by Sophie Torro
Aurora felt surprised. “But you already are,” she said briskly.
Sandstorm let out a rough bark of a laugh. “I thought I was,” she grumbled. “Turns out that I’m weaker than I thought. I wasn’t able to do a thing about Tempest. She would have crushed me… if it hadn’t been for you, Aurora.” Bitterness darkened Sandstorm’s eyes.
“That’s ridiculous,” Ember snorted. “We all worked together as a team. Remember?”
Aurora nodded her agreement. “That’s right,” she said. “And don’t forget that the crown heightened my abilities, near the end. That shouldn’t count.”
Sandstorm let out an impatient growl. “You can whimper like pups all you want,” she snapped. “But you aren’t able to change my mind. I need to get stronger. I won’t be made to feel weak and helpless again. I’m going to walk my own path from now on, and grow every step of the way. My decision is final.”
Aurora had to bite her tongue. Sandstorm’s mind was clearly made up. There was no point arguing about it. “We’ll miss you,” Aurora told Sandstorm.
Sandstorm flicked her tail. “I can’t say the same about you three,” she responded. “See you chumps later.” And just like that, Sandstorm was off, leaving Aurora and her friends behind. They watched her go without uttering a word. Sandstorm then disappeared behind a cluster of palm trees and was lost to their sight.
“So,” Aurora said awkwardly, breaking the long silence. “Is anyone else planning a surprise exit?” She laughed nervously, attempting to lighten the mood.
“Definitely not,” Ember responded. Nautilus silently shook his head.
“Great,” Aurora said. “So, what do you guys think we should do next? What pack should we visit now?” Aurora began to feel excited from ears to tail. This was it. This was the beginning of their next adventure!
The two wolves were deathly silent, looking nervous and bitter. Ember and Nautilus glumly stared at their paws, avoiding Aurora’s gaze.
Aurora’s smile faded. “Guys?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll just be honest and put it out there right now,” Ember responded sharply. “I want nothing to do with the Fire Pack. I don’t want to talk about that place—I don’t want to see that place. If you choose to get involved with the Fire Pack, then I’m sorry, but I won’t be a part of it.”
“Okay, okay, yeesh,” Aurora said. “That’s fine. We don’t have to go near the pack-that-shall-not-be-named. We’ll deal with that place last, if it’ll make you happy.” Aurora gave Ember a friendly bump on the side.
“Thank you,” Ember responded with a sigh of relief.
Nautilus flattened his ears. “Does this mean we’re going to the Water Pack next?” he asked nervously. “Because, uh, I’m fine with that. But I’d rather not go there if I don’t have to.” Nautilus anxiously scratched the gills on his neck.
“Why not?” Aurora asked gently. “Did you have a bad experience in the Water Pack?”
Nautilus appeared queasy. “No,” he responded. “I’ve had no experience in the Water Pack, not even with the outer villages. I only enter the ocean to catch a fish or something, but I never swim further than a few tail lengths.”
“You’ve never been with your own pack before?” Aurora asked curiously.
“Never,” Nautilus confirmed. “Not with the Water Pack, and not with the Fire Pack. The only time I encounter wolves that share my elements are from a distance. If they get closer, I just hide and wait for them to pass by.” Nautilus looked embarrassed. “Ember is the only Fire Wolf I’ve ever been friends with. I’ve never been brave enough to speak with a Water Wolf.”
Aurora felt sad for Nautilus. It must be hard, living with a paw in two worlds—worlds that happen to hate each other. Aurora couldn’t imagine what that felt like. Then, an idea came to her, one that filled her with excitement.
“If you’re comfortable with it, we can explore the Water Pack with you, Nautilus,” Aurora told him. “You won’t be alone, not even for a moment. And maybe you might find out about your past. You could meet your Water Wolf parent.”
