Lark's End

by Christina Leigh Pritchard

“They’re going to kill me!”

  Needleloons jumped, arching through the air.

  Tahmi hid her face in the sea horse’s petal-like fins. “Don’t be like her,” she whispered, tears escaping tight closed eyelids.

  When she looked up, the needleloons were nowhere in sight and the octaloons grip on Quella weakened. They slipped from her body and dropped into the water with a splash.

  Quella did not look back. She fluttered high in the air with her exploding wings still shooting off fireworks.

  DIANE SEES SOMETHING IN THE DISTANCE

  Diane couldn’t believe her eyes. Why hadn’t she stayed in the castle? Her life was about to end by the pointy butt of a flying creature. She struggled to climb up onto the stone ledge. There was little room and more nasty things tugged on her feet with their feelers. Were they trying to drag her down? Why did they want her to fall so badly? “Let go! You stupid, ignorant monsters.” She rolled her eyes, dodging a flying bug. The wasp tumbled into the rock mass. His body curled up and she noticed that one of his wings was bent. “Serves you right for trying to hurt me.”

  Another smashed its head into her bottom. She slid further down the ledge. Diane’s heart pounded. “Why are you trying to kill your princess?”

  The “black ones” did not consider Diane their princess. She was their enemy. She lived in the Muddy Palace with the cruel Lark. They’d watched her attempt to kill Tahmi their only hope of ever getting their caves back from the “King of all Kings” and unknowingly, Diane became their archenemy.

  Too bad Diane didn’t know this.

  “When I get up, you’ll regret smashing me with your heads!” Diane threatened, kicking a few more away. Their feelers were sharp and cut into her flesh.

  Diane turned her face. A large object hovered above her. It was black as pitch and its’ chest heaved, breathing deeply. Chills ran down her back. What was it?

  CARNEVOLE

  “Tahmi!” Ziv screamed. He flew through the air, swallowing tears that threatened to spill down his small face. Why’d Quella destroy the flowers? Petals littered the water and now there were just tall green stems—empty of their beauty. Had Quella succeeded in killing the future queen? A horrible thought invaded the star’s heart. Tahmi had saved his life. She wasn’t special and yet, she’d saved him; but why?

  A few yards away, he saw her. She was floating on a broken daisy. There were two snaps and several blowgels surrounding them. What was going on? It looked as if they were guarding the princess from something.

  Tahmi laughed harder than ever in all her life. The snaps were one of the oddest creatures she’d encountered so far. They were small just like the stars. Their bodies resembled crabs from her world and instead of hands there were claws on each arm. They had human faces and torsos but instead of hair there was something like a jellyfish body that wrapped around their skulls.

  The snaps were pals. They’d seen the brave Princess Tahmi nearly drown the evil, villainous Quella.

  “What are you talking about?” One snap, snapped. “I was the one who saw the explosion first. You were too busy eating.”

  “Well, I ran first.”

  “You always run first.”

  “Are you calling me a coward?”

  “What if I am? Coward!”

  “Would a coward do this?” The smaller of the two snaps poked the other with his claw.

  “How shameful!” The other retorted. Claws clanked together and a joist began on the floating daisy.

  Tahmi laughed, prying them apart.

  Ziv landed on her shoulder. “What in the world is going on here?”

  “This is Emlyn and Kalidas. They’re snaps…and best friends.” Tahmi rolled her eyes. “Where’s Rolls?”

  “I saw him drying off. He said he’d catch up with us. He had something to go get.” Ziv’s wings glowed dimly. “Break it up; you’re making a scene in front of your future queen.”

  “Don’t say things like that,” Tahmi grumbled.

  “Oh, yes, that’s right.” Emlyn, the shorter of the two scrambled to stand properly. “It’s just, that you’re not like the usual royalty around here.”

  “Look, I’m not a princess and Ziv is just saying this stuff to annoy me. Don’t stop being who you are on my account.”

  Kalidas nodded. His larger claw smacked into Emlyn’s shoulder. “She’ll be an excellent queen.”

  “Stop showing off your large claw; it’s really a flaw if you ask me.” Emlyn grumbled, shoving Kalidas away. “Who has one small claw and then one big one?”

