Winter finally stopped them at a huge gnarled sessile oak, proud and alone on the moor. The raven settled down in the branches while Sorrel sat herself on one of the roots and twisted her neck to stare at the tree. It was odd for a tree the size of this one to grow on moorland, but then Winter was odd so Sorrel put it down to being a weird thing in a whole series of weird things. Little Cloud sat cross–legged on the ground while Winter disappeared into an entrance at the base of the tree.

"I hope that Lamya man doesn't come back," Cloud said, trying to make conversation, "he's seemed to have doubled in size since we last met him."

"You can always tell when he's nearby anyway." She wasn't in the mood for idle chatter. "Where is that wolf?"

Winter appeared carrying a rolled up piece of paper in her mouth. She dropped it in Sorrel's outstretched palm, licked her lips, then recited the words as Sorrel rolled out the scroll and stared at the words written in Old Elani.

"A Kingdom no more, yet in name remains so,

A realm of great Power to bear.

The dark corrupts all,

The shadow will fall.

A true spirit born, a saviour.

A single Star to shine a light,

The seer to share his guidance,

A dragon given, blood red,

Malinas once more rising."

"Written by Nodin," Winter said softly. "First King of Malinas. Look." She lowered her muzzle to the ground and fell still.

Sorrel shared a look with Cloud, wondering what the wolf was doing. When the ground shuddered, she gasped and reached over to clutch Cloud's hand.

The stubby grass beneath Winter's nose shrivelled and died. Dust danced on the bare earth and then cracks appeared, but they were curved and soft as if drawn by an artist.

"It's people," Cloud said, wonder in his voice.

Sorrel watched as the cracks stopped and Winter lifted her head, leaving behind the likeness of four men.

"King Nodin the seer and his brothers," Winter said. "Canlu, Vascus and Argan." She smiled. "I've been waiting a long time for you, One Star, and now you're here. You're finally here."

Sorrel stared at the picture. One of the men was not like the others. One of the men was—

"Like me," she whispered. She touched the picture, the single star on the man's cheek. "Who is he?"

"Argan," Winter said. "Onen Steren. A warrior. A True Warrior. His blood is in your veins. You are—"

"Special," Sorrel said. She shook her head, unhappy with the news that she was meant to be some sort of saviour. She folded her arms and glared at Winter. "How did you do that with the earth? And how do you know all this? All I want to do is go and save my people. I don't want any fuss. Just give me an army!"

Winter laughed and Cloud grinned, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

She looked at her friend. "Stop grinning," she said, but his smile was infectious. "You look like an idiot! You're in the rhyme too, y' know! The almighty seer, my fellow saviour of all of Aldenland."

"Not all of Aldenland, Sorrel." He gazed at the drawing and at the scroll. Then he gasped. "It mentions a dragon?"

Winter looked as if she had just remembered something and without a word, hurried back into the tree. The cracks closed, the grass grew over the earth.

"Now where's she going?" Sorrel cried, exasperated. "You'd think that the One Star would get more respect around here! When I go home, I bet people will still be telling me what to do." She put on a deep voice and pretended to be one of the Elders. "Hey you, young One Star, stop messing about and come save me from this dragon! And Leif'll be like, 'Sorrel, you must be an Elder, it's a highly respectable job!' Hey Cloud, I'm going to start calling you 'Little Cloud Three Star the Seer, Fellow Saviour of Mankind!'"

Cloud burst out laughing and suddenly it felt like old times as they clung to each other and fell to the ground. Sorrel's stomach ached.

"And I'll call you One Star warrior girl Sorrel the Slayer!"

Winter emerged from the tree and frowned at them both. "Ahem! Your attention please."

Sorrel stood up and wiped tears from her eyes, nudging Cloud with her boot. "Sorry, Winter. What've you got there?"

The wolf lowered her head and allowed an amulet to slip from around her neck. She sat down and let Sorrel and Cloud inspect it before explaining what it was. "It's my gift to the pair of you," she said. "It will protect you from dragons."

Cloud turned the flat golden stone around and light glinted on its surface. The amulet was large, almost the size of his palm and it was shaped like a rounded arrowhead. It quickly warmed to his body heat and was so smooth that Sorrel could not resist leaning over him to touch it again.

"What sort of stone is it?" Cloud asked.

Winter smiled and shook her head. "Oh it's not a stone," she said. "It's a dragon scale. Very powerful. You must wear it around your neck, Cloud, make sure the dragon can see it. It will be looking for Sorrel."

Cloud did as he was told, then bent down to the wolf. "Thank you," he said, touching her cheek. "People always seem to be giving us gifts and we have nothing in return."

"You are our gift," said Winter. "Now come inside, you both must be hungry."

Sorrel grinned and raised her eyebrows at Cloud. She was always hungry. "Starving," she said, rubbing her hands together. Cloud grinned and playfully poked her in the ribs.

She smiled and followed Winter into the old tree. If she was to take a dragon to the Kingdom of Malinas then she was sure to get her mother back.