6

A New Friend

A tiny fairy with pink and yellow hair fluttered between Mother Wattle’s branches, bumping into them as she flew, and causing leaves and blossoms to rain down on the ground below.

No wonder the Monarch flew away, thought Daisy.

‘Oops . . . sorry . . . watch out below,’ the fairy called, wobbling so precariously that it was a wonder she managed to stay in the air at all.

‘That was painful,’ the fairy said as her feet touched down with a bump. ‘How good it feels to be back on the ground! Until I get better, I must remember, fly over the trees, not through them.’ She laughed and held out her hand to shake Daisy’s. ‘My, you look familiar. Do I know you?’

Daisy also had a feeling she’d seen this fairy before, but she couldn’t remember where. The fairy’s short pink dress was covered in pollen, and there was a large tear in her sleeve. She tripped over her own feet as she stepped forward, bumping into Daisy and sending them both sprawling on the ground.

A memory, bright as a candle flame, flickered to life. ‘I’ve got it!’ said Daisy. ‘Your name’s Pea.’

Pea grinned as she picked herself up off the ground, reaching down to give Daisy a hand. ‘Yes, how did you know?’

‘We met at the Songbird Festival,’ said Daisy. ‘You tripped while you were finding your seat and spilt nectar over us both.’

‘I remember now,’ said Pea. ‘You’re Daisy, aren’t you? You were very good about it, didn’t laugh at me or anything. Not like some of the other fairies.’ A sad look crept across Pea’s face, then disappeared almost as soon as it had appeared, replaced by an easy smile. ‘I hope I haven’t caused more trouble for you, scaring that butterfly away?’

Daisy frowned. ‘She was supposed to help me. I don’t know what I’ll do now.’

Pea’s eyes flicked to a spot behind Daisy. ‘Maybe she was going to give you the Telling Tube?’

‘The what?’ asked Daisy.

‘The Telling Tube,’ said Pea. ‘There, on the ground behind you.’

Daisy turned to look. Fallen blossoms carpeted the ground, and poking out from beneath them was the small, brown tube that the butterfly had been holding.

She walked over and picked it up. It was rough, like a pupa, and light. But she couldn’t see how it could be opened. She cast a questioning look at Pea.

‘Butterflies often use them to send messages to each other,’ said Pea. ‘Because, you know, they can’t talk. The markings on the side show you who they’re for.’

Daisy twisted the tube between her fingers. A tiny engraving of a paper daisy confirmed Pea’s theory.

‘See, it was for you,’ Pea exclaimed proudly.

A small thrill of excitement fluttered in Daisy’s belly. ‘But, how do I open it?’ she asked.

‘Only a butterfly can do that.’ Pea’s eyes widened, as though she’d just had a thought. ‘There’s a patch of paper daisies not far from here that’s swarming with Painted Ladies. They’re not nervous like Monarchs are. I bet one of them would open it for you.’

‘I hope so,’ said Daisy. ‘Without this message, I might never get my wings.’

‘I really am sorry,’ said Pea, her cheeks flushing a bright ruby-red. ‘I hope you won’t hold it against me. The paper daisies are just over there.’ She waved her hand to the west.

‘I wish I could come with you, but I promised I’d be home for lunch. If I don’t show up, my dad sends out a search party. He’s such a worrier.’

With all the scrapes Pea seemed to get into, Daisy could understand why. ‘I’ll be fine,’ said Daisy. ‘But you’d better get a move on. The sun’s almost reached its peak.’

‘Well, I guess I’m grounded then,’ said Pea. ‘He hates it when I’m late.’ And with a shaky swoop of her wings, she wobbled into the air. ‘Bye, Daisy, I’ll look for you if I’m ever allowed out again.’

Daisy laughed and waved goodbye, then walked back to where she had left her travelling shoes. She had just pulled them back on when Vu swooped over to land on her shoulder. Looking at the Telling Tube quizzically, he chittered a question.

‘Our first piece of the puzzle,’ answered Daisy. ‘Come on, let’s get it opened.’