chapter 5
The wolf, the Ava and the Ball
The next morning, Chelsea and Hope entered the dining hall from the hospital. Chelsea had stayed with Hope to keep her company. curious eyes darted toward them from the unicorn table as they took their seats.
“Hope, you OK?” Summer asked gently as she sat down. Hope nodded, not wanting any fuss. How embarrassing would this be when it all came out on Friday that she was the enchantress and she was taken to the hospital on her second night due to a stupid bat in her closet.
“How do you suppose it got there?” Marietta looked at Chelsea to see if the other girl knew of how the bat had ended up there.
“I don’t know,” Chelsea looked as though she was concentrating hard now and looked across to where Harmony was seated, looking down at her plate preoccupied. “But I have an idea.” Summer, Marietta and Hope looked toward where Chelsea was staring.
“possibly,” Summer announced, yawning widely.
“Anything is where that girl is concerned,” Marietta agreed.
“I don’t know you guys,” Hope tried but all of the other three stuttered at her.
“Hope, she was there and did nothing to help you,” Chelsea pointed out and Hope resigned herself to consider that Harmony could have been responsible but they would never know seen as she was protected from Chelsea’s seer abilities.
“Chelsea?” A voice called to Chelsea from the phoenix table. Chelsea turned and grimaced as she saw drew Alexander.
“Yes Drew?” She asked, irritably.
“Hope your team’s tight! Our’s is going to kick your butts!” Chelsea laughed and quickly looked back to her friends.
“Sonic ball try outs tonight, we are not letting Phoenix form win the sonic ball disc again this year!” The look on Chelsea’s face was one of furtive determination and all the girls nodded, not wanting to cause an argument.
After the morning’s classes, unicorn form was subjected to a speech from a very wound up chelsea. drew and Zyre had been giving her hell during their morning break in the courtyard and she had simply had enough!
“Anyone who is fit to try out, will try out!” Chelsea told the present girls. “And if you are good, you will represent the team in sonic ball.”
“But, Chelse,” Angel, one of the twins in Luna’s year called. “Katie doesn’t have time between herself and boys to play sonic ball.” The second year girls roared with laughter.
“We don’t want her on the team anyways,” deltra put in fiercely. her long red hair and strong Irish accent seemed fiercer than ever. “She’ll get distracted by the boys’ teams. We’ll only stand a chance with Basilisk.”
“That’s not fair, Deltra,” Emily, the other twin echoed. “She’d be dissing the basilisk’s clothes so would still be distracted!” All the girls let out a giggle now except Chelsea and Deltra.
“Look, deltra and I are the only remaining team mates,” Chelsea put in. “We need at least another eight members, three to be active and five as substitutes. I play defender, Deltra is an attacker and so we need the other team places to be filled up soon because our first game is in three weeks. Come on you guys, this is important!”
“I’ll try out,” Hope put in.
“Me too,” Luna grinned at her big sister. “It sounds fun!”
“First years can’t try out, can they Chelsea?” A small, dark haired girl inquired shyly. Chelsea shook her head.
“Second years and up only. Now, try outs are tonight on the sonic ball pitch. Please show up!” the girls mumbled their mingled responses and Hope, summer and Chelsea left for their elementation class.
The afternoon classes went very quickly.Hope enjoyed elementation and she was really good at it too. Before any of them knew it, it was dinner time and they had grabbed a quick bite to eat in the grand dining hall and then proceeded down the grand staircase to the courtyard out in the cool night’s air. Hope, Luna, Chelsea, Marietta and a host of other girls traipsed down to the sonic ball bitch that was to the west side of the front doors. Behind the pitch was blueberry forest and hope admired the acres of trees that towered like miniature sky scrapers in comparison to the rest of the buildings. The castle’s tallest point didn’t even reach the tallest tree top and she admired the extensive grounds that she hadn’t had chance to explore so far.
