01 Training Time

CHAPTER 1 TRAINING TIME TA-RAA TA-RA TA-RA! Tag jumped out of his nest as the horns trumpeted around the forest. He grabbed his dagger and pulled on his armor. It was time for training!

"Skyla!" Tag called up to the top branches of the tree, where his best friend lived. But Skyla was already ready to go. She leaped from branch to branch, and Tag flew after her. They landed at a big tree stump in a clearing of the wood. More Owls of Valor in training flew down to join them. Everyone waited for Maximus. Tag and Skyla had been training for six weeks now: learning how to fight, how to sneak up on enemies, and how to use the forest's magic. Tag couldn't wait to be sent on a mission. But every time he asked Maximus or Grey, the leader of the Owls of Valor, they said he wasn't ready.

A row of wooden swords lay on the ground. Tag looked at them, feeling worried. He was good with his dagger. But the swords were long and heavy, and his wings were smaller than everyone else's. Maximus flew in. "Choose a weapon!" he ordered. Skyla grinned at Tag. She chose the longest sword. It was taller than she was!

Tag waited as the other owls chose their weapons. Then he stepped forward. He groaned. All that was left was an old, chipped sword. He lifted it with his wing. Luckily, it wasn't too heavy. "Choose a partner!" Maximus yelled. "Swing and jab! Swing and jab!" Maximus attacked a nearby tree to demonstrate. Tag looked to Skyla, but another owl had already chosen her for a partner. Tag turned to see the only young owl left. Bod. Bod was twice as big as Tag and a bully. Tag tried not to let Bod see his wings shake as he lifted his sword.

Bod grinned, then swung his sword fast. He knocked Tag's sword from his wings before Tag had a chance to move! "Hey!" Tag grumbled. "I wasn't ready yet." He bent to lift up his sword. Bod stepped forward, jabbing Tag in the back and knocking him over. "Never turn your back on your enemy, Tag!" Maximus shouted. Tag narrowed his eyes as Bod smirked. "Tag! Skyla!" Maximus called. Skyla landed beside Tag. They saluted their leader. "I have some news," Maximus told them. "It's time for you to go out on your first mission."