The week was a blur to Natalie. By the third day, she could draw a pretty good Fire symbol. By the fifth, she was tracing it in the air with precision. By the sixth she had enough spells under her belt to warrant her safety.

On the seventh day since Ravenwood School had begun, Natalie woke with a clear picture in mind. Excited, she pulled on her robes, grabbed her gear, and ran outside to meet with Erin, Natalie and Sarai, just like they had planned.

There was a message on the announcement board, but Natalie didn't bother reading it. She already knew it was the announcement granting the novice class permission to explore the streets. But there was no novice class anymore - that wasn't how things worked at Ravenwood.

Ravenwood School was perhaps the ultimate school in allowing students to go at their own pace. Students changed classes depending on the number of times their bar had filled up. The entirety of the novice classes' bars had filled up at least five times, which promoted them to the apprentice class. There wasn't a ceremony or anything - they were simply given a new schedule that accounted for the lack of a novice class.

Natalie, Erin, Justin, and Sarai graduated to apprentice status easily. All it took was learning a couple new spells. Well, Erin's bar had filled up from her sessions with Paige.

Erin and Sarai were already waiting for Natalie when she joined them in front of Bartleby.

"Morning," Natalie said with a cheerful smile.

"Morning," Sarai said. "Erin was here when I came out."

"You left the campus earlier, though." Erin pointed out. "I saw you go to the Commons."

"Ah, I was helping Penny. Penny Dreadful? She's a new student like us."

"Never heard of her. She wasn't called on Initiation Day, was she?"

"No, her registration got all mixed up." Sarai sighed. "I went back down to Unicorn Way and helped her with her independent study a bit, but I can only do so much down there. Oh, and I have this." She pulled a book out of her pack. "Olivia Dawnwillow wants me to give this to that boy in the library..."

"Ooh, Boris? You don't wanna deal with him too much, but he's a sap for the puppy eyes." Natalie nodded.

Sarai stared at her.

"Just be yourself and ask him nicely," Natalie revised. "He gets a pretty bad rap because he's a jerkface, but he's not too bad."

"You'd know," Erin mumbled. "You go to the library so much he probably flirts with you when you walk in the door."

Natalie punched Erin on the arm. While Erin whined and clutched the spot, Natalie repeated herself. "If you just ask, he'll help."

"Ah, okay." Sarai stowed the book away as Justin appeared out of the guy's dorms.

"Morning," Erin said, waving.

"G'morning!" Justin said cheerfully. "Are we all ready?"

"Someone's chipper," Erin said, looking at him. Then she took a step back. "Holy crap, Justin."

"What?" Justin looked confused.

"Your magic is crazy strong, that's what."

Justin looked down at his body and patted his torso. "...Diviners have the strongest magic, yeah. Your point being...?"

Natalie's brow furrowed. Then her eyes lit up in understanding. "Erin, you can see his aura?"

"A bit of it," Erin confirmed. "It's faint for me, but it's there."

"Don't you need... like, magic to see an aura?" Justin said.

Erin shook her head. "Magic helps, but if you know what you're looking for you don't need it at all. And Paige is showing me what to look for, and I'm starting to get the hang of it." She pointed at Justin. "He's got the most power out of us all."

Sarai frowned. "But his body is frailest out of all of us."

"Can we please stop talking about me - excuse me I am NOT frail," Justin huffed.

"Let's just get a move on," Natalie said, brushing her hair behind her shoulder. "Headmaster Ambrose said to talk to Sergeant Muldoon before doing anything, right? So let's go to Olde Town."

The other three murmured their agreement. Justin and Natalie were, at the moment, broomless, so the four hurried to Olde Town on foot.

Muldoon looked them over. "I've heard of you from Headmaster Ambrose. Emberweave, Summerglade, Skystrider, and..." he looked at Erin and his brow furrowed. "Weren't you the one that almost died by unicorn?"

"Can we move on?" Erin growled.

