When 11 year-old Dahlia seeks help and shelter from the centaurs, she had expected to find their legendary herbal teas, but she had not been warned about the chattery candles.
Her older brother, Nahum, and his ocelot, Pickles, are also navigating unknown territory as they search for the lost Tribe of the Wing.
As I brainstormed for these illustrations, I wanted to add extra story-related clues or humor to give the reader insight through the pictures that is not necessarily part of the narrative. The tired circles under Dahlia's eyes hint at the royal mages' magic that has kept her from sleeping while she fled to the centaurs. Her quizzical glare at Knox the candle shows her skepticism about magic.
While Nahum is discovering clues with his newly acquired shipman's map, we get a glimpse of Pickle's carefree attitude as he chases something he deems much more important.