Engaging in good stories is what Gabriel lives for. Whether it be watching an engaging Star Wars or Disney movie or reading a fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson or J.R.R. Tolkien, Gabriel M. Dantes is constantly consuming some new tale, trying to find out what makes that story great. He has been asking deep questions about stories (as well as about life), since college where he studied philosophy and theology and then later received a Master’s degree. Then in 2014 and 2015 he wrote articles and gave countless talks on virtue and human thriving.
Dantes has spent many years now perfecting his world, as well as his his craft, to bring you his first chapter book called Finding a Familiar in the Aria’s Adventures book series. He was inspired to write this book for his niece Lauren in hopes that she will continue to grow in empathy as she enters a society that so often lacks it. Loving with empathy is a habit that our world despirately needs.
You can find out more about Dantes from his website: www.gmdantes.com
Finding a Familiar Description:
Aria, a young red headed girl, has been content to wander the forest, talking with the animals and enjoying her life. But this week she needs to focus and finally choose a Familiar (that is, her very own animal companion). The problem is that Aria cannot decide on one! For the first time, Aria must travel the forest by herself to find one. Armed with only her compassion, her adventurous heart, and perhaps a few other supernatural abilities, she must face the dangers of the world, find a familiar, and return home in time for her village’s familiar ceremony.
Aria's Adventures Book 1: Finding a Familiar
Chapter 1: Playtime!
“Twenty-four. Twenty-five. Twenty-six. Twenty-seven. Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty! Whoever’s there surely is a lazy birdie!”
But they weren't all birdies. Some were foxes. Some were chipmunks. Some were wolves. And one was a cat. The cats were usually the most difficult to find. They also didn't like losing. They took it personally if you ever found them first. So, if Aria did find the cat first, she'd pretend like she didn't to spare its feelings.
Aria tiptoed through the forest. She pulled back her red hair, trying to listen and feel for them. She always thought that it was unfair when she had to find them because she had the advantage of being able to sense their emotions. Sure, she wasn't always able to pinpoint the exact location of the emotion. But it gave her a general sense of where they were and precisely what they were feeling. Maybe that's why the cats were so good at hiding. They could mask their emotions.
“Where are you?” she called.
“Oh, I'm right here!” the Chipmunk squeaked, peeping from behind a shrub.
“Chimmy!” Aria protested. “You're supposed to be hiding!”
“Oh! Right! I'll hide.”
Chimmy popped his head back into the bush. Aria held back a giggle. She'd save finding him for later.
Then she felt another creature near her. It felt tense and focused. Probably the wolf. Aria crouched down, pretending she too was a wolf. She saw a little glitter in a bush just to her left. It was his piercing eyes. She turned aside, pretending not to notice him. Then, she pounced! She grabbed the wolf and rolled on the ground with it.
“Aria!” the small wolf half-growled and half-laughed. “You don't need to tackle me. That's not part of the game!”
He had white and black patches, all throughout his fur. He was so soft and fluffy that Aria wanted to hold him and cuddle with him in her arms.
“But it's so fun! Okay, Snowpuff! Let's find the rest!”
“Hey! Don't call me Snowpuff!” he griped, at the nickname that she gave him. His real name was Snowball, but he didn’t like that name. “I'm a fierce and dangerous wolf!”
He showed his little fangs with pride. It was difficult not to laugh at the cute pup. But he was so serious, and she did her best to honor him and be just as serious.
“Very well! What shall I call you then?”
“Pouncer!”
“A noble name for a mighty wolf,” she said with a grin. “Okay, Pouncer. Let's find the rest, then.”
So together they went to find the others. The wolf found the chipmunks, several other wolves, a panther, a fox, and a bird. Aria found another fox and the two other birds. Now to find the cat!
Chapter 2: Finding the Cat:
Where could that cat be? She searched around but couldn't find him. So, she focused her heart trying to find him with her empathy. Her empathy was how she could sense what other creatures were feeling.
It was difficult to sift through the animals’ emotions. The chipmunks were always excited. The wolves were focused and proud. The foxes were somewhat nervous and most birds were carefree and peaceful.
Then she sensed a bit of arrogance or pride. That must be the cat. And he was thinking he was better than everyone else. That's not nice! she thought. Well, we’ll teach him.
She moved closer to the spot. It was inside a log. She could barely see him hiding through a hole in the top of the log.
“Pouncer!” she called.
She whispered something in the wolf's ear. The wolf smiled and nodded with excitement. Then he darted away. Aria strolled in front of the side opening of the log, as if she knew nothing of the cat hiding inside. When the cat had his attention on her, the wolf snuck around the opposite side of the log.
“Hmm,” Aria said loudly. “The cat hid in a good place! We might have to give up. I wonder where…” she began to say, but didn't need to finish.
In an instant, Aria heard a small roar followed by a loud “Rayow!!” She saw the gray cat leap out of the log and spring five feet into the air. Aria giggled.
“Found you, Mr. Whiskers!”
The cat shot away from the wolf and hid behind Aria. After he calmed down, he seemed very put out.
“That was mean!” the cat complained.
Oh, boy! It looked like his pride was hurt.
“It was all in fun, Mr. Whiskers! Besides,” Aria whispered to it. “Weren't you just feeling like you were better than all of us? I was hoping to show you differently.”
The cat’s eyes grew wide, and then he bowed his head in shame.
“I keep forgetting you can do that. You’re not like humans.”
“That’s because I’m not human,” she said with a smile.
Aria didn’t know much about humans but she heard that her people looked like humans.
“No,” he complained. “Well, I'm sorry. It was mean of me. Did you tell the others?”
Aria shook her head.
“I won't tell. But we’re not less than you, you know. We're just different. And I love each of you for it!” she told him, wrapping the cat in a big hug.
“Aria! Time for breakfast!” her mother called.
“Oh, no! I have to go!”
All the animals objected, but she comforted and hugged each of them before she went. That seemed to help most of them.
“Come back and play soon!” they cried.
Aria promised she would do so later that week, but she couldn't again today. She couldn't because it was a busy and important day for her. Today was the day she would find her Familiar!
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