"Right. Anyway, I'll let you in once Lady Blackhope is locked in her tower. Fair enough?"

"Where's Lady Blackhope?" Natalie asked.

Muldoon opened his mouth, but Sarai answered. "Unicorn Way. She's a ghost."

"Right." Muldoon nodded. "Take care of her and I'll let you through, deal?"

"Sure." Natalie nodded and turned, but another guard called their attention.

"Scuse me, the name's Guildenstern. I was wondering if you could take this book to the library?"

Natalie took it and looked it over. "Yeah, sure, but I don't think this is a library book." She looked up, but Guildenstern had gone back to his post.

"We should split up," Erin murmured. "Nat, how about you and Justin deal with Blackhope while Sarai and I run the books here down to the library? Sarai's got another book down there anyway."

"Hmm..." Nat ran her information about Erin through her head. Ordinarily, Erin would be up for tackling a bad guy, so why not now? The answer was simple; Lady Blackhope was a ghost, and ghosts were Erin's weakness. They could only be defeated with magic, which Erin lacked.

"Alright." Natalie nodded. "Meet back here when we're done, then?"

The four nodded and hurried to the Commons. Once there, the four split up - Erin and Sarai ran in the direction of the library while Justin and Natalie headed for Unicorn Way.

"Blackhope's not that powerful, is she?" asked Justin as they moved.

"Dunno, anything on Unicorn Way is Sarai's area, not mine," Natalie replied. "She can't be that tough."


Boris Tallstaff looked at Erin with disgust. "May I help you?"

Erin held up a book. "Some guard found this on a bench in Olde Town."

Sarai held up another. "A-and someone found this i-in Unicorn Way."

Boris glanced at both the books, an eyebrow raising when he saw Sarai's. "You." He pointed at her. "With me." He pointed at Erin. "You. With Harold."

"Thanks," Erin muttered, turning the book in to Mr. Argleston. She could hear Boris muttering and grunting to Sarai behind her. Mr. Argleston said something about a Sabrina Greenstar, but Erin didn't really hear. She wasn't paying a lot of attention.

The last week had been... odd. Sparring with Kane every day was just exhausting. She couldn't do most of the work in school, so classes were boring except for that single hour she got with Paige.

Paige wasn't the best teacher, but she was better than nothing. That one hour of aura talk every day was always interesting, and Erin was getting better with practice. She didn't need magic to see auras at all; Paige just taught Erin a different way of seeing things. It made it easier to spot things near-invisible, such as, well, auras.

A tap on her shoulder startled her; she glanced over to see Sarai.

"I'm going to Headmaster Ambrose's house," she said.

"I think I'm going to the Fairegrounds," Erin replied. "Meet you back at Olde Town?"

"Okay." Sarai ran out.

Erin turned back to Mr. Argleston. "I... am going to the Fairegrounds, right?"

"Yes."

"Kay, thanks." Erin exited and ran north.

The Fairegrounds were colorful, and Erin remembered coming her when she was a little kid, but they weren't her cup of tea anymore. Sabrina wasn't at the little stage she usually was, so Erin just left the book there and started going back to Olde Town.

Oh well, she thought. I'm sure Nat and Justin are having a more boring time.


"WHAT PART OF HITTING HER AND NOT ME DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?" Natalie yelled as she dodged another imp.

"Sorry!" Justin shouted, hands shaking as he drew another Storm symbol. It fizzled, predictably.

"Ugh, just let me do it," Natalie growled, drawing a Fire symbol and summoning a firecat. "That's how you do it, dummy!"

"Don't call me a dummy." Justin kicked the skeletal pirate in the chest and zapped it. It dissolved.

"Cast a spell at the damned ghost and I won't."

"Fine!" Justin snapped. He slashed a spark towards Lady Blackhope. She batted it towards Natalie, who, unfortunately, got zapped. Again.

"DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW TO AIM."

"That wasn't my fault, that was hers!"

"Just throw your thundersnake and be done, will you? By Hotros, you're awful at this."

