I can see a little better than the others in the dimness of this labyrinth...Where nobody thought to shine the flashlight, underneath some of the strange sideways steps, I saw a small tunnel. When no one was looking, I crawled into it to explore. I know, dumb thing to do. I couldn't help myself! Mice like tunnels.

The rough stone of the narrow tunnel scratches my raw skin, and as it bends and twists I realize just how long it is. When it finally occurs to me to turn back, it's too late. The long shaft has grown too narrow, and now I'm stuck.

Pine shavings! I think to myself as it dawns on me the seriousness of this situation. Why in the world did I go in here anyway? I have no choice but to continue forewards, as no one could fit in here to rescue me even if they heard my pleas for help.

The tunnel grows so narrow that I can only use my back feet to push myself along. While I slink along in the dark, I use the valuable time to think.

So, only Who came back. That is very suspicious. In fact, while I trust Little Crow, I do not and have never trusted Who. OH MY GOODNESS! THE MESSAGE SAID, "BEWARE THE OWL"! (Who is and owl, correct?) Now it's more important than ever to get out of here! What if I reach a dead end? Oh, no...

Some strange force propels me forwards, whether it's curiosity or something scarier than that, I don't know. Much to my surprise, the tunnel begins to widen! And then I see a wall. It's rock, and when I bump my nose against it, I can feel it's solid as stone. The tunnel is much larger than before, but still not enough for me to turn around. I sigh. Now I really am stuck. Stuck before I can continue into the last room...the most exciting room.

Speaking of which, I begin to ponder the key word that will let the rest of the group through. "Yesterday," I whisper to myself, feeling sure that that's the answer. I blink, and the dead end has disappeared! That's really weird. It must be enchanted with the same spell the last door was! Cool.

I propel myself into the spherical chamber (one that's plenty big enough for me to turn around it!) that the dead end led to. Inside is a small scroll, just my size. Curious, I unwind the old leather cord tying it together and begin to read. The musty scroll has words written in the ancient language of the animals, and I finger the characters longingly. The scroll feels very oddly thick in my paws. Here's what it says:

There is also a hidden message IN this scroll.

Looks can be deceiving
There's more than what seems to the eye
To go where the path doesn't lead you
Means that many will surely die
Tread softly for it may be listening
Planning its next evil move--
Beware daring seeker for what else is hidden
Don't take things for granted don't go where forbidden
Don't speak to the dark, do not hide in the night
Keep your lanterns well lit so your path's full of light
The door lies ahead and what waits you is fine
But please do not go down the shaft number nine...

I have no time to solve this! I gotta get back and show it to everybody! Like lightning, I scurry back down the tunnel going the way I came, with the scroll tied to my tail. Creeped by the message, I'm careful not to say anything in case the gibberish from the poem actually meant what it said.

I find the group with no problems, as they haven't really left camp. Excited, I show the scroll to Charlie. (Definitely not Who, though.) 

I am in. I have found Elluot and the bats, and they are behind me. What are we going to do about BIG? My agent inside BIG was killed, and I want to launch a counterattack. But maney something here will help.

What kind of animal is Who?

~Wiseowl

Okay, this is getting too creepy. "HELP!!" Sorry did I say that out loud? Yep, the answer is yesterday. OKAY GUYS, I AM SERIOSLY FREAKING OUT!!! 

~Wiseowl

*quietly* "Three more doors left." Everyone turns around. "What did you say?" Charlie asks. "Three more doors left,' I say again. "17 letters. 9 will be crossed off. 6 doors we passed through. 6 letters crossed off. Three more doors. 3 more letters." I finish off in a mumble. Everyone is staring at me. the probably think I'm crazy. Charlie opens his mouth to say something, then closes it for a long time. Finally he speaks up again, and says...

Captcha says zrza. Zephyra? Is something wrong with her? This does not look good.... 

Yesterday? Oh brilliant! I was just there... can't remember when exactly.

What—d'you mean we should go back?

Oh! It's not the last door! What a relief, I was getting a little scared. Now I'll have time to not be scared until the last door...Which...isn't a really good feeling...*Breathes faster* 

I see Thimble showing the strange scroll to Charlie. I wonder about it, but relize that if she wanted to show me, she would have. I'll ask her about it later. I decide to wander around, and ask Spyral to go with me. His glow is strong, and the darkness is thick. I carry Spyral gently in my beak, and shine his light on the walls. There are strange runes, letters in the old tongue of the animals. Strange. Don't trust the owl. The words run through my brain. Who. It's he an owl? A snowy owl? No. The code couldn't have meant that. If it did, but it didn't. I shake my head. I should be ashamed of myself. Thinking about Who that way. But the words still appear in my mind. It can't hurt to be cautious. Spyral seems wise. He might know something we don't. "Spyral? Do you trust Who?" I ask. "What? Who are you talking about? Sorry I was reading the runes." He replies. " Who. The owl. The code said, 'don't trust the owl'. "

"Oh, well, no. I can't say I do feel quite comfortable with Who around. And Little Crow not being ng back, it looks suspicious."

" You don't think, Who, he wouldn't." I can't bear to say the words. Who wouldn't have done anything to hurt little crow. Would he? Spyral seems to know what I'm talking about.

"He would."

I gasp. No. Don't trust the owl.

"We can't let anyone's know, especially not Who. Can we?" I ask, a slight tremble in my voice.

"Leave that to me. If anything is to be told, I'll do it. Just keep the good nformation to yourself. Trust me. I know Who better than anyone knows."

I look around. It's a cold hard world out there. Seems like I cant trust anyone anymore. Then I see Eli. And every feeling of sadness, worry, or confusion I had after talking about Who, vanished. Replaced by a hatred and an anger greater than any other force in my small body. My insides tingled, burned with hate. Involuntarily, my wingfeathers had balled up into fists. My talons were planted securely into the ground. My eyes narrowed, and my breath grew hot and putrid. I muttered curses under my breath. Eliyana Fur seemed to feel the same way. She barely gave me a glance, but I could feel the Darkness was mutual. But my tensed muscles loosened. And i let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A shiver ran through my body. I was scared. What had become of me? What would mother say? And my sister, Zalia? And my friends? I was uncontrollable. When the darkness took over, I couldn't control myself. My feelings, emotions, everything was replaced by hate. I didn't want to be this way. It was a scary feeling. And I hated it. But I couldn't free myself from it. Yet.