“In a few minutes you will be exploring the forest and making your very own fairy crowns. You will have a partner to help you and I’ll never be far away.”
Evie looked around the circle as Holly talked and wondered which fairy was going to be her partner.
“Your partner is the fairy with the same basket as you.”
Evie’s basket was decorated with ivy leaves.
She looked around and soon spotted the other fairy with an ivy basket. She had golden hair and a lovely smile. Evie walked over to her.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Evie.”
“I’m Arwen,” smiled her partner. “Is that your magic forest pony?”
“Yes, that’s Willow,” said Evie. “She’d love to take us into the forest. Come on!”
Evie and Sparkles hopped up onto Willow’s back, while Arwen hovered above them.
“You will discover that the forest is full of life, it’s home to many creatures. Work with them and they will help your magic,” said Holly. “Everyone needs to be back here with their finished crowns by the time the blackbirds begin to sing.”
The fairies started looking at their maps and getting ready to leave. Soon they were all fluttering into Bluebell Forest with their partners.
CHAPTER 5
New Friends
“I’ve never flown in the forest before,” said Arwen nervously as she took off. “I’m not sure if I’m good enough to do it.”
“Don’t worry,” said Evie, “we’ll take it slow. I think it’s a bit like riding a pony through the forest – keep your balance and don’t rush. Once you get the hang of it you’ll love it – we do, don’t we Willow?”
Willow tossed her mane and flicked her lovely tail.
“The secret is to look where you’re going but remember to keep your eyes open for any challenges up ahead. You don’t want a nasty surprise like a branch in the face!”
Willow walked in and out of the trees. Arwen flew above the New Forest Pony and began to feel more confident.
“You’re looking great!” said Evie. “Are you ready to go a bit faster?”
“Absolutely!” smiled the little fairy.
Willow began to trot along the forest path.
“When you’re coming to a corner, make sure you’re not going too fast. You don’t want to lose your balance!” said Evie. Arwen watched how Evie helped to steer Willow and slow her down if there was a tight corner coming up. Arwen copied this and soon she was weaving through the trees effortlessly.
“This is brilliant!” laughed Arwen, as they sailed over ditches. “You and Willow are such a great team!”
Arwen was right, Willow loved riding cross-country with Evie and Evie was a careful rider. She could feel the fresh air whizz past them as they raced through the forest. They were having so much fun racing up slopes and following streams, that for a while they forgot their task!
It was only when Willow came to a halt by a cluster of hazel trees draped with strings of little leaves and red berries that the friends remembered they had to make forest fairy crowns.
“Why don’t we use these?” said Evie. “We can twist the stems to make a crown.”
Arwen and Evie each took a string of leaves and twisted it into a circle.
“Let’s try them on,” said Arwen.
“They’ll look really beautiful when we decorate them,” said Evie, helping Arwen to tighten her crown a little.
“You’re right, but what can we use?”
At that moment a beautiful gold feather floated down from the tree. Shimmering on a branch above was the most striking golden bird.
“Please could we have a few more of your feathers?” asked Evie hopefully, carefully fixing the feather onto Arwen’s crown.
The bird looked down at them, her bright eyes flickering like flames.
“I think she’s a phoenix,” whispered Evie. “I’ve read about them in one of the old books in Starlight Castle’s library, I thought they were mythical creatures.”
The golden bird screeched at them, making poor Willow jump and Sparkles shake. It was a shock that such a beautiful bird could make such a terrible sound!
“She sounds real to me!” said Arwen. It squawked again.
“I think she’s trying to tell us something,” said Evie, putting her hands over her ears. “Perhaps you could try some forest magic to translate.”
“I’ve never tried any forest magic before,” said Arwen, carefully taking her wand out of her basket. “But I’ll have a go.”
“Take your time,” said Evie.
Arwen closed her eyes and after a few seconds she began whispering some magic forest words:
“Blow wind blow,
Golden bird do not shriek.
Flow words flow,
Golden words from your beak.
Leaves shiver, leaves fall,
Forest creature tell me all.”
Tiny green sparks fizzed and whizzed from the tip of the wand and floated above Arwen and Evie’s heads.
Phoenix stood tall and opened her mouth, but instead of letting out another shrill shriek, she said in a proud voice:
“Look around the forest trees,
Listen to the forest breeze.
A little pincushion trying to sleep,
Help him – he’s in trouble deep.
When you’ve finished this task in hand,
I will help you gild your band.”
And with that she flew a little further up into the tree.
“I hope you’re better at solving riddles than I am,” said Evie.
“Hmm,” said Arwen thoughtfully. “I think the second part of the riddle means the phoenix will help us with our crowns if we help someone in the forest. But I don’t know who they are or where we’ll find them.”
Arwen and Evie looked at the map of Bluebell Forest, searching for clues.
“A pincushion would be used by someone sewing,” said Evie. “Perhaps they’re making outfits like we did for the fashion show with spider web thread.”
“But where would they be?” asked Arwen. Willow neighed loudly.
