It took Roxy, Evie, Thea, and Edol about a few seconds to realize what had actually happened to them. Everyone was intact – alive and well. Who had saved them? No one knew. It couldn't have been an ordinary butterfly – an insect weighing little more than a gram? Then who? Or what? This place was clearly home to powerful forces beyond the reach and control of man. Evil dwelt here. And evil has no place in this world. At least not in the City. We have to save him. Warn the others. Call for help. Gather an army and defeat the monsters. If necessary, raze all the Forests and Steppes to the ground. Or lower.
– Shall we go back? " Roxy was the first to speak, as expected.
– What was that?" Edol asked, scratching the back of his head.
– We failed the mission, you oaf! " Roxy shouted at him. How could she, a real star, successful in everything, screw up? Not catch a single scary beast? She was loved, no, just adored by the whole school, and she chickened out! They can't let that go!
– I remember the old woman," Evie said slowly, almost syllabically.
– What? Nonsense We were in the forest," Roxy countered.
– You were the first to set foot in it, and Thea and I were here for a while," Evie explained. – Right, Thea?
– Uh-huh," she mumbled. As before, so now, you couldn't get many words out of her. "And who are they all – just a bunch of losers!"
– Anyway, listen," Edol said, – there's no point in us staying here. We've got to go home – no, we'd better go to the police. They'll come and arrest these vile creatures.
– Yeah, and let them get what they deserve. Kick them, and kick them hard!" that thought didn't seem so stupid to Roxy.
– Let's get out of here before it gets dark," Evie was drawn toward the house, toward the chips on the shelf and the phone charger.
– Okay, let's go.
The four started back the way they'd come. Their journey had been almost useless, but now they had a purpose: to find and kill evil monsters. Better than cramming for algebra and geometry exams.
– People? Here? And who are they? " a worried Galya asked the butterfly, who had just returned from the Forest. – Of course, unless you mean those poor children…
– They were human youngsters. Four of them," sang the butterfly.
– I saw them. Apparently, they all went into the Forest.