Chapter 2

Over the next few months, the dark arrow sailed through horrendous storms and snow. Rain pounded and snow hammered down on the skyship. One morning they awoke to see snow had disappeared from the skyship and below a row of islands stretched across the ocean. The final island stood proudly, guarded by a huge forest of trees, rivers and flat places to land the skyship. According to Evie’s map it was called The Kings Crown.

Chapter 1

It was a bitterly cold night in October. Only a few weeks until Halloween, but decorations were already up. Shadows filled the long path in Berkley, although nobody was there. All was silent but one whisper hung in the air.

Lily ran past the houses, where all lights were off. She rested her wrapped gift in her hand and looked up to where the guards and towering gates stood.

Her friend, Ava Rose, was before her. She was the most popular girl in their school class. Lilly looked down at the floor, biting her nails. Ava looked up at the guard, smiling. “Please let me through.” asked Ava in a polite way, even though she wasn’t usually. The gate opened. With a shrug and a smile on her face, she went though.

“’Oo’s next?” ordered the guard in a rude way.” The wind teased Lily while she stepped one foot forward.

“My name is Lily Parsons and I am thirteen.” Lilly told, reaching for her information in her pocket. The guard held out his hand, impatiently. Lilly placed it in his hand. The guard rolled his eyes, putting a hand on Lilly’s back and pushing her though. She held tight to her gift and smiled.

Lily looked up at the tall glass buildings, roads were filled with black cars and shops were filled with people. Loud chatting and children playing was everything you could hear. Things were very different and not a mouse or rat could be seen.

Lily wished she was able to stay here but her parents’ words hovered in her head.  Stay unnoticed and don’t pay attention. “It’s so unfair.” whispered Lily, under her breath. Jealousy stuck to her like bee’s honey freshly made.

Unexpectedly, a tall girl with black clothes stood in front of her and her black glove grabbed her wrist. “HELP!” she screamed, but nobody looked at a foreigner. The stranger ran with her and hid by a tree.

“Give me that.” ordered the girl, pulling a knife out of her pocket. Lilly looked down at her parcel and gripped tight to it. But she was not strong enough. Lily backed away and started to run. “You think you can run.” She heard the girl mocking her. She needed to get out of this empty forest. She tried to run but a brick wall blocked her path and a shadow stood right behind her.

She looked behind and a tear ran down her face. Suddenly, a clear arm stretched through the wall. She held tight to the arm and did a sought of jog on the spot whilst they were pulling her through. She was in the other side.

Chapter 2

Outside, fog hung onto buildings and screams floated in the air getting louder and louder. Inside, Lily pushed through the darkness and searched where to hide. To her horror, she saw broken glass scattered along the floor, feathers from pillows were piled and an emerald green sofa had paper thin cobwebs. To her surprise, there was nowhere out. Behind her, the Lady was still there, a grin appeared on her face and her knife was gripped in her hand. She was trapped.

But without warning a sound louder than thunder echoed behind her, a growl. Out of the darkness, ruby eyes flashed and a glimpse of the whitest teeth as sharp as knives appeared. As fast as a train, the animal ran towards the Lady. It was huge, orange with black spots planted around its body. A shiver ran down Lily’s spine. A growl louder this time, rang in her ears. A cheetah. They were supposed to be extinct. Petrified, she looked up, where was the attacker? The cheetah knelt down beside Lily. She stroked her and they met eyes. The cheetah’s eyes were filled with pain, sadness but happiness too. Then she saw it. A bright red liquid dripped on her back. She was dying.

It was then that she spoke. A loud voice which rang in Lily’s ears and all-round the room. It was a voice of wind and water. “I need your help,” she said in a worried voice. Lily stared back, she nodded back and knew in that moment that she would do anything for this beautiful animal.

“We are not safe,” said the cheetah, “I must hide.”

Twenty minutes later, after a long, cautious walk, they were at their destination, the forest. Tall pine trees sheltered them from the hail. The cheetah rested her head on Lily and curled up asleep. Lily watched out though the forest listening to every sound. She would never fall asleep.  Leah

#

Chapter 3

Lily woke with a start: the cheetah still slept. From outside she could hear loud voices and crunching sounds. Peering through a gap in the trees, she could just make out a group of people trying to cut the forest. She elbowed the cheetah awake. The cheetah’s wide eyes looked up at Lily, and she put her finger on the creature’s mouth as a sign not to speak. Loud voices barked commands; the Cheetah let out a loud yawn; Lily gasped.