“I think Willow knows,” said Evie.
CHAPTER 6
Pincushion in a Pickle
In just a few moments, Evie and Sparkles were cantering through the forest on Willow’s back, with Arwen flying above. As they went deeper into the forest, Willow had to jump branches and trees that had fallen across the path.
“I love the way you help Willow jump, Evie,” Arwen called down. Evie leant forward as Willow took off over a branch.
“If there’s something in the way you have to make sure you’re going at it straight and steady. It’s the same for you, Arwen, when you’re flying over obstacles.”
“I think Willow trusts you because you never push her too hard.”
“I trust her too,” smiled Evie. “We look out for each other.”
It was true Willow trusted Evie; the brave little pony didn’t mind if she couldn’t see where she was going to land after taking off over a fallen branch because she knew Evie would never ask too much of her.
Arwen flew above them, the wind whistling through her hair.
“Hold on to your crown Evie,” she called down to her friend as they raced through the trees.
After a short while, they came to a clearing with a tall sycamore tree. Evie stroked Willow’s neck.
“Good girl,” she smiled as she and Sparkles hopped down from the saddle.
“Now all we need to find is a pincushion,” said Arwen, landing gently and looking through the piles of autumn leaves.
But the friends couldn’t find anything like a pincushion.
“Maybe we’re not in the right place after all,” said Evie.
They began to walk through the shady forest, searching the mossy floor when Sparkles’ whiskers began to twitch.
“Whatever’s the matter, Sparkles?” said Evie.
Willow stopped and the little kitten jumped about and started searching around in the root
s of a tree.
Evie spotted a shiny nose and a pair of bright eyes peeping at them from the shadows – and out popped a baby hedgehog!
“A little pincushion!” she cried. “Sparkles, you’ve solved the riddle!”
The little hedgehog came out of his hiding place and began making excitable squeaky noises.
“How are we going to help this little hedgehog out?” said Arwen.
“What on earth is he trying to tell us?” asked Evie.
Arwen whisked out her wand and performed the translation spell:
“Blow wind blow,
Prickly hedgehog do not squeak.
Flow words flow,
Little hedge pig try to speak.
Leaves shiver, leaves fall,
Forest creature tell me all.”
Tiny green sparks fizzed and whizzed again from the tip of her wand and floated above them.
“Follow me. Come along, I want to show you something. I’ve been working hard all day. Come and have a little look, come and see what I’ve built. It’s beautiful, my new house. I’ve tried to wake up my friends to show them but they’re all asleep. They usually wake up around now to look for some nice berries to eat. Come on, keep up...” The little hedgehog’s words tumbled out.
“What a chatterbox!” giggled Evie.
They had quite a job keeping up with the little creature who was nattering away as he led them along the forest path. He was surprisingly fast and it seemed that he was in quite a hurry.
“I never knew hedgehogs could move so quickly,” said Arwen.
He brought them to a pile of very untidy sticks and leaves.
“Here it is!” he said, proudly. “My new home.”
Arwen and Evie looked at each other, not sure what to say.
Evie peeped inside and could see a muddy puddle.
“It’s not very cosy,” she said.
“It’s my first hibernation and I’ve worked very hard collecting all these leaves and sticks. It’s taken me a long, long, long time to build this.”
Evie didn’t want to hurt the little hedgehog’s feelings.
“How very clever of you to disguise your house to look like a pile of old leaves,” she smiled. “But when the winter comes and it gets colder, I’m sure you’d like it to be nice and dry inside.”
“Perhaps we could build your nest somewhere else, somewhere drier,” said Arwen. “I think Sparkles may have found just the spot!”
Sparkles was sitting in a sheltered patch beneath a little bush, next to some brambles.
“Perfect,” said the hedgehog. “I love blackberries!”
“You won’t have to go far for lunch!” agreed Arwen.
The friends set to work, helping the little hedgehog to build his winter nest.
“We’ll need lots of dry leaves, little sticks, grass and some moss,” said Evie.
“These might do,” said Arwen with an armful of leaves.
Suddenly, the girls heard the sound of a rotten branch snapping. They froze. It felt like someone was watching them – but who could it be?
Arwen took hold of her wand and searched the undergrowth. The air began to shimmer and, all of a sudden, Holly appeared!
“I didn’t know you could make yourself invisible!” laughed Evie, relieved to see it was her friend.
“I’ve come to see how you’re getting on,” said Holly.
“We’ve started our crowns,” said Arwen. Evie and Arwen showed Holly their handiwork, “But we need to help this little pincushion before we can finish them.”
“I’m so pleased you’re helping a forest creature,” said Holly. “Keep up the good work! I can’t wait to see your beautiful crowns when they’re finished.” And with that Holly gave them both a quick hug and was gone!
Arwen and Evie helped the hedgehog to make a pile with the leaves, moss and grass they had collected. The little hedgehog then climbed to the top of the mound and burrowed inside, turning round and round, packing the leaves flat.
