“What is it?” Wren asked.

  “I can smell cougars. They’ve been here recently.” Cinderblock said. “Wait, no it’s something else. Hide!” She dashed into a bush and Hannke and Wren scrambled into a tree. Hannke flattened himself against the bark, and Wren curled up in a little nook sheltered by leaves. It was deathly silent.

  Suddenly, there was a rustling and a cobra emerged. She was slate gray and brown. Her pale eyes were half closed and covered with scratches.

  “Someone’s there,” She hissed suddenly. “Don’t try to hide from me.” Hannke held his breath. The snake flicked her tongue. “In the bush, in the tree. Out.”

  Wren let out a squawk and crashed into Hannke. They fell, tearing through branches and Cinderblock’s bush, landing in a heap in the clearing.

  “AHA!” the snake declared. “I knew that someone was there!”

  “Don’t hurt them,” Cinderblock hissed threateningly. “What do you want?”

  The cobra frowned. “Do I know you?”

  “What?” asked Cinderblock, confused.

  “Why are you protecting a snake?” She questioned. “Mongooses don’t do that.”

  “None of your business,” growled Cinderblock, crouching in front of Hannke and Wren and lashing her tail.

  “It is, in fact, my business,” the cobra retorted. “I may or may not have a message for you.”

  “Who are you?” Cinderblock asked cautiously. 

  “Conglomerate,” the snake replied. “You?”

  “Cinderblock,” Cinderblock hissed quietly.

“What’s going on?” Wren asked. Hannke was feeling the same. Who was this snake? Why did she think that she had a message?

  “Obsidian. I’m sure that you’re acquainted.” Conglomerate was saying. “Or do you know Aa?”

  “Who are you?” Cinderblock repeated, this time more intensely. 

  “I might be your ally,” Conglomerate said casually. “I might help you somehow.”

  “Fine.” Cinderblock growled. “Yes, I’m acquainted with Aa. Jackdaw’s battalion. We were scattered after the gibbous moon battle.”

  “Hey, what’s happening?” Hannke interrupted. 

  “Who is this snake?” Conglomerate asked.

  “He’s a wanderer I found with his friend. His name is Hannke. The egret is Wren.”

  “What? We never told—” Hannke began.

  “Yes, and I’m not dumb.” Cinderblock cut him off. “I’ve paid attention to your bickering.” She smiled faintly. “So, Conglomerate, you said that you had a message?”

  “Oh, yes!” Conglomerate exclaimed. “Thank you for reminding me. Here we go:

‘Labradorite lives,’

  Cinderblock froze. “What,” She said. Hannke felt shocked, too. That name also sounded familiar. 

  “That means something to you!” Conglomerate said happily. “Great!”

  “Tell me more,” Cinderblock whispered, a little shakily. She sat back and curled her tail around her paws.

  “Well,” said Conglomerate. “I was knocked out while on a scouting mission. I think that a messenger must’ve passed by. When I woke up, something was on the edge of my mind . . . and then I remembered!”

 What?!? Hannke thought. He felt like his insides were closing up. Should I ask for a moment? He paused and took a deep breath. 

  “Hannke? Are you okay?” Wren whispered, as Conglomerate was saying something. 

  “Yeah, just kind of stressed.”

  “I understand, this is a stressful situation,” Wren nodded in agreement.

  “I—” Cinderblock was saying. “I’m sorry, I don’t know her location. But see, I have two innocent creatures behind me, and t-they could . . .”

  “Oh, okay,” Conglomerate nodded. “I apologize for taking your time. You must be doing something important. I will leave.” She started to leave, and as soon as she disappeared into the bushes, Cinderblock turned on them.

  “Okay you two, I must make this clear,” she hissed. “You heard nothing!”

  “But—” Wren began, but Cinderblock shot her a glare. “Let’s continue.”

  Hannke stared at them, speechless. He silently followed Cinderblock as they started off again. The mongoose looked shaken, her fur was bristling, whether in fear or anger Hannke did not know. 

  It was getting late, and Hannke was shocked at how quickly the day had passed. He desperately wanted to go home. I’ll be there soon. I just have to meet Cinderblock’s friends first. Wren was absentmindedly preening her feathers as they walked. Hannke wondered if she felt stressed, or scared. She had said that it was a stressful situation.

  “Ah, we’re here!” Cinderblock declared. The sun was setting already, and Cinderblock nudged her way through some bushes, pausing halfway through. “Hello? Is anybody here?”

  Hannke and Wren followed her, and emerged in a sheltered knot of the woods, thick with bushes on all sides but one, which lead to a steep cliff, and beyond the cliff several strange rock formations loomed in the dust, soon to be covered in the blanket of the night. Just the edition of a stream or a pool would make it complete.