Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity Beth Roose (good books for high schoolers TXT) 📖

the beautiful Princess Celia with her silver hair pulled away from her face, bunched in a tight warrior knot. Bev, with a large and welcoming smile on her face, reached out and pulled the Princess through the door, greeting her with a warm embrace. The princess laughed and returned the gesture instantly. “Bev!” the princess exclaimed. “I am so glad to see you!” Bev beamed back at the princess. “My dear friend, Celia. We have so much to talk about. Can you stay awhile?” The princess smiled warmly. “Of course, I always have time for my Bev.”

“Please, come sit down at the table and make yourself at home.” Bev walked the princess through her parlor room hallway. “Would you like a soda? Lemonade? Hot chocolate?… What about a coffee?” asked Bev. Princess Celia chuckled. “Slow down, Bev. Let’s have some lemonade, you know yours is my absolute favorite. How do you get it to be that color blue, anyway?” Bev looked at Celia with a smirk. “Trying to trick me into telling you my secret ingredient again, huh?” Bev poured their glasses full of neon blue lemonade containing Bev’s super secret ingredient: blue raspberry flavoring. The pair took haven on the rather comfortable metal chairs surrounding the large kitchen table. An awkward silence settled in as the small talk between the two women died out. “Bev, you looked worried.” Princess Celia looked at her friend with sincere concern. “I thought we were friends. You know you can tell me anything. Now, what is bothering you, Bev?” Princess Celia watched closely as Bev rubbed her thumb and pointer finger against her perspiring glass, intently watching the ice cubes melt in the humid summer night. After a while, Bev summoned the courage to speak, an uncomfortable expression caressing her face. “Princess, I heard something through the grapevine that I need advice on. Please do not think I am a gossip, but I think it is serious.” Princess Celia, with an expression of interest in her eyes, pleaded. “Bev, I know you do not make up stories. Come on now, do not keep me in suspense.” Bev sighed. “Princess, I know this will sound like a science fiction television show, but I promise you, it is not. I spoke with a friend, Marsha Garman. You might know her, actually. Her dad is the principal at Woodridge Schools. Quite interestingly enough, we got on the topic of a former student of Mr. Garman. Does the name Morgan King ring a bell? He is a brilliant scientist. In fact, he is so intelligent and progressive in the science field, that he has been nominated for the Nobel Prize twice. His specialty is the Crisper Splicer, which splices different types of DNA together. He has made many hybrids of plants, animals, and now humans.” Princess Celia did not know where this conversation was going, but she listened closely as her dear friend Bev continued. “He created the Hornet Queen and her drones, then got nervous and released all of his hybrid creations into the park system, including the Hornet Queen and her minion drones.” Princess Celia hoped Bev did not see the flutter of surprise flash across her face, but as her friend continued on, it appeared that Bev had not noticed a single thing. Once Bev finished revealing all she knew about Morgan King, the princess chimed in. “Bev, does her dad know about this?” Bev exclaimed quickly, “YES! I heard them discussing and brainstorming plans on how to fix this disaster. Celia, they really need your help. I am extremely concerned that this is way over their heads. I want, I mean, I am going to, help fix this with Marsha, her Dad, Morgan, and you. I want to be a part of this. I want to do some good for humanity. I cannot just sit back and watch while everyone else saves the world. That being said, what should we do next, Princess?”

The princess adopted a cross, but serious, expression upon her face. Bev determined it was her thinking face. “Well, Bev, I would like to hear more details on what you know about this so I am as informed as I can be and make an educated decision for all of us.”

Bev shook her head back and forth in disapproval. “This will sound unbelievable, but they are trying to find an antidote to reverse the effects of the DNA splice. There is some sort of cane that some old-time lawman from Dodge City owned. It had a meteorite stone in th tip of the cane, which is overlaid with gold. Apparently it has some kind of special power, but neither Morgan nor Marsha’s Dad said what kind of power the tool had. Her Dad is working on tracking down the cane while Morgan returns to the lab to collect all of the documentation and materials they will need to build a successful mission. Dad feels certain the reversal formulation will work. Princess Celia, what do you think about this? Can you help in any way?” Both women sat face-to-face in silence for a long while.

Princess Celia cleared her throat and swallowed sharply. “Bev, this is so complicated and to my knowledge, this has never been done before. Of course, making hybrids has never been done. However, I have an idea about that cane. Was it Bat Masterson’s cane?”

Bev gasped, “why, yes, yes it was! Wow, unbelievable! How old are you, princess?”

Princess Celia smirked and donned a playful smile. “A girl never tells!” Both women laughed and sipped on their lemonade, enjoying each other’s company while digesting all of the information that was just revealed. “Alright Bev, it is late, and I need to track down a few things. I must be going now. I will talk to you in the morning. What time do you leave for work?”

Bev, slumping in her chair, remembered her work day started in less than six hours. “I usually leave around 7:15 in the morning.” Hmmph. The