Chapter One
Brigora and Ladaria

The wind whistled through the nearly leafless trees. It was a cool shady night. A wolf howl broke the near silence. Brigora Dewleaf was scared. Well, it was not like she didn’t walk down this path every night to get from her farm to the town for the night. But, still this road sent chills down her back.
“Brrr,” Brigora shivered. “Well at least I am almost in the town, I can see it.”

When she got to the town Inn she said, “Hello Master Sunwell.”
He answered, “Hello Brigora, and if you are looking for Ladaria she is upstairs in her room.” Ladaria Sunwell was the Innkeeper’s daughter and Brigora’s very best friend.
“Thank you,” Brigora answered and she raced upstairs.

Ladaria’s room was neat and tidy, very much unlike the one she had on the farm, with small china dolls perched just so on her bookshelf with the books lined up straight. Ladaria was reading one on her immaculate perfectly made bed.
“Hi Ladaria,” Brigora said. Ladaria kept on reading. “LADARIA!” Brigora shouted.
Ladaria jumped up from her bed and demanded, “What, I was just at a good part daddy? Oh its you Brigora, sorry,” she said in her high squeaky (and now a little irritated) voice. “Well I guess I can read it later,” Ladaria sighed.
“Brigora, I have some very bad news.”
“What is it?” Brigora asked excitedly. “Mistress Sunwell, my mom, saw a merte.”
“Oh no,” Groaned Brigora, taking a seat on Ladaria’s bed. Merte were the evil creatures Lord Nefarious sends to places he would like to “borrow” people from. “I wonder who they are coming to take?” asked Brigora, gradually overcoming her shock.
“I asked mom who, but she scolded me and sent me away. I think they might be coming for Pandra Rodengloss. She is weird and crazy and, well, you can’t say she doesn’t stick out,” replied Ladaria.
“We could ask Framata Greentop, she is Pandra’s best friend,” suggested Brigora.
“Lets go,” said Ladaria confidently.

When they were down the staircase Ladaria asked “Dad, can Brigora and me go to Framata’s house?”
“Framata,” he said. “Who is that?”
“Greentop?” said Ladaria impatiently.
“Ohh Greentop. Sure as long as you are back before bed. You too Brigora, you are my responsibility while you are here and Master Dewleaf is on the farm, and also before you barge in, ask Mistress Greentop,” Master Sunwell said.
“Ok,” the two girls said together.

When they got to Framata’s house they rapped on the door and waited. In a while Mistress Greentop answered it. She said, “Why hello girls would you like to come in?”
They answered, “Could we see Framata?”
Mistress Greentop answered worriedly, “No I am sorry her and Pandra Rodengloss dissapeared last night.” The girls stared at each other in horror.
“Well then lets go home,” said Ladaria, standing in front of Brigora to hide her open mouth.

When they got to the inn Brigora horrifiedly whispered, “We are too late!”