06 Blaze's Powers

CHAPTER 6 BLAZE'S POWERS Tag stood in a long, dark tunnel. He could see an orange-and-red glow in the distance. Blaze! Tag followed the firehawk's bright feathers into a room at the end of the tunnel. Skyla, Grey, and Blaze were all there.

Grey reached beneath his wing and pulled out a scroll of paper. "Now I can teach Blaze how to use the Ember Stone." Grey unrolled the paper. "This shows how Blaze can use her powers to bring the Ember Stone's magic to life. It was given to me by the firehawks many years ago." The paper was very old with crumpled edges. It was blank—just like the magical map Grey had given to Tag at the beginning of this journey. "Place the Ember Stone on the paper," Grey told Blaze. Blaze placed the stone on the paper. Swirly purple pictures took shape.

"Is that the Ember Stone?" Tag asked, pointing to a picture in the center of the paper. "Yes. And those are firehawks," added Blaze. Three firehawks stood around the Ember Stone. One was shooting fire bolts. Another was using the firehawk cry, and the last had flaming wings. "You must focus all three of your powers into the Ember Stone, like in this picture," Grey explained. "That is the only way the Ember Stone will become powerful enough to destroy The Shadow. And if you destroy The Shadow, Thorn will lose his dark magic. It's the only way to defeat him."

"Blaze has never used her powers together before," Skyla said, worried for her friend. Tag thought about the times Blaze had lost control of each of her powers. "If Blaze cannot focus her powers, then she will not be able to control the Ember Stone," Grey said. "What if Blaze gets hurt?" Tag asked. "That is possible," Grey replied. "But there is no other way. We are all doomed if Blaze fails."