CHAPTER 6

Pixie Talk

Before Sasha could begin her story, the birds outside began to screech loudly.

“It’s the bird alarm! Let’s go see.” Kimani pushed Sasha toward the cave entrance.

Sasha looked down at the blanket. Would Collie be here when she got back?

Xanthos and Sapphire waited over on the beach as Kimani and Sasha walked outside. Mercury and Crimson hurried toward them.

“The grass in the meadow turned brown,” said Mercury.

“And the flowers died,” said Crimson.

Nobody knew why this had happened.

“The flying horses will have nothing to eat,” said Mercury. Like all horses, the flying horses ate grass and wildflowers.

“We must find new green fields,” said Xanthos. The four horses flew away.

“The plant pixies stopped spreading their pixie dust,” Sasha told Kimani. “That’s why the grass turned brown and the flowers won’t bloom. They use pixie dust to make things grow and make the world beautiful.”

“How do you know?” asked Kimani.

“I learned about the pixie dust from Collie,” Sasha answered.

“You talked to her?” Kimani’s eyes bulged with surprise.

“Yes. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No flying horse has ever spoken to a plant pixie before. We don’t speak the same language as they do. Their language makes no sense to us.”

“It makes sense to me,” said Sasha.

“That’s amazing.” Kimani shook her head with wonder.

“You should meet Collie,” offered Sasha.

“Meet her?” Kimani sounded scared. “Isn’t she dangerous? Won’t she hurt us?”

“Not at all. She’s very nice,” said Sasha. “I hope she’s still here.”

Sasha led Kimani back inside the cave.

“Oh! Who did this?” cried Kimani.

Her cave was now sparkling clean. The blankets were folded. The pillows were stacked. The straw had been stuffed back into the mattresses. Kimani’s hair ribbons were braided into streamers. The air smelled like lilacs.

Did Collie do this? wondered Sasha. She knew Collie loved to braid.

“Collie?” Sasha looked for her. “Kimani wants to meet you. Are you here?”