Moonrise. Chapter 1.

The faint murmur of rustling leaves ran through the forest like an arrow as Goldenfur raced through the trees to Barchwood Willow.

The sound of voices suddenly filled the air as she neared the ancient patterned door. The door was open slightly on a hinge and a bluster of noise poured out of the room. Goldenfur slowly took a step forward towards the door before turning, looking back at the forest behind her, then strolling in. It was like walking into a firework display and sound was everywhere. Goldenfur quickly reacted and folded over her long rabbit ears to defend them from the noise. Just at that moment a clap rang out through the crowd of animals and all was immediately quiet.
Chairs were placed in a circle around the curved hall for the guests to sit on and fairly soon they were all filled. Taking a step back, Goldenfur sat herself on the rough wooden floor. A large figure stepped into view in the middle of the circle. After a few seconds looking at the figure Goldenfur realised it was a badger. Moving gently - almost floating across the room - the creature went towards an immense bookcase at the other end of the hall. A paw reached out and took a huge book from its perch causing dust to scatter everywhere before the mysterious badger spoke.

“Come all, listen, for fate is threatened here and now.”

A low mumble of confusion went through the watching crowd as the badger placed the book on a stand in the middle of the room.

Suddenly the badger spoke again. “My name is Admril and I am the keeper of the forest but the forest is at stake! The moon has risen and darkness falls. There is one who must put an end to the shadows. The silver necklace must be found and used to drive back the shadows into the darkness.”

A shower of paws rose from the crowd on all sides of Goldenfur and a loud conversation started between the leaders of the clans. Admril lifted a hand for silence. All noise stopped. Olthur, an otter, suddenly broke the silence.

“I know peril and danger will come from this journey but I feel that I was made to do this. So I shall go.”

The moment his speech was over, loud roars of anger burst from the crowd like wild fire. A clap came from the middle of the room as Admril agreed to Olthur’s idea.

 “But,” she said “I will need someone else to go with him on his journey. Think before you volunteer as there will be many dangers even though it will be a great honour.”

At the sound of danger every creature in the room was silent and it stayed that way for several minutes. Through those minutes Goldenfur was thinking and out of the blue a bubble of strength filled her.

“I will go” she declared.

Admril nodded from the centre of the hall as a squirrel called Bushy also volunteered and so it was made: The Fellowship of the Silver Necklace.

In leaving the hall to the study when all the other creatures had left, Golden fur felt pride and honour growing inside.

The study was a small rectangular room leading from the hall. A large bookshelf lay at the back of the room over a white freshly painted fire place. An oval desk was placed in the middle of the room with four cosy looking chairs placed around it. Goldenfur hopped over to an empty one and waited for some creature to speak.

The first to break the silence was Olthur.

“We must get going as soon as possible, so I do not wish to stay long”

Bushy gave a nod of agreement from the chair to Goldenfur’s left.

A map was suddenly rolled onto the table in front of them and silence was restored. Goldenfur studied the map closely. It had rough, crinkled edges and looked extremely old. Large dulled images were set across its surface, many of the places Goldenfur had never heard of. On the far side of the map was a large black cloud above a fiery volcano surrounded by plains, it made Goldenfur shiver in fear.

“That is where you must go “Admril said pointing to the volcano “Albavergo.”

For a second Goldenfur wished she hadn’t agreed to the journey as Olthur pulled out his sword from its sheath. Bushy retrieved his bow and arrows as Goldenfur was handed a dagger set in a brown leather seal. Curved patterns ran across the sides of the silver dagger making it glow in beauty. Through a window in the study Goldenfur could see that it was now dark outside. She quickly followed the others as they padded out of the room. They quietly unlocked the door and stepped out into the night. Cold air rushed at them as they agreed to start the journey in the morning. Walking slowly they made their way towards a clearing farther ahead. When they reached it Bushy raced into the trees to collect firewood, when he arrived back on the ground Goldenfur was already curled up in a bush at the side of the clearing. Olthur was walking round the edge of the clearing searching for a good bush to sleep in. Bushy slowly rose back into the trees and settled on a broad branch over hanging the clearing before silently closing his eyes and waiting for morning to creep by.