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

to Lilly; my daughter has finally figured out how to get all our powers.”

Lilly stopped in her tracks and stared at Penelope. “Hasn’t she taken enough?” Was all that Lilly questioned in a harsh whisper before she sat down on the cold floor.

“Someone will stop you. Lola and her followers aren’t going to let you get to those crystals.”  Thea tried to hide the panic from her voice.

Cricket laughed at her. “Without the protection of the golden acorn, my followers are stronger than hers. They should be surrounding the castle shortly. Speaking of which, we better be going too. We don’t want to miss the battle.” Cricket flashed them a surprised face of excitement before nodding at the owls. Hundreds of owls surrounded the women, grabbing them by their clothes, their hair and even their fingers by their talons, and started to flap their wings. If they tried to fight it, they were shocked. Lilly, Penelope and Thea were all carried through the air by the owls flying toward the battle that was to happen.

“What are you going to do with me?” Robin asked, as she hugged her little gray cat.

“Well I can’t let you go, and I can’t take the collar off your cat. That would just be stupid of me. You’ll have to be my company as we go to the battle.” A dwarf came in with a new collar made just for Robin. “Though I won’t make you be carried off into the darkness by a bunch of birds. You will be riding with me.”

After instructing the dwarfs to put the crystals pieces together, and to meet them at the Kingdom of Owls with the assembled piece, Cricket made her way to a covered coach that was waiting outside for her and Robin “We’ll be there soon enough.” Cricket chimed, as she scratched Tinker under her chin. The cat hissed and pulled closer into Robin’s lap which brought joy to Cricket. “You’ll be my friend soon enough little kitty.” She pulled back the curtain on the window, and watched the trees pass by in a blur, as Robin sat and silently wept.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Hours had passed since the little house in the Monkey Tree Village had been emptied. Even the owls had left, leaving only those locked in the cells left in the house. Except there was one other who stayed behind. He blended in with the background so well that no one noticed that he didn’t leave with the rest of them to participate with the raid.

He started in the back and worked his way to the front of the rows of cells. Carefully, he opened the doors and allowed everyone out to the hallway. The little gnome mumbled orders to everyone in his deep, grisly voice, until he got to the cell with the humans inside.

“Here.” Was all he said, as he handed a small bronze key to Dean.

“Boog! Where did you get this from?!” Dean’s voice carried through the halls.

“Stop saying my name and lower your voice. I don’t know if anyone has been left behind.” He paused as he watched Dean remove the collar from Charles’ neck and continue throughout the room. “I took them off her keys when she was asleep. She barely noticed me when Sorgin brought me here.” The stocky little gnome had nothing else to say; he handed Charles the keys for the doors and turned on his heels, racing out of sight.

“I wonder why Sorgin brought him here?” Charles said as he was freeing his brother.

“I’m more concerned about where that witch took Thea!” Dean’s voice was slightly panicked. “And the others of course…”

“Oh, of course. The others.” Charles voice was dripping sarcasm.

The brothers went to all the creatures and beings, freeing them of the collars that turned into dust when they hit the floor. Almost all the creatures took off running without waiting to see what was to happen next. Dean found Fig and immediately got him free, the orange cat took a moment to rub against his legs before meowing and running up the stairs.

“Follow him! He’s going to know how to find Thea!” Dean yelled at Charles as he was undoing the last of the collars on a dwarf woman who was tugging on his shirt. “Hold still, I’m letting you out.”

Charles took off after the cat, who was already out of the open door to the house, with Dean not far behind them. There were a group of curious townspeople starting to gather around, watching all the creatures emerge from what appeared to be a tiny house.

“When they stop coming out, burn the house down!” Dean yelled back over his shoulder.

Miles down the road an orange glow illuminated the sky over Monkey Tree Village – cleansing the village of the secrets it used to hold.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“We knew that our time living in peace was going to be so short…..we have prepared for this battle, and are stronger than those who are attacking us!” The little red squirrel with the bushy tale paced in front of the creatures she has been leading. The air was cool and eerily still as her followers stared off into the blackness – listening to her words, trying to hide the fear brewing in the pits of their stomachs. Lola knew that once the protection of the golden acorn was gone she would turn back into her small rodent form, and the Circle of Owls would not be far behind.

Lola had awakened that morning. to find that she was drowning in a sea sheets on her bed. She rubbed her eyes to reveal red fur covering her hands, and she knew the worst was yet to come.

The humans that lived behind the walls in harmony with the magical creatures peered out the walls into the darkness with fear in their eyes – not feeling as strong as the powerful creatures they knew were headed their way. They dressed for a battle – full armor covering them with