Excerpt from Second Firechild Book

Yes, I'm working on the second Firechild book. ;)

Just the beginning. I'm not done with the first, but I had an idea I couldn't ignore for the second book, and I had to write it down.

Here's part of it. :)

Dakota Ryan loved plans.

She believed that for every situation, someone should have a plan for it. Whether it was winning in a board game, catching a thief, or saving the world, Dakota believed a person should have a plan. She hated to wing it, and she would only do so if all else fails. Even the thought of being unprepared was torturous.

It was this painful thought that had kept her awake all night long. She did not have a plan for what she was going to do next, and she knew it. But how could she have a plan? Her mortal enemy, Igdoscio Dechomai, had not (as of yet) done anything since Dakota's rescue of the Haven's most valuable allies, Shivahn and Ilona. It was his move, and Dakota couldn't come up with anything to counter him with if he had not done anything for her to deal with.

This notion (and her roommate Ashton White's snoring) had kept her awake for a long, long time. It was now three in the morning, and Dakota still could not think of anything except for some shaky back-up plans.

“Oh, come on,” she muttered to herself exasperatedly. “I have to save the world; I'm responsible to have a plan!”

Yet still nothing came to her.

Dakota felt her eyelids begin to droop, the heavy weight of sleep pulling them over her tired eyes.

No, no, not now – I don't have a plan!

Dakota fought for a few moments, pinching herself frequently on the cheek, but it would not do – her body would have its way. Dakota drifted into dreamland as her jumbled plans and schemes faded away into the darkness.

It seemed like a second later (though it really was several hours) when Dakota seemingly woke up.

She was greeted by a forest that looked remarkably like the Hemshire Forest in the Haven, though this forest was considerably darker and more sinister looking. White tendrils of mist curled between the tree trunks, and there wasn't a single bird or animal in sight.

Dakota involuntarily backed up a step. She looked down, and noticed that she was still wearing her pajamas – pink and purple plaid.

This must be a dream, she thought with relief, glancing up again at the spooky forest.

But then she noticed that she could feel the dirt, sticks and moss under her bare feet. She could feel the slightly damp chill emanating from the woods. Dakota bent down and picked up a handful of dirt, letting it fall through her fingers. Yes. She could definitely feel the dirt and its wetness, but yet there was something not right about it … she could touch, and see, and hear, but she did not feel like she was fully there – she felt like another part of her was away, anchored somewhere else, and she therefore did not feel complete.

She stood upright and wiped her dirty fingers on her pajama top. I could be sleepwalking in the Hemshire Forest, she thought to herself, glancing around. And my dream is changing the way it looks – that's why it's so creepy.

She was just beginning to formulate a plan for waking herself up when a light, very familiar voice came from the woods.

Also, does anybody know any synonyms for forest and woods? I feel kind of weird using those two words over and over. :P

And the second book's name is The Legend of the Starkindlers. Like? Dislike? Hate? Love? ;)