11. THE MOVING MAZE

CHAPTER 11 THE MOVING MAZE The ceiling opened up, revealing the night sky overhead, which was a shade paler than when they had entered the maze. Drake's Dragon Stone began to glow. Rune says: Nights here are very short at this time of year. We need to hurry!

The floor carried them back above ground and then stopped. The labyrinth was different now. Instead of stone, the walls were made of thick, green, leafy hedges. "Let's keep moving," Drake said, and they made their way down the path. They turned left, then right, then right, then left again. "I hope we're getting closer to the Star Flute and not just going in circles again," Drake muttered. The Dragon Masters walked ahead of their dragons, in silence, as they made their way through the maze. Drake walked beside Rune, with Darma just behind them.

Then they all felt a rumbling in their feet. The earth shook. Suddenly, a green hedge wall burst from the ground behind Drake and Rune! Spinning around, Drake saw that Worm, Lysa, Hema, and Darma were on the other side of the wall. "Worm!" Drake yelled.

Another wall burst through the ground in front of them. Rune grabbed Drake's arm, pulling Drake toward him. Drake and Rune made the next turn together and continued through the maze, changing direction as more walls popped up around them.

The two boys stopped, breathless, when they came to a dark, murky pond. A wall rose up behind them, trapping thems The only way forward was through the water. Worm, can you hear me? Drake called out with his mind. Yes, Worm replied. Walls separate us now. Keep moving. We will find each other. Rune had stepped up to the pond. Drake joined him and stared into the water. "It looks deep. We might have to swim," he said. Then he realized that without Worm and Lysa, roe wouldn't know what he was saying.

I wish I knew the sign for swim, he thought. Drake made a paddling motion with his arms, hoping Rune would understand. Yes, Rune signed in reply. Then he showed Drake the sign for swim. He held out his open hands in front of him, palms facing down. He moved them apart and back together in small, circular motions. Just then, Drake heard a voice in his head But it wasn't Worm's! Who dares to approach my pond? the voice said.