Together, they had made a beautiful cosy nest with thick walls.
“Let’s celebrate with a feast!” said the delighted hedgehog and they all helped themselves to the delicious blackberries growing on the bramble next door.
They were very juicy and soon Evie, Arwen and the little hedgehog were covered in the berries’ purple juice.
“I’ll see if I’ve got anything to wipe our fingers with,” said Evie as she opened up her rucksack of useful things. She pulled out a pink silk handkerchief and, as she did so, a single woollen mitten fell out too.
“I don’t think that’ll be any good at cleaning us up,” laughed Arwen, “but it might help a little hedgehog keep snug in the winter.”
Arwen was right! It made a perfect bed for the hedgehog. Evie carefully laid it in his nest.
“Do you know the quickest way back to the phoenix?” asked Evie. But the little hedgehog didn’t hear her as he was already scurrying away to wake up his friends and invite them to his nest-warming party!
“We’ll find our way back,” said Arwen. “I feel like I’m getting to know the forest.”
“It won’t take us long,” said Evie. “Especially with Willow to take us!”
CHAPTER 7
A Nasty Surprise
They set off along the forest path. It was just as well that Willow was sure-footed because the ground soon changed from being soft and squidgy to stony and slippery. One minute Willow was trotting through piles of crisp leaves that reached her feathery fetlocks and the next she was picking her way through sticky mud.
Arwen was relieved she could fly over this rough terrain and Sparkles was very glad that he didn’t have to walk through it, especially the mud!
When they came to some fallen branches Willow refused to jump even a small one. Evie knew something was not right.
“What’s wrong, Willow?” whispered Evie as she turned Willow to take the jump again, and then Evie realised.
“You’re limping,” she gasped. Evie dismounted straight away. When she looked into Willow’s eyes, she could see her pony was in pain.
“What if it’s something serious?” Evie’s heart was pounding, but she had to control her feeling of panic.
“It’s her front right leg,” said Arwen. The little fairy held Willow’s reins and talked quietly to her, to reassure her and keep her calm.
“I can’t see any cuts or scratches,” said Evie, looking closely at her pony’s leg.
Gently, she ran her hand over Willow’s shoulder and leg to check for swelling or heat. Willow didn’t flinch. Next Evie carefully picked up her pony’s hoof.
“No wonder you’re limping, Willow,” gasped Evie. “You’ve got a sharp stone lodged in your hoof.”
It was near the heart-shaped pad at the centre of the hoof, called the frog. Luckily, Evie kept her hoof pick in her rucksack but she knew she would have to be extra careful as Willow’s hoof would be more sensitive than usual.
“You’re going to have to be a very brave pony,” she said as she carefully removed the forest debris around the stone. “Let’s hope it hasn’t damaged your hoof.”
They were lucky, the stone fell out from Willow’s hoof and Evie saw that, although her sole wasn’t punctured, there was a nasty purple bruise. Evie knew that this would be very painful for quite some time.
“The best treatment is to rest for a few days,” said Evie.
“But you can’t stay here in the middle of the forest,” said Arwen.
A golden feather floated down. There, above the girls was the shimmering phoenix.
“Can you help us, the phoenix?” asked Evie.
The golden bird flew down and landed on Arwen’s shoulder.
“Together we can heal Willow,” she said. “Follow me, Arwen.”
And with that, they disappeared into the forest. Evie turned to her pony and blinked back her tears.
She knew she had to be brave for Willow’s sake, but she could see her pony was in a lot of pain and began to wonder if it was he
r fault. As Evie stroked Willow she could feel her pony relax and lean into her.
“We’ll look after you,” she whispered in her ear, “just you see.”
After a few minutes, Arwen returned with a handful of magic herbs and the phoenix wasn’t far behind her, with some moss in her beak.
“These will heal Willow’s hoof,” said Arwen.
She mixed the herbs, moss and some clay from the ground and made a poultice. She placed the dressing gently onto Willow’s bruise. Then the phoenix rested her magical golden wings on the injured hoof and, as she did this, Arwen lifted her wand and tiny green sparks floated from the tip. Willow closed her eyes as the magic began to glow and Arwen and the phoenix worked together to heal her hoof.
“I think that’s done the trick,” said Arwen, as she gently took the poultice away. “Yes, your bruise has vanished.”
“Thank you,” smiled Evie. Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of happiness! She was so relieved to see that her pony’s injury was healed. Willow tossed her long mane and stamped her foot as if she was raring to go!
“Before you go,” said the phoenix, “look closely at this tree.”
“It’s hollow!” said Evie.
“It’s a fairy tree,” explained the golden bird.
Arwen took a peek inside the hollow trunk.
“It’s full of treasure!” she gasped.
Inside was a pile of little sycamore leaves made from real gold and glittering amongst them were jewels that looked just like shining blackberries.
“Our crowns will be magnificent,” said Evie. “Thank you, phoenix.”
The phoenix bowed her head majestically and with that she disappeared into the golden canopy of the forest.
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