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  He stopped walking and suddenly reached out and grabbed her arms, holding her in place.

  Radianne jumped. He wasn't hurting her and was holding her gently, but the fact that he'd touched her at all frightened her. A ripple of alarm raced through her body. Blink, picking up on the negative energy, tensed on her shoulder. Shocked and irritated, Radianne struggled against Henrick and her heart began to pound furiously. Blink nervously hid behind her hair, peeking out timidly between the long strands. He would bite if he had to…

  “You don't know me!” she shouted, pushing Henrick away. He stumbled back a few steps. “How dare you put your hands on me like this!”

  “Now you listen to me.” Henrick narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, moving his face, which suddenly looked travel-weary, much closer to hers. “You're right. I don't know you. But I do know something of the world. The roads that lead to Shondalina are treacherous. You have no idea. I think it's best you turn around and head home. There has to be some other way to figure this situation out.”

  Radianne couldn't believe his rudeness and nerve. She knew he probably truly believed the journey would be too dangerous for her. But she also knew the time had come for her to venture out on her own; it was her time to explore. To have her own adventure. Most importantly, it was time to make a difference. To do something with her life. To be strong. To chase the wind and take a chance. He would not stop her. He didn't even know her!

  Though his words unnerved her a little, she knew she was tougher than he thought. Tougher than Miss Lugia thought. It was time to make her own way in the world, and what better way to start doing that than by helping a new friend? She would not fail Blink and she wasn't about to let this man named Henrick sway her decision to help him.

  “I have made up my mind,” she said firmly, easing her way around him and walking on ahead.

  “Soon you will enter the Eustasian border.” Henrick said the words ominously as he trailed behind, as if he were trying to scare some sense into her. “You know what that means, don't you?”

  Radianne laughed. His scare tactics wouldn't work. She knew very well what threat he was referring to: the Snorg's base in the center of Eustasia.

  “I'm not afraid of the Snorgs. I don't care about them.”

  “Well you should. They are more dangerous than you know.”

  Radianne kept walking without looking at him, but could feel his eyes on her back studying her. Probably trying to assess her fear levels, she thought.

  A small part of her was a little scared, of course. But she would never admit that to him. She wished he would just leave her and Blink alone. They had been moving along just fine until he showed up.

  “It's not just the Snorgs,” Henrick continued. “There are those other lands to come too – Sandalia for example. Have you heard of the cruel giant hermit crabs that live there? They will not hesitate to take you in their claws and drag you away to their dens where they will torture and devour you – piece by piece – for dinner…”

  Radianne half listened with annoyance as he rambled on and spoke with apparent confidence of all the dangers of the lands she would have to travel through in the coming days. She truly wished he would stop talking. She wanted to experience the world for herself and his revealing all this information – whether it was factual or not – was ruining the mood of her expedition. She picked up the pace again, deciding it would be best to put even more distance between them.

  “The endless Jungle of Vancor… I'd like to see you get through that place by yourself!” Henrick exclaimed. “And the Ongoing Desert, the place where people lose themselves, and, more often than not, their sanity…”

  He continued to prattle on, easily keeping up with Radianne's stride and paying no attention to her obvious disdain.

  “The Ongoing Desert is also raging hot during the day and frigid at night. How do you suppose you'll survive all that on your own, without any knowledge or survival skills?”

  Radianne stopped in her tracks and turned to glare at him. “I have faith in The Creator, as well as confidence in my abilities,” she retorted. “However feeble you think they may be. I can handle things myself.”

  With that, she walked on, trying to concentrate on Blink's dire situation and the goal ahead. Blink's energy tickled her shoulder once more, the sparking feeling encouraging her.

  She tried to shut the stranger's voice and negativity out. After all, she thought, he couldn't possibly know everything.

  And why did this man named Henrick speak so matter-of-factly anyway? How did he know all these things? Despite the fact she wanted him to be quiet, she gave in again and decided to ask him as much.

  “How do you know so much about these places,” she muttered, casting a sidelong glance his way while pushing tree branches out of her path.

  Henrick rolled his eyes. “I know this, because, if you haven't figured it out already, I'm a Wanderer. I have spent a good amount of my days roaming through the Nether Lands, and have explored them all. I have even been to Shondalina once, long ago.”

  The intrigue was starting to grow, though Radianne didn't like it. She wondered, fleetingly, why he had chosen the life of a Wanderer – a person notorious for being off-balance and best avoided.

  Wanderers were the outcasts on the fringes of Eugladian society… mysterious and elusive, they most often lived alone and did not take part in ordinary aspects of Eugladian life. It was even often whispered that they were dangerous and unpredictable. Some Eugladians feared they may even be spies for the Snorgs, though Radianne always thought that idea was highly unlikely. She couldn't imagine any Eugladian, Wanderer or not, aligning with a Snorg.

  Didn't he have family somewhere? He certainly was strange. As she glanced over at Henrick again, she felt heat rush to her cheeks. She was unhappy with herself for wondering about him, talking with him, and for allowing him to continue to walk with her in the first place. He was rude, improper, and arrogant.

