Magic Puppy: Cloud Capers (2 page)

‘You might even have a good time. You used to think that hot-air ballooning with us was pretty exciting,’ her mum said.

‘Yeah! That was when I was little and before I knew that I seriously hated heights
and
found out that you had to hang around for hours when the weather’s not right for flying. Which is most of the time!’ Jessica said bitterly.

Mrs Tennant laughed. ‘You do exaggerate, Jessica Tennant! Anyway, the forecast’s pretty good for this weekend.’

Jessica wasn’t cheered by this news.

Mr Tennant glanced at her in the driver’s mirror. ‘You should be all right at Northampton. It’s a really big festival. There’ll be all sorts of stalls and displays and funfair rides to go on,’ he said cheerily.

‘All by myself? Great,’ Jessica
murmured through gritted teeth. She wished her mum and dad would stop trying to cheer her up. Nothing was going to make her feel better.

Crossing her arms, she slid down in her seat as they reached the motorway and joined the endless stream of cars and trucks. Time seemed to crawl and the next two hours felt more like two weeks.

When they eventually reached the festival, Jessica saw people everywhere, putting up stalls, erecting tents and roping off display areas. Mr Tennant parked next to a gleaming motorhome that was the size of a single-decker bus. It made their camper van look small and shabby.

‘Look at that! It’s even got its own satellite dish!’ Jessica said, impressed despite herself.

‘That’s an American model. They call those RVs. I reckon you could live in that in the middle of a desert,’ her dad said.

‘What’s an RV?’ Jessica asked.

‘A Recreational Vehicle. I’d love one of those!’ her dad said.

‘We’d have to sell the house first,’ Mrs
Tennant commented drily. She got into the back of their van and began getting things out of cupboards for lunch.

‘Could you go and get some water, please, Jessica?’

Jessica picked up the container and went trudging off across the car park. She really wished Sheena was here. She was missing her loads.

As she walked past an empty marquee, at the side of the car park, Jessica spotted a girl coming towards her. The girl looked about twelve, two years older than Jessica, and she was wearing a designer T-shirt and jeans.

Jessica brightened. This looked like someone she might be able to make friends with. ‘Hi!’ she said, as she and
the girl drew level. ‘Do you know where there’s a water tap?’

‘Do I look like I’d know?’ the girl snapped.

‘I suppose not,’ Jessica said, thinking that she seemed very grumpy. Maybe her parents had forced her to come with them too. ‘Are you here with a balloon club? I’m Jessica Tennant, by the way,’ she said, introducing herself.

‘I’m Gayle Young. I’m with The Cloud Racers. It’s the best club ever,’ the girl said, tossing her long brown hair over one shoulder.

‘Dad says that about The High Flyers too,’ Jessica joked. ‘That’s the club we belong to.’

‘Huh! And I’m supposed to care?’
Gayle murmured, poking at the grass with the toe of one expensive-looking trainer.

Jessica’s smile wavered, but she wasn’t easily put off. ‘I saw some fair rides and stuff on the way in. Maybe we could have a look around together?’ she suggested.

Gayle shrugged and wrinkled her nose. ‘No thanks. I’m not that keen on hanging out with younger kids. I’m already stuck with looking after Mikey – he’s my little brother. I’ve got to go now.’

Jessica flushed as Gayle sauntered past her, disappointed that she was so unfriendly. ‘Well… er… good luck in the balloon races tomorrow, anyway,’ she called.

Gayle didn’t bother to look round. ‘We don’t need luck. The Cloud Racers always win,’ she drawled.

Jessica watched the older girl trudge over to the huge RV and disappear inside it. ‘Oh gr-eat! Some weekend this is going to be!’ she said to herself.

Jessica sighed and set off again to look for water. Suddenly, there was a flash of bright golden light and a crackle of sparks from the marquee beside her.

She frowned. Jessica had briefly glanced inside as she passed and was sure she hadn’t seen anything in there. She went to check. As she had thought, there was only an upturned cardboard box and some folded chairs lying on the grass.

Then Jessica noticed the tiny brown-and-white Jack Russell puppy sitting on the box. Its fur seemed to be gleaming as if it had been sprinkled with gold dust.

‘Hello. What are you doing in there all by yourself?’ she crooned, walking
slowly towards the puppy so as not to scare it.

