Animas: Legacy of the Claw excerpt

8/10/2019 Animas: Legacy of the Claw excerpt

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OneTWENTY-SEVEN YEARS LATER

WELVE-YEAR-OLD BAILEY WALKER ducked as a huge brown

goose flew just past his head, coming to rest on the awning over the

rigimotive station platorm. Te dark tortoiseshell cat, which only

a moment beore had startled the owl into flight, wove between the

legs o its human companions, meowing with satisaction. Bailey

patted down his messy, hay-colored hair, making sure no eathers

had gotten caught in it.Are you ready, Bailey Emily, his mom, asked. She squeezed

his shoulders with both hands beore brushing a spot o dust off o

his best shirt. Just remember, no matter what anyone says about

youyou are fine. Youre more than fine. Youre exceptional.

Yeah. Exceptionally weird, maybe, Bailey thought. He elt a

sharp pang, but he nodded and smiled. He was leaving the GoldenLowlands and its pleasant arms, its rolling hills and sleepy,


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L E G A C Y O F T H E C L A W

rambling townshe was leaving his parentsor Fairmount

Academy, the most prestigious school in Aldermere.

Where he would soon be labeled a complete reak.

You listen to your mom, Bailey. Baileys dad, a lanky man

with dark, curly hair, had dressed in his nicest trousers and donned

a crisp wool flat cap, just to see Bailey off. Herman Walker had

been speaking or days about the chance to see the towering, our-

story rigimotive (the biggest in the Lowlands) that would take

Bailey to Fairmount. Te rigimotive was the only available means

o long-distance travel, but since neither Bailey nor his parents had

ever le the Lowlands, theyd never had the opportunity to see it.

Bailey couldnt wait to board. Te two rigimotive cars were

like giant red metal houses, with our rows o copper-rimmed

windows looking out on the plains. Gold-painted spiral staircases

inside each car reached all the way to the top. Te yellow dirigible,

a huge oval balloon, floated above the rigimotive.

Baileys ather had explained how the floating dirigible would

help the crew navigate the rigimotive over any broken-down track

and propel the heavy cars orward. His enthusiasm or the technol-

ogy o the Age o Invention was inectious. He had told Bailey all

about the Royal inkerersa group o proessors and engineersthat had invented the rigimotive beore Bailey had been born. He

said they wouldve gone on to create a aster, more efficient train

but like so many plans that were made beore the murder o King

Melore, these had died along with him. Bailey ofen wondered

whether his ather would have become a tinkerer himsel i he

hadnt taken up arming, like his ather beore him.oday, even Baileys mom had put on her best hat, a purple elt


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cloche with a bright yellow flower on the brim, and a pair o click-

ing brown heels to take him to the station. His dads lie-bonded

hare, Longoot, was excited tooBailey watched as he swatted at

the tortoiseshell cat.

You put the past behind you, his dad said, startling Bailey

rom his thoughts. And dont worry about what other kids say.

Teres nothing wrong with you. Everyone moves at a different

pace. Youll show them what youre made o.

Bailey had heard this speech, or some version o it, a thousand

times beore. But he nodded. Tanks, Dad, he said, and meant it.

He would miss his mom and dad terribly. Emily and Herman

Walker had adopted him when he was just a baby. Herman had

ound him, crying naked underneath a raspberry bush, danger-

ously near the edge o the Dark Woods. Hed been undered and

very small. No one knew where hed come rom, or how hed man-

aged to survive on his own.

Bailey, o course, had no memory o being ound. All hed

known growing up was that he was the adopted son o an Animas

Hare and an Animas Horse: both hardworking, kind, support-

ive. . . and, unlike Bailey, completely normal. Tey ran a wheat

arm and had raised him to work hard and never turn down theopportunity to learn. He would orever be grateul to them. Teyd

always been so patient and encouragingeven when Bailey had

started to show signs o being . . . well, different.

ake care o yoursel, my lovey His mom dabbed at her eyes.

Oh, no. She was about to cry. Bailey hugged her quickly beore she

could make a sceneor call him lovey again.I will. He disentangled himsel rom his moms embrace and

gave his dad a quick squeeze. His dad mussed his yellow hair,


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causing his mother to spring orward and comb it down again.

Longoot scurried over, and Bailey pulled away just beore the hare

could pee on his canvas shoe, which was the closest he came to

expressing affection. Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad. Bye, Longoot.

Dont orget to eat your grains his mom called aer him as

he threaded through the crowd. He heard laughter coming rom

a group o older students boarding the rigimotive ahead o him.

His ears burned and he kept his head down. Maybe no one would

know she was talking to him.

He could eel his moms watchul and worried eyes on the back

o his neck. He knew why she was worriedthis was his first time

away rom home. He was anxious too.

But he was also excited. I there was ever a place that could

give him, Bailey Walker, the hope o being normalfinallyit

was Fairmount Academy, with the Animas trainer who might

just have the answers he needed: a man by the name o remelo

Loren. Baileys dad had scrounged up some pamphlets on Fair-

mounts history rom their local Lowlands library when Bailey had

first been accepted. In one, which had been published quite a ew

years ago, he saw mention o the young teacher, Mr. Loren, who

had developed a reputation in the Gray City by training everydaypeople to develop stronger bonds with their animal kin. Bailey

planned to seek him out as soon as he arrived.

Tere was a long line to board the rigimotive. Te Lowlands

was made up o small arming villages, and though it stretched

over more than a third o Aldermere, this platorm was one o the

only rigimotive stops in the region. Some o the students in linehad traveled by cart and wagon or many miles already.

Te stairs had once gleamed bright gold, but the rigimotive


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car showed signs o wear. Te paint had flaked off significantly,

showing dull, plain metal underneath. Te stairs creaked under the

weight o the students climbing up and down. Bailey reached the

first floor o the second car, where his and the other travelers trunks

were being hoisted onto racks by two porters, and kept climbing. It

was his first time traveling away rom home, and he wasnt going to

waste it by looking out the windows o the first floor.

Bailey wound his way up to the third floor. Stepping into the

aisle, he scanned the wooden benches or a ree spot. He saw sev-

eral older boys and girls sitting near the ront, wearing telltale

blue-and-gold ties loosely done under their collars. He suddenly

elt very sel-conscious, still in his linen shirt and his nicest pair o

cotton work pants. A arm boy, at least until he got to Fairmount,

where his trunk ull o new school clothes and his official Fair-

mount blazer could finally be unpacked. He was about to slink

quietly into a seat in the back o the car, out o sight, when he heard

someone call his name.

