01 To the North

CHAPTER 1 TO THE NORTH Tag, Skyla, and Blaze stood on a golden, sandy beach. The water was so blue, it sparkled in the sunlight. Tag studied the magical map. Skyla pointed to BLUEBAY at the bottom of the map. "We are here," she said.

Tag nodded and pulled a piece of purple stone from his sack: the Ember Stone. It felt warm in his wing. Tag laid the stone on the map. A spot glowed brightly at the very top. "The next piece of the Ember Stone is at the Crystal Caverns," Skyla said. "It looks like one day's journey," Tag said.

"Peep!" Blaze tapped her beak on a long, zig-zaggy line on the paper. "The Jagged Mountains," Skyla read. "Yes, Blaze, we will have to cross those." "Thorn's spies are everywhere," Tag told them. "We should fly. We'll move faster." "Um, squirrels can't fly," Skyla said. Tag grinned. "You can ride on Blaze's back!" "Fly!" Blaze said. "Fly!" Tag and Skyla stared at Blaze. "Blaze's first word!" Tag smiled. "Fly!" Blaze said again. Her gold, red, and orange wings suddenly burst into flame. Tag gasped.

"Whoa! Looks like Blaze has learned more than a new word!" Skyla said. "Tag, can the fire hurt her?" Tag shook his head. "Fire can't hurt Blaze. Remember what Grey told us? She's a firehawk. She was born in flame." Tag turned to Blaze. "We can't let Thorn's spies find out about your new power. Thorn already wants to capture you to lead him to the Ember Stone. He could try to use your power against Perodia."

Skyla nodded. "Tag's right, Blaze. We need to keep your fire power hidden." Blaze flapped her wings, but the flames wouldn't go out. Tag and Skyla scooped water into large shells. They threw it over Blaze. Steam rose from her dripping wet feathers. Blaze gave a little peep. Suddenly, a large gray cloud moved across the bay. It covered the sun. "Dark!" Blaze cried. "The Shadow!" Tag yelled. "We need to leave!"

"But I can't ride on Blaze's back!" Skyla cried. "I'll be a sizzled squirrel!" "It's the only way," Tag told her. "I'm too small to carry you. We have to get to the Crystal Caverns before Thorn's spies find us." "Promise your wings won't catch on fire again?" Skyla asked Blaze, as she climbed onto her back. Blaze nodded. "Peep!" Tag tucked the map and stone inside his sack. Then the three friends flew north as fast as they could.