Chapter One

  Runaway

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom called Kallinaria, there was a princess named Aria. She was just like any regular princess. Took lessons, went to tea parties, that kind of thing. Except, one little problem. Aria didn't want to be a princess. All she wanted to do was explore, learn, and maybe ride one of the kingdom's respected dragons. But her mother, Queen Rania, would most certainly not allow this. Aria decided to run away.

Aria gathered her things and left one night, but, unknown to her, a mysterious group called the Mutaforma was waiting for her. The Mutaforma's leader, Captain White, had sensed Aria's shape-shifting potential. The Mutaforma was a secret group whose members could change their shape to that of a certain mystical animal, like a mermaid. One of their members, Jason, switched to his weather giant form and sent a giant storm. Aria was forced to take shelter in a hollow tree. In the morning, the Mutaforma were waiting for her.

When Aria awoke, the Mutaforma were standing around her. "Welcome, shape-shifter," Captain White said. Then he began to explain the Mutaforma's purpose. They searched for magical people who possessed the ability to shape-shift. They also studied and protected mystical animals like dragons. There were 3 creature groups: the Sky creatures, the Ocean creatures, and the Earth creatures. Aria was very confused. "You will understand in time," he said. He gave her a list of the creatures.

Sky Creatures                         Earth Creatures

Phoenix (fire bird)  Unicorn (horse with a healing horn)

Griffon(half-lion, half-eagle) Banshee (ghost that seeks revenge)

Pegasus (flying horse)        Gorgon (snake-hair with stone gaze)

Dragon                          Weather giant (controls weather)        

Serpent (giant winged snake that spits venom)

Ocean Creatures

Siren (shape-shifting mer with fatal song)

Mermaid (half-human, half-fish)

Selkie (seals that can turn to humans)

Kraken (giant octopus, very strong)

Captain White explained that he sensed that Aria had this shape-shifting power, and decided to test her. There were three stone circles with pictures on them. One was the Earth Stone, one was the Ocean Stone, and one was the Sky Stone.  Aria was told to pick up each stone, hold it for awhile, and then put it down to pick up the next one. Captain White told her that there were animals on each stone. When she picked up a stone, if her talent was in that area, an animal on the stone would sparkle. Aria did as she was told. But when she picked up the Sky Stone, the whole stone glowed. Captain White gasped. "Oh, my. Aria! You are a sky follower!"

Chapter Two

  Training

You are a sky follower. The words echoed in Aria's head as she tried to summon the phoenix. Since her test, Aria had learned that the Followers were very rare. Since she was a sky follower, she was supposed to be able to shape-shift into any creature of the sky. But Captain White had said she should start slow. She and Liam, another trainee who was muta kraken, as he liked to say, were working on summoning their animals. According to Captain White, she should be able to send her thoughts out to the phoenix in the woods and summon her. Captain White told her she must keep her thoughts on the phoenix the whole time, but it was pretty tough when another trainee was effortlessly calling and diving down to the underwater kraken.

Suddenly there was a flutter of wings. A red blaze appeared on the horizon. Yes! Aria had done it! The phoenix settled on her shoulder. Aria flinched away. Everyone in the Mutaforma knew that the feathers of the phoenix were flaming hot and could melt anything. But surprisingly, Aria felt only a comfortable heat.

"Let's finish up. Aria, you and Flair can spend a little time getting to know each other. Liam, I want you to come with me and Jason." Captain White said. "Since you two are 16 years old now, you need to learn how to care for the kingdom's dragons."

Aria huffed. It wasn't fair that she didn't get to do anything fun like seeing dragons. As if she could read Aria's mind, Flair fluffed her feathers. Aria smiled. "All right, Flair. We'll have plenty of fun on our own."

As Aria and Flair practiced communicating with each other, Aria found that she and Flair were able to hear each other's thoughts! Flair told her that she should try shape-shifting next. "It's pretty easy once you get communicating. You just have to imagine yourself as me!" Flair told Aria. But just as she was beginning, Aria heard a voice.

"Aria! Aria! Liam and Jason took the dragons out for exercise and haven't returned!" Aria gasped. It was Captain White. "Letha is the only dragon left. She didn't go out with the others. We were hoping that since you were a sky follower, you could talk with Letha and search!"

Aria's mouth fell open. "Of course we will send an experienced dragon rider with you." Captain White said. "You cannot go out on your own."

Aria and Letha soon communicated. Letha had no idea where the others were, but she knew some  popular trails that the new dragon-carers took. Watel, an older dragon-rider, had given her a brief lesson earlier. He said that Letha would do the rest.

Aria and Watel rode Letha along the first trail. Suddenly, she stopped. My brother dragons came this way, she said. Aria translated to Watel. She pointed to a cave in the distance. "Let's go that way," she said.

As Aria and Watel approached the cave, they noticed a sentry outside. "No! The Black Knights!" Watel said. "We must turn around. The Black Knights are completely against mythical creatures. They like order and certainty, and they are excellent sword fighters." Letha snorted and descended to the ground.

"Identify yourselves," the sentry said. "The dragon as well."

"Aria, let's go!" Watel hissed. "I may be able to turn into a kraken, but that is no help on land!"

But Aria stayed. "I am Aria, lost princess of Kallinaria. What have you done with the Kallinarian dragons?"

The sentry snorted. "I'll show you," he said. Then, before Watel could object, the sentry yanked Aria into the cave.

The cave was dark and dingy. Strange voices echoed around bends. Another two guards had showed up to help the sentry escort Aria through the halls. Suddenly, Aria smelled something familiar. It reminded her of the dragon stables. She suddenly jerked away from the guards and ran to an opening. One guard was still dazed, but the others grabbed her. However, they weren't fast enough. Aria saw what was at the bottom of the cave.

Aria lunged at the dazed guard, and he crumpled to the floor. Surprisingly, she only felt one pair of hands restrain her. She twisted around, breaking the guard's hold. Liam was right behind her! Once the guards were unconscious, Aria stood panting. "Liam," she gasped. "The Kallinarian dragons are dead."

Chapter Three

Death of the Dragons

Aria was very grateful to Liam for saving her, but she knew they had to get out. "Where is Jason?" Aria asked as Liam led her through the cave. Liam looked grim.

"Still missing. The guards needed him for something." Aria sighed as she ran for the exit.

Suddenly, someone blocked their way. It looked like another Black Knight. "Your little friend Jason informed me exactly of your position," he grinned evilly. Aria stared in shock. Jason was a spy?

How would she and Liam escape now?

Whoosh! Aria looked up. A ball of fire had replaced the guard. Letha! "Come on, Liam! Letha is out there!" Aria called.

Aria and Liam leaped onto Letha's back just as more Black Knights turned the corner. Letha didn't need anymore encouragement. She shot into the sky.

As Aria and Liam rode back to the camp, Liam told her a secret. "I should have told you before, since you were a sky follower," he said. "But Captain White tested me and found that I was an ocean follower. You might have known this already, but all three elemental followers must be needed to defeat the Black Knights. "

Aria was stunned. After a slight pause, she replied. "But... who is the Earth follower?" she asked.

"Lianne Mali was our Earth follower. But she is gone now. We believe she left for the castle. She has not been seen for a long time."

Lianne. The name sounded familiar. Where had Aria heard it before? Then she remembered. She pulled an old photo out of her trunk. It was a picture of Aria and her three sisters (Emilia, Jane, and Delilah). They were standing with her grandmother... Lianne! Lianne was Aria's grandmother! Now Aria could win the battle... all she had to do was get to the castle. But she wouldn't have the time. Captain White rushed into her tent in a panic. "Aria! The Black Knights are attacking now!"