<link href="../Styles/stylesheet.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <meta content="urn:uuid:d328a248-43c8-42c1-9ee7-e7af06335072" name="Adept.expected.resource"/> </head> <body> <div> <h1 class="chapter-title" id="head1_1" title="Preview: Daisy’s New Wings">1<br/> <br/> A Glorious Dream</h1> <p class="para" id="p1"><span class="dropcap">D</span>aisy’s eyes fluttered open and a smile spread across her face. She’d been dreaming that the Fairy Queen had granted her wings – a dream so sweet that she didn’t want to wake up. She squeezed her eyes shut again.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p2">A thin beam of sunlight streamed through the knot in the tree trunk that was her window. Keeping her eyes shut, Daisy rolled onto her back to avoid it. The hammock curled around her in an unusual way, as though a large, soft pillow had been laid beneath her. Elusive images from her dream danced in and out of Daisy’s mind, images of the Fairy Queen and a brand new set of wings . . .</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p3">Daisy’s eyes flashed open in an instant. She leapt out of bed and raced to the mirror. Instinctively, she flexed her new muscles and watched with delight as a pair of bright yellow feathered wings stretched out behind her.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p4"><em>It wasn’t a dream!</em></p> <p class="para-indent" id="p5">Memories of yesterday came flooding back, of the Fairy Quest with all its riddles and tests, of the Fairy Queen and of the moment when she had been granted her wings!</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p6">Daisy’s best friend, a small, green beetle named Vu, huffed sleepily from his comfy nest beside Daisy’s hammock.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p7">‘I’m sorry, Vu,’ said Daisy. ‘I didn’t mean to wake you.’</p> <div class="fig-wrapper75"><img alt="" class="image100" src="../Images/009.jpg"/></div> <p class="para-indent" id="p8">Vu stood and stretched his legs, chittering that it was the sun’s fault really.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p9">Daisy gave Vu a scratch on the head, then stepped over to her wooden chest and took out her wattle blossom dress.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p10">Taking off her nightie, she pulled the dress on over her head and wriggled into it, only to find that her new wings were pressed tightly against her body. Vu chittered with laughter as Daisy scrabbled and squirmed the dress back up over her head.</p> <div class="fig-wrapper50"><img alt="" class="image100" src="../Images/010.jpg"/></div> <p class="para-indent" id="p11">Daisy tried three more dresses before finding one that she could step into and tuck beneath her wings.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p12">Feeling hot and flustered, she stepped over to the washbowl to splash cold water on her face.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p13">Impatient of waiting, Vu chittered that he was hungry and could they please go and get some breakfast?!</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p14">Daisy glanced outside. The sun was already at its peak. ‘I’d say we’ve missed breakfast. But if we hurry we might just make lunch.’</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p15">Vu needed no further encouragement. Lifting the stiff green elytra that protected his flying wings, he buzzed into the air and disappeared down the stairs. Daisy’s tummy rumbled, reminding her that she’d had nothing to eat since early last night. She spun around to follow her friend, her new wings brushing against a shelf as she turned. Shells and feathers, seeds and blossoms billowed down to settle in clumps on the floor. With a sigh, Daisy realised that having wings might take some getting used to.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p16">As she bent down to pick up her belongings, something brushed against her knee. It was the pouch-shaped locket that held her Questing Things. Daisy had created the locket in preparation for the Fairy Quest.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p17">Though she’d eaten the food and used the clothes on her Quest, it still held tiny versions of her candle, rope, special spiderweb quilt and magic travelling shoes.</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p18">She’d only had it for a couple of days, but Daisy loved her locket. She had a strong feeling that it would come in handy again. After all, the Fairy Quest had been her first adventure but it wouldn’t be her last. She hadn’t even learnt how to fly yet!</p> <p class="para-indent" id="p19">Snapping out of her reverie, Daisy scooped up the fallen items and dumped them back on the shelf. Dreams of flying would have to wait, at least until after lunch.</p> </div> </body> </html>