07 The Hidden Cave

CHAPTER 7 THE HIDDEN CAVE Coralie led Tag, Skyla, and Blaze through an icy tunnel to a large hole in the ice. Skyla dipped a toe in the water. "It's f-f-freezing!" she cried. "We have to swim below the ice?" Tag asked.

"Yes, there's another tunnel underneath," Coralie said. "It leads to a hidden cave." "That's where you saw the stone?" Skyla asked. Coralie nodded. "It's not far," she told them. "A quick dip under the water and then we'll pop back up on the other side." "We can't really swim..." Tag said, looking at his friends. Coralie stroked her whiskers. "You could ride on my back?" she suggested. Tag looked at Skyla and Blaze. Can all three of us fit on Coralie's back? "Swim!" Blaze peeped. SPLASH! Blaze dove into the water. She disappeared beneath the ice. Skyla's jaw dropped. "I guess firehawks can swim after all!" Tag said.

Coralie grinned. "Ready?" "I hate getting wet," Skyla grumbled. "Remember," Tag said, "it's just a dip." Tag climbed onto Coralie's back. Skyla followed, holding tightly to the seal's slick fur. "Hold your breath," Coralie told them. They took a deep breath and closed their eyes. Coralie dove into the freezing water. After a few seconds, Coralie swam up into the hidden cave.

Tag shook icy droplets from his wings as he gazed around the small, glittery cave. "This cave is so beautiful!" Skyla said, squeezing water out of her tail. "Ow!" Tag cried suddenly. "The sack is burning me!" Tag threw down the sack. It slid along the ice and stopped at the wall.

The four friends hurried over, and peered inside as Tag carefully opened the sack. "Look!" Skyla yelled. "Our stone is glowing!" "And it's definitely hot again!" Tag said. "Peep! Peep! Peep!" Blaze said. She pecked at the icy wall. "What is it, Blaze?" Tag asked. Something glowed deep inside the wall of ice. The light grew brighter and brighter until the whole cavern sparkled purple. Tag gasped. "It's the next piece of the Ember Stone!"