Scorch, Angel and Omen stood in Skulduggery's backyard, behind his house waiting for Valkyrie, Tanith and China to explain the rules.
The three sorcerers stood on the other end of the back yard, dozens upon dozens of holes spanning between them and their pets. Some were the size of a gopher hole, others were three feet wide. Some were shallow, others were extremely deep.
"Okay!" Valkyrie yelled across the pit field. "The rules are simple: When we say go you run as fast as you can across the pits, trying NOT to fall in. Whoever makes it here first or falls in the least amount of pits win. Any questions? No? Then GO!"
The three took off running, Angel using her amazing agility and grace to weave among the holes. Scorch leaped over them using the strong muscles in his hind legs to propel him over.
But Omen, wasn't having as much luck. It was like he was drawn to the holes, each one he came across he simply fell in.
When Scorch and Angel were half-way, he was still at start.
Finally the two had made it across and landed nimbly next to their masters.
"Good boy Scorchie!" Valkyrie cheered, hugging Scorch.
"Yay Angel!"Tanith squealed and hugged her.
Omen fell into his eighth hole and China sighed.
About twenty minutes and fifty-three holes later, Omen collapsed, panting in the grass, covered in dirt and mud and plant matter.
Chins gave another sigh then sat down next to Omen and patted him on the head. "It's okay Omen, maybe next time."
"I wonder what Skulduggery's going to say when he sees what we did to his yard." Tanith said thoughtfully as she looked over the yard.
"Yeah." Valkyrie agreed.
"Maybe he won't notice."
"Tanith, of course he's going to notice when his yard has suddenly become a danger to everyone who enters it."
The girls went quiet.
Suddenly they heard a familiar car door slam.
"Run." Valkyrie said.