You are Special:

Mia found her way back to her father who sighed with relief at seeing his daughter unharmed. They boarded the balloon and immediately they took off into the sky.

Mia sighed as the land disappeared under the clouds again. She missed being on the land so much. She hadn't got quite used to being in the air too much from time to time.

"So how was the market?" her dad asked.

"It was interesting,"

"But…" Lee drifted off.

"Nothing," Mia quickly uttered.

Her dad gave her 'the look'.

She huffed. "Fine. I got into a bit of trouble with some bullies. They tried to steal my necklace. I would have gotten into a lot more trouble had those two children not shown up,"

"Two children?"

"Her name was Lyra, and her friend was called Roger. They were really nice. They showed me around the market, and we had a great talk about travelling. And you know that Asriel chap you've always wanted to meet? She's his niece?"

"What? Never knew that man had a niece,"

"She said her parents died in an airship accident,"

"And her uncle never thought to take her in?"

"Nope. Instead, she was placed in the care of Jordan College,"

"A kid raised in a college?"

"Under scholastic sanctuary. Her uncle barely visits her. He goes to the north and doesn't even take her with him,"

"Well, he's just not like you. He never takes relatives with him,"

"Probably because she needs education,"

"Compared to me? You know for four years I've been traveling learning. As much as I enjoy it, I wish I was in regular school,"

"Travel learning is good for you. You get to learn everything you need to know in a much more exciting way,"

"But it gets quite lonely. Just us and Hester and Astar. We really should stop in Oxford after Trollesund. You'd find Lyra and Roger very interesting. You know Lyra wishes that her daemon wouldn't settle like mine. What do you think Astar will settle as?"

"I don't know. What I do know is that it will reflect the kind of person you are,"

"What did you want Hester to settle as when you were young?"

Lee looked at Hester. "I was never thinking about what she might settle as…at first,"

"When did you start thinking?"

"You know your grandfather…when he abused me a lot. It was Hester who pulled me through. We grew closer. Like you I never wanted her to stop changing. But there came a time when I wished she was just one form. I didn't care what it was. All I cared about was that it reflected what kind of person we were together. At first when she settled, I thought she was a rabbit. But then after meeting Iorek for the first time, I realised all along it was an artic hare,"

"It is possible that your daemon may settled in a form that has the same equivalent as hers. A fox or a weasel or a badger. Whatever he'll settle as, he will be great, and he will reflect the type of great person that I know you are,"

"You think I'm great? Nobody back in Texas thinks I'm great. At school, they always sid horrible things,"

Lee leaned closer to her. "Who cares what they say? You know before we started travelling together, I was always scorned by other people. But did I let that get me down? No I didn't. One day you and Astar are going to do great things. And when everyone finds out…they'll wish they were as special as you,"

"'You think,"

"I know,"

For the next week of traveling, they stopped from port to port along the northern countries. Mia could not contain her excitement to meet Iorek. She was just so excited to meet a pansebjorne for the first time. It was the middle of the seventh day. They were now only about an hour from Trollesund. Mia was excited. She laughed as she heard her dad singing a spectacular travel song he had picked up from his early years.

"Trade my home for the road again.

Singing the song of an old best friend.

Running around with a child's mind.

Man it gets lucky just a couple of times,"

He pressed some buttons and pulls a lever. "Sing it Hester. Give it a shot Mia and Astar,"

Mia hummed with her daemon and her father.

Lee offers her a cup of soup and she sips it. They hear a sudden clank. Lee presses a gas clock. The dial doesn't change.

"You sound quite excited dad," Mia said.

"That's right darling," Lee climbed up to the gas canisters. "We finally got a lead on Iorek,"

"You got what you need from that man yesterday?"

"Yep,"

"He might not be the same bear," Hester said sadly. "The Iorek I knew,"

"How's he doing?" Mia asked. "What did you learn from that man?"

"Some crazy seal hunter got him drunk and tricked him out of his armour,"

"What kind of man does that?"

"Someone who thinks they can do what they want with property that's not theirs,"

"An armour bear is nothing without his armour," Astar said to Mia. "You remember him telling you that an armoured bear's armour is his soul,"

"Are we going to help him?"

"No. I'm going to help him. You are going to stay out of trouble,"

"Dad come on! I'm not going to just stand by whilst you put your neck on the line helping this bear,"

"And I'm not going to put you in danger,"

"What danger could I possibly get into? I'm twelves years old. I'm not a child anymore. You know it won't very long until I reach puberty and Astar settles in his final form. Won't I be old to know then?!"

Still her father ignored her. She huffed and threw down her arms.

"I thought you said i was special. Maybe that was just words," She leaned against the rail on the other side, pressing a fist to his cheek. Astar, in the form of a fox, nuzzled her with his nose to comfort her but she ignores him. All is silent for a long while until….

"Mia look!" Astar nibble her fingers gently to get her attention.

"What is it Astar?"

"A Gyptian boat!"

Mia peered through her telescope and gasped upon seeing the sight of a magnificent red and white ship.

"Looks like we're not the only ones heading to Trollesund Astar,"

"What do you suppose they're doing up here so far north?"

"You don't suppose it's all to do with those kids disappearing, do you?"

"Perhaps. If there's anywhere where child-snatchers would take them, it's North. In the North they can do anything,"

"Lee! Are you sure Iorek will want us making trouble?" asked Hester.

"That bear saved our lives Hester. We owe him trouble," he remarked. HE turned to his daughter and sighed. "Mia, I promise you that you are special. What I said to you before was true. But that doesn't I'm going to stop protecting you. If we're going to do this together, I need you to do exactly as I say. It's bad enough that we have enough trouble on our shoulders already because of…I just want you to be safe,"

"I know dad. You say that all the time. If you really want me to feel safe than you have to tell me, why we always moving around from place to place,"

Lee sighed. "Mia, sometimes there are things you're better off not knowing. Sometimes there are truths which have to remain hidden until the perfect time. One day I will tell you. but for the time being you must trust me,"

Mia looked into her father's eyes and saw nothing but love and devotion in them. She sighed and reluctantly nodded, allowing him to pull her into a side hug. Astar and Hester nuzzled one another.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Hope we all have a wonderful 2021. I'm sure things are going to get better for everyone. I hope you all found this chapter exciting. Get ready for Mia unexpectantly meeting Lyra again. Boy, their friendship is going to unique. Please send over ideas for what you want Mia to do or what forms you want Astar to appear as occasionally.