Chelsea carried a metal box and each girl carried a broom. They were all changed out of their blue robes and now wore an assortment of casual robes. Hope and Luna stood close to Deltra and Marietta who had agreed to come along while Summer insisted she had a tummy ache. hope doubted she did and Chelsea had fiercely reminded summer that she was a seer and knew she was lying. Harmony was no where to be found, not that that seemed to bother Chelsea too much. Ella had promised to come down after she’d eaten dinner, her spellology club had run over and she was currently shoving food down her throat so she could try out. This year, it didn’t seem like she would be struggling to meet all of her obligations so she had agreed to try out.
Chelsea was fiddling with a clasp on the box and then she pulled out a orange ball that seemed to vibrate in her arms. standing up proudly, her green eyes scanned the group of girls. There were around twenty five girls and she was pleased with the turn out.
“OK, who here doesn’t know how sonic ball works?” She called to the group who quickly quietened from their conversations. A few hands, including Hope and Luna’s, shot into the air. Sighing, she took a deep breath. sonic ball was her favorite sport and she couldn’t understand those who lived in the magical community who didn’t understand it. smiling at Hope and Luna, who she decided were excepted from that rule, she held the ball high to see.
“Ok, this is the ball we use,” Chelsea began explained. We fly on our brooms and once this ball is released, it spins and flies on its own within the pitch area. The attackers job is to score with it, by throwing it into the hoops at their end of the pitch. In the blue hole, it will give the scoring team five points, in the yellow, it will give you ten points and in the red basket, which is the hardest to score as the ball has a slight resistance to it, but only a slight one, you score hard enough, it will hit will give you twenty-five points. The defenders job is to defend, get the ball away from the other team and give it to your team’s attackers. The goal keeper, which is me, has to defend the hoops and stop the ball from going in. The game ends when the ball explodes. And whoever is in the lead wins. If the ball explodes on a tie, then it is down to whoever scores with the time out ball,” She replaced the orange ball into the box and pulled out a green ball that shimmered in the evening light. “This is the time out ball. whoever scores first with this ball, wins. But this ball is fast and hard to catch so good luck if time out comes.” replacing the ball with the orange one, she looked around at the girls and grinned. “We have an active goal keeper, that’s me, and we have Deltra on the team too who plays in attack. We need two other defenders and an active attacker and we definitely need a back up team. So we need fast flyers. Let’s see,” She counted and there were twenty-seven of them all together.
“Great,” She smiled. “Deltra and I will help you guys out. So let’s start, Marietta, Luna, Christie, Candice, and Dana,” She called to three girls who were all blonde, one was a third year and the other two were seventh and eighth year girls. They flew up on their brooms and Chelsea let go of the orange ball. Instantly, Luna flew for the ball and headed toward Dana, the eighth year girl who was nestled in goal and scored in the yellow hoop.
“Good job!” Chelsea called, flitting back and forth with her whistle. She was a good referee if not a good goal keeper. “Dana, block the goals!” She called fiercely and Luna tried to get the ball again and Christie, the third year girl who was pretty with long blonde hair and a sweet smile, jerked into Luna’s broom.
“Fowl!” Chelsea called. “No Physical contact with the brooms. You can touch the broom but jerking a broom like that will damage one of them,” She handed the ball to Luna and pulled her wand and drew a white line in mid air. “Behind the line Luna and try and score!” Luna balanced well on her broom and threw the ball as hard as she could. It missed but from the distance she was, it did not surprise any of them.
Each group of girls had someone really strong in them and Hope’s nerves were building. she wasn’t sure what position she would be better at. Taking her broom in her hands, she mounted it and kicked off hard, soaring into the air. The ball was released and her adrenaline kicked in as she soared for it. Instead of attacking the ball instantly, she waited as the attackers circled it and as Angel, one of the second year twins dove into grab the ball, Hope blocked her path, grasping the ball and throwing it to Anna, a fifth year with long dark hair. The girls played for a few moments, Hope successfully blocking some of the attacks from Anna and Angel. Angel, the sportier of the twins was fluid in her movement and extremely fast, and yet Hope still managed to block her several times. Catching the ball from the keeper, Hope tossed it to Anna who swooped into score and failed.
