Twirling Tails #7 by Angela Andrew;Swan Sue;Farley Bentley

Prologue
    As a terrifying howl rose into the night air, the young, silver-gray wolf froze.
    â€œShadow!” Storm gasped. The evil lone wolf who had attacked the Moon-claw pack was very close.
    Storm scanned the snow-covered hillside with scared, midnight blue eyes. He should have known it was dangerous to come back home. He needed to act quickly.
    Sparks crackled in the young wolf’s thick fur and there was a flash of bright gold light. Where Storm had stood, there now crouched a tiny light brown puppy with a stocky body and shaggy fur.
    Storm’s little puppy heart beat fast as he leaped forward and ran across the frozen ground. He hoped this disguise would protect him until he found somewhere to hide.
    There were some snow-covered bushes nearby. Storm wriggled under a low branch and lay there trembling. A rustling sound came from farther back in the bushes and icy snow fell onto the tiny puppy. As the branches parted to reveal the shape of a large wolf, Storm froze and his midnight blue eyes widened in terror. Shadow had found him!
    â€œI am glad to see you, my son. But it is not safe for you to be here,” the wolf rumbled softly.
    â€œMother!” Storm yipped in relief. His whole body wriggled and he wagged his sturdy little tail as he squirmed toward her.
    Canista reached out one huge paw and pulled her disguised cub close. She whined fondly as she licked his little square muzzle and low-set ears, but her gold eyes filled with concern.
    â€œYou cannot stay. You are the only cub left in the Moon-claw pack. Shadow wants to be leader, but the others have scattered and will not follow him while you live.”
    Storm growled softly and his midnight blue eyes glowed with fury as he thought of the fierce wolf who had killed his father and three litter brothers.
    â€œI am tired of hiding. I will fight Shadow now!” he yapped.
    Canista shook her head slowly. “Bravely said. But Shadow is too strong for you and I am still too weak from his poisoned bite to help you. Go back to the other world. Return when you are stronger and wiser and lead the Moon-claw pack.” As she stopped speaking, her gentle eyes clouded with pain.
    Storm whined softly. He leaned close and huffed out a warm breath of shimmering gold sparks. They swirled around Canista’s paw like golden smoke before disappearing into her gray fur.
    Canista gave a long sigh. “Thank you, Storm. The pain is lessening.”
    But before Storm could finish healing her wound, another deafening howl rang out. The sound of mighty paws thudding on the frozen ground came closer.
    â€œShadow knows you are here! Go now. Save yourself,” Canista urged.
    Bright gold sparks bloomed in the tiny puppy’s shaggy, light brown fur.
    Storm whined softly as he felt the power building inside him. The glow of golden light around him grew brighter. And brighter . . .

Chapter ONE
    Kirsten Blake twirled her baton high into the air as she marched around the gym. She caught the baton perfectly without missing a beat of her routine.
    â€œYes,” she whispered to herself, delighted that all her practice was beginning to pay off.
    Swinging her arms, Kirsten kept perfect time with the other Limelight Majorettes as they wheeled and interwove in time to the music.
    â€œShoulders back, heads up. Looking good!” Molly the trainer cried. Kirsten’s blond hair was tied back and she wore shorts and a blue T-shirt with “LM” in glittery letters on the front.

    As the music ended, all the majorettes stopped at exactly the same moment.
    â€œGood job, everyone,” Molly praised. “Take a break now. After you get yourselves a drink, can we all gather together, please? I want to talk to you.”
    Kirsten wiped her face on a towel and then went to get a drink from the machine.
    Molly was already there. She leaned down to take a can from the chute.
    â€œYou’ve really improved lately, Kirsten,” she said smiling.
    Kirsten