Welcome to chapter One of Bird of the Gods, a project by Writer's Relay

Writer's Relay is a project for Wattpad writers willing to collaborate, plan and write a continuous story together in a larger group. In this first edition, sixteen selected writers contributed to Bird of the Gods, an archaeological spy-adventure mystery with a sprinkle of romance.

Each chapter of the story will be published on its author's profile. And like our protagonists, our readers will get the chance to travel across the world and Wattpad.

Ready for the journey of your life? Join us with the following schedule;

November 1st, 2022 - Chapter 1 by @basketballdemon

November 4th, 2022 - Chapter 2 by @DavidGibbs6

November 6th, 2022 - Chapter 3 by @jinnis

November 8th, 2022 - Chapter 4 by @johnnedwill

November 11th, 2022 - Chapter 5 by @lhansenauthor

November 13th, 2022 - Chapter 6 by @EvelynHail

November 15th, 2022 - Chapter 7 by @adretaRyder

November 18th, 2022 - Chapter 8 by @Carminity

November 20th, 2022 - Chapter 9 by @jinnis

November 22nd, 2022 - Chapter 10 by @Elisabeth_Long

November 25th, 2022 - Chapter 11 by @Cocosghost

November 27th, 2022 - Chapter 12 by @Reffster

November 29th, 2022 - Chapter 13 by @Eacomiskey

December 2nd, 2022 - Chapter 14 by @M_A_Hartman

December 4th, 2022 - Chapter 15 by @Sleepingdraco

December 6th, 2022 - Chapter 16 by @BrianMullin0

December 9th, 2022 - Chapter 17 by @theidiotmachine

December 11th, 2022 - Chapter 18 by @Elisabeth_Long

God, I hate Thursdays. 

That was the single thought Fiona had as the two o'clock bell rang, signaling the start of the routine sports period. She had nothing against sports in general. She just hated having to teach them to a horde of rowdy teenagers. 

Over five hundred students raced to the training field, their sports kits creating a blur of blue, green, red and yellow. The Sports Master Nkosilathi Khumalo, a lean athletic man, was quite enthusiastic and a little over-zealous. He ran behind the students with a large thick cane, daring anyone to straggle behind. Nkosi was also house master for the house team she helped oversee. 

The four houses were Radasi who wore blue, Fraser who wore green, Livingstone who wore yellow and Tallach (the school's namesake) who wore red. Fiona was in Livingstone. She wondered how Nkosi could have all that energy. 

It was 33 degrees Celsius outside. She would have preferred to wear her shorts and vest but then she'd risk being in trouble with Deputy Headmistress Chamberlain or worse - the church. 

You'd swear the boarding school was a convent. Women and girls alike were expected to wear modest clothing with no form of trousers or anything revealing whatsoever. That's why she was sweating buckets in that long-sleeve cotton blouse and below knee-length denim skirt. 

Nkosi jogged up to her when he was satisfied the students were all assembled on the training field.

"With an attitude like that, you'll never enjoy Thursday afternoons," he said with a knowing grin as he held out his hand for a high five. 

Fiona merely eyed the palm of his hand warily before she swatted it away.

"You're joking, right? What's there to enjoy about doing some extreme sports in this god-awful heat?" she asked him as she arched her brow at him.

"Well, for one you get to stay fit and bully a bunch of teenagers plus tomorrow is Friday and you'll be going to town for the weekend," he replied as he led her to the only shed in the entire field.

"Only you would enjoy tormenting these poor souls. Don't you ever feel bad about it?" she asked with a laugh. 

She truly felt bad for the students who were unlucky enough to catch his attention.

"We have a saying - spare the rod..."

"And spoil the child." She finished for him as she rolled her eyes at his unwavering belief in strict discipline. "I think you just like spreading the fear of God in the poor kids."

"These poor kids will gobble you up and eat you alive if you ease up on them," he replied, his resolve unwavering.

Sometimes she wondered how they had ended up as friends. They were an odd pair. So odd that the students had taken to spreading rumors of them being a couple. Some of the female teachers believed the rumors and had been somewhat hostile towards her. She had ranted about this to him when at one point she had attempted to break off their friendship. 

Fiona had always been searching for a sense of belonging, a link to her ancestral lineage, and had not been willing to let anything ruin her chance of bonding with the people of her ancestral home - her people.

Of course, Nkosi, being the hothead he was, had refused to break off their friendship on the basis of some hostel gossip. Instead, the two of them had grown stronger as friends and had taken to playing mind games with the shameless gossip squad. They'd even share their own laughs at their expense.

"Come on, let's get this miserable afternoon over with." She told him as she pulled herself up onto the shoulder height brick wall.

They were lucky their team got the shed this week. Next week they'd have to brave the sun.

