`I think it's the same reason the High Enchanter, or the Sender of Storms, sent the storms,' answered Celeste thoughtfully. `To stop us from finding out what was in the moon dial. Now he's sending his creatures to stop us from finding out what the three moons' song means.'
`What does it mean?' yawned Chad, as they climbed back down to the nest.
`That's what we are going to find out,' said Lyla covering him with her cape. `And don't get settled Swift. It's your turn to sit guard.'
They hadn't meant to sleep late but the rocking of the branches lulled them so it was past middle day when they woke. Beside them slept Swift with his arms wrapped around the tree.
`I couldn't keep my eyes open and the tree said it would wake me if the creatures returned,' he argued, after Lyla chastised him for being a bad guard.
`You can't be sure about that!'
`Yes he can,' said Chad, who always stuck up for Swift.
With half the day gone they climbed down to the muddy path and continued following the river, travelling faster this time, because of the blind-headed creatures behind them. Foraging as they went they breakfasted on twain nuts that had to be broken with rocks, sour-berries that made their cheeks suck in, and water licked from the leaves of bushes, as the river no longer looked safe to drink from.
By evening they had left the over-flow and the forest was thinning out when they heard a roaring noise coming from up ahead.
`That reminds me,' said Lyla, pushing her dark curls behind her ears so she could hear the noise better. `I had another dream last night. That noise has just reminded me of it.'
Lem and Celeste moved closer. Behind them Chad and Swift continued to drag their feet while arguing over who had the largest hunger pain.
`I was flying over hills of sand until I reached a vast sea,' continued Lyla.
`What's a vast sea?' asked Celeste.
`Water that goes on forever. I flew along its edge until I reached the same white palace I dreamt of before.
This time its gardens and fountains were brightly lit and its lakes were full of beautiful swan-shaped boats being rowed by laughing people holding red lanterns. I was swooping down for a closer look when Chad woke me to warn me about the creatures coming. But that noise up ahead sounds a lot like the vast sea in my dream.'
`Does the vast sea have trees nearby to sleep in?'
Lyla shook her head.
`Does it have anything to eat in it?' demanded Swift clinging to Lyla's arm.
Lyla tried to shake him free. `Fish. If you can catch them.'
Swift was tired. His bag hurt his shoulders. The seeds, berries and nuts had not filled him, and now they were leaving the Forest to trudge over boot-clinging sand. He clung on tightly and whinged. `I'm hungry.'
`I'm hungry too,' echoed Chad, bumping purposefully into Lem. `I wish Lem hadn't given the wolves our smoked meat.'
Lem bumped back. `Would you rather have been eaten by them?'
`Of course he wouldn't,' said Celeste putting a protective arm around her brother's shoulders. `Stop it both of you. We're all hungry.'
`And thirsty,' complained Swift, pulling on Lyla again.
With a sigh of frustration she took his bag and told him and Chad to scout up ahead. `But don't go too far in case we have to race back to the Forest.'
Half an hour later when she and the other two climbed to the top of the highest sand dune they saw the boys, with their boots off, chasing each other along the wet sand of a vast sea, as if they didn't have a problem or a worry or even a hunger pain between them.
That night they slept in a nest of sea grass. This time Lyla divided the watch between Celeste, Lem and herself so the younger two could sleep. Next morning they all had rumbling stomachs and dry throats and there wasn't a berry or a leaf in sight.
Thinking that there might be something they could eat in the sea, perhaps like the mussels, cockles or edible seaweed they'd read in their books, Celeste suggested they go for a swim. Chad and Swift raced into the waves before the others had pulled off their boots and Celeste could hide Splash in her shirt. Lyla yelled for them to watch out for things that could hurt them, but they were already shouting and rolling in the lacy froth of the incoming waves so they didn't hear her.
Lyla, Lem and Celeste entered the sea more warily. Having bathed, fished and gathered shellfish in the river, they could swim well, but the waves buffeted them and dragged them out into deeper water. So although they could see Chad and Swift enjoying themselves in the shallows they were more worried about what lurked beneath their kicking feet.
Celeste had just dived under to see what she could find when Swift started yelling and hopping around on one foot. Lyla asked Lem to wait for Celeste, then swam to shore as fast as she could.
She discovered that Swift had trodden on a black ball of spikes which had punctured his foot and was very painful. She stroked Swift's swelling foot, told him he'd be fine and glanced back to where her brother and cousin were swimming. Lem waving frantically. She couldn't see Celeste.
`Chad! Cut open the sting. Squeeze out the poison until the wound bleeds. Then bandage his foot with your scarf.'
Lyla ran back down the beach and splashed into the water, swimming towards Lem.
`Celeste has been under for ages,' he yelled.
They dived repeatedly, each time searching deeper and having to kick harder to come up from the chilly depths to gulp in air. After awhile they were too exhausted to do anything more than tread water.
`She's gone,' yelled Lem, searching the waves for any sign of Celeste's long blonde braids. `She's been washed away.'
Lyla angrily slapped the surface of the sea. `No. She hasn't!'
As if her slapping had been a magical command Celeste's head rose above a wave and she waved at them.
With eyes full of righteous anger they swam towards her. `Where have you been?' demanded Lem. `We thought you'd drowned.'
`We've been looking for you for ages,' accused Lyla.
Celeste flicked her fringe off her face. `Sorry. I couldn't help it. I was taken out by a current and couldn't get back until I found a returning one.'
Lem's green eyes glared at her unforgivingly. `But you were under for ages.'
`That's what I want to tell you. I can't …'
`Tell us back on shore,' interrupted Lyla, already swimming towards the beach. `Swift stood on something poisonous and he really needs our help.'
Chad was bandaging Swift's foot when Lyla flopped down beside them. He grinned at her. `He squealed like a wild pig when I squeezed out the poison.'
Swift punched his arm, `I did not! He nearly cut off my foot, Lyla!'
Lyla gave them both a hug as she stared along the beach searching for help. There was no one to see except Celeste and Lem running up the sand.
Celeste dropped down beside her. `Lyla, I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you. I didn't realise how long I was under.'
Lyla was still too angry to look at her. `We thought you were drowned.'
`But that's it. I can't be. I can stay underwater as long as I like. I think it's my magical gift.'
This time Lyla did look at her. `Don't be stupid! Cel! No one can stay under water as long as they like.'
`I can. Ask Lem.'
Lem nodded. `She swam all the way to shore without coming up.' Then he made a face at Celeste. `Not that it's much of a gift if we are nowhere near water.'
`It's as useful as talking to animals,' retorted Celeste, pushing him back onto the