Chapter one-

It took a while for Echo and Nexis to stop crying. They wiped the tears from their snouts and just sat in silence.

Eventually, Echo broke the silence. "I am going to kill Dragarha for this," he growled.

Nexis couldn't agree with him more.

Suddenly, something small, white, and furry popped up out of the ground.

Nexis gasped and jumped up to her feet. Echo narrowed his eyes.

Then his eyes widened. "Comet, what are you doing here?''

Then he turned to Nexis. "Comet is a star mole. He must have escaped the f- the fire by burrowing under the ground.''

"Echo," the mole squeaked. "I- I heard about Maplewhisper. I'm so sorry."

Echo dipped his head in remorse. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"We should bury her," the mole said. "She was a great wolf, and she deserves to be buried."

"I agree," Echo said. Nexis nodded her head in agreement.

Comet started digging. Nexis was amazed at how fast he could dig. Within minutes he had dug a deep patch in the ground.

Echo licked Maplewhisper's head, and pushed her into the hole.

Nexis and Echo sat in silence as Comet filled the hole back up with dirt.

Then, Echo picked up a red leaf and blew on it. It turned yellow-orange.

"Her favorite color," he said sadly to Nexis. Then he set it on Maplewhisper's grave.

Then, Echo let out a slow, mournful howl. Nexis howled along, knowing how wolf burials worked. She had attended one when Direfang's mate had died of a snake-bite.

After a moment of silence, Comet got to his paws. He twitched his

nose, for it had been wet because of his crying.

"Goodbye Echo," he said. "I must help the phoenixes put out the fire."

Nexis sniffed. She could still smell the smoke.

"Bye Comet. Thank you- thanks for coming.." Echo said.

"Of course," the mole sorrowfully said. Then he tunneled into the ground.

Nexis just wanted to lay on the floor of the forest and never get up, but she knew what she had to do.

"We need to get to the Golden Leaf Grove," she said to Echo. "Dragarha might already be there, and we need to get the Artifact."

"Yes," Echo said regretfully. He took one last look at Maplewhisper's grave

and ran out of the clearing. Nexis did the same.

When they reached Golden Leaf Grove, Nexis was trembling with fright.

All the forests they passed: Dragarha had destroyed them all!

Smoke was beginning to get disgusting.

Then she felt a jolt of terror. The prophecy, it's coming true! Nexis thought. The forests were starting to get demolished. They needed to find the Artifact fast!

"Skywhisper said something about the tallest tree," Nexis said. "So maybe the Artifact is in the tallest tree!"

Echo nodded. "Let's go," he said. Then they ran into the forest.

As soon as Nexis saw the trees, she knew Dragarha hadn't been here yet. Whew! Nexis would hate if all these elegant golden leaves got burned.

But she knew they would if her and Echo didn't find the Artifact.

As they walked, something began to feel... familiar to Nexis. A scent was familiar.

Then she stopped. Echo bumped into her and gave a short, "Yip!"

Nexis didn't notice. But what she did notice was the scent.

She had finally figured out what it was! It was the Wolf Dens.

Then she smacked her head. Nexis knew the Golden Leaf Grove was East to the Wolf Dens!

Then she smelled something that made her heart skip a beat.

The smell of smoke.

Nexis ran forward, ignoring Echo's confused questions. She wanted to get to the Wolf Dens, to make sure everything was alright. Not that she cared about Direfang! It was the other wolves she cared about. She didn't want them to die!

Then she saw something that made her feel like dying.

The Wolf Dens were on fire, dead wolves lying on the floor, and Dragarha right in the middle of the chaos.

Chapter two-

Nexis choked. Behind her, she heard Echo let out a strangled yelp.

Dragarha turned. "Who's that?" she said sharply.

Echo howled in rage and jumped out of the trees at Dragarha.

"NO!'' Nexis yelped and pushed Echo out of the way. She couldn't let him die!

Dragarha chuckled. "Nexis, Nexis Nexis," she said. Then, with a wave of her tail, the flames disappeared. But the wolf bodies didn't.

"Nexis, I have some news for you."

Nexis glared at Dragarha. "What?" she snarled, surprised at how angry her voice sounded.

"Well, first of all," Dragarha continued, smiling nasty. "I killed Direfang. And her little cubs too."

At first, Nexis felt stunned. Then she felt happy. Direfang would no longer

order her around! Then she felt sad. Then happy again.

Dragarha could tell Nexis was happy by the news. She snarled and continued.

"And I know where the Artifact is."

Nexis froze. She heard Echo yell, "We'll never let you destroy it!"

"But I will," Dragarha gleefully said, and she shot into the trees.

Nexis ran like she had never ran before. She followed Dragarha, Echo right beside her.

As Dragarha knocked over trees, trying to fly faster, Nexis felt a surge of determination. She would find the Artifact before Dragarha, and save all the forests. 

Just then, Dragarha stopped flying and landed. Nexis skidded to a stop and just barely crashed into the tallest tree she had ever seen. It had a green swirl in the shape of a gem on it.

Chapter three-

"It's- it's real," breathed Nexis.

Then she started to realize what was going on.

Dragarha was flying up the tree, trying to get to the Artifact!

"NO!!" shouted Nexis, and she jumped, grabbing Dragarha's tail.

"Nexis!" yelled Echo as Dragarha roared and shook her tail wildly.

Nexis refused to let go. She would stop Dragarha and save all the forests.

Then Nexis jumped off of Dragarha's tail. She slammed into the tree and started to climb up it.

Wolves were not good climbers, but Nexis would not give up. She struggled to climb as Dragarha easily flew up the tree.

"I'm- I'm not going to make it!" she gasped. Then she felt something push her.