"Alright everyone, gather around!" Nkosi called out to their house. "Today we'll be focusing on long distance races. Everyone get ready, those of you who were not chosen last week for the 800-meter race team will be going for a marathon race with me."

There were many groans of protest from the teenagers as they heard his announcement, but Fiona's dear friend wasn't going to let the obviously pleading eyes sway him.

"That is not up for debate! Now, if I call out your name, you will be under Miss Grenville-Temple this afternoon. She will whip you kids into shape for the 800-meter run." He continued to explain. "For the rest of you who didn't make the cut, as soon as I'm finished calling out the names, you'd better make sure you are by that gate ready for the cross-country race."

He raised his cane to emphasize his point whilst Fiona rolled her eyes at his theatrics.

"Okay, Mr Khumalo, you can go ahead and call out the names now," she said as she forced herself down from her comfortable spot. 

At least she had gotten in two minutes of cool air and shade from the sun.

"Okay, the 800-meter team is as follows; Xolile Ndlovu, John Mangena, Samantha Moyo..."

Five minutes later Fiona was left with her team as her friend had gone off to train the cross-country team. As she prepared to start off with a little speech, a young teenage girl who was one of the prefects walked up to her with a brown envelope. 

"Good afternoon, ma'am," the girl greeted her respectfully.

"Hello, Faith, how may I help you?" Fiona asked with a smile.

"I brought you this letter addressed to you. It just came with the mail," the girl went on to explain as she handed her the letter.

"A letter? For me?" Fiona asked in surprise as she gingerly took the letter in her hands. "Thank you very much, my dear."

"Good day, ma'am," the girl said before turning around and walking away.

"Really, old man? We talked about using WhatsApp video calls." She said with a laugh. "You're still scared of telephone calls it seems."

She shoved the letter into her pocket. There was enough time to read its contents when she was perfectly relaxed by her small cottage.

Later that evening as she sat on her bed by her comfortable little cottage, she gently tore open the yellow manilla envelope and took out the letter her grandfather had sent her.

September 24, 2022,

My dearest granddaughter,

How is my favorite person in the whole world?

I hope my letter finds you well my dear. It has been

a little while since we chatted and so I decided to

write to you, my dear. Will you humor a boring old

chap such as myself with some small talk?

How are things at the school? I do hope you are

kicking arse over there. I know without a doubt

you are the best teacher Chamberlain has seen

in quite a while. Perhaps she would be wise to

name you head teacher.

You're a real genius, my girl, hence there is no one

I would trust more with this special task I now ask

you to help me with.

I know it's a short notice and you are very much

inclined to refuse. However, if you would indulge

this old man I would be very much grateful.

I cannot tell you the full details of it on paper.

It is a very delicate matter that requires us to

meet face to face and have a proper discussion.

Now I know saying it like that doesn't put any

real emphasis on the weight and delicacy of the

matter so I will share just a hint. It concerns

a valuable artifact that the people of Zimbabwe

treasure very much. The Zimbabwean bird.

I hope you consider my request and fly over

to see your darling old grandfather. Then we

can talk more in detail with regards to this

special mission.

I do hope you consider it, my dear.

Your loving grandfather.

P. Grenville-Temple

Fiona stared at the letter for a few seconds, smiling at the tone of her grandfather's letter. She could practically hear him speaking to her as she read through the letter. She missed him and hadn't seen him in a while hence the idea of going to see him was exciting. Every time she visited her grandpa, he would go out of his way to create the best memories for her. She could always look forward to moments spent with her grandpa because he was sure to spoil her rotten and the child in her loved being the spoilt granddaughter.

She did, however, not like having to do so during the school term.

She had obligations with the school and couldn't just leave them to take a field trip halfway across the world. She was heavily conflicted.

As she was still mulling over the letter, she was startled by the sudden sharp knock that came from her front door. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find Deputy Headmistress Chamberlain outside.

"Oh, Miss Chamberlain. To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Chamberlain?" she asked as she promptly invited the older woman into her living quarters.

"Forgive me for coming here on short notice, Fiona, but I'm kind of in a bit of a fix. See I can't seem to find a female teacher to chaperone the fourth years this Saturday on their trip to Ingwenya dam. I was hoping you would be available," the headmistress said.

Fiona smiled as she tried her best to hide her annoyance. The old woman may have been coming off as pleading but the subject was really not up for debate. Refusing would not sit well with the older woman.

"I would be delighted to help out," Fiona said with a sweet melodic tone that was quite convincing.

"That's wonderful. Now I can rest easily. You will be on shift with Mr Khumalo and Mr. Moyo as well," Miss Chamberlain went on to explain.

"I understand," Fiona replied.

"Very well then. I will leave you to continue with the rest of your evening. I believe I've already taken too much of your time. Pleasant dreams, Fiona," the Deputy Headmistress said before she turned to leave.

