Attack of the Crazy Popcorn Creatures

I looked at the strange box that had arrived in my post. I could tell it was for me, because it said:

“To: Queen Naima,

Naimrarian Palace,

South Naimraria”.

But it didn't say who it was from anywhere.

“Maybe if I open the box it will tell me who it's from,” I wondered out loud.

I got my pocket knife and tore it open. Inside was a bag of popcorn, you know, the ones you put in the microwave and then you eat the popcorn out of the bag. But anyway, the bag said on the front, ‘MAGIC POPCORN!’

I grinned. Probably someone sent me this for a prank.

“I hope it's sweet and salty popcorn,” I said, putting the bag in the microwave anyway.

I put it on for a few minutes, and went into my living room to get a good book to read while I ate the popcorn.

I was halfway down the stairs with a book under my arm when I suddenly heard a smash. I dropped the book and rushed downstairs.

There, frowning and looking very menacing, stood some Popcorn. I mean, giant popcorn. As tall as myself.

“Hi!” I said cheerfully. “What are you?”

Then an especially ferocious-looking piece of Popcorn (I'm guessing he was the Chief Popcorn) came up to me and said,

“We are the Popcorn Creatures.”

“Crazy Popcorn Creatures,” I laughed.

“HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!” The Chief Popcorn howled.

“I'm only telling the truth,” I argued with my most innocent smile.

The Popcorns were going as red as an overripe tomato.

“But what are you doing here?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.

“We want to take over this castle and have it for our own!” They laughed.

I was prepared for this. Lots of people wanted to take over my palace.

“Ok, first of all you can't because this is mine, second it's a palace, not a castle.” Ha!

“Whatever. It's ours now. Gimme the crown.”

“I don't have a crown,” I raised an eyebrow. “I lost it.”

“What an excuse,” the Chief Popcorn sneered. “Come on, hand it over.”

“I really don't appreciate----”

“Hurry up, stupid human!!!” they sniggered.

“RIGHT!” I bellowed, suddenly losing my temper. “THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW!!!” I grabbed a butter knife that was on the table and pointed it at the popcorn. “Get back in the microwave where you belong,” I snarled.

Shakily, the Crazy Popcorn Creatures hopped back into the microwave. I picked it up and opened the window, hurling the microwave outside. I saw it splash into the lake. A gardener looked up.

“Tut tut, Queen Naima, littering again!”

“Sorry,” I yelled down sheepishly, and closed the window.

I never saw the Crazy Popcorn Creatures again.

One day, a while after that, I was sitting at the table eating breakfast when a parcel arrived...

The Day My Hands Turned Blue.

(Believe it or not, this is a true story).

It was a blustering, rainy Wednesday. We were miserably walking towards Waimairi School. We had been at Athletics in St James Park, but the drizzly rain had started to pour. The cloud gods were tipping buckets of water down on us. 

Carys and I were trudging along, getting our feet wet and muddy in the puddles. I kept on tugging my hat further over my head, even though it was soaking wet. I felt like ringing my hat out, and I thought lots of water would come dribbling out of it.

Mrs Bentall was telling us to keep up with the others.

So there we were, hurrying along in the rain. Suddenly Carys said,

“Hey, what's that on your hand?”

I looked at my hand. Part of it was blue! Dark, navy blue!

Brr! It was so cold, my hands were turning blue! 

“It must be so cold my hands are turning BLUE!” I said.

Just then Mrs Bentall joined in the conversation.

“Maybe it's your bag or your jacket!” she said. True. My bag and my jacket were both dyed navy blue. 

Mrs Bentall wiped her hand on my bag. “Not this.” She wiped her hand on my jacket. “Nope, not that either.”

Then she squeezed my hat in her hands. When her hand came away, it had a navy blue smudge on it.

“It's your hat! It's the dye in your hat!” she said.

“Hah!” I said. “And I thought it was the cold!”

The End.

Hide and Seek

“98, 99, 100!”

Meep.

Please don't find meh.

I'm innocent!

Playground speaking,

Em is as loud

As a bullhorn,

I'm squished!

“Shhh!”

I hiss.

Why did I wear a

Bright red T-shirt?

AAH!

She's so close!

No, Mrs. Pageot!

No!

NUUU!

PLZ!

OK, calm down.

She hasn't got you yet.

Slide off the playground and

Onto the bark below.

Behind a tree.

She's basically got me.

Why did I move?

I was safe before!

“Found you!”

Ugh. 

Trudge back.

While others are hiding

I'm stuck with my book

NOT playing,

NOT squealing with delight,

Basically being bored.

Uuuuuh.

SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION: RUBBISH AT SCHOOL

We read an article about a fleet of research waka which spent two years criss crossing the Pacific ocean, observing rubbish in the Pacific Ocean.   They noticed that if they found rubbish in the ocean, it usually meant they were getting close to land.  Because of this, we infer that most rubbish in the ocean comes from land. 

We wondered if the rubbish in our playground might have a similar trend.   We decided, before lunch on Wednesday last week, to go and find out. 

We split the school into 12 sections on a map.  Each section had a group of scientist (us!) to make observations and inferences.

We put a red dot on the map wherever we found a piece of rubbish and collected all the rubbish. 

After lunch we went back, and noted with a blue dot, any new rubbish found in our area.  We also collected this rubbish.   This is our map, showing where we found rubbish, both times.

PHOTO OF DOT MAP HERE

We also classified the rubbish we found into types of rubbish and displayed this into this graph.  

Our observations and inferences:  

Well our group noticed that the red dot rubbish was everywhere Because some people just drop it and hope it blows away or dissolves.  

In some places there is more rubbish than other places because some rubbish gets stuck in fences and buses and some just blow away in big clear spaces.

Rubbish gets stuck in certain areas and stays there like fences or places where the wind throw the rubbish about  .

Our data may have some mistakes. Some areas we can't reach the rubbish and we can't fit all of the dots in the same place  because some are under buildings and some are in the same spot so we have to spread the dots out to count it. 

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

After we made these observations and inferences, we were left with questions as to why people in our school failed to put their rubbish in the bins! Why does so much end up back around the school after one break time? Maybe it is falling out of people's pockets? Perhaps it's the winds fault? Or maybe the students of Waimairi school are dropping it on purpose?

Since then, we have recorded how rubbish was dropped at morning tea and lunch. Basically, we spied on the school! We, as scientists, have completed an investigation into why rubbish is ending up on the ground. On Thursday the 18th of August, we went out at morning tea and lunchtime to make observations of you all, collecting data to find out how rubbish gets on the ground.

We split up into 12 groups. At morning tea we spread ourselves around the whole school to observe. At lunchtime we spread the 12 groups around the lunch eating areas and observed what happened to the rubbish. 

We have made inferences from our observations and here is what we found:

MORNING TEA FINDINGS

PIE GRAPH OF MORNING TEA OBSERVATIONS HERE

At morning tea time, Waimairi school dropped 205 pieces of rubbish. That's 2 out of 5 people on average who dropped rubbish. 110 pieces of rubbish were dropped on purpose, which is more than half of the rubbish we observed being dropped. We also saw 46 pieces of rubbish dropped without the person realising that they had dropped it, often as they were walking.We also saw rubbish being dropped from pockets.

The places we found that rubbish had been dropped the most, were the Te Puna block, the walkway down to Ara Atu and the playground behind room 13. We think this might be because people playing in these areas may not understand why it is important to put rubbish in the bin. We also inferred that since there's big bushes at Ara Atu, people think they can hide their rubbish there.

Also, there is no rubbish bin in sight of the playground in these areas, so people lazily drop it instead. We think that most people do this because they think that they can hide it, or can get away with dropping it, even when they know it is wrong. And they do get away with it! Why don't people take a little walk over to the bin to put their rubbish where it belongs? 

LUNCHTIME FINDINGS

PIE GRAPH OF LUNCHTIME OBSERVATIONS HERE

At lunchtime, 219 pieces of rubbish were dropped throughout the school JUST during lunch eating time. That's 2 out of every 5 people in the school on average. that is a large amount of people to be dropping rubbish.

From what we saw, 79 pieces of rubbish were dropped on purpose, and 44 were left where people were eating. 

Just like at morning tea time, we think that around the school most of the people drop the rubbish because there's not enough rubbish bins around. Although there are already some bins, there only a few, and sometimes not in the best places. 

We also think that some children might not be able to reach the bins because we observed the bins are quite a bit taller than some junior children. Younger students also may not understand why it is bad to leave rubbish on the ground.

We could maybe get more and smaller bins to show others that bins are valued around the school but we think most of the kids already know about why we shouldn't  drop rubbish - because it will cause lots of problems for the animals in our environment and make our school look messy.

We spotted some differences between Morning Tea and Lunchtime. At lunch-eating time, more pieces of rubbish were dropped than the whole of morning tea time, even though morning tea is longer than lunch eating time. We think that more rubbish was dropped at lunch because more food is eaten at lunchtime and there would be a bigger chance of rubbish flying out of their lunchboxes. Lunch food is also more likely to have wrappers. However we also inferred that people might deliberately litter so that they don’t get in trouble for walking to the bin - as we are not allowed to stand up during lunch eating time.

Under the classroom is also a common place to put rubbish. But the reason  that people drop rubbish there is because they think no one will notice. But we did! But if you think that you get away with it, then you are wrong because we see rubbish everywhere, even in sneaky places where people will think you can't see it.

Overall, 424 pieces of rubbish were dropped in the 45 minutes we were observing that day. That’s almost one piece of rubbish per person. If nobody ever picks this rubbish up, then by the end of the week there would be 2120 pieces of rubbish floating around the school.  Many people dropped their rubbish on purpose, but also accidentally, leaving it where they ate or hiding it.

We think if we all work together our school can be cleaner by just simply walking  to the bin, because just doing a simple thing like that will help to make a big difference. But we also think that during lunch eating time we should be allowed to stand up to walk to the bin to put our rubbish in it. We will be discussing this with the teachers. This means people will be less likely to throw it in the bushes, under the buildings, leave it where they were eating or just throw it on the ground.

We also plan to write to the board of trustees to see if we can have more bins built permanently into the areas that we’ve observed to gather the most rubbish. We also need bins that are the right size for younger kids as well.

So what is the most important thing for you to remember from today? Do not drop rubbish on purpose. It’s pretty simple.  Please walk the few metres to the bins, otherwise we will all be swimming in a pool of rubbish.

                                                                     

Rise of the Doodle (Speech 2016)

My speech is about how kid should be able to doodle in their books. 

When writing my speech I was learning to over-react (which was rather easy,eg 150-20,000,000. The real thing is 150-19,999,999. And to use repetition-thing-a-ma-jig, which means repeating. Eg, the word ‘kawaii watermelon’.

Also I was learning how to speak SLOWLY (which I am not very good at), when I was delivering my speech. I think I still talked a bit fast when I was sharing it with everyone.