"Shuddup!" Justin forced his hand to be still as he drew a Storm symbol. This time he was successful in summoning a thundersnake, whom he had dubbed Thomas. He pointed Thomas towards Lady Blackhope, who was getting ready to charge at him.

"Zap attack!"

ZAP.


A short while later, Erin and Sarai looked up as Natalie and Justin reappeared, looking no worse for wear. "Done," Natalie said.

Muldoon wordlessly handed them the keys to the gates. Natalie checked them and then split them up among the group.

"Okay, so I figured out how we're gonna split up," she said. "Erin, you're going on Fireca-"

"Cyclops."

"Fire-"

"Cyclops."

"Fireca-"

"Cy. Clops."

"Fine." Natalie switched the keys around. "Erin, you're taking Cyclops Lane. Justin, you're taking Firecat Alley. I'm taking Triton Avenue. Sarai, you're gonna go with Justin."

"Why?" Sarai tilted her head.

"Because Justin's frailest." Natalie cracked a grin.

"Hey!" Justin protested, but he fell on deaf ears.

"Do we all agree with these streets?" Natalie asked. "I tried to set it up so nobody has to be on a street of their opposite or actual alignment to have the easiest time. Except for Erin, of course."

Erin nodded, giving her approval. "I like it. We'll all take Colossus after this, then?"

Natalie shuddered. "Yeah. I don't like it, but yeah."

"Not looking forward to it, I take it?" Erin tilted her head.

"Nope."

"Because it's the Ice street?"

"Yup."

"Thought so. Well, I have no complaints." Erin patted the sword at her side. "I think I'll be fine. Be careful, you guys." She headed back up in the direction of Cyclops Lane.

"I don't either, except, y'know, I don't need Sarai with me," Justin grumbled. Sarai wilted.

Natalie sighed and pulled the diviner boy closer to her, lowering her voice. "Justin, just take her with you, okay? She's not a piece of cargo to cart around, and theurgists are useful as hell. I'd take her for myself, but she keeps looking at you like she's worried."

Justin looked over at Sarai, who quickly looked away as if she had been staring.

"If you're worried about me, I can take care of myself," Natalie continued. "I know Triton pretty well - not as well as you and Erin do, but well. So if you're worried about me, don't be. Just take her with you."

"Alright, alright," Justin muttered, stepping away from Natalie. "Ready, Sarai?"

Sarai's face lit up with a hopeful smile. "Yes. Oh, hold on." She pulled some papers out of her pack, ran over to Natalie, and muttered something in her ear. After a moment, Natalie smiled, nodded, and took the paper. Sarai looked relieved.

"If you run into any trouble, just port to the Commons." Natalie waved and headed down to the Triton Avenue level.

"Let's go, Sarai," Justin said after a moment. He hadn't spent a lot of time alone with the theurgist, so the air felt a bit awkward between them. To him, anyway.

Sarai, in contrast, seemed cheerful. "Let's!" She ran ahead of Justin before he could stop her.

As they moved down a level towards Firecat, Justin caught a glimpse of a broom zipping towards Natalie. The broom looked old and lagged a little to the left, but Natalie didn't seem to mind. Justin guessed that was her family broom. No wonder she wanted to go alone; she wanted to fly.

The two arrived at Firecat Alley's gate and unlocked the door with the key. The tunnel ride was short, and soon the two emerged onto the warm red streets.

"Now what?" Justin asked.

Sarai said, "While you were gone, Erin and I talked to Mister Muldoon. He said Private Quinn had been having trouble and wanted some help. Well, more help. The other students haven't come back yet."

"That doesn't bode well. What about the other streets?"

"Hmmm..." Sarai closed her eyes for a moment, remembering. "Umm... All I remember is a brother missing on Triton Avenue, and... Erin looking disgusted when she heard who needed help on Cyclops Lane."

