The Skyship

Prologue

you’ve probably been on guided tours of skyships. In winter you would have flown over snowcapped mountains and in summer flown over beaches covered in golden sand. When you flew you would have experienced the true feeling of freedom that is so rich and priceless. When you flew the crew members had probably let you steer the ship for a few minutes. When you flew you could probably see schools of whales singing their greetings to whilst flying through the ocean. You probably landed on one of the islands where the crew members  took you caving in massive caverns. Travelling by skyship on holidays are like that.

But travelling on an expedition to unknown islands is different. You should try a skyship journey when krakens attack the ship in the dead of night when you least expect it. You should try a skyship journey when dragons appear out of the clouds and ambush with the forked lighting they shoot out their mouth. You should try a skyship journey when dancing tornados crash their way across the ruined landscape. Few people would wish this horrible experience on anyone. Even the most seasoned skyship veteran will think twice about going on one of these journeys. Rumour has it that winged cobras that breath fire roam free on some islands and krakens come up onto the land for their midnight feast. Few would wish an encounter with a dragon whilst stuck in a tornado, especially if you have done anything to anger the dragon and most say that the rumours are for a good reason.

Chapter-1

The crowds cheered as the skyship Iona rose up into the air and hovered as the significant engines blazed into life. Captain Smith stood at the steering wheel, her face a mix of happiness and determination. They were of!

Bobby and Blake peered down as the ship rose higher and higher. Far below, they could see could see the cheering crowds until in the end they were just a mass of tiny specks. The Iona sailed beyond Lockwood city, Passing over a field teeming with all different types of crops intersected by roads snaked from village to village, down to sea.

 They could hear the cold wind whistling past their ears as the Iona sailed onwards. Waving farewell to the distant crowds, the children turned to each other. Bobby grinned, happy to once again be on an adventure. Inside, her stomach fluttered and her heart seemed to freeze mid beat. Would it be safe? Would they ever see their families again?

Within an hour, the Iona was sailing above the ocean. Far below Blake saw fishing boats, luxury cruises and even a patrol boat near the coast to keep people from swimming too far. Bobby sighed. “I wonder if we will find Ermitage Wrigglesworth” he muttered, running his hand along the smooth railing.

Blake gripped the decks edge and replied “I wonder if we will come across anything unpleasant. Last time we made a journey like this we came across a baby kraken and it almost wrecked the ship, imagine if it was fully grown!

That night the weather only got worse. Hail started battering the rigging at night and cold rain danced on the windows. The moon shone down on the Iona like a spotlight searching for a lost prisoner. From the deck, Blake could see a stone hut with smoke billowing out of the chimney and a small boat chained to the docks on the beach.

Instructions for finding lost

                                            Treasure

First, travel to the bone-chilling forest of doom,

 and look around for a sacred stone jutting out of the ground.

Pause for about ten seconds and listen,

To what the stone tells you.

Then pursue the sharks trail and stop when you reach,

The crystal caves.

Beneath a giant crystal sparkling in the morning sun,

 There will be a small speaking poplar tree growing in the soil.

Ask the tree for advice on your quest and it will tell you,

 What threats may try to stop you.

Run from dragons and ignore krakens and steer clear of what lions suggest. Beware of fearsome mountain giants and frenzied griffins.

Scale Jagspear Mountain,

With the help of a titanium ice axe

Then abduct a water spirit.

Search in the caves of Jagspear mountain,

Until you find an ancient scroll.

The scroll will show you where the

Lost treasure is lurking!

On the Island of Memories,

I caught a glimpse of a terrifying T-rex,

Destroying everything in its path.

On the Island of Football,

I heard the crowd roar as

 Ronaldo scored an amazing overhead kick,

To score the winner.

On the Island of Weather, I felt

A freak hurricane ripping through the ground with glee,

Almost as if it was a child on Christmas day.

On the Island of Treasure, I sensed millions upon millions

Of glittery, expensive diamonds and heaps of precious

stones twinkling in the morning sunlight.

