A/N Hey everyone! Sorry it took me a little while to update. I've been busy with band practices for our Europe trip, and busy packing and doing homework. I leave in a week! I think I'll be able to finish this by the weekend. I'll be sure to update again sooner!
Disclaimer: I do not own His Dark Materials or anything realated to His Dark Materials.
"Is that...?"
"That is where we're going," Lyra sighed. "It looks as if it's taken quite a bit of damage. This is not good for Iorek. He isn't as young as he used to be,"
Mari nodded. "I'm going to do everything I can to help,"
"Are you feeling better?" Will asked.
"I'm feeling as good as I could be." Mari replied curtly. She didn't mean to sound so angry, but she didn't want to talk. "Sorry Will, let's just get going." Mari started walking, and noticed that the bears all around were giving them uneasy looks.
"Lyra Silvertongue!"
Everyone looked ahead to see Iorek surrounded by other bears. "What can we do?" Lyra asked.
He sighed and shook his head. "We found out that Mari's idea works; they don't like light, but they ran away before we could get close enough to see how it truly affects them."
"Can you build catapults or slingshots?" Mari asked.
"We could, but what use could they be?"
She sighed. "If we can find something we can light on fire..."
"Then we can launch them into the ranks of the enemy and chase them away!" Will said.
Mari nodded. "Exactly,"
"Are you sure you've never been in a fight?" Lyra joked.
"I've only read about fights like these," Mari sighed.
Iorek nodded. "You heard them! Start building catapults and slingshots and find materials we can light on fire and launch!"
The surrounding bears nodded and ran about shouting orders.
Iorek sighed and stretched out one of his front legs.
"Are you feeling all right?" Lyra asked.
"Just an old battle wound," He said as he began walking on it again. "Let's get to work,"
Mari didn't complain and followed close behind.
"Why do you wish to help us?" Iorek asked Mari.
"You need the help." She replied.
"Your place is not here. You do not belong here,"
"I belong wherever people- or living creatures- need help."
"It is not your wish to be here," Iorek said.
"My wishes don't matter, and anyways, I wish to help you."
Iorek stopped and looked her in the eyes. "You are here to help, I can see that, but you truly do not want to be here. Do not be a Silvertongue like Lyra,"
"I'm not,"
"You will be one day if you are not careful. You are young and have lost many things in the past."
Mari wrapped her arms around herself. "I know what I have and haven't lost. I'm here and I'm staying here. Why doesn't anyone want me here?"
Iorek continued on his way. "You are too young to be in a battle such as this,"
"Lyra was twelve when she started that battle she was in."
"She did not start that battle!"
"That's not what I meant! I meant that she entered that battle when she was twelve. I'm twenty two, I'm not stupid." Mari sighed. "I want to do more in this world than I have,"
"You want to distract yourself from your pain," Iorek commented.
"Maybe I do, but I don't want to be weak. I do not want to look weak in front of my peers or my teachers."
Iorek nodded. "We armored bears are the same. We keep our armor in top condition to show we are not weak. We fight, those are our ways. Not yours young Mari,"
"Well if I could change shape as a daemon does then I would be one of you."
"You could not adjust to our ways young one." Iorek assured her. "Though you put up shields to protect yourself and show others you are not weak, inside you know that this is not where you belong. You belong back in your lands with the things and people you love." He gave her a look which Mari never did figure out what he meant by it. "Now hurry and help out. I have other things to look after. They should be arriving soon, so be prepared for the signal."
"What's the signal?"
"You'll know it when you hear it," He assured Mari as he walked off.
"What was that about?" Lyra asked as they caught up with Mari.
She shrugged. "Nothing,"
"Mari-"
"I'm going to help with looking for things we can launch. I'll find you when the signal is sent, unless Iorek calls for me for some odd reason." And with that Mari left Lyra and Will to find someplace to work.
"I don't like who you're becoming,"
"Kli, just relax. Once this is over with and I'm home I'll be back to my normal self."
He sighed and shook his head. "I don't think you will."
"That's just your opinion."
"Did you really mean that?"
"What?"
"That if you could be a daemon that you would change into and armored bear and remain that way?"
Mari sighed and looked down at her daemon. "I truthfully don't know. I don't have much to go home to,"
"You have Andrew,"
She sighed once more. "Maybe..."
"Did you send that letter?"
"Of course!"
"Well you'll have a reply soon I'd bet."
I hope... She thought.
"I know you want a reply,"
"What? What're you talking about?"
Klitus let out a barking laugh. "I'm your daemon I know what you feel, there's no use trying to hide it from me."
"Lyra Silvertongue! William Perry! Marianne Drake! Come!"
Mari looked up in time to see Iorek turning around. She saw Lyra and Will making their ways towards him and she followed close behind them.
"I have some things to help you protect yourselves," Iorek growled once they were standing before him. "We... acquired them over the years and I think they will protect you all well."
Three bears stepped forward holding bits of armor which they set in front of the three humans. There were even a few pieces of armor for the daemons.
"All right Kli, come here," Mari sighed as she picked up the small armor.
"Yes, Pan-" Lyra suddenly stopped and looked around. "Pan?"
"Where'd he go? Wait! Where's Kirjava?!" Will began looking around.
Mari looked around and didn't see them anywhere. "I don't like this," She muttered to Klitus.
"I don't either,"
"They were here just a moment ago!" Lyra said frantically.
Iorek closed his eyes and sighed. "Were you near any shadows?"
"Yes!"
He sighed once more. "They have them,"
"Who?!"
"Iofur,"
As he said the name, the sun set and hundreds of glowing animals appeared out of the darkness.