Bailey, right

Te voice belonged to a amiliar dark-haired, bespectacled boy,

sitting alone on a bench with a thick book in his lap. He waved

at Bailey.Its Hal. Hal Quindley.

Bailey had seen Hal around his old school, but theyd never

been in class together. He wore a dark ormal vest with the pat-

tern o webbed wings on the shoulders. It looked new, and a little

too big or him. Instead o a tie printed with the Fairmount colors,

he wore a maroon silk cravat that looked as though someone hadtied it or him.

Hi, Bailey said. Relieved to see even a remotely amiliar


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ace, he slid onto the seat opposite, stowing his rucksack under

the bench.

Hal stretched out his hand to shake.

Im glad I spotted you, he said. I saw all the Year Ones listed

in theFairmount Flyer,and yours was the only name I recognized.

Fairmount accepts a hundred new kids a year, and theres only

room or a couple students rom our town. Some pressure, huh

Yeah, Bailey mumbled, impressed. Wow.

He glanced out the window. His mom and dad were still wait-

ing or the rigimotive to pull away. He elt a sudden, wrenching

pang o homesickness.

Its more than wow, Hal said, adjusting the thick, copper-

rimmed glasses on his nose. Tey say youve got to be pretty excep-

tional to get in. Makes me wonder how I managed to sneak by

Bailey smiled. He heard his moms voice in his mindYoure

more than fine. Youre exceptionaland the momentary home-

sickness melted away into anticipation once more.

But beore he could respond, a heavyset man in a bulging over-

coat plopped down on the seat next to Hal, panting loudly. Te

mans coat had several cargo pockets lining the ront and sides, all

o them overflowing with cuttings o various plants. A portly bad-ger sauntered into the row afer him and curled up underneath the

bench, his wet nose poking out through the olds o the mans coat.

Tird floor, Hal asked the man, out o breath. Couldnt

have given Dillweed here a little rest this morning

Instantly, Hals ace turned red. Tis is my uncle Roger, an

apothecary. And thats Dillweed, he explained, pointing at thesnout on the floor. Teyve got some business in the Gray City,

and Fairmounts on the way. Uncle Roger, this is Bailey. He goes


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to my schoolI mean, he wentto my school. I mean . . . hell be at

Fairmount with me.

Roger turned to Bailey with wide, interested eyeseyes that

peered through the rames o glasses as thick as Hals.

Well, well Making ast riends already, are we he exclaimed.

Dillweeds protruding nose huffed under the coat. Doesnt get bet-

ter than that. Youll have plenty o time to chitchat beore we get to

Fairmount. wo whole days on a rigimotive When I think that it

would take only hal a day i we were allowed through the Woods

to the mountains, I tell you . . . Roger threw up his hands. Well,

well. Well just have to get cozy. He turned his attention back to

Hal. I dont suppose youve seen your brother yet, have you

Hal made a ace and pointed over his shoulder to the group o

older students Bailey had noticed earlier. Tey were clapping and

laughing loudly as one boy, with dark hair like Hals, played keep-

away with another boys rucksack. Te same tortoiseshell cat rom

the station platorm sat nestled in the compartment overhead, bat-

ting at the rucksack as it passed. Roger rose rom his seat with an

exasperated sigh and waddled over to put a stop to the game.

Tats your brother Bailey asked. Hal nodded, obviously

annoyed.aylor. Hes Year Tree, thank Nature, so Ill only have to put

up with him or two years at Fairmount. Hes a Scavage player, Hal

said matter-o-actly. Scavage, a game in which members o two

opposing teams have to find and capture the other teams flag with

the help o their kin, was the most popular sport in the kingdom.

Bailey had watched some Scavage games at his school, and his dadliked to listen to the big tournaments on the radio.

Scavage is the only reason he got into Fairmount, Hal


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continued. aylor has one other talent and thats being a jerk. He

removed his glasses and scrubbed at the lenses vigorously. With-

out them, his eyes looked almost crossed. Im Animas Bat, like

my grandather. And aylors Cat, so we dont exactly get along.

Teyre allAnimas CatBailey assumed Hal meant his amily

and thats why I live with Roger.

Bailey nodded. It wasnt uncommon or amilies with differ-

ent types o kin to have problems, especially when one type o

Animas was more aggressive than the other. Bailey remembered

now why hed seen so little o Hal at school. His wealthy uncle

Roger lived near the periphery o the Dark Woods, and Hal was

always whisked away right at the end o the last class so they would

get home beore nightall.

Looking at Hal nowhis skinny arms, his outdated haircut

and ormal attire, and the thick glasses that made him look con-

stantly surprisedBailey ound it hard to believe that he lived

so close to the edge o the Dark Woods. For most citizens o

Aldermere, the Dark Woods were orbidden, and the only people

brave enough to live within its shadow were Animas Bear or Wol.

Te dirigible floating above the car caught a gust o wind and

pulled the rigimotive orward with a start. Bailey waved to hisparents. Roger huffed as he settled back into his seat. Behind him,

aylor and his riends returned almost immediately to their game.

Tat must have been your olks I was speaking to outside,

Roger said to Bailey, as he returned to his seat. Nice people.

Tanks, Bailey said.

So which are you, Roger asked, Horse or HareTis was it: the one question Bailey had been dreading. His

Animas. Most people inherited rom one parent or another, though


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a ew skipped a generation. Roger clearly wasnt aware that Bailey

was adopted, which meant that he didnt have eithera Horse or

Hare Animas.

And that wasnt the worst o it. Hed even considered lying

about it, telling everyone who was sure to ask at Fairmount that

he was a Bear or a Snakeeven a Possum Anything was better

than the truth.

I . . . Bailey could eel his palms begin to sweat.

You dont have to say, Bailey, Hal jumped in quickly.

Say what Roger asked, looking conused. I merely asked

Roger,hes . . . Hal began. Roger looked rom Hal to Bailey,

blinking with conusion. Hes the adopted one, Hal said, look-

ing down at his shoes.

Bailey elt himsel blushing. Something about the hushed way

that Hal had said the adopted one made him think that Hal knew

something more than hed said. Tat was only to be expected,

really. Tere was no way Hal wouldnt have heard the rumors, the

taunts on the school grounds. He just hoped that Hal would be

decent enough not to blab about it once they got to Fairmountat

least until Bailey had had a chance to ask or help rom Mr. Loren,

the trainer hed read about.Ah . . . Rogers eyes grew even wider behind his thick glasses,

and he umbled in a pocket or a handkerchie. It was clear to

Bailey that Roger had heard the same whispers. He reached out

and patted Baileys hand. Bailey resisted the urge to pull it away.

