by Maya Grace
“She’s offering help,” Rowan whispered. “A way to get to the Taiga safely.”
Ella caught Rowan’s eye. For real? she asked with a single glance. She had heard a whinny. But somehow, her cousin had heard so much more.
Rowan nodded solemnly. And smiled.
* * *
“Just hang on,” Rowan said.
Ella didn’t need to be told twice. She was wedged in the saddle between Rowan and Jack. So who do I hold on to? she wondered, suddenly picturing Jack spilling off the back of the chestnut mare. She reached one arm around Rowan’s middle, and the other one backward to grab Jack’s leg.
Rowan clucked her tongue, and the horse broke into a trot, sending Ella slipping sideways. She scrambled to right herself.
Rowan tapped her heels against the horse’s sides, and the horse sped up. Its stride lengthened into a smooth gallop.
Ella marveled at its speed—and at Rowan’s skills. “When did you learn how to ride a horse?” she hollered into the wind.
Rowan glanced over her shoulder. “I didn’t!” she said.
Yet somehow, she just knew. Maybe her horse is telling her, Ella realized. Rowan talks with horses the way I talk with my wolf.
But her wolf had fallen silent again.
She pictured the wolves’ bodies littering the pasture, and dread crept from her head to her toes. She tapped her heels against the horse ever so slightly, and held on tight as the mare quickened her pace.
Suddenly, the horse skidded sideways and whinnied.
“Hold on!” cried Rowan as the saddle shifted beneath them.
Then the horse took off like a shot, as if she’d been struck by an arrow from behind.
Ella whirled around to see what had spooked her. She caught sight of a green, hissing creeper moments before it exploded, uprooting a bush and sending rocks flying.
“Creepers!” she cried. “Mobs are spawning.”
“Of course they are,” said Rowan. “I told you they would. But our horse knows she can outrun them, don’t you, girl?”
She reached down to pat the horse’s neck.
The mare blew a puff of steamy air from her nostrils, as if to say, Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.
Relief washed over Ella. She felt safer now, wedged between her cousins on the back of a galloping horse.
It’s going to be okay, she told herself. We’ll get there in time.
They sped through the hills until the rain turned to snow, and a white blanket covered the ground below. Trees sprouted left and right—spruces decorated with white icing.
The Taiga! thought Ella with excitement. This is my one beautiful thing today, Gran. But I can’t slow down to enjoy it—there’s no time.
The horse galloped around a frozen pond and alongside a rushing river. Chunks of ice floated downstream, dodging rocks in small waterfalls.
Ella shivered and leaned into Rowan for warmth. Behind her, Jack snuggled close too, squeezing her middle.
“Are w-we almost th-there?” he asked, his teeth chattering.
“We are there,” Ella said. “It’ll warm up though—the sun is coming up.”
The orange globe was just peeking over the horizon. The first few rays felt heavenly as Ella lifted her face to the sun.
“We aren’t there yet,” corrected Rowan. “I mean, we’ve reached the Taiga. But my map can’t help us anymore. You’re going to have to lead us from here on out.”
Who’s she talking to? wondered Ella. Her horse?
Rowan spun in the saddle to face Ella. “You have to lead us to your wolf,” she said solemnly.
Ella caught her breath. “But . . . I don’t know where he is. He’s so quiet now.”
“So listen harder,” said Rowan gently.
Ella squeezed her eyes shut. I’m here! she called to him. I’m in the Taiga. But where are you? Show me the way!
The wind whistled in her ears, and snow swirled around her. Her feet felt frozen solid, as if packed in ice. And she was so hungry. A delicious smell wafted from a snow house up ahead. As she padded toward it, she felt the fur on her neck stand on end. There was food here, but also danger. She whined and paced the perimeter of the house, wishing the others were here. But they were gone. Her family—her pack—was gone.
Ella’s eyes flew open. “I . . . I saw him,” she whimpered. “I was him. He’s so hungry! And he’s all alone. There’s food in the snow house, but it’s dangerous too. Oh, poor boy!”
