Two chapters in two days, I am on a roll here! I don't have anything particularly witty to say today, so I'll begin this chapter with another Python quote:

And the Lord spake, saying, "Thou count to three. No more. no less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four thou shalt not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out..."

Thankfully, Yellowstone does not have metal detectors. I can't imagine having to explain to the authorities why I'm carrying around a ancient bronze dagger.

What Yellowstone does have, however, is altitude, and a very high one. My head is pounding, and I feel like I should lie down for a couple years and just sleep.

Unfortunately, I can't do any of those things, so instead, I choose the Luca method of dealing with frustration; taking it out on random, innocent people.

"Hey, watch it buddy!" I snap at a fat, middle aged tourist who have just walked into, causing him to spill his orange soda all over both of us. I swear to God, this place makes a New York subway station seem empty. I am seriously considering poking people with my aforementioned ancient bronze dagger to get to the information desk.

"Yes Emma, chill out a little." Great. You know you've gone off the deep end when Luca O'Neil tells you to calm down.

"Let's just find this stupid god and get out of here, before I go anymore postal." In case you forgot (you probably have) the goal for this insane cross-country track was to find Hephaestus's forge, and maybe get some magic string as bonus.

"Too bad we don't have the foggiest idea where he is." Skylar adds.

I nod. "I've checked all the maps, not a single spot labeled 'Forge of Hephaestus'."

"Well, the entrance has got to be around here somewhere. Let's wander around, maybe take a tour, I'm sure we'll find something."

"Remember folks, the Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and most changeable part of Yellowstone, so stay of the path. If you leave the board walk, there's always a chance the ground beneath you will be unstable and you will literally fall into boiling hot water below."

"Ooh, I heard that this one kid did that, and the water he fell in was so hot that he literally disintegrated. All they found were the bottoms of his shoes." A kid whispers to his brother next to me.

"The hottest and most temperamental area? Oh yea, if Hephaestus is anywhere, he'll be here." Luca says softly.

I look around. I see lots of geysers and boiling mud pools (yes those are real. And real awesome) but nothing really out of the ordinary.

We follow the tour practically through the whole area. We see hot springs ranging from Hot Bath Temperature to Instant Third Degree Burns. We are reminding, sixty billion times, that we should never, ever touch a blue hot spring, because as inviting as the color is, they are actually the hottest springs of all. We laugh at a dog drinking some water trickling by the boardwalk (don't worry, the water's a reddish-brown color, meaning it's not extremely hot, the dog will definitely live to tell the tale).

So, we have fun, but no success. Until the near the end of the tour. I'm plodding along, basking in the heat from the springs, when suddenly, I feel a tingle. Not a ticklish one, but a cold one, like someone took a blowdryer that blasts cold air, set it on high, and ran it up and down my back. I pause, and look around me. Porkchop Geyser is right ahead of me, to my left is a murky colored spring. As I stare at it (the spring), I feel the tingle again, stronger than last time.

I stare at plaque below my feet. Green Dragon Spring. Except on warm summer afternoons, steam frequently fills the cavern of this intriguing hot spring. Visitors must wait patiently for a glimpse of the sulphur-lined cave and boiling green water. I stare at the cave. Yep, this is definitely the spot.

"Guys, come take a look at this!" Skylar and Luca plod over obediently. I point in excitement.

"Look!"

"Yes Emma, a hot spring we know."

"Ugh. Am I the only who can tell. There's something mystical about this one, I can just tell. And hey, since when have my instincts been wrong?"

"Emma, I'm not even going to answer that. So, say this is a fluke and you are correct about this one. What a we supposed to do?"

I look around for others. The next tour group is far, far away, and looking in another direction. No one else is around. Then I look down at the geyser. A little voice of common sense in the back of my mind is telling me I'm crazy, that I should turn around, walk away, and never think of this again. I decide to go, before the voice gets louder.

"Cover me." I jump into the steaming, murky green water below.

Oooh, I wonder if she'll survive? Haha, I'm just kidding, of course she'll survive, I can't kill my main character halfway through the book. But whether she reaches her goal or gets banned for life by a park ranger is a different story. Stay tuned for the next chapter! same bat-time, same bat-channel.

As always, I really appreciate reviews and feedback. Even if they're bad.

-Sage Nicholson