all of a sudden."