Free The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone

the campfire and music flared. With all the celebrations, no one could hear her; no one was even looking her way.
    The man with the shrivelled skin jerked his head towards the trees and the river. Moll knew where they were going to take her and she struggled harder.
    ‘We’ll gag her,’ the man hissed. ‘We haven’t got time for this; Skull’s waiting.’ His voice was thick like glue and when he spoke his hunched back
bulged.
    Moll’s heart hammered within her chest as the man tugged a cloth from his pocket and bound it over her mouth. She could feel his stale breath crawling up her nose and she retched –
suffocated by the gag, choked by fear. The man drew out a rope and jerked it round Moll’s ankles. She fell to the ground, writhing and twisting, as the man bound her wrists.
    Where are you, Gryff? Where are you? Come back . . .
    Towering above her, she saw Raven and, behind him, a mare. The man with the shrivelled skin turned towards the boy.
    ‘Take Raven. I’ll hoist the girl up to you,’ he growled. ‘Then make for camp – as fast as you can.’
    The boy threw the man a defiant look. ‘I know, Gobbler; I was there when Skull briefed us. Remember?’
    Gobbler scoffed. ‘You lost the palomino, Alfie.’ He jerked his head towards Moll. ‘
And
you didn’t get a hold of her first time round. No wonder they don’t
respect you back at camp. Skull only feeds you and gives you shelter because he needs someone to tend the cobs and wash the dishes . . . Now get a move on! It’s time you made up for losing
the girl last time.’
    Alfie flashed Gobbler a look, his eyes wild and fierce.
    Moll trembled as she felt the blood race through her body and a sickening taste fix in her throat.
    Gobbler seized Moll by the hair and yanked her up. She squirmed and wriggled, but she could feel the Dream Snatch within her already, making her fight weak. Alfie leapt on to Raven’s back
and Gobbler shoved Moll up to him. Gripping her hard, Alfie spurred Raven on through the trees.
    Up until just the day before, a surge of curiosity had brewed inside Moll every time she thought of Skull’s camp, but now that she was being dragged helplessly towards it, every fibre in
her body wished it had never existed.
    Eyes wide, Moll watched the Ancientwood flash by, scouring it for any signs of Gryff. Raven bounded over fallen branches and tore round gnarled trees, galloping faster and faster towards the
Deepwood. Before long, the river was in front of them, shining silver beneath the moon. Moll yanked her body away, tearing herself back from the boundary, but Alfie rode Raven on, wading into the
water. Gobbler charged in behind them, clattering over slippery pebbles.
    Without warning, the reeds on the far side of the riverbank burst open and Gryff was there, leaping towards the cobs, his claws splayed, his teeth bared. The cobs shied, rearing up in shock,
hurling their riders into the river. Arms flailed and hands grappled, but Moll was wriggling her legs free. The cobs thrashed in the water, reins tangling Alfie’s leg, a hoof clipping the
back of Gobbler’s head.
    ‘They’re—’ water choked Alfie’s words, ‘they’re getting away!’
    Moll kicked and kicked, feeling the Dream Snatch weaken inside her now Gryff was near. She launched her bound arms into the current. Alfie tried to grab her feet, but the reins of his struggling
cob were pulling him back; Moll booted him hard, then swam on, tearing at the ropes with her teeth. Water gushed into her mouth, but it was softening the ropes and she wriggled her hands free.
Seconds later, Gryff was beside her and they were careering downstream in a tangle of limbs, round a bend – away from Gobbler and Alfie.
    Moll yanked the gag from her mouth and her breath sawed through her. ‘Keep us safe,’ she panted to the water spirits.
    The current quickened, carrying Moll and Gryff further and further downstream until Gobbler’s and Alfie’s yells were little more than