Krakens and Lies

by Tui T. Sutherland

  Logan’s mom just like in picture! Squorp pulled a photo from within his fur and feathers, as though he had a pocket hidden somewhere. The picture was of Logan and his parents and he’d given it to the cub as a treasure for him to protect. Which reminded him.

  “Clink is the griffin who has been guarding your bracelet for me, Mom,” Logan said.

  The black cub puffed out her chest proudly.

  “Well, thank you, Clink. I’m sure you’ve been taking very good care of it. May I see it?” Abigail asked.

  Treasure is hers? Clink asked, giving Logan a skeptical look.

  “Yes, the bracelet is very special to my mom,” Logan told her. “She leaves it with me when she travels, but she’s back now.”

  The black cub reluctantly pulled out the silver chain with twelve dangling charms. She hunched her shoulders as she handed it to Abigail.

  “We’ll find you another, even more special treasure to guard,” Logan promised.

  Soon! bellowed Clink. Need treasure soon!

  The cub stalked away muttering. She paused and cocked her head, considering Clonk’s pile of fake pirate coins. Clonk came galloping over shouting at her and the cubs began to tussle. Squorp charged over to join the fight.

  “Did you hear about Scratch?” Logan asked his mom.

  “I did.” She glanced around, then leaned in close. “I’m going to let you in on a huge secret. Scratch isn’t really going to Hawaii.”

  Logan cocked his head at her.

  “He’s going to visit his mom.”

  “What?” Logan exclaimed. “Isn’t she dead?”

  “Nope. She’s up at the Freezer.”

  Logan blinked at her, confused.

  “It’s our Arctic facility, buried under the ice sheet. It’s where SNAPA sends all the creatures they’ve supposedly exterminated.” She smiled at him. “SNAPA’s whole mission in life is to protect mythical creatures. They would never kill any of them if it could be avoided. But to pacify the worried government types, they have to put on a big show and pretend to sometimes, with scary-looking Exterminators and everything. And then they take the animals up north and hide them in a highly classified facility that only the top tier at SNAPA knows about. Well, and those of us who escort the creatures there. Like me.”

  “So Scratch and Lacewing will be reunited—that’s amazing.”

  “Yes.” Abigail smiled. “I know it will make her century. No mother wants to be away from her kids.”

  Logan felt tears pricking at his eyes and he blinked rapidly. “I missed you so much, Mom.”

  “I missed you, too, Logan. Every minute of every day.” She pulled him to her side. “I just kept thinking about how tight I’d hug you and how I’d tell you everything when you found me.” She fingered the charms on her bracelet, one for each of the creatures she’d tracked. “I’m so glad I get to explain each of these to you now,” she said.

  “I want to hear everything, all your stories,” Logan said.

  “And I’m serious about you coming with me on my next trip,” she said. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have at my side. I hear there are rumors of a chimera in the mountains between China and Mongolia.” She quirked an eyebrow up at him in challenge.

  Logan grinned at her. “So, this is our life now.”

  “This is our life.” His mom beamed back at him. “Griffins, chimeras, unicorns, and an occasional yawkyawk.”

  Squorp bounded over and nestled into Logan’s lap. He purred happily as Logan scratched under his chin.

  “I guess I don’t need a dog anymore.” No pet could ever compare to Squorp.

  His mom wrapped an arm around him. “You’ll have to come up with something new to ask for at Christmas,” she joked. “Maybe you could figure out what hiking gear you’ll need at camp next summer.”

  Logan’s eyes widened and his mom nodded, answering his unspoken question.

  “Your father and I discussed it, and we think it’s a great idea for you to go to Camp Underpaw.”

  Logan’s heart felt like it might burst out of his chest and give his mom, the griffins, and the whole Menagerie a giant hug. His mom was back, the Menagerie was safe, he had real friends, great friends, and he’d get to go to Tracker camp next summer. There was nothing else in the whole world he could possibly wish for.

