The Fiuri Realms (Shioni of Sheba Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Amnosia? Amnosia? ” she hooted.
    “Closely related to Am-sneezia,” offered Chardal. “You catch it like a cold.”
    As Iri muttered, ‘What? What did I say?’ the other Fiuri laughed and laughed. Even Shioni had to chuckle, although she felt miserable about being a Fiuri without a past. Hopefully, as Iri had said, her memory would return soon.
    Viri threw her arms around her sister. “I love you so much, Iri! You’re precious. It’s amnesia .”
    “Big difference,” growled Iridelle.
    As Chardal worked on her arm, he quietly explained to Shioni that Fiuri started life as larvae–crystal caterpillars–for seven or eight orbits before they entered their chrysalis stage, which could last as much as an orbit. Orbits must mean years, Shioni thought. Now, where had that word come from? Once a Fiuri emerged from the chrysalis, or pupated, they were regarded as a child, complete with antennae, wings and magical powers. There was a big celebration when the child developed the characteristic Fiuri patterning on their wings and legs, called the Naming Ceremony. Chardal called it, ‘coming into your Colour’. How strange. So, how could she be a no-colour Fiuri? Chardal clearly thought her a great mystery.
    Shioni would have preferred to be as green as her newfound friends.
    Shortly, Chardal announced, “Good as healed.”
    Shioni looked at her right arm in surprise. From elbow to wrist, it was covered in a hard, completely clear crystalline substance. She could see right through to the heavily bruised skin beneath. Where had that sprung from? Magic?
    Iridelle helped her to her feet. Viri handed her a gourd, which gurgled cheerfully with a load of nectar. “Drink up. You’ve had a nasty shock.”
    Shioni sipped from the gourd’s long stem. Her eyes popped open. “Wow! What was that?”
    “Viridelle! You didn’t!” shouted Iridelle, pounding Shioni on the back as she coughed and wheezed. Her mouth felt as though it had been set alight. “It’s chiribui , Shionelle–a big favourite with Green Hunters. And it’s not for children.”
    “I’m not a child.”
    Viri made a flowing half-bow, complete with a dizzying flourish of her hand. “Sorry. But until we know how much you know about Fiuriel, Shionelle, please think of yourself as a child in everything.”
    Shioni pouted. “Fine. I’ll try not to be completely useless.”
    Now, at last, her headache had abated enough for her to look about properly. They emerged from beneath the broad, thick-leafed Glue-Slap plant which had captured her–or broken her fall from somewhere up … there. Shioni’s mouth hung open, her tongue half-unrolling from her mouth in amazement.
    A dense jungle of plants and trees towered above them and to either side, growing right up the walls of what she had at first taken for a ravine. As her neck twizzled about on her shoulders, Shioni realised that the plant-walls curved up and up until they met overhead. There were trees growing upside-down above her head! She stood inside a glowing tunnel of greenery which stretched into the distance until it curved away out of sight. Shioni swayed on her feet. Breathtaking! Iridelle grabbed her arm to steady her. Light radiated from everywhere–from the plants, from the flowers, from the mosses and even in a few places where she could see rock protruding through the trees and bushes. No, not rocks. These were rods and curtains of glimmering crystal formations protruding out into the tunnel. She had never imagined so many colours. And the flowers! Her lungs filled with a thousand scents, while her antennae tingled with the gorgeous pollens thick in the air. Shioni didn’t know if she wanted to dance, cry, or run in circles shrieking with delight.
    The three Fiuri grinned at her as if they understood the sheer wonder that gripped her heart so hard it hurt.
    “First time out of the cocoon, eh?” said Viridelle.
    “ Whoooo-whee, ” said Shioni, which was all she could manage in response. She