Seedling Exams

by Titania Woods

  So that’s what had been bothering Bimi! ‘By studying, that’s how,’ said Twink firmly. ‘You’ll be fine. You’re a lot cleverer than you think you are, you know.’

  Bimi made a face. ‘Yes, right! My mind always turns to slush whenever I’m asked a question. How is that clever?’

  ‘That’s got nothing to do with being clever – it’s just nerves,’ said Twink. ‘Bimi, listen! We’ve still got three weeks before the exams, so we’ll study together for them. I’ll make sure you know it all so well that your mind won’t be able to turn to slush!’

  A look of cautious hope appeared on Bimi’s face. ‘Do you really think so?’

  ‘I know so,’ promised Twink, squeezing her friend’s hand. ‘You’ll pass the exam with flying colours, wait and see!’

  That night Twink lay staring out of her window long after the rest of Peony Branch had fallen into slumbering silence. A light snowfall had begun. The flakes spiralled gently down like tiny pieces of lace.

  Twink sighed. There was no uncertainty at all in her mind that Bimi could become a Fairy Medic . . . but for the first time ever, Twink’s own future seemed full of doubt.

  .

  Chapter Six

  ‘Let’s try another one,’ said Twink, flipping the page. ‘What are the three ways you can cheer up a depressed frog?’

  Bimi rubbed her temples. ‘Depressed frogs, depressed frogs . . . oh, I’ve got it!’ she cried. ‘You can tickle their tummies, or sing to them, or – or give them a bath in sparkling dew.’

  ‘Yes!’ Twink beamed, and snapped the book shut. ‘That’s brilliant – you’ve hardly got anything wrong for days now!’

  Bimi played with her blue second-year sash. ‘Twink, do you really think I can do well in the exam?’

  ‘I really do,’ said Twink seriously. ‘You know all of the material – you just have to keep calm, somehow.’

  ‘Somehow.’ Bimi grimaced.

  The two friends were sitting in the second-year Common Branch, studying at adjoining mushroom desks. In past terms, the Common Branch had rung with chatter and laughter. This term, the only sound was the turning of pages, and the low murmur of fairies quizzing each other for their exams – now only a few days away.

  Twink’s wings felt icy at the thought. The Seedling Exams were really almost here, after a whole term of worrying about them! By this time next week, I’ll know whether I can be a Fairy Medic or not, she thought. Her stomach knotted.

  ‘Bimi, listen,’ she whispered as an idea came to her. ‘Before the exam starts, let’s – let’s look at each other and think encouraging thoughts, all right?’

  Bimi blinked. ‘What do you mean?’

  Twink clutched her hand. ‘Right before the exam starts, look over at me and think, You can do it, Twink, as hard as you can! And I’ll be looking at you, thinking the same thing.’ Suddenly she felt embarrassed. ‘I don’t know – it’s probably a stupid idea . . .’

  ‘No, it’s not!’ Bimi’s blue eyes shone. ‘Oh, Twink, I think it would really help to calm me down. Let’s do it!’

  They touched their wings in a promise. Bimi smiled ruefully. ‘Besides . . . it’s a lot better than my other idea.’

  ‘What other idea?’ Twink looked at her curiously.

  Bimi’s cheeks blazed. ‘Well . . . I went into Mr Woodleaf’s branch a few days ago to ask him something about my dormouse. He wasn’t there, but one of his desk drawers was open, and – and I saw the answers to the exam in it.’

  ‘Bimi!’ gasped Twink in alarm. ‘You didn’t –’

  ‘No,’ said Bimi in a low voice. ‘I was tempted, though!’ She pulled her knees up to her chest and sighed. ‘But then I thought, if the only way I can take the advanced classes is by cheating, then I don’t deserve to be a Fairy Medic, do I?’

  Twink squeezed her arm. ‘You do deserve to be a Fairy Medic,’ she said warmly. ‘I’m glad you didn’t look at the answers, Bimi – you’ll do fine on your own, wait and see.’

  Suddenly a prickly feeling darted across her wings, as if someone were watching them. Looking over her shoulder, Twink saw Mariella gazing down at her books. The pointy-faced fairy turned a page, looking utterly engrossed . . . but there was a faint spot of red on her cheeks.