Chelsea’s whistle blew and all girls flew to the ground. Their’s were the last try out and Chelsea was beaming.
“You guys did amazingly!” She praised. “I’m so impressed!”
The girls all gave a round of applause and retreated toward the castle as thick flakes of snow started to fall. The grand staircase was filled with fairies, sprinkling dust that vanished the snow and ice that was falling. The students were careful not to tread on them and ascended the staircase reentering the castle in their small groups.
Once back in the girls’ common room, Chelsea confessed she had no idea who she was going to pick. The girls in her form had really impressed her. Sitting by the window and attempting some homework, Hope felt happy and as though she was really beginning to belong. Most of the girls in her form, knew her name and chatted to her now and she nor Luna felt like the new girl anymore.
The sun shone brightly again the next day and Hope looked at her time table as she dressed and groaned.
“What’s up?” chelsea asked as she sat on Hope’s bed, already clad in her school robes.
“We have potions with my half sister,” Hope pointed the time table out.
“And magical history,” Chelsea groaned. “I think Wednesday has just become my new least favorite day.” She took the time table and realized they had a full schedule. “Divination too!” She put her head into her hands. “Man, at least we have biology out in the grounds last lesson.” And Hope agreed, she couldn’t be bothered with Wednesdays but wearily finished brushing her golden hair and then walked with Chelsea and Marietta to the grande dining hall for some breakfast.
All of the unicorn students were buzzing about the previous night’s try outs for the team but Chelsea was giving nothing away.
“Come on, Chelsea!” Mia, a girl in eighth year who was Hallie’s best friend urged.
“Nope, the notice will be up on Friday,” Chelsea informed them all. The girls chatted quietly, constantly speculating who would be on the team. Chelsea kept smiling, it was the most team spirit their form had ever had.
“We have potions with the Basilisks,” Marietta groaned as she ate some breakfast.
“So that means Summer will be in the worst mood possible,” Chelsea groaned. “They should have realized that us being with the Basilisks is the worst idea they could come up with.” Both girls’ forms were dead against each other and yet it seemed that they purposefully put them together in some of their stressful classes.
At five minutes to nine, Chelsea, Hope, Marietta and a very grumpy Summer began to head out of the grand dining hall.
“Hey, Ella, come on, potions!” Chelsea called to Ella who was eating a piece of toast while talking to her boyfriend over by the red gryphon form.
“Coming, bye Charlie,” ella called and headed out with the other four girls down to the potions lab on the ground floor.
They waited outside the classroom that was locked and two of the Basilisk students, dressed in emerald green robes stood by the door, whispering bitchily as the Unicorn students walked up.
“That’s Katy Willis and Chandelle Dickson, two of the bitchiest mares in the Basilisk form. They mock anyone who hasn’t got money. And hate half magical people.” Hope saw both Kady and Chantelle look her up and down as they stood waiting.
“Well, chelsea?” Chantelle cackled, to what Hope thought the girl must have perceived to be an innocent girlish giggle but came across harsh from the hamster like face and the beady brown eyes. “You going to introduce us to your new friend? Tut, tut, just coming to school at sixteen. What a disgrace. Or are you one of those foreign wretches?” She looked at Hope with disgust.
“This is Hope Midway,” Chelsea smirked now knowing that the name midway would send them into fits of approval.
“As in Professor Midway?” Kady, a short podgy girl stared bewildered by the information. She wasn’t exactly a very bright girl and so the information took a little longer to sink in.
“Yes, Professor Erida Midway is my sister and Professor Thawson Midway my brother,” Hope spoke gently, not giving away the information that they were only half related.
