3

It's always hard to write. Today, it's even harder.
 
I've seen cattle die. I've seen monsters die. It didn't affect me. The death of my town did. My Pa’s death hurt. Like a burn, it makes my heart taught and stings. But they were dead when I woke up. Pa was long gone when I found him.
 
Today, someone died in front of me.
 
We make it to Lemish (city, not country) and was not impressed. 0/10. Cramped, loud, smell bad. Too many eyes. We go to big tower where Thestral and Grandpa Mary live. Look like fortress with all the Walls. But it turn to fire when we get there.
 
It smelled like Heckle under attack. But little time. Grandpa Mary dead, on the floor, in his own pool of blood. Manon sad. She look like Zylah when she brought back Tristain body. I tried to carry him for her, but guards show up. The Mayor had us arrested, but Madlyn say we need to follow. I hope she had a plan.
 
They put us in cell. I hate cell. Small. Nothing to punch. Nowhere to go. I hate it.
 
It could not get worse, BUT IT DID. I saw small mouse. In way of my view. I want to look for black dot on moon but it got in my way. I held it and brought it in so it could move.
 
Then Kaylan say the mouse is Thestral…The wise. The strong. The fighter.
 
IT IS A MOUSE. Mouse do not fight. Mouse do not speak! The four others happy but I MAD. How will mouse help us find Ma?!
 
Before I kicked door down, a friend of Thersha help us out. We try to escape the flames but are attacked. A giant creature. Perfect for my anger. I let it out and swing but…I saw her. She was there, staring at me. Pointy hat lady, the one who took Ma. How did she fit under monster, I do not know. But she did something to me. Like I couldn’t move. Like I could only hear the screams and the fire and what she said to my and Ma. Like my heart beat too fast but didn’t at all. I never felt that way before.
 
Zylah helped me. Then we run through Lemish to escape.
 
I saw a big scale creature. It sounded like what I hear in Heckle. That one spew fire. But this spew green cloud. Like acid. It burned people alive.
 
We ran on rooftop. Zylah led the way, to avoid the mist. Madlyn fought through the rubble. Manon make doors appear in floor (doors don't go on floors but I didnt day anything.) Kaylan tried to save people but nearly burned. I pulled her away. Mad at the stupid mouse, but Kaylan saved my sister many times. I owe her more.
 
We escaped. We were so close. But the Mayor yelled out and magic came our way. It killed Thersha. She died right there. Cold. So quickly. Is that how Pa died? So quick? Is it better to die that way? People say quick death better, but Thersha didn't get to say goodbye. Or tell her secrets. She's just gone.
 
 
I'm struggling to go forward. It's like walking through the mud. but now its getting thicker. heavier. deeper. I have to keep Zy afloat. Do I tell her that it isn't her fault? That I was the one that didn't kill the pointy lady twice now. I didn't save Pa. I didnt save Heckle. I let her take Ma. Thersha didn't get the chance to say her secrets. Will I have time to tell Zy mine?