Nautilus’ light green eyes brightened. “I’ve always been curious about my parents,” he responded. “I’ve always wanted to explore the ocean… but I’ve always been too afraid to do it on my own. Now that you two are here, I feel brave enough to give it a try.”
Aurora felt thrilled. Ember didn’t look like he completely despised the idea, so that was promising.
Nautilus rose to his paws and gazed at the dark blue ocean. A salty breeze ruffled his fur. Nautilus was silent for a very long time, as he stared at the place he’d avoided all his life.
“I think I’m ready now,” Nautilus eventually murmured. Determination began to glow in his eyes. “I think it’s time I discover who I am, and uncover my past. I’m ready for the truth.” Nautilus bravely lifted his head and took a step forward.
“Water Pack, I’m ready to face you!” he called.
Little did Nautilus and his friends realize that, hidden in the distance, a red wolf was watching them with dark eyes. The wolf turned around and slowly slunk away, vanishing into the shadows.
A spy had been listening.
EPILOGUE
Ashes floated through the dark, smoky sky. The air was acrid, stinging the lungs of every wolf who had the displeasure of inhaling it. Flames lit the gloomy kingdom, while lava oozed throughout the land like rivers of fire. Other than the few Fire Wolves that slunk through the shadows, no life could be seen in such a hostile place.
This was the Fire Pack—the most dangerous, secretive, ruthless pack of them all.
A young Fire Wolf walked confidently past pools of tar and fields of fire. Her fur was dark red, her cunning eyes as orange as melting metal. She wore a black cloak, with the hood pulled over her head. She moved quickly, purposefully, urgently to the heart of the kingdom.
He needs to know about this right away, the Fire Wolf thought. His reaction will be most interesting to observe. I wonder what action he will take.
She began to trek up the black slope of a volcano, her lithe form outlined in red as she walked beside a trail of lava. Heat gripped her fur, while smoke created a haze all around her. Up ahead, a few wolves watched as she approached, unmoving and silent. She regarded them with a blistering glare as she continued onward.
Then, finally, she reached the top. A pool of lava gurgled and sizzled in the mouth of the volcano. A throne of jagged black rocks was suspended above the lava, hoisted by red-hot chains that were dug into the sides of the volcano. Sitting on that throne was a wolf, wearing a twisted crown of obsidian.
The wolf’s fur was such a dark shade of red that his pelt almost appeared black. His eyes were as red as flames. His ears were as jagged as cliffs, while his muzzle was ragged and curved.
“King Inferno,” she greeted, bowing her head.
“Flare,” he responded through red teeth. Smoke billowed out of his glowing, burning mouth. King Inferno was pure flame on the inside. “You have my permission to speak.”
Flare kept her head low, not daring to meet the king’s stare. “The rumours are true,” she began. “Tempest has been overthrown by a group of four rogues, one wolf from each element. The Sky Pack has chosen a life of unity for themselves, and have appointed a new leader.”
King Inferno let out a low growl, his red eyes narrowing. “What fools,” he hissed. “The Sky Pack has weakened itself.” The king was silent for a long moment as he thought. “Tell me more about these rogues.” He observed his scarlet claws.
“I managed to track them down after Tempest was dethroned,” Flare explained. “I watched them for days. They are divided amongst themselves. One of their own, the Earth Wolf, abandoned the group. The rest are headed to the Water Pack, with the goal of further spreading their ideologies of unity. I believe these rogues plan to unite all of Elementa.”
“What of the Fire Wolf?” King Inferno hissed.
Flare was silent for
a long moment. A bubble of lava burst near her, splattering the scorching substance around her paws. Flare didn’t even flinch. “The Fire Wolf is Ember,” she eventually confessed. “Your… son.”
King Inferno didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t react. That was more terrifying than a violent outburst. “Ember?” he eventually spat. “That worm is still alive, is he?”
“Yes, Father,” Flare responded. Although she hid it flawlessly, she was beginning to feel nervous about delivering this particular news to King Inferno. Would he take his anger out on her? “Ember is among the rogues.”
