Jacquie was about to strike Kyran's attacker but Kyran's eyes began to glow white.

He shouted, "Astra Dolminu!" In an instant, a pale blue forcefield formed around Kyran and his attacker. Jacquie could now see that it was a large, black Lab with a red collar.

Kyran said, "Astol," and the forcefield vanished. His eyes returned to their sparkling aquamarine.

"What was that?" Maize asked amazed.

"That was some of the magic stuff I can do," Kyran stated proudly.

"Cool," Kirna said, "but what about the dog? Why did you protect it?"

"First off," Kyran said, now offended, "she is her, not an ‘it'. Second, I protected her because she's mine."

Jacquie gasped realizing that she had almost hit Kyran's dog.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry for almost hitting your dog!" she exclaimed.

"It's okay, you didn't know," Kyran said.

"So, what's her name?"

"Oh", Johnathan said. "I bet it's something weird like Nabdori or Shalara or—"

"Ellie," Kyran interjected. "Good tries, though. Next time I get a dog, I'll definitely name her Shalara."

Jacquie snickered and Johnathan looked annoyed.

"Anyway, we should leave soon," Kyran said, a bit more serious. "Everyone take a piece of jewelry from the trunk. We'll need them for where we're going."

Everyone began to crowd around the trunk trying to get the coolest thing first.

Kirna lifted a blue ring above her head, claiming the first pick. Erik took a ring with an iridescent opal in it. Robin snatched a necklace from Riordan with animal charms on it and draped it over her head.

"Dibs!" Johnathan shouted, grabbing a woven necklace with a buckle to connect it. Daniel seized a ring that Riordan was about to take. It had a ruby that seemed to burn from the inside. Riordan sighed and picked up an emerald ring. Maize had chosen a simple gold chain necklace with a silver clasp and was putting it around her neck.

Jacquie took one of the last ones, which was the one she had wanted anyway. It was a chain of topaz crystals, suspending a small orb that seemed to change color every second. She loved it instantly.

"Okay," Kyran said. "We're going to have to get down the mountain now. Ellie, follow us."

Ellie barked and ran through a door that Jacquie suspected led to the basement.

"Looks like she's not coming," Daniel said.

"She's coming," Kyran said. "She always does."