The Baby Firebird

by Paula Harrison

  The dragon studied her, his black tail swishing. Lucas climbed down the vine. He and Talia waited for the dragon’s decision.

  At last the dragon heaved himself up. From under his belly rolled a handful of shiny rocks and pebbles. “I will help you on one condition,” he growled. “You must give me your sparkling stone.”

  “You want to keep my stone?” said Talia.

  The dragon gazed down. “Yes. If you want my help you must give it to me now.”

  Talia felt like there was something heavy inside her chest. Even though she’d only worn it for a few days, she loved her magical stone. But the firebirds needed the dragon’s help. She held out the dangling stone and it glittered in the darkness.

  “Talia, don’t!” cried Lucas. “You won’t be able to talk to the firebirds any more. They won’t understand you.”

  “I know.” Talia let the dragon take the thread in his jaws. “But this is the only way to move those rocks. I can’t let Riki down.”

  The red-back dragon carefully dropped the magical stone among his other shiny pebbles. Growling, he opened one black wing and tilted it to the ground.

  “Does he want us to climb on his back?” said Lucas, his eyes round.

  “I suppose so. I can’t understand him now that I don’t have my stone.” Talia started climbing the dragon’s wing. It felt tough and surprisingly springy beneath her feet.

  “Wait! What if he doesn’t really want us to get on?” said Lucas. “What if he gets angry?”

  “Then I guess he’ll find a way of telling us.” Talia clambered over the red spines and sat down on the dragon’s back. “Don’t you want to tell everyone in Kura that you rode on a dragon?”

  “They’d never believe me!” Lucas scrambled up the wing to join her.

  The dragon growled again and launched himself into the open. Talia blinked, dazzled by the sunlight after the dark of the cave. Each beat of the dragon’s wings took them higher, until they were gliding over the forest. Talia gazed down at the beautiful valley and the mist swirling gently over the Izzala trees. Air whooshed past her face and she held on tight.

  After only a minute, the dragon dipped back into the trees. Firebirds scattered as he landed heavily beside the Cave of Wonders. The birds’ bright feathers had turned to dull yellow.

  Talia and Lucas slid off the dragon’s back. Talia gazed at Riki lying weakly on the ground. She longed to pick him up and cuddle him but there was no time to lose. Running to the pile of rocks, she waved to the dragon to follow.

  The red-back dragon sniffed the boulders blocking the mouth of the cave and gave a deep growl that made Talia shiver. He gripped a rock with his great black claws and launched into the air. Talia scrambled back to avoid his beating wings.

  When the rock didn’t move, the dragon tried again. Puffing out his cheeks he heaved at the boulder, leaving long scrape marks across the stone. The rock didn’t move. The dragon let out a great roar that echoed round the valley.

  “This isn’t working,” said Lucas. “The soldiers jammed the rocks in too well.”

  Talia ran to the cave entrance, waving to the dragon to stop. “Lucas, help me!” She began pulling the smaller stones from between the boulders. “If we move these little ones he’ll be able to get a better grip on the large rocks.”

  Lucas and Talia worked quickly, pulling out as many of the smaller rocks as they could. A soft growl rumbled at the back of the dragon’s throat.

  “That’s probably enough!” Lucas grabbed Talia’s arm and they stood back.

  The dragon grasped the biggest rock and pulled. There was a long grinding sound and the rock came loose. The dragon tossed it aside and seized another one. That too came free, so he grabbed another and another.

  As soon as the dragon stopped to rest, Talia and Lucas dived forwards, moving all the smaller rocks and piling them out of the way. A wave of heat blew through the gaps in the wall, making Talia’s skin tingle. The firebirds lifted their heads as they felt the warm breeze. They squawked gently to each other.

  As the dragon moved more of the boulders, a cascade of smaller rocks came loose and trickled down the slope. The creature gave a triumphant roar. Whirling round, he knocked the last of the boulders away with a great swing of his spiky tail.

  “Thank you!” Talia bowed deeply to the dragon.

  The dragon nodded to the children before lumbering away to eat some flowers from a nearby Izzala tree.

  Lucas moved the last few rocks out of the cave entrance and dusted off his hands. Amber-wing called to the other firebirds and they tottered towards the cave, their frail wings lifted in hope.

  Talia saw Riki struggling to his feet. Dashing over, she scooped him up and gently set him down by the mouth of the cave. He gave a delighted squawk and stumbled into the tunnel with the other firebirds.

  Talia sank on to a boulder, suddenly overwhelmed by tiredness. “I’m so glad they can reach their fire pool again.”