  He was finally home.

  CAMP UNDERPAW’S GUIDE TO MYTHICAL CREATURES

  A Brief Overview for Trackers in Training

  You’ve made it to Camp Underpaw—your first step on the path to becoming a Tracker!

  Now, forget everything you think you know about “mythical” creatures. Being a Tracker is not about riding magical unicorns and cuddling griffin cubs. It is a dangerous career suitable only for the toughest, most committed creature hunters. It takes determination and resourcefulness, guts and brains, and all the skills you’ll learn in this intensive, hands-on Tracker camp experience.

  And it starts with memorizing this list of the most notable and notorious creatures you’re likely to encounter out in the world. Look it over and think carefully . . . is this really the right future for you? Are you ready to face venomous teeth and razor-sharp claws and kraken ink?

  If so—welcome to Camp Underpaw!

  REMEMBER THESE CREATURES

  ALICANTO

  Most commonly found in Chile, these birds are easily recognized by their wings, which shimmer and clatter as if they were made of gold and silver. Their primary food source is metal, with a strong preference for gold and silver, but in captivity alicantos are usually fed lesser metals and often survive on a diet of pennies. Search for these birds along waterways and high in the mountains near precious metal mines. You will know you are getting close when you hear a sound like raining coins. Protective earplugs highly recommended.

  ANT-LION

  A small insect with the body of an ant and the head of a lion. Very aggressive and territorial, but can be mollified with food (other insects, crumbs, scraps of meat, etc.). Wear thick boots and be careful where you step when tracking these tiny, ferocious biters.

  BAKU

  A big, gentle, nocturnal creature resembling a tapir. Native to Japan, bakus eat dreams, particularly nightmares. Usually found near humans and can sometimes be summoned after especially vivid dreams.

  BASILISK

  A deadly, venomous giant lizard; its gaze kills anyone who looks at it. Do not underestimate the threat of these creatures; bring backup and a mirror if you must track one. The crow of a rooster will put the basilisk to sleep, but only a weasel can kill it.

  BONNACON

  A giant, vicious creature shaped like a bull with a mane like a horse, horns that curve backward, and fiery dung. Extremely easy to track by its excretions, but approach with caution. Bring nose plugs and a fire extinguisher.

  CALADRIUS

  A pure-white bird roughly the size of a gull. It is known for being able to discern whether someone is telling the truth or lying.

  CHIMERA

  A creature that is part lion, part goat, and part snake (and all dangerous); beware its ability to breathe fire.

  CHUPACABRA

  The chupacabra has the head of a dog, a spiny back, and scaly skin; its red eyes can hypnotize and it leaves a sulfurous odor in its wake. Tends to feed on goats and other livestock, but has been known to bite people as well.

  DRAGON (Chinese)

  Related to Western dragons, but without wings or fire-breathing; Chinese dragons can change their size and love the water.

  DRAGON (Western)

  Enormous fire-breathing creatures with scales, talons, and vast wings. Usually they choose the relative safety of captivity and do not require Tracking.

  GOLDEN GOOSE

  A larger-than-average goose that can lay golden eggs.

  GRIFFIN

  A lion-eagle hybrid, with the body, paws, and tail of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle; they are traditionally guardians, mistrust horses, and love treasure. If you can identify what treasu
re a griffin is protecting, they are easier to track.

  HALCYON

  A small blue bird with white throat feathers that looks something like a kingfisher and can affect the weather.

  HELLHOUND

  Oversized black dogs with sulfurous breath and glowing red eyes. Try to avoid their slobber as it can sting if it comes in contact with broken skin.

  HIPPOCAMP

  A water animal with the head and front legs of a horse but the tail of a fish.

  JACKALOPE

  Only found in Wyoming, a jackalope looks like a rabbit with antlers. Beware its ability to imitate the human voice, as it may lead you on a merry chase.

