Stealth the Ghost Panther Read Online Free PDF Page A

and pain. Tom’s eyes widened as the Beast shifted into his ghostly form: His body changed into churning black smoke, outlined by shimmering scarlet light.
    No! Tom thought. Stealth is changing into his ghostly form to hide himself from me. How can I defeat a Beast I can’t see?
    Tom darted forward to retrieve his sword. Immediately, the panther changed back into flesh and blood, giving a terrifying snarl.
    â€œYou don’t scare me, Stealth!” Tom called out bravely.

    Stealth crouched on the cobbles, ready to spring at him. Tom was caught between the Beast and the wall of the inn. His sword lay out of reach, almost underneath the paws of the Beast.
    An arrow whipped through the air from behind him, striking the panther between his green eyes. Stealth tossed his head with a snarl of fury, giving Tom the chance to grab his sword and scramble back, out of range.
    â€œThanks, Elenna!” he shouted as another arrow struck the Beast in the shoulder.
    Stealth bared his teeth menacingly. Tom could see how hungry he was for revenge. The huge Beast leaped into the air, his vast black shadow enveloping Tom. At the last second, Tom jumped aside.
    But he didn’t have his magical leaping power anymore. As his feet hit the uneven cobbles, he stumbled and fell awkwardly onto his side, knocking the breath out of his body.
    Must move away , Tom thought, half-stunned. Must get up …
    But his body wouldn’t obey him. Unable to move, he watched with horror as Stealth stretched out one paw, his deadly claws bared, ready to attack.

“N O!” E LENNA YELLED.
    Before the Beast’s claws could scratch down Tom’s arm, he saw his friend pull another arrow from her quiver. “Don’t get too close!” he gasped.
    Elenna loosed the arrow. It struck Stealth on the back of the neck and stuck there, quivering. The Ghost Beast snarled and twisted his head, his jaws snapping as he tried to grasp the arrow and pull it out.
    Elenna ran forward and grabbed Tom by the arm, hauling him to his feet and back out of range.
    â€œThanks!” Tom panted.
    Shivers ran through Tom’s body as he realized what would have happened if his friend hadn’t been so quick. He would have been turned to evil…. Avantia’s last hope would have been gone.
    â€œWe need a different plan,” he said to Elenna. “I can’t risk getting near those claws.”
    Elenna nodded, but didn’t reply. She was still watching the furious Beast, her bow raised and another arrow notched on the string.
    Tom remembered how he had swung himself through the air to escape from the store back in Stonewin. That’s it! he told himself. I need a rope! If he could lasso Stealth and climb onto his back, the Ghost Beast wouldn’t be able to reach him with his claws. And then I can rescue the piece of the amulet from his collar , Tom thought.
    Glancing around, he saw a pile of barrels stacked up beside the wall of the inn, bound together by a piece of rope. Tom sheathed his sword and dartedover to them, tugging desperately at the knotted coils.
    Behind him, Tom heard a delighted snarl, and glanced over his shoulder to see that Stealth had finally wrenched the arrow out of his flesh. His gleaming teeth splintered the shaft and he tossed the scraps away.
    I’ve got to get this rope loose now! Tom thought.
    Stealth crouched again, snarling as he prepared to leap at Tom. At the same instant, the knot gave way and Tom pulled the rope free from the barrels.
    Tom quickly twisted the rope to form a noose. As Stealth pounced, Tom ducked, and the huge panther leaped over him, whipping around as he landed to face Tom again.
    Tom tossed the noose into the air and began to circle the panther. The Ghost Beast lashed out at him, but he was too big to maneuver himself properly in the narrow alley.
    â€œMove back,” Tom instructed Elenna. “We need more space. If we have to fight, we’ll fight fair.”
    With