  “It was a great idea to ask the dragon for help,” Lucas told her. “And I don’t think Lord Fortescue and his men will be back. They seemed pretty scared by the noises from the mountains.”

  Talia nodded, watching the last firebirds crowd into the cave entrance. “They wanted to find gold but they missed the real treasure that’s already here – the animals!”

  Suddenly there was an excited squeak and a flash of golden wings, as Riki flew out of the dark tunnel. His feathers sparkled as he swooped down to Talia’s knee. He chattered into her ear, pecked her gently on the cheek and then nestled on to her lap.

  “You look beautiful!” cried Talia. “I’m so happy you’re well again.” Her heart ached as she saw a look of confusion spread across the firebird’s face. She pointed to her neck where she’d always hung the magical stone. “I can’t understand you any more because I don’t have the Speaking Stone. But it doesn’t matter! You look amazing, Riki!”

  Riki squawked back to her, throwing his bright wings around her neck.

  The red-back dragon watched them as he chewed Izzala flowers. His bright-green eyes narrowed as Riki and Talia hugged each other. He gave a snort, spread his great wings and flew off into the distance.

  More and more firebirds poured out of the Cave of Wonders. Their feathers gleamed like sunlight and the crests on their heads stood bright and tall. They chattered to each other, swooping into the air on their sparkling wings.

  Lucas grinned. “They’re such awesome creatures!”

  “Yes they are!” Talia smiled. “I think they’re celebrating.”

  All the firebirds had taken to the sky. Gliding back and forth, the flock made a criss-cross pattern. Their graceful flight looked like dancing in the air. The sun began to set and the shadows of the trees grew longer, but the firebirds’ dance went on.

  “That’s strange!” Lucas twisted round. “What’s he come back for?”

  Talia turned to look. The dragon swooped through the darkening sky, circling the hillside before landing heavily beside them. He loomed over Talia. His bright-green eyes looked straight into hers.

  “What is it?” said Talia, her heart racing.

  A deep growl sounded in the dragon’s throat. Talia noticed something dangling from his mouth. It flashed in fiery colours as it caught the light. Bending down, the dragon dropped the Speaking Stone into Talia’s lap.

  She clasped it tightly. “Oh! But I thought you wanted it as payment for your help.”

  “You deserve to keep it. I see that now!” growled the dragon. “That is no ordinary stone and you are no ordinary girl! You are a friend to magical animals and now you can speak to us as much as you wish.”

  “Thank you so much!” gasped Talia. “Please tell me your name.”

  “I am Bellegar, the only red-back dragon in the hidden valley.” The dragon bowed to Talia and Lucas solemnly. “And I am very pleased to have met you both.”

  Talia returned the dragon’s bow before showing Lucas her stone. “His name is Bellegar. He just told me. Hasn’t today be
en amazing?”

  “Amazing but very strange!” said Lucas, bowing to Bellegar. “No one back in the village is going to believe that we made friends with a dragon!”

  The sun set behind the trees. As the sky darkened, the firebirds’ magical feathers shone in a blaze of orange and gold. They carried on dancing in the air. Now and then a firebird soared straight upwards, its wings shimmering like a firework.

  Bellegar told Talia of how he came to live in the hidden valley when he was a very young dragon and how he liked the peace and quiet. Talia promised to make him a special bowl when she returned home and to paint it with pictures of the red flowers he loved so much.

  Just as Talia was growing tired, the wind blew harder and the trees swayed. A dark shape came flying over the river and circled overhead. The firebirds called to each other in surprise.

  “What is it? What’s happening?” asked Talia in alarm.

  “It’s another dragon,” Bellegar told her. “A storm dragon!”

  The wind swirled as the huge creature set down on the rocky slope, making the ground tremble. “Greetings, brother!” he rumbled. “I haven’t met a red-back dragon for many years. Greetings to you too, young firebirds. My name is Windrunner.”

  “I’m Bellegar,” replied the red-back dragon.

  A girl with blonde plaits slid down from the storm dragon’s back. She was wearing a black dress and a white apron.

  “Sophy!” cried Talia. “I should have known it was you!”

  “Hello again!” Sophy hugged Talia. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come straightaway when you needed me. I’ve been so worried ever since I got your message!”

  “But everything’s all right now!” said Talia. “Lucas, this is Sophy, who works as a maid at the royal castle. She’s the one I told you about – the girl who gave me the Speaking Stone.”

  Lucas grinned. “Do you always fly around on a dragon?”

  “Only when I can get away from Lord Fitzroy,” said Sophy with a groan. “He’s the knight that hates magical animals and he’s persuaded the queen that they’re dangerous too. He’s the reason I was trapped at the castle. But tell me about your adventure!”