  To complicate matters, she was still angry that she couldn't help but notice he had a much more appealing look about him than any other man she'd known. His attractiveness was unsettling. Not that she had much experience in that area…

  He caught her staring.

  In that instant, their eyes connected and a surprising flicker of something sparked between the two of them. It seemed to crackle in the air.

  Two strangers, caught in a moment, instantly spellbound and unable to look away.

  One of them was more uncomfortable with the exchange than the other.

  Radianne flushed again and looked away. She had to stop turning red. She focused on the path ahead. Her nerves were probably getting to her. She had counted on this journey being her and Blink's. She tried to figure out ways to get rid of the newcomer. Blink sat quietly on her shoulder, and she wondered what he was thinking.

  Henrick reached out and touched her arm as they walked. “I know I don't know you,” he said. “But… I really do think I should help you. Put your pride aside and let me join you on your travels. You can't go alone. I'm not going to hurt you or the star, I promise.”

  Radianne jerked her arm away. “Don't touch me! Stop touching me! Don't you have anything better to do?!”

  She had a sudden urge to slap him, which surprised her. Usually she was pretty level headed and didn't get so enraged over small things. Yet, she had known this man for less than a day and he was already making her furious.

  “You most certainly should not go with me,” she added, sharply, as she tossed her hair over her shoulder, inadvertently covering Blink in the mound. “I don't even know you, as you said. We just met! You're a Wanderer, after all. And you have to know that your kind have a strange reputation among normal Eugladians. So what makes you think I'd let you continue to follow me, anyway?”

  Blink peeked out from the mound of hair, taking in the verbal exchange silently. He was starting to think Eugladians were very complex creatures. Stars always got straight to the point about things. He thought the
two of them were certainly dragging the conversation out.

  Henrick shrugged.“Even if you say no, I'll follow you. It's the right thing to do. I consider myself a man of principle, despite my being a Wanderer. A life which you also apparently know very little about.” He narrowed his eyes.

  “Now that you've crossed my path, I can't have it on my conscience that you are somewhere out here, attempting this ridiculous quest on your own,” he continued. “Wanderers may be odd to you, but most of us are honorable and misunderstood. You're bound to run into trouble at some point. And besides, I don't have anything better to do with my time at the present.”

  Radianne sighed, not doubting his determination. But she was equally as determined not to give in.

  “I don't need any help,” she said, exasperated.

  Her heart sank a little as she realized the conversation was going nowhere. The man had seemingly invited himself indefinitely on her adventure.

  “You will need my help.” Henrick gave a firm nod. “As I said, I'll promise you this – I know I'm a stranger, and a Wanderer – and I'm well aware of the connotation that comes with that title. But I won't hurt you or the star. I'll just follow, quietly. Like a shadow.”

  Scowling again, Radianne sighed and headed off into a thicket of trees. The last thing she wanted was a strange man glued to her side for the duration of the journey. She didn't want a shadow.

  But a small part of her – admittedly, a very small part and one that she was presently annoyed with – was for some reason not entirely upset about meeting her new acquaintance.

  -6-

  A Strange New World

  I

  t seemed like they had been walking for hours. Relentless, never-ending hours. The one saving grace was that Henrick had kept true to his word. He had acted like a shadow and kept his mouth closed as they journeyed on.

  Radianne stopped by a blue willow tree and sat down next to a cluster of wildflowers colored in the same hue. Blink scampered down from his shoulder perch and sat beside her. Opening up her bag, she took out one of the bean sandwiches Miss Lugia had packed. As she glanced into the sack, she made a mental note that the food had already dwindled down significantly.

  Draping one arm around Blink, she pulled him close for comfort. She knew it must be hard for him, forced into a strange new world, with even stranger beings that were so different from stars. She couldn't imagine how he must feel.

  Shielding her eyes against the late afternoon sun, she looked over to her other companion – the unwanted one – cautiously.

  Henrick leaned against a tree and was staring out at the horizon. She supposed she should try to tolerate his presence as best as she could for the time being. And that might mean being pleasant when she didn't really want to be… and trying to make a temporary peace offering.

  “Would you care for anything to eat?” She raised the bag.

  He turned to look at her and his eyes widened. “Are you actually being nice to me? Lowering yourself enough to speak to me?”

  Radianne snorted. “It wouldn't be right to let you starve while I ate in front of you. I am at that decent.”

  Henrick smiled and walked over, taking a seat next to her in the grass. “Well in that case… what do you have in that bag of yours?”

  She handed it over.

  He rummaged around in the sack for a moment, pulling out another sandwich. “Thanks,” he said, and took a bite.

  They ate silently for awhile and he studied Blink with interest. After some time, he cleared his throat.

  “Forgive me if I'm being rude, but do stars eat?” he asked.

  Blink proceeded to explain star diet while Radianne pretended not to watch Henrick.

  Unfortunately, it seemed she was drawn to his face. So she chose to focus on her misgivings about him instead.

  She again wondered why he'd been passing through the river area that day. What were his real motives for helping them, and where had he been going? Was he on his way to visit a friend? A family member? A love… she chastised herself for even thinking that.

