DoW Chapter 3
I wake up the next morning to a note plastered on my face. Still groggy, I sit
up 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 real
treat. Good luck!’ It was in Nika’s handwriting. This is what they must have
meant. 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 near
the strawberries elds. I run left toward the eld and spot my tree. I look over
the tree for the next note and nd it in a small hole on the side. I read the
note 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 think
for a second. Listen means I will probably have to listen to nd the next clue,
but where? Grind, grind, grind. Wait. I knew where to go and head back to the
cabins. Smoke rises from the chimney as I approach the Hephaestus cabin. I
walk in and listen. Its hard to pick out sounds over all the noise. Everyone
ignores me and continues to work. I never liked the smell of a forge but I
needed to focus. I slow down and listen. Then I hear it. The hammers make a
rhythm 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. I
tell him. He nods and goes back to the anvil. I walk out the forge and gulp in
fresh air. I read the note. Nice, one more to go. This one will take all your brain
power. Winds aren’t strong, but in this place they rule. Find me in the place
where the birds are silver and picnics are in the sky. I almost laugh. I run to
the stables. I crest over the hill and see Silverwing already saddled up and a
cream colored horse with a rider on its back sits and smiles. I know that smile
anywhere. Devin raises a hand in a wave and almost falls when his Pegasus
moves slightly. I laugh and run up to him. He carefully dismounts and lifts me
into a hug. Being in his strong arms made me feel safe and all my worries and
stresses melt away. I missed you. I tell him. He sets me down and gives me
another signature smile. Me too Bookworm. He says, calling me by the nickname
he used since we started dating. Wow, you gured that scavenger hunt out
faster than I thought you would. Well maybe not like I thought you would. I
always underestimate you. He says. I roll my eyes. Well, at least it was fun. And
the prize was denitely worth hunting for. I tell him. He smiles. So, if you haven’t
gured 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 you
about what else happened yesterday? I ask him. Yes but we can worry
about that later. For now, he says and grabs a wicker basket. Why don’t we
eat? Then we can y. He says and opens the basket. Hold on, I know the
perfect spot for a picnic, but we’re going to have to y to get there. I tell
him with a smirk. He doesn’t argue and we hop on our Pegasus. It was
evident that he didnt really ride by the way he struggled to get on and
stay on but it meant a lot that he was trying. I chuckled when he nally
got it. He looked nervous but his Pegasus was gentile and patient. Ready for
your rst ying lesson? I ask him. He looks nervous but nods. Ok, hang on
tight. I tell her and I take off. I love the feeling of taking off and the wind
blowing the hair out of my face. I hear Devin let out a scream like a little
girl as his Pegasus takes off. I almost fell out of my saddle laughing. He
glared at me when he leveled off. Not funny! How do you not almost fall off
every time? He asks me. I shrug. Practice I guess. I say. Want to race? I
ask him. He pales. I don’t know about that. He says but his Pegasus has
other ideas. It gave a great cry and then shot forward, Devin screaming. I
laughed and urged Silverwing after them. I hadn’t met a Pegasus alive that
could outy Silverwing, so she had no trouble catching up. We ew next to
them and I laughed at Devin’s face. We’re almost there, the orchard is in
sight now. I say and then the world turns upside. Literally. Sudden gusts of
wind almost throw me from Silverwing and she is thrown back. I have to
land! I think desperately and guide Silverwing’s thrashing body down. As we
dive I realize we’re going to crash. I brace for impact and I’m thrown onto
the ground. My head spins and the metallic taste of blood is in my mouth. I
try to stand but my ankle and wrist were on re. I distantly hear whinnies
and 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 angle
and she had a wild look in her eyes. Ohh Silverwing. I’m so sorry. I tell her
and tears stream down my face. I try to calm her down but my head wasn’t
helping. I heard a shout and footsteps but I was in too much pain to
register. I fall down, unable to get up and pass out next to Silverwing.