ripped off their life jackets flopping on the sand Sam spit out more salt water and gasped for breath Tuck sat up and moaned I’ve lost another boat he said holding his head in his hands Mom is going to be so mad Sam sat beside him and put an arm around his shoulder Your mom will understand She’ll be glad that you’re alive Well at least we still have this Tuck reached over and grabbed his backpack which had washed up on the sand next to them Sam looked up at the fog overhead wishing Verny would greet them as he often did but the friendly 3
wyvern didn’t appear We’ve got to find Uncle Mitch Sam said She headed toward the narrow path that would lead them inland and Tuck followed behind Tall ferns parted their giant fronds as Sam and Tuck ran through them and into the shadowy forest Sam’s soaked clothes hung heavy weighing down her steps and the soggy unicorn tail stuck to her shirt She forced her feet to move faster They ran along the zigzagging trail blue lightning bugs leading them through the trees Melody plants along the path shook their orange leaves in a frenzy singing an urgent tune when the 4
ground began to shake violently Tuck skidded to a stop Grab a tree he shouted Sam and Tuck dropped to the ground each hugging a tree trunk as the ground ripped open between them and the earth collapsed under Tuck Sam reached for him as he fell into the crack He scrabbled at tree roots trying to climb out but quickly disappeared Tuck Sam cried She crawled over to where he’d fallen His eyes peered up from below where he was standing on a crumbling ledge Help She scanned the sky Still no Verny to save them But she had his 5