It went well, because even though I didn't get a placing, I got into the finals. And it was fun sharing my speech to everyone, even though I got that feeling when nothing is real and you feel like you're in a dream, you know that feeling?

Anyway, enjoy the speech!  You can listen to it here. 

ZE SPEECH...

So, you're in class. The sun is shining, and you should be outside, playing, but no. You are being forced to do- *ugh* -maths. Your mind is blank. The next page in your book is also blank. You look around the classroom to make sure the teacher isn't near, then grab a pen. A few seconds later your page is teeming full of drawings. THE ZOMBIES DRAGGED THEMSELVES TOWARDS THE DOOR, MOANING, “BRAIIINZZZZ!!!” A HUGE MONSTER TRUCK ROARS INTO ACTION, FLYING ACROSS THE BUMPY GROUND. And in the middle of the rumpus is an adorable kitten, purring softly. 

So yeah. We all doodle. Well, most of us, anyway. In our books. But really, you should see my planning book. You will never guess how many wolves, cats, and crazy nincompoop stuff I have drawn. Somewhere between 150-20,000,000.

Literally.

I think kids should be allowed to doodle in their books.  Remember that time when you were in class and you should've be writing about ‘how Brussel sprouts were created’, but you had no idea what you were doing (because you weren't listening to the teacher; be honest, you weren't, were you?). Then you start doodling; it's a random diagram of a Brussel sprout. And your teacher comes up behind you and says, “Why, GABRIELLA! That is the most INCREDIBLE diagram of a Brussel sprout!” And then she shares it with the class. And doodling saved your life from being told off. Hallelujah. There we go.

Or you’re in maths, and you are trying to figure out the hardest question in the world: 729 x 28, and you just draw a random number, and start doodling all around it. And your teacher comes up to you and says, “Why EMILY, how did you know the answer was 20,412? And I love your doodling, you get 10 points for your group because of that AMAZING doodle!!”

Or you're SUPPOSED to be writing a story on Safari (even though you were planning to go and watch something on YouTube), but instead you find a website, and it is actually a doodling competition, and you win and become a world-famous animator and win an iPhone73s, a golden Labrador puppy, $5,000,000 and an ice cream. And your Mum and Dad are so proud they say, “Why, IRIS! We are so proud of you, HONEY BUNNY DARLING SWEETHEART BO-BA-CHO-KA-CHO!!!” 

Okay, the last one didn't really have anything to do with doodling in your schoolbook.

But about doodling. Doodling is a creative activity, where you can draw ANYTHING you want. ANYTHING. There's no wrong answers in doodling. Unlike maths, where, when you figure out a question, there is only one answer. 100 + 100 = 200. And 200 ONLY. 57 x 17 = 969. And yes, I did need a calculator to figure that out. Basically, doodling is the best thing invented since sliced bread. 

If you're wondering, ‘how does doodling help learning?’ Well, what are things that stress you out? Tests? Maths? Your parents telling you off for ‘hurting your little sister’ (even though it was your little sister pulling half your hair off your head)? And how do we fix all  those problems? No, not ice cream, no, not superman, doodling! Reason? It calms you down! Because when you're really nervous about something, say a test, and you doodle, you forget about the scary things because you're so into drawing that epic picture of a kawaii watermelon! And at the test you don't worry bout a thing, and you share your picture of a kawaii watermelon, and you get an A+.

Plus doodling gives inspiration. Sometimes I watch animations, and it inspires me. Then I draw lots of pictures and put them together, and hallelujah, I have an animation. And now I animate all the time. And then, with my animations, I inspired my friends to animate, and now we all make awesome animations. And my animations are doodling, just doodling on an iPad.

So that is my proof that doodling is better than everyone thought. True, it does distract people from learning (a little), but it also teaches, makes the world (and your book) a more creative place, and gives ideas. And I hope this 2-page-long speech is enough proof. So what are you doing? Get your pen and paper and start doodling!

Poems!

SWAGGER DOGGY

Once there was a Swagger Doggy

He was really cool and fun.

He loved going to the beach

And playing games while in the sun.

One day he met an Unicorn, 

The Unicorn was not nice.

He smelt of mouldy socks,

And 6-day-old dead mice.

The Unicorn made fun of him,

He pointed, laughed and sneered.

The Swagger Doggy was very sad,

And thought that it was weird.

That night Swagger Doggy went home,

And thought about that day.

And how the evil Unicorn

Had barged into his way.

Next day Swagger Doggy came back

To play on the beach with his friends,

The Unicorn was there as well,

Driving everyone round their bends.

“Hi there, stupid Swagger Doggy!

How you doing? Hey? Wassup?

Where’d you get those silly shades?

They make you look like a pup!”

Swagger Doggy felt hurt and alone,

His friends had run away;

But he knew he couldn't let this bully

Ruin everyone’s day!

So he ran after the Unicorn

And bit him on the bum!

The Unicorn shrieked and screamed and yelled,

For he was so very dumb.

Swagger Doggy laughed and laughed

Until all the tears came,

And all the other doggies

Came out and played a game.

SUPER KITTEN

Super Kitten woke up one day

To find her house a mess.

“Oh my goodness, what happened here!?

Someone’s stolen my favourite dress!”

Super Kitten phoned 111

And screamed “YOU’VE GOT TO HELP ME!!!

SOMEONE HAD STOLEN MY FAVOURITE DRESS

AND LEFT SO UNTIDILY!!”

Unfortunately the thief had visited 

The cops as well as Kitty,

And stolen their cars and keys

The sight was not very pretty.

Super Kitten ran out of her house

Stopping for breakfast; very brief,

She looked left, right, up and down

But no sight of the sneaky thief.

“Oh no! What am I do to?

I can't find the thief anywhere!

I guess I'll just give up 

It's disappeared into thin air.

Just then she saw a flash of pink

It was her favourite dress!

But somebody was holding it,

Super Kitten started to stress.

“Give me my dress!” She yelled at the thief,

Who was an unicorn,

“No! I like it!” He shot back,

Looking at her with scorn.

Super Kitten flew at the unicorn

On him before you could say 10,

And tickled him until he cried

“Stop! I won't do it again.”

He returned the dress, the keys, the cars,

And another bit and bob,

And the he sulked and skulked away,

For he was just a snob.

Super Kitten was happy again,

And wore her favourite dress,

Because she was a Super Kitten,

She wanted to look her best.

Study on Prejudice - Term 2

So there you are, just getting off a small boat (and it doesn't look like a boat) which stenches of seagull poop and seaweed. You take a deep breath and smile. Welcome to a new country! Suddenly a random person comes up to you. You're about to say ‘hi’ when he sniggers and says, “Hey dude, were you hiding your bomb?”

Huh!? What? “W-what bomb?” You say, raising one brow.

He laughs and stalks off. “L-O-L! Foreigners these days…DERP!”

There is a problem in New Zealand. Which, personally, I don't understand, because NZ is a beautiful country and it doesn't deserve a problem. And the problem is that a lot of immigrants  (people from other countries) feel discriminated against. (Discrimination is kind of like not letting people do something because of what they look like, what their gender is, etc etc. It's like another kind of prejudice. )

FUN FACT!!!

Did you know that every 1 in 10 immigrants in New Zealand feel discriminated against?  Actually that's not a fun fact, that's a sad fact. :(

Prejudice is pre-judging people. In other words, judging people by what they look like, where they come from, etc etc. If you still don't get it, an example is ‘You're in a choir, so come on! Sing! I know you're good at it!’ or ‘You're 18, you can drive a car!’ That's just little things, but it gets worse! (Too many ‘worse’ things in the world if you ask me.) ‘You come from a different country! (Say Naimraria). Naimraria is bad, so you're stupid.’

Pre-judging someone (say a celebrity) isn't good, even if they aren't listening to you, because if there are fans of those celebrities next to you, they might feel angry. Me and my friends like watching Minecraft Youtubers, and sometimes they say ‘Stampy is funnier than DanTDM!’ (not true. They are both awesome YouTubers. I recommend watching their videos.

People usually pre-judge other people by what country they're from. You meet someone really nice from, let's say, Iran? Does it matter if they're from there? Nope! Two minutes later you're great friends. Unfortunately this doesn't happen every time. Also people pre-judge by their skin-colour. Talking about that, never call someone ‘black’ or ‘white’. It's racist. (No offence to any readers out there.)

By now, you can tell prejudice is not good. Maybe we can make some signs saying ‘Stop World Prejudice!’ or ‘Send Prejudice to Jail!’   There are so many different types of Prejudice, Age-Isim, what their home is like. Etc etc.

Prejudice happens everywhere. A few years ago in school people used to tease my best friend for his last name. I'm not going to tell you it, because it's embarrassing for him.  If someone is prejudice towards you, it doesn't make you feel good. It's a bit embarrassing, actually. And sometimes people do it without knowing they are. Sometimes you do it. But doing it deliberately and doing it without knowing are two different things, so I guess if you didn't mean it then you are forgiven. 

But yeah, you get the idea. Prejudice isn't good. And if we stop prejudice I bet everyone would be way happier. Then finally The Rise of Fun and Games can take place and be a good ruler over us all. And everyone will live happily ever after. The end. Not. No, I haven't finished yet.

People are usually discriminated against because of their skin colour, race, nationality, etc etc. Maybe by how old they are, (some 10-year-olds think their too cool to play with little 5-year-old kids, but nobody I know.) Another example of discrimination is some people hire workers for shops, (say a farmer), and he puts up a notice saying ‘farmers required. Age must be between 18-30. Boys only.’ Although some things need to stay boys only and girls only, like the changing rooms and toilets at the pool.

*awkward silence*.

Skin colour/race is a biggie. Most people get discriminated and pre-judged by their skin colour, nationality, etc etc. (I don't know how many times I've said ‘etc etc’ in this document, but who cares). After all, Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends? Why can't we be friends?! :D

What I'm saying is discrimination is bad and just because someone is a little bit different than you it doesn't mean you can't be friends! Why can't we be frie- *SMASH*

Okay, okay, I'll stop now! Geez.

Hang on, I'm not finished yet.

O-Kay, so now we're going to do a bit of role play.

You've just hopped off a plane. You've flown 8 hours to another country; a better country to live in. And you almost died of boredom. Okay, you didn't die of boredom. You get the idea. Anyway, you are walking towards the luggage-pick-up-area-thing-a-ma-jig, when someone comes up and says, “Hi! How are you today?”

“Good, thanks, how are you?” you ask.

You have a nice conversation before you pick up your luggage and start to leave. Then he stops you, and says, “Here's a list of my favourite restaurants, they have really nice food here!” (In my opinion, Miso Soup all the way.)

Okay, next part of the role play.

