After what seemed like hours of walking, Tate just had to sit down. The owl headbutted him, causing him to snap at it. "I need a rest, you stupid bird!"
The owl then flew from his shoulder and over a nearby ridge.
"Good riddance," Tate mumbled to himself. But then it sunk in. He was alone. Sure, the owl was annoying, but it gave him some company. Now he almost missed it.
Sitting on a Martian boulder, he waited for at least an hour, thinking that the owl would come back, but it never did. The owl was his guide, or at least it was supposed to be. Now he wouldn't know where to go to get Fianna back.
Having gotten enough rest, he stood up and continued in the direction that the owl gave him, hoping that that would be enough. About a half hour into his walk, he took out the three feathers the goddess had given him, thinking maybe he should use one of them to get the owl back. But if he waited a little longer, maybe the owl would come back by itself and then he wouldn't have to use the first of his three feathers. Of course, even if he did get the owl back, who's to say it would be worth it? So far, the owl hadn't really done anything except point him in one direction. And it couldn't even talk! Not exactly the best kind of guide.
He singled out one of the feathers, meaning to break it.
