Origin and Aerwiar Part 3, Spoiler alert for first book.

One question that would help, does anyone know how many days/weeks it happened between Dragon Day and the Igiby's arrest? would greatly appreciate info! Also, I am going by the book more than the movie, but stretching time a wee bit. If things are a bit choppy, I'm sorry. Enjoy the story!!

Gracie woke up, and headed to the calendar downstairs, past Rebekah, who was getting her clothes on slowly, and humming happily. She had checked the calendar every day for the past few days since she had learned what date her half-birthday was, and that it was soon. Mama stopped her on the way down the stairs. "You know the rules, go get dressed before you come downstairs." Slightly annoyed, Gracie turned around and pounded upstairs. She flew into her room where Rebekah was still getting dressed quietly, and in about thirty seconds was completely dressed. She said "bye!" to Rebekah, and flew out the door, slamming it behind her accidentally, to which Rebekah said, "You're not supposed to do that!" and Gracie, already half down the stairs called back, "Sorreee!!!" to which an "I forgive youuuuu!!!!!" came echoing back as Gracie bounded through the dining room into the kitchen. Mama ran around the corner startled, and said, "Wow, that was fast! Don't go down the stairs like that though, I thought someone was falling down them!" Gracie nodded, and then got a bagel and started chowing, forgetting about the calendar. Ten minutes later Rebekah came down the stairs much quieter, but just as fast. Cheerily, she said, "Good morning, Mama!" and got herself a buffet of milk, fruit, yogurt, and veggies. Gracie looked at this and commented "I wish I could do that, but I never take time to think or do anything cause it takes too long!" through a mouthful of bagel, and Rebekah responded, "After breakfast, do you want to play princesses?" Tacha looked up from her bowl of cereal, and asked eagerly "Can I play too?" but Gracie said, "No, then Rosa would want to play, and then Matt would!" and Rebekah nodded in assent. Gracie stuffed another giant bite into her mouth and ran to the scarf and hat box to get the wide scarves they would use as the fancy carpet.