  He caught her staring and she looked away quickly. She had to stop doing that too, she thought.

  As he and Blink chatted, her thoughts drifted to home. She wondered what Piri and her parents were thinking, if they had gone to Miss Lugia seeking answers. They both knew how much time she spent with the ladybug. But she hoped they hadn't gone to her. She didn't want or need anyone else coming after her now.

  “Soon,” Henrick said, suddenly speaking directly to her and snapping her back to attention, “we will be in Eustasia. Then we'll have to be on high alert for Snorgs. But their fortress is in the heart of the land, so we probably won't have to worry about seeing them right away. For a few days, anyway.”

  Radianne didn't know what was she supposed to say. Should she thank him for providing unwanted advice? Congratulate him on his expertise?

  Daylight began to fade into early evening as they continued on their way.

  Soon, the moment Radianne had been waiting for had finally arrived. They passed a shadowy grove of trees, one of which had a rickety wooden post and a sign with the word EUSTASIA affixed to it.

  She was surprised at how simple the marker was. She'd expected the boundary markers dividing lands to be much more magnificent, as if making a grand announcement. But there it was – a simple marker carved roughly into old wood.

  “Well here we are,” Henrick announced. “Grand welcome sign, huh?”

  He grinned at her, then glanced up at the sky and at the fading sun. “We should find a place to sleep before night settles,” he suggested. “Nasty things will be about soon. I know of a place, actually. Follow me.”

  Reluctantly, Radianne trailed him. And as she took her first steps into the new land, her excitement grew and she looked at her surroundings with interest.

  In the shadowy light, silhouettes of gigantic, mysterious flowers towered up toward the sky. Plants sprung from ghostly-looking grasses, and in the distance, the jagged and somewhat foreboding outline of the central mountains loomed.

  Her spirits lifted at the thought of the lands beyond that awaited her. Who knew what wonderful secrets they held?

  Her excitement was short-lived, however.

  Henrick touched her arm, trying to get her attention. “We have to go this way.”

  Recoiling from his touch, she frowned again. She wished he would stop touching her. What she really wanted right then was to head off in the opposite direction, away from him. But since it was nearly dark, and she knew it would be unwise, she had no choice. With Blink sitting on her shoulder, she reluctantly followed Henrick's lead again.

  He trudged along a narrow dirt pathway to a cave hidden amid a cluster of the enormous flowers. The shadowy shapes of the giant plants looked imposing and feral in the darkness. As if they could eat a whole person. Radianne shivered.

  “I've stayed here many times,” Henrick said as he stepped forward into the dark and gaping hole. He motioned for her to follow. “It's safe.”

  Radianne wasn't so sure, but she followed him into the darkness anyway. At first, she couldn't see a thing, as the interior of the cave was filled with a void of empty blackness. Soon, however, Blink began to give off his soft and ethereal light, brightening the room enough for her to make out shadowy shapes and objects.

  She looked around with wonder.

  Clumps of large rocks were scattered around the domed cave interior. Jagged, dangerous-looking formations hung down like daggers from the top of the cave. A few drops of water trickled down rhythmically, making soft pit-patting sounds. The remnants of a fire long burned out were arranged within a stone circle in the middle of the room.

  “I made a fire here last time I passed through,” Henrick said. “I'll get it going again. It will be cold soon.”

  He walked over to the circle and Radianne and Blink watched as he sat down and began to arrange wood, stones and brush. He worked for some time, until a brilliant flame roared to life.


  Radianne shivered as the heat enveloped them. Her father and brother always made fires back home, and in that moment, she wished she would have paid more attention and learned how to do so herself.

  Moving closer to the growing flickering orange and yellow flames, she rubbed her hands together and reveled in the warmth.

  Blink sat near her and stared at the fire, transfixed. “This is quite extraordinary,” he said. “Wait until I tell the others.”

  Radianne smiled. She was glad he was finding some joy in her world even though he was so far from his own.

  Unbidden thoughts of her own home came to mind and she remembered and how eager she'd been to leave. She thought of the endless sunny days she'd spent exploring the acres of fruit tree orchards… following her brother around dutifully helping out… having picnics with her parents. She frowned. She'd ended up in her current location with a stranger. Had she lost her mind? Perhaps she really was a foolish young girl after all for wanting to chase the wind. Perhaps it would have been safer to stick to those orchards, the comfort of home.

  Darting a glance at Henrick, she caught him staring and she quickly looked away again.

  That had to stop happening.

  Her thoughts drifted back to home again. She wondered if her friends and family were worried. What if she couldn't trust Henrick?

  She tried to shake the doubts and believe she'd made the right decision. She had to focus on Blink and getting him home.

  All these new worries were tiring. Sullenly, she told herself they had only seemed to increase since the second she'd met Henrick. It was his fault.

  Sighing, she leaned back. She knew she had to find a way to enjoy the present in order to keep her confidence high. Maybe she just needed some sleep.

  **************

  Henrick was lost in his own thoughts. He stared at the beautiful young woman before him and figured she must be frightened, sitting in a cave in the dark in a strange land with a Wanderer.