CHAPTER 4
Evie and Sparkles hopped onto Willow and disappeared into the forest while Holly made a list of all of the new fairies’ names. As she called out each name, her magic quill wrote them down:
“Ivy, Arwen, Rose, Sylvette, Rowan, Bryony, Juniper, Violet, Faye...”
When she’d finished, Holly made a map for each fairy. As she described the forest, her magic quill drew a map of Bluebell Forest. Evie didn’t need one to find the silver birch trees because her New Forest Pony knew exactly where to go.
“This papery birch bark is perfect for starting campfires,” said Evie as she carefully peeled the birch tree’s trunk. Then Sparkles and Willow helped her find dry sticks for kindling.
Evie met Holly back at the Magic Dell and they built the campfire.
“We’ll light it at the end of the day,” said Holly, as they arranged cushions on the forest floor.
“We’ve only got ten minutes before the new fairies arrive!” said Evie. “And we’ve still got lots to do!”
“I’ll make the signposts and find a wand for each fairy,” said Holly, looking at the list. “Could you decorate these baskets please, Evie? They need to be sorted into pairs and for each pair to look identical.”
Evie looked at the little baskets.
“Shall I paint each pair the same colour?” asked Evie.
“That’s a great idea, but we haven’t got time for the paint to dry,” said Holly. “I’m sure you’ll think of something though!”
Holly set to work with her magic quill drawing beautiful signs and then whizzed off into the forest to put the signs up, while Evie sorted the baskets into pairs.
“How am I ever going to make these pairs look identical, Sparkles?” asked Evie, picking up two of the baskets. Her kitten began diving about in the fallen leaves.
“What a brilliant idea, Sparkles! Of course, I’ll decorate each pair with a different type of leaf!”
Evie set to work. She decorated two of the baskets with oak leaves and acorns, and another two with orange beech leaves and beech nuts. Sparkles helped her to collect a pile of pretty rowan leaves and red berries for the next two. Very soon all the baskets were matching pairs.
When Holly returned she was delighted. “They look lovely,” she smiled.
But Evie was looking a little confused.
“There are nine names on the register,” said Evie. “But we’ve got ten baskets.”
“One of them is yours,” smiled Holly, popping a wand into each basket. “I hope you don’t mind, but I had an odd number of fairies in my class, so I needed you to help make up a pair.”
“No problem,” said Evie, who was happy to help her friend.
Now they were ready for the new forest fairies!
One after another, the new fairies began to arrive at the Magic Dell. Some of them looked a little bit lost. Some of them looked a little bit sad. Some fluttered at the edges of the circle and a few laughed a little too loud. Evie realized that they were all feeling nervous and that each of them showed their nerves in a different way.
Holly, Evie and Sparkles tried to make the fairies feel better with a friendly smile. They asked each fairy their name and gave them each a basket. Everyone sat down on the comfy cushions and the nervous chattering stopped. The forest fell silent.
“Welcome to Bluebell Forest,” smiled Holly. “Today is all about learning how to fly and find your way in this magic forest. Take your time and use all of your senses to navigate.
“In a few minutes you will be exploring the forest and making your very own fairy crowns. You will have a partner to help you and I’ll never be far away.”
Evie looked around the circle as Holly talked and wondered which fairy was going to be her partner.
“Your partner is the fairy with the same basket as you.”
Evie’s basket was decorated with ivy leaves.
She looked around and soon spotted the other fairy with an ivy basket. She had golden hair and a lovely smile. Evie walked over to her.
“Hello,” she said. “I’m Evie.”
“I’m Arwen,” smiled her partner. “Is that your magic forest pony?”
“Yes, that’s Willow,” said Evie. “She’d love to take us into the forest. Come on!”
Evie and Sparkles hopped up onto Willow’s back, while Arwen hovered above them.
“You will discover that the forest is full of life, it’s home to many creatures. Work with them and they will help your magic,” said Holly. “Everyone needs to be back here with their finished crowns by the time the blackbirds begin to sing.”
The fairies started looking at their maps and getting ready to leave. Soon they were all fluttering into Bluebell Forest with their partners.
