THEY HAD WATER FROM THE SPRING AND APPLES for breakfast. Silver didn’t eat anything, not even the biscuit Elenna tried to tempt him with. He lapped a little water, then lay with his head on his front paws.

“He’s still not himself,” said Elenna.

The fight had taken it out of Tom, too. He felt shaky.

“Well, we need to get moving anyway,” he said. “Luna arrived last night when the moon was high in the sky. We have to face her before the moon comes up again, Elenna. It’s the only chance we have of defeating her.”

Storm neighed, as if in agreement.

There was no time to waste. Tom and his friends headed toward the Dark Wood. Elenna rode in Storm’s saddle, and Tom and Silver walked alongside them. Soon, the huge woods reared up, dark and ominous. The trees seemed to have a reddish tinge.

It was still light when they reached the edge of the Dark Wood, but only just. The sun was getting low in the sky. When Tom glanced back to see the distance they had traveled, he noticed their shadows streaming out behind them. Ahead, the sun’s rays made the trees look even redder — a bright, glistening crimson.

“Ugh!” said Elenna, dismounting Storm. “It looks like blood!”

“It’s just an illusion,” said Tom. “A trick of the light. Come on, let’s go. Luna’s in there — and we must find her before it gets dark!”

Tom shifted his shield on his back and gripped the hilt of his sword. Then they stepped into the woods. Twigs and dry leaves crackled underfoot. The trees grew close together, and as Elenna passed between two of them, she put out a hand to steady herself. She cried out in disgust.

“What? What is it?” said Tom, pushing through the undergrowth.

“My hand! Look!” Elenna gasped.

Tom stared. Her hand was covered in sticky, glistening red blood! And all the other trees were covered in the same liquid.

They had stepped into a forest of gore.

Tom shuddered. Storm was whinnying uneasily, and Silver whimpered.

“We need a plan,” Tom said, looking around him. “You can feel the evil magic in this place. And we’ve got to face a giant ghost-wolf with supernatural powers in here! We need something to fall back on. A place to run to, a way out, something to protect ourselves with —”

“Or a weapon,” interrupted Elenna.

“Yes!” said Tom. She was right. He had his sword and Elenna had her bow, but he knew that would not be enough. Against such a formidable enemy they would need something extra. Something unexpected.

He stepped back out from the woods and scanned the arid plain of the Forbidden Land. Was there anything there they could use?

But there was nothing. Just dusty earth, a few rocks, and dry grass that was barely alive.

Twilight was descending. Time was running out.

From among the bloodstained trees of the Dark Wood, Tom thought he could hear noises. Faint, intermittent sounds, but gradually growing stronger. Scuffling, snuffling, rustling. And there! His heart thumping, Tom was sure he had heard the lonely howl of a wolf in the distance, echoing through the trees.

The sun was setting, and the Dark Wood was coming alive.