12 Not Alone

CHAPTER 12 NOT ALONE The sun was setting as they reached the beach. "Thanks, Thaddeus," said Tag. "Call when you need me," said the old turtle as he shuffled away. "What now?" Skyla asked. "Let's explore the island," said Tag.

Tag sniffed. A smoky smell filled the air. He wiped a wing across his face. He missed the cool shade of Valor Wood. "Fire Island is really hot! And quiet—where are all the animals?" "I bet Thorn scared them away," Skyla said. "Thorn's darkness is spreading," Tag said. The trunks of some nearby palm trees were gray and crumbling. "Peep!" Blaze prodded Skyla. Skyla looked up at the trees. "The fruit is all rotten!" Black bananas and mangoes hung from the branches.

"I'm glad we packed our own food," said Tag. "Let's eat," said Skyla. "I'm starving!" Tag opened the sack. He gulped down some worms and handed Skyla and Blaze some nuts to eat. "Where are the berries?" Skyla frowned as she peered inside. "They're all gone. And so is the map!" Blaze peeped, flapping her bright wings. "What is it?" Tag asked. Skyla grabbed her slingshot. "Tiger bats?" Tag pulled out his dagger. "I'll take a look." He flapped up into the long, gray palm leaves. The branches creaked.

Two small spider monkeys stared back at him. They had brown fur and long bushy tails. Their white faces were covered in berry juice. One of them held up the special map that Grey had given Tag. "Hey! That's ours!" Tag shouted. The monkeys giggled. "Give that back!" Skyla called up to them. The monkeys leaped to another tree, then scurried away from the beach. Tag, Skyla, and Blaze raced up the rocky mountainside after them—toward the very top of Fire Island...