While the temperatures in the depths of the African forest were still far from the temperatures in the arctic tundra, Brent could feel at least a small difference after the refreshing drink of water and the small ice bath. His block of ice had melted back into its original stick form, which Brent considered a good thing, seeing as he could now place the stick in his other pocket (the one not holding the cup) and save it for later. He quickly did just that before turning his attention back to the now-lighted door.

Was there...a carving in the door? Brent inched a bit closer until he could see the distinct markings of a line of runes now present. Had they been there before? Probably, but by the light of his wand, he could now read them. He then smirked--a genuine, confident smirk. For a person who hated Ancient Runes and considered himself allergic to the very idea, he'd used them in every single challenge he'd been faced with so far. HE HAD THIS. A burst of confidence spread over him, and despite the fact that the rustling in the grass was still present in his mind, he had a really good feeling about this.

Brent retrieved his trusty stick out of his pocket and began working through the carving...

Thurisaz = Th
Isa = I
Sowilo = S

Brent used the stick to etch the word THIS in the dirt.

Dagaz = D
Othala = O
Raidho (his trusty old friend from previous challenges) = R

Brent added the letters DOR to his etchings in the dirt.

Raidho = R
Ehwaz = E
Mannaz = M
Ansuz = A
Nauthiz = N
Sowilo = S

Although he was beginning to make out what the message said (so far), Brent etched the next word just as he'd translated it--REMANS.

Kenaz = K
Laguz = L
Othala = O
Sowilo = S
Dagaz = D

THIS DOR REMANS KLOSD...

Well, yeah, he'd figured out that much about the door, but the secrets to opening it was a different story. This door remains closed---until what? He looked toward the next rune carving and began making out the next word of the clue.

Wunjo = W or V. Hmm...
Eihwaz = EI
Laguz = L

Huh? Weil? Veil? Neither word made sense to him, and so Brent carved both of them into the dirt in hopes that the rest of the sentence would help him fill in the blanks. Now on to the next word...

Thurisaz = Th

...that's it? Just "Th?" Brent sighed and carved the letters into the dirt. His sentence now read:

THIS DOR REMANS KLOSD WEIL/VEIL TH

Lovely. Thanks for the clarification, Ancient Runes. [/sarcasm]

Sowilo = S
Nauthiz = N
Ansuz = A
Kenaz = K

...uhh, that word looked an awful lot like the word snake, which sort of terrified Brent and got the wheels in his head turning. Nevertheless, he added SNAK to his sentence.

Raidho = R
Othala = O
Mannaz = M
Sowilo = S

ROMS. Ughhhhhh. Brent's stomach did a little flip, and a feeling of dread formed in the pit of his stomach. He was almost afraid to decipher the last word, even though he was starting to get an idea of what was ahead of him.

Fehu = F
Raidho = R
Ehwaz = E

Brent felt his heart pick up in pace as he added those last three letters to his sentence. His attention was now completely on the deciphered sentence as he studied what he'd etched in the dirt.

THIS DOR REMANS KLOSD WEIL/VEIL TH SNAK ROMS FRE.

The sentence was clear now. There was literally no doubt about it. He scratched out the 'VEIL' part then read his prediction out loud.

"This door remains closed while the snake roams free," he said, his voice just above a whisper. He gulped, realized he had to...he needed to...say the sentence with a lot more confidence. He owed it to himself to at least get built up about what he feared was to come. "This door remains closed while the snake roams free!" And as he said those words, he turned sharply toward the place where the grass had once rustled and pushed his now-trusty stick back into his pocket. His wand was at the ready, and he was armed with the Silver Shield Spell and Fianto Duri he'd cast moments before.

He'd been thinking about Africa as he'd progressed through the forest, and he'd narrowed that rustle in the grass down a runespoor. He was ready. The runespoor might be a snake, but guess what? So was Brent. Alright, dude. GAME ON. "Ready when you are," he said to the still unknown cause of that rustle in the grass. The rustle which he thought just might be a three-headed snake.

Spectacular...