10 Fire Island

CHAPTER 10 FIRE ISLAND The next morning, Tag readied their supplies. He packed nuts, berries, and his favorite snack—worms. He also packed a large water pouch. "Ready?" Skyla asked, wearing her new armor. Tag grinned. "Ready!"

They woke up a sleepy Blaze, and set off along the winding path through Valor Wood. Tag smiled as he glided through the trees. He was ready for adventure. They traveled for hours, the cool breeze at their backs. Suddenly— "Ow!" Skyla cried, hopping up and down. "Something bit me!" Tag landed and looked at the ground. Why is this soil red and not brown?

Blaze stomped her feet. "The ground is moving!" Skyla cried. Tag took a closer look. "The ground isn't moving—it's covered in prickle ants!" Tiny red ants covered the soil. Their eyes were bright orange—just like the tiger bats. "Thorn's spies!" Tag said. "They're climbing all over me!" cried Skyla. The three friends hopped along, trying to escape. But the prickle ants crawled up their legs, biting and stinging.

"We'll have to jump in the water to wash them off!" Tag shouted, as they reached a fast-flowing stream. "I can't swim!" Skyla cried. "I can't either," Tag said. "But it's not deep." Tag led Skyla and Blaze into the cool water. They all climbed out as fast as they could. "It worked!" Tag said, shaking water from his feathers.

Skyla squeezed water out of her tail. "Yes, but if the ants found us, that means Thorn knows where we are." Tag shivered. He didn't like feeling that Thorn was so close by. "You're right. We need to hurry." Tag pulled out Grey's paper. "Grey said this would show us the way—maybe it's a map?" "I don't understand," Skyla said, looking over Tag's shoulder. "It's blank."

"Look!" Tag gasped as a small dot appeared on the paper. It grew bigger as he watched. There were shapes of land and water, and names of places he had never heard of. "It is a map!" Blaze tapped the map with her beak. She hopped toward a path. "I think Blaze wants us to go that way," Tag said.