05 Secret Hideout

CHAPTER 5 SECRET HIDEOUT Two large wolves—one white and one gray—glared at Tag and his friends. They had long, black claws and sharp teeth, and their eyes glowed orange. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! the wolves growled.

"You are not welcome here," Grey told them. "Give us the Ember Stone and we will leave," the gray wolf said. "Never!" Skyla shouted. The white wolf laughed. "Thorn and The Shadow will be here soon. If you don't give it to us, they will take it." Grey pulled out his sword and took a step toward the white wolf. The gray wolf pounced, pinning Skyla's tail to the ground with his huge paw. "Help!" Skyla cried. "Don't hurt her!" Tag shouted. He pulled out his dagger and flew at the gray wolf. But the wolf knocked Tag to the ground with one swipe of his paw.

"Tag!" Blaze shouted. Her feathers lit up, but the wolves had powers of their own. Their fur is thicker than any armor—and it's fireproof, Tag remembered. Blaze's fire power couldn't hurt them. "Give us the Ember Stone, and I won't hurt your squirrel friend," the gray wolf said. Just then "Attack!" a black-and-white badger yelled as he burst through the trees. Two other badgers pounced on the gray wolf! Skyla rolled free, then jumped onto Blaze's back.

"Need some help?" one badger asked Grey with a wink. Grey smiled, and turned to the three friends. "This way!" "What about the badgers?" Skyla puffed. "They can take care of themselves," Grey said as badgers surrounded the wolves. There was a blinding flash of light in the distance and a loud cheer. Above, the nixies' shield glowed brightly again. Tag and his friends followed Grey through the trees.

Suddenly, Grey swooped low to the ground. He's going to crash! Tag thought. But Grey didn't crash. He disappeared into a pile of leaves. Blaze and Skyla followed Grey's lead. They disappeared, too. Tag held his breath and dived into the leaf pile, sending leaves scattering into the air.