“Why have you only just come to Loso Tierras now?” Chantelle asked bemusedly, realizing that the girls weren’t giving her the whole story. She could often be perceived to be paranoid and hardly trusted anyone.
“because, I lived with my mother and father in La Ranario,” But Hope didn’t realize that was a crime but in the students of Basilisk that approved of purity and status above anything else, it was certainly a crime.
“You’re half?” Kady’s face screamed clarity now. “Ewww!” she huddled against the wall dramatically.
“Yes,” Hope stared at her as if she lost her mind. “Why?”
“Because half blood means that one of your parents is non magical,” Chantelle exclaimed with her nose high in the air with a sense of superiority that half reminded Hope of Erida herself. another Basilisk student walked up now. She was dark skinned with long dark hair.
“who’s she?” She inquired fiercely.
“Tiana,” Chelsea smiled super sweetly. “This is Hope Midway, she’s new to our school.”
“Midway?” The question rolled across her face with such intensity, it was like a cloud passing over her face.
“Don’t get too excited,” Chantelle spat nastily. “She’s half!”
“Dear Hirmira,” Tiana said acidly. “Not another one!” At that moment, Erida appeared, as if out of nowhere. Her rat like face stared at them all.
“Enough talking, class is about to begin,” She unlocked the door with her wand and the girls all filed in. Shortly after Erida handed out the books, Harmony and two other Basilisk girls entered and took their seats. Hope, Chelsea and Ella sat at the opposite corner to the door by a huge silver cauldron that was bubbling while Summer and Marietta sat at another table nearby. The Basilisk students divided into the three Hope had met and the two others she did not know while Harmony sat alone.
The class began with erida placing notes on the board and all girls had to copy them. Chelsea whispered to Hope that they mustn’t talk because Erida hated it.
“Less talking Miss Hubbard!” Erida snarled from her desk. “And you should know better too Miss Midway!” The look of animosity that beamed from Erida toward her half sister was pure hate. The girls nodded and continued to write down the notes.
Hope knew this class was going to be a difficult one, Erida had already made it clear she did not want Hope as her half sister and hope was intelligent enough to know that she would not make Hope’s life easier at school than it had to be.
“That class was awful!” Hope exclaimed as they filed out into the courtyard at break time. She had hated the atmosphere above anything else. The silence didn’t bother her but the constant glares from Erida and her students made Hope feel beyond uncomfortable.
“I know, you’ll get used to it,” chelsea tried to reassure her. Both girls huddled in a corner, the wind whipping sharply at their faces. Hope wasn’t sure she wanted to get used to it but she guessed she had little choice in the matter.
The rest of the day went without much trouble and Hope was glad to finally get outside and get on the broom. she had quite enjoyed learning to fly and loved the rush it gave her, being midair with nothing but a broom to support you. Flying was so magical!
“You coming?” Hope asked as she hoisted her broom onto her back in the dorm room. Chelsea shook her head.
“I need to figure out who I’m picking for the teams,” She smiled gently and Hope headed out to the grounds having finished some of her homework. She had decided she’d attempt her potions homework once she got out onto the grounds and got the stresses of her day out of her head. Mounting the broom, she shot up high into the air, looking all around her. Loso Tierras was beautiful; miles of mountainside covered in powdery snow. The sky seemed ready to have snow fall again and Hope grinned with glee as she soared over the river, glided over the sonic ball stadium and glimpsed the tree tops of the blackberry wood. She smiled as she flew further and further over the treetops. Snow glistened making it seem lighter than it was.This was all hers and she loved it. The wind blew around her like a protective blanket and she wondered how far she could go.
suddenly, Hope felt a pulling sensation and she was being pulled to the ground. small creatures were on the ground. They had snarling teeth and fork like hands.
“What’s happening?” Hope tried to pull the broom up but to no avail. They were squeaking in a frequency that was much higher than Hope’s ears.
“Help!” She called. No one answered. Where were the ancients? They told her they’d always guide her, but where were they now?
