AN: I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! And if you say you missed me, I update faster! So here is the next chapter. Enjoy, but don't let the flying monkeys eat you while you read it! (Ps, if I seem a little crazy, I'm currently on a coffee high after 36 hours awake.)(Did you know that 17 hours awake does the same think to your system as 2 glasses of wine? That means I'm up to at least 4!)
Hal forced himself to swallow his panic. He had to think. Ulf and Wulf were both fast. So was Jesper. But the run would take stamina as well as speed. He realised that Stig had moved to walk beside him.
"I'll run it."
Hal glanced at him. Stig was the closest they had to Tursgud and Rolland. It was entirely possible he could be the best choice. They reached the training area and seven boys gathered around in a loose semi-circle around their leader. Hal could feel his eyes on him, waiting. Come on Hal. Make a decision. You can do this. I can do this.
"Stig, I think maybe you had –"
He got no further.
"Hal, we all have to run. This is a team event."
Everyone turned to look at Edvin. Hal briefly noticed Zac wasn't with them, but he brushed it off. He tuned back into Edvin.
"Remember when we went through the assessments, we noticed that the individual test were listed that way. But the mountain race had nothing next to it. That means it's a team event. "
Hal tried to recall the list, but it was a bit fuzzy.
"I think you're right. And if you are, that's why they've put it first. If we'd already done a few..."
"We'd be more familiar with the way it was written."
The herons turned to face the intruder, but they relaxed when they saw it was Zac. He continued.
"It's not just a test of speed and endurance, but intelligence as well."
Hal rounded on Zac.
"Where've you been?"
"Relax. I was just gathering intelligence."
Ingvar grinned.
"Well that is part of what they're testing."
Edvin nodded.
"And remember what Sigurd said? 'Be sure you choose correctly.' Not be sure you choose the best person."
Hal chewed his lip thoughtfully. He was sure Edvin was right. But what if he wasn't? They would come last and make a mockery of themselves. Luckily, Zac had a solution...
AN: MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I AM SO EVIL! So, what is Zac's solution? ALSO, I have received many queries on what Zac was doing in Sonderland. Unfortunantly, Zac's story will have to wait until after this story is finished. But I promise you that you will find out a little bit as we go along. So for all of you who survived the flying monkeys, SO LONG, FAREWELL, AUFWEIDERSEN GOODBYE!