by Sophie Torro
After Aurora and Ember said a quick ‘thank you’ to Cobra, the three wolves headed into the tunnel. All the light from outside was quickly snuffed out, leaving them in total darkness. Not even a breeze managed to creep its way in from this deep inside the earth. “Eerie,” Aurora whispered. “I can barely hear anything above us.”
There was the faintest sound of howling wolves, mingled in with cheerful music. But the noises were quickly lost the further they went into the tunnel. They were deep under the surface now. It made Aurora feel panicked. She was a Sky Wolf, after all, with wings to fly high above the world. This was far from natural.
A scream suddenly exploded through the tunnel. Fear scent filled the air, enough to make a wolf gag. “Help!” Nautilus shrieked. “I just bumped into something furry! I think it’s something alive! It’s—it’s moving!” Nautilus let out a terrified scream.
“Hey! Calm down! It’s just me,” Ember growled. “Get your claws out of my tail, Nautilus. That hurts.”
There was deafening silence for a moment, and then a shuffling of paws. “Oops,” came Nautilus’ voice. “Sorry, Ember.”
Pawsteps. “Let’s keep moving, okay?” Ember said. “This tunnel is creeping me out. I don’t like it one bit.”
Ember’s tail accidentally smacked Aurora in the face as he strode past her. She paused for a moment, frustrated, before blindly stumbling forward. “How about you give us some fire, Ember?” she asked hopefully. “Light the way for us.”
“Yeah, that would be great,” Nautilus chimed in.
Ember’s pawsteps faltered. “Not right now,” Ember eventually responded. His pawsteps quickened as if he wanted to get away from this situation. “We’re almost out of the tunnel, anyway.” Ember said nothing more after that.
Aurora flicked her ear. That was strange. Why didn’t Ember want to help them? In fact, why didn’t Ember ever use his elemental power, or even talk about it? Was he keeping some kind of secret? Aurora decided that now was not the time to pry.
“Hey, Nautilus? Can you transform into a Fire Wolf?” Aurora asked. “Your glowing paws will work just as well.”
Nautilus drew in a breath to speak, but was interrupted by Ember. “He can’t, or else the heat from his paws will ruin his disguise.” Well, there goes that idea. Travelling in darkness it is, then.
An awkward silence hung over the three wolves for a painfully long time. Then finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Noises filled the air, softly at first, but quickly transformed into a booming roar. “We’ve made it!” Aurora said happily. “We’ve reached the end of the tunnel!”
Without thinking, Aurora ran forward, eager to feel a breeze on her fur again. Ember and Nautilus followed her. Together, the three wolves burst out of the tunnel, entering the world beyond. As if Cobra was aware that they had reached the end, the tunnel sealed itself shut.
The Earth Pack City was in absolute chaos.
Wolves bumped and pushed past Aurora. Howls, screams, and cheers sliced through the night. Thousands upon thousands of wolves moved through the streets like a furry wave, all struggling to reach the arena. “Oh, I hope I’m chosen,” snarled a bulky wolf who was littered with scars. “I want nothing more than to become Champion.”
“No way, sand-brain,” said her friend, who roughly pushed her. “You won’t stand a chance against Sandstorm. I hear she’s been training for moons for tonight. She’ll destroy you!” The two friends laughed as they were swallowed by the tsunami of Earth Wolves.
Aurora had to dig her claws into the ground so she wouldn’t be swept away by the crowd. “This is madness!” she shouted to Ember, struggling to throw her voice above all the noise. She yelped when someone stepped on her tail.
“I know!” Ember shouted back. “Just… try to stay together! We can’t become separated, or else we’ll never be able to find one another—”
“Hey!” Aurora suddenly shouted, cutting him off. “Where’s Nautilus?!”
Ember’s eyes grew wide. He wildly looked in every direction. It was like Nautilus had vanished into thin air. Where in Elementa had he gone?
“Help!” came the faintest voice in the distance. Aurora managed to spot Nautilus’ desperate face before he was lost in the chaos of the crowd.
Aurora prepared herself to run after her friend, but before she could take even a step, Ember blocked her path. “Leave him!” he growled. “You and I need to stay together, or else things will get even worse! If all three of us are separated, we’ll be lost for good!”
