Firelight Friends #10 Read online

  “Thanks,” Kara said, wishing she could tell her friends that she was more worried about Flame right now. As she imagined the fierce cats combing the mountain slopes for a scent of their tiny royal prey, a shiver ran down her back.

  “Lead the way, Starlings!” called Miss Cross from her bay horse.

  Cherry, Felicity, and Kara moved their ponies forward, and the long line of ponies made their way up the mountain path.

  As they rose higher, Kara could see the blue lakes and colorful woodland of the national park spreading out far below her. Shamrock was a beautiful, gentle pony and moved very smoothly up the steep path. Kara wished she could enjoy it all much more than she was able to right now.

  When everyone dismounted for a picnic, Kara sat with Cherry, Felicity, and the other Starlings. Everyone else seemed to be chatting and enjoying the warm sunshine. But as Kara remounted Shamrock, she noticed that clouds were gathering.

  They had barely begun the return journey when a mist began to descend. Within minutes, the mountaintops were blanked out.

  “Keep close together, everyone,” Miss Cross called from up front. “We don’t want anyone to become separated.”

  At least Flame’s enemies should have a hard time finding him, too, Kara thought hopefully. She peered ahead as Shamrock picked her way steadily down the track. “That’s it, girl. Steady now.”

  “I don’t like this. It’s a little spooky, isn’t it?” Felicity said beside her.

  Kara nodded. It was amazing how different everything looked. On the way up, the mountains were bright and friendly. Now the trees made mysterious shapes, and the ponies and riders ahead of them were smudges of shadow.

  “The mist’s still getting thicker. I can hardly see four yards in front of me now,” Kara said worriedly. Suddenly a cry and a snort of alarm came from behind her. She halted Shamrock and turned in the saddle. “What’s wrong?”

  “It’s Flossie! She’s refusing to move. I can’t get her to budge,” Cherry called worriedly.

  Kara carefully turned Shamrock and rode up to Cherry. “Give me Flossie’s reins. I’ll try leading her,” she suggested.

  “Good idea,” Cherry said.

  Kara held Flossie’s reins and urged Shamrock forward slowly, but Flossie whinnied and dug in her heels. “It’s no good. I think she’s spooked by the mist.”

  “Hey! What’s the holdup? You’re blocking the way!” Nathan called, halting beside Kara and Cherry. Dan was close behind him.

  “It’s Flossie. She won’t move. Maybe she cast a shoe or something,” Kara explained.

  “No problem. We’ll ride down and tell Miss Cross and the others. There’s a shortcut down here. I saw it on the way up. Come on, Dan!” Nathan said.

  “No, don’t go off the path!” Kara said in alarm. “You’ll get lost.”

  Nathan squared his shoulders. “No way! I know what I’m doing.”

  As Nathan and Dan steered their ponies down the slope, Flossie gave a sudden lurch forward after them and pulled her reins out of Kara’s hands. Cherry wobbled, almost losing her balance, and then leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Flossie’s neck.

  “Cherry!” Felicity cried. “Come on, Daisy, after her!”

  Kara had no choice. She squeezed Shamrock on and followed the others, hoping desperately that Nathan knew where he was going. The thick mist had muffled all sound, and it left fine droplets on the ponies’ manes.

  Suddenly, pony shapes seemed to loom up at Kara. “Oh,” she gasped, just managing to stop before she rode into Nathan, Dan, Cherry, and Felicity. “What’s wrong? Why did you all stop?”

  “Because we’re lost, that’s why!” Felicity said. “Admit it, Nathan. Your stupid idea about taking a shortcut was useless!”

  “Okay. But I was just trying to help! It wasn’t my pony that totally panicked, was it?” Nathan snapped back.

  “It’s no use arguing,” Kara said quickly before they could start fighting. “We have to decide what to do.”

  “Kara’s right. We can’t see a thing in this mist. There could be a steep drop just feet away,” Cherry said.

  “Don’t be silly,” Nathan said, but Kara thought he sounded worried.

  “Look, once the mist clears, we’ll be able to see where we are,” Kara reasoned, sounding calmer than she felt.

  “But what if it doesn’t?” Felicity gulped. “I’m already cold and I don’t want to stay up here all night.”

  Me neither, Kara thought.

  She shivered and fought a sudden wave of panic. If only Flame were here. He’d be able to help. But Flame had to fight his own battle, hiding from his uncle. It looked like they were by themselves.

  Chapter

  EIGHT

  Kara stood beside a large rock, holding Shamrock’s reins. Cherry, Felicity, Dan, and Nathan also had dismounted. They stood close together in silence, thinking about what they should do.

  The clammy mist swirled around them, and now the light was fading. “Easy, girl,” Kara said reassuringly, stroking Shamrock’s cheek as the pony shifted nervously. She wasn’t looking forward to a cold, dark, scary night on the mountain.

  Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tiny glowing shape appeared on top of the rock. Kara felt a furry head rubbing against her cold hand, and then a rough little tongue licked her fingers.

  “Flame!” she whispered delightedly. “You’re safe! I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

  “I told you I would find you if I could. My enemies have passed by. But if they come back, I will have to leave at once,” he mewed softly.

  Kara beamed at him. “I’m just so glad you’re here now!” she whispered. “We’re lost, and it’s cold and almost dark. There’s no way we can risk getting down.”

