09 The Shadow

CHAPTER 9 THE SHADOW Thorn landed in the center of camp. His army moved in behind him. Tag stepped in front of Blaze. Skyla did the same. Nova flew over to the friends. "You are not alone, Blaze." Nova smiled.

King Nidus and the nixie army joined them. They formed a wall between Thorn and Blaze. Thorn laughed. "Tiny nixies can't stop me!" Grey stepped forward. Thorn gave him an evil grin. "You have no chance against me, Grey," Thorn said. "Not when I have my Shadow with me." The Shadow stretched out from behind Thorn, swirling high in the sky, sending out crackling sparks of lightning.

The Shadow is Thorn's actual shadow! Tag thought. That is why they are connected! Grey gave a loud "HOOT!" Maximus and the Owls of Valor appeared as if from nowhere. Tag hadn't even heard them coming! "I may not be able to defeat you on my own," Grey told Thorn. "But I have my Owls of Valor." They flew at Thorn.

Thorn waved his wing at the Owls of Valor. His dark magic blasted them. Tag gasped. He had never seen anyone defeat the Owls of Valor before. They were the strongest of all the creatures in Valor Wood! "Your Owls of Valor are no match for me," Thorn said. He looked at Blaze. "Give me the Ember Stone." Blaze shook her head.

"I can teach you how to use your powers. We could rule Perodia," Thorn said. "Blaze is good," Tag said, speaking up. "She will only use her powers against you." Thorn snarled. "Then she will never learn the truth about her family." He glared at Blaze. "You are NOT the last firehawk!" Everyone gasped. Could there be other firehawks? Tag wondered. Blaze looked at her friends, unsure. "If you're truly the last firehawk, Blaze," Thorn said, "then where did I get this?" He held up a golden feather. That looks just like the feathers Skyla found on Fire Island and in the Howling Caves, Tag thought.

"Only I can help you find your family," Thorn told Blaze. "Give me the Ember Stone, and come with me." "Don't listen to him!" Skyla shouted. "Peeeeeeeeep!" Blaze cried as she pushed past her friends. She rushed at Thorn, trying to light her feathers. But her black wings wouldn't light. She's still powerless! Tag thought. Thorn raised his wings, and The Shadow obeyed its master In an instant, Blaze was surrounded by dark shadow. "Blaze!" Tag shouted, flying toward her, but Grey pulled him back.