That night you go to a restaurant to have dinner. The finest Miso Soup in all the world!!! (Typical, Naima, typical.) Suddenly, I see some people pointing and staring. You shrug casually, and try to ignore them. You stare down at your soup, trying to hide your face, but it's really hot and steaming. You hear people sniggering and see them pointing. This is not what you expected. Especially as people were so nice to you at the airport.

So we obviously do not want to do the unwelcome things. Because imagine coming to a new country and all these people are pointing and staring and giggling and muttering, etc etc. (I really need to stop saying etc etc, but whatever.) Now imagine yourself coming to a new country and there are people shaking your hand, saying ‘Hi, how are you?’ ‘Can I carry your luggage for you?’ ‘How are you today?’ Etc etc.

NAIMA YOU MUST STOP SAYING ETC ETC!!!

Me: Iris!?

Iris: STOP IT!!! JUST STOP IT!!!!!

Me: Okay, Iris, I'll stop, I'll stop!

Iris: YOU’D BETTER, OR ELSE!!!

Phew. That's my little sister. She may be only 2 ½,  but she's really rough.

And to end the whole article, here are the 7 wonders questions of the world (in my opinion.)

Why is it important to make changes in the way we welcome immigrants to NZ?

If we do make a change, what would it be like for the future?

Does Nyan Cat exist?

How do you make immigrants feel welcome?

Where is the nearest ice-cream truck?

If we make changes into the way we welcome immigrants to NZ will the world be a better place? (Random question.) And...

Did you even read all these 7 ‘questions’ of the world?

No, wait, I'm still not quite done yet.

If we do happen to change the way we welcome immigrants into NZ (and we all have to help) then people will enjoy NZ more (without people prejudging them, or them feeling discriminated against) and everyone will life happily ever after.

BUT…

We need to ALL get in and welcome people. ALL. Unless you're really busy being forced to do boring stupid homework.

Mrs. Pageot: ahem.

Me: n-nothing…

Well, you don't have to, but if you do see someone who looks slightly different than everyone else who has just come to NZ, go up to them and say ‘hi’!

In other words, ‘don't judge a book by it's cover’.

Wow, I really just wrote a whole article when I could've just said ‘don't judge a book person by its cover skin colour, age, gender, race, etc etc.’.

So remember to not prejudge random people on the street, and if you see anyone feeling pre judged or discriminated against, try and help. (By probably becoming friends with them). And if everyone does that, then everyone will be happy, and we will all live happily ever after.

ZE END.

Power of Tag!

Chapter 1: Naimrarian Tag Championships

Once there was a girl called Anika. She went to a brilliant school called Waimairi School. She had loads of friends, one of which was called Naima, who was 5 years older than her, but she was always monkeying around, and acting as if she was 5 herself.

Anika and Naima loved spending their Lunchtime and after school time playing tag. It was good when they played it after school, because then Anika’s two twin brothers (Louis and Matteo) would join in.

This is how to play ‘Anika’s Tag’

Make sure Naima Derrick is playing.

Everyone must chase after Naima.

Even if Naima is tagged, she is still the only one who is not ‘in’.

Naima never minded, because it was always fun playing ‘tag’ with Anika.

One day, after school, when they were playing tag with Louis and Matteo, Mrs. Pageot (Naima’s teacher and Anika, Louis and Matteo’s Mum) called them over to her.

“Hi Mum!” Anika squeaked. “What is it?”

“Hello, darling,” Mrs. Pageot said, giving Anika a cuddle. “I have some great news for all of you!”

“Yay!” Louis and Matteo jumped up and down excitedly.

“And bad news,” Mrs. Pageot added.

“Awwwww!” Louis and Matteo looked at the ground.

“Let's hear the good news first,” Naima said. “I'll be too happy about it to think about the bad news properly.”

“The good news is that there have been some Spies watching you play tag-” began Mrs. Pageot.

“Well that's totally not awkward,” Naima muttered. “Carry on, carry on.”

“-and you are in the Tag-Playing-Championships.”

“WOOOHOOO!!!” Naima yelled. “PARTY TIIIIME!!!” She started doing gangnam-style in the middle of the classroom.

When Naima had stopped dancing, Anika asked her Mum, “Where is it?”

“Which makes me come to the bad news,” Mrs. Pageot added. “It's in Naimraria, and we have no idea how to get there...”

“Ahem!!” Naima coughed loudly. “Are you saying going to Naimraria is bad news?!?”

“No, we just don't know how to get there-”

“Ahem!!” Naima coughed again. “Who is the Queen of Naimraria?”

“I have no idea,” Mrs. Pageot said. “Who is it?”

“I AM!!!” Naima yelled.

Mrs. Pageot frowned.

“Sorry,” Naima muttered.

“Anyway,” Anika said, ignoring the conversation that had just happened between Mrs. Pageot and Naima. “What is this tag champion thing-a-ma-bob?”

Mrs. Pageot took a clean, uncrumpled sheet of paper off the table. “Read this for the information.”

“I can't read this!” Anika said after five seconds of looking at the bit of paper.

“I'll read it,” Naima said, taking the paper.

She cleared her throat.

Naimrarian Tag Championships!

Where:

Naima Arena, Irisville, North Naimraria.

When: 

Monday, 6th June.

Contestants:

Team A. Roan, Sach, Mason.

Team B. Mrs. Pageot, Mrs. Bentall.

Team C. Naima, Anika, Louis, Matteo.

“Hey!” Naima yelled. “Sach, Mason and Roan are in it!”

“Who are they?” Anika asked.

“Mason is in my class, Roan and Sach are friends out of school!”

“Look, Mummy’s on it!” Matteo pointed.

“Mummy plays tag! Mummy plays tag!” Louis bounced up and down excitedly.

Anika and Naima stared at Mrs. Pageot.

“Uhh,” Mrs. Pageot muttered awkwardly. “Yeah, Heather, um, Mrs. Bentall and I do play tag a bit in our spare time...”

“Cool!” Anika said happily.

“Well, I can take us to Naimraria,” Naima said. “We can go now, and all of you guys can stay in the palace.”

“What about Mrs. Bentall, and your boyfriends?” Anika asked.

Naima frowned.

“Umm, friends?” Anika corrected herself.

“Yeah, I'll get them later,” Naima said dismissively. “Let's go to Naimraria!

Chapter 2: In the Naimrarian Palace.

“Wooow!” Anika said, staring up at the huge, glistening, orange-tinted palace.

“Orange, of course,” Mrs. Pageot laughed. “Typical, Naima, typical!”

“I'll show you the rooms,” Naima said.

“Louis! Matteo! Don't jump on the beds!” Mrs. Pageot told off the twins, who were jumping on their huge, King-sized bed with a feather-mattress and crimson bedsheets and pillows. 

“No, those beds are made for jumping on,” Naima said. “They're really strong and bouncy.”

“Oh, okay!” Mrs. Pageot said, as Anika ran onto the bed and started bouncing with her brothers.

“Anika, Mrs. Pageot, I'll show you your rooms. Louis, Matteo, make yourselves at home. Explore. It's a kind of palace you can't get lost in, nothing looks the same,” Naima said.

Anika and Mrs. Pageot followed Naima. Anika’s room was light, misty blue, with a silvery Queen-sized bed, again with a feather mattress. It even had every single Paw-Patrol soft toy and Paw-Patrol action figure, all sitting in a perfect row on a modern, glass table.

“Wooow!” Anika said (again).

Mrs. Pageot’s room was a bright, blinding, multi-coloured room, with ferns and lots and lots of potted plants.

“Oow, my eyes!” Mrs. Pageot groaned, shading her eyes. “I was hoping for a bright yellow room!”

“Sorry,” Naima said. She clicked her fingers. “This better?”

Mrs. Pageot gasped. When Naima clicked her fingers, the room turned a bright, Lemony-yellow. The bed had a white quilt with lemons on it and a yellow couch with yellow silk on top of it. It had white pot plants with little trees growing in them (lemon trees, of course)

“Now this is more like it!” Mrs. Pageot smiled.

Naima grinned.

“Do you have a vegetable garden?” Mrs. Pageot asked.

“Yes! Well, kinda,” Naima replied.

“What do you mean, ‘kinda’?” Mrs. Pageot wondered, her brow furrowed.

“I'll show you,” Naima said, as she lead Mrs. Pageot, Anika, Louis and Matteo outside, and toward a large garden patch with some large, broad bean-like plants growing in it. In fact, it looked just like a broad-bean plant, pods and all.

“This is a broad bean plant!” Mrs. Pageot exclaimed. “Explain why you said ‘kinda’?”

“Umm,” Naima mumbled, “they aren't broad beans. Open one of the pods.”

Anika walked up and tugged one of the pods. It still looked exactly like a normal broad bean pod. She split it open.

Out tumbled lots and lots of bright, colourful, hard objects. They were each about the size of a bumble-bee.

“They aren't broad beans,” Naima giggled. “They're jelly beans!”

After a day of fun, they went to sleep. They all had their own balconies as well, and Anika was standing on hers for a while. It was a warm night (as always in Naimraria), and the stars were twinkling, and their reflection was in the huge, deep swimming pool in the palace grounds.

Naima came up behind her.

“How do you like Naimraria?” she asked.

“Aah!” Anika jumped. “You scared me!!!”

“Sorry,” Naima apologised. “How do you like Naimraria?” she asked again.

“It's great!” Anika exclaimed. “Just one thing missing.”

“What's that?” Naima asked.

“Where's Paw Patrol?”

“Well, two more days until the Tag Championships!” Mrs. Pageot said over breakfast.

It was Saturday, 4th of June. It was a very late breakfast they were having, since it was 10:00.

“What's the latest breakfast you've ever had?” Anika asked Naima.

“Oh, only about one in the afternoon.” Naima replied, as if it was something totally normal.

They all stared. Naima began on another lemon-and-sugar covered pancake.

“What?” she asked.

“Never mind,” Anika mumbled, spooning more Supa-Dupa Nom-Nom Crunchies (a very popular Naimrarian breakfast cereal) into her mouth.

Louis and Matteo were having a bowl of Naimafruit (a really delicious Naimrarian fruit. It's soft and squishy and juicy, really sweet and tangy, the colour of a watermelon, tastes a bit like a mango, but it dribbles everywhere!). Mrs. Pageot was eating waffles with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and blueberries and chopped-up Naimafruit.

“Hey, I have a joke!” Naima said.

“What is it?” Mrs. Pageot asked.

“Everyone is a serial killer,” Naima began.

Everyone in the table at once felt extremely uncomfortable.

“Everyone kills breakfast cereal by eating it! Cereal-killers? Get it?” Naima laughed.

“But isn't cereal dead already?” Anika asked.

“Cereal isn't even alive!” Mrs. Pageot agreed.

“Yeah, I guess I didn't think of that,” Naima mumbled, and everyone laughed.

“Louis, I wanna go to the jelly bean plant!” Matteo babbled.

“Yay, jelly beans! Jelly beans!” Louis squealed.

