The sack scratches her face; it's rough, and she knows it is burlap. It smells like fresh corn and has an oil texture to it. This is the kind of situation she has come to expect; it's never easy.

It would be nice to do a jump and then simply ask the hero to join her, but that hasn't been the case yet. Each time she enters a book, there has to be some sort of challenge.

Like this, her hands bound together, a sack on her head, and the sounds of horses dragging her to who knows where.

She has read in books about a thing the mortals call depression. She has always thought it to be such a funny thing. How could anyone who has the opportunity to live freely, not stuck in a tree, be depressed?

Lyra was beginning to understand the feeling well. One minute, she was reading to her critter friends; the next, she was slapped into a book with an impossible task. One that she was not prepped for.

Her feet become sore from the harsh ground they travel on. Whoever has taken her didn't bother to let her put her boots back on.

Silence.

Silence was the only thing that stayed the same since they had taken her. Until they finally spoke.

"Take her to the tent." A firm, masculine voice orders.

They tug the rope, urging her to keep up before they push her down onto a chair.

"What is your name?" A woman's voice questions her; it holds authority in its tone.

"Lyra."

"And what are you doing in our territories, Lyra?"

"I was just traveling and got lost."

This could be one of Lavinia's minions. She knows she needs to be careful not to give away any details.

"Hmmm..." The woman pauses for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Lyra's hands begin to shake, and her heart feels like it will pound out of her chest. Her mind cannot keep up with everything.

"I... I um..."

Suddenly, the bag is snatched off of her, revealing the owner of the strong voice.

Fur as dark as night leading up the waist to a beautiful woman. Her hair is tied into a high ponytail; she looks powerful.

Lyra looks her over, confused, before realizing she is a centauress. She continues to stare, noting how the woman or Centauress's arms were thick with muscle, though one of them stops right above the elbow. Scars webbed around the end of it.

"You need to be stronger, Lyra." She says.

"What?"

"You cannot expect to complete the task at hand with this weakness." She stomps her hoof once.

"How do you know about that?" Lyra eyes her.

"Do not worry," She nods to one of the guards; they walk over and cut the ropes from her hands. "You are among friends."

"She has been here?" Lyra looks up while rubbing her wrist.

"No, but your friends informed me of the trouble she is causing. And we have felt the force of her sinister magic even here." She sits down in front of Lyra, her massive legs stretched out beside her.

"I do not understand."

"The centaurs govern our world. Well... Most of it, anyway. During the past few weeks, we have lost several clan leaders. It was as though they disappeared without a trace." She continues. "We were puzzled by this and spent many days hunting and tracking them down. We were unsuccessful. That's when I found your companions, and they spoke of what this sorceress is doing. It would make sense for them to fall to evil, weak... I knew they were weak, but I did not take them for cowards!" She slams her fist down onto the large wooden table beside her, spilling her drink. "I apologize."

"So, you know why I am here?"

"I do. And I must say that I am impressed by your story. But I do not think you are ready for what will come."

"That makes two of us." Lyra looks down at the ground and puts her head into her hands.

"So, I will teach you."

"What?"

"You need to learn more than how to use the quill, Lyra. I will teach you to fight." She stands up, pulls the tent's cloth open, and nods for Lyra to follow.

"Wait, I don't even know your name!" Lyra jumps up from the chair and races after her. She stops at the opening. Her jaw drops, and her eyes grow wide.

The village is beautiful, hidden behind the curtain of a waterfall and secured in a glorious cavern. Trees grow tall, and vibrant grass cushions the ground—light leaks from the cracks in the cavern's ceiling, dancing upon its hidden glade.

Centaurs of all sizes and colors move around the camp, doing various jobs. Smoke rises out of the cavern from the blacksmith. The sweet smell of freshly baked bread drifts across Lyra's face as she follows the Centauress through the camp.

They head towards the curtain of water that drifts from the sky and exits through a small tunnel on the left side.

Once through the veil, Lyra takes in the glorious scene. Snowcapped mountains paint the background. Lush green grass and flower fields circle the river flowing from the great fall.

Bringing back her sweet memories of her home. But this isn't home; hidden behind the falls isn't her stash of adventure books. No, hidden behind the veil is a whole other world of mystical beings.

"I understand you are in a hurry to complete your quest." She pauses, "But one must be prepared. And charging into battle with only a quill and a book will not protect you."

Lyra nods in understanding.

"My name is Castalia; I am the leader of my herd. My mother and my mother's mother have served as leaders for generations. Female centaurs are rare. Those who come to exist are normally used for breeding and reproduction. I chose a different life, and for that, I was shunned." She pauses to look down at her missing arm. "A great battle began, coating the land in dismay and fighting over which clan would take ours to be theirs. Cloaked in disguise, I joined the ranks and defended my herd. In doing so, I lost a piece of my body but gained a piece of my heart."