Im sorry, son, Roger said. Insensitive o me.

At that moment, the bag that aylor and his riends had beentossing sailed past Rogers head.

Sorry one o aylors riends shouted.


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Ruffian Roger trumpeted, and grabbed the bag. He marched

up to the ront o the car and began shouting at aylor, who was

doing a very bad job o looking sorry. Dillweed curled into the

shadows under Rogers empty seat, emitting a so snore. Te boys

were quiet or a minute as Roger lectured the students up ront on

rigimotive etiquette.

Hal was the first to speak.

Listen, i I wasnt supposed to say anything . . . He altered.

Its just that I thought everyoneknew.

Not everyone. Bailey turned to watch the fields and pastures

o the Golden Lowlands slide by, hoping Hal would take the hint:

he didnt want to talk about it.

Riding the rigimotive turned out to be stranger than Bailey

had imagined. Sometimes, when the wind was strong, the dirigible

moved aster than the cars wheels on the tracks, and the rigimo-

tive would sway and buck, causing Bailey to eel a little nauseous.

Roger had been right about the long journey too. Te prospect

o an overnight stay onboard wasnt pleasant, even though under-

neath the benches were narrow oldout cots or overnight journeys.

Many o the overhead cubbies designated or traveling animals

were being used or storage, so the raccoons accompanying oneamily on the second floor had come up to the third, and were

blocking the aisles. Te electro-current generated by the tracks

was unreliable, and so, in addition to the electro-wired lights that

occasionally flickered on and off, gas lamps had been hung every

ew eet along the central aisle o both cars. Passengers had to duck

as they walked, to make sure they didnt get hit.A dining area on the first floor sold wrapped sandwiches

cucumber and onion, spinach and cheese, and city trout and


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tomato or those who ate fish. But Bailey could hardly stand the

thought o ood as the rigimotive rocked with each gust o wind.

By sunset, most o the passengers had given up on polite con-

versation and were claiming benches and cots on which to doze.

Bailey at last managed to swallow down a city trout sandwich, and

then he unolded the cot opposite Hal. Roger, claiming not to be

tired, was pacing the aisles. Dillweed had awakened rom his nap,

and he sat on the floor nearby, scratching various itches. Bailey

rolled over and closed his eyes, trying to sleep under the flickering

gas lamps and the hum o the huge dirigible above them.

He did sleep, at last, and dreamed o becoming a bird, and

then a ox; then he was an ant crawling under the shadow o a

great mountain.

Bailey woke as something fluttered against the window. Te gas

lamps had been dimmed, and the sound o sof snoring filled

the car.

Whats going on He sat up, balling his fists in his eyes. Roger

was not in his seat. Hal was staring out the window.

Its just a bat, Hal said. I couldnt sleep. Nothing new or

me. He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned closer to Bailey.Were coming up to the mountains. Te Velyn Peaks.

Bailey shook off the haze o his dream. He squinted out the

window. Beyond the glass, the trees o the Dark Woods towered

above them. Te moon hung high over the treetops. Trough the

tall branches, Bailey could see the tips o the legendary Velyn

mountains, white and glimmering in the near distance. Aferanother minute, there was a break in the tree line, and Bailey got


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a ull view o the mountain range ahead, silhouetted against the

pitch-black night sky. Tey looked empty and barren.

Bailey shivered. Te Velyn Peaks stretched across the kingdom

to the south o the Lowlands and up toward the west, where the

cliffs o Fairmount were. In the Lowlands, it was easy to think o

the Velyn as very ar away.

But as they drew closer to the academy, the looming, ominous

presence o the mountains was undeniable. Boogeymen haunted

the mountains. Ghosts and killers walked those white peaksat

least, thats what everyone said.

Do you believe all the stories about the lost tribes o the

Velyn Bailey asked Hal. According to the stories, the Velyn were

a mysterious group o men and women whod been tough enough

to live up there in the mountains, mostly because they shared the

Animas bond with powerul beasts like grizzly bears, wolves, and

giant mountain cats.

Hal shrugged. You remember the history teacher, Mr. Elliot

Hal asked. He always told us that the Velyn were real people

escaped criminals mostly, people running rom the law. But I dont

know. My mom used to tell me that the Velyn men could turn into

animals and steal children who misbehaved. Only when I didnteat my sprouts, though.

My mom told me that one too, Bailey said, smiling. He turned

back to the window. When he stared up at the mountains, he elt

a flickering in the back o his mind, like the fluttering o wings.

He tried to shut out the chugging o the rigimotive and ocus

only on the silence in the trees, the aintest whisper o wind. Heclosed his eyes. His dad had tried to teach him so many times


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to connect with the animals around him, never with very good

results. Youre not so different, hed said during those lessons. You

just need a little focus.

He heard the branches o the trees scraping against each other

in the breeze, and under that, a rustling, like the shuddering o

dry leaves. It was a sound he was sure he hadnt heard earlier,

through the window. It seemed to be buzzing in his very ears, as

i he werent in the rigimotive car, but right out there in the trees,

standing still, listening. He elt a leap o excitement.

Somethings out there, he said in a whisper, opening his eyes.

Te sound in his ears immediately died away. I can eel it.

What do you mean asked Hal. Has that ever happened to

you beore

Bailey stood up. He had to get closer. He moved down the aisle

to the back o the rigimotive car. Hal ollowed him.

He hadelt something different, a stirring that had never hap-

pened when hed been training with his dad. I he could just get

outside somehow, maybe that eeling would come back. . . . He

reached the rear o the rigimotive car and grabbed ahold o the

brass handle that opened the car door.

Bailey Hal whispered fiercely. Were not supposed to gooutside the car

A couple o passengers stirred, and one bright-eyed raccoon

popped up rom a blanket to blink at him. Bailey ignored Hal and

opened the door. Te wind outside blew his hair back rom his

orehead, and the machinery chugging below echoed in his ears.

I only I could ocus, Bailey thought. I only I could get closer.He stepped orward onto the platorm. Te tops o the trees were

lit by silvery moonlight; shadows raced and skidded across the


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ground. Only yards away rom the tracks, the trees began to come

together and orm a thick, leay wallthe Dark Woods. In the

trees, Bailey saw a flash o something white. He blinked. Was it a

trick o the moon

No. It was an animal.