  Talia explained how the soldiers had arrived looking for the hidden valley. Lucas interrupted now and then to add things to the tale. Sophy’s eyes widened as she heard the part about the fire pool.

  “So I was lucky that Lucas and Bellegar were here too,” finished Talia. “We all worked together to unblock the cave and now the firebirds are well again.”

  “Brilliant!” Sophy beamed. “You’ve done really well with your Speaking Stone.” She fumbled in her apron pocket and brought out a small bag made of purple velvet.

  “Is that where you keep the stones?” asked Lucas.

  Sophy nodded. “I found them among a pile of things the queen was throwing away and I’ve kept them ever since.” She opened the bag and showed Lucas the little grey rocks. “You wouldn’t know just from looking at them that they have such amazing magic inside.”

  Talia looked from Sophy to Lucas. She thought she knew what Sophy was about to do.

  “Lucas,” Sophy began solemnly. “Having a Speaking Stone is a big responsibility and you have to love magical animals. Would you like to try the stones and see if there’s one for you?”

  Lucas’s mouth dropped open.

  “You’d be great with a Speaking Stone. I know you would!” said Talia.

  “I’d like to try,” said Lucas.

  “Then hold out your hands and let’s see what happens.” Sophy dropped the stones into Lucas’s hands one by one. The sixth one started to glow.

  “It’s getting hot!” gasped Lucas. “Is that meant to happen?”

  “Yes!” said Talia. “Just wait – it gets even better!”

  They held their breath. The magical stone glowed brighter and brighter, until suddenly it broke open. Inside was a tiny cave of shiny green crystals.

  “Awesome!” breathed Lucas.

  “Remember, it has to stay a secret,” Sophy told him. “So wear it under your shirt and don’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t! I’m going to see if it works right now!” Lucas dashed over to the dragons and started talking to them.

  Talia smiled at Sophy. “I think he’ll make a great friend to magical animals.”

  “I think so too!” Sophy smiled back. “I’m so glad I finally got away from the castle to find you all.”

  “Was it really tricky?” asked Talia.

  “Awful!” Sophy sighed. “Sir Fitzroy had guards watching the gate all day so I waited till Windrunner flew past the castle tower after dark. I slipped straight out of the window on to his back!”

  “That’s so exciting!” said Talia. “But why is Sir Fitzroy acting like that?”

  Sophy’s brow wrinkled. “He’s been suspicious ever since Ava and I rescued the sky unicorn. He didn’t see that it was me, but he knows someone is helping the magical animals. And then he found some information about Speaking Stones in one of the castle books, so now he’s on the lookout for them.”

  “It would be terrible if he found them!” cried Talia.

  “It would ruin everything!” Sophy put all the stones back into the velvet bag and gave it to Talia. “That’s why I want you to keep these for a while. Sir Fitzroy could order me to turn out my pockets and discover the whole bag! They’ll be safer with you.”

  Talia took the bag, her heart racing. “Are you sure?”

  Sophy smiled. “Of course I am! You could ask Bellegar to carry you on his back. Find new people who love magical animals and pass on more of the Speaking Stones.”

  “I will!” Talia held the bag tightly to her chest. “Thanks, Sophy!”

  “Bye, Talia! Bye, Lucas!” Sophy climbed on to Windrunner’s back. “I’ll try to come and see you again soon!”

  “Goodbye! Thanks for my magical stone,” called Lucas.

  Talia waved as Sophy and Windrunner flew into the night sky. She had been trusted with all the magical stones. She wouldn’t let Sophy down!

  “Talia!” Riki flew into her arms. “Will there be more adventures?”

  Talia smiled. “Yes, there’ll be lots more adventures!” She hugged Riki, feeling his warm feathers against her cheek. Together they watched the other firebirds swooping and soaring through the air, their golden wings glittering in the starlit sky.

  Copyright

  For Martha, my awesome niece

  THE SECRET RESCUERS: THE BABY FIREBIRD

  First published in the UK in 2016 by Nosy Crow Ltd

  The Crow’s Nest, 10a Lant Street

  London, SE1 1QR, UK

  This ebook edition first published 2016

  Nosy Crow and associated logos are trademarks and / or registered trademarks of Nosy Crow Ltd

  Text copyright © Paula Harrison, 2016

  Cover illustration and interior illustrations © Sophy Williams, 2016

  The right of Paula Harrison and Sophy Williams to be identified as author and illustrator respectively of this work has been asserted by them under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblence to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978 0 85763 609 6

  www.nosycrow.com