Chapter 3: The Game of Tag

They were all at the Naimrarian Arena. They were going to play in 10 minutes.

“I feel like an all-black,” Mrs. Pageot laughed.

“I feel like I'm going to play Hunger Games,” Naima replied.

“Look, the other team is here!” Anika pointed. They all saw Mason, Roan and Sach walking up to them.

“Hi Sach!” Naima went up and hugged Sach. (Did I mention Naima and Sach are best friends?)

“Hi!” Sach exclaimed. “I really like Irisville. When are you coming to Sachi World?”

“Soon, very soon!” Naima laughed.

Just then Mrs. Bentall arrived. She and Mrs. Pageot gave each other a hug. Naima heard Mrs. Bentall whisper, “We're gonna win this!”

“One minute ‘till it starts,” Roan looked at his watch.

“Wait,” Naima asked Mrs. Pageot, “Let's look at that notice again!”

“Why?”

“What's the prize?”

Mrs. Pageot looked. “Umm, a golden medal shaped like a hand.”

Suddenly a huge voice echoed through the arena. “ALL CONTESTANTS MUST ENTER THE NAIMA ARENA.” 

“Uuhhhhh, I'm scared!” Anika squeaked.

“C’mon, we can do it!” Naima said, taking her hand. “Just remember to play tag the proper way, not our way. We can do this!”

“I can't do thiiiisssss!!!” Naima groaned, 30 seconds later. The arena had fake turf all over it, and some plastic trees with plastic leaves.

“Louis and Matteo were jumping on each other, and pointing cheekily at Mrs. Pageot, giggling, “Let's tag Mummy first!”

The voice boomed, “5! 4! 3! 2! 1! TAG!!!”

Louis and Matteo at once toddled off toward Mrs. Pageot, and when she saw them, she started sprinting off, waving her arms and screaming “Heeeelp!!!” Naima and Anika were rolling on the ground, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes. It was so funny to see a teacher (and a Mum) running away from her own cheeky, giggling toddlers.

Unfortunately for Mrs. Pageot, she wasn't looking where she was going, and she sprinted right into one of the artificial trees. SMACK.

You could very faintly see a circle of stars spinning around her head. “Ow!” She muttered indignantly.

She saw Louis and Matteo’s grinning faces staring down at her. They both tagged her at the same time. “Tag!” they said triumphantly.

Just then Mrs. Bentall leapt over, and both tapped Louis and Matteo’s shoulders. “Tag!” she laughed.

“Aww!” Louis grizzled. “I don't want to be tagged!”

“It's okay,” Mrs. Pageot smiled. “I packed some sweets and some Naimafruit. Since all three of us are out, we may as well sit down and eat them, and all the others are running around stressing themselves about a mere game of tag.”

“Yay, Naimafruit!” Matteo laughed excitedly.

Chapter 4: A Surprise for Anika

Naima ran towards a tree. She clambered up it, hoping she could jump out on top of someone, hidden by the plastic leaves. When she got up, she didn't notice Sach was sitting in it as well.

“Hey! This is my tree!” he grumbled.

“It's my tree just as much as it’s yours!” Naima muttered. They both forgot to tag each other.

Just then Mason came along, and Naima had a devilish idea. She grabbed a pen and paper from her pocket and wrote a little note on it. Then she snapped off a stick (fake, of course) and tied the note onto it. Then she threw the stick at Mason.

“Ouch! Who threw that-?” Mason yelled (a bit loudly). He looked at the note. In Naima’s unmistakable messy handwriting,

“Tag!”

“Hey!” Mason yelled, looking up in the tree. “That doesn't count!”

“Aww,” Naima mumbled.

Suddenly Roan came along and saw them. “Hey! Look at those two!” he laughed. Then he started chanting,

“Naima and Sachi in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-”

“You have no idea how many times we've heard that stupid song,” Naima mumbled. Then she pushed Sach out of the tree, mumbling, “Tag!”

Sach wandered off to sit with Louis, Matteo and Mrs. Pageot to eat some lollies.

Suddenly Mrs. Bentall sneaked up, and tagged Roan. “Tag!”

“Hey!” Roan grumbled. “I wanted to win!”

“Everybody wants to win,” Mason laughed, and tagged Mrs. Bentall.

“Tag!”

“Well done, Mason!” Mrs. Bentall laughed. (It's strange how adults think it's funny when they get tagged, and kids almost always complain.)

Mason forgot all about Naima (who was still watching from the tree), and ran off to try and tag Anika. Five minutes later he was running away, and sprinting behind him was Anika.

Mason leapt up into the tree out of Anika’s reach. He panted for breath. Then pushed Naima out of the tree, breathing, “Tag!”

Naima skulked off to join everyone else, muttering something about being Queen and how Mason should be disqualified. 

Anika and Mason were the only people left. “Um,” Anika muttered awkwardly. “Paper-scissors-rock?”

“Pffft! Do you even know how to play tag?!?” Mason laughed in a big, evil voice.

Naima (who was watching from the side) mumbled, “Mason seems different...”

“I AM GOING TO WIN THE WHOLE TAG CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND YOU'RE GONNA LOSE!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!” Mason boomed.

“Stop right there!” came a voice.

A gasp echoed through the small crowd of people (everybody who had been tagged earlier). Anika turned around and grinned. There, standing dramatically, was a German Shepherd dog wearing a police outfit.

“Chase!” Anika squeaked excitedly.

“Hello, Anika! How are you?” Chase smiled.

Suddenly many other dogs appeared behind him.

“Everest! Zuma! Rocky! Everyone's here!” Anika squealed.

“It would be good if it was her birthday today,” Mrs. Pageot mumbled.

“NOTHING WILL STOP MEEEEE!!!” Mason screamed.

Everyone stared at him. Then they burst out laughing. Mason’s freckled face turned bright red, then he fled out of the arena.

“Anika, I am proud to present to you; the Tag Championships Award!” Chase woofed.

“Thank you!” Anika beamed.

Everyone clapped. Louis and Matteo bounced up and down yelling, “Big sister won! Big sister won!” The Paw Patrol all barked in unison.

“I don't need an award!” Anika grinned. “I've finally met Paw Patrol!

Back at Waimairi School, Anika, Naima, Louis and Matteo were playing tag. It was Anika’s version. It was after school, the perfect time for playing tag.

Just then, Mrs. Pageot called them over to her… 

The End

By Naima Derrick

Dedicated to Mrs. Pageot, Anika, Louis, Matteo, Mrs. Bentall, Sach, Mason and Roan! (Wow, that's a lot of people!!!)

THE WILD: Book One: Born to be Wild

Born to be Wild

Book one

Characters:

Ashley

She is a crazy 11-year-old human who DOESN'T LIKE EATING HORSES. I mean, who doesn't like eating horses? They're not for riding, they're for eating! Anyway, she tamed a horse and rode it around on our adventure, but she is still slower than me. 

She wears strange things that she says are ‘normal’. A green shirt and pants. I bet that stuff is not as comfortable as my elk skin.

-Cana

Cana

Cana was raised by wolves (rather strange in my opinion). She has a little sister named Luna (who is a wolf. Even more strange). She is 13 but seems younger than me. She actually  wears nothing but an elk skin :|? Cana has a nasty habit of ACTUALLY EATING HORSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( *cries*. She can be a right LUNA-tic. Get it?

-Ashley

Luna

Luna is Canas LUNA-tic sidekick (or sister. Whatever). She keeps nipping at my perfect little hooves. I❤️Ashley!!!!!!! She is super nice and prevents me from Luna-tic and Cana. She acts like some sort of Anti-Cana/Luna-tic league. Anyway, back to the subject. Three words to describe Luna-tic: Annoying, Stupid and Stubborn. Maybe I should start calling her Luna-Stupid or something.

-Paris Ze Perfect Pony

Paris

She is a horse. Typical. And stupid Ashley won't let big sis Cana and I eat her! She is a ‘palomino’, according to Ashley. I keep on trying to nibble her ears when I ride on Ashley’s backpack, but I can't quite reach.

-Luna is PAWESOME!!! :P

Chapter 1:

Cana

Ten years I have lived through so far, and the Pack has looked after me well. Lobo and Haquihana, my step-parents, are awesome! I still know English, but I am better with Wolves.

I am a human, but the pack think of me as a wolf. I do, too.

My sister, Luna, is younger than me. She is always running away.

Amoux is the leader of the pack. His mate is AdoQhina. She likes me.

Every wolf likes me, and I like them. Luna and I love rough’n’tumble.

Just then Mum came up to us, and asked us to go in the den. “I smell trouble,” was all she told us.

Luna and I snuggled up, suddenly bored. Mum knew the cold snow didn't bother us.

Luna whispered to me, “let's sneak out!”

“No way!” I said. “It might be guns!”

“I'm not scared of no guns,” Luna told me, although I'd heard that two million time before.

“You have to stay-” I started, but Luna scrambled out. Dad, who was guarding the den, didn't notice. Luna was white, so she mixed in with the snow.

I saw Luna bound down the mountainside.

“Little sis,” I muttered, and tried to sneak out after her.

Dad saw me, and growled. “Get back in the den!” He growled.

“Luna went down the mountainside!” I said.

“What!?” Dad howled, and bounded after Luna.

A few minutes later I hear two gunshots, echoing through the valley. I waited. And waited. There were two… Not Luna and Dad…

Suddenly a flurry of snowy fur flung itself into the den. 

“Luna!” I howled thankfully. “Where's Dad?”

Luna didn't say anything. I saw darkness in her eyes. We didn't say anything. We both knew.

After a long time, I asked, “what exactly happened?”

Luna didn't answer.

I didn't answer.

When Mum got home we told her what happened. We didn't say anything about Luna running off, though. We just said Dad got shot.

Everyone in the pack was quiet. Too quiet. Luna and I didn't go out of the den. It wouldn't be the same without Dad. Being a wolf is hard. Very hard. I wish I was a human sometimes.

Ashley

A loud, clear whistle echoed through the valley and up the mountains. Soon after, Adalwolf our sheepdog, bounded down the mountain, nipping at the herd of sheep. 

“Come on, boy!” I told Adalwolf. He seemed to understand. He nipped the sheep back into place and over the wooden bridge towards me. “Come on, you can do it!” I encouraged him. I knew how steep the mountain was. I definitely would have fallen if there weren't as many tree roots as there was. The bridge creaked as the herd of sheep trotted over it. The crystal-clear water was ice-cold and had millions of Rapids. If the any of the animals fell in, they would have little chance of survival. I started to walk back down the dusty path that lead us through the forest and up the hill to my cottage. It was a long walk. Around 2 hours at a walk, maybe 1 and a half at a jog.

The wooden cottage came into view as I struggled up the steep hill. Even Adalwolf was panting. The sheep were starting to become impatient.

“Come on boy, get them in!” I said as I opened up the paddock gate. I left Adalwolf to sort them out. I walked into dads workshop, intending to try find him. Dad was leant over the wooden table and he had his knife out. 