  KAPPA

  Water sprites from Japan with scales, faces like monkeys, and turtle shells on their backs. They love cucumbers but will also happily eat children.

  KELPIE

  A malevolent kind of water horse that lurks by ponds and rivers to lure people into the water for the purpose of drowning and/or eating them. Basically, if you see a horse standing next to a lake, leave it alone.

  KITSUNE

  Native to Japan, a kitsune’s true shape is a fox, but they can also shift into human form, so they are monitored by the SuperNatural Agency for Mostly Human Protection (SNAMHP). They are very difficult to catch because a full-grown kitsune can often read minds, see the future, fly, possess people, and create illusions that mimic reality. A clever Tracker might spot one by its fox-shaped shadow. Dogs are sometimes useful for tracking them as a dog can sniff out a kitsune’s true nature.

  KRAKEN

  Possibly the largest of all mythical creatures, the kraken is shaped like a giant squid and lives deep in the ocean. Their ink can wipe all supernatural memories from your brain, and more than one promising Tracker’s career has been derailed by an unfortunate encounter with it. Only specially trained deep-sea Trackers are qualified to search for creatures like this.

  MANTICORE

  A fierce and deadly creature with a lion’s body and claws, a scorpion’s tail, and a face like a man with rows of sharp fangs. Extremely dangerous—do not approach!

  MAPINGUARI

  A giant sloth-like animal found in the dark jungles of South America. They are slow, but willing to eat people, and fearsomely bad smelling—bad enough that they can often be tracked by their terrible scent.

  MERMAID

  Exactly what you think they are: people with fish tails from the waist down who prefer to live underwater. Classed as Mostly Human and therefore monitored by SNAMHP.

  PEGASUS

  A winged horse. The primary difficulty in tracking them is that no ordinary saddle will fit around their wings.

  PHOENIX

  A beautiful scarlet-plumed bird who occasionally dies in a burst of flames and is then reborn from an egg found in the ashes. There is only one in the world, currently located in the Wyoming Menagerie.

  PYROSALAMANDER

  The mythical cousins of a regular salamander, pyrosalamanders are small, bright red, and eat fire. Handle with caution and be sure to feed them regularly!

  QILIN

  Sometimes confused with unicorns or called a “Chinese unicorn,” as they are usually found in China or Japan. A qilin has the slender body of a deer, fish scales along its back, and one horn pointing backward from its head. They are able to sense the guilt or innocence of others. Extremely difficult to track as a qilin passes over grass without flattening it. Take care when capturing one as it is bad luck to wound a qilin.

  ROC

  A gigantic bird of prey, usually with white and gold feathers, capable of carrying an elephant in its massive claws. Found in the most uninhabited mountainous regions of the world.

  SELKIE

  Another Mostly Human sea hybrid; selkies take the form of seals in the water, but can slip off their sealskins and assume human form while on land. Please try not to bring in ordinary seals who are “acting suspicious,” as this happens entirely too often and SNAMPH is not amused by it.

  TANIWHA

  A long serpentine creature from New Zealand with some of the qualities of a dragon, except that they are usually wingless and prefer to live in the ocean. On land, they can be tracked by the tunnels they leave behind as they dig their way through the earth.

  UNICORN

  A graceful horselike creature, usually a shimmering white, with a horn in the center of its forehead. Warning: can be rather sensitive and temperamental, so be sure to demonstrate respect when dealing with them.

  WENDIGO

  These shape-shifters are cannibalistic, ruthless hunters with sharp, jagged teeth and skeletal frames. A rare example of a creature whom Trackers are encouraged to kill in the wild, as they do poorly in captivity and seem to be impossible to rehabilitate or tame. Typically found in cold regions, they turn their victims into wendigos as well and can hunt through a victim’s dreams. They can be killed if you melt their hearts of ice.

