Daisy stared in dismay at Maggie’s dress. Clumsily stitched feathers circled the neckline, jutting out at odd angles as though tossed by a wild wind. It looked nothing like she’d imagined.

This was the only dress Maggie had that was pretty enough to be a costume, and Daisy had ruined it. Maggie was going to be furious!

Happy voices floated up from the kitchen – Maggie making dinner with Nen and Efa. With her heart thumping guiltily in her chest, Daisy lay the dress across the end of her hammock and flew down to meet them.

‘There you are,’ said Nen, leaning over to kiss Daisy on the cheek as she placed the last bowl on the table. ‘I was just about to call you.’

‘Maggie’s been telling us what a wonderful help you’ve been today,’ said Efa, taking a seat.

‘She really has,’ said Maggie. ‘I don’t think I would’ve gotten half as much done without her.’ She shot her sister a grin.

Daisy didn’t know what to say. Maggie wouldn’t be grinning when she found out what Daisy had done. Silently, Daisy sat next to her sister.

‘How was practice?’ asked Efa.

‘Good,’ said Maggie. ‘We have our song all worked out, and the harmonies are sounding great.’

‘Which magpie are you performing with?’ Nen asked.

‘My friend Melody,’ Maggie replied.

Daisy listened quietly to the conversation throughout dinner. She was feeling too guilty to join in. If only there were some way she could fix Maggie’s dress without anyone having to know.

When Nelli and Vu flew in through the window, Daisy jumped up to feed them. Tears pricked her eyes. She leaned into the cupboard and swiped them away, but Vu noticed and chittered his concern. Daisy tried to shush him but the damage had been done. She turned back to the table. Three sets of eyes followed her every move.

‘Daisy, you’re as pale as a ghostgum,’ said Nen, leaping out of her chair and wrapping Daisy in a protective hug.

‘Are you ill?’ asked Efa. ‘Let me look at you.’

‘Don’t cry,’ said Maggie, as a tear trickled down Daisy’s cheek. ‘Whatever it is, we can make it right.’

‘Please don’t be nice to me,’ Daisy burst out, pulling away from Nen’s hug. ‘I don’t deserve it.’

A worried frown creased Nen’s face. ‘Daisy, what have you done?’

Daisy knew there was no hiding it now. All the pent-up emotion drained out of her, leaving behind a deep weariness.

‘Come on,’ she said. ‘I’ll show you.’

‘Daisy, how could you?’ Maggie sobbed. ‘Aunt Acacia made that dress especially for my first performance!’

Daisy wanted to explain that she’d only been trying to help. But the words would not come.

The family had crowded into Daisy’s bedroom. Efa put his arm around Maggie as Nen held the dress up for a closer look.

‘I’m sure Acacia could fix it,’ Nen said.

‘But Aunt Acacia could be anywhere in the forest,’ Maggie cried. ‘We’ll never find her by tomorrow.’

‘Leave that to me,’ said Nen. ‘When your aunt and I were children, we created a calling spell to use if we ever needed each other. She’s never let me down before, and I’m sure she won’t now.’ Nen took out her wand and chanted. ‘Send a message to my sister. Let her know I need and miss her.’

A heavy weight lifted from Daisy’s heart. ‘Don’t worry, Maggie,’ she said. ‘Aunt Acacia will fix it.’

But Maggie wouldn’t look at her. She pulled away from Efa and stepped out the door. ‘I have work to do.’

Daisy moved to follow, to apologise and make up. But her parents blocked the way. Efa nodded at Nen, then headed after Maggie.

‘I know you were trying to help, Daisy,’ said Nen. ‘But by not asking first, you’ve upset your sister and created a problem that we now need to fix.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Daisy. ‘If I could just tell Maggie . . .’

‘Maggie needs to calm down first,’ said Nen. ‘She’s under a lot of pressure, preparing for the Songbird Festival, and this isn’t going to help. I think tonight you should stay in your room. You can apologise tomorrow.’

Daisy nodded glumly.

With a kiss on Daisy’s forehead, Nen headed towards the door. ‘I’ll send Vu up to keep you company.’

Daisy read and talked quietly to Vu as the muffled sounds of sad music drifted up from Maggie’s room. Time inched by. The feeling of calm she’d felt when Nen had called Aunt Acacia began to fade as Daisy strained her ears, listening for the sound of a new arrival. It was very late and the music had long since stopped when Daisy’s eyes finally closed. And still Aunt Acacia had not come.