Crystal the Snow Pony

by Poppy Shire

  “But the path is so narrow,” Sasha said doubtfully. “I’m not sure we can get everyone up there.”

  “There’s nowhere else! We have to, Sasha. And we must go quickly. Look, that cloud of snow is getting bigger and bigger!”

  Sasha looked up at the mountain and gasped when she saw how much closer the avalanche was. She turned Clover around to face the crowd and stood up in her stirrups.

  “Listen, everyone!” she shouted. But her voice was too small for the scared villagers to hear.

  Crystal stamped his front hoof and neighed as loudly as he could. At once everyone stopped and looked at them. Emily patted his neck gratefully.

  Sasha shouted, “We have to get away from the village. There’s a mountain cave not far away where we can all shelter from the avalanche. We’ll show you!”

  The villagers looked unsure. Emily guessed they didn’t know about the cave behind the waterfall.

  “Please!” Sasha begged. “There’s no time to lose!”

  “She’s right,” said a woman. “We don’t have time to talk about it. If Sasha knows a good place to shelter, we should go.”

  A very old man with a long white beard stepped forward, leaning heavily on a walking stick. “Is it behind a waterfall?” he asked Sasha. “With lots of paintings?”

  Sasha nodded.

  The old man beamed. “Then you’ve found the secret cave! I went there once, many years ago. I never thought anyone would find it again.” He faced the crowd. “Follow Sasha, everyone!”

  Sasha wheeled Clover around and pointed to the path that led up the mountain. “Come on! It’s this way!”

  The villagers started to stream out of the village square. Emily saw Sasha’s parents run up with Arin. “Sasha!” called Sasha’s mother. “Take Arin with you. Your father and I need to take the cattle to the sheltered pasture on the far side of the village, and then we’ll follow you.” She lifted Arin up to sit on Clover’s back in front of Sasha. “Good-bye! Look after your little brother, Sasha.”

  Arin turned around to try and call after his mother, but she’d already hurried off with Sasha’s father to get the cattle to safety. Gregor the farmhand was heading that way, too, but when he saw them, he stopped and stroked Crystal’s mane. Crystal snorted with pleasure. Gregor’s eyes were twinkling, but he spoke seriously. “Don’t be scared, Emily. Whatever happens, remember you and Crystal are a team. You can do anything!” Then he turned and strode off. Emily stared after him for a moment, then wheeled Crystal around to face the mountain and their journey.

  Emily and Sasha set off, leading the villagers up the path to the cave. Emily patted Crystal’s neck. “Come on, boy, you can do it. I know you’re tired, but we have to go quickly.”

  “Don’t worry.” Crystal gave a confident neigh. “Rescue work like this is what snow ponies are bred for, Emily. You just concentrate on keeping everyone together.”

  Sasha was struggling with Arin. “Sit still!” she scolded.

  “We’ve left Ivar behind!” Arin cried. “I’m going back to get him!”

  Before Sasha could say anything, he jumped down from Clover’s back. Emily saw the little boy pushing his way through the crowd, and she quickly turned Crystal around to stop him. But it was too late.

  He had vanished!

  Chapter Seven

  “Oh no!” gasped Sasha.

  Emily steered Crystal alongside Clover. “Don’t panic!” she told her friend. She thought fast. “Sasha, you’ll have to keep going to the cave. You’re the only person who knows the way. Crystal and I will go back and get Arin.”

  “But my mother told me to take care of him,” Sasha said miserably.

  “I know, but I can’t guide everyone, Sasha. I’ve only been to the cave once, and I might not remember the way. But if I go and find Arin, we’ll be able to follow your footprints in the snow. Trust me, Crystal and I will find him for you.”

  Sasha nodded. “Okay. Good luck!”

  “We’ll be back soon!” Emily wheeled Crystal around, and they set off down the mountain. They weaved their way through the villagers, searching for Arin in every group. Emily twisted her fingers into Crystal’s mane as they galloped down the slippery path. Crystal was going as fast as he could, his hooves expertly finding a grip on the snowy track.

  But it was no good. Arin was nowhere to be seen.

  “He must have gone back to the farm,” puffed Emily. “I think we’ve found who needs our help, don’t you?”

