Twirling Tails #7

Luckily Kirsten’s mom and dad weren’t too annoyed with her for getting detention and accepted her explanation that it was all a mistake.

“You don’t have a mean bone in your body, Kirsten Blake,” her dad said. “Even if you do have a one-track mind about being in the majorettes!”

“Me?” Kirsten made her eyes all big. “I don’t know what you mean,” she joked.

Kirsten’s mom spotted Storm sitting beside Kirsten’s chair. She shook her head. “You know I can never find that puppy when you’re at school. He doesn’t come out of hiding, however much I call him or waft a dish of food around. But it’s amazing how he always appears the second you come home.”

“Amazing,” Kirsten echoed innocently, around a mouthful of macaroni and cheese.

A couple of evenings later, Molly called. She wanted Storm’s measurements for his costume. Kirsten said she’d get them and then call her back.

As soon as she’d hung up, Kirsten searched out her mom’s tape measure. She lifted Storm up onto a table and then looped the tape around his compact little body.

“Hey! Stop wriggling! This is like a juggling act!” Kirsten was struggling to hold the ends of the tape together with one hand while jotting figures on to a piece of paper with the other.

Finally it was done. “I’ll give these measurements to Molly. I can’t wait to see your costume!”

On the following Saturday afternoon, Kirsten decided to take Storm for a walk before meeting up with Tracy and Helena at a row of stores along the main road. A new fast food place called Smoothers had just opened. They had planned to have a milkshake with their allowance money before going to practice.

“I don’t mind about Helena joining the Limelight Majorettes,” Kirsten told Storm. “I thought she’d just come along to mess around, but she seems serious about it. I heard Molly saying that she thinks Helena’s going to be really good.”

“I am glad that you are good friends with Helena now,” Storm woofed.

We’re almost there, Kirsten thought, a small smile on her face.

Kirsten said her good-byes to her parents and then she and Storm set off. They headed to a short alleyway that led to a field at the back of some houses. The fences of all the backyards backed on to the field.

Storm sniffed around in the grass, seeking out interesting smells and then raced around enjoying himself. He found a muddy twig and held it in his little front paws to chew one end.

Suddenly, Kirsten heard loud growling and barking coming from behind one of the wooden fences. A noise like scratching claws filled the air as the unseen dogs tried to get into the field.

Storm yelped and dropped the twig. He rushed over to Kirsten and crouched beside her, trembling from head to foot.

“What’s wrong? Have you hurt your mouth on that wood?” Kirsten said worriedly. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms.

Storm’s midnight blue eyes widened in terror. “Shadow knows where I am. He has used his magic on those dogs. They are trying to get to me.”

Kirsten’s heart missed a beat as she realized that her friend was in great danger. Her mind whirled as she tried to think of the best thing to do. “That’s a pretty high fence. I don’t think they can get over,” she judged. “But you’d better hide in my bag, just in case. We’re leaving, right now!”

Kirsten opened her shoulder bag and tucked the terrified puppy inside. Storm immediately curled up into a tight ball and lay there shaking.

Her pulse racing, Kirsten jogged back toward the alleyway. She clutched her bag tightly so that Storm wasn’t jostled around too much.

“I hope we don’t meet any more of Shadow’s dogs. How will I be able to tell if they’re dangerous?” Kirsten asked nervously.

“They will have cruel, pale eyes and extra long teeth.” Storm’s muffled woof rose from her bag.

Once she was back out on the street, Kirsten gradually slowed down. No fierce dogs had run after them and the growling and snarling grew faint and then stopped altogether.

“I think they’ve given up,” she puffed, feeling weak with relief.

Storm uncurled and cautiously peered out of the unzipped bag. He tensed as he listened hard and then his whole body relaxed. “You are right, Kirsten. I am safe for the moment. But if Shadow finds me again, I may have to leave suddenly, without saying good-bye.”

Kirsten experienced a sharp pang at the thought of losing her friend. She knew that she would never be ready to let him go. “I hope that evil Shadow never finds you and then you can stay with me forever!”

Storm twisted to look up at her with serious midnight blue eyes. “I cannot do that. One day I must return to my own world to lead the Moon-claw pack.”

“I know,” Kirsten said in a small voice, but she didn’t really want to think about it. She was determined to enjoy every single moment with her magical friend. She tried changing the subject.

“I bet Tracy and Helena are already at Smoothers. Let’s go and meet them.”

Storm sat up and rested his front paws outside the shoulder bag as Kirsten turned onto the busy main road. A bit farther on, she saw Tracy and Helena on the opposite side of the road. They were just passing a video store.

Kirsten walked toward a pedestrian crosswalk in front of a building with scaffolding covering it. A clanging noise came from high up where builders were at work.

Kirsten glanced behind her and looked up. A heavy bucket clanged onto one of the scaffolding boards and then came tumbling downward. It was heading straight for her and Storm.

Kirsten froze. Her legs turned to water as she gathered herself for a painful collision.

But familiar bright sparks glittered in Storm’s shaggy fur and a huge spray of gold sparks shot upward. The bucket faltered as if Kirsten had pressed slow motion on a TV remote. A fine dusting of sparks drifted down to settle on Kirsten and weird rippling feelings ran up the ends of her fingers and toes and zipped through her body.

There was a sudden jolt as the bucket crashed down on top of her and Storm.

Kirsten gasped as it passed right through her. She felt a slurpy sensation, like jelly wobbling, and a sucking plop! as the heavy bucket clanged onto the pavement and bounced away harmlessly.

She heard running steps. Two builders emerged from inside the building, looking white-faced.

“Thank goodness. It just missed her!” one of them said shakily.

The other one picked up the bucket. He scratched his head. “How the blazes . . . You sure you’re all right?”

Kirsten quickly gathered her wits. “I’m fine. No problem. Got to go!” As the green man flashed up on the crosswalk sign, Kirsten hurried across the road. “Phew! That was close! Thanks, Storm,” she whispered.

Helena and Tracy were hurrying along the pavement to meet them. “What just happened? We heard shouting and a massive crash,” Tracy said.

“Nah! It was no big deal. Just two builders making lots of noise,” Kirsten said. Her face lit up with mischief. She stepped quickly around Tracy and began sprinting toward the shops. “Last one inside Smoothers pays for the milkshakes!”