The Anvil (23 page)

The
garden
had
many
rows
of
various
plants
,
the
walls
of
wood
and
earth
,
the
three
huts
and
the
main
hut
where
they
made
meals
when
it
was
raining
.
Dejoni
'
s
pavilion
now
had
walls
and
was
bigger
,
so
it
wasn
'
t
really
a
pavilion
anymore
.
There
was
a
small
pond
that
they
used
to
get
water
quicker
.
Tom
walked
over
to
the
fire
and
asked
“
What
'
s
for
breakfast
?
Do
you
need
any
help
?”
Zack
shook
his
head
and
said
“
It
is
almost
done
,
you
seem
to
do
that
often
,
ask
if
we
need
help
when
it
is
almost
done
.
And
for
breakfast
we
have
rabbit
,
blueberries
and
strawberries
.”
Tom
pretended
to
look
offended
and
said
in
a
fake
hurt
voice
“
I
just
woke
up
,
I
offer
my
help
when
I
see
you
doing
something
.”
all
three
sat
in
silence
for
a
moment
then
they
all
started
laughing
.

Suddenly
they
heard
a
rough
voice
saying
“
Well
now
,
how
about
you
give
us
anything
of
value
and
we
'
ll
be
on
our
way
.”
The
three
spun
around
and
saw
a
group
of
armed
bandits
,
about
fifteen
in
all
.
They
carried
a
variety
of
weapons
ranging
from
clubs
with
nails
to
swords
to
crossbows
.
Tom
stepped
towards
them
and
said
“
Or
you
could
leave
now
with
your
lives
and
freedom
,
your
choice
.”

The
bandits
laughed
and
one
said
in
a
mocking
tone
“
Oh
,
we
are
so
scared
of
three
little
kids
.”
Dejoni
landed
behind
the
three
and
the
boys
grabbed
their
weapons
,
Madison
grabbed
a
crossbow
and
leveled
it
.
The
bandits
stood
for
a
moment
then
the
man
who
was
obviously
the
leader
yelled
and
ran
at
them
.

Tom
motioned
with
his
arm
and
a
large
rock
hit
him
in
the
head
.
The
bandits
wavered
but
kept
coming
,
Madison
fired
the
crossbow
then
put
it
down
.
A
man
fell
clutching
his
leg
.
She
started
fighting
with
magic
and
Dejoni
launched
himself
into
the
air
and
spat
acid
on
the
attackers
.

Soon
the
attack
was
finished
and
as
the
four
stood
around
panting
one
of
the
men
melted
into
the
ground
leaving
behind
a
pile
of
dirt
,
the
rest
soon
doing
the
same
.
Tom
looked
up
and
saw
Alex
walking
into
the
camp
.

Chapter
10

             
Alex
looked
at
the
group
and
smiled
.
He
said
“
Tom
you
need
to
work
on
using
your
advantages
,
like
your
ability
to
fly
.”
Tom
nodded
and
asked
“
Why
isn
'
t
John
here
?”
Alex
answered
“
He
had
a
mission
.”
Soon
they
were
all
sitting
around
the
fire
talking
and
eating
.
Then
he
stood
up
and
said
“
Tom
and
I
are
going
flying
,
you
can
join
us
if
you
wish
.”
Tom
looked
at
Alex
confused
“
We
are
?”
he
asked
.
Alex
looked
at
him
and
said
“
Yes
we
are
.
I
am
your
master
and
I
get
to
tell
you
what
to
do
.”
Alex
smiled
and
laughed
.

Zack
called
Dejoni
over
and
Zack
and
Madison
got
on
.
Tom
and
Alex
spread
their
wings
and
all
of
them
took
off
flying
.
The
flight
wasn
'
t
long
and
in
the
middle
of
it
Alex
turned
and
said
“
Get
back
to
your
camp
.
My
visit
is
over
.”
Alex
swerved
towards
Hilltop
Lake
and
the
others
turned
to
their
camp
.
When
they
landed
in
the
camp
,
Zack
and
Madison
slid
off
Dejoni
and
Tom
'
s
wings
disappeared
.

They
all
went
to
sleep
,
in
the
morning
Tom
woke
up
first
,
so
he
made
breakfast
.
About
halfway
through
making
breakfast
Madison
woke
up
and
came
to
help
.
Zack
woke
up
and
,
as
was
the
job
of
the
last
person
awake
,
checked
the
traps
.
They
sat
around
the
fire
eating
.

Tom
stood
up
after
finishing
his
food
and
idly
hit
his
head
against
the
main
hut
wall
,
a
habit
he
did
when
he
was
thinking
or
bored
.
He
turned
back
to
Zack
and
Madison
and
said
“
So
,
we
have
five
more
days
until
Zack
and
my
wilderness
survival
ends
.
Madison
how
much
longer
do
you
have
?”
Madison
swallowed
and
answered
“
I
have
about
three
days
left
.
Then
I
go
back
to
the
forest
closer
to
Hilltop
Lake
.”
They
made
plans
to
meet
at
the
village
and
also
what
to
do
for
the
last
few
days
they
had
in
the
camp
.