02 An Important Discovery

CHAPTER 2 AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY Tag stomped through the woods on his way home. He heard a rustle nearby. Someone... or something was watching. Tag picked up a stick. Footsteps scritched and scratched through the dry leaves. Closer. Closer. Until...

"Gotcha!" "Ahhh!" Tag yelled. A small gray squirrel fell to the ground laughing. "Scaredy owl!" "Skyla! That's not funny!" Tag said. "I almost hit you." "That twig wouldn't hurt me," his best friend replied. "I thought you were a brave warrior?" "I am," Tag said. "One day, I'm going to be an Owl of Valor and save the wood from the evil—" Skyla jumped up and put her paw over Tag's beak. "Don't say his name!"

"I'm not afraid of Thorn," Tag mumbled. Skyla's eyes went wide. "You should be." Tag looked at the river. It used to be full of clear blue water. Now it was dry—because of Thorn. He walked on, kicking at the dusty ground. "I know what will cheer you up!" Skyla tapped Tag on the wing. "You're it!" "No fair!" Tag chased after her. "I can't run as fast as you." But I can fly! Tag took off, gliding through the trees.

After a few minutes, he called, "Skyla! Where are you?" "I'm here!" Skyla giggled. Tag landed beside her and looked around. They had gone farther than he'd thought. "Oh no," Tag groaned. "We are at the Howling Caves! Grey told us to stay away." "Let's get out of here!" Skyla said, looking at the three creepy caves. There was a sudden whisper on the wind. A black cloud covered the sun so that it was almost as dark as night.

"The Shadow!" Skyla grabbed her slingshot. "It's probably just a storm," Tag said. He flapped closer to the largest cave. "Don't go in there!" Skyla warned. This could be my chance to prove how brave I am, Tag thought. The cave looked like a mouth open wide, ready to gobble them up. The wind blew harder and howled around them.

No wonder these are called the Howling Caves, Tag thought. "Don't worry, Skyla," Tag said. "Tiger bats only come out at night." "Who said anything about tiger bats?" Skyla asked. "Um... Grey did," Tag said. He pointed to the dark sky. "Come on! We need somewhere to shelter from the storm." Tag peered into the deep, dark cave. A red light glowed. "What's that?" He hopped inside, heading toward the light. "I don't like this," Skyla said, loading her slingshot. "But someone has to make sure you don't get eaten!"