At least Bailey thoughtit was an animal, but it wasnt like any

animal hed ever seen. It was huge, disappearing and reappearing

in between the gaps o the trees, glowing in the moonlight. Like a

ghost, he thought. It seemed to run along with the rigimotive as it

passed the orest. Bailey elt his blood go cold in his veins. Aer a

moment, the flash o white disappeared altogether.

What in Nature do you think youre doing a man yelled.

Bailey elt a hand on his shoulder pulling him back through

the door into the dim light o the car. It was a conductor in a

worn uniorm, with sharp blue eyes. Behind him was Roger, with

Hals older brother, aylor, close at hand. Dillweed the badger and

aylors dark, sleek cat skittered up the aisle behind them.

You could have gotten yoursel killed going out there while

the rigis in motion the conductor said as he closed the door with

a loud whump. Bailey could hear the disgruntled murmuring o

passengers who didnt appreciate being woken up.Already in trouble, and were not even there yet, said aylor,

looking down at Bailey with a mocking smile. Got something to

prove

Bark off, aylor, said Hal, appearing in the aisle behind his

brother.

But Bailey was still reeling rom what hed seen. Te animalhed spotted seemed like something otherworldly, watching the

train....


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You all right, boy asked Roger.

II saw something huge out there, he blurted out.

Roger narrowed his eyes at Bailey. aylor, who stood behind

him, laughed with a snort.

A wol he asked. Tere are plenty o wolves in the Dark

Woods.

No, it wasnt that, said Bailey. It was all white. . . .

Tat doesnt sound like anything in these parts, said the con-

ductor dryly. Sometimes a bear will wander close to the tracks,

but theyre your average brown or black variety.

oo true, said Roger loudly, clapping a heavy hand on

Baileys shoulder. Must have been a trick o the light.

It was there, said Bailey. It was much bigger than a bear

and it was so bright. It almost glowed. . . .

Was it a gh-gh-ghost asked aylor, wiggling his fingers in

a mocking gesture.

Go back to the ront, aylor, beore you get on my last nerve,

snapped Roger. And Bailey, come sit down and calm yoursel.

You just saw a wol or coyote, thats all. Enough o these stories.

Bailey hung back, angry and embarrassed, while Roger and

aylor returned to their seats. Other passengers in the car werelooking at him. His ears were hot. He knew that he had seen

somethinghadnt he For a second he wondered i Roger was

right and he had mistaken a wol or something else. But no. Te

creature hed seen had been large enough or him to spot rom

several yards away, and had been a pure, snowy white.

I know what I saw, Bailey said quietly to Hal.Sure, I believe you. Hal sat on his cot, but didnt lie down


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just yet. He was still fidgeting; Bailey could tell he wanted to say

something more.

Around them, the excitement o Baileys scolding had died

away, and the murmurs o their ellow passengers had been

replaced with low breathing, snores, and the occasional rustle o

eather and ur.

Look, said Hal. I just want you to know. . . Im not going to

tell anyone about . . .youknow. I you want to keep it a secret when

we get to Fairmount, you can count on me.

Keep what a secret Bailey asked, even though he already

knew what Hal was talking about. But he wanted to know or cer-

tain just how much Hal knew about him. What have you heard

Hal breathed in deeply, as i to steel himsel against the words.

He leaned in close to Baileys ear.

Ten he said them, the words that hurt Bailey like a physical

blow, like nothing but the truth could do:

You have no Animas.


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Two

FAR FROM HE LOWLANDS and the dim gas lamps o the rigi-

motive, a small, dark shape circled the sooty actories o the Gray

City, sweeping high over a stream o acrid smoke. It dipped past

the ar edges o the skyline, pulling its wings closer to its body as

it careened over the rooops, then spread them wide as it finally

came within sight o the copper roos o the palace, the home o

Parliament. It let the air currents carry it straight to a windowledge halway up the wall o a rickety tower on the palaces west-

ern side. A scar o smoke damage rom the fire that had burned

down hal the building almost thirty years ago still showed on the

towers outer wall.

Te owl settled on the sill o an open window, which over-

looked a narrow, twisting staircase. At the bottom o the stairs wasan archway that let in a sha o light rom the hall. Around the

corner, a group o officials talked loudly about Parliament business.


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In a moment so quick that only the owl saw, a oot in a canvas shoe

appeared in the sha o light rom the door, then was pulled back

into the shadows.

Te owner o that oot, a thirteen-year-old girl named Gwen,

stood very still in the dark corner by the archway and waited

breathlessly or the Parliament members in the hall to move on.

Te owl on the windowsill cocked its head, but made no noise. Te

officials in the hall at last ambled away.

Gwen exhaled or the first time in what seemed like entire

minutes. Te members o Parliament were used to Gwenshe

was apprenticed to the Elder, who had been in Parliament since the

time o King Melore. But tonight she needed to remain unseen. Te

Elder was leaving on a secret mission, and Gwen was determined

to go with him. She hoisted her rucksack onto her shoulder and

ran her pale fingers through her short, flame-red hair. Shed tried

to give up the habit a thousand times, but she couldnt help it. She

elt jittery, as though eathers were rustling in her belly.

Te owl hopped once on the windowsill as she passed it on

her way up the stairs, and then took off again into the night. Gwen

could eel, however, that it had not gone ar. She was learning

(slowly) to distinguish individual members o her kin when therewere several o them around, even getting so close as to intuit

their names. She elt a warmth, a kind o buzzing in her chest as

she sensed the group o owls in the tower room above her, and one

flying, buoyed by the wind, just outside.

At the top o the steps, Gwen lingered in the darkness by the

open door to the tower room. Sure enough, a cluster o owls sattogether in the rafers, looking down at the shelves and shelves

o dusty old books, and at the rooms only human occupant: the


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Elder, an old man with wild gray hair and shrewd eyes. He was

busy stuffing objects into a canvas sack. His worn jacket and waist-

coat had once been careully embroidered with the patterns o

wings, but those patterns were now an almost illegible tangle o

loose brown and silver threads.

Te Elder had known Gwen since she was just another ratty

orphan o the Gray City. He was Animas Owl, like her, and when

hed caught her trying to pick his pocket one day in the Gudgeons, a

grimy, crime-riddled slum in the Gray City, he hadnt gotten angry.

Instead, hed taken pity on her and brought her back to the palace

to be his apprentice. Apprentices slept in clean, warm rooms down-

stairs near the kitchens, and attended morning classes until the age

o twelve, afer which their only charge was to serve a member o

Parliament. But apprentices had allen out o ashion since the days

o Melore, and Gwens classmates had been ew and ar between.

