Free Epos the Winged Flame by Adam Blade Page B

Storm.
    “Quick, we need to find cover!” Tom yelled.
    The ground had begun to shake violently. They looked around for anywhere they could seek protection.
    “Under that tree!” Elenna screamed, pointing to a large tree with a canopy of thick branches. “We’ll be safe over there!”
    As they ran frantically toward the tree, largerand larger stones began to fall from the sky. The blazing volcanic rocks exploded as they hit Tom’s shield, raining embers down upon them, stinging their skin. They ran faster, finally collapsing in a heap at the base of the tree.

    Tom looked up warily, hoping that the shelter would keep them safe.

C HAPTER T WO

B URNING S ECRETS
    H UDDLED UNDER THE TREE, T OM AND E LENNA began to have trouble breathing. The air had become thick with gritty volcanic ash and they could no longer see more than a few feet in front of them. They held their shirts up to their noses and mouths to keep from breathing in the toxic air.
    After a few moments of terrible shaking, the ground became still again. Rocks stopped falling, and the thundering rumble was replaced by an eerie quiet.
    “Are you okay?” Tom coughed and gasped.
    “I think so,” Elenna replied with a small quiver. “We need to get out of this forest and see if the village is okay.”
    Tom nodded his head and began gathering his sword and shield.
    Peering through the smoke, Tom was reminded of the heavy ocean fog they encountered when they had fought the second Beast, Sepron the Sea Serpent. Thinking about all they had seen on their Quest — and all they had survived — gave Tom a boost in courage.
    “Let’s go!” he said, leading his companions out from under the massive tree. It was still hard to see, but the smoke seemed to be lifting.
    “Hello?” Tom called out, hoping they were close enough to the village to be heard. “Hello?” His voice drifted off into the still forest. They continued walking, picking theirway around all the debris that had fallen from the sky.
    After walking for a while, they came to a fork in the trail. As Tom was pulling the map from his bag to see which way they should go, the sound of horse hooves beat in the distance behind them.
    Tom and Elenna spun on their heels, turning toward the sound. Storm’s ears pricked up and the fur on Silver’s back bristled.
    “What’s that?” Elenna asked.
    “It sounds like someone’s coming our —” Tom cut his sentence short as a band of masked men appeared through the veil of smoke.
    Tom grabbed the hilt of his sword and Silver gave a ferocious growl as the men drew nearer and then came to a halt.
    “There’s no need for that,” called out the largest man. “We are from the village of Stonewin.”
    Tom loosened his grip on the handle of his sword and breathed a sigh of relief.
    “We were on a trading mission in the next village when we heard the eruption,” the man continued. “But we must return to make sure everyone in the village is safe.”
    The man removed his mask to reveal a strong, kind face. He had dark hair and a thick beard. There was concern in his eyes.
    “My name is Raymond,” he said, “and this is Jacob and Leroy.” The other two men took off their masks.
    “I’m Tom, and this is Elenna. These are our companions Storm and Silver,” Tom said. “We were on our way to your village to help.”
    Raymond looked Tom up and down, a curious expression on his face. But he didn’t question what a boy and girl were doing alone in the dark forest. Instead, he said, “Well, Elenna can ride with meand you can ride your horse. We need to hurry in case the village is in danger.”
    Elenna climbed on the back of Raymond’s steed as Tom mounted Storm. With a whoop, they set off down the forest’s trail, racing through the smoke toward the village.

C HAPTER T HREE

E SCAPE TO THE C AVES
    A S THEY RACED ALONG THE TRAIL, THE THICK curtain of smoke parted, and Tom realized they had arrived in the village at the foot of the volcano. A small lava