Astina was running up the stairs to get to the Owlery and send a letter to her brother. She skipped the last two stairs and came to a slidding hald in front of her pitch-black owl, Diablo.

"Hey Diablo," Astina said, patting him on the head and handing him a peaice of bacon, "I have a job for you boy." And Astina handed him the letter in her hand.

"I want you to take this to my brother. You know him. I bet he will be very glad to see you." Astina said to Diablo. Diablo cooed softly and nipped Astina finger in a friendly way.

Astina tied the letter tightly around Diablo's right leg and walked him over to the window where he flew out into the cool and crisp morning air. As Astina watched as Diablo dissapered from her sight then turned her attention to the sunrise. The reflection of the light on the clouds gave the morning an orange tint.

"Well Millis," Astina said to herself, "You will have quite a shock when you get my letter." Astina smiled and turned around and listened to the straw shift under her feet.