“It’s our last day!” Rose said to her best friend, Daisy. “We become one of the Strong tomorrow,” Daisy agreed. “Actually, no,” Storm reminded them. “We have to go through series of tests and things, and even then, we might not survive.” He snatched a vole from the center of the table. The three friends were enjoying the sunshine in their city, Nightfrost. They would take the test every Wilfur took tommorow. Adventure, drama, and stealth would happen soon. They had to go on a mission. Their parents had given them each a pouch of jingling coins to buy food and comfort for their last day. Rose sighed. “Why do you say things like that?” Storm shrugged in answer. Rose leaped out of her chair. “I’m getting a squirrel,” she said. “They’re the best kind of prey.” She padded to the counter. Today’s worker was Lavender, who preferred the name ‘Laven’. “One squirrel,” she mewed. “One squirrel coin.” Laven held out her paw. Rose unsheathed a claw and dug out a coin stamped with a squirrel. She dropped it in Laven’s pad. “You’ll need your strength, for the journey,” Laven winked, flipping out a plump squirrel. “I remember mine. It was dreadful. They found me unconscious by the end of the first week.” Rose took the squirrel in her teeth, nodded farewell, and bounded back on her seat. “We’ll go separate,” Storm was saying. “They’ll use the crystal to send us all at different places.” Rose wasn’t paying attention. “Fox!” she yelped. The orange young tom was trotting into the crowded store. “Thought I’d find you here,” Fox said. “Listen, they just announced that the Journey will be held right now.” “What?” Rose said. “No time to lose,” Storm’s rough voice jerked her back to earth. “We have to move!” Rose was jostled along by workers, Wilfurs, and kits with their parents. Her friends’ voices were lost as they came to a stop at Well Workers Corner. “Silence!” Lake, the leader, ordered. “Wilfurs, form a line! We all know why we are here; The Wilfur Journey. A crystal will be put on each Wilfur’s neck. You will be teleported to a random location. Your instructions will be in a paper I will give you. Be aware that the crystal holds great power.” Rose shivered. She was, unluckily, first in line. “Rose!” Lake barked. Rose jumped and padded up. Lake produced a diamond, clear as ice, and pushed it on Rose’s neck. It stayed. “Your crystal is the best of the best,” Lake whispered, pushing a crumpled paper into Rose’s paw. “Bear it well, young Wilfur.” Rose barely had time to manage a dry nod before she felt instant pain. She screamed once, or twice. She wouldn’t know. Everything was blurring, noise somewhere. Rose couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. Her body was splitting in pieces. Something tightened around her. Something gold, not fully solid. All she knew was that she was in agony, it was terrible. The pain lasted long. Too long. Her limp body rose. Am I going to the Golden Gates, where the dead go? Rose managed one thought before more pain slashed through her body. Then her body gave up. Stopped fighting the bonds. Rose’s head fell back with a snap. Her vision went black. Then the golden light whisked her into the sky. Sun. the thought cut into Rose’s head. Red rimmed her vision as Rose blinked her eyes open. Yellow beams of light fell on her, making her diamond sparkle. Rose got up. The pain had disappeared. Her instructions were beside her, and she now realized it was three papers. Rose unrolled them. The first read: Dear Rose, I really hope you become on of the Strong, like me. Mom and Dad aren’t too worried, though. They say ‘I wouldn’t expect much of her. probably going to turn out like Laven.’ I say the opposite. With hope, you can run into the other Wilfurs. Hope you survive. From, Your older sister, Feather The next letter read: Dear Rose, You are supposed to go to the queen of Dedra and kill the fox living near there. Sincerely, Lake Not the happiest on that, Rose read the next: Dear Rose, I will give you a riddle to killing the foxes. Here it is: Remember Halloween Sincerely, Wave P.S. Hope you don’t die!
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