On the Island of Oceans, I tasted the salt water of the

Atlantic Ocean as I got swept away by the powerful currents.

On the Island of Animals, I smelt the strong smell of various different animals like a crocodile and a great white shark.

10,000 years ago there had been a mighty brick wall to prevent armies from attacking Troon. At the  compass points there was four statues represent the north, east, south and west. All but one of them were destroyed, then the last statue was moved to the library gardens. The street were you found the library gardens was called dust road an odd street that looked as if it was a circle. This is the street where bobby and the eagle headed.

The suns cruel eye glared down at them as though they were unwanted bugs eating a stolen leaf from your garden. Bobby, beginning to worry noticed that the eagles cut still bled. She was moving at a slower pace; pausing every so often to take a great gulp of air.

As they approached the gateway, Bobby heard commands being bellowed through the morning air. They had been spotted. Limping forward, the great eagle hopped into the road that would take them to the gateway. An intricate statue bathed in the sunlight. Bobby could see it clearly now, the chipped bits of stone on the ground, the almost life like features, as he took it all in he gazed at the eagle slowly hopping its way towards the very statue. Slowly a circle began to form in front of the statue. Then the circle produced a breath-taking scene. Bobby could see a perfect mountain jutting out of the clouds surrounded by an infinite amount of air. A perfect home for an eagle Bobby thought. 

A moment later guards rounded the corner guns raised ready to fire. The eagle, turning to face them, stood beside Bobby. She let out a mountain shaking screech. The guards faces paled as they dropped their guns and ran. Bobby had also felt the power of that screech and was glad he was on her side.

‘It is time’ she whispered to Bobby, turning to face the gateway. ‘I will return when I am healed. And with that took of through the morning into the portal soaring over clouds towards her home. And it was then that Bobby realized he should be doing the same.

Later that day the absence of the eagle had hit him like a thunder bolt. Ten he looked up at the sky an eagles favourite place to be. And that’s when he knew the eagle could never really leave him. She would always be flying beside him, drifting in and out of his dreams and imaginations. Bobby felt older somehow but also stronger. He made his way back to the checkpoint where the guard waved him through as though he was a ghost. Things were about to change whether the empire liked it or not.

Whale, Whale

Whale, whale,

why do you gush out

water from your blowhole like a shimmering water fountain?

Whale, whale,

 why do you glide along the ocean like a bald eagle soaring through the sky?

Whale, whale,

 what mysterious fish have you caught now in that gigantic mouth of yours?

Whale, Whale,

 what are you softly singing about now, maybe the many places you may visit?

Whale, whale what exotic coral reefs and countries are you visiting now with your brothers and sisters?

Whale, whale,

 how often do you grieve over lost family members?

Whale, whale,

 what is the longest distance you have ever travelled?

Whale, whale,

 what is the best seafood you have ever tasted?

Super-swallower, super-swallower,

What is most amount of fish you have ever caught in a single day?

THE EAGLE

Perched on a branch,

The dominant eagle homes in on the scampering mouse below.

Its wings take off like a rocket in mid-flight,

As fast as a paragon falcon diving from the sky.

Its talons as sharp as a vipers fangs,

And as deadly as a lions jaw sinking into its prey.

Its beak as elegant but as deadly as a cheetah,

Bounding after an antelope.

Ruffling its cold damp feathers the eagle clutches onto his nest,

With his life as it gets swept away by the wind.

The eagles screeches triumphantly as it buries

 into the poor dead grouse.

THE EAGLE

Perched on a branch,

The dominant eagle homes in on the scampering mouse below.

Its wings take off like a rocket in mid-flight,

As fast as a paragon falcon diving from the sky.

Its talons as sharp as a vipers fangs,

And as deadly as a lions jaw sinking into its prey.

Its beak as elegant but as deadly as a cheetah,

Bounding after an antelope.

Ruffling its cold damp feathers the eagle clutches onto his nest,

With his life as it gets swept away by the wind.

The eagles screeches triumphantly as it buries

 into the poor dead grouse.