diff --git a/src/zona/builder.py b/src/zona/builder.py
index a340aec..e8d0d58 100644
--- a/src/zona/builder.py
+++ b/src/zona/builder.py
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ from dacite import from_dict
 
 def split_metadata(path: Path) -> tuple[Metadata, str]:
     post = frontmatter.load(str(path))
+    # TODO: handle missing metadata
     meta = post.metadata
+    # TODO: handle malformed metadata
     metadata = from_dict(
         data_class=Metadata,
         data=meta,
@@ -14,23 +16,33 @@ def split_metadata(path: Path) -> tuple[Metadata, str]:
     return metadata, post.content
 
 
-def discover(root: str, out_dir: str) -> list[Item]:
-    root_path = Path(root)
-    required_dirs = {"content", "static", "templates"}
-    found_dirs = {p.name for p in root_path.iterdir() if p.is_dir()}
+def discover(root: Path, out_dir: Path) -> list[Item]:
+    required_dirs = {"content", "templates"}
+    found_dirs = {p.name for p in root.iterdir() if p.is_dir()}
     missing = required_dirs - found_dirs
     assert not missing, f"Missing required directories: {', '.join(missing)}"
 
     items: list[Item] = []
 
-    for subdir in required_dirs:
-        base = root_path / subdir
-        for path in base.rglob("*"):
-            if path.is_file():
-                print(f"{subdir}: {path.relative_to(root_path)}")
-                if path.name.endswith(".md"):
-                    pass
-                    # page = Frontmatter.read_file(path.name)
-                # TODO: build Item here
-                # items.append(...)
+    subdir = "content"
+    base = root / subdir
+    for path in base.rglob("*"):
+        if path.is_file():
+            print(f"{subdir}: {path.relative_to(root)}")
+            if path.name.endswith(".md") and not path.is_relative_to(
+                root / "content" / "static"
+            ):
+                meta, content = split_metadata(path)
+            else:
+                meta = None
+                content = path.read_bytes()
+            destination = out_dir / path.relative_to(base)
+            item = Item(
+                source=path,
+                destination=destination,
+                url=str(destination.relative_to(out_dir)),
+                metadata=meta,
+                content=content,
+            )
+            items.append(item)
     return items
diff --git a/src/zona/models.py b/src/zona/models.py
index 90b4183..7f4d5bb 100644
--- a/src/zona/models.py
+++ b/src/zona/models.py
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ class Item:
     destination: Path
     url: str  # relative to site root
     metadata: Metadata | None  # frontmatter
+    content: str | bytes
diff --git a/tests/test_metadata.py b/tests/test_metadata.py
index a591aa2..1c73f37 100644
--- a/tests/test_metadata.py
+++ b/tests/test_metadata.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from datetime import date
 from zona.models import Metadata
-from zona.builder import split_metadata
+from zona.builder import split_metadata, discover
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
@@ -22,3 +22,50 @@ description: This is a test.
     assert meta.description == "This is a test."
     assert meta.date == date(2025, 6, 3)
     assert content == "# Hello World"
+
+
+def test_discover(tmp_path: Path):
+    contentd = tmp_path / "content"
+    staticd = contentd / "static"
+    templatesd = tmp_path / "templates"
+    outd = tmp_path / "out"
+
+    for d in [contentd, staticd, templatesd, outd]:
+        d.mkdir()
+    md_file = contentd / "post.md"
+    md_file.write_text("""---
+title: Test Post
+date: 2025-06-03
+description: This is a test.
+---
+
+# Hello World
+    """)
+
+    style = staticd / "style.css"
+    style.write_text("""
+p {
+  color: red;
+  text-align: center;
+}
+""")
+
+    items = discover(tmp_path, outd)
+
+    assert len(items) == 2
+
+    md_item = items[0]
+    assert md_item.source == md_file
+    assert md_item.destination.name == "post.md"
+    assert md_item.destination.is_relative_to(outd)
+    assert md_item.url == "post.md"
+    assert isinstance(md_item.metadata, Metadata)
+    assert md_item.metadata.title == "Test Post"
+    assert md_item.content.strip() == "# Hello World"
+
+    st_item = items[1]
+    assert st_item.source == style
+    assert st_item.destination.name == "style.css"
+    assert st_item.destination.is_relative_to(outd)
+    assert st_item.url == "static/style.css"
+    assert st_item.metadata is None