"Well, that's promising. Guess we'll have to find out later." Justin eyed the wooden constructs that were slowly patrolling the streets. "Let's stick to the sidewalks and find Private Quinn."

Sarai nodded. "Let's." She started walking along the sidewalk with a spring in her step. Justin trailed her, allowing her to get further ahead.

The street had the same air as it had the week before, when he and Natalie had run into each other. Why had he been there again...?

Memories of Drew, Pen and Ty barely holding back the Kraken flashed in his mind, and Justin shivered. He'd seen Penelope and Tyler at school during the week, but... not Drew. And when he'd asked about Drew, the two had avoided his eyes and hurried to their next class. He wasn't sure what happened to Drew, and if he was honest with himself, he didn't really want to find out. The fact that Pen and Ty had gotten out of the Pavilion once the portal stone was shattered was a miracle in and of itself. But had that miracle come at the cost of his friend?

The weird thing about the whole Kraken incident was that nobody on the street seemed to acknowledge it had happened. The portal stone to the Pavilion hadn't been touched since the incident. The only reaction that anything had happened though, was the lack of religious gatherings at the Pavilion to pray to Zizon. Other than that, no one either knew that the incident had happened, or no one wanted to acknowledge that it did. Not even Drew's family had acknowledged the event. In fact, Justin couldn't remember seeing them at all in the past week. Justin wondered if they had locked their doors to mourn in peace.

Of course, all this was mere speculation. Drew could have taken a vacation for all Justin knew, along with the rest of his family... Yeah, right, Justin scolded himself. You don't want to admit the possibility that Drew's dead.

He resolved to fly down to the Pavilion later, when they had wrapped up on Firecat for the day, to investigate. He shook his head to clear it of the faint buzzing that had started up, but it wouldn't go away. Justin frowned.

And then, Natalie's voice broke into his thoughts. Justin? Hey, Justin, can you read me?

Justin almost crashed into Sarai, because she had stopped walking. Justin guessed that Sarai heard Natalie too. Yeah, he mentally replied. What's up?

I just wanted to make sure the Whisp spell actually worked. Natalie sounded somewhat relieved. It didn't seem possible, but it's easy to use and doesn't waste much mana. Pity Erin can't use it.

She'll be fine, Sarai spoke up.

Maybe I should've sent you with Erin instead... Natalie sounded a little irritated, or distracted. Justin assumed it was because of whatever was making that clacking noise in the background.

That would've been the best strategy, yes, he agreed, but Sarai's with me and that's perfectly all right. Erin can take care of herself.

Natalie replied after a moment, Yeah, but we don't have any way to contact her. That's my problem. The pyromancer sighed. Anyway, I can't hold up the connection much longer. It's too tough using it and fighting at the same time, I can't imagine how the Dragons do it.

Not a problem, Sarai said. Let us know if you run into trouble.

Already did! Natalie said cheerfully. Justin swore he smelled something burning before the connection cut.

"She'll be fine," he said. He'd seen Natalie during the sparring hour; she was a force to reckon with. "Let's keep moving."

Justin was particularly wary of the wooden constructs that ambled the streets. He remembered seeing them last week, but he didn't know what they were called or why they were on Firecat Alley in the first place. There were some on Triton, too, he remembered. They didn't look all that tough, though.

Sarai and Justin made their way down some steps to the small park about a third of the way down the Alley. A porky, bearded man in the Brigade uniform was standing guard at the steps, looking around.

Sarai stepped forward bravely and said, in her small voice, "E-excuse me, are y-you Private Q-Quinn?"

The man turned. "I am. Are you the next batch of kids Muldoon has sent?"

"What happened to the other batches?" Justin said curiously.

Quinn's face turned grim. "I'm not sure I want to know myself."

"What do you need?" Justin said, changing the subject as tactfully as possible.

"That's easy. You know the fire elves?"


"Gross," Erin decided.

"Oh, did Muldoon finally send me someone to work with?" The kid in the long Myth robes sighed, turning to face the redhead. "Good. Maybe he finally sent someone compete-"

The boy stopped and stared down Erin for a few moments, and then threw back his head and laughed.

