Free Circles in the Stream (Avalon: Web of Magic #1) by Rachel Roberts Page B

them waddled right up to Emily. It cocked its head up at her, but made no threatening moves.
    “Hello,” Emily said.
    “Hello yourself,” it responded. It spoke out loud, its rubbery beak moving weirdly to shape the words. “Are you a mage?”
    “Mage? No, I’m a girl.”
    “A warlock, then?” it persisted.
    “We’re not warlocks,” Adriane said.
    The creature thought for a moment. “All right then.” It waddled past them, herding the others along the trail of rainbow flowers left behind by the purple giant Ozzie called Phelonius.
    Following the parade of animals, the girls made their way around a mass of dense thickets. Phelonius was entering the natural archway that led to the Rocking Stone.
    “This is it!” Adriane exclaimed. “The glade must be on the other side!”
    Emily hung back, suddenly overwhelmed by the reality of being back here again.
    “C’mon!” Adriane called.
    Reluctantly Emily followed, hoping the glade really was there. They skirted the immense boulder—and stopped.
    “Wow.” Adriane stopped, awestruck. “This is amazing!”
    The glade was just as awesome as Emily remembered. The slender boughs of the weeping willows touched the pond, sending cascading ripples through the water’s reflection of the sky. The ground was a flower-carpet of rainbow colors. Sparkling sunlight glinted off the turquoise wing of a bird perched on the arching bridge.
    “Wow…” Adriane breathed, looking around. “I can’t believe this was here and I never knew it.”
    Phelonius was settling his great bulk beside an enormous tree. Stormbringer padded out from the far trees and walked over to him, lowering her head, her ears, and her tail in a wolfish bow. Emily caught brief glimpses of animals huddled together.
    The ferret raced over to the girls.
    “Ozzie, what is he doing here?” Emily asked, looking at the purple creature.
    “I don’t know yet. He’s not talking.”
    “An animal that doesn’t talk—what a concept,” Adriane remarked.
    “Phel is not an animal,” Ozzie said. “Come and say hello.”
    Emily and Adriane followed Ozzie over to Phel. The glade was still. A brightly colored bird darted over the water and zipped past. Emily blinked. It looked like a tiny dragon, with wings! It was gone before she could be sure. She looked around and felt surrounded by animals. They stood at the outskirts of the glade waiting—but for what?
    “This is Emily and Adriane,” Ozzie said. “They’re girls, but they seem to have a talent for magic.” He sat back, pleased with himself.
    “Hello,” Emily said shyly.
    “Hi,” Adriane said.
    Phelonius blinked, and Emily felt a wave of warmth and love pour over her.
    “What kind of creature is he exactly?” she asked Ozzie.
    “Phel’s a fairy creature, he’s made of magic.”
    “How can that be?” Emily's rational mind wondered. “We can touch him! We can see him!” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe, anymore.”
    “Prove it,” Adriane said to Phel. “Show us magic.”
    The corners of Phel’s thin mouth turned up into a smile. Tiny pinpoints of light sparkled across his fur. Then as if by some silent signal, dozens of animals began to emerge from the forest. Emily rubbed her eyes. “I think I’m seeing things,” she whispered.
    “Emily, that’s….that’s a…” Adriane stammered incredulously. “What is that?”
    Before them stood a pony with resplendent wings of bright orange and yellow, like those of a butterfly. A dozen Jeeran stepped forward, followed by a host of other creatures. Some had wings, some had scales, one had the body of a cat and the head of a bird. Emily could not even begin to identify the others.
    Then she caught her breath. A magnificent white owl with glowing turquoise eyes hobbled to a halt at her feet. Her heart, so full of wonder a moment ago, emptied with a dull ache. The owl’s wings glowed a sickly green—just like the burns on the cat.
    “My wings can’t fly.” Emily heard