Young Writers Society

Carter's mother said absently, "Yes, dear, have fun with your friends." She patted Carter on the head, then went back to what looked like a game of Orcs vs. Fairies.

Valeri raised an eyebrow. "Maybe Carter is better off with us..."

Carter bounced on their toes and said, "I told ya! Now then, where can we get a car? Ooh! Want me to hotwire one?" His eyes sparkled.

Vendetta chuckled nervously. “Uh, no, Carter. We’re going to use a portal.” They glanced at Dusk “Once we find out where to go.”

Dusk hummed. “How did you find me in the first place? Just do that again.”

“Dawn knew where you were last time.” Vendetta sighed. “And Josephinzo helped us find Dawn.”

"Don't you have some kind of magical weapon sensor thing?" Valeri asked Dusk. "Dawn knew where their pieces were..."

Dusk hesitated, then said, "But technically, my quiver and arrows aren't part of me..."

"Darn technicalities." Valeri frowned.

Amy spun the portal between her fingers. "Well... how 'bout we go ask the magnificent wizard? I'm sure he has some kind of awesome magic to help Dusk find its quiver and arrows!"

“Josephinzo does have amazing magic. He might be able to help!” Vendetta narrowed their eyes. “I’m sure he could find anything he wanted to.”

Dawn scoffed. “With all due respect adventurer, didn’t he just say no to even finding Dusk? Let alone their quiver and arrows?”

The kid's eyes widened. "Is Jo-Jose- um. Is Joey a real-life wizard?"

"It's Jo-se-phin-zo," Amy pronounced, "and yes! He's a high wizard and the master of the entire world." She tossed confetti into the air for dramatic effect.

"I wanna meet a wizard!" Carter exclaimed.

“Well, you’re going to very soon! As soon as we figure out how to find Dusk’s quiver and arrows.” Vendetta started pacing, as their phone dinged. They whipped it out. “It’s my news app.” They opened the article. “Arrows used in Circus Started Glowing During Performance, Ancient Magic Suspected.”

Dusk zoomed to Vendetta’s side. “Let me see!”

Vendetta showed them a picture. “It says they’re in police custody in-“ They paused. “Las Vegas?”

"Yep, those are my arrows," Dusk exclaimed. "We must rescue them!"

Amy whipped the portal in the air. "Not a moment to lose."

Carter goggled at the portal in awe, and after a final glance back at their mom, he skipped through. The rest of the motley group followed, the sunshine-yellow of the portal surrounding them.

The group stepped on to the Las Vegas strip, with no police station in sight. Vendetta whipped out their phone. “Ugh! The portal dropped us almost three miles from the station. That’s a forty-six minute walk.”

Amy giggled. “Maybe the portal just thought you needed to expertise more, silly. You’re not exactly the most in shape.”

Vendetta flushed, shoving their phone in their pocket. “Let’s just go then.”

After twenty minutes of walking, Valeri definitely had flying-sword-envy. She glared at Dawn and asked, "Don't suppose your magical powers include teleportation or anything?"

"Nope... sorry." Dawn glanced ahead, then said encouragingly, "Almost there!"

"That's what you said ten minutes ago," Valeri grumbled. "I'm never going on a quest again..."

Finally, the group-- which they really needed a team name for or something-- reached a slightly run-down, gray building. "Is this it?"

Vendetta looked at their phone. “Yep! This is the place.”

Dusk bobbed. “Great news! I shall go inside and claim my arrows.”

Amy bounced on her toes. “How are you going to carry them without a quiver, silly?”

“We shall find out!”

Valeri opened the door for Dusk, who floated inside and announced, "Greetings, puny mortals! I am the Legendary Bow of the Setting Sun, and I have come to claim my beautiful arrows!"

The guy behind the counter slowly lowered his donut. "E-excuse me?"

Dusk scoffed. “You heard me! I’m a legendary bow and you have my magic bows!”

The guy behind the counter sighed. “Which one of you is controlling the bow?”

“No one is controlling me you fiend!”

Vendetta put a gentle hand on Dusk. “I promise, no one’s controlling them. They just want their arrows back.”

The officer just looked done with everything. "You'll have to provide your first and last name, and proof of ownership."

"Legendary Bow, of the Setting Sun. And my arrows glow when I'm nearby!"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "...I don't get paid enough to deal with all this."

Someone screamed in the room behind the counter. Six arrows, each a different shade of purple, zoomed past the officer’s head and towards Dusk.

Dusk gasped. “My children!” The arrows floated in a circle around them, each of them whispering in awe.

Vendetta smiled to themself. “See? Believe us now?”

The guy stared at them for a moment, then blinked. "Uh... yeah." Still staring at the arrows, he took a bite of his donut, clearly trying to process what had just happened. "Okayy... guess that's enough proof...?" He scratched his horns and shrugged.

Before he could question it further, Valeri pushed the group out of the building. "'Kay thanks, bye!"

The arrows danced joyfully around Dusk in the fading evening light. "Think we have time to get my quiver?" Dusk asked hopefully.