he boy watched the last of the dancing green light fade away over his kingdom. His moccasins toed over the edge of the bridge that led into his castle. This was where the Aurora Borealis domain touched the snow covered earth. Oh, how North longed to see friendly faces, just about anyone who didn’t live in the castle. Not that there were many living there, anyway. He pushed his long black hair out of his face. He always struggled to get the bridge open. Most of those living under his rule had wondered over it by accident on those rare days when the heavens and earth touch, like now.
As the young ruler, he thought many of his subjects held grudges against him for trapping them. He would try to explain that it wasn’t his doing. He didn’t want to trap anyone. It was their curiosity at finding his kingdom that brought them in and the castle that held them bound once they crossed the bridge. He’d be happy to let them go back to their homes but knowing how to do that was beyond his understanding.
The fresh, crisp air of early spring freedom filled the boy’s lungs. Of course, those who can fly seemed to be able to come and go on their own will. They had a free wildness about them and that was why birds were such great messengers.
North could leave though, like the birds, but he wouldn’t abandon his subjects whether or not they liked him. Or could he? From behind, he heard the dancing lights crackle with energy. A pale, grey shadow appeared above, easy to spot against the darkness of the night beyond. North watched with a thrill of excitement as the bird headed in the direction of the main tower.
It had to be the Ghost, North’s best friend. The snowy owl was home early. A shiver ran up his spine as he turned from the snow bank that was just one step away. He ran back towards the castle, the thought of leaving his home suddenly forgotten with the promise of friendship.
He bolted across the crystal bridge, laughing with the excitement of seeing the old bird again. The colours shifted under his feet, dancing greens, blues, reds and purples. The clear night sky loomed overhead as he jumped up and touched the top of the doorway then dashed through the hallways. He glanced at the walls lighting up a step behind him, mirroring the dancing lights the same way the bridge did.
“Ghost!” he shouted as he entered the throne room. His hair swung into his face as he stopped.
“My lord, Northern Lights,” a great horned owl clicked his beak. His white and grey feathers ruffled as he perched on the stand near the hearth.
North’s heart sank as he realized it wasn’t Ghost. “Chip,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment at seeing the messenger but it was someone kind to talk with. Someone who cared about him; he found a genuine smile for the loyal subject. “How are you? You’ve been gone for months! What’s new?”
“There is no time, my king,” the owl said, “I’ve seen an army of masked bandits coming into the kingdom. I believe the ferrets mean to do you harm. You need to run. Now! I’ll find you once you cross the bridge.” The large owl took flight with such strength and speed that North ducked away as Chip pushed off the stand with a screech and flew out the window.
The boy stood in the middle of his throne room, his heart pounding but his feet felt stuck to the ground. Ferrets? Harm? He heard the owl’s tongs scrape the window sill behind him. “Run,” Chip screeched again, “use the back stairs. Leave the castle by the bridge over the salmon river. Go, my lord!”
North willed himself forward and down the back stairs, his mind still blank as he followed Chip’s instructions. He focused on getting to the back bridge and the river. He looked into the wall beside him and gently let his fingers glide across its surface. A moment ago he had done that in play but now it was for comfort.
The lights rapidly danced along the walls behind him crackled furiously. He suddenly realized that the noise was a bad thing. He put his finger to his lips, “shhhh.” The noise went quieter as he concentrated on turning off both the noise and colours. The lights dimmed than fizzed out just as North got to the bottom of the stairs.
He could hear talking from across the room. A female voice barked out, “Colin, go to the other side of the room and make sure there’s nothing over there.”
North peaked around the corner. He could see five bandit ferrets standing by the main staircase that led up to the throne room. He understood why they were nick-named masked bandits as soon as he saw them. He thought those ferrets were extinct but there they were, in his kingdom. The ferret at the back of the group turned and started across the room, towards the doorway North was hidden behind.
Closing his eyes, North pulled back into the back staircase and concentrated on what the ferrets looked like. The boy could feel his world around him grow as he shrunk. It only took moments but when he opened his eyes again and looked at, what were his hands and were now his paws. He glanced back at his new sand coloured tail with a darkened brown tip. The fur around his eyes and across the extended snout turned black, to mimic the mask type colouring these ferrets were known for.
He flattened his ferret shaped ears against his head and darted out from behind the corner. He bounded straight at the ferret, whom he could only guess was Colin.
Colin arched his back in surprise and hissed at North, “who are you?”
North mirrored his movements and shifted again, this time, his markings changed to match Colin’s markings perfectly. “I’m you!” North spat back, mimicking Colin’s voice then he launched himself at the intruder.