Trial by Fire

Maddy isn’t sure where to go, but she knows she needs to get to class. It takes only a couple of minutes of walking down an unfamiliar corridor for her to walk into a classroom.

There is a stocky boy about her age, who seems to be a bit hairy and Professor Fowl, already there.

“Ah, now that we’re all here, let’s begin. Most of the students believe citadel to be a prison of sorts, keeping them inside. This is not the case. The citadel is to keep the creatures that inhabit this land out. Of course to be a Master of Beasts you will have to learn to command them. To that end I will transport you outside to the forest. You need only get back into the citadel to pass the first of your three tests. I warn you, though, only about two of three students survive this test.”

Maddy frowns. “Two of…”

The world seems to shift. Suddenly, she finds herself alone in the forest. Under the canopy of the trees it is dark and cool. The trees themselves are tall and stately. To Maddy it doesn’t seem to be that dangerous a place.

She stands perfectly still and listens.

To her right, in the distance, she hears a wolf like howl. To her left she hears the chirping of songbirds. In front of her, not too far away, she hears the rustling of the underbrush. Behind her there are loud screeches in the distance.

She spins about. She has no idea what direction the citadel is in. She considers climbing one of the very tall trees to get her bearings. Of course the test is to master the animals, not simply get back. She ponders what to do.