  Tahmi shook her head as the two snaps bickered. She turned to Ziv who chuckled softly. “You’ve created tiny monsters out of my cute little snaps.”

  “Not to be all about business, but, let’s talk Lorcan. Are you still going to find him?”

  Tahmi nodded. “The octaloons have offered to make me a raft so that I can get to the border much faster. Then, from there we’re on our own.”

  “We?” Ziv grinned.

  “Well, you’ve come this far.”

  “What about Rolls?”

  “We can wait for him.”

  “Do you regret coming home?”

  The girl thought slowly. Was this home? Did she remember anything at all about this world? The stars, yes, they felt like home to her.

  “Ziv, I belong on Earth with my mom and dad and Andy. I can’t stay here. You know that, don’t you?”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “No.”

  “No, as in no, you don’t regret it?”

  “I just wish Andy hadn’t been dragged here, too. I hate wondering if he’s okay.”

  “Are you happy that you met me?” He flew off her shoulder and landed in her hands. “Do you wish it was Alina instead?”

  “No.” Tahmi smiled. “Alina should be here—but, I’m happy it was you who came with me instead. You’re an excellent guide and you don’t nag me like some nanny.”

  “Was Alina your nanny? Missy, the Persian cat was the royal nanny. Why didn’t she watch you?”

  “I don’t remember.” Tahmi struggled to speak. “I know Alina and that’s it.”

  “You remember Queen Emihe too.”

  “Yes.” She frowned. “Unfortunely.”

  Two octaloons surfaced. Their long flowing hair fell around their bare shoulders and they tugged on the daisy with their tentacle arms. One was small and her six tentacles that surrounded her waist were hidden in the water. The other was tall, just as tall as a human and her tentacles were visible. Tahmi and Ziv could even see her long legs. The younger octaloon grinned, spinning the daisy.

  As if on a waverunner, Tahmi and Ziv spun through the water, bouncing off ripples. They screamed.

  “Stop it, Amberlyn,” the older octaloon ordered.

  “But, mom,” Amberlyn said. “They’re laughing!”

  Tahmi was not laughing. But, the sea creature was so happy. Her amber eyes sparkled and she wrapped her tentacles around her mother. “Again, Amberlyn.”

  The octaloons blinked.

  Amberlyn twirled them once more.

  This time, Tahmi grinned. It wasn’t so bad. That is, until they knocked into a solid body. Ziv landed against Tahmi’s chest and she fell backwards into the water. The seahorse that once let her sit on him poked her in the bottom. He was playful, almost like a dog. She held her breath and somersaulted. The seahorse circled her.

  The “body” that the daisy smashed into belonged to a male needleloon. He was tall and his long tail landed in between the playful seahorse and Tahmi. His winglike fins picked her up as if she were a baby. Her body rolled out and onto the daisy.

  His long needle nose pointed at the girl. “We’ve finished your raft.”

  “Thank you.” Tahmi forced a smile. The needleloon was stong and somehow scary. He was white with deep set eyes and his form was muscular—almost as if he were a shark only without the jaws of death.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, sir.”

&nbs
p; The needleloon dove.

  Amberlyn was at her side instantly. Her tentacles patted Tahmi’s back. “He scares us all.”

  “Who is he?”

  “That’s Eytan. He’s sorta in charge around here, I guess.”

  “Amberlyn,” her mother called, “what are the rules about interacting with the Gadaenites?”

  “I’m not one of those monsters,” Tahmi said. “I’m a human from Earth.”

  The octaloon took large steps, her eyes narrowed. “I’ve been alive a very long time. I know a Gadaenite Princess when I see one.”

  “Don’t ever call me that again.” Tahmi’s heart beat furiously. “I hate them. They destroyed this world and then took over my friend’s home because theirs was destroyed.”

  “Interesting,” the octaloon said. “Who is your mother?”

  “Donna,” she answered, without thinking. “And Charles is my father.”

  “What about Queen Maryanne?”

  “Who are you?”

  The octaloon grinned. “My name is Shasa and you’ve already met my daughter.”

