DARKWHISPERS

Prologue

You’ve probably been on skyship holidays with your family before. In the summer, you would have soared over cities, seas and people gazing up in awe, wishing that they were as lucky as you. When you flew, there would have been clear skies and a warm breeze and boats and cars below.

You would have laughed when this ship flew higher, and rocked about when it turned. You probably landed on one of the neighbouring islands so you could rest and cook in the kitchen. That’s what it’s like in the summer.

But traveling to other islands is a dangerous procedure. You should be there when hybrids surround you and dragons threaten to sink your ship. You should try a journey when your ship is invaded by soul snakes. You should be there when hurricanes are near, and the wind can whisk you and your ship over to another island just like that, and the rain floods your skyship. You should be there when you have no food left and a drop of water in the barrel.

Many would wish that they would encounter a wishing troll and make it right again. Rumours have it that explorers who visit one of the rarest islands could be brutally attacked by the most dangerous animal.

Chapter 1

The crowd erupted into spontaneous applause as the skyship ” The Magpie” flew up into the sky, higher and higher until the people below looked like pins. As the engine whirred in the background, the Magpie turned away and headed off for adventure.

As they waved, Oakley and Lydia Clouding turned to each other, excited looks on their faces. Lydia danced around in circles while Oakley stood still, trying not to rock the ship.

They headed through to the kitchen, their heads full of memories of the last time they’d been on the Magpie. Within an hour, they were off the main island, hovering over the sea.

Lydia pondered quietly to herself, before conferring with Oakley. ” I wonder if we will see Ermitage Wrigglesworth this time! Won’t that be an adventure!” That night, Oakley and Lydia lay on the deck of ship, gazing up at the stars.

They discussed what happened the last time that they were on an airship and how magical it had been, hoping that it would be even better this time.

Chapter 2

Over the next few weeks, the Magpie drifted through the breeze, with Oakley and Lydia enjoying the feeling of flying once again. The next morning, they woke up hovering over a cluster of islands. Lydia looked at Oakley’s map, and realized that they were in The Northern Islands.

Rapidly scanning the islands, Captain Culshaw headed over to the wheel, and turned to face towards the islands. She called out, “Get ready, we’re going to land!” She landed between some trees, narrowly missing some fierce branches. As soon as it was safe to leave the ship, Lydia and Oakley fought their way out to explore. Would they find their old friend, Mr. Ermitage Wrigglesworth?

They all looked around the place that they had landed. Far away they could hear birds squawking and the cool wind whistling. The sun cast down on them, shining on the ship, as they turned and familiarized with their surroundings. They turned to see a type of…shelter? It was wrecked and broken but the door still stood.

The door creaked open and they began to rummage around, looking for clues. Lydia discovered an old, tattered box, that was covered in dust. Captain Culshaw walked over, Oakley by her side. It was a letter addressed to someone named Captain. Lydia opened it, and read it aloud.

I will come back as fast as I can, but for now, I am trapped, and looking for a way off this island, for I, E.W, shall perish. As far as I know, I may not come back alive, so prepare for the worst. If I never see you again, farewell.

“E.W…E. W” Oakley said the name over and over again, hoping the solution would magically appear in his mind. “E.W…” then he clicked his fingers. “Ermitage Wrigglesworth!” he exclaimed. “But who’s Captain?” Lydia and Oakley turned to face Captain Culshaw, who was still looking at the letter. “We’ll set up camp in here for the night, and see if he returns. If not, we may need to search for him.” she said, still looking at the letter, tears forming in her eyes. “But what if he’s dead?” Oakley asked, not realizing the sadness in Culshaw’s face. She stayed silent.

As the darkness approached, Oakley saw something, darting between the trees. He sat up, and stared, waiting. The wind picked up and blew open the door slightly. He walked up to the door and shut it, where he saw a silhouette outside. He thought he must have been dreaming, until he heard a twig snap. A footstep.  A door creaked.