Tink heard it first, early in the morning as the first light flew across the horizon. Janner saw pure terror etched on his face. The black carriage was coming. Podo said, "Remember our plan. Stick together, and run to the Diggle trail." Leeli still hadn't spoken but nodded her head listlessly as the door burst open. A Fang strode up smirking, "Your ride iss waiting!" The Igibys followed Podo as they marched out, shivering at the sight of the filthy, creepy carriage at the end of the corridor of Fangs lining both sides. They walked towards it, and then Podo leaped into action, trying to grab Gnorms dagger, but he was conked on the head and knocked unconscious. The others were quickly retied as Podo was thrown into the carriage. Nia was forced to start into the carriage, but Gnorm paused this and threatened, "Last chancceee, where are the Jewelss?" Nia calmly regarded him, and then cooly said, "I and my children will be riding in your carriage tonight, commander." and stepped into the carriage, beckoning Janner, Tink, and Leeli to follow. Just as Janner stepped into the carriage, an eagle cry tore the air, and everyone turned surprised to look at a white-haired blur streaking toward them at full speed. Peet the Sockman tore into the Fangs with slashing claws that had been hidden under his socks. Tink and Leeli ducked under the black carriage, with Janner following, hardly believing what he was seeing. Gnorm shouted, "Kill him!" and Janner shut his eyes, waiting for Peet's final wail, but it never came. Instead, Janner heard Gnorm grunt and opened his eyes with shock to see Podo wrestling with Gnorm for his sword. "Come quickly!" Nia told the children, and Tink and Leeli followed her to the shadows surrounding Books and Crannies, but Janner didn't. He knew that neither Podo nor Peet would last much longer, so with a prayer to the Maker, he ran away from Nia. He ran up to Gnorm, who was so absorbed with fighting Podo that he didn't notice Janner. Janner buried Gnorms own dagger deep where he thought his heart would be, and Gnorm grunted, slightly surprised, "boy?" before collapsing into dust. Janner stood shocked at what he had just done and then turned to see Peet fighting the other fangs, and Podo joining him with a fierce grunt. A loud whistle pierced the air, but no one had time to think about it because of the fight raging about them. However, after only a few moments, Podo and Peet finished off their attackers and looked at each other without speaking for a long moment. "Are ye all right then?" Podo asked gruffly, and Peet nodded. Janner thought he looked somehow noble, and not as scared as he had been, though he refused to make eye contact with Podo. They all turned suddenly when a ghostly voice from the black carriage said startled, "Zounds!" The driver, who was the one who had spoken, repeated himself and started to drive off when Zouzab Koit flung a stone that hit him on the head, knocking him out. Nia edged towards Peet, trying to comfort him, but Podo said, "That's enough, be gone with ye!" and Peet scurried off towards the woods, looking like he was going to get something. Behind the Igibys, Books and Crannies' door creaked open, and Oscar peeped out and called them all inside. He snorted happily, "What are you doing, you old pirate? I heard the fight and peeped out just to see the last of them fall. That was probably the most Fangs Gnag lost in all Skree!" He led them through the store and got them all some water. The adults then huddled over a desk and a map, obviously making some plan. Leeli was sitting in a corner, looking at nothing in particular. Tink however was angry, "Can someone please tell me what's going on? Why does Gnag want these Jewels, what are they, and why does he think you have them? Why are they so special anyway! Why did Grampa drive away the man who saved our lives! And who is Artham P. Wingfeather, and why does Peet have his journals in his treehouse!" Ignoring his questions, Nia asked, "How do you know what's in his treehouse?" Tink did not answer, but Janner spoke up. "We followed him there this morning." Tink then broke in, "It was my fault." Podo stared at them, and then gruffly said, "If ye can't think to stay in safety, foller the rules, and keep yer hide out of trouble, ye have no business interrupting yer elders, ye little barnacle scraper. If none of this gale was happenin' ye'd be over me knee." As Podo finished up his lecture, a banging happened on the door. Opening it they saw angry glipwooders standing there, shouting angrily about the danger that had fallen on their heads because of the Igibys. Podo tried to calm them down, but Charney Baimington interrupted with, "Jouncy as a two-ton bog pie!" and several glipwooders nodded their assent, raising their angry voices. Podo finally shouted, "What happened, happened! Glipwood will burn, so flee while ye can!" Many, startled at his loud voice, nodded and went off, but Buzzard Willie came up crying, " Ohh, Podo! I never told ya proper I'm sorry for stealin' Merna Bidgeholler from ye. Been wantin' to tell ya that fer years." Podo chuckled and told him all was well. Willie then continued, "I left somethin' from me garden on yer porch. A gift fer Mernas sake" Podo started to thank him, but Buzzard Willie was already across the street gathering his wife and belongings. Looking around, they saw everyone heading to flee except Shaggy and the Shoosters, who were toasting the town on the Only Inn's stoop, aiming to stay there until the end. They walked over, gave them some weapons, and then walked out of town briskly to their farm.

Peet scurried through the woods, Igibys out of danger, now to find the water and heal the Nugget dog. He hadn't had time earlier because he had realized while searching for the water that the Igibys must be in danger if the farm was destroyed, he had screeched and ran to the town center, where he had been barely in time. After seeing Leelifeather's sadness, he remembered Nugget doggy. He found the water and poured a large amount in the still mouth of the little dog, but then quickly screeched and shoved the growing Nugget through the open doorway just in time. Nugget fell through the air toward the ground, but by the time he landed, he was big enough that it was the equivalent of jumping from Leeli's arms. However, Peet didn't see this, because terrified of the giant dog, he fled towards town. Nugget looked after him curiously, and then lay down and took a nap, shrugging.

Leeli and Nia were in the secret basement of Books and Crannies, and they were frightened. They heard noises from upstairs that didn't belong, and the trapdoor was being fiddled with! It slowly lifted, and they both sighed in relief. Nia said, "Oh, Zouzab, you startled us..." but her voice trailed off as she saw another ridgerunner grinning along with Zouzab right at her.

