Chapter I

"Wow! Is that a real place?" Aaron Nickel asked himself. He was watching a program about the ancient kingdom of Rowdor. Aaron had always wanted to study lost civilizations, but adults said he didn't have enough patience.

"Archaeologists think this plain was once the home to thousands of people in the Rowdorian capital of Minith. The city was the largest city in a country that stretched from Central Guallatiri to Northern Zamia. Located near what is now Lake Niracia, Minith was the central point on trade routes. archaeologists hope this is the site. So far, though, nothing to prove this statement has surfaced." the reporter said answering Aaron's question. "From Lake Niracia, I'm Rachel Sawyer saying good night."

"No patience; I'll show them. I'll find Rowdor and no one's going to stop me." Aaron declared. "I may only be 15, but I can do it."

"What are you mumbling about this time?" a blond girl next to him asked. They looked to be about the same age.

"I'm going to find Rowdor, Tabby! I can't stand this orphanage any longer. I need adventure and a challenge, so I'm going to find it!" Aaron said. He was loud enough so everyone in the room heard him.

"You're always dreaming of far away places and going to them, but when the time comes you're to scared to go." Tabby pointed out.

"I'm really going this time. I promise." Aaron countered.

The whole room exploded with cheers and two teens walked over to Aaron and Tabby; a brown-haired boy and a sandy-blond girl. The boy looked at Aaron for a minute then said, "If you really mean to go I suppose I'll go too. I mean Aaron's right, we need adventure. So I'm coming."

"Then I'm coming too." the girl said. Then before Aaron could protest, she added, "To quote Perigrin Took, from The Lord of the Rings, 'You will have to lock me in prison or send me home tied in a sack, for otherwise I shall follow the Company.' The Company being you Aaron."

"You would really come with me? All of you?" Aaron asked. Then lowering his voice, he said, "Meet me in the upstairs meeting room in ten minutes." They agreed and went back to relaxing.

Ten minutes later, Aaron was waiting when Scott and Kitty walked in. "Where's Tabby?" he asked.

"She wasn't downstairs or in her room, but she'll show up. Boom-boom will show up though." Scott said. Aaron looked at him like he was crazy. "Don't you remember; Boom-boom is Tabby's nickname around here. Haven't you learned anything? But then again, you've only been here what, fourteen years!"

"I remember. Tabby, don't blow the table up." Aaron said. To Scott and Kitty's amazement Tabby crawled out from under the table. "Do you think you're the only one with powers? I have them as well. Kitty, I know that you can morph into animals and pass through solid objects. You," Aaron said pointing to Scott, " can telleport. And Tabby, you can create explosions."

"What can you do then, mister smarty-pants?" Tabby asked.

"I'm a telepath, can be invisible, and can move at high speeds at certain times, even numbered hours only." he explained. "Now about our adventure. When should we leave?"

"It's February now so we should leave for Niracia in April. That leaves two months to prepare." Scott told them.

"We should leave at night so we won't be spotted." Tabby suggested.

Kitty added, "We should pack light so we can travel fast."

"Great ideas! Let's meet here again in, say, two weeks. Same day and time. No hiding this time." Aaron ordered.

One o'clock on April 2nd, Aaron, Kitty, Tabby, and Scott crept down the stairs to the main room of the orphanage. Each teen had a backpack and a flashlight, though they were not on.

"Quit stepping on my feet, Tabby!" Scott cried.

"Shut up! This mission is supposed to be secret." Aaron whispered. "Now hurry up, we don't want to be caught."

As Aaron opened for the door light flooded the room. "We have you now, Aaron Nickel, Kitty L'Oreade, Tabitha Mirko, and Scott Sumerton!" sneered a man.

The group looked back and saw four adults and a teen at the top of the stairs. The teen had obviously snitched on them. "Headmaster D'afelio!" Aaron yelled. "Run for it!" The group split up outside and ran from the supervisors. One by one the group showed up at the forest tree house, until Aaron was the only one left to appear.

"Where is Aaron? He should be here by now." Kitty said looking out the window.

"He should, but the last time I saw him he was being chased by..." Tabby stop short realizing Aaron's peril. "He was being chased by Coach Jake; the fastest and strongest person in Chico Village. I wanted to help but he told me to run; I wanted to help, but I... he...No! NO, NO, NO, NO!! I'm going after him." Tabby slammed her fist on the table to show that she meant it.

"No; do you want to be captured too? We need a plan first; then we'll save him." Scott retorted. "Now, where would he be hidden?"

"Not in his room; it has a balcony." Kitty told them. "What about the attic, the one in the tower? It has a small windows and one door, which opens from the outside only. Coach would put him there thinking Aaron can't escape."

"We're agreed on the place. Tabby can you create a small bomb that will go off after one minute?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, why?" Tabby said. Then guessing what he had in mind, she said, "You want me to create a distraction to get all attention off of Aaron, so you can pop in and rescue him. Right?"

"Right, and Kitty can phase you through any walls necessary. Come on; let's go."

The trio set out on their test of teamwork. When they reached the wall under the large living room windows, Kitty and Tabby phased into the room. Scott walked into the shadow of the tower. The two girls appeared, gave him the go ahead sign, and ran back towards the tree house. Kitty looked back in time to see Scott reportedly. As they approached the main gate they heard the bomb go off. It was only a small one but the whole orphanage was in an uproar.

Scott heard the bomb go off but was to interested in finding his friend. "Aaron, Aaron are you here?" he called quietly.

"Scott, is that you?" Aaron asked. "I'm over here. Walk forward until you find the wall, then go left, and don't worry, I can see you." Scott followed Aaron's voice and his directions until he bumped into Aaron. As Scott untied his hands, Aaron explained what had happened. "Coach Jake caught me and tied me up in here. It was one o'clock, so my speed wouldn't work. That's better." Aaron said, rubbing his wrists. Just as Scott was getting ready to teleport, the door opened and a tall, muscular man stepped though. He went after the two boys, but Scott grabbed Aaron's wrist and teleported, leaving the man staring. They reappeared in the tree house, where Kitty and Tabby were waiting.

"Aaron!" Tabby cried. "Are you okay? I should have followed you."

"No, I didn't want you to get caught too." Aaron contradicted her. "If you hadn't found me by three, I was going to tell you to go on with out me."

"We couldn't do that! After all this was your idea." Kitty reminded him.

Scott had been looking out the window ever since he got back. "We're being watched; I just don't know how or by who." He looked out the window again and found what he was looking for. "We have to get out of here. The little snitch is watching us. If we try to move out on foot she'll follow us. Jean McKnight, you're not going to get us this time." Turning to the others he said, "Get your stuff and come here." The group gathered scattered supplies and put them into bags. They gathered in a circle around Scott and teleported.