Luna the Moon Wolf Read Free

we need to drink something.”
    Elenna took out her flask and shook it. The faint sloshing noise demonstrated how little was left. Tom knew his own flask didn’t hold much more.
    â€œWe need to find water!” said Tom.
    â€œLook!” said Elenna. “What’s that?” She was pointing to a clump of greenery a little way off. Tom saw a cluster of stunted bushes and grasses growing around a spring that bubbled up through the rocks. It was the first sign of life they had come across in the Forbidden Land. They ran to the spring. The water was clear as crystal, bubbling to the surface.
    The animals gathered at the edge of the water. Tom knelt down by the pool and scooped the cool liquid into his hands. He brought it to his lips and took long, grateful gulps. The water was cold and fresh and sweet. Storm and Silver plunged in, throwing up a spray of crystal droplets, and lapped until their thirst was quenched. Elenna waded in and splashed water over the rest of them.
    â€œIt’s so cold!” she cried.
    â€œJust what we need!” said Tom. He washed off the remnants of the mud and feathers they’d coated themselves with to disguise their scent when they battled Rashouk. It felt good to be clean again.
    â€œI’m hungry,” said Elenna, shaking the water out of her hair.
    Tom nodded. “We should eat, then rest. But there’s not much — just a few biscuits —”
    â€œLeave it to me!” said Elenna. She climbed out of the spring and took the bow from her quiver. Then she fitted an arrow to it. “You get a fire going, and I’ll find something to cook on it.”
    She strode off over the plain with Silver at her heels. Tom went to collect some dried grass, twigs, and larger sticks. He laid the grass and twigs on a flat rock. Then he rubbed two of the dry sticks together. He rubbed until his hands ached — but at last his efforts were rewarded. A thin spiral of smoke rose up from the sticks. A spark jumped and the dry grass caught at once.
    Tom carefully fed the flames with the smaller sticks, then the larger ones. The blue-gray smoke rose into the sky. The fire was crackling nicely by the time Elenna returned carrying two large birds. Tom and Elenna cooked the birds over the flames, turning them on long sticks. The aroma of roasting meat made Tom’s mouth water. He’d never smelled anything so good!
    The birds tasted as good as they smelled. Elenna threw chunks of meat to Silver, who snapped them up greedily. Storm chewed the grass that grew around the spring.
    â€œThat feels better,” said Tom. It was beginning to get dark now, and their fire glowed more brightly. Tom yawned. “Let’s get some rest. We’ll need all our strength tomorrow to face Luna.”
    â€œYou’re right,” said Elenna, stretching her arms above her head. “Good night!” She drew her cloak around her and lay down on the ground. Silver settled beside her, curling his body close to hers. Storm stood a little distance away, his head bowed.
    Tom lay down and closed his eyes. But sleep wouldn’t come. He couldn’t help thinking about the powers that had deserted him over the past three Quests. He had lost his ability to leap great heights, his magic sword skills, and the power to run extra fast. Piece by piece, his skills were deserting him as Taladon was returned to his true self. Tom knew that next he would lose the magic given to him by the golden breastplate — the power to lift huge weights.
    I’m being stripped of my special skills , he thought, turning over on the hard ground. Will I be able to carry on defeating these Beasts?
    He sat up, watching the flickering flames of the fire. He heard the breeze whispering through the grasses, then other noises — rustling, as though small animals were scurrying about nearby. Snuffling. The tread of paws.
    He peered into the darkness, but could see nothing beyond the circle of