I made this book because I like it.

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/aed8aa77izbt

Birdie’s head hurt terribly.
She lay in a quiet hospital bed.
The lights flickered… the shadows seemed to move.
She wished she could see her mother

Far away, Brix, Tenner, Seven, and Cabot hid inside a dark safe house.
Their friend and guide — the Librarian — had been taken to the palace dungeon.
The Forgotten Five were on their own.

“We’re going to save her,” Brix said.
His voice was steady and brave.

"We are going to save her."

Tenner nodded, water swirling around his fingertips.
“We’ve trained for this.
We’re ready.”

“We’ve trained for this.
We’re ready.”

Seven lit a tiny flame so they could see the old maps spread across the table.
The drawings showed twisting tunnels beneath the palace.
“If we’re quiet,” he whispered,
“maybe we can slip inside.”

“If we’re quiet,” he whispered,
“maybe we can slip inside.”

Cabot shimmered and shifted into a sleek black crow.
“I’ll fly ahead and scout,” he cawed softly.

Back in the hospital, Birdie pushed herself up, even though her head spun.
“I can distract the guards,” she said.
“I’ve done it before.”

“I can distract the guards,” she said.
“I’ve done it before.”

The Forgotten Five worked out their plan:
• Cabot would scout from above.
• Tenner would make hiding mist.
• Seven would guide them with soft firelight.
• Brix would break into the dungeon.
• Birdie would call on her animal friends to help.

That night, the moon hung bright and round in the sky.
The Forgotten Five slipped into the secret tunnels, shadows following their footsteps.

Birdie whispered to a small sparrow perched on her windowsill.
“Go,” she told it gently.
The sparrow flew ahead with a message of hope.

"Go"

At the dungeon door, Brix lifted his hand—
CRASH!
The heavy door burst open.
Tenner’s mist curled through the hallway like silver fog.
Seven’s flames danced across the stone walls.

There, tied up and hurt, was the Librarian.
Her eyes widened.
“You came…” she whispered.