03 A Magical Meadow

CHAPTER 3 A MAGICAL MEADOW Slowly, the loud roar of the wind faded and the sand beneath their feet was still again. "Has the tornado passed?" Tag asked. Blaze lifted her head to look out across the desert. "Safe!" she said, opening her wings.

Tag blinked. He couldn't believe his eyes. The sky was clear and there was no sign that there had ever been a tornado. "Look!" Skyla gasped, pointing to a deep groove in the sand. The tornado had passed right over where they stood. Tag hooted in amazement. "I can't believe how strong your wings are Blaze!" Blaze smiled. "You saved us!" Skyla told her, giving her a hug.

"Super-strong wings must be another of your magical firehawk powers," Tag said to Blaze. "Just like your firepower and your cry." Skyla brushed sand out of her fur. "That was close. Even with Blaze's powers!" she said. Tag checked that their piece of the Ember Stone was safe. Ahead, he could see a wide green line on the horizon. He pointed to it. "Do you see that?" "We're near the end of the desert!" Skyla cried. She raced across the sand. Tag and Blaze spread their wings and flew after her. As Tag neared the edge of the Shifting Sands, he could see the tops of lush green trees.

I hope there's water close by, Tag thought. He was thirsty after swallowing all that sand. Tag and Blaze soon landed in a meadow of fruit trees. Skyla stood near a pool filled by a small waterfall. All around them were hundreds of colorful flowers. Tag took a deep breath. The air smelled so fresh.

"Where are we?" Skyla asked, picking a sparkly purple flower and tucking it beneath her armor.

Tag looked at Grey's map, but there was no meadow. "I'm not sure. Maybe this is a magical place?" "It sure feels like it," Skyla said. Blaze nodded and dunked her face in the cool, sweet-tasting water. The friends ate pineapple and mango and papaya until their tummies were full. Then they filled their water pouches and gathered fruit for the journey ahead. Tag flew into the branches of a nearby tree. In the distance were two tall brown hills. "We're almost at the Whispering Oak," Tag called. "We should keep moving." "Can't we stay just a little longer?" Skyla begged.