The downside of hurrying to get to there first was that there wasn't anyone around when Mo hit the first sign. He fiddled with the bracelet, which he still couldn't figure out how to fit over his thumb, and read the first riddle. Oh, okay... okay....

Where was everyone?

Maybe he could puzzle this first one out by himself before someone else showed up? "So the Midgard Serpent..." He glanced around. "That's the World Serpent. Odin threw it into the ocean, and the serpent got so big that it could circle the whole world and bite its own tail. So... that's not helpful at all."

He needed someone to talk with about this riddle.

Mika had hurried down the halls until she came upon the maze and just stopped. She glanced from Mo to the sign a few times before stopping and reading the sign.

Sure, she arrived in time to hear him talk about the Midgard serpant. Sure, she stepped forward and read the riddle again.

“the grave of many sailors” she muttered to herself before glancing over to Mo. “Do you think its ocean-related?” She asked as she glanced from him to the riddle. “Because it does talk about Sailors and ships sink – making the ocean their grave…that, and it does talk about going ‘deeper’.” She added as she read over the puzzle one more time.

She was going to be thurough about this. Because clearly she didn’t want to stand here answering the same riddle for hours. This was mainly because yeah she was a claw. She wanted the claws to get through as many riddles as possible.

Heck. She wanted them to get to the middle of the maze or even out of the maze.

Nigel arrived at the maze with the other Claws. He spotted Mo and Mika. "Hey Mika, Hey Mo"He was excited for this maze and he liked riddles. He spots the wooden plank and walks up to it.

He reads the riddle and start to think about it. Walking back an forth. Grave of many Sailors and Serpents. Maybe it has something to do with water. Since that is what sailors did. Travel on water.

"I agree with Mika and think this has something to do with water. Since it is talking about the grave of many sailors?"

This was a group activity after all.

Eliza scurried into the maze, eyes alight with excitement. She loved a good riddle - even if she didn't know the answer. In fact, sometimes that just made the riddle better.

She skimmed over this one once, and then read it again. She didn't know what that name meant, but a sailor's grave would definitely be the ocean or the sea. Oh, but Mo and this other Mika know the name...it's a serpent? Water serpent then, must be. She nodded while they shared what they knew.

"I agree, it definitely has to do with water. Now if only I could remember which rune that is...." She could remember ice, and strength, and now she knew communication, and she even knew a fire and courage related rune. Why couldn't she remember the rune for water? Her mind went to things like Poseidon and tridents, but she could not place it.

Oh, water serpent and the graves of sailors. DUH. Mo slapped his forehead theatrically before grinning at the three that had now joined him. Mika and Nigel both agreed they were looking for a rune to do with water, or the ocean in particular, and Eliza linked that to a rune...

"LAGUZ!" Mo shouted, flailing a bit in excitement as he was the first to say it out loud. They'd all been thinking it, right? "I think it must be Laguz. So one of us just needs to carve it on the board, and then we can pass. Is anyone really good at the spell?"

Because Mo was obviously awesome at a LOT of things, but it took him several several tries in class to do this spell.

Her eyebrows shot up when Mo called out the rune's name. "Laguz!! That's right!" she confirmed. How did I forget that? I guess Laguz sort of reminds me of light...luz...like Spanish. Anyway... She remembered the symbol for it now. "It looks kind of like a hook right? A straight line up and a little straight line off the top...going diagonal to the right." It was hard to explain, but if they knew what it looked like, it should make sense.

Now they needed to carve the rune. She knew she could do that, but she didn't want them to think she was cocky about it or anything, so she hesitated before speaking. "I...I think I did all right in class... So I could try, if that's all right?" She didn't want to just jump in without group approval first. What if they all thought she'd be awful and didn't want her to try? Well, she didn't really think that they thought that, but, ahem.

Mika was proud right? Cause both Eliza and Nigel had thought that it had to do with the ocean. Yeah that was good because she knew one that had to do with the ocean. And she wanted to WIN this project.

She glanced to Eliza and nodded. "Yeah go ahead give it a whirl" she nodded and glanced to the girl and beamed. Mika bit her lip. "I'm alright at the spell - I mean...Eliza if you think you can do this well you do it." She nodded enthusiastically.

Oh, hello everyone. Stopping at the entrance of the maze just in time to hear Mo yelling something about Laguz, she shot him a look. Did he want the other houses to hear him and get the answer without even using their brainpower? Anyway, Elise couldn't read whatever that was on the wall but based on what everyone else had said, Mo was probably right.

Maybe it was time for her to actually wear those glasses outside of class. "I could carve, if you guys want." She wasn't bad at it and if she focused hard enough, it glowed a bit. If nobody else wanted to volunteer, that is. Elise wasn't the best at the charm anyway. Ooh, look! Eliza was volunteering! That worked too. No glasses necessary and all that.

"Or Eliza could do it. I'm not particularly good at it anyway."

Seeing that it was mostly approved for her to go ahead, she did so. Because she loved the subject and because she was still feeling super focused from their practice in class earlier.