  Twink frowned uneasily. How much had Mariella heard?

  Bang! The Common Branch jumped as Sooze slammed her book shut. ‘Do you two have to be so loud?’ she snapped at Sili and Zena. ‘You’re not the only ones trying to study, you know.’

  A silence fell as everyone stared at her. ‘What do you mean?’ asked Zena in surprise. ‘We’re just going over the fairy dust spells – we weren’t being any louder than anyone else.’

  ‘Oh, just go somewhere else, will you?’ groaned Sooze. ‘I can hardly hear myself think!’

  Sili’s eyes flashed. ‘We will not. We’ve as much right to be here as you.’

  ‘Not if you’re bothering the whole branch, you haven’t!’ retorted Sooze.

  Kiki looked worried. ‘I didn’t hear them,’ she said. ‘Sooze, I think maybe you’re just worried about the exams –’

  ‘Well, who asked you?’ demanded Sooze. ‘Just keep out of this, Kiki!’

  Sili crossed her arms coldly over her chest. ‘You know what, Sooze – everyone’s been studying hard this term, but you’ve completely changed! You’re no fun at all any more.’

  ‘Fun?’ Sooze leapt up from her desk, her fists clenched. For a moment Twink thought she was going to fly right at Sili and box her ears.

  ‘Fun?’ Sooze repeated. Her voice shook, and suddenly she looked close to tears. ‘No – no, I don’t suppose I am!’ And she grabbed up her books and jetted out of the branch.

  .

  .

  The second-year fairies glanced at each other. Pix sighed. ‘She must be worried sick with the exams almost here. I know she was being unfair, Sili, but you shouldn’t have told her off.’

  ‘Me? She started it!’ said Sili, flipping back her silver hair in exasperation. ‘Everyone’s worried; it’s no excuse for snarling at us.’

  ‘I’m going after her,’ whispered Twink to Bimi. Her friend nodded, and Twink skimmed out of the Common Branch.

  It didn’t take long to find Sooze. She was hovering beside a window on the other side of the trunk, with her hands over her face and her shoulders shaking. Twink flew across to her. ‘Are you all right?’

  Sooze’s head jerked up. She wiped her eyes quickly, scowling. ‘Fine!’

  ‘Well, good,’ said Twink, trying to smile. ‘I just thought I’d check, that’s all.’

  There was a silence. Sooze glared out of the window, her chin stiff.

  ‘But . . . you know,’ went on Twink, ‘if you did want to talk, or anything . . .’

  Sooze’s face seemed to crumple. ‘Oh, Twink, I’m so scared! I’ve just got to do well in the exams.’ There was a knobbly bit on the wall: a sort of window seat, set high over the school’s floor. Sooze sank down on to it, biting her lip.

  ‘I know,’ murmured Twink, sitting down beside her. ‘But, Sooze –’

  ‘No, you don’t know,’ interrupted Sooze. ‘My parents –’ she gulped. ‘Oh, Twink, they were so upset when they found out about the fairy dust flares! I’ve never seen them like that.’

  Twink gently rubbed her friend’s wing with her own. Sooze took a ragged breath. ‘They were so – sad, and disappointed. They said that they blamed themselves, for not being firmer with me before. And – and that they knew I’d do my best, but they’d understand if I didn’t move up to the third year with the rest of you . . .’ Sooze trailed off.

  Twink’s eyebrows drew together in confusion. ‘But – if they’d understand – ’

  .

  .

  Sooze spun sharply towards her. ‘Don’t you see?’
she cried, her eyes bright. ‘I can’t let them down again! I’ve got to do well enough in my exams to move up into the third year – or die trying!’

  Sitting alone at her mushroom desk, Mariella gazed down at her books with a small, secret smile.

  What fantastic luck to have overheard Bimi! She’d sneak down to Mr Woodleaf’s branch and copy out the answers the first chance she got. It hardly even counted as cheating, either. She would have known all the answers, if she’d only had time to study. It wasn’t her fault that she hadn’t, with all those stupid practicals they’d been given!