“I shot a wolf while you were gone.” He said. I walked slowly to the side of the table to see that he was skinning a wolf. 

He was gorgeous. He had a black stripe running down his back which faded to white as it got to his stomach. I was horrified to see him dead. A single tear trickled down my face. 

“Why did you do this? Why did you have to do this?” I whispered. Dad just ignored me for a minute.

“I don't need to hear your voice.” He said finally.

I ran out of the workshop, tears running down my face as I did so. I mean, who could kill such a beautiful creature?

Chapter 2:

Cana

I watched the snow falling like frozen tears. The bedding was wet from wolves walking in and out, with wet, snowy paws. Luna didn't speak. Mum didn't speak. No-one spoke. The rest of the pack thought they had lost their best hunter. I saw it like I had lost a family member. I had. I wasn't getting him back.

AdoQhina looked in the den. I knew she understood. Her pup had been caught by humans.

I let her come in the den. We all had a cuddle. After a while she said, “I know what it's like.”

I didn't want her to tell the story. She didn't.

Suddenly I heard an unfamiliar sound. All the pack leapt out of the dens and ran away into the snow.

I heard them screaming “HUMAN! HUMAN!” I peeked out and saw them running down the mountainside. A human, about my age, was walking blindly around.

I threw some pine leaves over Luna. I leapt out.

I spoke in Human language. It had been years since I had spoken, so I wasn't too sure.

“Go away!” I growled.

She looked startled. She was wearing something strange I had never seen before; a strange shirt and trousers, with a bow and a packet full of arrows. Maybe she was thinking the same thing. Maybe she was wondering why I was wearing a year-old elk skin. 

Suddenly the girl pulled her bow back with an arrow in it and stared at us. Luna and I stared. This was bad. Did this girl know how much we had been through!? Was she mad??!

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I'm Cana,” I mumbled. “This is my sister, Luna.”

“Why are you dressed in nothing but an elk skin?” She asked.

“Why are you dressed in that weird stuff?” I asked back.

“Because that's what everyone wears!” She explained.

We stood there for a long time, before I said, “put down the bow. If you hurt us, we'll hurt you.”

She dropped the bow.

“Can you tell the pup to uh…” she started.

“Yeah?”

“Uh, stop scaring me?”

I turned to Luna, who was growling fiercely at the girl, and told her in Wolf language, “stop. She may be a friend.”

“Humans killed Dad!” Luna growled, but retreated into the den.

“What did she say?” the girl asked.

“That humans killed Dad…” I muttered, before bursting into tears.

“What did he look like?” the girl asked.

“Well,” I sniffed, “he had a black stripe from his nose to his tail, and it went to white as it went to his tummy…” Just thinking about that made me unhappy. “Why do you need to know?”

She was quiet for a bit. 

“Come with me,” I said.

Ashley

That night in bed, I thought about my options. I could run away, or I could live a horrible life with my insane father. I crawled out of bed and reached out for my leather backpack and my bow and quiver full of arrows. I creeped out of my room and into the kitchen and began to fill my bag with food and my flask with water and only just managed to stuff a blanket into the remaining space in my bag. The door creaked open and I snuck out. An adventure was about to begin.

The forest was silent at this hour. Except for the odd owl call that echoed through the night. A sudden chill ran through my spine. I had forgotten Adalwolf! 

“Great. I have to go back and it's nearly dawn.” I muttered to myself. Suddenly the rustle of leaves woke me from my thoughts. And there was a girl. And an albino wolf pup. I froze in my tracks. The only thing the girl was wearing was an elk skin. Suddenly the the snow began to fall around us. It was like magic. The snow fell like a storm around us. The wonderful moment was destroyed when the girl let out a threatening growl.

“Go away!” She growled. I pulled an arrow and my bow out and aimed the arrow at her. 

If she was going to try to kill me, then I would have to shoot her.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I'm Cana,” She mumbled. “This is my sister, Luna.”

“Why are you dressed in nothing but an elk skin?” I asked.

“Why are you dressed in that weird stuff?” She asked back. She was clearly thinking that my medium-green long-sleeved top and my black pants were out of style.

“Because that's what everyone wears!” I explained.

We stood there for ages, before she said: “put down the bow. If you hurt us, we'll hurt you.” I reluctantly put down my bow. What would she do? Her wolfy friend could lash out any second!

“Can you tell the pup to uh…” I started.

“Yeah?”

“Uh, stop scaring me?”

She began to talk in some weird foreign language. The pup retreated into into the snow-covered cave.

“What did she say?” I asked.

“That humans killed dad…” She muttered before bursting into tears. I sat down on a near-by log. 

“What did he look like?” I asked.

“Well,” She sniffed, “he had a black stripe from his nose to his tail, and it went to white as it went to his tummy…” Just listening to that made me feel extremely guilty. The wolf that Dad had killed was her  dad!

“Come with me,” She said.

Chapter 3

Cana

She followed me into the den. I called for Luna, then we ran towards the forest. Suddenly I heard her calling, “wait for me!” I stopped. I saw the twigs scratching her face.

“Why not walk on all fours?” I asked. Luna sat beside me as I waited for her.

“Uh,” she muttered. “No thanks. I'm not a wolf.” She scowled.

Is this what humans are usually like? All pretty and haughty? I was glad I was a wolf.

I kept on running with Luna, deep into the forest.

“So,” she said, “where are we going?”

“Going to get dinner.” I replied.

“What are we having?” she asked.

“Pony-meat,” I said.

“What!?” She screamed. “No way!”

Her scream startled Luna, who hid behind a tree. 

“It's OK Luna,” I said, “she's OK,”

“So,” I said to her, “what's your name?”

“Ashley.” She said. “You're name is Cana… isn't it?”

“Yup.” I said. 

We reached a clearing of wild horses. Ashley said, “I think I'll take one…”

“Can I eat it?” I asked.

“No.”

“Just a little bit?”

“No!”

“Just one ear?”

“NO!!!” 

She took a rope and with some sort of skill threw it over a yellowish-horse with a white mane and tail.

I looked hungrily at the rest of the herd. They were running, frightened, as Ashley pulled the horse towards her. I couldn't help myself. I ran into the herd and bit a black horse on the leg.

“Cana!” Ashley yelled. “What have you done?”

“Caught us dinner,” I said innocently.

A while later I munched the black horse as we sat around a campfire. Luna nibbled the ears. Ashley made sure the horse she had almost captured didn't see our dinner.

“Help yourself,” I invited Ashley.

“No way,” she grumbled.

“Suit yourself,” I said, and dug my teeth into the flesh. Yum.

“Apparently there is a castle somewhere down the mountain,” Ashley said.

“Hmm?” I said, trying to sound interested, even though I had no idea what a ‘castle’ was.

She seemed to lose interest and tried to catch the palomino’s lasso-rope.

We went to sleep. Luna went to snuggle up to Ashley. I was surprised! Maybe my little sister was finally being nice to the human.

Ashley

She took me through an old, dusty, path with overgrown vines and tree roots. Twigs constantly slapped me, leaving scars all over my face.

“Why not walk on all fours?” She asked.

“Uh, no-thanks!” I said with a tone of disgust. “I'm not a wolf.” I added with a scowl on my face. What was wrong with this girl? Did she seriously think she was a wolf?

“So,” I began. “Where are we going?” We were getting deeper into the forest and I was starving.

“Going to get dinner.” 

“What are we having?” I asked

“Pony-meat!” She replied.

“What?!” I screamed. “No way!” I had always had a love for horses and ponies, and promised myself I would never, ever eat one. My scream startled the wolf pup, who hid behind the closest tree.

“So,” She said to me, “what's your name?”

“Ashley.” I replied. “You're name is Cana… isn't it?”

“Yup.” She said. 

It was late afternoon when we came to a clearing and in the middle, were a herd of horses.

“Please!” I begged. “Leave them be!”

She looked at me.

“I think I'll take one…” I said

“Can I eat it?” She asked

“No.”

“Just a little bit?”

“No!”

“Just one ear?”

“NO!!!” I screamed. I looked at the peaceful herd. There were bays, pintos, buckskins, blacks but the prettiest of them all was a palomino mare with a pale-grey blaze and palomino fetlock feathers. I stared at her for a few minutes before I took a rope out of my bag and made it into a halter.

“Come on girl!” I whispered to the mare, “Come and get the nice treat!” I held an apple in my hand. The wonderful moment was ruined when an ear-piercing whinny echoed through the woods.

“Cana!” I yelled. I watched her teeth pierce through the black mare's skin and into it’s leg. The mare struggled some more before it fell to the ground and moved no more. 

“Cana… What have you done?” I whispered. The palomino mare was rearing and cantering around the clearing.

“I caught us Dinner,” she said innocently.

A while later Cana was munching the black horse as we sat around a campfire. Luna nibbled the ears. I made sure the horse I had captured didn't see her dinner.

“Help yourself,” Cana invited me.

“No way,” I grumbled.

“Suit yourself,” Cana said, and dug her teeth into the flesh.

“Apparently there is a castle somewhere down the mountain,” I said.

“Hmm?” She said. I wasn't sure if she even knew what a castle was.

I lost interest myself and attempted to grab the rope that the palomino mare was wearing. 

“Come on girl!” I coaxed the mare on with a nice treat. She stretched her neck out without taking a single step so she could eat the carrot. Just as she ripped the carrot out of my hand, I grabbed the lasso-rope so she couldn't escape again. 

“That's a good girl.” I reached my hand out a stroked her head. I tied her up to a nearby tree and went to sleep. It had been a long day and I knew it.

Chapter 4

Cana

I woke to the sound of Ashley yelling at the horse. I watched from under my elk skin. She was yelling “Paris!” at the horse. What kind of a name was that?

She tried to climb up on the horse, but it just bucked her off. I sniggered to myself. This was a show. 

I got up and reached silently into her backpack and grabbed a pot of something. I sniffed. It smelt sweet. I put my hand in. It was sticky! I put the whole glob of sticky stuff in my mouth.

“MMmmm-hmhmgmm!!” I mumbled, quite loudly. I stuffed more of it into my mouth.

Suddenly I heard Ashley. “Cana!” She yelled. 

Uh-oh.

“Mm?” I asked, poking my head around a tree.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Hmmm?,” I said again, hoping she wouldn't notice the stuff around my mouth.

“What have you been eating?!”

“Hmmm!” I muttered, pulling out the empty jar. I swallowed the last of the honey. “That stuff is good.”

We started down the mountain towards the castle Ashley had talked earlier. Paris let Ashley ride her, so that went well. I knew a little horse language, so I said, “Hello,”

Paris said a lot of horse language I didn't know, so I stopped talking to her.

Luna jumped into Ashley’s backpack. 

“Come on, slow coach!” I called. Suddenly Paris galloped past me in a flurry of snow. Next minute I was howling, “Wait up!”