The following day began like any other regular school day with a dash of overexcitement from both the teachers and students for the weekend. Usually the staff would not be in a teaching mood and would resort to giving the students some fun activities and homework to cover over the weekend. Fiona herself understood the excitement, for every Friday afternoon was the one time the teaching staff got to go to their home in the city of Bulawayo.

As much as she loved her job, Fiona always enjoyed the idea of having a few days away from the semi-desert region and prison. She was a city girl through and through and would never try to be anything else.

Since Miss Chamberlain had ruined any weekend plans she may have had, she was not in a particularly good mood that day and her students could tell. Lucky for her they respected her enough to not be absolute rascals for the entirety of the 45 minutes she had them.

As if by fate, her lesson for the day for that particular class was one on the Great Zimbabwe kingdom, and she took it as a sign from above that she had to help her grandfather. She knew very well that the Zimbabwean birds were originally from that region and the era she was educating those first years on was one in which the Zimbabwe birds first appeared.

Even with that in mind, she felt heavily conflicted about abandoning her duties and responsibilities to the school. This was why as soon as break time arrived, she went to seek the advice of her dearest friend.

She found Nkosi seated by one of the tables in the teachers' lounge, having some tea. When he saw her, he raised a brow in curiosity.

"You look terrible," he muttered as he took a sip of his tea. "Sleepless night?"

"Something like that," she said with a sigh as she took her own seat beside him. "My grandpa wrote to me."

"That's good then, I assume," he said, studying her expression. "Unless it isn't?"

"He wants me to fly back home to England to help him with something," she said in a way of response.

"Well that's obviously good then. You haven't seen the old man in a while. It'll give you a little bonding time," he said with a warm smile. "Just remember to bring me a souvenir."

"What? No, I can't just up and leave my students to go halfway across the globe," Fiona said.

"And why the heck not? You've been working extra hard and have whipped those kids into shape. They'll be in great hands when you leave them no matter what," Nkosi pointed out as he gave a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"It's not that easy, Nkosi. It's not like I can find someone to be my stand-in on such a short notice," Fiona said in exasperation.

"Good thing you have friends," he replied with a smile.

"Let me guess, you know someone?" Fiona asked as she gave him a knowing smile.

"I always know someone," he replied with a laugh. "Elaine was looking for a part time teaching gig whilst she takes a college break. I'll have her here with me all the time and not have to miss my dear fiancé. It's perfect."

"Hold on, are you using me as Cupid right now?" Fiona said as she smirked.

"I have no idea what you are talking about," he said with a laugh.

"Have I ever told you you're the best?" Fiona said as she gave him a warm smile.

"Hey, no need to lather me in compliments. It's what good friends are for. Plus I am obviously helping for 'selfish' reasons," Nkosi said as he tried to hide his embarrassment. " Come on, we better get ready for our next couple of lessons. Not forgetting our adventure tomorrow."

"Urgh, don't remind me. I can't believe she pulled that one on me. I was so looking forward to my weekend," she whined out loud as she allowed herself to sink into the chair even further.

"Well, on the plus side, you'll have me to keep you entertained," Nkosi told her as he laughed at her childish behavior.

"I love you, my friend, but not more than my weekend," she replied.

"Ouch, that hurts my feelings," he said, as he pretended to get hit by an invisible arrow to the heart.

"Besides, you won't be my only companion. Ozzy will be there," she said as she gave him a knowing look.

"Did someone say my name?" came the chirpy voice of one of their colleagues as he sashayed into the teachers' lounge.

"We actually did, Mr. Moyo, but we never asked you to join us," Nkosi said as he snatched the chair the other man was trying to use from him.

"Now, don't be like that, Mr. Khumalo, we'll be stuck together all day tomorrow. We have to bond a lot more if we're going to survive those naughty teens tomorrow."

"Ozzy has a point, Nkosi, don't be a mean baby," Fiona told her friend with a knowing smile.

"Lucky for me I already get along quite well with you, Fiona, I don't need this lunatic anywhere near me, or so help me God I will throw you into the dam tomorrow and let the mermaids feast on your carcass," Nkosi insisted stubbornly as he got up from his chair, having finished his cup of tea, and walked away.

This left Fiona with the other teacher just staring after him and shaking her head in disbelief.

"Wait, he wouldn't actually throw me to those scary creatures, would he?" Oswald said with a worried expression. "I've heard horror stories about that dam!"

"I'm sorry, Oswald. He's just a big meanie but I know he's a big softie deep inside," she said.

"You, know, if I didn't know better I'd think you were merely just trying to make me feel better," Mr. Moyo said to her as he took a seat right across from her. "Perhaps if you spoke to him to be a lot less mean to me."

This made Fiona laugh as she also prepared to leave.

"I won't make any promises, Ozzy," she said with a giggle. "I've got to get to class but I'm sure we'll have plenty of fun tomorrow."