  It was true that the others had somehow squeezed in studying time this term, but Mariella had been too fed up with schoolwork to bother. Now, however, with the written exams only a few days away, it was a jolt to realise that she couldn’t catch up as easily as she’d thought.

  In fact . . . in fact, she was starting to feel a bit frightened whenever she thought about it. Mariella closed her Creature Kindness book. At least that was one exam taken care of! And the rest couldn’t be that difficult. After all, the current batch of third-year students had got through them – and they were all total wasp brains!

  .

  Chapter Seven

  All too soon, the day of the first written exam arrived. After breakfast that morning, Twink sat with the other second-year students in the Great Branch. The rest of the school had departed for lessons, leaving the Second Years to hear an announcement from Miss Sparkle.

  It’s just like the meeting at the start of term, thought Twink. Except that they’d all been through so much now! The students who gazed back at Miss Sparkle were all a bit older and wiser than they’d been before.

  ‘You’ve been studying hard, and you should be very proud of yourselves,’ said their year head warmly. ‘The first exams are scheduled for this afternoon after lunch. I’ve posted the timetable just outside the Great Branch.’

  Twink glanced at the closed doors. From the pale faces around her, she knew that the others were dying to get to the timetable as badly as she was.

  Miss Sparkle continued. ‘You all have the morning off, and I suggest that you spend it doing anything except studying! Go for a long flight and clear your head a bit; it’ll do you good. Go on, now – and good luck!’

  With murmured thanks the second-year fairies skimmed rapidly from the Great Branch. The timetable was on a large oak leaf that hung on the wall. The fairies hovered before it in an anxious cluster, jostling to see.

  ‘Peony Branch has got Creature Kindness for the first written exam,’ called down Pix, who had shot above the others for a better look. ‘Then tomorrow morning we’ve got the Flower Power exam, with the Creature Kindness practical right after it. Weather Magic is tomorrow afternoon . . .’

  Twink’s heart sank as she caught a glimpse of the oak leaf. Pix was right: their Creature Kindness practical was the very next morning. She had hoped to have a few more days with the bird, to have a last chance at making him like her – but instead there was no time at all!

  The red-haired fairy swooped back to where the others were hovering. ‘I’m going to study some more,’ she said flatly. ‘I don’t care what Miss Sparkle thinks – she’s not the one who has to take the exams!’ She jetted off towards the Common Branch.

  ‘Me too,’ mumbled Sooze, looking pale. ‘I – I just need to go over a few things.’

  Twink watched sympathetically as her friend flitted off. It would be such a relief for Sooze when the exams were over!

  ‘Well, I think a break’s a good idea,’ said Zena, bobbing in the air. ‘I’m going to fly down to the Dingly Dell – would anyone like to come?’

  Several fairies chorused agreement. ‘Ooh, yes, please!’ cried Kiki, clapping her hands. ‘I’ve still not seen it.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll come,’ said Mariella. She tossed back her silvery-green hair with a smug smile. ‘I’m not worried about this exam.’

  ‘Are you going?’ whispered Twink to Bimi. Her friend shook her head. ‘No, I – I think I’ll study a bit more, too. What about you?’

  Twink hesitated. Regardless of Miss Sparkle’s advice, she thought that more studying might be a good idea. She was going to have to do extremely well in her written Creature Kindness exam to make up for her practical!

  Making up her mind, Twink shook her head. ‘No, I’m going to go down to the animal infirmary. I want to try one last time to win over my starling.’

  Bimi nodded. ‘All right – good luck!’ Suddenly the pretty fairy squeezed Twink’s hand.

  ‘Oh, Twink, I’m so nervous!’ she breathed. ‘If I didn’t know that you’re going to be right there with me before the exam, thinking You can do it, Bimi – then I don’t think I could face it at all!’

  .

  Twink flew slowly down to the hollow log, thinking of her friends. Everyone had worked so hard this term! Oh, I hope we all do well, she thought, entering the warm log and shutting the door behind her. It would be awful if the Peony Branch fairies were separated.

  Then she grimaced. Well – she could probably live without Mariella moving up with them, if she had to!

  Skimming past the other animals, Twink put a welcoming smile on her face. ‘Hello!’ she said as she rounded the corner of the alcove. ‘How are . . .’