Most o her learning came rom the Elder himsel. Beore hed taken

her in, she had been dirty, alone, and hal starving, with no compan-

ions except a small band o other child thieves. Shed known then

that she was Animas Owl, but had never known how to connect to

her kin, how to slow her breath and clear her mind so she could sense

them and learn rom them. Te Elder had taught her that. He was theclosest thing to a ather she had. I he was leaving, then she would

go too, even i it meant ollowing him out o the palace in secret.

Te Elder sighed. Gwendolyn, he said soly, without turn-

ing around, i I were a pair o hardy boots, where in this study

would I be hiding

Gwen exhaled. How could she have thought she would remainundetected Te Elder must have known she was coming as soon

as the owls perceived her.


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23


She stepped out rom the shadow into a cramped, cluttered

room. Tere was barely enough space or the two o them to stand

next to the Elders claw-ooted desk and the many shelves o books

that lined the hexagonal walls.

Did you try the closet she asked.

Te Elder shook his head. Would you believe its only ull o

more books

Normally, Gwen would have laughed. But instead she gripped

the strap o her rucksack tightly and steeled hersel.

Im coming with you to the Seers Land.

Te Elder didnt stop packing. He didnt even look at her.

My rain cape has also gone missing, it seems. . . . he mur-

mured.

Gwen peeled away rom the doorway and located his rain cape,

which was inexplicably balled up under his bed. She stuffed it into

the traveling bag on the desk or him.

I worry about you, Gwen couldnt stop rom blurting out,

even though she knew she could say nothing to stop him rom

leaving the palace. You need me with you.

Te Elder rested his eyes on her momentarily. Youre right,

child. I do need you. But I need you here.I need your eyes on Par-liament while Im gone. Teres no longer any doubt in my mind

that Viviana is taking steps to overthrow them. He lowered his

voice. Her Dominae party becomes larger every day.

Te Elder sorted through the random pile o objects hed

recovered rom a cupboard under the bookshelves: a shoehorn, a

bundle o maps tied with string, and finallyAha he crowed, tossing the boots toward Gwen, who caught

them and set them beside his bag.


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A N I M A S

24

Since her reappearance here in the City, Viviana has let her

anger and stubbornness guide her. I had some hope that her emer-

gence as Melores daughter might mean a return o prosperity or

Aldermere, afer so many years o the Jackals rule. Parliament was

right to chase the Jackal rom powerbut theyve lost their way.

When Melore presided over them, Parliament was efficient and

air. Now theres so much corruption. We take rom the people, and

yet nothing is accomplished, no progress at all. . . . We need a real

leader. He straightened up and moved over to the shelves. On one o

them stood a silk toy piglet, which looked as i it had once been loved

dearly. Te Elder picked it up and ran a finger along its stitched back.

Tose were better days, he said quietly, and Gwen knew

that he was remembering Viviana as a child. Hed told her about

Vivianabeautiul and stubborn, with untamable black hair

and curious, violet eyes. Gwen could imagine the young princess,

beore her athers murder, clutching the silk toy as she ran about

the halls o the palace.

Te Elder sighed. For so long the people have believed in

a hal-cooked prophecy about the return o a true leaderand

I admit, when Viviana first announced her return to the city, I

mysel almost believed those rumors. But her behavior, her cruelideas about Dominanceshes not the child I knew. She has

nothing in common with her ather. Im convinced that she is

beyond my help, or my riendship. He shook his head, regret writ-

ten plainly on his thin, weathered ace. I only her brother had

lived Te Elders voice broke. It obviously still pained him to

think o rent, the child he could not save, who had burned alongwith hal o the palace.

Gwen shivered and placed a hand on his arm.


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25


I so much troubles you here in the City, why leave Te Seers

havent spoken to anyone in years. Some say. . . some say there are

no Seers le. She swallowed.

Te Elder patted her hand warmly, cleared his voice, and con-

tinued. I must go to the Statue o the wins, where the Seers once

resided. Tere are rumors o unrest in the orests, and the Low-

lands as well. I must seek out what allies we may have le.

All the more reason I should go with you Youll need some-

one to protect you, Gwen said, even though she knew what his

answer would be.

He shook his head. His gray hair was tued like the eathers

o one o their owls. You must stay here and make sure that no

one tries to take over my study again, eh

Gwen nodded stiffly. Te Elders joke did not seem unny to

her. For too long the Parliament had been divided. Some senators

wanted to bleed out the corruption and elect a new monarch; oth-

ers wanted absolute power or themselves, and oen bought and

received avors in order to get it. Chambers in the palace seemed

to shi as oen as allegiances. Aer many years o occupying a

study near the royal apartment, the Elder had been shuffled out

and up, into a cramped tower that looked out over the ports andthe harbor market o the Fluvian River. Every time the wind blew

rom the south, it caused the tower to sway slightly, and carried

with it the pungent smell o fish.

Te Elder moved to the desk and opened the smallest drawer.

Here, he said. Gwen watched, surprised, as the Elder pulled

the drawer completely out rom the desk, revealing a hiddencompartment. He set the drawer on the desk and removed a thin

leather box, only as long as the palm o his hand.


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A N I M A S

26

I want you to keep this sae while I am gone. It is an instru-

ment o great power.

Gwen marveled at the box beore opening it. Te real leather,

very rare, used only or special objects, was smooth and almost

red. Te use o an animals skin meant that the object had great

value and was made to honor the animal who died, most likely o

old age. Te box had been lovingly embossed with the emblem o

a boy and a oxthe wins o legend. Gwen opened the box, her

hands shaking slightly. But almost immediately, she elt disap-

pointed. Inside was nothing more than a rusty old harmonica.

I . . . I dont know how to play, she said, trying to conceal her

conusion.

Tat doesnt matter, said the Elder. Its a relic o the last

rue King. Te leather case is pigskin, made as a gi to the king

in honor o his daughters eighth birthday, when she Awakened to

her Animas, the pig, like her mother. But the instrumentthat is

much older. Melore believed that its music could strengthen the

Animas bond.

How can that be Gwen asked, baffled.

Te Elder lowered his voice. Melore was a good king, he

whispered, and very intelligent. He believed that the Animas bonddid not only exist herehe pointed to his headbut all around

us. He believed it was a requency, a vibration. It was everywhere.

