08 Thorn Arrives

CHAPTER 8 THORN ARRIVES Tag and Skyla rushed over to Blaze. "Are you okay?" Tag asked, helping her up. "Yes. There was just too much power, too fast!" Blaze replied. "I couldn't focus my powers." She gave Tag a sad smile.

"Oh, look at your feathers," Skyla said. Blaze's feathers were as black as soot. She ruffled them, but they wouldn't light up. Just then, Nova, King Nidus, and Maximus returned. "We saw a bright flash of light!" Nova exclaimed. "Are you all right?" "What happened?" Maximus's loud voice boomed. "I tried to use the Ember Stone," Blaze replied, her head hung low. "But something went wrong." Grey picked up the dark stone. "It is cold," he said. "Maybe Blaze and the stone need time to rest and recharge?" Tag suggested.

"It's too late," Skyla cried, pointing up to the sky. The storm had stopped. But Valor Wood was as dark as night. "I knew this plan wouldn't work! Blaze is still a young firehawk," King Nidus said. "The Ember Stone is too powerful for her to control." "That's not true!" Tag told the king. "Blaze has used the Ember Stone before. Just in smaller pieces." "Blaze is our only hope," Grey said to everyone who had gathered around. "We must all believe in her."

TA-RAAAAA! TA-RAAAAA! The horns sounded through the wood. "Owls of Valor, get back to battle!" Maximus shouted, taking to the sky with the Owls of Valor. Grey gave Tag the Ember Stone. "Hide! Keep this safe until Blaze is ready to try again," he said. "But I can fight!" Tag said as he put the stone in his sack. Blaze nodded. "I want to help, too," she said. Grey shook his head. "I'm afraid you won't be any help without your powers, Blaze. And Tag, Blaze needs you and Skyla." Nova spoke up. "Grey is right. You cannot let Thorn capture the Ember Stone, or Blaze."

Tag looked at Skyla and Blaze and nodded. "Oh no!" Nova whispered. The Shadow loomed overhead. Slowly, the dark clouds parted, and there, in the very middle, was Thorn.