Free Awaken by Rachel D'Aigle Page A

will strike!” At the word strike, both creatures lifted up their wings, which measured at least ten feet across, and let out a ferocious snarl.
    The creature on the rock sprung into the air, landing just a few feet from the twins. Their eyes popped open wide with disbelief and fear.
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    The face of the creature resembled a wolf, with long knife-like fangs. The wings looked like a flexible sort of webbing, with hook-like fingers that curled and clicked against each other, attached to thin, but muscular, arms that extended at least two feet beyond the web-like wings.
    The bottom half of the creature appeared more human than animal, with the exception of the toenails, which were long and jagged like rusted, broken, saw blades.
    The twins reacted by leaning back into the depths of the tree, hoping to remain hidden.
    “We need to get out of here,” Colin managed to croak.
    “How do you suggest we do that? There is no way we can outrun those things!”
    Colin had no ideas and shifted on the branch. As he did so, his new book fell out of his sweater. Meghan caught it before it landed, but the book opened in her hand. The pages glimmered slightly, like bright dust settling.
    “Did you see that?” she asked.
    “Let me see,” he replied.
    “You want to read it, right now? When we are this close to having our heads chewed off by whatever those things are?”
    He grabbed it from her, making strange faces as he read.
    Meghan tried to tune in but his thoughts were incoherent.
    “I need to get down from this branch,” he sent her.
    Meghan took the book, closed it, laying it gently on the soft ground, and then carefully and quietly helped her brother out of the tree and onto solid ground.
    “Stay low, Sis. Less chance of catching that thing’s eye,” he said, sitting down, cross-legged. Meghan followed Colin, sinking to her knees. Her thoughts wandered. We should have been home ages ago! I hope Uncle Arnon does 70
    not come looking for us. Colin’s heart raced, nearly bursting from his chest as he thought about their uncle happening unexpectedly upon these creatures.
    Outside the tree, the voice spoke threateningly.
    “Do not be seen, or heard, until the determined time!” The creatures were growling and clicking in a high-pitched screech, in what the twins could only assume meant agreement.
    Colin sat on the ground with his new book, Magicante, but the strange shimmering that had been there moments ago had disappeared.
    Another lofty breeze swept through the clearing setting off a chain reaction of events. First, this breeze sent the twins’ scent to their unaware captors, and second, the pages of the book began to flip back and forth, the leaves on each page shimmering as if golden sunlight were beaming onto each leaf. Thirdly, the pages of the Magicante stopped flipping and to twins’ surprise, words began forming on the leaf attached to the open page. It appeared in the form of fiery gold print.
    “If you are capable of reading this, then you obviously need my help. You must ask for what you need.”
    “For what we need,” repeated Colin.
    Meghan shook her head, still disbelieving what she was seeing.
    “Does it need to be specific?” Colin asked the book, trying to understand.
    “Look!” pointed Meghan.
    “Yes, of course specific. Since it appears you have not a clue what you are doing, I suppose I will have to give you an example.”
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    “Kinda rude isn’t it,” humpfed Meghan, realizing what she was saying. “This is ridiculous! This is some kind of stupid joke book, Colin! We need a real, safe and fast way outta here and back to camp!”
    A new message appeared on the leaf.
    “That’s the ticket! Knew you would get there eventually.
    So if you two are ready?”
    Outside their hiding spot, the creatures were on the move, sniffing the air around the tree. The sniffing blended into growling and clicking noises, which the cloaked figure must have understood, as it swirled around, shouting