Gwen looked up at the owls clustered on top o the high book-

shelves. One among them was a dark brown barn owl named

Grimsen, with whom the Elder had bonded or lie. Once lie-

bonded with a member o their kin, a human could see throughtheir eyes, like looking at a photograph, almost at will. Lie-bonded

humans and their kin were two halves o the same soul, and ones


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27


well-being was intimately tied with the others. Gwen had not expe-

rienced this with one particular animalan owl like Grimsen that

she could consider part o her own sel. She looked at the small

instrument in her hands. How wonderul it would be i just learn-

ing to play a ew notesthe right noteswould strengthen her

Animas connection, making her strong enough to bond with one

particular owl, to see clearly what it saw. Maybe then she could be

o more use to the Elder.

Keep it sae, the Elder said, and his voice turned stern, You

never know when a tune might come in handy.

Gwen orced a smile.

Above them, Grimsen screeched, and a large brown eather

ell to the floor. Te Elder closed his eyes as though listening. And

he waslistening, Gwen knew. He was listening and seeing as the

owls saw.

Stirrings, the Elder said, aer a minute. He opened his eyes.

An old presence in the Dark Woods has emerged anew. . . . He

turned to Gwen and smiled, with a hint o mischie flashing in

his eyes. Dangerous times ahead. Oh, yes. Dangerous and excit-

ing times.


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28

Three

AFER HREE MINOR DERAILINGS, a variety o prepack-

aged sandwiches rom the dining area, and another restless night

listening to Rogers snoring, Bailey was so glad to hear the loud-

speakers tinny FairMOUNTcall that he cheered. He wasnt

aloneHal and his brother, aylor, and aylors gang o rowdy

riends all sent up a celebratory whoop, and Roger audibly thanked

Nature they had arrived.Te rigimotive turned a corner around the base o a steep moun-

tain, and the boys could see the towering cliff on top o which the

academy was perched, overlooking the wide Fluvian River. At the

base o the cliff was a giant wooden waterwheel that created electro-

current or the whole school. Here, where the river grew narrower,

the water was orced through the wheel, which churned and sput-tered and sent sprays o mist up the side o the cliff.


26/38

29


How do we get up there Hal asked his uncle.

Roger groaned. You can see the tracks, cant you

Bailey squinted. Te late-afernoon sun glared off the wet

cliff ace, but Bailey could see a thin set o tracks snaking their

way straight up the side o the cliffdirectly to the Fairmount

buildings.

Whoa was all he could muster.

Seat belts on. Secure packages, please,came the voice rom

the loudspeaker.

Here we go, said Roger with the enthusiasm o a slug about

to encounter a trail o salt. Dillweed burrowed under the seat once

more, bracing himsel against Rogers legs. No matter how many

times I make this trip, it never gets any easier. . . .

As the rigimotive passed the waterwheel, a spray o river water

splattered the windows. Ten, a resounding creak, a screech o the

wheels, a whoosho the dirigible above, and suddenly the rigimo-

tive and all its passengers were jolted back into their seats as the

car came to a halt just inches in ront o the ace o the cliff.

Whats happening Bailey asked Roger, who looked a lit-

tle ill.

Teyre harnessing the ront wheels to the tracks, he saidmatter-o-actly. And theyd better do it right, by Nature. . . .

Bailey and Hal exchanged a worried look. Clanks and thuds

echoed through the windows rom the rock wall in ront o them.

Te yells o the conductors were muffled, but soon Bailey heard

what sounded like an order to go. With a jolt, the rigimotive car

was shakennot orward, but up. Bailey jumped in his seat. Rogerheld his handkerchie in ront o his ace and closed his eyes.


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A N I M A S

30

Te rigimotive clanked its way straight up the side o the cliff.

Every two or three jolts, the second carwhere Bailey, Hal, and

Roger were sittingwould seem to lean back, as i the weight

were too much, and Baileys heart would pound until the diri-

gibles steady ascent pulled the car right. Bailey could see at once

why Roger was so nervousand many o the other passengers as

well. Everyone on two legs in the rigimotive car had their hands

clenched around their seat bottoms, and the amily o raccoons

that had spent a sleepless two nights in the aisle were skittering

anxiously up and down between the seats. Someones hawk was

flying wildly, attacking the windows as i it could get out.

Roger had turned rom ghostly pale to a sort o yellowish-

green. Tankully, aer only a ew minutes, the rigimotive made

another grand creaking sound and righted itsel, sliding back onto

horizontal tracks at the top o the cliff.

Tey had made it.

Baileys stomach made another leap, this time into his throat.

Fairmount Academys gleaming ivy-covered marble buildings

were pink and orange in the early evening sun, and already a small

crowd o students and teachers were gathered near the rigimotive

platorm to meet them. Bailey had never seen so many differentkinds o animals in his lie. Most o his schoolmates in the Low-

lands were kin to arm or house animals. But here, the platorm

was packed with lizards and monkeys and large birds, as well as

sheep and guinea pigs. A pelican perched on the roo o the station,

looking protectively at a man with a long nose standing below on

the platorm, checking off a list as trunks were unloaded onto theplatorm. Some men hoisted the larger luggage and suitcases rom


28/38

31


the first floor o the rigimotive onto a cart, where a pair o donkeys

waited patiently to take them to the dorms.

Bailey and Hal hurried down the stairs, with Roger trailing

behind them. Once outside, they ollowed the crowd o students

off o the platorm and through the small station, where bags were

being organized and returning students were shouting, hugging,

and exchanging high fives. Rabbits, deer, and even one or two

bears circled the station yard and scampered up the path to the

main campus. Te path itsel was lined with impressive hedges

trimmed to look like a menagerie o orest creatures.

Looks like everythings well in hand, boys, so i you dont

mind, I have a parcel to drop off beore the rigi moves on without

me said Roger, clapping them both on the back. From the looks o

the chaotic station, Bailey wasnt sure anythingwas in hand at all.

Ah, to be young, Roger bellowed, mopping his ace with his

ever-present handkerchie. Dont get yourselves into too much

trouble, boys. I I hear o any misbehaviorhe pointed a meaty

finger at Hal, who looked like the last boy in the kingdom whod

ever dream o breaking a ruleIll send you home to your mother

in the blink o a badgers eye. With that, Roger ruffled Hals hair

and was off, back into the crowd. Hal waved halfeartedly, thenturned to Bailey.

He says it all the time, he said, smiling, but I dont think

he means it.

What did he mean, a parcel asked Bailey.

