CHAPTER NINE

Luckily, the stepping stones were wider and closer together than they’d appeared from the bank. The moisture on their surface glistened like precious jewels in the moonlight. It felt like a magical walkway to an enchanted world.

As Zia and Cassandra neared the island, they were held up behind an elderly badger. The badger was tired now and too weak to walk any further.

“Let me help,” said Cassandra kindly, bending down and lifting the animal into her arms. Within moments, she’d safely deposited it onto dry land. Zia arrived soon after, followed by two moles, a family of rabbits, three field mice and a hedgehog. The animals kept on coming, some paddling on logs across the water.

Cassandra and Zia looked around. There were no trees on the island, just thick grass to sit on, surrounded by inky-blue water. The wide night sky stretched above them, gently lit by a faint glow of orange from the eclipse of the moon. They couldn’t think of a more perfect place to enjoy their midnight feast.

Cassandra set the rucksack down and everyone helped unload the feast provisions. The grass was soft as a blanket, and Zia was just adding Thunder’s biscuits to the impressive-looking collection of treats when they heard voices from across the water. They turned to see a large fluffy cat leaping nimbly across the stones, followed by Katy and Luca, shouting and waving their arms.

“You made it!” Cassandra and Zia cried in unison. It felt like a lifetime since they’d all been together. They charged over and gathered their friends in the biggest group hug.

“Did you meet the foxes?” asked Zia when the hug fell apart.

“Are they going to let us have our feast in peace?” asked Cassandra.

But it was impossible to hear their answers because a rumble echoed all around them, gradually getting louder, like an orchestra’s crescendo. Through the darkness, across lake and sky, throngs of forest creatures were hurrying towards them. There were herds of deer clattering across the stones, bats and birds of prey swooping down from the sky. There were robins and sparrows and other birds they recognised from their gardens. Squirrels and field mice and badgers and voles.

In the water, they could now make out ducks, geese and swans, otters and weasels. Every forest creature – nocturnal and diurnal, big and small – that had received an invitation to tonight’s midnight moon feast. Creatures who, until Cassandra and Luca had turned off the lanterns, had felt as tired and mixed up as Esra had been.

Esra pointed to the moon, which had almost completely moved into the Earth’s shadow. She flew on to Zia’s shoulder. “Welcome!” she called, when the final animal – a regal-looking stag – was settled among them and the clamour had quietened down. “It’s almost midnight, yet I didn’t think tonight’s feast would happen. Some of you have been awake when you should have been sleeping. Some have been hungry when you should have been hunting. And all because of two mischievous foxes.”

A gravelly voice cut through the dark: “We’re sorry.”

Everyone gasped as Ned and Nina pushed themselves cagily to the front of the crowd.

“We promise we’ll be good from now on.” Nina coughed.

“We didn’t mean to cause trouble,” mumbled Ned, looking embarrassed.

Esra hopped along the ground until she was only inches from the foxes’ noses. She placed her wings on feathery hips and angled her head up to look into their scheming eyes. “But why should we believe you?”

“Because…” Ned sighed, mustering up the courage. “Because every animal deserves another chance. I promise, we’ve changed our ways.”

Katy nodded. “It’s true,” she said, smiling at the others. “We’ve spent a long time talking about it. A leopard may not be able to change its spots, but these foxes can. Ned and Nina won’t be giving you any more trouble.”

Esra was silent for a moment, hopping in circles around the two wily creatures while she considered their apology. The other forest animals started to stir, stamping hooves and paws, hooting and braying in anger. Eventually, Esra held up her wing, calling for silence.

“Our new friends tell me the foxes have changed their ways,” she said firmly.

The animals quietened down, curious to hear what Esra and the foxes had to say. The foxes bowed their heads.

“We really are sorry,” grovelled Ned again.

“For the chaos we caused last year, and for bringing light into the forest at night,” Nina added.

Esra raised a wing once more. “This forest has always been our sanctuary. Away from the light and hazards of the city. You mixed up the natural order of our home.”

“We’ll never do it again,” said Nina.

“Can you forgive us?” asked Ned.

Esra looked back at the crowd of animals who were waiting to take their lead from the little owl. Their expressions had started to soften.

“I’d like a show of paws, hooves, feet or wings,” she instructed, “from anyone who thinks Ned and Nina deserve another chance.”

There was a pause before the first paw stretched timidly into the air. It belonged to a small brown rabbit with floppy ears and a cotton-wool tail. Soon after, the elderly badger raised its paw. More followed, until every creature – including Cassandra and her friends – agreed that the foxes should be forgiven.

Esra smiled. This year, the animals would be feasting together in peace. “Come, it’s time for all of you to feast.”