  WEREWOLF

  Mostly Human; these are humans who have either been bitten by a werewolf or inherited the gene from their parents. At the full moon, they involuntarily transform into wolves from midnight to dawn; at other times, they may choose which shape to present. Werewolves are the most well-known example, but werecreatures exist in all shapes and sizes, from weremice to werewhales. These creatures fall under the purview of SNAMHP, but occasionally you may have to track a rogue werecreature on their behalf.

  YAWKYAWK

  Water spirits from Australia who often look like mermaids, but can also shape-shift into crocodiles, swordfish, snakes, dragonflies, or humans. They may have the power to create storms, so try not to make them angry.

  YETI

  Also known as a Bigfoot, a Sasquatch, or an Abominable Snowman, these huge hairy manlike creatures are covered in fur and generally live in cold climates. Somewhat human, but not Mostly Human, so they are covered by SNAPA instead of SNAMHP.

  ZARATAN

  A turtle the size of a small island, and yet shockingly difficult to track.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Behind every author is a team of literary experts and a network of friends and family. We are very lucky to have a brilliant team and wonderful network, whom we can’t thank enough.

  So thank you to our fabulous and patient editor, Erica Sussman, for her guidance, friendship, and never-ending support. Our heartfelt thanks to Stephanie Stein, Tara Weikum, Erin Fitzsimmons, Christina Colangelo, Olivia Russo, Bethany Reis, and the rest of the talented HarperCollins team who not only helps get this series ready for publication, but makes sure readers know about it and can find it wherever they may live.

  As always, enormous thanks to our stellar agent, Steven Malk.

  For being a true artist and friend, our thanks to Ali Solomon, whose rendering of a baku made us desperately wish for one and fueled our drive to write a character to match.

  To all our friends and family, old and new, near and far, thank you for your love and support.

  To our fearless parents, Bron and Jim Sutherland, for taking us on many an international journey—from the ancient ruins of Peru to the serene vistas of New Zealand and everywhere in between, inspiring our imaginations, and raising us to follow our dreams, even if they don’t lead into banking (sorry, Dad!). Thank you guys also for your more recent hands-on support—we really appreciate all your help in lovingly shepherding your exuberant and energetic grandchildren—you guys are awesome!

  To Wyndham: a million, gabillion thank-yous are not enough to cover it! Your enthusiasm, patience, and creativity are boundless and never cease to amaze us. This book literally could not exist without you—two little bears and I want you to know how much we appreciate you!

  To Jim and Sue Hoover, a pair of terrific grandparents and super-generous hosts: thank you for everything, including your cheerful willingness to mind Adalyn and crawl around on the floor with her as she explores the world one square foot at a time. To Gwen and Rick Sterns, thank you for being such wonderful, supportive, loving grandparents, for giving the boo
ks to everyone, and for your general marvelousness.

  To our intrepid husbands, Adam and Steve, who never hesitated to take kid duty after we’d been up all hours of the night writing and discussing plot twists. We love you very much!

  Finally, to our incredible children: know that no matter where we are, you are always our hearts and souls.

  BACK AD

  ABOUT THE AUTHORS

  Photo by James W. Sutherland

  TUI T. SUTHERLAND & KARI SUTHERLAND are sisters and best friends, and if you can’t tell by looking at them which one is older, Tui certainly isn’t going to tell you. They grew up in South America, traveling a lot and moving several times (and they’re still only about 80 percent certain that their parents weren’t secret agents). Kari lives in California, while Tui lives in Boston, but they use every excuse they can to see each other (like, say, writing a book together). You can visit them online at www.tuibooks.com.

  Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

  BOOKS BY TUI T. SUTHERLAND AND KARI SUTHERLAND

  The Menagerie

  The Menagerie: Dragon on Trial

  CREDITS

  Cover art © 2015 by Brandon Dorman

  Cover design by Erin Fitzsimmons

  COPYRIGHT

  THE MENAGERIE #3: KRAKENS AND LIES. Copyright © 2015 by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland. Map and glossary art by Ali Solomon. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.