Free Ice Phoenix by Sulin Young

do know him," said the fair boy. He seemed quite serious, which was a far cry from when she had first seen him. "Then perhaps you should let us in. Your friend here got into a bit of trouble and needs another place to stay."
    "What, why? What happened?"
    "Go on, show her." He gave Mikin a little nudge and the elephant slowly raised his face. Terrana gasped, her hand covering her mouth. Mikin had a large bruise under his left eye, his trunk was scraped and bleeding, and his overalls were torn and dirty.
    "Oh my god! Who did that to you?"
    Mikin mumbled something under his breath so she couldn't hear him.
    "Kazu, let them in."
    She raced to the door, pulling Mikin aside the moment he was inside the cabin. Then she faced the fair boy.
    "Did you do this?" she asked in a threatening voice. He took a step back, surprised by her sudden display of aggression.
    "Why would you think that?"
    "It looks like you dragged him here." Terrana was feeling really angry — how could anyone have attacked Mikin? She wanted to hit whoever had done it.
    "I did," replied the boy, looking at her steadily. "I dragged him here."
    Terrana would have pushed him out the door had Mikin not tugged her hand. She turned to look at him.
    "Don't be mad at him," he said in a low voice. "He helped me."
    The fair boy leaned in suddenly so that his face was only centimetres from hers. She could feel his breath on her face when he spoke.
    "That's right," he said softly. "I saved your friend from getting slammed around like an ice puck. Isn't that right, Mikin ?"
    Terrana glanced at the little elephant. He was nodding miserably. "So ... who did this to you then?"
    "The boys in my cabin," he answered. "They wanted to put a collar around me and make me sit on their laps. I refused." His ears flapped as he tried to hide his face behind them.
    Terrana reached out and touched him, her heart nearly breaking. "Don't," she said softly. "Don't hide your face. Never hide your face. I'm gonna find those boys and I'm gonna hang them from the ceiling, okay?"
    "What, all five of them?" said the boy, an amused expression on his face.
    "Yeah, all five of them," she retorted. "Something wrong with that?"
    "They are Grailons you know ... twice your size, horns on their heads, shoulders like brick walls? That doesn't bother you?"
    Terrana took a deep breath, thinking through her options. "Have they got brains?"
    He smiled. "No."
    "Then no, it doesn't bother me."
    Mikin tugged at her hand again. "Lorn already took care of them. Anyway, I don't want you to go and find them."
    "Lorn?"
    "That would be me," said the boy. He grinned and her heart went thump again. He really did have the most beautiful green eyes. "Anyway, you should spare your pretty eyes from them. Why don't you invite us to stay here with you instead? You must be bored up here by yourself."
    She suddenly found herself shrinking from two pairs of pleading eyes ... eyes that threatened retribution if she kicked them out.
    "Kazu?" she called out hesitantly.
    "Yes, Miss Ondur. Do you require something?"
    "Can my two friends remain here with me?"
    "If Miss Ondur so wishes it, then yes."
    "I wish it."
    "I shall inform the kitchen of your two extra guests then."
    "Aw riiight! Smack it there little fella!"
    Terrana turned to see Mikin and the boy giving each other a high five. Then, in a flash, they raced to the bar and began helping themselves to whatever food and drinks they could find.
    "Umm, I'm not sure if we can touch those," she called out.
    "Don't worry about us, Terrana," shouted Mikin. "We got it covered!"
    Terrana returned to her pod by the window, unable to shake off the feeling that she had somehow been duped.

10
Dartkala's breath
     
     
    Dinner turned out to be a scrumptious affair of soup, salads, and warm dinner rolls followed by a delicious nut stew and a selection of sweet, fresh dumplings. After eating as much as they could, they retired to their pods by the window, curled up their feet and sat in comfortable