  Eytan resurfaced, dropping various forms of seaweed on the daisy. “Eat, your raft shall be here soon and then you must go.”

  Tahmi glanced up at the needleloon. “Thank you, Eytan, for everything.”

  He nodded, avoiding her eyes. Then, without a second thought, he disappeared underneath them.

  “He doesn’t approve.” Amberlyn giggled, stealing a piece of seaweed. “This is the best out of all of our food. It tastes so good.”

  “Amberlyn!” Shasa squealed. “That’s not yours.”

  Tahmi and Ziv weren’t paying any attention. They were stuffing their faces. The green weeds tasted like sour apple candy and the black weeds tasted of licorice. Ziv loved the berries and Tahmi agreed with Amberlyn. The blue weeds tasted almost like a star fruit mixed with a pear.

  “What kinds of food do you eat at home?” Amberlyn asked.

  “Stop this at once,” Shasa said, dragging her daughter away. “We’re not supposed to interact with Gadaenites.”

  “But, mom, she’s not a gada—or whatever, she’s a human thing.”

  “A human being,” Shasa corrected. “Let’s go help the others. The sooner she is gone, the better.”

  Tahmi’s heart hurt. Why did they hate her so much?

  Ziv lay on his back and belched. His bulging belly protruded and he grew sleepy.

  “Eytan, are you there?” Tahmi slapped the water with her hands.

  “I am not an animal.” Eytan appeared silently. “What is it?”

  “Why are the octaloons and you so unhappy with me?”

  Eytan softened. “You are not the problem. We have an alliance with the hammerloons and assisting you is going to jeopardize our treaty with them.”

  “What’s the treaty?”

  “We must never deal or help a Gadaenite ever again. They destroyed our world and turned it into a big muddy pond and now those of us that are left must live in this flooded mess in such tight quarters. Our children have never been able to deep dive or swim for endless miles.”

  “If you break the treaty what happens?”

  “The hammerloons will stop guarding the border.”

  “So what’s the big deal?”

  “Without their help, the muddlers will cross into our waters and they are violent. Also, there isn’t room for them and us. We’d be murdered. Only the hammerloons and muddlers can live in the mud and water.”

  “Why don’t you live in merworld with the merloonies?”

  “It’s a different type of water. We cannot survive in their habitat.” Eytan frowned, his fins flapping. “I remember when I was able to fly through all the different realms up the rivers and into many lakes. Now I feel like a prisoner, stuck in a fish pond.”

  “Is there anything that I can do that will change their minds about breaking the treaty?”

  “Only one they’ll listen to is a steel. There’s only two left and I doubt they’ll speak to you.”

  “Would you ask them?”

  “I can’t. They’re extremely fickle. You’ll have to go to them.”

  “I can’t breathe underwater.”

  “Can you hold your breath for a minute or two?”

  “Maybe a minute.”

  “Well, I will show you where to go. Just be warned, they may just try and kill you.”

  Tahmi took a deep breath. “Will they at least let me talk?”

  Eytan avoided her eyes. “Possibly not. Be careful. I will wait outside and if you feel like you are in any danger at all, please leave immediately. I’ll have a few octaloons waiting out here for you as well.”

  “Okay, let’s get this over with.” Tahmi sucked in, filling her lungs with air.

  She dove, kicking furiously. Her clothes fought against her but she ignored them. Tahmi opened her eyes. The landscape was blurred but deep below them she saw dark shadows that moved about.

  Eytan swam quickly and was barely visible. The dark shadows were mushrooms; gigantic mushrooms—as large as her house back home. Where was he taking her?

  He motioned for her to enter a hole in the top of the mushroom. It was a dark, narrow tunnel. Her heart beat. The sides of the tunnel were mushroom flesh and they squished when she touched it.

  Big bulging eyes blinked at her. Hundreds of them lined the passageway. Tahmi shivered, trying to avoid brushing against them. What were they? She couldn’t move her arms through the tunnel—only her feet. Did the eyes belong to some sort of eel? Usually creepy, lurking animals hid in tunnels. Don’t touch whatever it is, she thought.

