Chapter 5

Chapter five The next day, the inter-dorm crossnet tournament was planned for the afternoon, but first Ruby and Topaz dorms had a Geography and Culture lesson. Lyra's dreams had been full of treasure maps and mysterious clues and, while Ms Rivers talked about ecosystems, Lyra thought about the riddle on the back of the map. She recited the words in her head. Go to the woods for what you seek, Find Daybreak, move stone, follow river deep. Where spiders live and a cave answers your call, The piece lies behind a glittering wall. She frowned. What did it all mean? "Lyra?" Lyra jumped as she realised Ms Rivers and the whole class were staring at her. "S-sorry," she stuttered. "Can you repeat the question?" Sam sniggered but Ivy sent her a sympathetic smile. Ms Rivers sighed. "The ecosystem in the woods, can you give me an example of an animal that lives there?" Across the room, behind Ms Rivers, Evie flapped her arms. "Birds," said Lyra. Ms Rivers looked unimpressed. "Yes, Lyra, there are birds in the woods. I was hoping you might name one?"

"Um…" Evie pulled at her nose and then waggled her fingers like spiders. "The stretchy-nosed spidery bird?" guessed Lyra. Ms Rivers' eyebrows almost hit her hairline as the rest of the class giggled. "Miss, I think Lyra is talking about the long-beaked spider crow," Sam called out smugly. "Thank you, Sam," said Ms Rivers. "You are quite correct. Long- beaked spider crows roost near the Echo Caves at the edge of the woods and feed on cave spiders." She glared at Lyra. "Please pay more attention, Lyra." Lyra blushed and sank down in her seat.

"Who can name any animals that live in the caves?" Ms Rivers asked. As she moved on, choosing people to answer, something in Lyra's brain clicked and she only just managed to stop herself from gasping out loud. Cave spiders! Echo Caves! The words of the riddle ran through her head again: Where spiders live and a cave answers your call… An echo was like a voice that sent your words back to you– you could say it answered your call– and there were spiders in the Echo Caves. Maybe the map was hidden in the Echo Caves! She glanced over at Ivy, Sienna and Evie, her secret swelling inside her and threatening to burst out. But as Ms Rivers' sharp eyes turned on her, she forced herself to pay attention and listen. At the end of the lesson, Lyra hurried everyone up to their dorm. Shutting the door firmly behind her, she faced her friends. "I've done it! I've solved the clue. We need to go to the Echo Caves!" She raced through her explanation. "I bet you're right," said Evie in excitement. "How about we go there this afternoon?" "But what about the crossnet tournament?" protested Sienna. Lyra bit her lip. She wanted to play in the tournament but following the clue was definitely more important. "We can miss it. The teachers said it wasn't compulsory." "But I want to take part," said Sienna, frowning. "More than you want to find treasure?" asked Lyra. Sienna hesitated. "OK, no, I guess I'd rather find another part of the map." Lyra grinned. "Great! So this afternoon let's go map hunting!" After lunch, they went to the stables and told the unicorns their plan. Lyra had a small rucksack with her– it was her explorer's bag. It had things that might come in useful like string, a penknife, a first-aid kit, torches, some snacks and a few spare clothes. Be adventure-ready. That was her motto.

She had memorised a map of the school grounds and she and Misty led the way out through the meadow. They followed the stream for a while and then veered off to the left and headed up a steep hill. At the top, the unicorns stopped and they all looked down at the dark woods spread out on the slopes beneath them, the trees tall and forbidding like stern, watchful guards. "You know we're not allowed in those woods," said Misty uneasily. "We don't have to go properly in," said Lyra. "The caves are very near the edge." They rode down the hill, the unicorns' hooves slipping on loose rocks as they descended. Through the trees they could just make out the caves.

One was much larger than the rest and a thick curtain of vines hung down over its gaping mouth. Misty stopped suddenly. Lyra patted her neck, encouraging her to go on, but she didn't move. "What's up?" Lyra could barely hide her impatience. "I heard a noise." Nervously Misty looked around, then snorted and jumped backwards. "Up there! There's something watching from that tree!" Goosebumps shivered up Lyra's arms and she gripped Misty's mane tightly. Something with a sharp hooked nose peered down at them from between the branches. Lyra tried to tell the others but her mouth was too dry to speak. Sienna and Sparkle rode on, Sparkle's hooves crunching as he stepped on a stick. There was a startled squawk and a whoosh of air. A huge bird flew out of the tree, its blue-black wings flapping frantically as it soared away. Lyra burst out laughing. "It was only a bird, Misty! A long-beaked spider crow! That means we're definitely in the right place." By now Sienna and Sparkle had reached the curtain of vines. Sienna pulled it back. "Shall I lead the way?" she said, peering into the darkness. No! thought Lyra. She wanted to go first! But it was too late. Sienna and Sparkle were already entering the cave. The others followed. Only Misty remained outside. "What are you doing, Misty?" said Lyra impatiently. "We need to catch up with the others!" "I don't want to go in," said Misty. "It could be dangerous!" "What can you see?" Lyra called to her friends. "It's empty." Sienna's voice echoed back at her. "But there's a tunnel at the back." "The next piece of the map might be hidden in the tunnel," said Ivy, her voice echoing too. Lyra dismounted. She simply had to see this for herself. "Wait up! Don't go any further without me!" Misty stamped her hoof on the ground as Lyra started towards the cave. "Lyra, come back!" For a second Lyra caught sight of something sparkling in the air– but then it was gone. A smell wafted past, sweet like candyfloss. It reminded her of something but there wasn't time to think about it. She wanted to see

the tunnel! "It'll be fine, Misty– please." "I don't want to," said Misty. Lyra gave up trying to persuade her. So instead she pulled her torch out and walked into the cave. The beam picked out the cobwebs hanging from the roof. Large friendly cave spiders with googly eyes and fluffy legs watched the girls curiously. Lyra headed for the tunnel where her friends were standing with their unicorns. There was a pile of dirt and stones at the entrance. "It looks like part of the roof's come down," said Evie. "We can still get through, though." Lyra scrambled over the heap of