Aurora let out a furious snarl, but she knew that Ember was right. They would have to find Nautilus later. He would probably be okay on his own… hopefully… maybe… most likely?
“Let’s hold tails,” Aurora suggested, feeling a bit embarrassed. Normally mates only did that, but right now they needed to do everything they could to stay together. Ember awkwardly nodded and shyly wrapped his tail around hers.
The two wolves were immediately jostled forward in the stampede of Earth Wolves. Aurora and Ember were roughly pushed toward the arena, struggling to avoid being trampled.
The ancient, sandstone arena resembled a jagged fang that was hollow in the middle. Wolves sat on platforms that stuck out of the walls, suspended over the battlefield. They cheered with wicked delight, impatient to see tonight’s fight begin.
It didn’t take long until Aurora and Ember were pushed into the arena, and were roughhoused to their seats. They sat in a dazed silence for a moment, their fur bristling and eyes wide. Then, Aurora and Ember laughed. What a wild night! The two wolves would never forget this moment.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, wolves of all ages! Welcome to the Howl Dome!” suddenly came a booming voice. The announcer stood on a platform near the top of the auditorium, where his voice easily travelled through the entire arena. “We have a wild fight for you all—one that you have been waiting to see for moons!”
Excited screams shook the night.
The announcer grinned. “One lucky wolf will be able to fight our reigning champion, Sandstorm, tonight,” he shouted. “Win, and you will be named the strongest wolf in the Earth Pack! Lose, well, we won’t be seeing you again!” The announcer laughed.
Aurora’s ears almost shredded when the entire arena filled with cheer. It caused the sandstone under her paws to vibrate. Aurora winced.
The announcer smiled. “Let’s pick our lucky contestant, shall we?” he laughed. “Bring out the prisoner! Dim the lights!”
The gigantic torches that stuck out of the arena’s walls were doused with water. With a loud sizzle, the fire weakened, and the arena darkened. At the same time, there was the clanging of chains. On the balcony with the announcer, a miserable Fire Wolf was pushed forward by a few Earth Wolf guards.
Aurora turned to see Ember’s reaction, but his face revealed no emotion.
The announcer nudged the chained Fire Wolf. “Use your power, would ya?” he asked. “Pick Sandstorm’s next victim—I mean opponent.” The announcer smiled guiltily.
With a sigh, the Fire Wolf stretched out his only free paw, and allowed it to light on fire. The glow was bright, blinding almost, in the arena’s new darkness. The Fire Wolf unhappily waved his paw around, causing a spotlight to travel over the crowd below.
The wolves cheered with savage delight. “Pick me! Pick me! I want to fight Sandstorm!” someone near Aurora screamed.
Ember rolled his eyes, which managed to make Aurora giggle. He smiled at her.
Something suddenly caught the attention of the imprisoned Fire Wolf, and the spotlight moved in their direction. Ember’s eyes immediately grew wide with fear—a thought had struck him like lightning.
“My cloak!” Ember gasped. “That Fire Wolf must recognize it. Aurora, hide behind me, quickly!”
It was too late.
The blinding light shone directly on Aurora. She shut her eyes, waiting for the spotlight to pass by… but i
t never did. Mortified, Aurora slowly opened her eyes, breathing fast.
“No,” Ember whispered. “No, no!”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” boomed the announcer. “We have our contestant!”
At the same time, Sandstorm slithered to the center of the battlefield, with a murderous glint in her eyes.
CHAPTER 13
Aurora was in such a state of shock that she couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t peel her gaze away from Sandstorm. In the flaming orange light of the torches, Sandstorm appeared much more menacing than Aurora’s last encounter with her.
The Earth Wolf’s brown fur rippled with strength, and her hide was streaked with scars. Sandstorm’s yellow eyes were two glowing, menacing slits. She was at least twice Aurora’s size.
The arena was silent for a terribly long time. “Fight,” someone eventually chanted near Aurora. “Fight. Fight. Fight! Fight! Fight!” Within moments, the entire arena was screaming that word, over and over again. The commotion made Aurora’s ears ring.
Sandstorm abruptly lifted herself up onto her hind legs, then slammed her front paws down on the ground. A fierce sandstorm immediately swirled into existence, whirling around the edge of the battlefield.
Aurora watched with wide eyes. She was frozen in fear—the crowd was staring at her, the spotlight was directly on her, Sandstorm wanted to tear her to shreds.
