Shrieks filled the air of the mountain village of Solia. The Dark Warriors were attacking. The villagers were well trained, but they had no chance of victory. It was either fight, flee, or imprisonment.

A girl in a tunic could be seen flying from a burning hut with a small sack towards the woods. She darted into the dark trees.

"Wake up!" ordered a voice, "Get up! Now!" Arrow woke up from her nightmare. She shivered in the dank dungeon of the Black Citadel that she stayed in for a month now. She wanted to get out, very badly. Arrow picked up a rock and began to hack the bars of her cell ……………………………………………………………..

Another month passed, full of secrecy, hiding, and lying. Arrow had succeeded in breaking the bars without any guards noticing. Now was her chance. The guards were attending a party up in the castle. She slipped through the bars, and pushed the doors open to run. "Whoa!" she shouted. The castle was a floating fortress! They were at least a hundred miles above the ground! That was too much for a twelve year old girl! Arrow fell and screamed. Something swooped out of nowhere and caught her on its back. "Codi!" She gasped. Codi was her pet giant eagle that she freed three years ago. Arrow laughed. She was free.

The Riddle
Part II of Arrow's Journey Home

Arrow and Codi landed on the ground with a soft thump. Arrow looked around to to take in her surroundings. "Quaint," she remarked sarcastically. The forest around her seemed quiet after a heart stopping drop with wind whistling in your ears. Codi tapped the ground impatiently. A loud screech could be heard overhead. Codi wrote something on the dirt. Dragons. "Since when did you learn how to write?" Arrow snapped. Codi gave a shrug that meant probably. I just know. "Let’s go, they’re probably on us."

No doubt.

"I wish Fern was here," sighed Arrow. "Her and those navigation skills." Then the pair proceeded to a clearing. A creature came out. According to Arrow’s calculations, it was a sphinx. "I’ve thought of a name to hide myself." Whispered Arrow. Codi cocked his head to indicate (what?) "First writing and now this, it’s Kara."

The sphinx walked up. Arrow gulped. "Do you wish to leave this forest?" he asked. "Yes", replied Arrow. " Answer my riddle and I will let you leave." "Please recite it." Codi shot Arrow a glare. That said, Careful or we’re going to end up as carrion. The sphinx smiled smugly, "Answer my riddle and you receive the answer." The sphinx got up and recited:

   I make your spirit frightened, 
   Merciless as a trident,
   Though unpredictable as the sea,
   In combat, you’ll need me.

Arrow racked her brains. "What was that ‘you receive the answer’ about ?" The sphinx smiled smugger than ever. In battle, thought Arrow you most likely want…. "a sword."

The sphinx smiled again, and stepped aside to reveal a clear path and a sword that was…"yours." the sphinx concluded. "Thanks," called Arrow as she left the forest behind with Codi and the sword.