Catkin in Jewel Forest
Page 3
“Oh my fairyness!” she cried. It wasn’t the sun that shone in her eyes – the sky was still dark and the moon still out. It was the sparkling Jewel Tree! “Pip, Willa, Blossom! Primrose, Nutmeg! Come and look!”
The mossy blankets rustled as the fairies threw back the covers. “Wow!” squealed Nutmeg. “It’s a miracle!”
“We did it!” cried Blossom.
The fairies stared up at the tree in awe, huge beams on their faces.
Catkin had to agree with Princess Nutmeg. It did seem like a miracle. She’d never seen the Jewel Tree look so magical. The tree trunk was back to its glittering pink colour and the branches no longer drooped. Instead, they rose upwards, covered in shining leaves and thousands of different-coloured jewels. The sparkling fairy-dust covered every branch, leaf and jewel, and fairy magic glistened all over the tree. In fact, Catkin could feel the magic buzzing from it, giving her goosebumps on her arms.
As the fairy friends took in the transformed Jewel Tree, the sun peeped over the horizon, and the rest of the forest began waking up. The birds tweeted in excitement at the sight of the tree, then started a beautiful dawn chorus.
Every fairy gasped when they woke and saw the Jewel Tree looking so wonderful again. They were soon fluttering about, staring at its incredible beauty and the magic, oohing and aahing at the ancient tree.
But Catkin couldn’t relax – not quite. She knew how important it was never to let anything like that happen again. She fluttered to the base of the tree and the fairies and forest creatures all turned to face her.
“We saved the Jewel Tree – and the forest!” she said loudly and clearly, realizing that for the first time she didn’t feel nervous about speaking to a crowd. “But from now on, every fairy and creature here – no matter how small – must take care of our magical home. We’ve got to look after it, and not take anything for granted. We must promise never to neglect the Jewel Tree and the forest again.”
“We promise!” everyone replied in unison. The clearing was filled with the sound of fairies and creatures all applauding and cheering.
“Can we have a party to celebrate?” asked Nutmeg, a cheeky smile on her freckled face.
Primrose put an arm around her sister. “I’ve got a better idea – and one that means we don’t need to take anything from the forest. How about the Walk in the Woods we didn’t get to do yesterday?”
“Oh yes – that would be perfect!” said Blossom.
Catkin frowned. “But I’m not ready – and I don’t have the candles!” She didn’t like to do anything unless she was properly prepared.
“But we don’t need candles – not in the daytime,” said Willa, pointing to the rising sun in the blue sky.
“And it really would be the perfect celebration,” added Pip.
Catkin smiled at her best friends. “You’re right. Let’s do it!”
The red-headed fairy announced the plan to the rest of the forest and moments later, everyone had gathered round her, ready for the walk to begin. “We’ll start with the most special thing in Jewel Forest,” said Catkin. “The Jewel Tree!”
All the forest fairies and creatures followed in a long line as Catkin began the Walk in the Woods. First she carefully touched the sparkling pink bark of the Jewel Tree and explained that it was thousands of years old. “Legend says that it grew from the seed of a diamond, which had been dropped by a magical unicorn. Long ago, a group of fairies discovered the magical tree and decided to make their home here.”
Catkin took them around the Jewel Tree clearing, then led everyone towards the River Sapphire. “The river runs all the way through fairyland,” she said. “Not only is it great for swimming and sailing, but it gives essential water and life to the forest, and is a wonderful home for all the water-loving creatures.” Catkin grinned as she spoke. She loved talking about Jewel Forest, and now everyone had helped save it, it felt extra-special.
As the Walk in the Woods party travelled back towards the main part of the forest, where the fairies all lived, Catkin pointed out the different hedgerows and trees. “See those bushes over there? They’re glitterberry bushes – and they have very sharp thorns. Take special care if you want to pick the berries – and only gather a few at a time.” She winked at Nutmeg.
“I’ve learnt my lesson – I promise!” the fairy princess told Catkin.
“And these are poppy-petunias,” Catkin said as they passed a mass of red-and-pink speckled flowers that covered the forest floor like a giant blanket. “They don’t grow anywhere else but here in Jewel Forest.”
“They’re beautiful,” said Willa. She’d never paid much attention to all the things that grew in the forest, but now she was fascinated by it all.
Catkin soon reached the fairy skyway and began fluttering along the bridges. She continued explaining more about the forest as the fairies and creatures followed behind.
“Wow – we’re so lucky to live here!” said Blossom as the walk came to an end outside the Cavern Café.
Everyone crowded into the café and started ordering drinks. Catkin was delighted to find the dandelion milkshake was back on the menu!
“Thanks for a wonderful walk.” Primrose came up to Catkin and squeezed her in a hug. “It was like one big travelling party!”
“It really was, wasn’t it?” said Catkin. She held up her acorn cup and made a toast. “To our wonderful forest!”