“The snow house?” asked Rowan. “Do you mean an igloo?”
Ella hesitated. Gran had taught them about the igloos in the Cold Taiga, built from nothing but blocks of snow. “Yes,” she said slowly. “I think that’s it. He’s in the Cold Taiga!”
Rowan nodded. “We have a bit farther to go.” She whispered something in the mare’s ear, and the horse lunged forward.
Rowan patted her side. “That’s a good girl. When we get there, we’ll give you some food and rest.”
The horse nickered a response that only Rowan understood.
At the mention of food, Ella’s stomach clutched. But it wasn’t her own hunger twisting her insides. It was her wolf’s. He was starving. And alone. And in danger.
The Cold Taiga was near, but not near enough.
* * *
“This isn’t an igloo,” said Ella. “I told you my wolf was outside an igloo!”
Rowan sighed. “And I told you that we’d traveled far enough. Our horse needs to rest, and so do we. This shelter will have to do.”
Shelter? Ella glanced around the small room. It was more like a cave built into the base of a hill, but she had to admit that it was much warmer in here than it was outside.
“Can’t we bring the horse in?” asked Jack. “She’s cold out there.”
“She’ll be alright,” said Rowan. “I wiped her down and put a blanket on her.”
Ella had noticed that it wasn’t a blanket, though—it was Rowan’s own cape. She had lovingly draped the black wool over her horse’s back, even though that left her own arms bare and cold. She loves her horse as much as I love my wolf, Ella realized.
While the horse rested, Ella tried to be patient. She helped Rowan light a fire, and they melted snow for the horse in a bucket they’d found in the shelter. They gave her the last of the mushy apples, too, which she chomped down greedily.
Then the girls joined Jack inside, where he picked at a sandwich and took stock of his potions.
When the horse nickered, Rowan stood and brushed off her leggings. “She’s ready,” she said.
“Give me your things and I’ll pack her saddle bags.”
Rowan took the canvas sacks and Jack’s backpack, and stepped outside to strap them onto her horse’s saddle.
“Did you get enough to eat?” Ella asked Jack.
He shrugged. “Are there places to fish in the Cold Taiga?” he asked.
Ella nodded. “Probably. We might have to break a hole in the ice first,” she said, reaching over to smooth the cowlick in his hair.
That’s when she heard a growl from just outside the shelter.
And a whinny.
And a scream.
Rowan.
CHAPTER 11
“Stay inside!” Ella ordered.
Jack backed away obediently as she pushed past him. She grabbed her sword, feeling it slip in her sweaty palm. Then she stepped outside.
Rowan was tearing up the hillside through the snow, as if something were chasing her. But when Ella looked again, she realized that Rowan was the one doing the chasing. But what was running away from her? Her horse?
No. As Ella’s eyes adjusted to the brightness, she saw an enormous snow monster lumbering ahead of Rowan.
“A polar bear!” cried Jack.
“Get back inside!” cried Ella, but this time, he wouldn’t budge.
The polar bear reared up on its hind legs and let out a roar that rumbled across the Taiga, sending chunks of snow and ice sliding down the hillside. Was he going to turn on Rowan?
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“Rowan!” cried Ella. “Stop!” She raced toward her cousin, crunching through the snow. But every few feet, she tripped and fell. Her boots were clunky, and the hill was so steep. “Rowan!”
Ella pushed herself up and reached for her bow. I might miss the bear, she realized, but maybe I can scare it.
She released an arrow upward, and then watched in horror as it whizzed toward Rowan. It missed her—but only barely.
Rowan whirled around in shock, and finally stopped running.
As she began walking back, Ella sunk to her knees with relief. “Hurry!” she called to Rowan. What if the bear turned around and came after her?
She shaded her eyes and searched for him, but he had disappeared along the snowy horizon. Thank goodness.
When Rowan was a few feet away, Ella saw tears frozen to her cheeks. “What is it?” she asked.
“Our horse ran away,” said Rowan, struggling to catch her breath. “She was spooked by the bear.”
