14 The Rat Army

CHAPTER 14 THE RAT ARMY The friends flew through the Underland. Bod led the way with the lantern. "Thanks for coming back for us," Tag said. Bod smiled. "That's what being an Owl of Valor is all about," he said.

Tag scanned the ground ahead. When he saw the army, he hooted and they landed. "The army has almost reached the portal," Tag told his friends. Blaze's flames flared. "We have to stop them!" But before Tag could make a plan, Blaze quickly flew off. Bod and Tag flew after her, and Skyla leaped through the twisted tree roots. Finally, they reached the swirling gray portal. "Oh no!" Bod said, his wings trembling. "We're too late!"

Skull stood in front of the portal, preparing his army to enter Perodia. The Shadow loomed high above him. It crackled with thunder and lightning and grew bigger and bigger, making the Underland seem even darker.

SKRAAA! Blaze let out her powerful firehawk cry. The army held their paws over their ears and looked to the sky in horror. Some of them ran away. Blaze sent out flaming fireballs. She shot at the trees, setting them on fire to light the darkness. Tag gasped. Now that it was easier to see, he realized just how big the army was.

"Perodia will be destroyed if they get through the portal!" Skyla cried. She loaded her slingshot and started hitting the army with acorns and stones. "We need to block the portal," Tag told Bod. Bod nodded, and they fought their way to the portal entrance. Just as they were getting close, a bright light appeared within the portal. It was almost blinding! Blurry shapes moved inside the portal, getting closer.