13 The Healing Pool

CHAPTER 13 THE HEALING POOL Tag didn't trust Claw, but Skyla was getting sicker and sicker by the minute. He didn't have a choice. "Okay, let's go," Tag said. Skyla opened her eyes and groaned. Blaze held her paw. "Try to rest," she told her. "We're going to make you better." Tag helped Skyla onto Blaze's back. "Hold on," Tag told her.

They took off, following Claw over the forest. The trees below shimmered, reminding Tag of the nixies' sparkly magic. "Down there!" Claw called. Tag soared to the ground. Blaze landed next to him, carefully holding Skyla. They were in another small clearing surrounded by tall, shiny grass. "This grass isn't poisonous, is it?" Tag asked, being careful not to touch it. "No," Claw said. "Hurry! Bring Skyla this way." Claw moved the tall grass aside to reveal a hidden pool. It was surrounded by rocks that sparkled like diamonds.

"What is that?" Blaze asked, staring at the pool. Tag put the tip of his wing into the pool. His wing glowed with a bright light. The water in the pool didn't feel like water. It felt like soft, warm feathers. It felt like home. "Put Skyla into the pool," Claw ordered. "Are you sure this will help her?" Tag asked. The pool didn't seem dangerous, but every time he looked at Claw he saw Thorn's evil eyes looking back at him.

Skyla groaned. "We have to try," Blaze said. Together, Tag and Blaze gently put Skyla into the pool. "She's not going to like this," said Blaze. "Skyla hates water." "I don't think this pool is filled with water," Tag said. "You're right," Claw said. "This is a magic pool, full of healing magic."

The three of them watched Skyla float in the pool. Skyla lay very still. They waited. Then suddenly— Her fur rippled. Slowly, Skyla's soft gray fur turned red, then green, then orange, then purple. She looked like a giant blueberry! Clouds of glitter shot out of Skyla's mouth as she coughed. "She's getting worse, not better!" Tag shouted at Claw. "You tricked us!"