“As for you, Sophie,” said her father, “you’re the bravest little squirrel there ever was. We’re so proud of you.”
Everyone hugged, then Mrs. Flufftail shivered. “Brrr! We’d better fix the Shining House before the forest becomes any more wintry.” She bounded away. “Come on, Flufftails. Work to do!”
Goldie smiled. “When the Shining House is gleaming again,” she said, “then Grizelda’s plan will have failed!”
Lily turned to Chilly. “Thank you for freeing them. You’re not going to cast any more spells, are you?”
Chilly shook his head. “I’m going to play in the Winter Cave! The fireflies have made it so nice and light!”
The girls and Goldie waved as he flew a loop-the-loop over their heads, then flapped away. Goldie, Lily, and Jess grinned, then raced after their squirrel friends. It was time to fix the Shining House for good!
Goldie and the girls found the whole squirrel family at the Shining House, lined up before Mr. Flufftail.
“Ready, kids?” he said. “We’ll get this glass gleaming in no time! Everyone fluff up your tails!”
The squirrels shook their tails until they were as soft and fluffy as could be. Then they started to wipe the frost from the glass. Swish! Swish! Swish!
“We can’t clean the glass,” said Jess, “but is there another way we can help?”
“You could water the sunflowers,” Sophie suggested.
Once the sunshine started streaming in and the sunflowers had been watered, they stood up straight and tilted their faces toward the sky.
In less than an hour, the Shining House was almost clean. As Sophie’s tail rubbed away the last patch of frost, the sun came out from behind the clouds. Sunbeams shone on the sunflowers’ upturned faces, then golden sunlight arched up through the beautifully polished glass.
Everyone gasped in delight and ran outside to feel the warmth of the sun streaming around the forest.
The squirrels linked tails and danced around and around, waving their paws in the air happily.
The girls laughed, but Lily suddenly cried out, “Look!”
A familiar orb of light flew across Sunshine Meadow and exploded in a shower of sparks. When they cleared, there stood Grizelda.
“You interfering humans!” she shrieked. “You’ve ruined my plan!”
“It was an evil plan,” said Jess. “We had to stop you to save the forest and all the lovely creatures living in it!”
“Lovely creatures, pah!” screeched Grizelda. “You wait—you and that cat won’t stop me next time. Chilly might have disobeyed me, but I have three more magical dragon helpers. They won’t let me down!”
She snapped her fingers and disappeared in a burst of terrible, smelly yellow-green sparks.
The squirrels stared at one another in shock. Then Sophie bravely jumped forward and stuck her tongue out at where Grizelda used to be, making everyone laugh.
“Come on, you must be hungry after that adventure.” Mrs. Flufftail brought out a picnic basket and soon they were all nibbling delicious homemade nut bread with hazelnut butter, and apricot pies.
When they’d all eaten it was time for Lily and Jess to go home. They said good-bye to the Flufftails and gave Sophie an especially big hug.
“You’re such a brave little squirrel,” Lily whispered as she said good-bye.
As Goldie took them back to the Friendship Tree, Lily and Jess passed lots of their animal friends sitting and enjoying the sunshine.
“Look,” said Goldie, pointing to a starflower bush. It was smothered in white buds. “Thanks to you, the flowers are blooming again. The Shining House is working its magic!”
When they reached the Friendship Tree, Goldie put a paw to the trunk and the door appeared. She hugged the girls. “I’m sure Grizelda will think of another plan to drive us all out of the forest,” she said. “After all, she still has three more dragons. But I know I can count on you to help us again.”
“Of course you can,” said Jess.
“We’ll be ready whenever you come for us,” added Lily.
They stepped into the shimmering light and felt the familiar tingle that meant they were returning to their real height.
Back in Brightley Meadow, the storm had calmed. As the girls crossed the stream and headed for the wildlife hospital, the sun came out from behind the clouds.
“A rainbow!” cried Jess, pointing to a beautiful arch across the sky.
Mr. Hart beckoned them from the barn door.
“Now that the sun’s shining,” he said, “why don’t you come and help me attach this nest box to the chestnut tree for the three young squirrels you brought in. We’ll keep an eye on them,” he added.
“Choose a sunny spot,” Mrs. Hart called after them, “so the squirrels will be warm.”
Lily and Jess exchanged a secret smile.
They knew a whole family of squirrels who loved the sun!
The End
“Raaargh!”
Circling in the air was Dusty, Grizelda’s yellow dragon!
The Pricklebacks seemed to be too frightened to move as the dragon gave a rasping giggle. “Heeheeheeheehee! I’m going to make it lovely and dry,” she said. “Friendship Forest will be like a desert!”
Jess was horrified. “You can’t do that!” she yelled. “What about the animals?”
“Heeheehee! Who cares about them?” said Dusty. “My yellow scales will look so pretty in the sun!”
Suddenly, she swooped lower.
“Oh, no,” cried Jess, “she’s heading for the Pricklebacks!”
“Run!” shouted Lily.
“Hide!” yelled Goldie and Jess together.
But the Pricklebacks didn’t move. They shook with fright, their spines quivering.
Read
Emily Prickleback’s
Clever Idea
to find out what happens next!
Text copyright © 2015 by Working Partners Limited
Illustrations © 2015 by Working Partners Limited
Series author: Daisy Meadows
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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 978-0-545-90742-2
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Sophie Flufftail's Brave Plan Page 3