Jodi groaned and rolled over to face the wall. The sun was shining in through the window right into her eyes, making sleeping impossible. She felt a hand start shaking her shoulder. 

“Mom, stop, I don’t have to get up until my alarm goes off,” Jodi said, pulling the covers over her head. 

“Jodi, I’m not your mom.” Jodi cut Amelia off by sitting up in bed.

“OMG that wasn’t a dream.”

“No, it wasn’t a dream,” Amelia smiled as she handed Jodi a cup of water, “we have to leave soon, so get ready.” Jodi rubbed the sleep from her eyes and swung her feet over the side of the bed. She looked over and saw Amelia waking up Jase. 

Jodi walked over to Emit, who was packing their bags with the supplies they would need for their journey. 

“Good morning,” Emit said, handing her a bag and walking over to hand Amelia and Jase theirs. “Let’s get moving,” Emit said, opening the door and stepping out in the hallway.”

“Do you guys have coffee?” Jase asked, yawning for probably the hundredth time since they had left the inn. 

“What’s coffee?” Emit asked, looking at the map he was holding. 

“I guess that answers my question,” Jase grunted, digging through his bag and pulling out an apple.

The sun had fully risen, but the air was chilly in the woods as they walked. The trees almost glowed with green and life, and the air was crisp and clean. Nothing like Earth. 

After walking for hours, the woods changed. “Whoa,” Jase, Amelia, and Jodi all said at once, stopping to stare at their surroundings. The woods ended and there was a massive cliff. The side was perfectly flat and there was just open sky all around, filled with floating islands. The islands had houses on them surrounded by trees and waterfalls here and there. 

“What is this place?” Jodi asked, looking down at Emit.

Emit smiled and looked up at them. “These are the floating Islands of the West. Once we cross these, we will be halfway to the Great Oak Tree.” Emit pulled a rock shaped like an oval out of his bag. There was a small hole at the end that he blew into. A few seconds passed and nothing happened. 

“I like awkward silence as much as the next person,” Jase said, looking down at Emit, “but why are we waiting here.” 

“Just wait.” Emit said, and then there was a whooshing sound and an enormous horse came soaring over the edge of the cliff. It landed just a few feet away from Jodi, who stared at the creature. It was massive and so white it glowed. It had large blue eyes with strong wings cupped at its sides. 

Emit walked up to it smiling, “Hey Derek, how’s it going?” 

“It’s going well thanks for asking.” Derek’s voice was deep and husky. 

“Good, good, so can we get a ride?” Emit asked, looking up at Derek. 

“Whoa wait,” Amelia stepped forward, “we are gonna ride on him?” 

“Yeah, how else are we going to get to the crossing bridge,” Emit said. 

“What’s the crossing bridge?” Jodi asked, looking down at Emit. 

“Is she serious?” Derek asked, giving the group a weird look. 

“Derek, can you keep a secret?” Emit asked. 

“Yeah.” Derek looked down at Emit expectantly. 

“These kids aren’t from this world. I think they are the chosen ones.”

“That’s not possible.” Derek shook his head, looking at the kids again. 

“I know it’s crazy, but I think it’s a good possibility,”

Derek was quiet for a long time before he said, “Okay, Amelia, Jodi, you guys go first, Jase and I will go second.” Derek bent down and Jodi and Amelia sat down on his back. He stood up, took a few steps back, and ran off the side of the cliff. Jodi started to scream. 

Her stomach felt like it was in her throat as Derek spread his wings and soared through the sky. 

“You can stop clinging to my neck for dear life now,” Derek said laughing as Jodi slowly released her hands from his main. As they flew, the wind blew through Jodi’s hair. She closed her eyes and breathed in. 

After a few minutes, they landed on an island with a house. 

“Go ahead inside, I’ll be back with the others in a few minutes,” Derek said as he took off again. 

“Okay, thank you,” Amelia said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. 

“Yes, thank you,” Jodi said as Derek took off. Jodi and Amelia headed inside the house. It was warm inside and an assortment of mismatched furniture covered the room. After waiting on the couch for a few minutes, they heard Jase, Emit, and Derek. Derek opened the door, and let Emit and Jase in before walking in himself. 

“Down the hall and to the right are three doors. One is green, Jase and Emit share that one, and the other is Yellow, Amelia and Jodi, you share that one. We leave a little after sunrise tomorrow.”

Jodi sat on her bed eating a bowl of soup. It was good it had vegetables and some kind of meat in it.

“You want me to take your bowl to the kitchen?” Amelia asked Jodi. 

“Oh yeah, sure thanks.” She smiled and handed Amelia her bowl. Jodi turned off the lights and crawled under her covers and fell asleep almost immediately.

To be continued