‘I come from far away. Can you help me, please?’ the puppy woofed.

Chapter
TWO

Jessica gaped at the puppy in utter amazement. She must be more upset by Gayle’s unfriendliness than she thought. She’d just imagined that the tiny puppy had spoken to her!

‘I am Storm of the Moon-claw pack. What is your name?’ the puppy yapped, looking up at her with an intelligent expression.

‘Whoa! You
can
talk!’ Jessica gasped, dropping the plastic water carrier and taking a step backwards. ‘Are you part of an act or something?’

She quickly poked her head outside the tent’s entrance to see if one of the festival entertainers was outside and playing a trick on her, but there was no one there. Jessica turned back to Storm. He was really cute with his soft
brown-and-white fur, tiny pointed face and the brightest midnight-blue eyes she had ever seen.

Storm sat there with his ears pricked, looking at her quizzically as if expecting an answer.

‘I’m J-Jessica Tennant,’ Jessica found herself spluttering. ‘I’m… here with my mum and dad for… for the Balloon Festival.’ She bent down and tried to make herself seem smaller so as not to alarm this amazing puppy. She still couldn’t quite believe this was happening to her and she didn’t want Storm to run away.

Storm dipped his head. ‘I am pleased to meet you, Jessica.’

‘Um… me too.’ Jessica blinked as she remembered something that Storm
had just said. ‘What’s the Moon-claw pack?’

‘It is the wolf pack once led by my father and my mother,’ Storm told her proudly in a gruff little bark. ‘Shadow, the evil lone wolf, killed my father and three litter brothers and left my mother injured. He wants to lead the pack, but the others will not follow him while I am alive.’

‘Hang on! Did you say
wolf
? But you’re a pu–’

‘Please, stand back,’ Storm ordered, springing down from the box.

There was another blinding flash and the air fizzed with gold sparks that rained harmlessly around Jessica and sizzled on the grass.

‘Oh!’ Jessica rubbed her eyes and
when she could see again she noticed that the tiny brown-and-white puppy had gone. In its place there stood a magnificent young silver-grey wolf with thick fur and huge velvety paws that seemed far too big for his body. Despite being young, the wolf had large sharp teeth and a thick neck-ruff that glittered with big golden sparkles.

Jessica looked at it warily. ‘Storm?’

‘Yes, it is me, Jessica. Do not be afraid,’ Storm growled softly.

But before Jessica had time to get used to the majestic young wolf, there was a final gold flash and Storm reappeared as a tiny helpless brown-and-white puppy.

‘Wow! You really are a wolf. That’s an amazing disguise!’ Jessica said.

Storm began to tremble all over and his slender white tail drooped. ‘It will not save me if Shadow uses his magic to find me. I need to hide now. Can you help?’ he whined.

Jessica’s heart went out to him. She picked up the terrified puppy and stroked his soft little head. ‘Of course I’ll help you. You can live with m–’
She stopped as she remembered her parents’ strict rules about pets. ‘Oh, I’m not going to be allowed to keep you. Back home, everyone’s out all day and most weekends too. Mum and Dad don’t think it’s fair to leave a pet by itself.’

‘I understand. Thank you for your kindness, Jessica. I will find someone else who can help me,’ Storm woofed politely, beginning to pad away towards the tent opening.

‘Wait!’ Jessica called out urgently. She wasn’t ready to lose her new friend so easily. Before he’d arrived she’d been miserable. ‘There must be something I can do. Maybe I could hide you in our van. Except that it’s really small and Mum and Dad are bound to find you.’ She had a sudden brainwave. ‘Could you pretend to be a toy dog? No, that wouldn’t work either, it would be too hard to stay really still and not even blink.’

Storm looked up at her with bright midnight-blue eyes. ‘I can use my magic so that only you will be able to see and hear me.’

‘You can make yourself invisible? Cool! Then I don’t have to worry about hiding you. You can sleep with
me on the sofa bed at the end of the van.’

‘I would like that very much. Thank you, Jessica,’ Storm woofed. He leaned up and she felt his wet nose brush her chin as he began licking her face.

Jessica smiled down at the little puppy. She felt her heart lighten as she cuddled
Storm’s warm furry body. Her lonely boring weekend had just taken a most unexpected turn!