Every fairy and forest creature raised their glasses and beamed. “To the forest!” they all replied.
“And to Catkin!” added Primrose. “For showing us just how special it is.”
“To Catkin!” everyone shouted together.
Catkin’s heart felt as if it would burst with happiness now that they’d saved the forest. She knew that no one would forget just how lucky they were to all live here – and the Jewel Tree would never be in danger again.
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Toadstool Town Hall in Jewel Forest hummed with the chatter of fairies as they waited for the meeting to begin. The town hall was an impressive circular building deep in the magical forest. The walls were made entirely of gemstones, which let light flow in from outside, even though there were no windows.
Pip, Willa, Catkin and Blossom sat next to each other on red-and-white toadstool seats, waiting for someone to appear on the stage in the centre of the hall.
“I wonder what this is all about,” said Willa as she adjusted her sycamore hairband in her long dark hair. “I hope there isn’t something wrong in the forest!”
“Maybe it’s something good,” Pip said in her tiny fairy voice. Pip was the smallest of all of her friends, and she had a voice to match.
“Well, it can’t be a celebration,” added Blossom, who owned the bakery in Jewel Forest, “because I haven’t been asked to bake a special cake!”
“Oh look, it’s the mayor,” whispered Catkin. She nodded her head at the stage, making her red curly hair bounce about.
A large yellow frog hopped along one of the aisles and on to the stage. He wore a smart red waistcoat that sparkled with ruby jewels.
Ribbit, he said into the bellflower microphone on the stage. “Is this microphone working?” Ribbit!
The audience was a sea of bobbing heads as everyone nodded at the same time.
“Good. Then I will begin,” said the mayor in his deep, croaky, froggy voice. “Thank you for gathering here today. I have an important announcement that I think you will all find very exciting indeed.”
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br /> “Ooh, I wonder what it will be!” whispered Blossom.
“I am delighted to tell you all that. . .” The mayor paused as everyone sat forward on their seats – “Jewel Forest is to host the next Fairy Olympics!”
Hearing these words, everyone in Toadstool Town Hall cheered. The Fairy Olympics were held every four years – but Jewel Forest had never hosted them before. It was a really big deal.
“This is BRILLIANT!” cried Willa as she fluttered her wings in excitement.
“Oh, I can’t wait!” added Catkin, clapping her hands. She turned to Pip. “You were right – it is something good!”
But although her friends were delighted, Pip wasn’t so sure. The little fairy didn’t really like sports – and she wasn’t very good at them!
Ribbit! croaked the mayor as he tried to quieten the audience. “Now, creatures of the forest, there’s a great deal of work to do! The Fairy Olympics will take place in just two days’ time, so we’ll need lots of help to get everything ready. And you’ll need to practise for the events, as we’ll have fairies visiting from all over fairyland to compete in our Olympics. We’ll put on a fantastic show for the forest animals and creatures! There will be events designed especially for the forest: Toadstool Trampolining, Branch Gymnastics, River Rafting and Fairy Relay.”
The mayor grinned and clapped his webbed hands together. “Right, that’s all. Thank you, fairies! I know we’re going to put on an Olympics like no other, and that you’ll do Jewel Forest proud!”
Everyone began fluttering out of the hall. “You go on without me,” Catkin told her friends. “I want to speak to the mayor about being on the organizing committee.”
The fairies grinned – if there was one thing Catkin loved to do above all else, it was organize!
The fairy friends waved goodbye to Catkin as they walked through the grand town hall entrance. Outside were two golden statues: one of a princess fairy and one of a hummingbird, showing the harmony between the fairies and creatures of the forest.
They emerged into the lush green forest, which sparkled in the afternoon sunshine. The jewels hanging from the trees glistened and the shiny leaves gleamed.
“I’m so looking forward to the Branch Gymnastics,” said Blossom. “It’s my favourite sport!”
The three fairies stepped on to the fairy skyway. The skyway was high above the forest ground and made of leafy bridges that connected the tree houses and shops. Shiny gems, dotted between the leaves, meant that it always glittered, even at night!
“I love Toadstool Trampolining!” said Willa. “I’m a bit rusty, but if I start practising right away, I hope I’ll get the hang of it again quickly.”
“Oh, and what about the River Rafting?” said Blossom, spinning round to face her friends. “It sounds like so much fun!”
The friends continued to chatter as they fluttered back home, although Pip was quiet. A niggling thought buzzed about her head: What am I going to do? I really don’t like sports!
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First published in the UK by Scholastic Ltd, 2014
This electronic edition published by Scholastic Ltd 2014
Text copyright © Scholastic Ltd, 2014
Cover copyright © Pixie Potts, Beehive Illustration Agency, 2014
Inside illustration copyright © David Shephard, The Bright Agency, 2014
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eISBN 978 1407 14605 8
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