She aimed her wand at the slab and slowed her breathing. In...Laguz...water Out...Laguz...dark deep ocean... She wasn't sure of all of the attributes for it, since she didn't have her textbook, but she thought would be enough. Picturing the rune in her mind, she said the incantation. "Intaglio Laguz...Laguz...Laguz....Laguz." Still keeping calm and focused, she continued, "Laguz...Laguz...Laguz..." until she saw the shape appear on the wood. It wasn't as deep and didn't glow as much as hers had in class, but maybe that was because she didn't know much about this rune.

She glanced around to her fellow Claws, hoping it was good enough and wondered if it would let them pass or not. She took a step back and said, "Well..it's all right I guess." Nodding at Mika and Elise, she added, "Thanks for letting me try!" And the next one would definitely be on them. She needed to get better at this spell before she went around making mediocre carvings in front of her entire house.

Beezus was here, of course....leading some of the Ravenclaws to their illusion of a maze. She could make out familiar faces that had already congregated near a wood plank that was clearly blocking their path. Apparently, her smart eagles had already gone through the riddle and came up with an answer. But she still went ahead and read it though, for good measure. Not that she didn't trust them, she just wanted to find out for herself if she could crack the riddle the same way her fellow 'Claws did.

Laguz, was it? Midgard Serpent and grave of sailors because it represented the sea and even though it typically is a negative rune, it also suggests that something that has been previously hidden is revealed. So it was Laguz, right? It seemed that way........since Eliza was already spending her time carving it.

Woot. They were moving quick. Her babies were SO smart! "Good job, Eliza." She told the girl with a rather wide smile and even patted her shoulder. She was proud of them, can you tell?

The block was moving too. Professor Botros DID say that it would move no matter what rune is carved into it, even if it didn't answer to the riddle. But Beezus was confident that they had the perfect answer so she hurriedly waved to the others. "Come on, come on....we're up to the next riddle."

Move, move Ravenclaws! It was time to soar high through this maze.

Huzzah!

Further ahead, just one left turn away from the crowd of students, lied another plank with another carved riddle.

Beezus ambled on ahead and motioned for her chickadees to follow. They had to keep moving, and quick. This was a competition, remember? They were Ravenclaws so they should be able to fly fast and swift through this maze.

But not after they successfully solve the riddles and remove the blockages along their path.

Speaking of which, there was another one up ahead. She hurried along, jogging towards it and quickly scanned the writing. "Torch. Candle. Light." She murmured, eyebrows forking as she tried to recall what rune had a precise shot on this one. It actually came to a toss between Sowilo and Kenaz because of the whole light concept but once she remembered that Kenaz had a direct meaning of torch, she turned to her housemates with a grin. "It's Kenaz, isn't it?"

Did anyone else had another idea? If not, then...."Who would like to carve it in?" She was actually good with the spell but she wanted everyone to at least have a try. This was team effort after all.

Nigel was enjoying solving these riddles with the other claws. It was fun. Nigel didn't mind putting the rune up on the board. But whatever. If somebody else wanted to. They were Claws. These riddles should be at least a little easy. Surely one of us had read about them in the next book or know the Runes.

Nigel was just started to think about the riddle and what rune relates to light, candle, and a torch.

He looked up smiling and was just about it suggest Kenaz. But Beezus beat him to it. But since she agreed with him. It had a strong possibility of being right. "Yeah, Kenaz sounds right. I'll carve it unless somebody else wants to.

It was just a suggestion. He was fine either way. Whether he carved or not.

Oh dear.... riddles. Was she supposed to figure out riddles?Aquila fiddled with her bracelet as she watched others figure things out. Yeahgo do that, she is more than happy figuring out her new plastic bracelet....

They moved forward and then saw another riddle. She nodded when Beezus mentioned it had something to do with light. Unfortunately they were told not to refer to textbooks so she’s…. pretty much just nodding and agreeing here.

Now who's gonna carve it? Aquila looked around and waited. She heard Nigel speak and said he can carve it…. but wasn’t quite decided? Has anyone seen her carving skills? Oh heck she’s this close to the board already ”I can try…” the blonde Claw offered. Good thing she remembers what Kenaz looked like . She stepped forward, took her wand out and set it against the plank of wood “Intaglio Kenaz Kenaz Kenaz… ” she chanted trying to make the carving deep enough and make it glow.

After Aquila chanted the rune - and frankly, Mika was pretty darn sure that she had gotten it right What with it being Aquila and all. So she just waited and watched as the board moved to the side. Really, she hoped that the claws were going faster than the other houses. Because, well, they were Claws. She just beamed over at Aquila.

"Good job Aquila" she smiled brightly at the girl next to her. Yeah she was awesome heck, they all were. She truly did hope that the claws were going to win this task...because she kind of wanted whatever that new points system was to show how awesome they were going to be...heck they could just use blue rocks from the lake. Seriously, change the color of pebbles and be awesome and win those points - because they could do that.