A few hours later we arrived at the castle gates. I suddenly stopped. “Ashley,” I said, “I'm not to sure about this.”

“Why?”

“Well, I'm a wolf!”

“Actually, you're not.” Ashley said.

“Poppycock!” I exclaimed

“Yes, I am!” I said.

“No, you're not,” Ashley replied.

“Yes, I am!”

“No, you're not!”

“Yes, I am!” I said.

“Yes, you are,” Ashley tricked me.

“No, I'm not,” I accidentally said.

“Gotcha!” Ashley sniggered.

Ashley

“Paris!” I cried. “That's the fourth time you've thrown me off!” I said hopelessly. The palomino mare didn't care. She just sniffed my backpack. I thought that she wanted more carrots. I attempted climb up on her back again. She stood still before tensing up. “Come on girl, come on!” I pleaded. She started to relax. Success! “Good girl!” I exclaimed. I reached for my backpack to get a carrot out, only to find it wasn't where I left it.

“Cana!” I yelled. She poked her head around a tree.

“Hmmmm?” She was confused. 

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Hmmmm?” She said again. Her face was covered in yellow, sticky stuff.

“What have you been eating?” I asked. She showed me my honey jar. It was completely empty. 

“Mmmmmm!!!!” I was annoyed. That was my honey, not hers. Oh well. I rather that than a horse.

She swallowed the last of the honey. “That stuff is good.”

Paris whinnied. She clearly wanted some of the attention.

“Oh Paris!” I sighed. She whinnied expectantly again. I looked at Cana, who had started down the mountain. Paris whinnied for the third time.

“Okay, I get it!” I moaned. I climbed back on her back and tapped her sides with my heels to tell her that I was ready to go. She stood in the same spot, before throwing me off again. 

“Paris!” I groaned. She was wearing a horsey smirk and was obviously proud of herself. “This isn't funny!” She lowered her head. I suppose that meant sorry. “Okay, I forgive you!” I smiled. I pulled myself back on her back. I tapped her with my heels once more and she set off at a fast walk. “That's a good girl!” I exclaimed. We were both proud of each other.

“Come on slow coach!” Cana called back to me. 

Paris cantered happily ahead of Cana. 

“Who's the slow coach now?” I yelled back to Cana. In the distance, a silver castle with purple turrets gleamed in the midday light 

“Wait up!” I heard her call. 

“Speed up then!” I replied sourly. Paris was running for the love of it. Hours later, we arrived at the silver castle gates. I struggled to pull Paris to a stop.

“Ashley, I'm not sure about this.” Cana mumbled.

“Why?”

“Well, I'm a wolf!”

“Actually, you're not.” I said.

“Poppycock!” Cana exclaimed. “I am!” 

“No, you're not!”

“Yes, I am!” She said.

“Yes, you are,” I tricked her.

“No, I'm not,” She accidentally said.

“Gotcha!” I sniggered. Cana gave me the evils. We turned around to look at the gate. It was ginormous, and silver-grey. 

“Are you really, really, really, extra, extra sure about this?” She asked nervously.

“Absolutely!” I said bravely, although I didn't feel as brave as I sounded. As I went to push the gates open, they opened themselves. The thunder of hooves on wood echoed through the valley. 

“Look out!” I screamed to Cana. The sound came closer and closer. “Get out the way!” I yelled at Cana again. She wouldn't move. I galloped towards her and yanked her out of the way. “What… Do… You… Think… You… Were… Doing…?” I panted. Cana didn't reply. She was just in shock.

Chapter 5

Cana

Millions of horses rushed past. A glob of dribble managed to escape my mouth. They didn't even notice me. Yuuummm. The thing was, they were too fast for me.

“Grr,” I grumped. “There goes our dinner.” 

“Your dinner,” Ashley said. “I don't eat horse meat! Hasn't that got to your mind yet? Anyway,” she said, “are we going in before the gates close?”

“Nun-uh!” I said. “Humans! HUMANS!!” I slapped her face with my paw. “Understand what I'm saying?”

“Stop being such a baby!” Ashley said, very rudely. I growled and snuggled up in the snow with Luna. Ashley went off.

About forty minutes later they came back.

“Cana!” she said sarcastically. “We've been so lonely!”

“Hmmmph.” I said. “You've been very quick, for once.”

“Well, surprise, surprise,” Ashley said grumpily.

Suddenly we heard it. Hoof beats. A plump, delicious-looking horse galloped up with my worst nightmare sitting on its back like a bag of potatoes.

“Uh oh,” I muttered. “RUUUNNNNN!!!!!”

“Good idea,” Ashley said. Next second we were running for our lives.

Ashley dragged me on Paris and I found myself on the back of the saddle. Luna was running beside us.

“Are you officially mad?” I sniggered.

“Nope!” She gasped.

“Hey! You!” The knight yelled at us. “Come here!”

I heard Ashley encouraging Paris on and on. I was starting to actually feel sorry for the horse. I soon changed my mind when she went so fast I almost fell off.

Soon we were in a forest. Dark, evil shadows loomed over us.

“Erm, are you sure this is the right forest?” I asked.

“Absolutely!” Ashley replied.

“Really?” I asked. Paris finally slowed down. Luna leapt out from behind a tree and poked her tongue at us.

“How do wolves grin?” Ashley laughed.

“Dunno,” I shrugged. I turned around. “Is that creepy guy gone?”

“Probably,” Ashley said.

Ashley

Masses of horses thundered past. Bays, blacks, pintos, buckskins, and chestnuts stormed past and carried on following the dusty path, not noticing the two young girls standing in shock by the cobblestone wall. 

“Well. That went well, didn't it?” Cana said sourly. “Our potential dinner just ran away from us!” I scowled at her. She looked sour. 

“I've told you before. I-Don't-Eat-Horse! Hasn't that made its way into your mind yet?” I was frustrated. “Besides. They had a home, and owners that would love them.” I said quietly. “We'd better get in before the gates close again.” I walked back towards the path.

“Uh-uh!” Cana disagreed. “Humans actually live in there!” She was annoyed. “What if we were found?” 

“Uhhhhh… Stop being such a baby!” I sighed. 

“I'm not going.” 

“Well I am!” I lowered my voice down to a whisper. “It's not my problem if you get caught, either. So you might as well go back to your little wolf pack.” I said sourly, before making my way into the castle grounds.

“In fact, it's not my problem if you get caught either!” Cana called to me. I just shrugged.

The castle was certainly not  deserted. Cana had been right about that. Suddenly yells woke me from my thoughts. 

“Outsider! Outsider!” A man called. He lifted his bow, and fired. I only just got out of the way. I pulled my bow out as well and fired. It was like slow motion. He was a danger to me, and I knew I had to kill him if I wanted to survive. The man had no time to run after he had realised what had happened. The arrow pierced through his chainmail armor, and right into his chest. A scream managed to escape his lips, before everything went silent. Screams soon erupted from around me. Women and children ran back into their homes and locked the doors. Other men fired at me. I ran for the gates. But all of sudden, the gates began to close. I ran even faster, and only just squeezed through the gap. Paris cantered towards me. I leapt for her back and urged her into a gallop. It had been a narrow escape.

It was late afternoon when I saw a lonely figure walking glumly into the forest on all fours. 

“Come on Paris, we’ll surprise Cana. Wouldn't that be nice?” I whispered to the palomino mare. She cantered towards Cana, and let out a whinny. 

“Cana! We’ve been so lonely!” I said sarcastically.

“Hmph.” Cana clearly had been having a tantrum. “You were so far behind. I didn't think you would catch up that  quickly.”

“Well then. Surprise, Surprise.” I said sourly. I had completely forgotten about Cana’s glum little sidekick, Luna. Suddenly hoofbeats interrupted our ‘glorious’ little conversation. 

“Uh-oh…” Cana began. “Run!” She yelled. It was true. A bay stallion galloped towards us, eyes open, nostrils flared. On his back was a knight in chainmail armor who had sword in hand. 

“Good idea.” I said tonelessly. I leapt on to Paris’s back and cantered over to Cana.

“Get on!” I yelled.

“Are you officially mad?” Cana said.

“Nope!” And with that, I grabbed her arm and yanked her onto Paris.

“You certainly weren't kidding!” She managed to yell over top of the wind, hoofbeats and yells coming from behind us.

“Oi! You two!” The knight fella behind us yelled. I urged Paris into full gallop. 

“Come on girl! You can do this!” I whispered to the palomino mare. She lengthened her strides and strained her neck.

“Good girl!” I encouraged her. She had lots of muscle, and also had the speed of the thoroughbred.

The dark shadows of the forest loomed over us.

“Are you sure that this is the same forest?” Cana asked nervously.

“Absolutely sure!” I said positively. 

“Really?” She asked. As Paris slowed down to a canter, Luna popped her head around a tree and pulled a funny face.

“Yup.” I giggled at Luna. Luna pulled a grin. “And, by the way, how do wolves smile?” I asked Cana curiously. 

“I dunno.” Cana shrugged.

“Well that tells me lots.” I said hastily. Cana looked behind her shoulder. 

“Is that creepy guy gone?” Cana asked.

“Maybe.” I replied. “Let's go, Paris.” I coaxed the mare into an extended canter and watched the sunset from a gap in the trees.

Chapter 6:

Cana

In the night I heard Ashley mumble and toss around. She was usually so quiet when she was asleep. I bet when she was asleep she wouldn't notice if Paris screamed.

How do horses scream?

I got up and poked my nose in Ashley’s bag. Not much food. Still, I pulled out a thing Ashley called a ‘sandwich’. 

I munched it. Then spat it out. It was lettuce! Yuck!

Oops. I just realised. I. Spat. It. ON. ASHLEY’S. FACE.

Ashley was already half awake. I was in big trouble. I hid behind Paris. Bad idea. Paris lifted her hind hooves and kicked me right in the ribs.

I screamed! What on earth was wrong with this meanie-horse!?

“Cana!” Ashley yelled. ‘Are you alright!?”

“That meanie-horse!” I muttered under my breath. “She attacked me!” I yelled, pointing at Paris, who was giving innocent looks.

“Shut up,” Ashley said to me. “What were you doing anyway?”

“Ehm,” I mumbled. “Nothing?”

Ashley finally wiped the sandwich from her face. “Doesn't matter,” she said. “I know already.”

She laughed, as she got up on Paris. Soon I was running behind them, trying to catch up.

Suddenly I saw a creature dragging its way to Ashley. He wasn't a wolf, but he wasn't a human. It was something I hadn't seen before.

“Adalwolf!” Ashley screamed.

I finally caught up.

“Who?” I panted.

Ashley's didn't listen. She pulled out half the food in her backpack and stuffed it in the dog’s mouth.

“Hi!” I said in wolf language. He said some words that I understood, but the rest I didn't know what he was saying.

“Name…………Adalwolf…Dog,” was all I understood.