“Face me, you coward!” Sandstorm screamed at Aurora. “Come down here and fight!”
“Fight!” the crowd screamed in ghastly unison.
This had to be a nightmare. It had to be! Wake up, Aurora, she pleaded to herself. Wake up right now. Hurry! Make this nightmare end! Her mud-streaked fur began to bristle.
“Uh oh,” the announcer sneered. “It looks like we have a scaredy-wolf on our paws! Why don’t the wonderful wolves in the crowd give her a little push?” The announcer laughed, a cold, savage sound. Did the Earth Pack know no mercy? Or was being brutish simply their way of life?
Without warning, claws and paws seized Aurora, dragging her toward the battlefield. She let out a yelp of alarm. Aurora dug her claws into the sandstone seat, producing sparks as the crowd yanked her backward. One of her paws was quickly dislodged, but Ember lunged forward and managed to catch it in his.
Aurora gave him a pleading stare, holding her paw in his for dear life. “Help me!” she screamed. “These wolves are crazy! Please, do something!”
Ember’s orange eyes filled with helpless guilt. However, he said nothing, and gripped Aurora’s paw tighter.
The crowd of Earth Wolves sneered and laughed as they dragged Aurora to Sandstorm. “Please!” Aurora shouted again. “Help me fight her. We can do it together!”
Ember winced. “I… I…” he stammered. “I can’t!”
Aurora let out a hurt growl. She couldn’t believe her ears. “Why not?” she screamed. Aurora suddenly lost her grip on the sandstone and was sent hurling backward. “Tell me why!”
“Because I don’t have an elemental power!” Ember shouted without thinking, just as Aurora was pushed under the sea of wolves. Regret immediately filled Ember’s entire face.
Aurora gasped as she was thrown into the battlefield down below. She plummeted for a moment, wincing as she broke through the sandstorm vortex, then landed with a thud. Aurora was motionless for a few moments, dazed. She then slowly rose to her trembling paws.
The arena erupted with shrieks of wild delight.
Aurora shuffled backward when she spotted Sandstorm at the far side of the arena. She prowled forward like a dangerous predator, her fangs bared and her claws ready. Sandstorm pulled her lips back and growled. Then, in a flash, the Earth Wolf exploded toward Aurora.
Aurora gasped. She rolled out of the way, just managing to dodge Sandstorm’s razor-like claws. Sandstorm landed where Aurora had been just moments earlier, slicing up the ground. Without wasting a heartbeat, Sandstorm whirled around. She lunged at Aurora with a furious cry. This time she did not miss.
Aurora was knocked to the ground. Sandstorm roughly stamped her paw down on her tail, pinning her. “Well, isn’t this easy,” the Earth Wolf sneered. With a victorious grin, Sandstorm lifted up her free paw. A vortex of sharp, pointed pebbles rapidly swirled around it. “So long, weakling!”
Just before Sandstorm could strike, Aurora hurriedly scooped up a pawful of dirt from the arena floor. She flung it at Sandstorm’s face. The spectators exploded with cheers and howls, thrilled by Aurora’s quick thinking.
“Arrgh!” Sandstorm growled. She blindly stumbled backward, freeing Aurora’s tail. Sandstorm angrily wiped her eyes with her paw, snarling lividly. She was momentarily stunned.
Aurora jumped to her paws, but didn’t dare approach Sandstorm. “I’m really sorry about that,” Aurora told her. “But I need you to listen. Sandstorm, it’s me, Aurora.”
Sandstorm let out a hiss of pain as she attempted to clear the dirt from her eyes. “Aurora?” she spat. “Who in Elementa are you? That sounds like a Sky Wolf name.” Sandstorm paused for a brief moment, her ears flattening dangerously. “Wait. I think I remember you now. Aren’t you that fool who embarrassed me in front of all those…”
Aurora winced. “You saved me from the Sky Pack guards that night,” she hurriedly interrupted. “Remember?” Aurora desperately hoped that she could reach Sandstorm’s gentler side by reminding her of her kindness. However, it was hard to do that on a battlefield.
With one last furious rub, Sandstorm lowered her paw. She blinked open her angry yellow eyes. For a moment, Sandstorm didn’t move, and glared at Aurora without uttering a word. Her brown pelt rose and fell with every sharp breath she took.