"You gotta be kidding me. Of all people, they sent you?"

Erin folded her arms and glared at the boy up on the podium. "Me and my friends are cleaning the streets. I came here."

"Why? Were you looking forward to getting eaten by a troll?" The boy giggled. Erin could see his eyes glint under the shadows of his hood. "What the hell was Muldoon thinking, sending you here?"

"I sent myself."

"Why?"

Erin sighed. "Look, Stormgate, you've seen me on this street before, right? I know this place like the back of my hand. There isn't anyone else in Wizard City that's as qualified as me to clean up."

"Big words from someone who almost got stabbed by a unicorn." Nolan Stormgate snickered.

"I'll sic a troll on you."

"Summon yours, then!" Nolan leaned on his staff, grinning.

"I dunno, slicing you to ribbons sounds a lot more tempting." Erin drew her sword.

Nolan blinked like it was his first time seeing the blade. "...I thought they only gave blades to masters. What's an apprentice doing with a sword?"

"Long story. I can either explain or kick monster butt. You pick."

Nolan studied Erin for a bit, longer than Erin wanted him to. She was starting to get irritated. Virtually every conjurer knew Nolan Stormgate. He was Professor Drake's aide, always running errands or passing out worksheets or something. He had the same haughty air as Professor Drake, but he was worse. At least Professor Drake didn't boast about his accomplishments during meals in the Myth Tower. Erin thought he talked big for someone who was barely an initiate. He was better than the rest of the new class, yes, but only by a little. Erin suspected the reason he was a teacher's aide was because he had failed his classes last year and was doing that for extra credit. After all, who would be Professor Drake's teacher aide by choice?

"Alright," Nolan said at last. "Go ahead and impress me. I've got a job I have to do, see, but it's big and I can't do it alone. So..." He pointed at Erin with his staff. "You're going to head into the Dark Cave and pick up the Runed Skull for me. Got it?"

"Where would I find that?" Erin tilted her head.

Nolan shrugged. "I'm assuming a monster picked it up. Just attack things until you find it."

"And you can't do it because..."

Nolan flashed a grin. "I'm looking for something here in Cyclops Lane, duh."

"You look like you're doing a lot of searching up there."

"Look, find me the Runed Skull and I'll let you help out, alright?"

Erin sighed. "Fine. I'll be back in a bit." She turned and started heading towards the Dark Cave entrance.

Nolan waved as she left. "Don't get killed!"

"Don't follow that advice," she grumbled under her breath. Nolan was such a pain. He had a pretty high opinion of himself, thought he was all high and mighty. Erin knew for a fact that one of the Dragons or even her siblings could reduce him to nothing but a smear.

Erin did her best to make a beeline towards the Dark Cave entrance. She had been here several times, but never went into the Cave itself - the rumors were a bit frightening, and she'd had no way to defend herself. She was halted by a few guards along the way, but they only wanted favors, which she jotted down in her spellbook for later.

She had almost reached the Dark Cave when she heard it. "Eeeeeeriiiiiiiiin!"

Before she could turn, Lily Mythmender plowed into the girl, and they hit the street with a loud thump.

"Hi Erin!" she chirped. "I saw you at school but you aren't in my class so I didn't talk to you. We never sparred either! How've you been? You aren't dying are you? Have you been talking with Paige? Paige said she'd been teaching you aura stuff but she won't tell me exactly what. Oh, so why're you on Cyclops Lane? Did you come to relax again or did that dummy Nolan make you go away?"

"One, breathe," Erin groaned. "Two, get off me, please and thank you."

Lily rolled off the other girl and bounced up. "Sorry! So where're you headed?"

"Dark Cave." Erin pointed at the gaping maw.

Lily looked up and gasped in horror. "But that place is super scary! Why d'you want to go there?"

"Stormgate wants me to get something for him." Erin shrugged.

