The Circle of Owls (The Grimalkin Book 3) Dani Swanson (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📖

to trying to identify how Fig’s magic worked. They even tried to define the reason for existence over a lunch of yeti jerky and sweet cakes. Thea was enjoying Percy’s company and their discussions. He had a worldly sense to him and seemed to have thought thoroughly on many subjects. Thea wondered if he had read as many books as Robin had – he had a vast knowledge of pretty much anything that Thea wanted to talk about.

They finally made it to the other side of the mountain and came to a valley that was lush with green grass and wildflowers. Fig was happy to frolic through the flowers – he didn’t think he was ever going to see the grass again. Thea was even warming up enough to unbutton her coat.

“We should probably stay close to the base of the mountain to see if there are any openings. Don’t you think?” Thea had taken the hat off her head and was fluffing her hair.

“I’ve never been down in the valley before, I’m not even sure if there is a river that runs through here.” He nervously looked around. Percy hated not being prepared.

They started to circle around the valley but were not able to find an opening to the mountain they had descended from.

“Well, that mountain peak over there is the one that we were headed to in the first place – we should head that way and see if we can find anything at that part of the base.” Percy followed the witch across the field looking at the wildlife they were passing. He had the same boyish look of curiosity on his face as he watched a few of the fairies fly amongst the tall grass as Charles and Dean had watching the penguins. Though he had seen fairies before, he still found them fascinating when he went to new regions of the country. “They always look different wherever you travel. Some have large wings, some are brightly colored….you just never know what kind you’re going to find.”

“What is that?” Thea said as she pointed to a grassy roof of a hut in the middle of the valley.

The blue color in Percy’s face ran out of his cheeks, leaving him to appear as white as the snow. “Get to the trees. NOW!” He snapped in a lowered voice.

Thea didn’t question his reaction like she wanted to. She could see the physical fear all over his face. She picked up Fig and quickly made it to the line of the trees across the valley.

The hut in the middle of the valley was almost hidden among the tall grass. It was circular with some sort of bones made into a makeshift footing, holding the hut off the ground. There were a few windows in the thatch walls and a small stone chimney with a curling stream of smoke rising to the sky.

“Baba Yaga’s hut! I didn’t know she actually lived in this valley – I thought she was a fairy tale! We need to get back up in the mountains before she realizes that we’re near her.”

“Are you okay? She doesn’t know that we’re here. It’s fine Percy.” Thea was rubbing his back, waiting for the color to return to his face. “I’ll throw fireballs at her if she comes out.” She tilted her head to the side as she tried to get Percy to smile.

“That won’t stop her! She eats other witches! And Izotzans!” Percy’s stare at the hut was as hard as stone – he started backing farther into the trees as he spoke to Thea.

Thea set Fig down on the ground. The cat tilted his head back, smelling a wild scent, with his mouth opened as he tasted the air. Within a moment he was running through the trees and back toward where the hut stood. “Fig. Fig! Get back here!” Thea tried to catch him, but the cat was gone into the long grass. Thea looked back at Percy for a moment with hesitation, then started to jog after her cat.

“You can’t go out there! She will EAT you!” Percy snapped at her.

“I have to get my dumb cat! You can stay there if you want.” Her pace increased to a run as she followed the orange tail through the grass. “Fig!” she hissed after him.

Percy bit his lower lip with frustration as he drew his sword and started after the two. “So, this is how I’m going to die. Awesome.” Percy shook his head and charged the path through the grass after the flowing raven hair that bounced ahead of him. He was regretting that he agreed to go on this adventure. Thea had no idea the dangers that were ahead of her. When she finally reached the hut through the tall grass and the trees, she could see Fig, rolling in a bush of catnip- belly exposed, at the feet of  Baba Yaga.

CHAPTER FOUR

The outside of the cave’s entrance had random bones and debris scattered amongst the few bushes that were able to grow through the snow. Breathing was hard for Robin to do, as the air was very thin above the clouds. She had Tinker wrapped inside her jacket, trying to protect the little cat against the icy wind that was blowing hard enough to push them over. Robin’s eyelashes were sticking together each time she blinked, and the feeling in her limbs had left her hours ago.

“We made it! We’re finally here!” Her eyes started to tear up until she reminded herself that her eyes would freeze shut.

“I doubt that any of the dragons stayed here. There wasn’t anything moving the entire climb up here. They would have nothing to eat – therefore would die up here. This was a waste of time….and body heat!”

Robin was starting to get annoyed with all the negativity. “They have to be here. If we don’t find them here, then there aren’t any dragons left in this mountain range. We need to get