Loud Noises Make the Big Animals Run by seastarpwn (best mystery novels of all time .txt) 📖

voices of everyone. I would peek into every room to see if Selena was in it.
Finally I found her in an office. I knocked before entering. “What can I do for you Collin?” She said without even looking up. It amazed me how women in this family could do that.
“I was wondering if you could help me plan a birthday party for Astra.”
Her face lit up. “I would love to. It’s been such a long time since I’ve thrown a party. And this is a very special birthday to. I’ll get all the ceremonial things ready. You can go to the kitchen and get the things ready. I have a servant in there that will help you if needed.” She clapped her hands together. She got up and went to a book shelf. “Take this.” She handed me a ring.
“What’s this for?”
“You’ll find out later.”
I turned to leave. “One more thing, do you know where I can get her a present?”
chapter 4-Alexzander

“Happy birthday Astra,” I walked up to her and gave her an awkward kind of hug. Only because I could feel Scott’s eyes on me.
“Oh thank you,” she hugged me back, “How did you know it was my birthday?”
“Nova told me,” I shrugged and sat on the uncomfortable wooden chairs.
“She told you before she was taken?”
“No last night,” I got up and went to the kitchen. I pushed past Collin and grabbed an apple from the fridge.
“What do you mean she told you last night? She was here?”
“Who was here?” Collin spoke up.
“Nova,” Astra snapped and turned back to me. Her eyes glistened and a small smile was on her face. I felt bad to break her hope.
“No she wasn’t here…. I went to her,” I tried running away, but Scott and Collin blocked my exits.
“What do you mean you went to her?”
“I… This… It’s hard to explain,” I mumbled and sat down at the table. “I can go to her in my dreams.”
“So it’s fake?”
“No it isn’t,” Selena walked into the kitchen and grabbed a water bottle. “It is very real, probably most real thing on earth.” She gulped down her water, “It is called dream walking, and so that means you are a dream walker.”
“How do you know this?” I asked.
“Astra your dad was a dream walker. He taught me some things, but it’s very tricky and I couldn’t get it. There are only few left in the world.”
I stood up and walked out of the kitchen feeling very claustrophobic all of a sudden, but everyone followed me in till I turned back around and gave them a glare. “Could you bring me with you next time?” Astra grabbed hold of my arm, “You wouldn’t have to buy me a gift; I just want to see my sister.”
“I don’t know…. Can I bring her with me?” Everybody turned to Selena.
“Yes, you can, but it will hurt a lot more carrying the extra weight.”
“Hey! I’m not that fat,” she looked down at her stomach and poked it.
“It is not about your weight. Alexzander is just starting out and I bet he only has twenty minutes with her. The dream walking is like a muscle; every time he does it he could stay there longer and longer. He might be able to bring you, but it will be a short trip.”
Astra stared at me with big puppy eyes, tears at the rims of her eyes, and a small pout on her face. All together she looked like Nova, but with white hair and NO spark. “Fine,” I sighed.
She tackled me to the ground with a huge bear hug, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She got off of me and ran towards her room, “I need to get ready!” she screamed over her shoulder. Once she was gone, I got another glare from Scott and a blank stare from Collin.
“Well, see yeah” I ran out before anyone could start a convocation I needed to be at. I walked the streets of India, stopping to smell exotic spices and visit different store that sold weird…. Weird stuff. It was so hard to look at; it was hard to even explain. I rushed out before the people tried to sell me something. I slowed my walking to a complete stop and stared at the motorcycle store.
A wicked idea formed in my mind and stormed in there emptying my pockets of money.

chapter 5- Collin

We had spent hours getting the party ready. The whole time somehow managing to keep it a secret from Astra.
By the time we were done, we had transformed the veranda into a party zone. Well, a small party zone. Off on one side we had the traditional party stuff. Balloons, table full of food, a table for presents, etc. On the other side, things were a little more strange. There was an alter, a table with assorted sharp objects, herbs, and garments.
To me it looked like some sort of sacrificial altar, but I couldn’t be sure. Whatever sort of party this was, it was important to the AS.
Alexzander had come to the house with a cheesy grin on his face. “What did you get her?” I asked questioningly.
“I can’t tell you. But it is awesome.”
I honestly didn’t know how I was going to top the birthday presents he was giving her. All I had was this ring. The more I looked at it, the more I realized that it was worn down. And it had an engraving on the inside I couldn’t read.
The sun was just beginning to set. And the party was on its way. “Scott can you please go find Astra so we can begin?” Asked Selena.
“Sure.”
“Now boys. About this ceremony. It is a sort of rite of passage for us. It may get a little gruesome. But at the end she will be alright.”
I had no time to question her because Scott and Astra walked in. She had the best smile on her face that I have ever seen. She looked so happy. But I could tell that she was sad. For reasons that we all knew.
“Thank you for the party. Ice cream would have been fine.”
“Not for my girlfriend. This is the first birthday that I’ve actually got to spend with you, and I wouldn’t let you settle for anything else.” I hugged her carefully. Trying not to strain my arm any more than possible.
“It’s about the fifth one I’ve spent with her. She’s really going to like the present I got her this year.” Said Scott from the back ground.
“Be civil Scott. You don’t want me to band you from my parties.” Said Astra giving him a dirty look.
“If you would stop fighting for a few hours, we can get to the partying. And then the ceremony.”
“So, what would you like to do first?” I asked.
“Of all things that’s open to me. I’d like to open my presents. I really want to know what I got.”
My shoulders fell. I wasn’t able to get her a present. What a good boyfriend I was. “Alright then. We can start with my present.” Scott walked to the table and grabbed a long rectangular box. “I hope you like it.
She opened it and gasped. “It’s beautiful.” She took out a beautifully made bow. The upper limb was carved as the top half of a dragons body, extending down to the lower limb. The grip had a round hole that was filled in with some stone that looked like a dragon’s eye. And the whole thing had a quiver full of arrows.
“When I had picked out the gift, it was before Collin had got shot. So there’s a little irony in it. But that’s not the point. I had found this one day while visiting the market. And there was this old Werewolf trying to sell it. And nobody would buy it. No idea why. But he told me a little about it. He said it had once belonged to the hunter Artemis. And was a gift to someone. Also that it held mystical powers, if it was handled by the right person.”
She picked up the bow and an arrow, lined up the arrow with something off in the trees. And shot it.
Instead of it going right where she aimed, it went right through the ice sculpture’s head. “It seems like you’re going to need some practice with that.” Said Alexzander.
“I don’t think so. I was thinking of how funny it would be to see the arrow go through the sculptures head, and that’s where the arrow ended up.”
“Told you it was special.”
“Now it’s time for my present.” Said Selena. She handed her two boxes. “I’m sure you’ll like these.”

chapter 6- Alexzander

“Ok?” Astra opened the first one on top. Astra stared at it for awhile, tears started to form in her eyes.
“What is it?” Collin asked. He wrapped his arm around Astra shoulder and kissed her temple. Astra slowly took it out and set it on the table. It was a picture of what looked like Astra and her family. From where I was standing I could see that they were at a beach and Astra was on her dad’s shoulders. Her mom was in the crook of Astra dad’s arm. It was a perfect picture moment.
Astra opened her second present and showed everyone a wooden box. Astra cranked the side and the top flipped up