At the moment, loud footsteps. echoed around their tree house. Then there was pause, a sense of someone listening. There was no sound, not even a breath. It was like the world had stopped. A light flickered on, a torch as bright as full beams on a car. The light shined on the cheetah’s back though the leaves. They both kept as still as a statue.

Slowly looking through a hole, she saw shadows and heard footsteps coming closer. A shiver ran down her spine. Lily’s heart pounded against her chest. She forced herself to calm down. She cuddled up on the cheetah. She was scared. She knew that if she kept worrying, time would go slower, she just needed to wait until these people leave, or maybe she could escape.

After a long wait, which seemed like hours, the people had gone. It was night now and the cheetah had been talking a lot. She explained that she needed to get to a gateway to other worlds, where she wouldn’t be hunted and her name was Gem Parsons like my sur name.

The cheetah said that it is in an old structure in this town. Lilly had an idea that it could be in Berkley castle gateway entrance. She checked the creatures wound. It was still bleeding and she seemed weaker. The castle was a long walk from here and a dangerous one. Could they make it?

Lily knew that her family would be angry and worried about her but that didn’t stop her. She had to find the gateway for this cheetah even if it is dangerous. They made their way through the streets.

Chapter 4

The stone, castle walls (which had been there for centuries) looked down, guarding Berkley. There were three roads out of Berkley, one past the shops, one towards the River Seven and one toward the castle. Over the years the castle had been falling and only one gateway stood. The heavy rain dropped on Lily’s head and she shivered at cold. They were going slower and Lily was starting to worry.

Approaching the gateway, Lily heard quiet whispers. They had been seen.

Limping forwards, the cheetah made her way towards the gateway. The gateway was made of silver and was giant. A golden arch hung over it and an old tree stood, guarding behind it. Lilly, who’s tummy was filled with butterflies, observed the cheetah approaching the gateway. On the other side of the gateway she could see, a galaxy with glowing white stars, comets and planets. It darkened; bright planets; moons and stars sparkled, it was amazing.

Unexpectedly, several guards appeared with knives, swords and guns in their hands. The cheetah, stood in front of Lily, her eyes wide open. Suddenly, the cheetah let out a threatening growl but so did Lily. A shiver ran down Lily’s spine, she felt like she had been somehow connected with the cheetah. Her eyes fixed them with a petrifying stare. The guards lowered their guns.

“It’s time” she spoke in a quiet voice. Lily turned to look at the golden arch followed by the gateway, she wanted to cry but she knew she couldn’t. On the other side, the stars sparkled brighter, the planets grew bigger and more moons duplicated. “Thank you, I will return once I have healed,” said the cheetah and then she leaped into the gateway. The Cheetah was gone.

Lily turned to face the spot where the guards were standing before they ran. Her eyes were filled with water like a swimming pool when being overflowed. She felt alone but the cheetah would always be with her. Lily walked past the checkpoint where no guards stood. Things had changed.

Mouse-catcher

Cat, cat, why do like to eat mice, you have got piles of food in your bowl?

Fur-licker, hairball-thrower, do you every get hot in the groups of fur you have?Cat, cat, you are so small with your 244 bones, do you ever get tired caring them around?

Cat, cat, do you sense something underneath you? Or do you just like to jump joyfully?

Cat, cat, why don’t you cry tears when you are in pain? Meowing makes it noisy and tears, we won’t judge.

Careful creature

Stretching out, lying on my comfy bed,
eye gently opening, fur-licking
Light pink nose moving up and down,
Roaming around the streets jogging to bush to bush.

Reserving my spot on the bed, bringing dead mice though my flap, mouse-stalker I am.

My light green eyes stare into space dreaming of my next adventure

Menacing Monkeys

The monkey sat,
claws clinging onto trees.
His eyes black and blurry
watching for prey.

The whole of the eye staring into souls,
ears sitting listening to your secrets.
Bristled fur, standing on his body,
swinging from tree to tree.

Teeth as sharp as knives
for such a small creature.
But could it fight a tiger?
There isn’t a chance.

At night the monkey sits
peacefully peeling bananas..
Awaiting the shooting stars.

His eyes close.
Midnight passes.
Waiting for the next adventure.