Friendship Forever

by Sue Bentley

  Quickly ducking back inside the garden, Tyra crouched out of sight as the dogs drew closer. The man struggled to get them under control and finally led them away. The growling noises faded as he and the dogs turned a corner.

  “It’s okay. You can come out now,” Tyra told Storm with relief.

  Storm crawled out slowly, his fluffy little belly brushing the ground. But his eyes were still troubled and Tyra saw that he was shaking.

  She swept him into her arms and stroked him gently as they went back out to the street. She could feel his tiny puppy heart beating fast. “Those horrible dogs are gone. You’re safe now,” she said.

  Storm shook his head. “I will never be safe now that Shadow knows where I am. He will send other dogs after me. If they find me, I may have to leave suddenly—without saying good-bye.”

  Tyra felt a sharp pang as she knew that she would never be ready to lose him. “If that horrible Shadow gives up looking for you, you could live with me always!” she burst out.

  “That is not possible,” Storm yapped, his little face serious. “One day I must go back to my home world and lead the Moon-claw pack. Do you understand that, Tyra?”

  Tyra nodded reluctantly, but she refused to think about that now. She just wanted to enjoy every single moment she had left with Storm.

  The weekend dawned bright and clear. Tyra was in a pretty good mood, considering that Rachel still wasn’t speaking to her. At least, there had been no other signs of any fierce dogs, and Storm was back to his usual lively self.

  Tyra, Storm, and her mom were wandering around the busy Saturday market, while Rachel and her parents were at the mall. Tyra had brought Jemima with her in her shoulder bag.

  “I might find a stall selling dolls’ clothes, and I can buy Jemima a dress with my allowance. Maybe then Shelly won’t be so mad with me for ruining her doll,” she whispered to Storm.

  Storm nodded.

  Tyra’s mom paused at a stall to buy some flowers for Pam. Tyra wandered past her. She really wished that things were better between her and Rachel, especially as it had been her own fault that they’d had another fight.

  “Hey! Look at that cute toy puppy, Storm. It looks just like you!” Tyra said, as she spotted a nearby toy stall. It gave her an idea. She took her allowance from her jeans and quickly added it all up. “I might buy that for Rachel,” she said quickly.

  “I think that Rachel would like that very much,” Storm yapped. “But will you still be able to buy a new dress for Jemima?”

  Tyra shook her head. “No. I haven’t got enough money for both. What should I do? Could your magic help me?” she asked hopefully.

  Storm put his head to one side. “Magic cannot solve everything. I think that you must decide what to do yourself this time,” he woofed.

  Tyra made a decision. “You’re right. Sorry, Shelly. Jemima will have to keep her old dress for now,” she said as she reached for the cute toy puppy.

  Storm wagged his tail approvingly.

  As Tyra was paying, she noticed a teenage boy in a red baseball cap looking at cell-phone accessories on the next stall. He seemed to turn away quickly so that he had his back to her.

  “That boy looks familiar. But I can’t remember where I’ve seen him before,” she commented.

  Storm glanced at the boy in the red cap. “I do not recognize him either,” he yapped, with a doggy shrug.

  Tyra forgot all about the boy as she walked away holding the toy.

  The smell of frying onions and hot dogs filled the air. The market was getting busier. People of all ages, some with babies and others with dogs, filled the aisles between the stalls. Tyra started to worry that Storm would be stepped on. She bent down to pick him up. “You’ll be safer if I carry you.”

  “Thank you, Tyra.” Storm sniffed the toy puppy and leaned forward to lick its fake-fur ears.

  Tyra giggled and playfully took hold of his little muzzle. “I don’t think it needs a bath!”

  As she turned around, she saw the boy in the red baseball cap again. He was facing her, and Tyra felt a jolt as she recognized his thin face.

  It was Ed, without his friend Dale this time, and he was staring right at Storm. A chill ran through Tyra as the teenage boy came toward her.

  “Aren’t you a bit old for dolls and fluffy toys?” Ed scoffed, glancing at Jemima, who was poking out of Tyra’s shoulder bag.

  “What’s it to you?” Tyra said in a shaky voice.

  She thought at first that Ed was going to grab Storm, but he hesitated and seemed to think better of it, obviously remembering his supposed allergic reaction to the puppy. Suddenly, Ed swooped down and yanked Jemima out of her bag.

  “Hey! Give her back!” Tyra ordered.

  “What’s it worth?” Ed crowed, raising Jemima in the air and about to throw her down on to the hard ground.

  “No! She’s made of china!” Tyra yelled, reaching up for the doll that the tall boy was holding out of her reach. But someone rushed up from behind and snatched Jemima out of his hands.

  It was Rachel. “Run, now!” she shouted to Tyra, already weaving away through the stalls toward the parking lot.

  Tyra didn’t need to be told twice. She raced after Rachel as if her feet had wings, and the two of them burst into peals of laughter at the sight of Ed scratching his head and staring after them.

  She lost sight of Rachel for a moment and paused next to some big delivery vans. Suddenly Storm yelped with terror. Wriggling out of her arms, he jumped to the ground and sped between the vans. At the same time, Tyra saw dark shapes prowling toward her. They raised their heads and she saw their abnormally long teeth and fierce pale eyes.

  Her heart missed a beat. They were here for Storm!

  Tyra slid between the parked vans after Storm. Suddenly, there was a bright golden flash. Tyra blinked hard as her sight cleared. Storm stood there as his magnificent real self. The majestic young wolf’s silver-gray fur gleamed and his midnight-blue eyes glowed like sapphires. A she-wolf with a gentle, tired face stood next to Storm.

  And then Tyra knew that Storm was leaving her forever. She forced herself to be brave. “Go, Storm! Save yourself!” she cried, her voice breaking.

  Storm raised a large silver paw in farewell. “You have been a good friend. Be of good heart,” he said in a deep, velvety growl.

  Tyra’s eyes pricked with tears, and there was a deep ache in her chest. She was going to miss Storm terribly. “Good-bye, Storm. Take care. I’ll never forget you,” she whispered hoarsely.

  There was a final dazzling flash and a large silent explosion of sparks that crackled harmlessly down around her like warm rain. Storm and his mother faded and were gone. Tyra heard a frustrated growl as the fierce dogs slinked away.

  Tyra blinked back tears as she stood clutching the soft toy puppy. At least she’d had a chance to say good-bye to Storm. She knew that she’d always remember her wonderful magical friend and the exciting adventure they’d shared.

  Rachel appeared around one of the vans, still clutching Jemima. “There you are!” she panted. “Jemima’s fine—no thanks to Ed!”

  “Thanks.” Tyra took the doll and then held out the toy puppy. “I thought you might like this until you get a real one.” Which won’t be too long now, she thought happily, remembering her conversation in the garden with Pam.

  “For me? Aw, thanks. It’s gorgeous.” Rachel’s eyes softened as she cuddled the toy puppy.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been such an idiot. Can we be friends?” Tyra asked.

  Rachel nodded delightedly. “Yeah! For keeps this time?”

  “You bet!” Tyra said. Although she’d just lost one special friend, she now had a brand-new one. And her heart lifted because she knew that Storm would be really pleased about it.

  About the AUTHOR

  Sue Bentley’s books for children often include animals, fairies, and wildlife. She lives in Northampton, England, and enjoys reading, going to the cinema, relaxing by her garden pond, and watching the birds
feeding their babies on the lawn. At school she was always getting told off for daydreaming or staring out of the window—but she now realizes that she was storing up ideas for when she became a writer. She has met and owned many cats and dogs, and each one has brought a special kind of magic to her life.