  “Definitely!” Crystal agreed. He twitched his ears and galloped even faster. “I can hear the avalanche getting closer—the trees on the mountain will slow it for a while, but we haven’t got long. Hold tight!”

  They raced through the village. Everywhere was deserted, silent except for the rumbling snow that got louder and louder. Crystal skidded to a halt in front of the farmhouse, scattering snow under his hooves.

  “Arin!” Emily jumped out of the saddle and shouted as loud as she could. “Arin, it’s me, Emily!”

  “Maybe he’s in the stable,” Crystal suggested.

  Emily led him over to the barn. The door was open, but inside the stable was empty.

  Where was Arin?

  Then Emily heard a whimpering noise coming from the corner of the stable. It sounded as if it was coming from under the floor.

  “The apple cellar!” she cried.

  She ran over and peered down the slope into the apple cellar. It was dark and gloomy, and Emily couldn’t see anything from there, but the whimpering was definitely louder.

  “Come on,” said Crystal, walking past Emily and stepping carefully down the slope. He ducked his head to avoid the low ceiling, making the silver bells on his bridle jingle.

  Emily followed him, feeling very glad she had her pony friend with her. He was so brave!

  “Emily!” As Emily’s eyes got used to the shadows in the cellar, she saw Arin curled up in the corner with his arms around Ivar. “I’m sorry I ran off, but I couldn’t leave Ivar behind.”

  “We need to go to the cave!” Emily told him. “The avalanche is coming—”

  At that moment, the dull rumbling noise in the background suddenly got louder—and louder! The walls of the stable started to shake.

  “We’re too late!” Crystal whinnied. “Emily, lie down and cover your head, in case the snow makes the walls collapse! Get Arin and Ivar down, too.”

  Emily grabbed Arin and pulled him down beside her. “Don’t worry, Arin. We’re safe, but we have to lie down. Can you get Ivar to lie down as well?”

  Arin was too scared to argue, and Ivar seemed to know what he ought to do anyway. As soon as Arin lay down, the big dog lay down next to him. He rested his head on the little boy’s back as if he was protecting him.

  “Ooof!” muttered Arin. “You’re heavy, Ivar.”

  Crystal stood over the little group as the avalanche rumbled and crashed around them. It sounded as if great walls of snow were whooshing onto the village, pounding the little wooden building like waves. The walls shuddered and creaked, but stood firm. Emily shut her eyes, almost too scared to breathe.

  Gradually the rumbling noise died away, leaving behind an eerie silence. Arin raised his head, and Ivar scrambled up. “Has it gone?” Arin asked in a squeaky, frightened voice.

  “I—I think so,” said Emily.

  Crystal snorted. “Yes. I think it’s stopped. Now we just have to see if we can get out.”

  “I’ll see if we can get out of the stable door,” said Emily. She ducked out of the cellar and walked up the slope. The stable looked dark and strange, and Emily realized that the force of the snow had slammed the shutters and the door shut. She pushed at the big wooden door. It was stuck fast! The snow was piled up outside it. She rattled the latch and threw herself at the door, again and again. It made no difference. They were trapped!

  Crystal, Arin, and Ivar were standing at the top of the slope when Emily turned around. “Can’t we get out?” Arin asked, his voice shaking.

  �
��I’m sure we can. Don’t worry.” Emily was trying to be brave for Arin’s sake, but she didn’t know how they were going to get out of the stable.

  “Is there another way out?” whinnied Crystal. “This door is on the side nearest the mountain, so this is where most of the snow will be. Can we get out on the far side, where the apple cellar is?”

  “Why is Crystal whinnying so much?” Arin said. “Is he scared, too?”

  Emily gave him a hug. She’d forgotten that to Arin, Crystal’s good ideas would just sound like pony noises! “He’s trying to cheer us up. Come on, Arin. Let’s go and look for another way out.” She led the way back into the apple cellar, then stared around at the walls. There was a small door set in the wall, just above the floor level. “Maybe we can get out there!” she said, pointing.

  “This is where we put the apples into the cellar,” Arin explained as they ran over to it. “We bring the baskets in from the orchard this way.”

