Finally it was time for the girls to go home. They hugged Ruby and her family good-bye, and gave Smudge a hug, too.
As they walked happily back through the forest, Jess turned to Lily and Goldie. “Have you noticed that Grizelda’s dragons don’t seem to like helping her very much?” she said.
Goldie nodded. “Maybe Grizelda forced them to be her helpers.”
“I feel sorry for them,” said Lily.
Jess agreed. “Maybe we should find a way to send them back to wherever they came from,” she suggested.
“Do you think we could?” asked Lily. “Oh! Look at the Friendship Tree.”
New silver leaves were already appearing on the branches, sparkling in the starlight.
“I’m so glad the tree is safe,” said Lily. “Imagine never being able to visit Friendship Forest again!”
Goldie touched a paw to the trunk, and a door appeared. “I’m so happy you girls can still come here,” said Goldie. “I don’t know what we’d do without you! Grizelda still has one more dragon, and she’s bound to cause more trouble soon!”
Lily hugged her. “Whatever she does next, we’ll stop her.”
“I know you will,” said Goldie.
The girls stepped through the door, into the golden light. The tingle began, and they knew they were growing back to their normal size.
As the glow faded, Jess and Lily found themselves back in Brightley Meadow. By the light of their flashlights, they crossed the stream back to the wildlife hospital.
Jess yawned as they walked up the yard. “I know no time passes while we’re in Friendship Forest,” she said, “but after that adventure I’m sleepy!”
“Let’s check the fox cubs,” said Lily, shining her flashlight into the run. Four amber eyes stared back at her, then the cubs carried on chasing each other around and around.
“They look like they’re dancing!” said Jess with a laugh.
“Just like the Fuzzybrushes!” Lily looked at her best friend and grinned.
The girls linked arms as they walked home. What magic would they see on their next adventure in Friendship Forest? They couldn’t wait to find out!
The End
Friendship Forest was usually filled with warmth and sunshine, but today it looked completely different. The tree branches thrashed around wildly in a fierce wind and leaves and petals swirled through the air. Rain poured down, splashing in puddles everywhere.
“What’s happening?” Lily cried, her dark hair whipping around her face.
“It’s a storm!” cried Goldie, over the howling wind. “I’ve never seen one as bad as this!”
Now that they were in the forest, Goldie could talk to them at last. She stood upright beside the girls, almost up to their shoulders, one paw holding her glittery scarf so it couldn’t be snatched away by the wind.
As they huddled against the tree trunk, Jess turned to their friend. “Goldie,” she cried in alarm, “what’s wrong with Friendship Forest?”
Read
Rosie Gigglepip’ s Lucky Escape
to find out what happens next!
Text copyright © 2015 by Working Partners Limited
Illustrations © 2015 by Working Partners Limited
Series author: Daisy Meadows
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920, by arrangement with Working Partners Limited. Series created by Working Partners Limited, London.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing 2016
Cover design by Carol Ly
e-ISBN 978-0-545-90746-0
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Ruby Fuzzybrush's Star Dance Page 3