A Forest Charm (4 page)

Something very strange was about to happen!

Cassie watched in amazement as Storm lifted one little white paw and sent a fountain of gold sparks whooshing toward her. They swirled around, whirling faster and faster and then began forming into the shape of a magnificent horse with a dazzling white coat and a flowing gold mane and tail.

The next instant, Cassie found herself seated on the back of the beautiful horse. “Wow!” she breathed, patting its warm, silky neck. “This is amazing!”

Storm leaped up in front of her in another little flurry of sparks and Cassie wrapped her hands in the thick golden mane and held on tight. The horse snorted and pawed the ground with one elegant hoof, before it galloped away in a blur of speed. Storm's fluffy, white fur rippled in the breeze as they raced along, searching for Erin.

Cassie laughed with delight as trees flashed past them. Now and then the horse veered expertly to one side to avoid a particularly big tree, or wove through the tall bushes.

“I feel just like Jilly Atkins in
Outback Trail
,” she told Storm.

“Is Jilly one of your friends?” Storm barked.

“No. She's not a real person. She's a character in books and computer games. But I like her because she's strong and brave and she always tries to do her best.”

Storm turned to look up at her. “Just like you!”

Cassie smiled at him. No one had ever called her strong and brave before. “Look, there's Erin!” she cried, pointing at a thin figure standing beneath a spreading oak tree. “Good job, Storm!”

Once again, Cassie felt a prickling sensation down her spine. There was a flash of golden sparkles. The horse melted into a wisp of white and gold smoke before disappearing with a soft
Pop!
, and then she and Storm were standing on the leaf-covered ground behind a thick bush.

Cassie started hurrying toward Erin, with Storm trotting invisibly beside her. She pretended to be out of breath as if she'd been running hard.

Erin turned around as Cassie came lumbering up to her. “Oh, it's you,” she said, scowling.

“Thanks very much for waiting for me,” Cassie said sarcastically.

“Well, you should have got a move on. I can't help it if you're a slowpoke,” Erin scoffed.

Cassie felt her temper rise as Erin hit a raw nerve. “Don't call me that!” she exclaimed in frustration. “It was your fault I couldn't keep up. You deliberately ran off and left me!”

“Okay. Relax,” Erin said warily, taking a step back. “Maybe I was a bit too excited to get going. Anyway, you're here now, aren't you? Look. That's where the package must be hidden.” She pointed up into the branches where a red flag was fluttering from a fork in the trunk. “One of us has to climb up and get it.”

Cassie could see that the flag was fairly high up, but the trunk had plenty of knobbly spots for safe hand and footholds. She paused, expecting Erin to leap forward and scale the tree in her usual “me-first” way.

But Erin looked unusually tense. “Go ahead. What are you waiting for? Climb up there, Cassie!”

But Cassie was fed up with being bossed around. “Why don't we flip for it? Loser climbs up.” She took a quarter out of her pocket, tossed it and covered the coin with her hand. “Your call.”

“Heads!” Erin said.

Cassie uncovered the coin. “It's tails. You lose.”

“How about best of three?” Erin said quickly.

Cassie shrugged. She tossed the coin twice more and won each time. “Congratulations! You go up the tree.”

The color drained from Erin's face. She hung her head. “I . . . er . . . can't,” she murmured.

Cassie frowned. “Why not? It's an easy climb.”

“I don't like heights, okay?” Erin snapped. “I guess you think I'm pathetic now, don't you?”

Cassie was shocked. The way Erin had behaved so far, she didn't think the older girl would be afraid of anything. She was tempted to tease Erin now and get her back, but seeing how nervous Erin looked, she decided not to.

“No, I don't think you're pathetic,” Cassie replied. “It's no big deal. Everyone's scared of something. I'm scared of big, hairy spiders.”

Erin looked relieved. “You won't tell anyone, will you? Dad doesn't believe in being scared of things. He says everyone has to face their fears. That's what he always does.”

“Yeah, well not everybody's that strong,” Cassie said. “Of course I won't say anything.”

“Thanks,” Erin said, smiling with genuine warmth for the first time since Cassie had met her. She looked much softer and prettier without the scowl she wore so often.

Cassie found herself wondering for the first time whether she and Erin could become friends. It would be really nice as their dads worked together and they'd probably get to meet each other again in the future.

Cassie took a firm handhold on the oak's trunk and then braced her foot against a ridge of bark. She swung herself up, climbed up to the fork, and reached for the package.

From her high vantage point, she smiled as she caught a glimpse of a small white shape diving into a bush. Storm was obviously chasing a poor rabbit again!

Cassie climbed down carefully. She had barely reached the ground before Erin grabbed the package out of her hands and tore it open. A small key-ring-like object, but with only two small, metal tags, fell into her hands.

“The flint and striker. Now we can go back and get a fire started,” Erin said triumphantly. “I really want to win that prize. Let's go!”

Cassie followed as Erin set off confidently. But they had only been walking for a couple of minutes when Erin stopped and looked around. “I'm not sure which way to go now.”

“Me neither. I can't see any chalk marks on the trees—” Cassie stopped as she saw the look on Erin's face.

“I forgot to make any,” Erin murmured, looking a bit embarassed.

And Cassie knew why. Erin had been too intent on leaving her behind to mark a chalk trail back to camp.

Erin's face fell. “We're completely lost. What are we going to do?”

Cassie knew that Storm would easily be able to follow their scent trail back to camp, but he was busy chasing rabbits. With Erin so close, Cassie couldn't call him. She knew that Storm was bound to come and find her soon, but of course she couldn't tell Erin that.

Cassie tried to think of some way of causing a delay. As she shifted her backpack, she heard a faint crackling of chip wrappers.

“I think I'll have a quick snack before we start off again,” she said, playing for time. She sat down and took out a bag of chips. “Do you want some?”

Erin looked at her in disbelief. “No, I don't! Don't you care that we're lost? How can you just sit there stuffing your face?”

“Easily,” Cassie said, munching happily. “Chill out, Erin. Something will turn up; it always does.”

Erin stamped her feet. “We're going to be
so
late back. I know my dad's counting on winning both prizes. He'll be furious that he can't start the fire.”

“I thought you said he was an expert at outdoor stuff. Can't he rub two sticks together or something?” Cassie suggested reasonably.

“Don't be stupid. That would take forever!” Erin snapped. “Okay! I'm going to try and find my way back now. You can stay here if you'd like. See if I care.”

“Will you just hang on for thirty seconds? I'm thinking,” Cassie said.

“Yeah, I can hear the rusty wheels going around,” Erin sneered.

“Ha-ha,” Cassie said, thinking that Erin's new friendliness hadn't lasted very long.

Just then, Storm emerged from the bushes. He came running over with his tongue lolling out and jumped into Cassie's lap. Bits of twig and leaves speckled his white fur. “I had a very good time. Are we ready to go back now?” he panted.

Cassie pretended to be zipping up her backpack, so that she could whisper to him. “Yes, but Erin didn't put chalk marks on the trees, so we don't know which way to go. Can you find the way for us, please?”

Storm jumped to the ground, his stumpy tail wagging. “I will be glad to do that!”

“Great.” Cassie jumped to her feet and dusted herself off. “I think those chips must have fed my brain because I can remember the way back now,” she said, winking at Storm. “Follow me, Erin!”

Erin shook her head slowly as Cassie stomped off. “You are so annoying, Cassie Yorke!” she cried.

“That makes two of us then,” Cassie said cheerfully.

 

As Cassie, Storm, and Erin walked back into camp, they saw that all three teams were finishing their tents. The Blues and Greens had fires blazing in front of theirs.