"Oh, that meanie?" Lily pouted. "He's a real butthead! He's always patting my head and telling me to 'leave all the problems to the adults'! It's not fair, he's not much older than I am!"

Erin eyed something green moving behind Lily. She drew her sword.

"I mean, gosh, it's not like I'm not awful at magic or anything! I'm awesome at it! I can summon Barry whenever I want to! He's super helpful, too! He-" Lily blinked, just noticing that Erin had vanished. When she heard sword slashes behind her, she looked just in time to see two trolls explode into dust.

Erin sheathed her sword. "We should be on the sidewalk. Street isn't safe."

Lily's jaw dropped open.

"Anyway, I gotta go beat on some monsters. Stay safe, Lily." Erin ran into the Dark Cave.

Lily shook out of her trance and chased Erin. "Erin! No! There are bad things in there!"


"Thanks so much for helping," Susie Gryphonbane said sweetly.

"Anytime," Natalie said good-naturedly, zooming away. Susie was a real sweetheart, but she was naive too. If her brother, Artur, hadn't returned yet, Natalie was in for some real trouble. She sped across the bridge, leaning to the right to compensate for her laggy broom, and spared a glimpse at the Pavilion.

According to Justin, the Pavilion was almost never not full. Diviners visited to pray to Zizon, the God of Storm, or just to breathe in the potent Storm aura around the place. Very popular with the locals, according to him. But today it was empty.

Well, empty except for the kraken prowling around. Natalie wondered what had happened there, especially what had shattered the teleport stone.

Natalie sped on, paused to talk to the mill man about scarecrows, and flew towards the Haunted Cave to confirm her fears. The Haunted Cave, she knew, was a necromancer neighborhood. The Brigade, being idiots, had sealed it off without realizing that. Mistake or not, it really pissed off the Death community. That had probably contributed to the undead getting out, but Natalie preferred not to dwell on that too much. She had no idea how necromancers managed with all the prejudice going on lately.

Inside the Haunted Cave, Natalie found a broken wand. As she thought; she raced back to Susie.

"Oh no!" Susie moaned, clutching the wand. "Maybe Artur was right about the cave being evil!"

Natalie winced. "Necromancers are not evil."

"Yes, of course," Susie laughed nervously, but Natalie didn't believe her. "Anyway, speaking of necromancers, why don't you talk to Duncan Grimwater? He's the one studying everything that's going on." Susie threw a suspicious look at the dark-robed boy down the steps. "I bet he's gathering intel for him."

Natalie sighed. "I'll ask him." She flew down the steps and stopped to look Duncan over. He was robed in black and white, had dark skin, and was lounging against a tree.

"What?" he snapped, looking at Natalie with contempt. "Did Ambrose send another newbie to come help?"

"I'm an apprentice," Natalie said hotly. "And I'm trying to help Susie, so spill the beans."

"Mmm... nah." Duncan stretched like a sloth. "See, Ambrose never should've sent Susie and Artur in the first place. Diviners like them? They aren't ready to face what's going down on this street. Us necromancers, on the other hand..."

"Just Susie," Natalie interrupted.

"Eh?"

"Just Susie, Artur's disappeared."

Duncan laughed. "Really? The coward must've run back to Ravenwood with his tail between his legs. If you're that worried, I'll look around..."

Natalie sensed a "but" coming.

"...But only if you help me. Eye for an eye, right?" Duncan's dark eyes glittered. "See, I'm here studying the tactics of the undead for a project. Just beat up some fodders and minions and I'll give you my intel."

"So you want me to do your school work for you." Natalie leaned on her broom. "Do you have any idea how much school work I've already got?"

"You in, or out?"

Natalie thought for a moment. If Duncan had been studying the undead around here, he probably knew Triton Avenue better than she. He'd know where Artur would be hiding. "I'm in," she said. "I'll be back soon."

