04 Tunnel of Spies

CHAPTER 4 TUNNEL OF SPIES "We don't have to climb over these hills, do we?" Skyla asked, looking up at the two huge, craggy hills. "Fly?" Blaze asked. "There is a path through the middle of the hills," Tag said, pointing to a narrow tunnel. "That way will be quicker."

The three friends entered the tunnel between the hills. It was dark and cold. The tunnel was as wide as it was tall, and Blaze's head brushed the ceiling. Everything was dusty and brown. A few bushes and trees grew out of the rock-covered hillsides, but they were all dead or dying. "It looks like The Shadow has already been here," Skyla whispered, loading her slingshot.

Skyla might be right, Tag thought, pulling out his dagger. I just hope Thorn hasn't already found the next piece of the Ember Stone. Skyla reached for her slingshot. "Do we have any more acorns?" she asked Tag. "I'm running low." Tag felt inside his sack, then shook his head. "I'm sure there will be more at the Whispering Oak," he told her. "Is our piece of the stone warm yet?" Skyla asked. Tag checked their Ember Stone. The two pieces they had already found had joined together to make one stone. "It still feels cool," he said. "Keep checking it. The stone will get warmer when we're close to the next piece," Skyla replied.

As Tag walked along, something DRIP, DRIP, DRIPPED onto his head. Tag shivered and wiped his face with his wing. "It's too dark," Skyla said. "Blaze, can your wings light the way?" Blaze gently flapped her wings up and down. One by one, her golden feathers lit up in flames to let out a soft glow. The light cast shadows along the walls and in the nooks and crannies in the grey rock. Tag shuddered. This tunnel is the perfect place for Thorn's spies to hide, he thought.

Tag took the lead while Blaze followed, with Skyla keeping a lookout to the back. "Stay on your guard," Tag whispered. The tunnel grew narrower. There was a cracking sound ahead. Sand and rocks fell away from the wall. Tag held his dagger tighter in his wing as creeping black shapes scuttled across the ground. "We're not alone," Tag whispered.