01 Prepare for Battle

CHAPTER 1 PREPARE FOR BATTLE Tag and his friends Skyla and Blaze watched the creatures of Valor Wood prepare for battle. In the trees, squirrels held their slingshots ready. Nearby, white rabbits chewed sticks into pointy arrows.

Beavers and badgers worked together to build a wall around Valor Wood made of sticks and branches. Tag hoped it would slow down Thorn's spies. Tag looked to the sky. It was full of thick clouds and flashes of lightning. "Thorn and The Shadow are getting closer," Tag said.

"Maximus!" Grey called out. "See how far away Thorn and his army are." The captain of the Owls of Valor obeyed his leader. Maximus flew off through the trees with two other owls. Tag watched the warriors fly off. It was his dream to become an Owl of Valor. Maybe one day, he thought, I'll get my chance to be one of them. "Blaze needs to learn how to use the Ember Stone," Grey told the three friends. "Thorn and The Shadow are connected. If she can destroy The Shadow, Thorn will lose his powers."

Blaze looked worried. "What if I can't destroy it?" she asked. "You can," Skyla told her. "You're a firehawk. The Ember Stone was meant for you." Tag nodded. "We'll help you." "When will the moles return?" Skyla asked. Perry, Monty, and the other moles carried messages through the tunnels below Perodia. Grey had sent them to ask Thaddeus the turtle, Coralie the seal, the grumblebees, and the bears from the Whispering Oak to join their battle.

"Everyone will get here soon," Grey said. "I wish we could bring our friends to Valor Wood in a flash—like magic," Skyla said. "Magic!" Tag gasped. He pulled out a large, shiny pink shell from his sack. "Our nixie friend Nova said we could use this to call her." Skyla jumped up and down. "Nova and the nixies could use their magic to get here fast!" Tag studied the shell. "How does this work?" He held it up to his ear and called into it. "Nova? Can you hear me?" "Look!" Blaze cried. The shell began to sparkle. "It's sparkling like Lullaby Lake did when the nixies sang their song," Skyla said.

"Try calling her again," Grey added. Tag called into the shell. "Nova!" "Tag?" Nova replied. She sounds like she's right next to me! Tag thought. "Valor Wood is under attack," Tag said. "We need your help!" "The nixies and I will come as soon as we can!" Nova replied. The shell stopped sparkling. Tag looked at the darkening sky. I hope she gets here in time, he thought. TA-RAAAAA! TA-RAAAAA! Loud horns sounded through Valor Wood.