The pyromancer kicked her broom into gear and headed down the bridge. Gods, this was so lame. And Duncan really was an idiot, if he thought that he could do better than diviners on their own home turf. Natalie knew that she could kick ass on her own street easily, because she knew the street like the back of her hand.

Then again, Duncan had a point. For example, Natalie would be helpful on her street, but she would also be weaker and more vulnerable. After all, Fire didn't play well with Fire, so to speak. Tactically speaking, Natalie was more valuable on Triton Avenue than she was on Firecat Alley. Maybe Duncan thought the same of the Gryphonbanes.

Natalie heard a grunt behind her, and turned just in time to see a rotting fodder heave its shovel at her. She yelped and shifted her weight to the right, and her broom complied. The girl flipped upside down on her broom, and the shovel cleaved through empty air.

"Watch where you're throwing that thing!" she yelled. The fodder grunted and started forward. Natalie flipped upright and drew her wand.

She'd had to burn a few wooden constructs on the way, but they'd barely put up a fight. This rotting fodder was the first real monster she'd encountered. No problem, she could take it out with Molly.

Natalie focused her power into the tip of her wand and started to trace the Fire symbol. Up there, curve here, let the arm relax to get the line just so... Natalie had done this so many times this week it was becoming second nature.

Unfortunately, she'd never had a fodder rip the symbol to shreds with its shovel before. Natalie yelped and skittered back in shock as the fodder came at her.

Natalie cursed and threw a few bursts of flame to hold it off. She drew the symbol again, faster, but it was too sloppy and fizzled out.

Fighting was a lot harder than she thought. Natalie brushed the hair out of her eyes and thought back to classes. Madame Falmea had said that she had had the most passion out of that class. She had to be able to use that to her advantage, somehow.

She fell back on the theories she'd read in books since she was ten. Pyromancy was primarily empowered by one's passion, she knew. The more passionate someone was about something, the more powerful they were able to exert. Natalie was passionate about knowledge, about learning, so she had to draw on that somehow. She focused on all the things she had learned in those books, trying to draw out useful information.

The fodder growled and readied his shovel. Natalie looked up, startled. The fodder lifted his arm to throw his shovel but then shied back. Curious, Natalie blinked and then realized there was something emitting a bright light. That something was in front of her, somewhere.

She looked down. Her wand's tip was glowing brighter than a Marleybonian light bulb.

Oh.

Natalie focused more on that one book of theories. She could picture it perfectly in her mind's eye: dark red, embossed with a gold Fire symbol, and leather-bound. The stiff, cream-colored parchment that held information written in solid black ink. Her wand glowed even more.

Natalie held up her wand. The rotting fodder shied back and snarled. Natalie ignored it and retraced the Fire symbol. It felt a lot smoother now, as if her arm was being directed by an unknown force. She concentrated on Molly, and the Fire symbol melted into the young firecat. Molly sat down on her haunches and began to groom her paw, awaiting orders.

Natalie smiled, satisfied. Just one thing left to do.

"Sic 'em, Moll," she told the firecat.

Molly the firecat proceeded to do exactly that.


lol I'm good at updating guys

This might go on Ao3 soonish - Ao3 needs more Wizard101 stories. The only ones up there are the oneshot I wrote and a Harry Potter crossover. :I Talk about disappointing.

Anyways, reviews real quick:

Ammaarah01 - Nah, Erin'll handle just fine in Krokotopia. She's no softie, and Wizard City should toughen her up nicely. Her only weakness is ghost-types (what is this, Pokemon?) or anything that can only be beaten with magic.

catluvvergal010 - Erin's rash as hell, yeah - the portal fritz was just bad luck. And I look forward to bringing you more!

If I ever manage to finish this... well. Erin's story is only going to cover up to Malistaire. Her adventures afterward might get a bit more... illegal. ;)

If you were disappointed by the lack of Dragons in this chapter, don't worry. Next chapter features secret meetings, necromacism (discrimination against necromancy, there I just made up a term for it) and... a spy?

Stay tuned!