Sophie Briggs will have to fight her way out this time but without her elemental gift of life. It's the spring semester of Year Two at the famous School of Roots and Vines. The National Elemental Skills Trials are coming up, and Sophie and her friends are called to represent the school in faraway Colorado. Dark forces and powerful, all-too-familiar enemies are out to kidnap Sophie and steal her elemental powers. They'll stop at nothing to get their revenge. Is there a snake in the grass? Sophie, Marcus, and the gang are out to unravel the secrets of the Defenders before Sophie's magic is gone for good. Will they be too distracted? Or will the secrets of the ancient tree at the School of Roots and Vines help them to victory?