I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as the Country from high up. The land is so vast and wondrous. Rivers, mountains, thick forests, lakes and endless wuurns of tribes cover the open fields. I can see the huts, but I can’t see any people.

I look down and see Bunyip, Kapa, Kinpa, Marntaro, Jayden and Woo following us at full speed on the ground. Jayden is clinging to Marntaro and I’m impressed he hasn’t fallen off yet.

‘Pippy, shouldn’t we announce to the Custodians of these lands that we are here?’ I ask.

‘Yes, we should,’ Pippy says. ‘We just need to find a safe place to land – Wylah, look, fire.’

Up ahead, I see a trail of fire burning in the bushland. ‘Dragons?’ I shout.

‘I’m not sure. I can’t see any in the sky,’ Pippy replies.

I glance back at Merri and Po, but they shrug.

‘Wylah, look out!’ Merri suddenly shouts.

A giant bird swoops down at us and knocks Pippy’s wing with something fiery…

Continue reading the extract here…

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