13 Firehawks!

CHAPTER 13 FIREHAWKS! Skyla ran down the hill toward the birds. "Wait!" Tag called after her. He squinted at the birds, trying to get a better look. They had the same colorful feathers as Blaze, but something didn't seem quite right. Suddenly, the birds all took to the sky as one. They flew off toward some tall trees far, far in the distance. Then they were gone.

"I'm not sure those birds are firehawks," Tag said, landing beside Skyla. "But they have to be!" Skyla cried. She raced farther down the hill. Tag flew after her and landed in a small clearing close to where they had seen the birds. "Do you see any sign of Blaze?" But Skyla was staring at the ground, trembling. "Tag," she said in a shaky voice. "I think you were right..." Tag looked down. They were standing inside a gigantic bird footprint. "A firehawk didn't leave that," Tag said.

"Tag, what if those giant birds thought Blaze was their dinner?" Skyla said. "Or what if they've taken her far away? She could be in real danger!" "Blaze is strong," Tag reminded his friend. "And we will find her." Skyla looked at Tag's sack, then gasped. "The feathers!" she said. "We still have the feathers and the paper and the Ember Stone. Maybe they can help us find Blaze?" "Let's try!" Tag said. Skyla quickly unrolled the paper. Tag placed the Ember Stone on it like they had done with Grey's magical map. Skyla held the three golden feathers and waved them back and forth like Blaze had done.

"Where is Blaze?" she said out loud. Tag watched the map. But it stayed blank. "Nothing is happening!" Skyla cried. "Wait!" Tag said. "Look!" The tips of the golden feathers had started to glow. Skyla held them over the paper. "Where is Blaze?" she asked again, louder this time. The feathers jumped out of Skyla's paw and started to draw on the paper.