Chapter 1
Fear…screaming.
These are the first things I can remember. The distinct smell of fear filling my nose and the bloodcurdling screams filling my ears. It still is something that haunts me to this day.
I was young when the war came to Embora. We Fireclaws had been living peace for several years. Everyone was happy and peaceful.
Then came the day the Shadefangs invaded. It started with explosions in the distance. Taking us by surprise, the Shadefangs, devilish demon wolves with black fur and red glowing eyes, quickly overpowered most of the Fireclaws.
I still remember the fear on my mother, Fyra's, face as she and my father took me to a massive silver ship. Eleven other parents and pups were with us that day. My mother had tears in her eyes as she bid farewell to my father, who stayed behind to fight the Shadefangs. He, like all the others who stayed behind, died that day.
When we arrived on Earth, the eleven of us had to part ways almost instantly. Each of us headed off in a separate direction, into a world unknown.
Then it was just Fyra and me.
In the beginning, we were a pack of twelve.
Each one of us pups is protected by a special charm that guarantees that we can only die in the order of our numbers…as long as we stay apart from each other. Our number is marked by the number of fire charms on our necklaces.
When one of us is found and killed, we lose a charm on our necklace and feel a burst of pain. That's how we know where we stand with one another…and how we know when the Shadefangs will come after us next.
In August, I lost my first charm. We were living in Miami, Florida at the time. My necklace had glowed brightly in the middle of the night and I had woken up wailing in pain. It was the first warning that the Shadefangs were on our trail.
In November, I lost my second charm. We were living in Mexico this time. I was in the training room of our cave practicing fighting techniques when a blast white-hot pain hit me. As soon as it happened, I knew Number 2 was dead.
I lost my third charm in January. We had moved to New Jersey. Fyra and I were doing some bird watching in the park when I felt a sudden blast of pain. The third charm on my necklace glowed and vanished. The third warning. Number 3 was gone.
A few hours ago, I had lost my fourth charm.
We had been living in Houston, having settled in with a wolf pack near the city. It had been a few months since 3 had died, so Fyra allowed me to make a few friends.
I had been playing hide and seek with some of the other pups when a blast of pain threw me to the ground and left me writhing in agony. Several of the pups ran to the adults to get help. Fortunately, Fyra found me first.
The stakes were higher than ever now. The Shadefangs had found Number 4, wherever he or she was. And now, Number 4 was dead.
I had always tried to be brave. I had always tried to be strong. For myself. And for Fyra.
But this time was different.
For the first time in my life, I felt scared.
In the beginning, we were a pack of twelve. Now, four are dead.
The Shadefangs caught Number 1 in Kenya, Number 2 in Chicago, Number 3 in England, and Number 4 in Australia.
They killed them all.
Only eight of us remain.
The Shadefangs won't stop until they've killed all of the Fireclaws.
They won't stop until they've killed all twelve of us pups.
I am a Fireclaw pup.
My name is Flame.
And I am next.
Why you ask?
Because…I am Number 5.