Lyra takes in the wild emotions that swirl around her. She closes her eyes and imagines a great battle and Castalia valiantly defending her home. She knows this story; she remembers this tale from her secret trove. It is one she found damaged, but she is glad to see the story still lives on through the soaked pages. It had been many years since she could read it, but Castalia was her favorite warrior.

"I returned from battle with a truce after being healed by someone from the opposing herd. We wed and began a new life together. By ending the war, I gained the respect of my kind. They appointed me their leader, a role I do not take lightly." She looks down at Lyra and studies her for a moment. "Come, tonight you get a hot meal, a soft bed, a warm bath. Tomorrow, we will prepare. Once I see that you are ready, I will join you in your quest to protect my home."

Lyra nods; no words are needed. She knows that even though time is short, she must learn what she can in order to save her realm.

Lavinia has been a WordWeaver for centuries; Lyra has only been one for a few weeks. She will need many more skills if she expects to be victorious.

____

"Lyra!" Tikor and the rest of the companions jog towards her. Smiles brightly dance across their faces, and Azure's tail wags furiously.

Tikor places his large hands on her shoulders and looks her over to ensure she is okay.

"Oh good, you are unharmed. Come join us by the fire; let me tell you about their wonderful lemon grass tea here." Lyra laughs at him while they walk to the fire pit.

____

The morning arrives fast; it feels that way because of how hard everyone slept. It was a fun night; the companions ate, drank, danced, and laughed. Though there is a difficult task at hand, it is nice to have a moment of joy.

Castalia explained that the first step in preparing is to build morale. Bonding with your warriors is critical. Who would follow a leader that they did not love?

Castalia left Lyra an outfit in her tent. Custom-made to her size, fitting gear for battle. She quickly gets dressed and exits the tent.

Waiting outside of the tent is Emrys.

"Good morning, Lyra," he smiles brightly at her. "Ready to get started?"

She nods at him, "Good morning."

"Castalia asked me to help with the training. May I escort you to the training field?" He extends his arm towards her.

Butterflies swirl around her stomach; here he is, the man she has been reading about for years. She loops her arm through his, and he guides her out of the cavern and to the training field.

____

"Use your hips, Lyra!" Castalia stands tall in the middle of the training field, watching over each of them intensely. "Azure, you are a large furry target; move quicker!"

She is tough, but she knows what she's doing. "Hips, Lyra! Steady your stance and twist the waist. Firm your feet on the ground before you strike." 

Castalia walks over and slaps the training dummy, sending it into a fast spin that hits Lyra and makes her fly to the ground.

She strides over to Lyra, extending her hand to help her up. "Perhaps you do not take the training dummy seriously enough." She pulls her sword from its sheath and spins it one time. "Ready yourself." Her eyes squint in determination. 

The dance begins; Lyra holds her blade tightly and watches Castalia as she circles around her.

"Your enemies will not take pity on you. They will not help you up if you fall; they will strike!" She swings her blade at Lyra. Their blades clash together in a loud clang that gets everyone's attention. Lyra braces for the blow and then pushes Castalia's blade away. "Very good! Again!"

They continue for a bit, "What are you fighting for?"

Lyra blocks another blow, "My home."

Castalia rears into the air, bringing her hooves down fast; Lyra dives out of the way. "That's not enough! What are you fighting for?!"

"My home and my family!"

"No!" Castalia spins and slings her blade at Lyra's head; Lyra ducks and slides under the blade's edge. Rage builds inside her; Castalia is trying to kill her!

Lyra looks at her surroundings and sees a long rope on the ground near the weapons table.

She ducks another blow, then rushes towards it. Taking it in her hands, she quickly runs around Castalia, using speed she didn't know she had and wrapping her legs until Castalia is tangled and unable to move.

Lyra stands before her, breathing deep from her chest, her sword by her side. Her eyes locked on Castalia's.

"I fight for them! But I also fight for myself. I fight to prove I can be more than a librarian. I fight to prove I am not irresponsible. That I can do so much more with the life that was dealt to me. I fight for the other Keepers because I know they want more, too! For the books that I love and the stories that have helped me escape my realm, even if for a moment. That is what I fight for."

The field is quiet; everyone watches Lyra. Tikor sees the hurt in her heart; he removes his shoes and places his feet into the dry dirt.

Lyra feels something tickle her leg; she looks down to see a beautiful flower growing by her. She reaches down and touches it gently. Honeysuckle. She looks up at Tikor, a tear gliding from her eye.

"I fight for my friends."

____

Castalia and Emrys spoke softly in the tent. Lyra enters, and they both look at her and grin.