“It’s okay,” Ella said quickly. “She’ll be back.”
Rowan shook her head. “No, she’s heading home—I’m sure of it. And . . . she’s taking our bags with her.” Her voice broke.
“She’ll come back!” Ella insisted. “She’s your horse now.”
Rowan released a heavy sigh. “No, she’s not,” she said. “It’s not like with your wolf, Ella. That horse already has a home—I knew that when I found her. And she needed to go back to stay safe. I just wish she hadn’t taken our bags and backpacks with her!”
“What?” said Jack, his lip trembling. “She took my potions?”
His question hung frozen in the air.
“Your potions?” said Rowan. An edge crept into her voice. “You’re worried about your potions? What about our food? And how are we going to light torches and fire without our flint and steel? Or make it home without my map? How are we going to get to the igloo by the river if we have to pass a pack of polar bears on foot? Did you think about any of that?”
Jack took a step backward.
“Shh,” said Ella, “you’re scaring him.”
“He should be scared,” said Rowan bitterly.
“We still have our weapons and our armor,” Ella pointed out. “We still have . . .”
Something Rowan had said made her pause.
“Wait, did you say you saw an igloo by a river?”
Rowan wiped her face and nodded. “I saw it when I reached the top of the hill. It’s just over the other side, by the river—near the falls.”
Ella tingled from her head to her toes. Maybe this was her igloo, where she would find her wolf. “We’ve got to go,” she said. “Now!”
Rowan grabbed her by the arm. “Stop. The igloo isn’t the only thing I saw over the hill. There are more polar bears—two or three of them. So we’re not going now. We’ll wait till morning.”
Wait? Ella yanked her arm free. She was done waiting. My wolf could be just over that ridge. What if the polar bears get to him before I do?
“I’m going to find the igloo,” she said, her voice frigid as the icicles hanging from the rim of the water bucket. “You don’t get to decide what I do.”
“Yes, I do,” spat Rowan, her eyes ablaze. “You know why? Because Gran put me in charge. My whole life, she’s told me that I have to look out for you. So that’s what I’m doing, whether you like it or not.”
Rowan spun around and pushed her way into the shelter. Jack followed on her heels, as if he’d already accepted that she was the leader.
But Ella stayed behind. She replayed Rowan’s words over and over. Gran put her in charge, she thought. So even Gran thinks I can’t take care of myself.
Finally, when she could no longer feel her fingertips, Ella reached for the door. But by then, she’d made up her mind.
She was going to prove to Gran—and to Rowan—that she could look after herself and her wolf. She was going to find the igloo, and she was going to do it tonight. All on her own.
* * *
As Ella pushed open the door, it let out the faintest squeak. She glanced back at her cousins. Jack was sleeping soundly, snoring like a baby bear. But what about Rowan? Ella couldn’t tell. She hovered for a moment, listening, and then stepped into the frozen night.
As she trudged up the hill into darkness, she raised her torch high, feeling a twinge of guilt for taking it from the shelter. But Rowan and Jack still had a fire to keep them safe and warm. And Rowan had stockpiled enough wood to keep it burning for at least another day.
But when it burns out, then what? asked a tiny voice in Ella’s head. Without flint and steel, how will you ever light another fire—or another torch?
She blew that worry out with her frozen breath. Then she set her sights on the crest of the hill. She could feel her wolf now. He wasn’t howling anymore—he didn’t have to. He was so close, he could reach out to her with just a whimper.
Tell me where you are, she told him. Lead me to the igloo.
She listened, but heard only the crunch, crunch, crunch of her boots in the crusty snow.
It was so very dark. Ella glanced up. If the moon was out tonight, it was hiding behind a ceiling of clouds.
Every few steps, she glanced backward to see if she was being followed. She half-expected Rowan to come bursting out of the shelter. She half-wanted her to, because she suddenly felt so lonely. Is this how my wolf feels, too? she wondered. Wherever he is?
To keep her mind busy, Ella began to chant.
Left, right, look forward and back.
Left, right, look forward and back.
The words kept her fear at bay.
