Chapter 1: A Visitor In The Bushes
Mary let Will out at the entrance to the ceremony and then went to jostle for a parking spot.
"I'll be in just as soon as I park, Will." She called through the car window.
"Okay. I'll see you inside."
She drove off and Will walked purposely through the grassy area towards where the students were told to meet. He made his way past a tree and felt a pair of eyes on him. He knew without stopping to look that it was Kirjava. All morning he had been so nervous that he did not talk to her, but knew that she would come to his ceremony. His unease of being so exposed cleared up knowing that she was here to watch him.
In the past year they had come to know each other extraordinarily well, as it usually is with a human and their dæmon. Will and Kirjava's separation also allowed them both to roam freely of one another, allowing Will to go to school normally. They had grown to love each other dearly and learned to respect each other. Will even thought they had a bond quite similar to the one shared by Pan and Ly-…No, he mustn't think of them right now. The thought of her was a luxury he allowed sparsely and only when he was alone. He never told Kirjava when he thought of her, but he knew that she always knew when he did and that she would think of Pantalaimon also.
Oh well, he thought, now isn't the time to reminisce. I've got to get ready for the ceremony.
He found where he was supposed to sit, just as he did in the practice. Mary had arrived to find a seat by this time and he noticed that she was eyeing around for him and he caught her gaze and waved to her. She returned his wave and turned to find a seat close to the stage. While she was preoccupied, Will took a moment to look around the park where the graduation was being held. It was a beautiful park on its own, trees grew everywhere and on any given day you could hear the playful chatter of young children playing on the paved pathways or playground equipment and boys from the Academy could be found studying at the tables and pavilions or enjoying the company of friends. Fountains trickled and gurgled little streams and rivulets of water down past stone lions and monuments.
Today, however, the park was stunning. Ribbons and streamers hung from the pathway lamps and gleaming white tablecloths sat upon round tables where the parents and friends of the graduates sat and sipped refreshments. The Academy's instrumental band abided by the walkway, waiting for the moment for when they would serenade the graduates through their processional march.
Will looked around again and saw that Mary had procured a seat close to the tree in which Kirjava was watching. Her dæmon, whose name she found out later was Marvaccio, an alpine chough, was perched in the tree with Kirjava and Mary had to sit close to him because she hadn't the ability to separate like the witches and Will did. Will was feeling slightly uneasy at this point, but he hadn't a clue as to why. He knew Kirjava was feeling the same way also.
As the time for the ceremony drew near, Will took his place in line. His amazingly advanced grades had earned him the place of Fourth Honor in this year's graduation class and he stood in line behind the Third Honor in the row held by the top ten honors of the class. However, all was not right at this time. The valedictorian, a girl named Anna, was not there. This seemed to trouble the salutatorian greatly. He constantly glanced toward where the students were entering and back to Anna's spot over and over again. He was clearly expecting her to be there.
He probably just doesn't want to be the only one to make a speech Will thought silently.
Most likely said the other voice in his head, which he knew was Kirjava.
I just need to calm down some before we start he thought silently.
You'll be fine, Will. Just think of how proud everyone would be of you if they knew.
True. I'll try to think about that.
The boy sitting to Will's left leaned over and remarked "I never thought this day would be here. We're all finally going to start our lives now. I'm going to go to medical school. What do you want as a career?"
"I've decided on being an environmental scientist", replied Will, "but I especially want to work in polar climates."
"Ah, that sounds very interesting."
But Will didn't answer back. In fact, he had to restrain himself with all the self-control he could muster to stop from yelling out. He felt Kirjava's agitation in his mind. It couldn't have been what he thought it was, it just wasn't possible. Not something like that here. There was only one explanation that he could think of for what he saw in the bushes, but it just couldn't be.
Will, did we both see the same thing in those bushes?
I think so, but how can it be? How can a bear be here?
Whatever the reason, it must be good. He has no armor on, and he's laying down panting in the shade. He must be waiting.
Will could almost clearly see the bear from where he was if he craned his head just the right way. The bear looked up and Will felt a shiver pass down his spine and he knew that the bear had seen him looking. He averted his gaze and looked towards Mary. She all of a sudden gave a start and shocked several people around her.
"I'm sorry", she apologized, "I think an ant stung my leg, is all". She looked at Will with a gaze full of amazement and he knew that Marvaccio had told her about the bear. Will was stunned. He turned slowly back around to the bear but now it was laying its head down again. His whole body was alive with excitement and fear. A bear! Here! It must mean someone had opened up another doorway between two worlds! He knew not what to do with himself for all his excitement.
Will, getting excited and giving away something we don't want to is not a wise idea. You need to act calm and as if nothing is wrong.
Will knew the wisdom behind Kirjava's statement, but still, he could not help but to be excited inside. If the worlds were open to one another, then he could see all of his old friends again. Serafina, she would be happy to see him. Iorek might not seem to be so happy, but he knew that Iorek would want to see him again. And then there was her. He could not contain himself. He thought of her, and her beautiful face, her misty eyes gazing upwards into his, holding her in his arms and never letting go, their bodies touching, and finally, her small moist lips meeting his in a never-ending dreamy kiss, and the perfect harmony that settled around them when Lyra and he were alone together…
