Chapter 1 , pg.2

 About five years ago she figured. Just a stray when she found him. A stray like she was now. She was walking down a alley one rainy day when she heard Please help I'm hungry I'm cold I'm alone. She looked left and right startled. She heard the same phrase again and again. Then she looked down at her feet. A small shivering little ball of fur. She immediately knelt down and cradled him in her arms. That was when she had first been able to communicate with animals. No one had believed her except Dad, but he was gone now. She wipes a tear away at the memory as she walked towards the grazing horse. She had felt so alone but at least Rook had been there for her since. He wasn't just a cat he was family.

She walks around the horse. It whinnies to her as she puts her hand on its mane "There there" Athera speaks gently. Her father's horse had come back on her own one day without its rider. Wildfire had always been loyal and dutiful since she came back to Athera but never spoke to her. Something had broken inside her. Just like Athera missed her father. Wildfire missed her former owner dearly.

"Makkara, Makkara, Makkara " chants Rook as he ran in circles around Wildfire. "Hey! Watch it you dumb beast" Wildfire makes a few more half-hearted kicks at the rascally feline. Athera places her book in its waterproof satchel tied to the saddle. Athera turns to Rook and says in a scolding tone "Be nice to her she's had a hard life." Athera pulls out the small pouch from the saddle bag and undoes the draw string. Rook looks up with a grin on his face. His eyes fixed on the small sausage Athera pulls from the pouch. Rook almost drools.

"Please Athera hurry up I am so hungry" Rook pleads
"You are such a liar. You just ate I can smell your rat breath from here" Athera says as she waves her hand in front of her face.
"Please I might die soon" Rook says as he rolls around. He quickly jumps into the air as Athera tosses the makkara towards him. One bite is all it takes. Rook licks his lips. He looks over at Athera with a smug face.
"There you little scamp now tell me what you found" Athera asks her patience wearing thin.
"I've found a way into the spire Athera! It is a tight fit but I think even a huge thing like you can fit in there!" Rook says. The look on his furry face very satisfied.

  Athera's eyes light up. Even the mysterious pattern of spots on her face light up. Seemingly reactive to her emotions. She grabs her strange bow that she had found in the depths off its hook. "We go now while the sun is still in the sky" Athera says. The pouch lies on the ground forgotten as she gathers her things. She lets Wildfire graze she knows to stay near Athera pats the horses head one last time. She turns around to call for Rook. She quickly spots him his face is buried inside the pouch. She crouches down and yanks him by the tail forcefully out of it.
"Yeawwwoch! I swear I was just looking no need to pull so hard' Rook winces as he gains his footing. He looks up at Athera a steely gaze on her face. She places the pouch back into the saddlebag. He sighs wistfully. At least he had ate at least two of them before she found out. He is getting faster or she was getting slower he smiles inwardly. Athera crosses her arms and looks at him expectantly.

"Ok! Ok! Follow me!" Rook shouts. He starts to pick a path through the golden hued buildings towards the spire. It was quite a climb to their destination. Athera follows after excitedly. The answers she had been seeking seemed so close now.