  Flame’s eyes brightened thoughtfully. “I will be back soon,” he purred, leaping into the mist and disappearing. He was back almost at once. “I have found somewhere for you all to shelter. Follow me,” he urged, beckoning with a fluffy front paw.

  Kara looked across at the others. “Okay, everyone. I, uh … just remembered seeing a map of the mountain back at Torc House. If we go this way, we’ll find shelter,” she said, pointing to where Flame was glowing softly in the mist.

  Nathan looked suspicious. “What map? I didn’t see one.”

  “Who cares? If no one has a better idea, I’m going after Kara,” Felicity said.

  “So am I,” Cherry said.

  “Me too. Come on, Nathan. It’s totally creepy here,” Dan urged.

  Kara led the small procession after Flame, keeping her eyes on his tiny sparkling form as he scampered up the steep slope. Barely five minutes passed before a dark shape loomed out of the mist, and Shamrock almost stumbled through a gap in a low stone wall.

  “It’s okay, everyone. Here it is!” Kara called over her shoulder.

  Kara realized that they had found the old stone buildings from where they’d been hiking the other day. She saw Flame run inside the smallest of them. As Kara tethered Shamrock, a familiar warm prickling tickled her spine. While the others were seeing to their ponies, she quickly followed Flame inside.

  She saw sparks ignite in Flame’s fur, and his whiskers fizzled with power. He lifted a tiny paw and sent a whoosh of sparks zooming around the stone hut.

  Snap! A rusty old lamp on a hook lit up by itself. Crackle! A small fire appeared in the fireplace. Rustle and thud! Firewood piled itself up neatly, and a layer of clean, dry bracken spread itself across the floor.

  The very last sparks had just faded from Flame’s coat when Felicity came in. “Wow! It’s really cozy in here,” she said, looking impressed. “How did you light the fire and stuff, Kara?”

  “Mom taught me survival skills. She used to be in Girl Scouts,” Kara fibbed.

  Nathan, Dan, and Cherry also looked around in amazement as they came in. Cherry investigated a dusty stone shelf. “Look, tin cups and a pot of water. It smells fresh. It should be okay if we boil it.”

  “Boiled water, delicious,�
�� Nathan said, making a face.

  Cherry grinned and dug into her backpack. “How about hot chocolate, potato chips, and cookies?”

  Nathan cheered, and Kara joined in with a grin.

  Felicity gave Cherry a hug. “You’re a star! I’ll never tease you about carrying snacks around again!” she promised.

  Dan suddenly remembered his cell phone. He called Torc House to tell everyone they were safe, before settling down. “They know where we are. Someone’s coming to get us as soon as the mist clears,” he told them.

  An hour later, after they’d eaten, everyone curled up on the dry bracken. Cherry, Felicity, Nathan, and Dan fell asleep right away, but Kara lay awake, cuddling Flame.

  “Thanks again for coming to find me. You’re the best friend ever,” she whispered sleepily.

  “You are welcome, Kara,” Flame purred, and snuggled against her.

  Kara fell asleep with her cheek against Flame’s soft fur. When she woke, the lantern was low, and it was dark inside the little hut. As she stirred, she felt Flame stiffen and then leap out of her arms. She opened her eyes just in time to see him bounding out the door.

  “Flame?”

  With suspicion rising up in her, she got up and quietly went outside after him. Suddenly, from the pitch-black night came a blinding silver flash. The tethered ponies twitched their ears, but none of them made a sound.

  Kara blinked hard as her sight cleared. Flame stood there as his magnificent real self. Sparks gleamed in the majestic young white lion’s dazzling coat, and his emerald eyes glowed. An older gray lion with a wise face stood next to Flame.

  And then Kara knew that this time Flame was leaving for good.

  “Your enemies are very close. We must go,” the gray lion rumbled.

  Flame raised a huge white paw in farewell. “Be well, Kara,” he said in a deep velvety purr.

  Kara’s throat closed with tears, and there was an ache in her chest. “Good-bye, Flame,” she whispered hoarsely. “Take care.”

  There was a final bright flash, and Flame and the older lion disappeared. Kara glimpsed the sinister outline of his uncle’s spies against the dark night and heard a shriek of rage before they, too, disappeared.

  There was a sound behind her, and Cherry, Felicity, Nathan, and Dan came tumbling outside. “What’s happening?” Felicity murmured sleepily. “Are you okay? We heard voices.”

  “Kara? Felicity?” Miss Cross’s head appeared above the low stone wall, and the beam of a flashlight swung toward them. “And Nathan and Dan, too. Here they all are, safe and sound!” she called to someone over her shoulder, and then she turned back with a frown. “I think someone has some serious explaining to do! But first,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, “I have a message for you, Kara. Your parents called just before we left. They said to tell you that the vet says Amber’s leg is almost better. It’s healed like magic.”

  “Really?” Kara gasped.

  Somehow she knew that this was Flame’s final gift to her. A dart of pure joy seemed to pierce her sadness. “Thank you so much, Flame. I’ll never forget you,” she whispered.

  She couldn’t wait to go home to take care of Amber and tell her all about her exciting adventures with her magical friend!

  About the Author

  Sue Bentley’s books for children often include animals or fairies. She lives in Northampton, England, and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and sitting watching the frogs and newts in her garden pond. If she hadn’t been a writer, she would probably have been a skydiver or brain surgeon. The main reason she writes is that she can drink pots and pots of tea while she’s typing. She has met and owned many cats, and each one has brought a special sort of magic to her life.