14 Second Chances

CHAPTER 14 SECOND CHANCES The friends flew quickly to The Shadowlands. They landed in a small clearing that was surrounded by thorny bushes. The ground was gray and dusty, and everything was brown.

Tag pulled out his dagger, and Skyla held up her slingshot. Blaze looked to the sky for tiger bats, but it was empty. They heard a rustle coming from the bushes. Tag spun around and held his dagger tightly.

"I know you're there, Thorn!" Tag called. "I have no army," Thorn said as he came out of the bushes. "My spies left when you destroyed my Shadow." "Is that why you stole the egg?" Blaze asked. "To get your Shadow back?" Tag and Skyla looked at each other. They lowered their weapons. Thorn looked at Blaze. "The Shadow was always there for me," he said.

"What about your spies?" Skyla said. Thorn looked sad. "My spies were only under my spell." Just then, Tag realized something. "The Shadow was your only friend," he said. Thorn nodded. "But we were your friends," Skyla said. "You don't have to be evil anymore," Blaze added. She stepped closer. "We are still your friends, Thorn," Tag told him. "But you have to give us the egg."

Thorn turned to Skyla, Tag, and Blaze. Slowly, he started to smile. TA—RAAAAAAA! TA—RAAAAAAA! Tag looked to the sky. Hundreds of Owls of Valor swooped down, led by Maximus and Grey. "Do you have the egg?" Grey asked Tag. Tag sadly shook his head. "Please!" he said, turning to Thorn and holding out his wing.

"I'm sorry, Tag, but we can't let Thorn destroy Perodia," Grey said. "Thorn has changed!" Blaze cried. "He is not the evil vulture he used to be." Thorn lifted his wings. Dark smoke began to twirl around him. "Grey will always see me as the enemy," Thorn said. "Owls of Valor!" Grey called. "Attack!"