At once, stars exploded like fireworks in the night sky above them. The lunar eclipse had turned the moon into a brilliant orange orb, burning brightly amid the black, and everyone “oohed” and “aahed” as an orange ray shot down from the sky, bathing the midnight treats in its laser-like spotlight. Slowly, the forest treats started to shimmer – berries, nuts, mushrooms, bits of bark. They all began to morph and change shape, until the midnight moon feast – the one they’d waited all this time for – appeared in front of them: chocolates, doughnuts, ice cream, popcorn, sweets, biscuits in different shapes and sizes, twinkling and sparkling like the brightest of diamonds.

With shouts and cheers of delight, everyone dived in. Ned and Nina were grinning wildly, ecstatic to be part of the celebration. Esra was clutching a shimmering cupcake tightly in her claws, demolishing it with her tiny beak. The elderly badger was stuffing large mouthfuls of rainbow-coloured popcorn into its mouth.

“Didn’t I promise the best midnight feast?” Cassandra called to the others as she bit into a moon-shaped biscuit. It crackled in her mouth like popping candy. “Magical treats under a moonlit sky.” She beamed at her friends. “You can’t get more perfect than this!”

“Esra was right about the forest being full of surprises,” said Zia, smiling as she shovelled a heaped spoon of ice cream into her mouth. She’d never tasted a flavour quite like it.

“This feast is incredible, C-Cassie!” Luca exclaimed, lips sticky with candyfloss. “I c-can’t believe those f-forest treats turned into this!”

“It sure beats eating mice,” Thunder said casually, hiccupping as he bit into a bonbon that bubbled in his mouth.

Katy giggled, grabbing a handful of fizzy sweets. “And it definitely makes up for the midnight feast that we slept through.”

As they ate, savouring flavours they’d likely never taste again, Esra hopped over to join them. She opened her beak and placed a tiny fleck of light into each of their hands and paws. “Pieces of moonbeam.” She smiled. “They’re gifts to say thank you. We wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t helped save the midnight moon feast.”

The friends gasped. “Thank you!” they sang out, stunned to have received such an extraordinary gift.

“We promise not to forget you,” said Zia, stroking the little owl on her head. “You know, it’s thanks to you that I’m not scared of the dark anymore.”

“And you’ve helped us understand the harm that bright lights cause to animals,” said Cassandra, smiling warmly.

“We should protect our ecosystems,” agreed Thunder, biting into a doughnut. “Not mess with nature’s way of doing things.” Silvery jam oozed from its middle, and he licked the stickiness off his paws.

When they’d finished devouring every magical morsel in front of them, they took it in turns to give Esra a goodbye hug.

Katy yawned. “I feel so tired suddenly.”

“And m-me,” Luca said, catching Katy’s yawn and rubbing his eyes. “Even though I d-don’t want tonight to end.”

“I’m ready for my bed, too,” said Cassandra drowsily. She gathered everyone into a circle, pulling a reluctant Thunder into the middle, and they held on to each other’s hands. Then they closed their eyes tightly and imagined Cassandra’s bedroom back home.

“Repeat after me,” Cassandra whispered, “I wish to go home.”

“I wish to go home,” her friends chanted back. Immediately, jolts of electricity shot around their bodies. They felt weightless, like they were flying through the sky, floating past an orange moon and shooting around the stars in the sky above. It was only when their bodies felt normal that they dared to open their eyes.

They were back in their own pyjamas in Cassandra’s bedroom – camping mats messy on the floor, Luca’s telescope its original size on her desk. The curtains were drawn but the light was still on.

“Can somebody turn that off?” asked Zia, grinning while dramatically shielding her eyes from the glare.

“You’re sure?” asked Cassandra. She felt proud of her friend. It wasn’t easy facing your fears.

Zia nodded and yawned. “I’m so tired as well.”

Katy stretched her arms in the air and gazed longingly at her pillow. Thunder was already curled up next to it, paws over his head, fast asleep.

“Bagsy first in bed!” shouted Zia, diving to the floor and climbing into her sleeping bag.

But as Cassandra also snuggled down in bed and pulled her duvet up to her chin, she noticed something new and shiny on the bracelet she always wore on her wrist. It was another charm for their collection – a tiny silver moon, giving off the faintest orangey glow.

“Look!” she whispered. “A new charm!”

Her friends were also wearing a moon charm. Even Thunder had one dangling from his collar, although he didn’t know about it yet.

“That was the BEST midnight feast, Cassie.” Katy yawned again, snuggling into her pillow.

“The best midnight moon feast,” added Zia.

“And the very b-best sleepover ever,” said Luca, pulling his sleeping bag over his chin. “But now I n-need to sleep.”

“Goodnight.” Cassandra yawned, then flicked the switch by her bed.

At once, the room went dark.

How to Reduce Light Pollution

1. Always switch lights off as you leave a room.

2. Avoid lighting up trees where bats and other nocturnal wildlife might live or feed.

3. Use motion sensors or timers so outdoor lights are only on when they need to be.