We follow him to his car, a heavy silence enveloping us as he drives us to a location that seems to stretch into eternity. The journey takes over thirty minutes, leading us to the far side of the woods.
As we step out of the car, confusion washes over us, our eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of a magical portal or otherworldly entrance. 'I don't see any kind of portal or anything magical to step through,' Imogen remarks.
'Follow me,' Xander directs, leading the way.
We walk in silence, our anticipation mingling with weariness. The landscape offers nothing remarkable, the woods appearing dismal and devoid of vibrancy, save for the occasional rustling of rabbits in the underbrush.
Imogen caught up in the excitement, races ahead of Xander. However, her enthusiasm is abruptly halted as she collides with an unseen force, falling to the ground with a pained expression. I rush to her side, extending a helping hand. 'Are you okay, Imogen?' I ask, concern evident in my voice.
'I ran into something, but I don't see what I've run into,' Imogen replies, her confusion evident.
As Xander stands beside us, a sense of anticipation fills the air. With a gentle touch, his finger grazes the once-invisible wall, causing it to ripple like water and reveal itself. Before us lies a dirt path, stretching through the rippled clear barrier. Perched on the branches of dismal looking trees, which adorn either side of the path, strange squirrel-like creatures with ashen fur exhibit twitchy and unnatural movements.
Xander turns to face us. 'This is where we enter, outside Gravehaven,' he says.
I can feel my feet getting cold and uncertainty overwhelming me. But then I think of how hard it’s been for me having these ears and tail, and the trouble it caused having them. I think of Brad, contemplating how different things might have been if I hadn't consumed Janie's potion. The constant struggle to hide my ears and tail from Brad, my parents, and my peers at the academy weighs heavily on me. If I truly desire to regain my freedom, seeking out the Blossom fox and reversing this curse is the only path forward. With newfound determination, I hold my head high and address Xander. 'I'm ready,' I announce.
Xander nods in acknowledgement, his hand opening against the rippled wall. A blinding light radiates from his palm, creating a hole that steadily expands until it's large enough for us to pass through. As we shield our eyes from the brilliance, Xander lowers his hand, and a soft puff of smoke materialises behind me. Startled, I lunge forward, quickly turning to find Mister Kal sitting contentedly, his gaze fixed upon me.
'Don't tell me Mister Kal is coming too?' I groan at Janie.
Mister Kal trots past me with an equine-like grace and disappears into the portal, reappearing on the other side.
Janie's smile confirms my suspicion. 'I guess he is,' she replies. 'Are you ready?' she asks.
We all exchange determined nods, fully aware of the wondrous and dangerous journey ahead. With hearts brimming with anticipation, we enter the wondrous world of Felderia.
Book 2
“Oops, I’m a Werewolf”
Subtitle “Hexed in Felderia”
As we take a collective step forward, the mysterious portal engulfs us, carrying us into the enchanting realm of Felderia. A sense of trepidation mingles with excitement coursing through our veins as we gaze upon this newfound world.
Behind us, the portal slowly seals shut, severing the fragile thread that connects us to our familiar realm. The ground beneath our soles feels different, ancient and alive, with tales of adventures waiting to happen and tales of those already told.
But it was the denizens of this realm that catch our immediate attention. The ominous Squirrels, seemingly ordinary creatures of the woods, have an otherworldly aura. Their eyes, oh, their eyes! Magnificent orbs that consumed half of their tiny faces gleam with a haunting ebony hue. Devoid of any warmth or compassion, their gaze pierces through us, an unspoken warning within their unblinking stare.
‘Squirrelgrims,’ Xander says. ‘Harmless at most, but annoying nonetheless. They won’t kill you but will bite your finger off if you get close enough. They’re nocturnal, you won’t come across them during the day, and they make the most awful sounds when feeling threatened to keep predators away.’
‘Oh, delightful,’ I frown.
‘They’re anything but that,’ Xander scoffs.
We take our tentative first steps along the meandering dirt path. The air itself seems to hold its breath as if anticipating our every move. The path stretches out before us, leading us deeper into the heart of this uncanny place. Shadows dance among the gnarled branches, casting eerie silhouettes upon the dead leaves covering the ground.
Soon, we find ourselves on the threshold of Gravehaven as we step onto the cobblestone paths—a village veiled in the ominous embrace of a moonless night. The air is heavy with an inexplicable sense of foreboding, as if the very essence of this place mourned its own existence.
With foreboding worry clawing at the edges of my mind, my once lively wolf tail, usually held high with a slight wave, now hangs limp against my back, unmoving with caution. It clings to me like a shadow, mirroring the unease that courses through my veins. Every strand of fur trembles as if charged with an unspoken warning, as if attuned to the looming dangers that lie ahead.
Like a barometer of the soul, my furry ears droop, their usual alertness subdued. They hang low, attuned to the subtlest sounds, ready to catch the slightest whisper of danger. Every rustle of leaves, every distant hoot or chirp, is etched into the fibres of my being, feeding my instincts and heightening our collective awareness.
The village exudes a chilling stillness, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and the distant hoot of what sounds like an owl, but now being in Felderia could be of a newfound creature I’m yet to sight. The buildings are made of grey stones, with old wooden frames. The streets are narrow and winding. There are small graveyards everywhere, and the air is thick with fog. Windows draped in tattered curtains swing shut as mothers pull their curious children peering at us, away with a warning.
‘The wraiths will be upon us soon. That’s why the children are being pulled away. Rum is on tonight’s duty. When we see him, you are all to say nothing,’ Xander tells us as we walk through the fire-torched-lit streets.
Imogen, Janie and I gaze at one another and nod, following Xander. His shadow stretches and elongates like an ethereal creature eager to explore. With each passing moment, it grows in stature, scaling the weathered walls of the grey stone houses.
Mister Kal, Janie's feline companion with eyes as sharp as moonlight, sniffs the air cautiously, his whiskers twitching in apprehension. His keen senses alert him to something amiss. Mister Kal ventures toward one of the ancient graves, his velvet paws treading lightly on the hallowed ground. As he reaches the burial site, a low hiss escapes his lips, a sound laden with alarm. Fear propels him back to our side.