  “And this side of the stable is farthest from the mountain and the avalanche,” Emily realized. “There shouldn’t be so much snow here.” She stretched up to the latch, but it was at the top of the door, and she couldn’t reach it. “Arin, if I give you a piggyback, could you reach up and undo the latch for us?”

  Arin nodded.

  Emily ducked down for the little boy to clamber onto her back, then straightened up as Arin puffed and stretched above her.

  “Done it!” he cried at last, tugging on the handle. With a loud creaking noise the little door swung open. Luckily it opened inward, so they didn’t have to push against the snow.

  “Uuurgh!” Emily spluttered, as a load of wet snow fell on her face. She set Arin down, and tried to dig out some of the snow at the bottom of the doorway. It wasn’t packed solid, but it still looked like a long and difficult job. Emily was just looking around for a spade when she noticed Ivar sniffing excitedly at the snow.

  “I think Ivar wants to help,” Crystal said. “I bet he’s good at digging.”

  “Go on, boy!” shouted Arin, who had noticed his dog as well. “Get us out of here!”

  Ivar let out a joyful woof and started digging at the snow with his huge front paws. Crystal helped, too, scraping with his front hoof. Emily and Arin cleared the loose snow back into the apple cellar, using a shovel from Clover’s stable.

  Suddenly Ivar gave a triumphant yelp. He’d dug all the way through! A bright white light filtered down into the cellar through the narrow tunnel.

  “Well done, Ivar! Good boy!” Arin and Emily shouted as Ivar’s wagging tail disappeared out of the hole.

  “Your turn, Arin!” Emily gave him a boost, and he struggled up, reaching for the hole. She tried to lift him higher, but her arms were aching.

  “I’m slipping,” Arin squeaked, his voice rising in panic.

  Emily felt Crystal’s bristly mane tickle her cheek as he came up beside her. He nudged Arin up with his nose. “Thanks, Crystal!” Emily puffed. Peering up through the tunnel, she saw Ivar gently grab Arin’s collar in his teeth to haul the little boy out.

  “Up you go, Emily,” snorted Crystal. “If you can widen the hole from the top, I can get out, too.”

  With Crystal as a step up it was easy for Emily to scramble out of Ivar’s tunnel. It was like climbing out of a rabbit hole! Then she, Arin, and Ivar set to work to make the hole big enough for Crystal. At last he was able to squeeze through, bursting into the open with a joyful neigh.

  Emily threw her arms around him. They’d done it!

  Chapter Eight

  “We did it! We did it!” Emily cried. Ivar jumped up to lick her face, and she hugged him, too. Then she turned to hug Arin, but to her dismay he had started to cry. “Arin! It’s all right, we’re safe now!”

  “Sasha’s going to be so mad at me!” Arin wailed. “And my mom and dad. But I couldn’t leave Ivar behind!”

  “Don’t worry.” Emily patted him on the back. “Everyone will be waiting for you at the cave.” At least, I hope they are, she thought anxiously. Had Sasha managed to get them there before the avalanche struck? “They’ll be so glad to see you, I’m sure they won’t be angry. Come on, let’s go and find them.”

  Emily helped Arin scramble up onto Crystal’s back, and then she jumped up behind him. Ivar trotted along beside them as they set off through the village again. It all looked so strange! Many of the houses were half buried in snow, and there were lots of branches scattered around. They must have been broken off trees farther up the mountain and carried along by the avalanche. It looked as if there would be a lot of digging out and cleaning up to do, but the log cabins were so sturdy that no real damage had been done.

  “Do you think we’ll be able to find the mountain path again?” Emily whispered to Crystal.

  “I’ll do my best,” said Crystal, tossing his head.

  The snow was so deep now that it came up to Crystal’s tummy. “Hold on tight,” he snorted, and Emily wrapped her arms around Arin as the pony plunged through the snow. Emily turned around and saw Ivar bounding in and out of Crystal’s trail.

  “This is where the path starts,” Emily said when they reached the pine forest. “But I can’t see any footprints.”

  “The avalanche must have covered them,” said Crystal.

  Emily’s heart sank. She had hoped they would be able to follow the tracks left by the villagers. They had to find the cave. Arin’s family would be so worried about him! How else could they find their way to the frozen waterfall?

