I said a few chapters ago that I would make character pics... and now I actually have some!  (Yay) Here is a picture of Fia (and the background has no significance):

The next day came quickly, and soon we were ready to play the game again. Sure enough, there were significantly more falcons than there had been originally, but Ms. Silver put an end to that quickly enough. "Don't pretend you can't remember," she scolded the group. "You're not as old as I am, and even I can remember this kind of basic information."

When the groups had, for the most part, turned back into their original people, Jared gave us the same sudden start as he had the day before, and when snakes were called, I was much more ready to run. I dashed into the trees, trying to keep close to my team, but it became very clear that teamwork would not be favored by the majority of my team. Eventually, I resigned to trekking on my own, eyes darting back and forth to watch for blue and red bandanas.

Then I got an idea. I ran to a large tree and climbed into the branches, then slowly crept out further over the mud, waiting to see someone come beneath me. Eventually, I settled down to sit on the branch and wait.

The first person who passed wore a blue bandana, and I stayed as still as possible, praying they wouldn't look up. They were busy scanning the surrounding terrain, and thankfully didn't glance to see if anyone was above them.

Then I saw a flash of red and turned to see a boy with a red bandana carelessly wandering through the bushes. I prepared myself to drop down behind him, but the falcon saw him first. He whipped around and, grinning, charged after the mouse, who started and tried to run too late. He gave in with a smile. "Alright, fine," he said, trudging back toward camp.

I wasn't sure how high the chances were that he would actually change his bandana, but I couldn't worry about that now. I remained still, perched in my tree, ready to strike.

For a second, I began to imagine that I was a Silver Heron. I moved to a crouching position, then stood cautiously. I raised my arms like wings and imagined that I could sweep them down in an instant and shoot upward until I broke free of the cold, dark mist that held me captive. I couldn't understand why the Heron would stay here, a willing captive of the valley.

Suddenly, I saw Akdani crouching in a thick group of bushes and trees. If I could sneak over there...

I glanced around my tree, seeing another close beside it. Taking a deep breath, I ran to the end of my branch and leapt wildly, hands stretched for the branches of the next tree. I caught it, and felt the skin on my palm tear as I pulled myself up. Cursing silently, I saw a new blister on my hand.

There was no time for rest. I made my way around the trunk and up a little, then wound up to jump for the next tree. If all went well, I would jump two more trees and drop down right next to Akdani.

All didn't go well. I ran out on a branch, and it snapped beneath me. I screeched and reached out to catch another branch, but I missed and tumbled down to the mud. I landed with a thud, wincing as my leg bent beneath me. I got to my feet, though, and turned around to see Tennielle grinning at me, blue bandana tied around her arm. With a yelp, I scrambled backward, but she tagged me easily. I was laughing uncontrollably, and in a few seconds she was too.

"What was that?" she gasped when we calmed down a little.

"That," I replied, "was completely intentional. What's wrong?"

"Sure," she told me. "Go get a blue bandana from Jared. I'll meet you here."

I nodded, then jogged off through the trees toward camp.