“Enough standing around!” someone in the crowd screamed. “Fight each other already!”
Sandstorm suddenly flung herself at Aurora and wrestled her to the ground. Sandstorm ruthlessly slammed Aurora’s shoulders into the dirt with her paws. “Why have you come here?” Sandstorm hissed. “You’re a fool to enter Earth Pack land. I could rip that cloak off you and show everyone your wings—show everyone who you really are—in a heartbeat.”
Aurora kicked Sandstorm off of her. “I’ve come to find you,” she said breathlessly as she stood up. “It’s an emergency. Queen Tempest is—” Aurora threw herself out of Sandstorm’s way as she pounced. “Queen Tempest is planning to destroy all of Elementa!”
Sandstorm turned to Aurora, panting. “What else is new?” she asked, unimpressed. Sandstorm suddenly shot a blast of sand at Aurora. It hit her in the chest and sent her flying halfway across the battlefield. Sandstorm prowled over with purposeful delay, giving Aurora a chance to speak.
“Queen Tempest has created a crown made entirely out of White Elemental Heart,” Aurora explained quickly. “It will amplify her power to levels beyond our understanding. I overheard Queen Tempest’s guards talk about how she’s planning to launch a full-scale attack on all of Elementa. She’ll wipe us all out!”
Sandstorm shot another blast of sand at Aurora, knocking her backward yet again. Aurora trembled with pain, her jaw clenching. “Let me guess,” Sandstorm sneered as she walked closer. “You want me to fight Queen Tempest? Why? Because you’re too pathetic and weak to do it yourself?” Sandstorm’s shadow fell over Aurora.
The Sky Wolf gazed up at her pleadingly. “Yes,” Aurora choked out. “I don’t have power like you, Sandstorm. None of my friends do, either. Without your help, Queen Tempest will destroy every wolf in every pack, leaving nothing but a frozen wasteland behind. Only the Sky Pack will remain. I can’t let that happen. I can’t just sit by and let her destroy Elementa!” Aurora met Sandstorm’s glare with challenge in her eyes. “Can you?”
Sandstorm sunk her fangs into Aurora’s scruff and tossed her aside. “How do I know that this isn’t some kind of trick?” the Earth Wolf demanded. “What reason do I have to trust you, Sky Wolf?”
Aurora trembled at Sandstorm’s paws, preparing herself for another attack. “You don�
�t have reason to trust me,” Aurora gasped through her pain. She was beginning to feel dizzy. “But you have my word that what I’m saying is the truth. Queen Tempest will strike any night now. If we don’t stop her, Elementa will be destroyed forever. You, and every other innocent wolf outside of the Sky Pack, will be destroyed forever.”
Sandstorm remained silent. She stared down her snout at Aurora, her expression emotionless.
“Finish her off!” someone in the crowd cheered.
“End this!” another wolf screamed.
Sandstorm let out a low, menacing growl. Something dark filled her yellow eyes. “Sorry about this,” Sandstorm said. Before Aurora could even react, Sandstorm lifted a paw and punched her in the face. The world went dark.
***
Paws frantically shook Aurora. “Come on, come on!” Ember’s voice impatiently said. “Wake up, Aurora.”
“Shaking her isn’t going to make a difference,” came the cautious, unsure voice of Nautilus. “Just leave her be. Aurora will wake up on her own time. At least, I hope so.”
Ember gave Nautilus a growl. However, he seemed to back off, because the shaking stopped.
Aurora felt like she had been dragged through the entire desert backward. Her everything hurt. A pounding headache thrummed through her skull. Her mouth was filled was sand. Gross! With a groan, Aurora slowly opened her eyes. “That was officially the worst,” she said feebly.
Ember and Nautilus spun around to face Aurora, their eyes wide. “You’re alive!” Nautilus cheered. “Yeesh. I thought Sandstorm would have eaten your bones or something.”
Ember looked grim. “That was pretty rough,” he added. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, Aurora. I hated feeling powerless, and I hated abandoning you when you needed me the most.” Ember managed to look guilty and relieved at the same time. “I’m glad you’re okay, though.”
Ember paused. “You are okay, right Aurora?” he asked. Concern filled Ember’s eyes—not only because he cared for her, Aurora realized. It was because something was wrong.