Hal shrugged. Hes always got orders coming in or his herbs

and plants and things. Probably rom a Botany proessor.Outside the station, the crowd was even thicker and the chaos


29/38

A N I M A S

32

even less contained. Several sheepdogs ran circles around groups

o conused students as the teachers tried unsuccessully to cor-

ral students and their animal counterparts into lines according

to year.

Year Ones over here Bailey heard someone shout, but he

couldnt see where the shout had come rom, since as soon as he

turned, a deer ran through the crowd, and a group o older girls

went chasing aer it, oohing and ahhing.

Bailey saw aylor approaching with his riends rom the rigi-

motive and some other tall, broad-shouldered boys. Tey were

ollowed by their kin, a mixed group o cats, dogs, and even a long-

eared jackrabbit, which made Bailey suddenly a little homesick.

Hey, little brother aylor said too loudly as he clapped

Haltoo hardon the shoulder. Hal stumbled orward, nearly

losing his glasses. We were just talking about you.

I bet, mumbled Hal.

I was trying to tell my riends about Baileys adventure on

the way here, but I just cant get the details right. aylor grinned

at Bailey. Please tell the story or us, Bailey.

Bailey remembered the reaction rom those around him on

the rigimotive: the laughter, the whispers.I dont want to talk about it. He tried to push through the

group, but aylor held out a hand to stop him.

Come on, he said, his voice changing into something almost

resembling sincerity. Its such a great story. Just tell us what it

was like out there, on the platorm. Tat was pretty crazy o you,

little man.Bailey shrugged. I was curious.


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33


You werent scared asked aylor. Bailey looked around the

assembled group o students. Tey were all watching him careully.

Not really, he said, and he realized it was true. He hadnt

been scared. Hed elt excited.

Te other boys began to whisper.

Not even when you saw the ghost aylor asked loudly. Tere

was a snort rom the crowd, then several bursts o laughter.

Bailey rowned.

I didnt say it was a ghost.

You said it was white and it glowed What else, Walker

Did it float and say Boo

You dont know what I saw, Bailey said. You werent there.

What did I tell you aylor began to laugh too, and he and

one o his riends slapped hands.

Im guessing youre Animas Weasel, said a broad-shouldered

boy with a flat, wide orehead, as though hed allen on his ace one

too many times running in Scavage matches. You can always tell

a liar by the smell o Weasel

Who knows whatyour Animas is, though aylor added. I

dont see any o your kin around. Not on the rigi, not here. I guess

not even your own kin want to be around you. . . .Bailey elt his ace heat up.

Leave him alone, aylor, said Hal.

Leave him aloneaylor mimicked. Ill protect you, Bailey

Bark off; I mean it said Hal.

aylor was still smiling, but there was a flash o anger in his

eyes when he looked at Bailey. Youre just lucky we came alongto pull you in rom the platorm, or who knows Te batsmight


31/38

A N I M A S

34

have nibbled on your fingers. And you know what they say about

batsthey carry all kinds o diseases.

Hal lunged or his brother, but aylor sent him tumbling back-

ward onto the lawn with a single push.

Hal Bailey went to help Hal to his eet.

Suddenly, there was the loud clinking o machinery. A puff

o oul-smelling smoke split the group, and a rickety motorbuggy

came to a crashing halt in ront o aylor and his riends.

Te contraption looked as i a stiff wind could blow it apart.

Gears and bolts and other mismatched pieces were hammered

against one another as the motorbuggys steam engine kept puff-

ing away. Te man insideat least, Bailey thoughtit was a man

reached up with ridiculously oversized gloves and removed a pair

o bug-eyed driving goggles.

His ace, except or the part where the goggles had been, was

coated with coal dust. Even his thin black mustache was dusty.

He had a young ace, but Bailey saw tired lines under the mans

eyes. A red ox sat perched next to him on the seat o a sidecar,

wearing a pair o homemade miniature goggles o her own, her

red ur tinged in places with grease and black coal. Te clutch

and steering wheel were ornate and shinyas i they were pol-ished oen. Whoever this man was, he truly loved his sputtering,

handwrought motorbuggy.

aylor Quindley the coal-dusted person barked. What are

you and your teammates doing here, harassing young persons

Instantly, aylors attitude shied. He shoved his hands into

his pockets and muttered an apology, and the group quicklydispersed.


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35


Bailey pulled Hal to his eet. Te person in the motorbuggy was

wrestling with a set o assorted knobs, trying to get the unsteady

thing started again.

I, um . . . you. . . thanks, Hal managed to say. Bailey noticed

the top o a metal flask sticking out o the mans vest pocket.

Dont thank me, the man said, without looking up. I have

three pastimes in lie: machines, music, and making people

squirm. You might be next.

Are you Mr. Loren Hal asked, stepping orward with a hand

outstretched. Im

I dont use that name, and so I can only conclude that youre

new around here. Te teacher scowled. Its remelo, but dont

go thinking that a first-name basis makes us pals. Tat goes or

both o you.

With that, the motorbuggy roared into clinking, clanging

action, and several students scrambled to get out o its way. Te

ox in the sidecar yipped at Bailey as it passed. Bailey gaped. His

heart started beating loudlyhed just encountered the very pro-

essor hed meant to find.

Tatsremelo Loren He asked Hal. I didnt think hed be

sohe struggled to find the right worddusty.Hal cleaned his glasses on his shirt; they had been knocked to

the ground when hed allen.

Youve heard o remelo Hal asked.

Bailey nodded. I read something about him, that hes a

trainerhe can make peoples bond with their kin stronger.

Hal squinted through his glasses, conused. Really I thoughthe just teaches Basic inkeringmechanics and stuff. aylor says


33/38

A N I M A S

36

hes a useless teacher. Ten again, my brother isnt exactly the most

reliable source. I mean, just look at that motorbuggy; its impressive

or having built it himsel.

In the distance, the motorbuggy let out a rich belch o smoke

as it backfired, scattering a group o girls and their goat kin. Te

goats took off toward some shrubbery at the edge o the grounds.

Dont let those creatures near my berries called a red-aced

woman with two buck-toothed groundhogs riding on her shoul-

ders. Ijustpruned them She hurried aer the fleeing goats as

the girls laughed.

So, Bailey said to Hal. What now

Just then, a short, squat woman in a tweed suit hustled toward

them.

Are you new, boys she asked, as the wombat clinging to her

head removed a hairpin rom her messy bun.

Um . . . yes Bailey answered, watching the wombat chew on

a piece o the womans hair.

Excellent. Welcome to Fairmount. Here you go. She shoved

a map into Baileys hands. Youve just come rom . . .

Te Golden Lowlands, Bailey answered.

