Half and Half

After a while it turned dark again, and Dawn's stomach rumbled. She sighed. A part of her wanted to go back home with Fanfire, snappy though she was, and another part wanted to go on ahead. But Penelope was still crying silently, and Mei was lying down in the grass, sleeping. Dawn lay down too, and willed for sleep to come.

After a few hours of precious sleep Dawn awoke to a rumbling sound. It was still dark, and Dawn wondered what time it was. Midnight? Three in the morning? Dawn shook Mei awake and she scooped up the drowsy Penelope into her pocket. They stood up. What was that noise? Dawn looked up at the sky and felt a jolt of happiness. The carriage was here!

Dawn saw a face poke out of the window, but the carriage was too high up to see what it was. Then the carriage circled and landed on the ground. The Birch Guard, King Septimus, the two white fawns, Fairy Godmother, and another man came out.

It was her father.

Dawn's father was with them. Dawn fell to the ground in relief, as her legs were quite shaky. And, to her surprise, her father pulled her up and hugged her.

"Sorry about what happened in Pixie Grove," he muttered. Dawn smiled, tears starting to sting her eyes.

"Whew! Glad we found you!" King Septimus said, patting Dawn on the back. Dawn saw a little face peeking out of her father's coat.

"What's that?" she asked Isen.

"This little fella said he was travelling with you," he said. And then he pulled out Alinar, who hopped onto Dawn's shoulder.

"You left me!" he said a little crossly.

"I'm sorry!" Dawn said. Then she carried him over to Mei.

"We found your sister," Dawn said, and Penelope climbed out of Mei's pocket. Dawn put Alinar on the ground, and for a second Penelope was shocked. Then she ran over to him and squeezed him.

"We have a lot to talk about," Isen said. "But not here. We have to go now." And off they ran, into the carriage, with Dawn not knowing what on earth was going to happen next.