I wake up the next morning to a note plastered on my face. Still groggy, I situp and pull it off my face. I smile as I read it. ‘Heres a scavenger hunt for you.If you want to meet the one you seek, look in the place where reading is a realtreat. Good luck!’ It was in Nika’s handwriting. This is what they must havemeant. I think and quickly get dressed. I grab my glasses and walk out the door.I think on the way. Treat must mean food and I like to read by that tree nearthe strawberries fields. I run left toward the field and spot my tree. I look overthe tree for the next note and find it in a small hole on the side. I read thenote quickly. ‘Good job, you nailed the clue. But this next one wont be so easy.Listen well, you’ll need to. To do this you’ll need to do more than grind.’ I thinkfor a second. Listen means I will probably have to listen to find the next clue,but where? Grind, grind, grind. Wait. I knew where to go and head back to thecabins. Smoke rises from the chimney as I approach the Hephaestus cabin. Iwalk in and listen. Its hard to pick out sounds over all the noise. Everyoneignores me and continues to work. I never liked the smell of a forge but Ineeded to focus. I slow down and listen. Then I hear it. The hammers make arhythm and steam hisses in tune. I recognize the tune. Its a song on my iPod.In the Name of Love. Someone walks up to me and hands me a note. Thanks. Itell him. He nods and goes back to the anvil. I walk out the forge and gulp infresh air. I read the note. Nice, one more to go. This one will take all your brainpower. Winds aren’t strong, but in this place they rule. Find me in the placewhere the birds are silver and picnics are in the sky. I almost laugh. I run tothe stables. I crest over the hill and see Silverwing already saddled up and acream colored horse with a rider on its back sits and smiles. I know that smileanywhere. Devin raises a hand in a wave and almost falls when his Pegasusmoves slightly. I laugh and run up to him. He carefully dismounts and lifts meinto a hug. Being in his strong arms made me feel safe and all my worries andstresses melt away. I missed you. I tell him. He sets me down and gives meanother signature smile. Me too Bookworm. He says, calling me by the nicknamehe used since we started dating. Wow, you figured that scavenger hunt outfaster than I thought you would. Well maybe not like I thought you would. Ialways underestimate you. He says. I roll my eyes. Well, at least it was fun. Andthe prize was definitely worth hunting for. I tell him. He smiles. So, if you haven’t
figured out, I may have gotten Annabeth and Nika’s help on this. He says. Yeah, They had the weirdest grins on their face all yesterday. Did they tell youabout what else happened yesterday? I ask him. Yes but we can worryabout that later. For now, he says and grabs a wicker basket. Why don’t weeat? Then we can fly. He says and opens the basket. Hold on, I know theperfect spot for a picnic, but we’re going to have to fly to get there. I tellhim with a smirk. He doesn’t argue and we hop on our Pegasus. It wasevident that he didnt really ride by the way he struggled to get on andstay on but it meant a lot that he was trying. I chuckled when he finallygot it. He looked nervous but his Pegasus was gentile and patient. Ready foryour first flying lesson? I ask him. He looks nervous but nods. Ok, hang ontight. I tell her and I take off. I love the feeling of taking off and the windblowing the hair out of my face. I hear Devin let out a scream like a littlegirl as his Pegasus takes off. I almost fell out of my saddle laughing. Heglared at me when he leveled off. Not funny! How do you not almost fall offevery time? He asks me. I shrug. Practice I guess. I say. Want to race? Iask him. He pales. I don’t know about that. He says but his Pegasus hasother ideas. It gave a great cry and then shot forward, Devin screaming. Ilaughed and urged Silverwing after them. I hadn’t met a Pegasus alive thatcould outfly Silverwing, so she had no trouble catching up. We flew next tothem and I laughed at Devin’s face. We’re almost there, the orchard is insight now. I say and then the world turns upside. Literally. Sudden gusts ofwind almost throw me from Silverwing and she is thrown back. I have toland! I think desperately and guide Silverwing’s thrashing body down. As wedive I realize we’re going to crash. I brace for impact and I’m thrown ontothe ground. My head spins and the metallic taste of blood is in my mouth. Itry to stand but my ankle and wrist were on fire. I distantly hear whinniesand limp over to Silverwing. I gasped and paled in horror at what I saw.She was on the ground, in pain. Her left wing was bent at a weird angleand she had a wild look in her eyes. Ohh Silverwing. I’m so sorry. I tell herand tears stream down my face. I try to calm her down but my head wasn’thelping. I heard a shout and footsteps but I was in too much pain toregister. I fall down, unable to get up and pass out next to Silverwing.