Arrivals

Petra took up her usual position behind a ruin. This one had many different pictures and symbols on it, and she liked to look at them and wonder what they meant. But this was not a time for lying around gazing at rocks. Lennox had told her that there had been three new arrivals. "Three?" Petra had said, disbelieving. "Yep," Lennox said. "Keeton and I saw them come in. Not all at once, though. There was a girl and a boy first, and then another boy." Petra shook her head in disbelief. So many, so close together? The odds were astronomical.

So here she was, close to the arrival point, looking for the three newcomers. Petra poked her head over the top of the rock. There was a rustling in the underbrush nearby. Petra quietly strung an arrow and approached it. Suddenly, a brown haired girl sprung up holding a spear made out of a sharp stone and a branch. Petra pointed the arrow at the girl's face.

They were at a stalemate, but Petra knew that she had the advantage. Her arrow could fly out of her bow faster than the girl could throw the spear at her. The other girl knew it too. "Put it down," Petra said. "I don't want to hurt you." Reluctantly, the girl put down her spear. "Now," Petra said, lowering her bow. "What is your name?"

"Chana," the brown haired girl spat out.

"So, Chana," Petra said, "Have you seen anyone else come out of those doors?" Petra pointed to the rock wall behind Chana. From the outside, it seemed like just another stone wall, but it was really the entry point for children who came into the Labyrinth. "Yeah," Chana said, her voice a little less harsh. "There were two boys. I met one of them. We have a camp not far from here."

"Can you take me to him?" Petra asked.

"Why should I trust you?" Chana asked. "I've just met you." Petra rolled her eyes. She had run into this problem with other children she had met. They were suspicious of her, as well they should be. Petra's reflexes were faster than you could blink, and she knew the area surrounding the entry point better than anyonenin the Labyrinth. "You should trust me because of reasons that the rest of my group do," Petra said. She saw Chara's eyes widen slightly. Obviously she didn't know that there were more children. "I'm fast, I'm smart, and I know my way around better than anyone else," Petra continued. "There's no reason for me to hurt anyone. Plus, you don't want me as your enemy. So are you coming?"

Chana took a minute to consider. Then she sighed and said, "Yes. I'm coming."