  The tunnel dropped straight down and it grew even darker. The only things visible were the eyes—staring straight at her.

  Accidentally, Tahmi brushed against the side of the mushroom. Several eyes swarmed her, smacking her in the face with their tails. Her heart beat. Now she’d done it.

  One stared into her eyes.

  They were only gups. …Just big-eyed fish.

  Tahmi’s lungs burned. How much farther? What if the needleloon had tricked her? There wasn’t enough room in this tunnel to turn around. If she didn’t find air soon—well, what would she do?

  First, the death cloud dropped her in goo, then that black lake of oil, and now death by drowning in actual water. How delightful. Only there wasn’t anyone here to save her. There had always been someone before.

  Tahmi kicked harder and dove lower. The water was black and she couldn’t see anything anymore, not even the big eyes of the gups. Were there even anymore around? She checked the walls and her heart jumped. Nothing. Not a living creature in sight. How awful were these steels anyway?

  Finally, her hands touched a stone. There was light seeping through its’ crevices. She pushed. It did not budge. Was it a trap? Her lungs burned and she needed air—now. Her arms were tight against the mushroom walls. She cringed as her elbows sunk into the fleshy walls. Tahmi struggled, pushing the stone with all her might, kicking furiously.

  Maybe, just like in the underground caves, there was a carrot or something that she had to pull. She touched all over trying to find something foreign in the walls.

  She swallowed water. It tasted plain, just like the water back home. Her vision blurred and she forced herself to focus. Would it be better to back out of the tunnel? Could she even make her way back? She’d have to go backwards.

  Tahmi pressed her fingers all over the stone, pushing with all her might. Finally, the rock opened, grinding against the mushroom flesh. Pieces floated up into her face. She didn’t care. She brushed past the still moving stone and followed the light.

  Her lungs burned and so did her arms. They’d stayed in the same position for only a minute but to her it felt as if it’d been an eternity. She gasped for air, choking on water. She spit, stretching her arms. She was in a large pool of water. A few blowgels lit the water. Swirls of color bounced off the walls. When they saw her, their soft jelly bodies expanded, blowing up exposing sharp horns in their flesh. Their
eyes narrowed and they used their tentacles to float as far away from her as possible.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Tahmi looked up. A long eel like tail disappeared underneath the water. Her heart pounded. What was it? She swam over to a large rock. There was a star fish resting on top of the stone, its legs wriggling.

  “Who’s there?” Tahmi stuttered, grabbing a hold of the rock. She pulled herself up, wrapping her arms around her knees. She wanted nothing more than to be out of the cold, dark water. What was that thing she’d seen dive in? Back home, eels weren’t always the friendliest of creatures especially when provoked. Was she provoking the monster?

  “I wouldn’t sit there if I were you.” The voice echoed, coming from behind her. Tahmi glanced over her shoulder. There was a long, broken piece of glass hanging sideways on the mushroom wall. Sitting on an overturned chair, a woman with long wavy hair primped. Tahmi swallowed. She wasn’t a woman at all. When Tahmi looked down where the woman should’ve had legs—she found a long eel-like tail with small fins. Her arms were non-existent. She had long flowery fins and wore some sort of hat.

  “What are you?”

  The creature frowned. “Don’t you mean, who am I?”

  “Yes, sorry. You’re one of the most beautiful creatures I’ve ever seen.”

  “Creature? Do I look like a monster to you?”

  “No, no,” Tahmi said. “I don’t know the right words, I’m sorry.”

  “You already know what I am. I heard Eytan tell you.”

  “So, you’re a steel? Why do they call you that?”

  “I’ve never been very good with details.”

  “My name’s Tahmi, what’s yours?”

  “Is that what you came all the way down here to ask me?”

  “No, I—”

  “Idris,” the steel answered. Her fins covered her torso almost as if she wore a satin dress. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you about sitting there.”

  “Why? What’s wrong with where I’m sitting?” Tahmi crawled down. She swam over to where the steel sat and climbed up onto the ledge.

  “No reason.”

  “There’s got to be a reason. You don’t look like the kind of person who says things just on a whim.”