  “Wait!” she cried. “What about the things in the forest that Sasha showed us this morning? We saw the patch of gentians first, and they were in a ring of silver birch trees.”

  Crystal snorted, and started to trot up through the trees. “Right,” he puffed. “I’ll watch out for silver birch trees.”

  “There are some silver trees,” Arin said, a little farther on.

  Emily hugged him. “Well spotted, Arin! We must be going the right way! Now we have to find a rock that’s shaped like a cat.”

  Looking out for the landmarks seemed to stop Arin from worrying about his mom and dad. Emily peered through the shadowy trees, holding the reins loosely so that Crystal could pick his way through the snow. Suddenly a familiar shape loomed ahead.

  “Look!” cried Emily. “There’s the rock shaped like a cat.”

  Crystal broke into a trot. The snow was thinner now, and they could see something sparkling ahead through the trees.

  They reached the edge of the forest, and there was the waterfall, sparkling in the sunshine. And standing in front of it was Sasha!

  “Sasha!” cried Arin. He slipped down from Crystal’s back and ran over to his sister. “I’ll never run away again, I promise!”

  Sasha hugged him tight. “I thought you’d been caught in the avalanche! Oh, Arin, I’m sorry I was annoyed at you.” Then she turned and called into the cave. “They’re here! Emily and Arin are here!”

  Arin’s parents rushed out from behind the waterfall. His father scooped him up and held him close, while his mother took turns kissing him and telling him off. “I never thought we’d get you back! Don’t you ever frighten me like that again, Arin!”

  Arin wriggled, pretending to be embarrassed but really enjoying all the fuss.

  The other villagers came out, too, smiling and laughing—now that Emily and Arin had arrived, everyone was safe.

  “We’ve had a lucky escape, thanks to you two,” said the old man who’d known about the cave. “And it’s wonderful to find this place again!”

  Sasha’s father put down Arin and turned to Emily. “How did the village look?” he asked.

  “There’s a lot of snow,” Emily told him, “and most of the houses are half buried, but none of them has been knocked down.”

  “Did you hear that?” Sasha’s father turned to his neighbors. “The avalanche hasn’t destroyed the town. I think we should go ahead with the rest of Spring Festival and celebrate our lucky escape!”

  Emily smiled, thinking how much f
un it would be to share in the festival. But suddenly the air began to fill with sparkling crystals. Was it starting to snow again? She looked up, but the sky was a clear, bright, springtime blue.

  Crystal whinnied loudly. “The magic carousel is pulling us back, Emily! It’s time to go! Say good-bye, quick!”

  Emily gave Sasha a hug and climbed up onto Crystal’s back. “I have to go. Thank you for showing me the cave, Sasha! I’ve got to go back to my own village now,” she explained. “Don’t worry, Crystal will look after me!”

  “Good-bye!” called Sasha. “Come back and visit us soon!”

  Crystal trotted off between the trees, and Emily waved back to her friends. The sparkling crystals grew thicker, hiding the forest in a twinkling rainbow. Emily felt as if she and Crystal were galloping through a snow cloud! Then the sparkles faded away and Emily found herself back on the Magic Pony Carousel. The bells on Crystal’s harness jingled one last time as the ride slowed to a stop.

  Emily slipped from Crystal’s saddle, feeling dazed. She was wearing her own clothes again, jeans and her pink denim jacket. She ran her hand down Crystal’s mane. Instead of warm bristles, she felt carved wood beneath her fingers. He was a carousel pony again. “Good-bye, Crystal,” she whispered. “Thank you for my adventure!”

  She stepped off the carousel, and saw Jane and Max waving.

  “Max!” Emily ran over and gave him a big hug.

  Max looked a bit surprised. “Watch out for my balloon!” he yelped. Emily laughed. She was going to be much nicer to Max from now on. Little brothers could be a pain sometimes, but they were very special.

  As Max wriggled free, Emily heard a tinkling sound—just like bells. She looked down and saw a beautiful yellow ribbon tied around her wrist, with two tiny silver bells on it. Emily shook the bells in delight. She knew it was a present from the carousel, to make sure she always remembered her magical adventure.