Left, right, look forward and—
Ella froze. Something had appeared in the darkness behind her, toward the base of the hill. Two glowing eyes fixed their gaze on her. Two purple eyes.
Ella wracked her brain to remember what Gran had taught her about the mobs in the Overworld. What had purple eyes? A witch? A cave spider? The Ender Dragon itself?
Not an Ender Dragon, she suddenly remembered. An Enderman! Look away! Quick!
She dropped her gaze to a patch of snow. As the dark, long-legged mob growled, she inched slowly backward. Don’t look up, she willed herself. If she did, the Enderman might teleport to her side in seconds. Would her armor protect her from harm? Or would she have to fight off the mob with her sword?
Faster and faster, she stepped, until the hill flattened and she lost her footing. She landed hard on her rump and rolled—once, twice, three times. Only then, with the crest of the hill as her shield, did she chance a glance.
The horizon was pitch-black. The glowing eyes were now swallowed up in darkness, just like the stars in the cloud-covered sky.
Relief exploded in Ella’s chest, and she took a few ragged breaths. Then she pushed herself to her feet and began to run.
With each downward step, Ella scanned the valley below, searching for her igloo. The shadows played tricks on her. Stones looked like scuttlefish. Gnarly trees stalked her like bony skeletons. And water sprayed off the river rocks like a hissing creeper, about to explode.
What was that hulking shape alongside the river? My igloo? Ella wondered. Her heart quickened.
Something moved just beside the igloo—an animal creeping on uncertain legs. My wolf! Ella sucked in her breath. Was he weak with hunger?
She raced forward, squinting through the veil of darkness. Any moment now, she’d be by his side. She could wrap her arms around his neck and bury her face in his scruff.
But just as Ella allowed herself to hope, the igloo rose off the ground with a horrific roar.
She knew now that it was not an igloo.
It was a polar bear.
CHAPTER 12
Ella stopped so suddenly, she fell to her knees. Her torch sailed out of her hand and landed in the wet snow, sizzling and spitting until the flames turned to smoke.
But there was no time to worry about her torch now.
She sat frozen, torn between running away from the polar
bear or running toward her wolf. He looked so small, so weak and vulnerable. She pushed herself up and took a step forward.
The bear reared again and roared. Then it lumbered up the hill toward Ella, swinging its enormous head.
Ella hesitated. Could she leave her wolf? Would he be safe? While she watched, the wolf stood on his hind legs to sniff the air. And Ella saw that it wasn’t a wolf at all. Her heart sank.
She’d been running toward a polar bear cub—a tiny bear, with a very protective mother. Who’s coming after me, Ella realized. Run!
She knew instantly that she couldn’t outrun the bear. She could only raise her sword and hope that her enchanted armor would protect her.
So Ella whirled around, sword extended, as the bear raged in her direction. Just before it tackled her to the ground, she squeezed her eyes shut. She pictured her mother’s face. Then, with a rush of cool air, the bear raced past her—and kept going.
Ella wobbled and spun around.
The bear hadn’t been charging at her at all! It had set its sights on someone else—something else. Ella saw the mobs creeping over the top of the hill, staggering forward with their arms extended.
Zombies? There were so many of them! Two dozen or more. And some carried swords at their sides.
What had Rowan told her about zombies? You don’t have to fight them, but you have to at least outrun them.
But Ella couldn’t run. She couldn’t even look away, because something was so strange about these zombies. What was it?
As the bear tackled the first zombie to the ground, the mob squealed with pain or surprise. In an instant, the other zombies rushed to its defense. They weren’t moving slowly now at all. They were furiously sprinting, swords raised, toward the bear.
And someone was sprinting toward Ella, too. “Run!”
She recognized the voice before she recognized the girl. It was Rowan, her face fierce. She dragged Jack behind her so quickly, his feet barely touched the ground.
“I said, run!” she hollered again.
So Ella did. She turned and ran for her life, with Rowan and Jack close behind. She could barely feel her legs. Her breath came in short bursts. And then, thud— she smacked into a wall of snow.