Omg OMG OMG OMG OMG! ONLY 35 days until The Evertree comes out! I'M SOOOOO EXCITED! I CAN'T WAIT! I READ THE SAMPLE AND IT WAS AWESOME! I NEED THAT BOOK! CAN'T WAIT! :) :) :) :) :) :)

Chpater 25

Minke landed on one of the rocks, pinning the thing in her talons to the ground. It was a mouse, a spirit animal mouse, as it seemed very intelligent. It studied them, and didn't focus it's whole attention on escaping. It did try and and wriggle free though. Minke held open her wings to keep balance. Her exhaustion temporarily gone from the excitement. Valkyria shook her head proudly then, finally, became a tattoo. Russet hardly noticed though. She crept forwards studying the small creature. Nyal stood back, but, Minke flew over to her, hovering in front of her and placing the mouse in her hands. The small rodent hardly struggled once she had it. Minke landed on her shoulder, staring at the mouse in interest. Nyal held it delicately, but firmly, Larquin and Russet came over for a look. Cumba did as well, once he had a sniff though, he leaped away and disappeared into the rocks above.

Nyal held the mouse up. It was black, with large white spots. It's eyes were brown, it's whiskers quivered with each breath. "I'd say it's a spirit animal." Larquin said, leaning back. Nyal nodded, the mouse was probably used for watching the outside, that way no one tried to come attack the town.

"I'd agree, but the bad thing about this is that this means that the town folk are very cautious. I don't blame them...after what happened in Zhong." Russet didn't say anymore.

"Well, then I guess I should probably keep this guy for a bit, that way we can get in." Nyal said, then tucked the small creature safely in her pocket. The mouse didn't even try and escape. Minke shifted her weight. Nyal held out her arm, but Minke screeched and took off, flying high and wheeling around, landing smoewhere in the rocks, probably taking a nap. With all the excitement from before gone, the three humans set out, climbing the rocks as fast as they could. Cumba didn't show himself, though Nyal thought she saw a flash of tan fur in her peripheral vision. Minke didn't appear either, probably still resting. As the three climbed carefully walked over a thin ledge, Nyal spotted some lights from behind the rocks. Excitement raced through her as they climbed higher. Finally, they reached the top, one more rock to climb onto and they'd be at the top. Russet (who was in the lead) grabbed it and started to pull herself up. When she was halfway up, there was a sudden crack, and Russet gasped as the rock fell and she dropped to the ground. Instinct forced Nyal and Larquin to jump back. Nyal (who was in the back) jumped off the rock on accident and just managed to hook her elbows over the rock as she fell.

Larquin also had a problem, the rock they were on now was loose, and teetering. She was forced to balance it. Russet had slid off when the rock had tilted to the side. Now she dangled over the edge as well. Larquin held very still, and called out for Cumba. The big cat must have sensed the urgency in her voice, for he appeared quickly. He could reach Nyal, but Russet was too far for him. He stood a the rock next to the teetering one. Minke must have heard the commotion, for she came flapping up from below, chirping anxiously as she spotted Nyal. The seahawk landed next to Cumba, investigating the situation. Larquin and Cumba shared a look, and at once both grabbed one person. Nyal felt Cumba's teeth gently grab her bicep, no breaking the skin (Minke made sure of this, pecking him whenever she thought he was biting to hard) and lifting her up onto the other rock. Larquin hoisted Russet up with extra strength, quickly hopping to the next rock just as the old one fell. Everyone let out a sigh of relief as the old rock fell into a deep hole with a large crash.

Standing up, Nyal examined the rocks above them. She spotted a good one, tested it by giving it a few good tugs, then started to pull herself up. Minke had hopped to her shoulder and let out a screech when she saw what they were met with. Pointed at Nyal throat, a sword hung in the air. Held by a women accompanied by a large lynx. "Freeze" she snarled at Nyal. It was kind of hard to hold up your hands when dangling from a rock, so Nyal just froze, even though she had only pulled herself halfway up. This lady couldn't have been too dangerous, as the animals weren't too wild. She felt the wind blowing the back of her head. The scent of the lady was blown away from them. Her lynx growled at Minke who was flapping her wings on Nyal's shoulder, giving a few chirps. The lady gestured for Nyal to pull herself up, Nyal did as she was told, once on her feet the lady studied her. She saw the shackles from the big battle on her ankles and wrists. She gazed at Minke then glanced down at her friends. "Put the bird in passive," she said. Nyal held out her arm for Minke. The seahawk clacked her beak angrily, gave the lady a long look, that could only be a warning and then disappeared.

The lady looked down at her friends again. "Put the mountain lion away too." She said, Larquin scowled at the lady.

"He's a cougar." The lady raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Cumba reluctantly became a tattoo. She gently, but firmly pushed Nyal over next to her lynx and helped Larquin and Russet up. The lynx was a rust color, with black tufts of fur on it's ears and yellowish amber eyes. It looked Nyal in the eye, she looked away first. Once everyone was up the lady examined Russet's tattoo. Then told them to follow her and hopped down the rock wall climbing to a staircase carved in the stone. The lynx kept up the rear trotting after them elegantly. Nyal tried to act cool, surely they weren't going to hurt them, just ask them some questions. She knew this town had nice people. They were led into a small, wooden building, about to be questioned.

Hope you liked the chapter! Here are some questions!

1. Have you read the sample of Evertree? (YES! LOVED IT!) If so what did you think?

2. Do you like whales? (Well obviously! THEY ARE SO AWESOME, I would bore you with random facts... but I wont!)

3. Do you plan to ever write any spirit animal fanfics? (Well duh! I'm writing one now! I MIGHT make another, but that would a LONG time from now!)

4. What's your fav. food? (Steak!)