Ethan Wright and the Curse of Silence by Kimbro West

clues to help them find Isaac.
    Odin, Ghislain, and the two boys grabbed their things and started on their way to Wegnel’s hut. The short journey was quite cheerful. The rain had died down and the sun was peeking through the dreary morning sky. Odin and Ghislain went on about the past and how they were on many misbehaved adventures, which seemed to steadily bore Auren. Ethan, on the other hand, had never heard about this side of Odin or Ghislain. He had always thought that Odin’s idea of excitement was sitting in the study drinking tea in front of the fire. They arrived at Wegnel’s place, where they found Wegnel waiting for them outside.
    “Well hello there,” said Wegnel, scratching his beady-eyed wrinkly face. “It’s great of you to show up on time for a change — not saying that you are the regular sort by any means, but you …”
    He was cut off by Ghislain. “That’s quite enough pleasantries, Wegnel, we don’t have time for all the babble this trip.”
    The brash comment was overlooked by the alchemist and he continued. “Ah then, come inside,” said Wegnel quickly.
    Ghislain and Auren walked in first, followed by Odin, and then Ethan made his way up the stairs and into the hut. It seemed much more cramped with Ghislain and Odin inside. Ethan looked at the chair in which his first meeting with the Oroborus had taken place. It looked rather unique, but at the same time, quite plain. It was made of wood but had a dark border around the backrest and seat. Everyone found a place to sit except for Ethan and Wegnel. Ethan did not care to sit in that chair, not now anyways. He stood by the doorway and watched Wegnel as he rooted around the kitchen.
    “Any tea?” yelled Wegnel from the other room.
    “No thank you,” replied Odin.
    Ghislain looked annoyed. “Let’s get down to business already, Wegnel.”
    Wegnel came in the room with a familiar small bottle of red powder.
    “Oh no — no son of mine will have need for any blundering blinding powder — not today or any day,” said Ghislain sternly.
    Wegnel looked a bit disappointed but put down the red powder and instead approached the beautiful chest with metal workings on the front, opened it, took out the silk bag and placed it on the table. Wegnel loosened the drawstring and took the creature from the bag. Auren’s mouth was agape as he stared at the Oroborus.
    “Ethan, why don’t you sit down first, since you have done this already,” said Odin.
    Ethan picked up the pack that Odin had brought and had a seat in the old wooden chair. Wegnel placed the leather straps around his arms and turned to get the Oroborus.
    “Now then, it will be important to remember not to panic, for when you arrive on the other side you will have to wait quite some time for Auren to show. It could be several minutes it could, and you don’t want to be getting yourself all irate.”
    The Oroborus had removed its tail from its mouth. The colors had altered slightly, as well as the shape. The tail was bright blue on the bottom, had brilliant yellow lines running up to the top, all surrounded by a black border.
    “His tail looks different than the last time I saw it,” said Ethan, wondering if he should panic.
    “Ah yes, that has much to do with little, and little to do with many things. You see he has never had to necessitate for feelings, but as time passes and he spends more time around humans, he finds himself wanting to express himself, wanting to express his … feelings. I believe this is a display of contentment for his environment I do. Evidently, Dimon has somehow come to the conclusion that you are of quality folk, how he came to that I may never know, but there you have it,” rambled Wegnel.
    As Wegnel brought the Oroborus closer to Ethan’s forearm, Odin noticed something. Dimon’s eyelids had slowly peeled open to reveal two very large black eyes. Odin looked up at Ghislain, who was also alerted by the eyes that had just appeared. Ghislain was just