Gracie was excited! Mama had given her a piece of chocolate after breakfast, because of her half birthday, and sent her outside. She and Rebekah had been able to play for only a little bit though before Mama had done so. Rebekah was sitting on the back porch with her back to the sliding glass door and pouting, she obviously wasn't happy to be kicked outside before finishing their game of pretend. Gracie remembered the conversation she had had with Mama and Papa. Rebekah copied her... so maybe she should be happy in front of her to make her happy! She went onto the back porch and grinned in Rebekah's face. That didn't work! Rebekah kept pouting and looked at her slightly angrily. She tried singing a silly song. Rebekah interrupted her in the middle. "MAMAAAAA!!!" She yelled peeved. "GRACIE'S ANNOYING MEEE" Gracie, suddenly worried she would get in trouble, touched Rebekah's shoulder but instantly regretted it. How could she have forgotten? Rebekah hated physical contact of ALL KIND! She only did so if Mama told her to apologize. She was glaring into Gracie's eyes fiercely, wailing. Mama appeared on the other side of the door and looked like she was about to say something, but something was off. She felt frozen as she saw first Rebekah's eyes widen, and then a streak of blue light shot past, and weirdly, moved her without her moving. She saw Mama's eyes widen, and Papa's too, because now he was behind her as well. The last thing she saw of them was Mama fainting into Papa's arms, and him looking at her as if he had learned something that made whatever this was okay. Rebekah was looking at her scared, Don't leave me! her eyes said. Gracie felt something press into her hand and then saw an angel. She had never seen an angel before, but she knew that it was one. However, this angel looked a little funny, he had eight eyes, and was furry all over! Gracie had read Ezekiel lately in the Bible, so she knew that angels could look like that. Then, her vision faded, first slowly, then rapidly. The last thing she saw was swirling light surrounding them like a cocoon travel pod thingy.

Janner, Kalmar, and Podo had fought Slarb off, but now a ton of Fangs had infested Glipwood, and taken all of them captive, even Podo, who had fought them until General Krak threatened Nia. Now, lying tied up in the blistering noonday sun, Janner listened to General Krak question his ma. He jerked up slightly, what was that off in the shadows? A Fang said "General!" and General Krak said "What..." There was no need to answer that question. Janner now knew he'd seen what he'd seen. A raggant! A swirl of blue light appeared, thickened, and then abruptly disappeared, leaving two strangely dressed girls behind, looking utterly confused. They looked to be around Leeli's age and were obviously sisters by the way they were holding hands. Krak said to some Fangs, "Capture them!" and a few Fangs ran towards the two girls. However, one of the two was holding a sword, and when the Fangs drew near, she made a few expert flicks of the wrist, and the Fangs flew apart in a spray of dust without even looking, but then looked shocked. Janner watched confused as Krak stepped back, closer to his carriage, and ordered the Fangs to capture them. Six Fangs fell at the girl's blade, and she never even moved her feet! The most confusing thing of it all, however, was the fact that she seemed the most confused out of everyone. Her sister stood behind her with an expression of half disgust, half fear, and all confusion. Podo then softly said, "Crawl to the wagon!" and they did so. General Krak sent dozens of Fangs at the two girls while they squirmed out of harm's way, but the girl sent them off easily, to everyone's astonishment. The Igibys were in the shadows behind where the girls were, watching everything from behind when the girl changed her approach and ran straight at Krak through the hundreds of Fangs. Krak's eyes widened, and he jumped in the carriage and sped away, with all of his fangs in hot pursuit. The girl stared at the sword, seemingly trying to wrap her mind around what she had just done. Nia approached her with a loud, "Hello?" to keep her from startling. She turned around and seemed relieved to see a normal person. "What are those things!" she cried, and Nia replied, "Those are Fangs. Who are you? How old are you? Where are you and your sister from? I assume you need somewhere to go?" The girl, completely unfazed by having multiple questions thrown at her at once, replied, "My name's Gracie and I'm 11 1/2 and this is my sister, Rebekah, she turns 10 in winter, I have no idea how I just did that, the sword did everything, we are from 'Merca, and I don't know if we need a place to go. Do we?" Nia carefully responded, "I think if you want, it would be best if you came with us, as the Fangs will be coming again, and in even greater numbers. They also will want you now, as well as us." Gracie nodded, and then looked at her sister, "What do you think, Rebekah?" and the girl started looking a wee bit confused, and very terrified. The two of them had a sort of conversation without words, and then Gracie responded, I think it would be best if we stayed with you guys." Nia nodded and told the two of them to stick close, as they would be headed to their cottage to get them some proper clothing, and then flying as fast as possible North. Over the eaves of Books and Crannies, a slender form was listening.

~Gracie

Hope that was enjoyable! There's some more true-to-life sibling relationship there. LOL, I just kicked Grammarly off TTH, twas tooo annoying! Was the convo between Nia and I a wee bit weird? I'm worried about that. I originally meant to publish it this Thursday, but my editor was gone, and I couldn't get her help until today. Sorry! Was this chapter too long??

Rebekah wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say just yet. Once she figures it out I'll put it in the comments.