“He's Adalwolf, as a matter of fact,” Ashley said (rudely).

“Humph.” I humphed.

I watched Ashley pet Adalwolf for about half an hour, while I was sitting there, feeling very bored.

“What's so special about him?” I asked. “And not me?”

“You're a human!” She said.

“Not,” I replied.

“How far is your den?” Ashley demanded.

I thought. “About an hour or so away.”

She didn't seem too happy about that, even though we would be there in a twinkle if she let me ride Paris again.

“Any wooden huts?” She asked again.

“There is one about twenty miny-stuffs away. It's abandoned.”

“Ok,”

A whole later we arrived at the hut. It took twice as long because Ashley was carrying Adalwolf. I got there first. I sat by the door.

When Ashley finally appeared, Adalwolf looked half dead. He probably was half dead.

“What?” Ashley said.

“I found it.” I said proudly.

“A tree-house?” Ashley muttered. “Are you serious?”

“Yup!” I said cheerfully. “Good enough, your majesty?” I added sarcastically.

“It's AWESOME!” She said.

Phew. I thought she was going to kill me.

We ran up the stairs and got to the doors. Inside was musty with cobwebs and a wooden chair and table.

“I'll kill an elk for dinner,” I said.

I didn't like the treehouse very much.

Not wild enough.

Ashley

‘The rustle of leaves woke me from my thoughts. I pulled my bow out from behind my shoulder and aimed at where the noise was coming from. A black and white blur rushed through the bushes and let out a howl, like a scream. I rushed forward to see who it was, in case it was one of Canas wolf friends. But it wasn't.

“Adalwolf!” I screamed.’

Paris nudged me softly. 

“Hey, girl!” I murmured. She lifted her head, awake and alert. “Can you smell something? Can you smell something girl?” She looked off into the distance. A howl echoed through the forest.

“Cana, I think the pack has found you!” I called to her. Suddenly she let out an ear-piercing scream. “Cana, are you alright?” I asked.

“That meanie-horse!” Cana cursed under her breath. “That stupid horse attacked me!” She yelled. I let out a snigger. “Shut up,” Ashley said to me. “What were you doing anyway?”

“Ehm,” She mumbled. “Nothing?”

I finally wiped the sandwich from my face. “Doesn't matter,” I said. “I know already.”

I mounted Paris and cantered off into the distance, Luna nipping at our heels and Cana howling because we had ‘forgotten about her’. I was desperate to find the source of the weak howls. The rustle of leaves woke me from my thoughts. I pulled my bow out from behind my shoulder and aimed at where the noise was coming from. A black and white blur rushed through the bushes and let out a howl, like a scream. I rushed forward to see who it was, in case it was one of Canas wolf friends. But it wasn't.

“Adalwolf!” I screamed. 

The black and white sheepdog whimpered weakly as I felt his heartbeat. I fumbled around  took a blanket out of my bag wrapped it around him, before fumbling around some more and pulling out a few steaks and a jug of milk. Before I knew it, Adalwolf ripped the steaks out of my hand and looked painfully at the jug of milk. I poured some milk into my hand before Adalwolf lapped it up carefully, as if not to spill anything. 

Cana ran up quickly.

“Who?” Cana asked.

“Adalwolf, as a-matter-of-fact.” I said professionally. 

“Humph.” Cana mumbled. The woolly blanket covered him in what looked like snow, which suited the snowy background.

“What's so special about him?” Cana whined. “And not me?”

“You're a human.” I replied flatly. “How far is your den?” I demanded to Cana.

“Maybe around an hour.” She replied solemnly. 

Okay. Plan b.

“Are there any wooden huts?” I asked.

“There's one around 15-20 miny-things whatever you call them.” She said sourly.

“Great!” 

The long trek through seemed twice as long when you were carrying a fully-grown sheepdog. When we finally got there, it was not what I anticipated. Instead of a mini hut, it was a tree hut. It was massive. Winding wooden stairs took us up to the top, which was a massive room with balcony and real doors.

“What?” I said.

“I found it.” Cana showed her pride.

“A tree-house?” I muttered. “Are you serious?”

“Is this good enough, your majesty?” Cana said bitterly.

“It's amazing!” I breathed.

Chapter 7

Cana

I came back half an hour later with a cow elk. I dragged it up the stairs, leaving a trail of blood. When I came to the top Ashley had lit a fire and Adalwolf was lying on the bed with a blanket from his tail to his nose.

I munched on the elk. Ashley asked me, “like the fireplace?”

“Dunno, cool?” I said.

I ate my elk in peace. Suddenly Ashley came up to me and started pouring something all over my elk.

“Hey!” I said.

“Want some gravy?” Ashley sniggered.

“Some WHAT?” I asked.

“Gravy,” Ashley repeated, still pouring it. It was going into the insides of my dinner and all over the floor.

I grabbed the jug and threw it into the fire. I smiled smartly.

“Nope!” I sniggered.

Soon I finished my elk. I curled up and went to sleep.

In the morning I got up. Outside the snow had thawed, and I saw grass and puddles everywhere. I felt like a dunk in the lake.

“Hey, Ashley?” I asked, shaking her.

She didn't wake up. I sighed, and shouted as loudly as I could,

“ASHLEEYYYY!!!”

“Ahh!!” Ashley woke with a start. “What's wrong?”

“I've got fleas,” I said. “I wanna go to the lake.”

“You haven't got fleas!” Ashley said. “Humans can't get fleas!”

“For the last time,” I said, “I am a WOLF!”

“Okay, Okay, we’ll go to the lake,” Ashley said.

I scampered down the stairs and stopped where Paris was standing.

Ashley leapt on Paris and we ran to the lake.

Ashley got off Paris and waded into the lake. “Ooohhhh, it's so cold!” She shivered.

I wondered why she went in with her clothes on. They'll be all wet and she will catch a cold! Serve her right. I ripped off my elk skin and dived head-first into the water.

“Eeeeeii!” I said. “This is nice!”

“Ehhh,” Ashley mumbled.

“What?” I asked.

“You're, umm,” Ashley muttered. “You're not wearing anything.”

“So?” I asked. Really, Ashley was being very stupid.

A while later I came out of the water. I had ripped my elk skin so much when I took it off it was unwearable.

We went back to the treehouse. I made the other elk skin wearable.

A few days later, Adalwolf felt much better. We talked a bit, but didn't say much to each other.

One day Ashley said, “are you in love with the lake?” She had been asking me that for a while now.

“Ok, I am,” I said. 

“How does the lake feel when it knows you are in nothing but your bare skin?” Ashley replied.

I laughed, realising she was having a joke. “I dunno, better ask him!” I smiled.

I ran off to the lake again.

Adalwolf and Ashley followed. Adalwolf loved it as much as I did. Even Paris went for a paddle.

Threw my elk skin away (again) and dived in the lake. I wanted to touch the bottom, so I swam to the bottom. My fingers almost reached the end, but I needed to breathe, so I swam back up.

I lifted my head from the water, to see a man beside the lake. Ashley was struggling, but the man had her.

“Cana!” Ashley yelled, as the man dragged her away. “Help!”

“Huh?” I muttered, wiping water from my eyes. But they had gone.

I swam to the edge of the lake. Adalwolf and Paris were still in the lake.

“Come on!” I said to them. They didn't understand me.

“Come and help Ashley!” I pleaded. Why didn't these brutes just shut up and listen to me?

I swam to the edge of the lake and started running. I ran as fast as I could. I followed their hoof prints.

I followed them until I came to the castle.

Suddenly I stopped. I felt so cold that ice was growing in my nostrils and I shivered. Then I realised why. I had forgotten my elk skin!!!

I ran until I found a herd of elk. I quickly killed a cow elk and ate the meat, and threw the skin over myself. Then I ran like the wind.

Ashley

I pulled a box of matches out of my bag and lit a fire in the brick fireplace.

“How's that?” I asked.

“I dunno, cool?” Cana replied uncertainly.

Adalwolf was wrapped up in a blanket, sound asleep by the fire. Cana, on the other hand, was munching on an elk she had dragged up the stairs, through the closed doors and into the large room. Cana chomped loudly before I fumbled around in my bag, intending to find some gravy. 

“Aha!” I walked over to Cana and poured the whole bottle on top.

“Hey!” She yelled, waking Adalwolf from his snooze.

“Want some gravy?” I sniggered. She didn't have much of an option

“Some what?” Cana asked.

“Gravy!” I laughed. Does she know anything? I finished pouring the gravy, before she ripped the jug out of my grasps and chucked it into the flames.

“Nope!” She smiled sweetly. I turned my attention to Adalwolf. 

“Are you alright boy?” He lifted his nose, perhaps wanting more milk. “Adalwolf, this might be your last drink for a while.” I told him, smiling as I did so. He lapped up the milk.

“Right! I'm going to bed!” I yawned. I curled up on the floor and fell into a deep sleep.

“Ashley.” Cana shook me so that my second blanket fell down from my shoulders to just below my chest. “ASHLEY!” Cana yelled.

“Whaa?” I said, half asleep and attempting to wake up properly. I sat up and pulled my blanket back over my shoulders. 

“I have fleas, I want to go to the lake.” Cana complained. She sat down, curled around and picked at some of the fleas in her elk skin.

“You haven't got fleas!” I said. “Humans can't get fleas!” I pulled my green top on.

“For the last time,” She was unbearable, “I am a WOLF!”

“Okay, Okay, we’ll go to the lake,” I said.

I scampered down the stairs and stopped where Paris was standing. 

“Come on girl!” I jumped onto her back and coaxed her into a canter. 

I leapt off Paris and cannonballed into the lake. “Ooohhhh, it's so cold!” I shivered.

At that moment, Cana ripped off her elk skin and dived head-first into the water.

“Eeeeeii!” She said. “This is nice!”

“Ummmm,” I mumbled.

“What?” She asked.

“You're, umm,” I muttered. “You're not wearing anything.”

“So?” She asked. I decided to not tell her anything yet. It was about to get very funny. And I had no idea how right I was. 

During the next few days, Adalwolf made a complete recovery and Cana constantly visited the lake. 

“Are you in love with the lake?” I asked her for the millionth time. 

“Yes. As a matter I am!” She finally cracked. I sniggered. 

“How does the lake feel when it knows you are in nothing but your bare skin?” I giggled. Cana finally understood this as a joke.

“I'm not sure, better ask it!” She laughed. “I'm going to the lake. Gonna come?” Cana asked. 

“I suppose. Adalwolf!” I yelled. Adalwolf bounded towards me. “Let's go.” 

The ride to the lake was bumpy, as Paris constantly yanked her head down to rip up chunks of grass. When we finally got there, Cana ripped off her elk skin and dived in.

“Come on! It's refreshing!” Cana ducked her head under the water. Suddenly a hand held both my hand behind my back and dragged me into the trees.