"You did well, Lyra. I only wish we had more time. But I believe what you have and your friends will help you be successful." She pauses and looks at Emrys. "Would you like to give your gift first?"

He nods, walks over to Lyra, and then opens his hands to reveal a beautiful white feather.

"Dreamwhisper Shield. When in battle, hold the feather out like this. Watch." He extends his hands, and the feather floats around him. "Hit me."

"What?"

"Hit me, please."

Lyra throws a fist at him; the shield spins in front of her hand, and she stops it. "Ouch!"

Emrys laughs, "The feather becomes a shield; you do not have to use your hands. It will also throw the enemy off that you are guarded because of its invisibility." The feather lands softly back into his hands, "No worries, it is shrouded in magic; it will not get ruined by your satchel." He hands her the feather, and she places it in her bag.

"I guess it's my turn, here takes this." She hands Lyra a compass. "This compass will help you find what you need. Not what you want, but where you should be. It is tempting to stare at it all day and have it guide you, but do not fall into that. This compass has led many a wonder for centuries. Only look at it when you are truly lost."

Lyra looks at the compass, which begins to spin, then stops on Emrys. She tilts it so they cannot see it and quickly places it in her satchel.

"Thank you both." She smiles at them warmly. "So, will you be joining us?" She looks at Castalia.

"I'm afraid I cannot. If your words are true, I must be here for my people. I cannot leave them in the chance she comes to my world." Castalia frowns at the idea.

"I understand."

"When it is time for battle, call upon my Lyra; I will aid you in that time." Castalia bows to her.

____

"I do not understand. Aren't you supposed to leave with a hero from every story?" Zopha asks.

The companions gather in their tent, discussing the next course of action.

"Yes, I do not know how this next jump will affect me." Lyra looks down into the fireplace.

Suddenly, the tent opens quickly. Castalia's wife, Nikona, stands at the opening.

"I am sorry to burst in, but I believe we have found one of your companions." she smiles at them brightly.

They look at each other, confused, when a small creature slides through the tent—trembling at the sight of the companions. Azure's eyes study it intensely; Lyra gazes in surprise.

Nikona walks away, and the tiny creature enters the tent.

"My name is Kyda..."

____

The group sits quietly, staring at the small faun before them. Lyra remembers the first time she saw her with Lavinia; she had helped spare Azure's life.

Azure continued to glare at Kyda; her throat rumbled.

"Why are you here, Kyda?" Lyra says coldly. Unsure of if Kyda is a spy for the sorceress.

Kyda folds her hands and rubs them together, her knees trembling as she looks around for something to hold her attention from the suspense.

"Lavinia sent me here to gather more minions of darkness," Kyda whispers.

Everyone watches in shock; they are confused by this and do not understand what happened in the snowy woods that day.

"But I... I don't want to be a part of this destruction." Kyda's shoulders drop in defeat.

"Be on your way; we can not trust you," Lyra says harshly.

"Wait..." Zopha speaks up, "Keep her with us. If she returns to Lavinia, she will give away everything she has seen." Her regal voice carries great knowledge of this.

"I agree. You either join us, faun, or you suffer a fate worse than death." Emrys stands from his stool as he speaks.

Kyda looks at him in confusion, and Emrys keeps his gaze locked. "Why are you here?"

"I am here to help them save our worlds." His voice cracks. Lyra looks at both of them as they exchange words; her brows pinch, and the side of her mouth twists.

"Enough," Lyra holds up her hand. "We will take you with us, but first..." Lyra reaches into her satchel and grabs her quill and book. She scratches the words down quickly; light flashes and a wrist cuff appears.

"What is that?" Tikor asks.

"I read about it in another book; it's supposed to keep her from performing any magic." She glares at Kyda, "So she cannot leave alone, nor can she contact her master."

Kyda extends her arm, knowing this is the only way to save her life. She also believes that if she is caught with them by Lavinia, then maybe Lavinia will understand that she has no choice. The centaurs grabbed her, assuming she was one of the companions, not knowing she was working for the enemy.

Emrys takes his seat; he studies everyone for a moment, and then his shoulders relax.

Castalia opens the tent curtain, "It's time, my friends."

____

"Be safe; I will see you soon." Castalia shakes their hands. "How many more jumps do you have?"

"Just one more." Lyra smiles warmly.

"Ah, then we will see each other very soon."

Lyra reaches into the satchel, retrieving the last book. A beautiful water lily is carved into the cover.

Tikor grins brightly and clasps his hands together. "Oh! I believe this one will be my favorite," he shrugs. "Well, besides my own."

The companions circle, holding each other tightly this time. Lyra firmly grips Kyda's tiny hand and then utters the spell.