Melinda stops. “This is where the trail ends. The dirt outside is the same as the trail.” Melinda had led the pack to an open glass door. Outside is a forest. The trees aren’t packed thick so the sun lights up the paths. Ganger bends down. If he looks closely, he can see two sets of the same footprints leading to the door. On either side of the newer ones, there is a line dug in like the person was dragging something while walking backwards. The tracks lead deep into the forest. Melinda starts to follow the trail.
Soon the wolves come across a stone building about six feet high. On the side of the building, there is a stone door. Just then there is a noise. The wolves turn and run to hide behind trees. The stone door opens and out walks Herald, a grin on his face.
“I knew it! I knew it was Herald!” Granger exclaims with a sense of pride.
“Yes, yes, we know! Now what are we going to do about that door! We need to get it open,” Melinda states.
“I know that!” Granger snaps. “But we should think this through first.”
Through the day and night, they plan how they will break the two girls out. By the time morning comes around, they have a plan.
At the same time, Neilea and Nyella were devising a plan too. “So all we need to do now is figure out a way to keep that door open,” says Nyella as they stare at the pile of furniture.
“Who knows? Maybe it’s still unlocked?” Neilea counters. Soon, the two girls start to scale the tower of furniture. In a matter of seconds, Nyella is standing on top of the tower with Neilea on her shoulders.
“I almost got it open!” She says as she pushes on the door. “Just… about… Ahhhh!!!!!!” Neilea screams as she falls backwards off of Nyella’s shoulders. The tower tumbles down to the ground, bringing the twins with it. Just then, a shadow passes over the roof, followed by the owner of the shadow, Herald. “Quick! Herald’s coming!”
The two quickly rearrange the furniture. Just as the door opens, Nyella glimpses a group of furry figures run across the skylight. “What the…?” Nyella exclaims.
“What? Are you surprised to see me? I’m not going to let you die of boredom or anything. Though I guess you two have some catching up to do. But I did bring you a few books and magazines just in case,” Herald says to Nyella.
“No, no I’m not. I’m just surprised you care so much,” says Nyella trying to cover up her shock.
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t care that much. Here,” he says, tossing the stack of magazines onto the table and leaving the room.
“So he’s almost gone, almost gone, door is closing, door is closing and… jam the stick in the door!” On Granger’s cue, Melinda leans down off the roof of the stone building and puts the stick in the closing door. The wolves watch from the roof as Herald walks away, completely naive to their plan.
They jump off the roof. “Okay, get ready to open the door,” Granger says to the group.
“I think we are,” says Melinda, as she stands with Arith and Irma, other wolves from the pack, beside the door. Glen, Kathy, and Sam also members of the pack, stand near a rock close by, moving it nearer to the building. On the count of three, Granger helps the wolves push the propped open door open all the way, while the rock is moved to keep it open.
“Hello?” Neilea calls up at the door. “Herald, is that you?” A wolf howls.
“What’s all that about? Is that a wolf?” Neilea asks Nyella with a look of shock on her face.
“Not any wolf, that’s Granger!” Nyella says.
“Who?”
“My wolf friend. Granger! We’re down here!”
“Nyella! We were worried! Can you climb up here?” Granger calls down.
“Yeah, be right there!” she replies to Granger, before starting to rebuild the tower.
“Umm… What are you doing?” Neilea asks.
“Didn’t you here Granger, I’m climbing up!” Nyella says.
“No, no I didn’t hear him. I heard a bunch of howling!”
“Well, just help! We’re getting out!”
In just a matter of minutes, the tower is built and the twins are standing on top. This time it’s Nyella on top.
“Why are you on top again?” Neilea protests.
“ ‘Cause I don’t care that a bunch of wolves are going to be pulling me!” Nyella yells back at her sister.
She pulls herself up so she has both of her arms completely on the ground. Melinda grabs the neck of her shirt and pulls her the rest of the way up. Nyella scrambles to her feet. Kneeling down, she leans forward as far as she can while still holding on to the door frame. Neilea is just out of reach.
“I can’t reach you!” Neilea calls up.
“I can see that!” snaps Nyella. She calls Melinda over. “Okay, I’m going to need you to lower me down that extra few inches.
She nods. “I can do that.” Melinda bites the neck of Nyella’s shirt. She transfers her hold from the frame to Melinda’s leg. Melinda creeps forward, lowering her down. Neilea bends her knees and jumps, knocking down the tower and closing the gap between the two. She grabs hold of Nyella’s hand.
Nyella pitches forwards with the weight of her sister. Melinda’s feet slip. They start to slide. Neilea screams. Granger and the others bite Melinda on the scruff of her neck and slink backwards. Melinda does too. Neilea reaches her other hand up and grabs the ledge. The wolves let go as Nyella pulls her sister the rest of the way up.
The twins stand up and brush themselves off. “Well,” Nyella states. “That was exhilarating.”
“Exhilarating?!” Neilea screams. “We almost died!”
Nyella laughs, “And, how long were you in that room did you say? Because you clearly haven’t been around and acting adventurous lately.”
“Come on, we’d better go. Herald has quite a lead on us, and for all we know, he’s coming back,” Granger says very rationally to the girls. Nyella gestures forwards and the wolves start their trek in leading the girls back to the castle.
