Equinox had turned into a small dragon, Aurora riding on his back. They were high above the clouds, so no one could see them.

They were flying back South, heading back to Will's as fast as they could. Time was counted, because Aurore would soon try to get Lyra on his side.

(0)

Lyra walked the streets for the rest of the day, her mind focused entirely on the dragon and its human. She was sure the huge creature was the caped person's daemon. She was sure of it.

Pan insisted that she dropped it, and didn't try to find the person, but Lyra refused; she was convinced that that someone knew how she could read the aleithiometer again. And she was desperate to know if Will was alright, where her parents were, and have all her unasked questions answered.

Pan still insisted it was a bad idea.

With an annoyed sigh, the girl walked out from between two houses, heading straight for Jordan. The sun was setting, and parents were chasing their kids all over the streets.

She found her way through the fiasco of screams, and walked up to the front doors, pushing them open.

Lyra slipped inside and disappeared behind the doors, closing them.

She was greeted by a few people, and waved back at them, before continuing her way to her room, on one of the tallest floors, in a tower.

Once there, she shut the door, locked it, and pressed her back against it. Lyra shut her eyes and sighed deeply, relaxing. She was exhausted.

Pan leaped from her shoulder to the bed, eager to get a good night's sleep.

Without even thinking of going down to eat something, Lyra collapsed beside him and closed her eyes.

Within minutes, her tiered body fell asleep, and her mind dreamed.

(Dream)

Lyra stood in darkness. There was no floor, no walls, no roof, and no skies.

She watched everything calmly, feeling a slight note of panic in the pit of her stomach. She ignored it, and kept looking around.

For a second, she thought her eyes weren't even open, because of the darkness. But suddenly, Will appeared in front of her, and she saw him.

Smiling, he greeted her. Lyra smiled back, waving, her heart filled with love and joy.

This Will looked older than when she had last seen him; he looked so handsome, with his dark eyes and wavy dark hair!

And now, he was saying something. He was scowling, as if he was worried. Lyra tried to read on his lips, but growled in frustration when she saw she couldn't.

She wanted to tell him to slow down, and talk louder, because she couldn't hear him. But the second that thought formulated in her head, Will suddenly bend over, both hands on his stomach.

When he got back up, Lyra screamed. She saw the Subtle blade inside of him, opening him.

She saw how his face became a mixture of fury and pain, and how he drew the blade out. She saw the blood running out of the wound.

And then, he screamed something.

Lyra read his lips this time, and understood 'Aurora'. Will looked furious. He seemed to be accusing this 'Aurora' of what was happening to him. Like she had stabbed him, or something.

Lyra tried to tell him it would be all right, but no sound came out of her mouth.

Then, panicked, she realized neither Pan nor Kirjava were there.

And as she was about to call for them, Will fell to the floor and faded.

"WILL!" Lyra roared, tears streaming down her face; she had regained her voice. But Will was gone.

In his place appeared a white wolf. It howled, as , and Lyra froze on the spot.

'Lyra. . .' It called, in an odd, echoing voice, ' You can stop this. . .'

Lyra screamed for it, for its help, but the darkness faded, and she woke up in her bed, twisted in the covers.

Pan was at her side, worry in his eyes.

"What happened?" He asked quickly.

"Will's in trouble!" Lyra told him in a whisper.

They both looked at each other, terrified.

(0)

Solstice looked out the window, unable to sleep. Equinox was near; she could feel him. Her heart called for him, and he told her he'd be there soon.

But she was worried all the same.

Glancing at the boy, she wondered what would happen to him once they took Easheatter's tip.

Was he needed to defeat Aurore? Would he be able to meet Lyra again? Would he even survive when Easheatter lost his tip?

Because what the boy didn't know was that is he wasn't strong enough, Easheatter, who had bonded with his soul, would kill him when his tip was taken off.

Solstice shook her head; the boy would surely make it. He would survive the end of the world to see Lyra again. His love for the girl was stronger that Solstice's for Equinox.

The large panther sighed, looking back out the window.

All they needed now was time. . .

(0)

Sorry for the short chapter. . .I didn't have ideas. : )

Quizgirl: It'll be published in stores. Sorry. But who knows. . .maybe it'll get published in Norway too.

Kaiame: I'll be looking for your book too. Just don't give up on it, alright? Even when it seems its super hard.

NOTE: I know the whole ' some people in Will's world see daemons, some don't' thing is really confusing, so here's what I figured out: kids, like Will, can see daemons, because he was able to see Lyra's when he first met her. But adults, or kids who 'attracted' more Dust, can't, because Serafina Pekkala told Mary Malone that others couldn't see her daemon if she didn't show them the 'technique' to see them. Does that clear anything up? If it doesn't, then I'm sorry, but I can't be of any help.

Thanks.