By this time, the sky had completely brightened; the fiery red sun like a giant fireball began to emerge from behind the distant mountain range, the air temperature gradually rising, heat steaming up from the cracked ground, making the space become sweltering.
Rowan urged Owen to return to the deep, cool stone cave to escape the heat, leaving the little bird as the solitary sentinel.
Julian transformed into his beast form, a large white owl with thick plumage, and found an ancient tree with dense shade to lie on. Fortunately, the cool water vapor blowing from the waterfall made it somewhat more pleasant than outside. He half-closed his large, round amber eyes, beginning his first shift in boredom.
