Dinotopia: Windchaser by Ciencin Scott;

Author:Ciencin, Scott;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gurney Studio
Published: 2019-12-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

Raymond had to see Windchaser, and that meant sneaking away from camp.

Raymond waited until the end of his first week of training. A day of rest had been earned, and Raymond knew he could get away without being noticed.

Bix had already told him the location of Windchaser’s lair. The craggy rise was a good distance away. Traveling on foot was definitely out. Not only would it take longer than a day to get there and back, but Raymond’s escape could be tracked. A Skybax out for a morning flight would spot him easily.

Raymond decided to stow away in a supply wagon departing at dawn. He had learned the wagons route a day earlier and knew it would take him close enough to the mountains in the east.

He hid in the wagon and tried to remain as quiet as possible. After a few hours of bumps and jostles, Raymond peeked out from beneath the canvas curtain covering the wagon’s cargo. He was almost there!

When the wagon finally made the turn bringing it closest to the mountains, Raymond clutched the small bag he had loaded with supplies. After taking a deep breath, he jumped from the wagon and rolled, forcing his body to relax and absorb the jarring impact.

When he finished his rolling, he sat up, dusted himself off, and surveyed the foothills of the mountains. They looked to him like two opposing stone giants. But Raymond remained determined as ever as he rose to his feet. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he began his long hike.

After a time, he approached a narrow pass between the craggy sentinels. The walkway was covered in shadow and very dark, despite the afternoon sun. It took Raymond longer than he would have liked to navigate its treacherous length.

Several times he put his foot forward and found it resting on nothing but empty air. There were drops he feared might have deposited him into the World Beneath—or at least into a pit from which there would be no escape.

Turning a corner, he finally saw a patch of brilliance. He quickly emerged onto a stone lip overlooking a churning canal. Raymond had learned that Dinotopians often took canoe rides along this canal. With any luck, a canoe would be left on his side of the channel.

Luck, it seemed, was with him today. Raymond took the canoe out.

At first, he was relieved to be floating carefree on the cool, choppy waters. Then suddenly, as if in response to Raymond’s challenge, something leaped from the fast current—a large black stone, the size of Bix!

When Raymond looked again, he realized his mistake. The stone had not moved; it had simply come into view unexpectedly as the canoe dropped from a crest and slammed down toward the stationary rock.

With a cry, Raymond leaped overboard an instant before the canoe could strike the rock. The water was ice-cold, and he immediately felt for some anchor so that he would not be swept downstream. His hands found a twisted branch as the lightened canoe slid past the slick surface of the stone, missing it by a matter of inches.

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