06 Grey's Tale

CHAPTER 6 GREY'S TALE The baby bird stretched her wings. "I'm Tag," Tag told the bird. "This is Skyla. She thinks you're a firehawk." Skyla put her paws on her hips. "She is a firehawk. My grandma told me they had bright, sparkling feathers." She pointed to the bird's glittering wings.

SCREE-EEE! A loud screech echoed through the wood. Grey appeared as if from nowhere. He did not look happy. "It wasn't our fault," Tag started, "not exactly..." Then Grey saw the baby bird. "What do we have here?" Grey smiled at the bird. "I didn't think I'd ever see a firehawk again..." "I told you, Tag!" said Skyla. "She really is a firehawk?" Tag asked.

"Yes," said Grey. "You have made an important discovery. I thought the firehawks were all gone." "What happened to them?" Tag asked. "The firehawks were magical birds who protected the Ember Stone—a stone that holds powerful magic within it," Grey explained. "They did everything in their power to stop Thorn from finding the stone. But one day, the firehawks vanished." Skyla gasped. "That's terrible!" "Could the Ember Stone stop Thorn and The Shadow?" asked Tag.

Grey stroked his chin. "Maybe. The stone's magic could be even stronger than Thorn's dark magic. But Thorn is moving fast. Trees are dying. The wood's good magic is fading. Can you feel it?" Tag and Skyla nodded. Valor Wood was changing. Flowers no longer bloomed. Rivers were dry. It wouldn't be long before Thorn destroyed everything. "Where is the stone now?" Skyla asked.

"I do not know, but I do know that Thorn never found it. If he had, he would have already used it to destroy Perodia," Grey replied. "The firehawks lived on Fire Island, so the stone might still be there—hidden somewhere only a firehawk can find it." Grey looked at the baby bird. "Where did you find her egg?" Tag took a deep breath. Owls of Valor were brave and true. He had to tell the truth. "At the Howling Caves," Tag replied. "We thought Thorn and his tiger bats had stolen the egg, so we tried to save it." "That was very brave," Grey said. "But I forbid anyone to go near those caves." "I'm sorry," Tag said, secretly pleased that Grey had called him brave.

"We didn't mean to start a fire," Skyla added. "The fire was not your fault," Grey told them. "Firehawks hatch in flame." TA—RAAAA! A horn sounded in the distance. "We're under attack!" Grey shouted. "I must gather the Owls of Valor." "Can I come?" Tag asked. Grey held up a wing. "You two stay with the firehawk." Skyla nodded. "We'll keep her safe." "But I can fight!" Tag cried.