Christina and the rest of the girls were waiting at the edge of the meadow when Vanessa stepped into their world. “Is everyone ready to go?” she asked.
“We’re all set,” Kathy said.
“Do you know what the boys are planning to do?”
“They told us last night, after we turned into ponies.” Kathy said. “We couldn’t talk back to them, of course, but we understand most of what’s going to happen.”
“Good,” Vanessa said. “Okay, so first we go for a ride down the beach, just like the last time I was here. We’ll get as close to Paximus as we can, and then make a run for it.”
“That didn’t work out so well for me the last time,” Alyssa said sadly. Her leg still ached from her fall after Guaryntis threw her and Steven out of the desert.
“That’s because we didn’t have a plan,” Vanessa said. “Steven was just hoping to outrun the dragon all by himself.”
“Right, and with me on his back,” Alyssa said disgustedly. “I wish he’d asked me first.”
“That’s what gave me an idea,” Vanessa said. “Alexander told me that he couldn’t avoid Guaryntis because he had to watch where he was running so he wouldn’t fall. He couldn’t keep track of the dragon at the same time, so he didn’t know which way to run to avoid his claws.”
“What difference does that make?” little Emma said.
“Don’t you see? If we all go together, like we did last week, we girls can watch for the dragon. Whichever way he turns to come after us, we can tell the boys - I mean the ponies - and they’ll know which way to run to get away.”
“That just might work,” Christina said. “Especially if we all spread out really far before we enter the desert.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Grace said. “The dragon will catch Vanessa, too, just like he caught me.”
“Maybe he will,” Vanessa said. Suddenly she had another great idea. “In fact, that’s exactly what will happen. Alexander is the strongest, fastest pony, right?”
“Of course,” Alyssa said.
“Then I’ll go with him,” Vanessa said, “and I’ll let Guaryntis catch us, but only after I keep him busy for a while.”
“How will that help?” Christina said.
“You’ll see!” Vanessa was excited to get started. “Quick, call the ponies. We have to reach the end of the beach before the sun gets too low in the sky.”