They needed to do that. Ravenclaw was due for a win.

Mo meandered in the wake of the small group as they made their way to the next riddle. Bee was there now and sort of taking over, but it had been nice to be the leader for a little while. Maybe he'd have a chance again later in the game?

He listened as Bee read and solved the puzzle with relative ease. It was nice of her to give one of the other kids a chance to participate by carving the rune into the board. Mo waited for Nigel to step forward to carve the rune, but it was a pleasant surprise when baby Aquila volunteered. That's the spirit. Because he'd mentally adopted keeping her out of trouble as his hobby, Mo stepped forward too and watched her work.

"That's perfect... look," Mo pointed out the faint glow from emanating from the rune Aquila had just created. "And now we can move on..." he pushed the board out of the way and pointed up the path.

Nigel was ready to do it. But it seemed Aquila was ready and wanting to do. Alright. That sounded good. Nigel watched as Aquila cast the charm and saw the rune carved into the wood.

Well it looked like we were right. Though there were at least six ravenclaws here. It would have to be terribly hard for all of us to be stumped on a question. These riddles were getting more awesome. Plus they were helping Nigel remember all the different runes. "Good Job Aquila" Nigel said nodding.

Now it was time to move further into the maze.

As the students move on according to their map, and maybe after coming to a few dead ends, they spot another riddle on another board.

HM. Mo seemed to be first to reach the board, and he stepped to one side so the others could see around him. The last two clues had ended up being fairly straight-forward, but this one... a bit more difficult. It would be read very literally, but that seemed dangerous.

"My first thought is that 'number one' refers to the first rune in the set, Fehu. It also happens that luck and wealth are associated with Fehu, which sort of goes with the theme of winning riches like gold and coins." But really, he would love love love to be talked out Fehu. It seemed a little TOO easy.

What was at the middle of the maze and does a house win if we make it. These were the questions Nigel had in his head as he read the next riddle. Well this one sounded like the easiest of the riddles so far. Mo made the first connection to it being fehu. "Yeah Mo. It sounds like Fehu is correct. Cattle , Money, Wealth. It all fits."

Though it is nice to get a second opinion on these types of riddles. He did not want to be wrong and cast the wrong rune on the board. Who knows what will happen.

He would be more than happy to cast thee spell. This time. But did not really care either way.

Aquila did a real good job at carving out Kenaz on that lost road block they came across and because she was pretty quick with her charmwork, they were moving fast. She also liked to think they were moving faster than the others. Although, things didn't went as smooth as they thought for in the long run, they also came up on dead ends. Thankfully, her Ravenclaws weren't only smart and splendid with the whole rune carving, they also had powerful instincts that Beezus didn't even need to look up the map.

Mo became their map.

And as he lead the group upon another wood plank that's blocking their way, she trudged on over to read the third riddle in their maze.

Her fellow 'Claws were betting on Fehu. And to be honest, Beezus couldn't really quite recall which runes were associated with money but she did know that Inguz meant bounty and productivity....it seemed like there was a TINY bit of connection....but then again, she can't be so sure. "I...can't remember that rune." Ancient Runes wasn't her best subject. Nope. "I think we just go with Fehu since that's what the majority is saying?" Gosh. This means she really needed to study more about this runes. She didn't know half of it. T'was almost embarrassing. She was Prefect and her younger 'Claws were smarter than her.

Oh well. They were making her super duper proud.

She smiled sweetly at her housemates commending her carving. She was relieved it worked at all.

They trotted along and the young one nearly ran into the older students before her when they suddenly stopped. Ohhh another riddle she mused as she peeked behind Mo’s shoulder to read the passage. Turning her attention to Mo and Nigel, she started to twist her hair with her finger again “Uhm... I guess its Fehu too, I don’t know about the gold stuff...” mostly because she doesn’t remember “... but I do remember that Fehu is the first rune in both the Elder and Younger Futhark.”

And thats it really. She looked at the older students, any of them can do that carving now if they wanna.

Well it looked like it was Nigel's turned to carve the rune. He did not really caring either way. It is not like he needed extra practice. But whatever. He would do it. Since everyone was still think about whether it was fehu or not. But the consensus was that it was fehu.

So Nigel walked up to the board. Pointed his wand at it and spoke. “Intaglio Fehu Fehu Fehu… ” He continue casting until he felt the carving was deep enough and easily readable.

That looked good enough.

So the board moved and they were able to get past - which was great because Nigel had just cared the board. She really did hope that with them being on their third riddle already that maybe, just maybe Ravenclaw was winning this thing. And even though sure they had come across some dead ends earlier she was glad, so glad, to have been able to get this far.

"Alright...we should come along one of those riddles...I think" she muttered as she tried to spot the next one. Hopefully they were headed in the right direction - and yeah, she might have felt a little silly that she hadn't thought of Fehu. It was her favorite rune after all...with the cattle bit. She just liked the sound of it really how it rolled off of the tongue.

"I like Fehu" she nodded, "its an interesting rune" she muttered somewhat.