  Her voice petered off as she stared at the empty nest. The starling was gone.

  Twink’s thoughts whirled in confusion. Had the bird’s wing finally healed, and Mr Woodleaf forgotten to tell her? No, that was impossible – he’d said that they had their animals until the end of term!

  Besides, now that she looked, she could see that the water bucket beside the bird’s nest had been overturned. Damp footprints hopped their way across the wooden floor. Twink’s heart thudded as she noticed that the back door had been forced open, with harsh peck-marks gouging the wood.

  Suddenly Mr Woodleaf’s words came back to her: They hate being cooped up . . . they’ve even been known to try to leave before they can fly again.

  Oh, this was all her fault! Twink felt the blood leave her face. Mr Woodleaf had told her that she’d have to work hard to keep the bird’s mind off things – if she’d managed to make friends with him, this never would have happened!

  She jetted out of the door and hovered, staring wildly around her. Which way had he headed? The answer came to her instantly. He spent all his time staring longingly out of the window at the wood – of course that’s where he’d gone!

  If only the snow hadn’t melted, Twink thought as she skimmed towards the woods. Then she could just follow his tracks and have him back in no time! But the weather had turned warmer over the last few days, taking the snow with it.

  .

  .

  Reaching the forest, Twink hovered at the treeline, gazing helplessly around her. Where to even begin?

  Hang on – maybe one of the dryads had seen him! Flying hastily to the young birch tree, Twink settled herself under it. Sheena, it’s me! I need your help!

  The tall, snowy-white girl appeared instantly. Twink! What’s wrong?

  Quickly Twink explained, her words tumbling over each other. Have you seen him? she finished urgently. He still can’t fly; he’s in danger!

  Sheena shook her head. No, he didn’t pass by me. But Twink, you can’t go around asking every dryad – it’ll take you ages!

  Remembering her search for the hazel tree, Twink knew Sheena was right. But what can I do? she implored. I have to find him!

  Sheena hesitated. Well . . . there is one thing . . . but I don’t know if it will work. You could try to contact the spirit of the wood.

  The spirit of the wood? repeated Twink in bewilder-ment. She hadn’t even known there was such a thing!

  Sheena nodded. Every wood has an overall spirit: like a dryad, but much more powerful. She can be contacted if you try hard
enough. But . . . she stopped, furrowing her brow.

  What? asked Twink. Her heart felt like a woodpecker hammering in her chest.

  Well . . . I’ve never heard of a fairy as young as you doing it, admitted Sheena. Usually it’s a group of older fairies, and even then it sometimes doesn’t work.

  Disappointment crashed over Twink. Oh, it sounded impossible! If older fairies couldn’t manage it, then how could she hope to, when she was only a second-year student?

  Then she thought of the starling, dragging his broken wing behind him . . . and she took a deep breath. I’ve still got to try, she said firmly. Can you tell me what to do?

  Twink stood in the forest clearing, trying not to think about how much time had already passed. Why hadn’t she dashed back to school and got help the moment she saw the bird was missing? Dozens of fairies together could have branched out through the wood and found him in no time!

  But she hadn’t. And now almost an hour had gone by, and she seemed no closer to contacting the spirit of the wood than before. I’ll try one last time, thought Twink wretchedly. Then I’ll have to go and get help.

  Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried to imagine the entire wood, as Sheena had instructed her: all of the roots, the hundreds of tree trunks, the thousands of branches stretching towards the sky. And the woodland creatures, too: its rabbits and birds, its insects, the fish swimming in its brook.

  Finally, Twink reached out with her mind. Spirit of the wood, are you there? Please answer me . . . I’m trying to find an injured starling. I have to save him!

  She stood as still as she could, hardly daring to breathe. The minutes passed. Then, when Twink had almost given up hope, she felt it: a faint rustling deep within her, like a hundred trees softly sighing.

  She caught her breath. Spirit? Is that you?

  The sensation faded. There was only the cold clearing, and a few stray snowflakes starting to fall.

  Twink’s shoulders slumped. She had only imagined it. Oh, how stupid she had been, to think that she could contact the spirit of the wood on her own! And now precious time had been wasted. Anything could have happened to the starling.