“What? Who's there? CANA!” I screamed. I turned to see the teenage boy and his horse. I recognised him immediately. “You! CANA!” Cana popped her head above the water. 

“What?” She asked. She came up quick enough to see the stupid teenager dragging me away on his horse. “Come and help Ashley!” The remains of her voice echoed through the trees. “CANA!!!!!!!” I screamed one last time. But she couldn't hear me any longer.

Chapter 8

Cana

When I got to the castle the gate was still open. I saw the human with Ashley. There were people crowding around. Was Ashley secretly a murderer or something? Why we all those people so interested in seeing another one of their kind?

“Hang her! She killed my brother!” A man yelled angrily. 

“No. Put her on trial!” Another woman yelled.

“Be quiet! This lad will choose her fate!” A person pointed to the dude who had carried Ashley away in the first place

“Ok, we’ll put her in the dungeon. Then the King will deal with her.”

“Please! My dog and my horse! There still out there somewhere!” she squealed. 

“James! Go find her animals!” A guy growled at another young person. A bunch of knights crowded around Ashley.

“Seize her!”

Two people seized her by the arms and tied her to a wooden cart with rope. “Get those beasts to start pulling.”

They started galloping away, cursing at the horses to go faster.

I watched as they started carrying off Ashley.

I decided to go and snap some shins, so I took a deep breath and leapt into the scene.

CHOMP! I bit a knight’s chainmail boots.

SNAP! Off came someone’s toenail.

“Ahhhh!!!” Everyone was screaming.

Suddenly a blur of white fur sped into the courtyard. She leapt up onto a person’s face and started scratching.

“Aaarrrrrggghh!!!!” the person screamed. “Stop!!!”

I pulled Luna away with my teeth. The person’s face was bleeding.

“Nice one, sis!” I said. 

“Cana!” Luna yelled. “Look out!”

“Huh?” I said, as I turned around, then someone came out of a house with a stool and clocked me on the head.

I blacked out.

I woke up in a big, stone room. There was a thin carpet. In the corner there were a couple of beds. Lying on one was Ashley.

“Hey!” I said. “Wake up, lazy bones!”

“I was already awake,” she said.

“This place stinks,” I said.

“What!?” Ashley said. “What do you mean? It smells better than you do!”

“Ha ha, very funny, very funny.” I said dully.

Suddenly a voice appeared from the cell next to Ashley. “Stop arguing!” It said.

Ashley said “I'm going to sleep.”

I didn't answer. I just fell down on the bed, snoring loudly.

Ashley

I felt a sting of guilt as the silver castle jumped into view. Except, everything was so quiet, so lonely. The purple turrets glowed in the afternoon sun. Everything had been going so well. Adalwolf had recovered fully and Paris was becoming more and more friendly. The worst things happen at the worst times.

“He's coming! He has actually  succeeded!” A murmur echoed through the cobblestone walls. “And, he has the  girl! Well done lad!” The knight congratulated that stupid teenager. While I had been roped behind a horse, others were being thanked for catching an innocent 11-old girl. Actually, while I think of it, not  so innocent. 

“Hang her! She killed my brother!” A man yelled angrily. 

“No. Put her on trial!” Another woman yelled.

“Be quiet! This young lad will choose her fate.” The head knight pointed to that stupid teenager. He thought for a moment. “We’ll put her in the dungeon. Then the King will deal with her.” The colour drained from my face. The King? This was about to get a whole lot worse than I thought. 

“Please! My dog and my horse! There still out there somewhere!” I begged. 

“James! Go find her animals!” The head knight growled at a young knight, maybe in his late 20’s. A bunch of knights crowded around me.

“Seize her!” One yelled. 2 Knights seized me by the arms and tied me to a wooden cart with rope. “Get those beasts to start pulling.” The same knight pointed to a mouse grey pinto and a chestnut pinto cart horse at the front of the cart. At once, the cart driver pulled out a long whip and whipped the 2 horses, making them go into a steady trot. 

“Faster you beast!” The man whipped the grey pinto once more, making it spook. He was a short man, like the size of a dwarf who wore a small brown cowboy hat and a green tuxedo. The 2 horses raced into a fast gallop. “That's better!” The man muttered as he steadied himself. All of a sudden, Cana leapt into the scene and started the attack.

CHOMP! She bit a knight’s chainmail boots.

SNAP! Off came someone’s toenail.

“Eeeeeeeeehhhhhh!!!” Everyone was screaming.

Suddenly a blur of white fur sped into the courtyard. It leapt up onto a person’s face and started scratching.

“Aaarrrrrggghh!!!!” the person screamed. “Stop!!!”

Cana pulled Luna away with her teeth. The person’s face was bleeding like mad. I giggled as I caught the last of the action as we headed around the corner, towards a great, stone building. So this is where where I'm going to spend the rest of my life. Lovely. 

The stone cells were horrifying. The only things in there were chamber pots, EXTREMELY uncomfortable-looking mattresses, and little wooden tables. One young man in the cell looked like a bomb, although he looked only around 15-years-old.

“Well, what do you know? It's a girllllll!” He hissed. He gave me the creeps. 

“You'll be going upstairs, with the other girls.” The guard told me. 

“Well, it's better than being down here with that creep.” I replied sourly. The guard showed me my cell. Instead of chamber pots, there was a little room in the corner with a mouldy old toilet and a basin. Instead of the uncomfortable mattresses, there was a four poster bed with a bedside table with a chair. After I was thrown in my cell, I collapsed onto the bed and snoozed for a while. I was woken by the sound of a door opening and being slammed shut again. 

“Cana?” I whispered.

“Hey!” Cana said. “Wake up, lazy bones!”

“I was already awake,” I insisted.

“This place stinks!” Cana muttered.

“Well, it smells better than you do!” I added sourly.

“Haha, very funny.” Cana replied dully.

“Stop arguing, you two!” The girl in the cell opposite me complained.

“Tell her to stop being a pain in the neck!” I spat back. She didn't reply. “I'm tired. I'm going to bed.” I yawned. Cana didn't reply. She was already asleep.

Chapter 9

Cana 

“WAAKKEE UP ASHLEEYY!!!” I yelled in Ashley’s ear.

“Huh?” Ashley muttered, jumps slightly.

“You're about to miss brekka,” I said.

“What's brekka?”

“Breakfast.” I replied. “Duuh!”

“Thanks for the breakfast!” Ashley yelled.

I shrugged.

“Say thanks, Cana!”

“Ehm, Thanks?” I asked.

The waitress didn't look too happy with me for some reason.

Unfortunately for me, it wasn't raw meat like I usually had. It was ham (which I had heard of before,) bacon, eggs and toast, and I had no idea what they were.

I crunched the toast, and jumped back as crumbs went flying. “Ahh! It's alive!!!” I yelled.

Ashley laughed.

I ate the ham. It was OK. Not like elk.

When I had finished I looked out the barred window. I saw people rushing around everywhere. This was like the forgotten tower. The Tower for people who aren't important.

“So this King is going to see us?” I said.

“Yeah,” Ashley said. “In a few days.”

“What do we do in the meantime?” I asked.

Ashley shrugged.

For a few days we lived in the ‘forgotten tower’, until one day the waitress came and said the King was coming.

I was scratching myself when the King arrived. He had a red robe, and brown hair and beard, and a crown perched on his head.

“Morning,” I said casually, not taking much notice of him.

He was quiet. I turned around. “What?”

“Maya?” The King said. “Is that you?”

I spat. “No! I'm Cana!”

“I know Maya anywhere!” The King said. “Why are you here, darling!?”

“What?” I muttered. The King opened the door.

“Maya!” The King said joyfully.

I looked at him like he was a complete weirdo. “I've never seen you in my life!”

I walked out anyway.

The King lifted me up and twirled me around. “Darling Princess Maya! Where have you been!?”

I scratched him and he dropped me. “I'm a wolf!”

Suddenly Ashley butted in the conversation. “She thinks she's a wolf.”

“I am a wolf, stupid,” I said.

“No, you're my daughter, Maya! You're Princess Maya!”

Ashley

I waited for the sun to creep along the horizon and wake me up like an alarm clock. But it never did.

“WAKE… UP… ASHLEY!!!” Cana whined.

“Wha, wha?” I said blindly.

“You're about to miss brekka.” Cana said dully.

“What Brekka?” I asked.

“BREAKFAST… DUHHH.” 

“Who cares… My life is gone. There's nothing left to it!” I moaned. Just at that moment  a waitress strutted into the room with plates of ham, bacon, eggs and toast. 

“Your breakfast!” She said in a Scottish accent.

“Thanks! This will be the best meal I've had in ages!” I thanked her. I looked Cana. She shrugged.

“Say thanks!” I whispered. 

“Ohhh, umm, thanks?” Cana said uncertainly. The waitress didn't look very happy with Canas lack of manners.

Cana bit into a piece a toast, but leapt back as the crumbs went flying. 

“IT'S ALIVE!” She screamed in horror. I sniggered.

“Cana, it can't be alive because it never was alive!” I sniggered. I stacked eggs, bacon and toast onto my plate before dumping a load of ketchup on top. 

“Can I have some?” The girl from the opposite cell asked. 

“How?” I asked. She smiled.

“Like this!” She held her hand out, and the plate of ham flew over to her. She stuffed it in her mouth. “Mmmmm, that's good!” She enjoyed our  food. 

“Umm, okay?!” Was all I said. 

For days on end we lived like this. Delicious meals, hearing moans from the men downstairs, and dealing with that girl.

“By the way. What  is your name?” I asked. 

“Why do you need to know?” She spat. There was a clear rivalry between us. 

“What is your name?” I asked calmly. She relaxed a little. “We are going to be here for a while.” 

“Jessa.” She replied.

Cana was scratching herself when the King arrived. He had a red robe, and brown hair and beard, and a crown perched on his head.

“Morning,” Cana said casually, not taking much notice of him.

He was quiet. Cana turned around. “What?”

“Maya?” The King said. “Is that you?”

Cana spat. “No! I'm Cana!”

“I know Maya anywhere!” The King said. “Why are you here, darling!?”

“What?” She said.

“Maya!” He collapsed in joy.

Cana looked at him. “I've never seen you in my life.” She said sourly.

The King lifted her up and twirled her around. “Darling Princess Maya! Where have you been!?”

She scratched him and he dropped her. “I'm a wolf!”

“She really does think she's a wolf. She lived with them for the past ten years.” I added.

“I'm a wolf, stupid!” She was angry.

“No,” he began. Tears shone in his eyes. “You're my daughter, Maya! You're Princess Maya!”

The End… 

Until the next book

The Wild: Wild Princesses

(When Ashley and Cana met)

(When Ashley and Paris met)(When Cana and Ashley had the argument next to the castle)

(When Ashley was kidnapped and taken to the castle and Cana was having a 'bath')

(When Ashley and Cana were thrown into the 'Forgotten Tower')