King Inferno leaned back in his throne, smoothing his hard fur. “Very well,” he rumbled. “Ember will be dealt with promptly, with what should have been done the first time.”
“What are your orders, Father?” asked Flare. Her eyes were as sharp as blades. She stared at her paws without moving.
“Find Ember and his pack of fools,” King Inferno demanded. “Bring them to me. I want to finish this with my own claws.” He let out a heavy breath, releasing a swirling cloud of smoke from his scorching mouth. “Take your siblings with you.”
Flare nearly let out a growl of protest, but managed to stop herself at the last moment. “All of them?” she asked curtly.
“All of them,” King Inferno responded. “I will leave you no room for failure. Take your siblings, command them to do your bidding, and hunt down the rogues. I want Ember by the next full moon. Do not fail me.”
Flare bowed. “Very well,” she responded with forced calmness. Flare turned around and began to walk down the side of the volcano, spilling over with rage. She was the heir to the throne, and yet she was being forced to hunt down her scrawny brother. Alongside her pathetic siblings, no less.
How humiliating!
Flare found them wrestling further down the volcano, fighting as usual. Ember may be King Inferno’s firstborn, but now that he was gone, Flare was the one in charge of her siblings. She needed to act like it.
Flare pulled back her hood and snarled dangerously at her tussling siblings. “Enough, all of you!” she yelled. “Listen to me now!” She snapped her razor-sharp fangs on the air as a warning.
Flare’s brother and two sisters reluctantly broke apart, glaring furiously at each other from the corners of their eyes.
“What is it, Flare?” growled Scorch. His pelt was constantly on fire due to his elemental power. He could turn his power off, if he wanted, but chose not to. “My dear sisters and I were in the middle of a friendly disagreement.” Scorch flashed them a menacing smile.
Flare shot a fireball at him, knocking him back a pace or two. Blaze and Spark let out sneering laughs. “Silence!” Flare ordered. “Unfortunately, Father has assigned the four of us on a mission. We must work together if we are to succeed.”
“Ooo!” snarled Spark. She was the strangest of the siblings, by far. “Sounds wild! What does Father want us to do? Raid some Sky Pack village? Overthrow a pack leader? Burn down Elementa? Because I can totally do all of those! At once, even!” Spark enthusiastically bounced up and down.
Blaze abruptly bit Spark. “No you can’t!” she snarled through Spark’s dark red fur. “You’re a liar! Liar liar pelt’s on fire!” Blaze’s fangs suddenly ignited. Spark pulled back with a terrified yelp, patting out the flames on her fur with a paw.
Scorch laughed hysterically.
“Enough!” Flare demanded. “Be quiet, or else I turn each of you into a pile of ash!” Her siblings, by some miracle, silenced themselves. “Listen to me carefully,” Flare hissed. “There’s a group of rogues that Father wants us to capture… and Ember is one of them.”
Now her siblings were really silent.
Flare gave each of them a sharp look. “Prepare yourselves,” she growled. “We’re heading to the Water Pack for a family reunion.”
More by Sophie Torro
SKYTALONS
When a danger unlike any other threatens the bird tribes, it’s up to three unlikely heroes called the SkyTalons to save the day. Will they accept their destinies? Find out as this epic saga takes flight!
Also by Sophie Torro
GHOST OF LANTURNA
Draven the outcast thief and Sora the runaway princess must defy the odds and put a stop to the perilous eternal day. Will the two unlikely heroes manage to save their home?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sophie Torro is a teen author. In 2019, at the age of 15, she published the first novel in the SkyTalons series. It has quickly gained worldwide praise and popularity. The following novels in the SkyTalons series were published shortly afterward, along with her new series, Ghost of Lanturna. Sophie has also written and illustrated the educational Q&A Kids series. Sophie lives in Canada, where she works on her future novels and other exciting projects.
