"The sounds of the forest fell dead still. Richard looked up, flinching as a dark shadow swept over the ground, leaping across limbs and leaves. There was a rushing, whistling sound in the air overhead. The size of the shadow was frightening. Birds burst from cover in the trees, giving alarm calls as they scattered in all directions. Richard peered up, searching through the gaps in the canopy of green and gold, trying to see the shadow's source. For an instant, he saw something big. Big, and red." Chapter 1, pg. 15

"He remembered what people always said, 'Trouble sires three children,' and knew immediately that he didn't want to meet the third child." Chapter 1, pg. 15

"'What you did,'" she said, struggling to get the words out, 'was enough to make a difference. It was enough to save us. No matter how little you think it was, it...