10 Talia's Warning

CHAPTER 10 TALIA'S WARNING Blaze raced off in the direction of the fireball. "Blaze, wait!" Skyla called. But Blaze ignored her and hurried on. Skyla turned to Tag. "How does Blaze know that light came from Talia?" she asked. "How would Talia know we are here?"

"It could be a trap," Bod warned. Tag scratched his head. "Something doesn't feel right," he agreed. "But we have no other clues." They chased after Blaze, following her brightly glowing feathers. Slowly, the twisty tree roots disappeared, and they found Blaze waiting up ahead. "Look!" Blaze called out. She was pointing to a massive rock. It reached up to the sky and stretched out in both directions. In the center was a perfectly round hole. "It looks like someone dug into the rock," Bod said.

"Something like the mole with the orange eyes?" Skyla asked. "Moles are good diggers." "Or something much, much bigger," Tag said. Bod backed away. "I don't think going in there is a good idea," he said. "I think we should go back to Perodia." Blaze shook her head. "I have to find my mom!" she said. "You don't have to come inside if you don't want to," Tag said kindly. "You can keep guard out here." Skyla held out the lantern to Bod. Bod took the lantern and nodded. He gripped his sword tightly in his other wing.

Blaze raised her wings and created a fireball, ready to attack. Skyla loaded her slingshot with an acorn, and Tag held out his dagger. The three friends looked at each other, took a deep breath, and then stepped into the opening. They walked through a long tunnel that went down and down. Tag watched their shadows dance on the walls as they moved. He was glad that Blaze could light the way.

Suddenly, a cold breeze ruffled his feathers. Blaze's feathers flickered and her flames went out. "Blaze?" Tag called. Skyla moved closer to Blaze and Tag. "My magic won't work anymore!" Blaze replied. Then in the darkness, two blinking orange lights appeared. Then more. Tag looked closer. He realized that they weren't lights at all. Glowing orange eyes stared back at them. They were surrounded.