The broom was below the treetops now and Hope’s stomach jolted with immense fear. What were those creatures and it seemed a certainty in Hope’s mind that they were the cause of the pull on her broom. Looking around, she found no source of help. This was it! She would be doomed! How stupid had she been? A noise from the undergrowth caused her to scream and a huge black wolf entered the clearing where Hope was almost in reach of the devilish like creatures. calling loudly with a ear piercing howl, the wolf opened his jaws and growled at the creatures. Hope strained her eyes and ears but nothing was happening.
“Enchantress?” A lullaby like voice pierced the awful silence. She looked up and saw to her disbelief a creature who had the body of a giant swan and the upper torso and head of a woman. The swan’s sleek white feathered body easily turned into the woman’s body where the long neck should have been. she had long white hair that flowed and blended with her feathers.
“Who, what are you?” hope gasped with awe as she felt a tug on her pale blue robes.
“No time for that, my child,” The woman spoke with such softness. Flying low with her immense white wings, the fork handed creatures scattered with a sound that sounded oddly like a flock of birds chirping. “Lobo, take the Enchantress’s broom, I shall fly her back to the humans.” Hope stared at the wolf for a second who hoisted the piece of wood onto his back and padded off through the undergrowth. “Get on,” The bird like woman commanded gently and Hope stared at her incredulously.
“I, I can’t, I can’t climb onto you!”
“Yes you can,” The woman lifted Hope with her strong arms onto her feathery back and lifting her wings spectacularly rose easily into the snow filled air. Hope shivered as huge snow flakes fell upon them both as they swooped over the beautiful landscape toward the castle toward the twinkling lights.
“I am Aerora,” The woman creature told her. “I am an ava, a creature of the earth and sky. I protect humans from creatures they are powerless against both in the air and on land.” Her voice was soothing. “You were in real trouble then.”
“I know, what were those creatures?” She asked.
“tree folk,” the woman said gently. “They are attracted by wood and kill humans for their bones. You didn’t see how sharp their hands were?” The elegant creature had her human hands clasped as in prayer as they flew toward the castle while her wings flapped gracefully in the darkening skies. Hope nodded and sighed deeply..
“Where did the wolf come from?”
“Lobo is your guardian,” Aerora told her. “He is the current guardian of white Rose Castle and therefore your creature protector. I hear Thawson is searching for your personal warrior. An enchantress needs many forms of protection.” Hope smiled and nodded at the back of the Ava’s head.
“Yes, I know,” She said sadly. “I put myself in danger tonight, didn’t I?”
“Yes, miss hope, you most certainly did. There is a lot of unrest in the Blackberry woods Miss Hope. It would be foolish to tread there again.”
“A lot of unrest?” Hope asked, raising her eyebrows with concern. “What do you mean?”
“A lot of the animals, particularly the ones with magic are angry and at war with one another at the moment. The creatures you saw tonight are harmless in comparison to what you could have run into. Hope, you are enchantress, this is your kingdom, you must be informed and advised but do not, under any circumstances venture into those woods alone. Animals are far stronger than any human!” And as though to demonstrate that fact, Aerora flexed her neck elegantly. Hope nodded contemplatively and wondered if her brother knew any of this. The animals were at war? Over what? And why?
Landing at the foot of the grand staircase, the ava smiled at her broadly. her eyes were the color of a deep blue sky and her smile brightened the night’s light.”You’re safe now. Never travel into those woods alone again, you are the chosen one, Miss hope!” And with a swish of feathers, aerora was gone into the darkening night. A padding noise came from behind her and she turned to see dark eyes looking at her.
“Lobo, right?” she asked and the wolf’s legs bowed out of respect. “Thank you!” she took her broom. “You go home now.” She told him and with a swish of his bristly tale, Lobo ran off into the night. feeling thankful, Hope climbed the stairs and returned to the safety of her dorm room.