Excellent. I dont suppose either o you know ashe stoppedto scan a clipboard held in her tightly clenched handBailey

Walker, do you

Bailey gulped.

Tats me, he said, through a mouth as dry as sand.

Te woman looked relieved enough to hug him.

Tank Nature. Weve been looking or youyoure to comewith me. And your riend

Hal Quindley, Hal offered.


34/38

37


Te woman checked her list again. Her wombat eyed Bailey

as i he were a piece o especially ripe ruit.

Quindley, youre in the owers, dear. Walker, with me She

turned and walked quickly through the throng o bustling stu-

dents toward the central campus. Bailey looked at Hal, stricken.

Im sure its nothing, said Hal, sounding very much like his

uncle.

Yeah. I bet youre right, Bailey answered, though his mind

was racing. His hands shook as he ollowed the woman, her wom-

bat bobbing above the crowd. He turned back and saw that Hal

was watching him anxiously.

Ill see you soon, Hal called, waving. Bailey hoped he was

right.

Te woman introduced hersel as the dean o students, Ms.

Shonfield. She led Bailey to the administration building, which

housed the staff offices and the library. Bailey caught a glimpse

o the meeting hall, which was being decorated with garlands

and banners or the welcoming ceremony scheduled or the next

morning. Ms. Shonfields office walls were packed with yellowed

photographs o Fairmount deans o old, posing with memberso Parliament and once-amous tinkerers. Bailey was especially

impressed by a very grainy photo that showed men and women

in ormal dress during the Age o Invention, cutting a ribbon in

ront o a new, shiny rigimotive car. Ms. Shonfield caught him

looking.

Te maiden voyage, Ms. Shonfield said proudly. A ew oour own proessors were on the team that developed the rigimo-

tive, back when our engineering program was a tad larger. We


35/38

A N I M A S

38

used to be much more o a research academy, but when Melore

was killed . . . well, things got a little leaner.

Bailey noticed the tall, dark-bearded man holding the scissors.

His striped suit was partially covered by a long greatcoat, intri-

cately woven to look like so, wild ur. His smile was wide under

his top hat, his eyes sparkling.

Who is that he asked.

Ms. Shonfield shook her head.

Its a miracle that picture has survived, she said, a note o

wistulness in her voice. So many photographs rom that era were

destroyed when the Jackal took power. Tats Melore, the allen

king. Tis photo was taken only one weekbeore his assassina-

tion at the Aldermere Progress Fair, and his palace invaded and

burned. . . . She trailed off, lost in the pull o history. Te wombat

sat on her desk, chewing on a piece o paper and looking wistully

into the distance.

Wow, said Bailey. Hed heard about King Melore, o course.

Tough twenty-seven years had passed since Melore had died,

most people Bailey knew remembered the king ondly.

Yes, well, whats done is done, Ms. Shonfield said, rousing

hersel. I didnt bring you here to speak o dead kings. Go on. akea seat. She gestured to a chair across rom her desk. Ill be rank

with you, Mr. Walker. We dont know where to put you.

Bailey shied in his seat, dreading the questions to come.

I thought it was clear on the registration orms, she said,

shuffling several papers on her desk. We absolutely must know

what Animas you are, so we know where to house you and get youregistered or the most appropriate courses.


36/38

39


Oh, said Bailey. He took a deep breath. I havent really got

a . . . I mean, I havent . . .

Ms. Shonfield leaned in, listening intently.

No matter what your Animas is, Bailey, theres no need to be

ashamed We take all kinds here at Fairmount. Not like the old

days Had an Animas Sloth graduate last year, and you know, when

he wasnt sleeping in class, he was absolutely lovely.

Bailey looked down at his hands, resting on his now dirty work

pants, wrinkled and worn afer a two-day ride on the cramped

rigimotive. He just wanted to get to his trunk and crawl into a

real bed.

I havent Awakened to my Animas yet, he said. I dont know

what it is. Or i I have one at all, he thought.

Ms. Shonfield sat back in her chair and snatched her glasses

off o her ace. She squinted at him.

An Absence, she said breathlessly. Tats quite . . . unique.

I guess so, said Bailey, as the word Absenceso final, so

bleakechoed in his ears. His mom and dad had made a point

never to use it. People with a lielong Absence were rare to the

point o myth. In the stories Bailey had heard, they always ended

up insane, or worse.Its notpermanent,Im just developing slowly, thats all, he

added quickly, just in case she was about to tell him he couldnt

stay. Im adopted, so its taking me longer to figure out what kind

o animal I bond with. I . . . Im always looking, though. He tried

to sound cheerul. He tried to think o his ather, encouraging him

to be patient, telling him that his Animas could be anywherejustsomeplace he hadnt looked yet.


37/38

A N I M A S

40

Ms. Shonfield pinched her lips together and appeared to be

working out a puzzle in her head. Baileys stomach elt like it was

made o lead.

I just need a little time and training, he said, eeling increas-

ingly desperate. Youyou wont send me home, will you

O course not, Ms. Shonfield said. Bailey relaxed. But youll

have to miss out on a couple o core courses, Im araid. Biology

and the Bond, or one. Te class will be o no use to you without

an Animas. Its airly hands-on, you see. Unortunately, we havent

offered one-on-one Animas training in many years.

Ms. Shonfield leaned orward on her staunch elbows and

looked closely at Bailey.

My boy, you have a hard road to go here, I wont lie to you. Im

sure you know, most children Awaken to their Animas at approxi-

mately age nine. Te latest Ive ever met is eleven. Tis isnt to

discourage you, dearbut to let you know what youre in or.

Bailey looked up rom his hands as she continued.

We will find appropriate courses or you, dont worry about

that, and we will wait and see how you take to school lie. But

there will be plenty o studentsand yes, though Im sorry to say

it, adultswho wont understand your Absence. Who may try totreat you differently as a late waker. But you wont let them, will

you You belong here, Mr. Walker. We chose you based on your

aptitude, your intelligence, and the word o those who love you,

not which corner o Natures kingdom you may hail rom. Youre

late to Awaken, and Im sure this has brought you some pain,

but I assure you, when you do Awaken to your Animasand Ihave no doubt that you willwe here at Fairmount will be at the


38/38


ready to help you as you grow into it. Dont ever doubt that you

belong here.

Bailey nodded, solemn and grateul.

Tat said, Mr. Walker, I think its best to put you in the owers

as well or now. Ill arrange or your trunks to be directed there.

Documents

Animas: Legacy of the Claw excerpt