13

Journey’s End

Daisy sank down against the trunk of a gum tree, unsure what to do next. Vu chittered a question.

‘I’ve failed the Quest, Vu,’ Daisy sobbed. ‘I gave the pollen to another fairy, I have no magic to be able to get any more and the moon has already risen so I’m late for the Fairy Queen. I’ll never earn my wings now,’ she sighed sadly.

Vu buzzed a reassuring chitter. ‘Thanks, Vu.’ Daisy tried a smile. ‘Come on, we still need to find the Tea-Tree House to end the Quest and go home. The Fairy Queen will be waiting.’

Just as Daisy was wondering where on earth she was going to find the strength to walk any further, a vibration rumbled through the trunk behind her and the leaves rustled far above her head. Daisy looked up, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. A huge black shadow was slowly moving towards her down the trunk.

Vu’s claws dug into her shoulder. Daisy tensed, ready to jump up and run, then slumped against the tree trunk in relief. Her exhausted muscles relaxed as the round-eyed face of a ringtail possum was revealed by the moonlight.

Grunting softly, the possum introduced himself as Pere. He explained that Holly had sent him to carry them to the Fairy Queen’s Tea-Tree House to thank Daisy for her kindness.’

And with that, Pere reached out a soft-furred paw so that Daisy could climb onto his back.

Daisy hesitated. Will the Fairy Queen be angry that I didn’t complete the journey on my own? she worried. Vu chittered that it was way past his bedtime, and could she please just hurry up.

Too tired to argue, Daisy grabbed hold of Pere’s soft fur and dragged herself up onto his back where she snuggled into the warm safety of the hollow between his shoulder blades. Daisy felt herself being gently rocked as Pere moved through the trees. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered if this was how Vu felt when he was nestled under her hair.

As if sensing that she thought of him, Vu chittered lovingly, brushing his face against her cheek before settling down beside her to sleep.

Daisy woke to a warm huff of berry-scented breath as Pere announced their arrival. Daisy stretched and rubbed her face. They had stopped on the edge of a clearing. Pere looked over his shoulder at her expectantly.

‘We’re here?’ Daisy asked.

He nodded yes.

Daisy tapped Vu on the back. ‘Wake up, sleepyhead! We’re here.’ She smiled at Pere. ‘You’ve been so kind to us. Thank you for finding us and bringing us here. I don’t know what we’d have done without you.’

Embarrassed by all the fuss, Pere grunted that it was nothing, and stretched out his paw so that Daisy could climb down. As she stepped back onto the ground, Daisy glimpsed a wooden house hanging amidst the waxy, white flowers of a tea-tree. It blended with the tree seamlessly, as if it had grown from it.

‘The Fairy Queen’s Tea-Tree House!’ Daisy whispered.

All around the tree house, there was movement and light. There seemed to be a celebration going on. Fireflies swooped through the air in mock battles, the losers tumbling down to be caught by laughing fairies who danced in a circle on the ground below. High up in the surrounding trees, owls hooted, creating music for the fairies’ dance. Only at the Songbird Festival had Daisy seen so many fairies gathered together.

Acutely aware of her Questing failure, Daisy hid behind Pere’s leg, afraid to go on. Standing on Pere’s shoulder, Vu chittered indignantly that by giving the pollen to Holly, Daisy had done a good thing, and if the Fairy Queen couldn’t see that then she wasn’t as wise as everyone said.

Pere chuckled his agreement and gave Daisy an encouraging nudge forward.

Taking courage from her friends, Daisy stepped into the clearing. Like blowing out a candle, the music and dancing stopped. A group of fairies stepped aside, creating a passage to the centre of the circle. Daisy glanced back at Vu who chittered that he would be waiting for her when she was done. Taking a deep breath, Daisy nervously walked through the opening.