A Forest Charm (7 page)

Cassie realized that he was about to give her a comforting hug, despite the smelly mud. “No, don't, Dad! You'll get all stinky, too,” she said quickly, backing away. If he squeezed her, he'd be sure to feel Storm's sturdy little body beneath her anorak.

Mr. Ronson came stamping over. “For goodness' sake! Can't that girl do anything right? Of all the useless—”

“Don't, Dad! Cassie's okay,” Erin cried from just behind him. “And it's not her fault, anyway. We didn't have to come this way, did we?”

Cassie's jaw dropped in astonishment. Did Erin just stick up for her?

“What does Erin mean?” asked Mr. Yorke.

Mr. Ronson looked rather uncomfortable as the others gazed at him inquiringly.

A light seemed to go on in Cassie's head as she remembered the cell phone conversation. It was starting to make sense now. “You weren't told to bring us back this way, were you? That was all your own idea!”

“Is this true, Ronson?” asked one of the other dads.

Mr. Ronson nodded slowly. “They were going to send a van to pick us up and told us to meet it at the track. But I told them not to bother. We came here for the challenge, didn't we? I thought you'd all welcome the chance of getting back on our own.”

“But you didn't bother to ask us if we agreed with you, did you?” Mr. Yorke said angrily. “As a team member, you're the worst. Not to mention that Cassie could have been badly hurt when she tumbled down that muddy slope!”

“But I'm fine, Dad!” Cassie protested.

“That's not the point.” Her dad squared his shoulders and stood his ground in front of the taller man. “What do you have to say, Ronson?”

Mr. Ronson shifted his feet. “Okay. I admit that I was wrong. I'm sorry, everyone.” He turned to Cassie. “And I'm truly sorry that you almost got hurt. I'll call the cabin right now and tell them to send the van for us after all.”

“You do that!” Mr. Yorke said. He looked at Cassie and her mom. “Let's walk around this ridge and make our way to the track.”

Everyone else began following as the Yorkes set off. Cassie hung back to thank Erin, but the older girl avoided her eyes and linked arms with her dad.

Cassie sighed as she went to catch up with her mom and dad. “I thought Erin might feel like walking back together, but she doesn't seem to want anything to do with me,” she whispered disappointedly to Storm.

“Maybe she just needs more time,” Storm woofed wisely. “It could not have been easy for her to stand up to her father.”

Cassie nodded. “That's true.” She hoped that Storm was right about Erin needing more time, but she was starting to think that they would never be friends.

To Cassie's immense relief, there was no more growling or barking as she and Storm made their way to the track, along with the others.

“I think this smelly mud has done the trick. Shadow's dogs must have gone past,” Cassie said.

Storm nodded, his midnight blue eyes thoughtful. “Your plan has worked for the moment. But I sense that those dogs are not too far away. If they return, I may have to leave suddenly.”

Cassie felt a pang as she realized that she didn't feel ready to let her magical little friend go. She loved being with Storm so much.

“I'm looking forward to getting warm,” she said, deliberately changing the subject. “And I want a megasized mug of hot chocolate and a mountain of cookies, so I can share them with you!”

Storm perked up and licked his little chops. “That sounds good!”

A big minibus was waiting on the track. The group all piled inside. Cassie lifted the bottom of her anorak, so that Storm could crawl out. She sat with him on her lap, stroking his fluffy, white fur.

Back at the cabin, everyone began changing into dry clothes. With so many people inside, it was pretty cramped. There were wet boots, backpacks, and raincoats everywhere.

“Come on, young lady. Let's get you straight into the shower,” said Cassie's mom. “Here you are. You can change into these.” She thrust a bundle of dry clothes into her arms.

Cassie went into the large washroom. She soaped and scrubbed herself, enjoying the hot water. Steam filled the shower cubicle, so that Cassie didn't notice Storm press himself into the corner by the door and then keep looking around nervously.

After Cassie finished drying herself, she pulled on her jeans and T-shirt and dry sneakers.

Just as Cassie and Storm came out of the shower, Cassie almost bumped into Erin, who was bent over with her head under a wall-mounted dryer.

“Hi,” Cassie said.

Erin stood up and flicked her damp hair back. “Hi.”

Cassie chewed her lip, trying to think of something to say. “I'm . . . er . . .” she began.

“No, let me go first,” Erin said. She took a deep breath and then out it all came in a rush. “I don't suppose you'd . . . er . . . want to come to my house sometime, would you? I know I've been a brat and my dad can be a bit strict and bossy, but he's okay when you get to know him better. And I've just got this amazing new computer game with Jilly Atkins in it and I thought we could—what?” she asked, as Cassie stood there openmouthed.

“I can't believe it. You like Jilly Atkins?” Cassie said delightedly.

Erin nodded. “I absolutely love her. I've read all her books, except the new one.”

“Me too! I'm reading the new one now. You can borrow it after me, if you want,” Cassie said, smiling all over her face.

Erin beamed back at her. “Cool! So you'll get your dad to bring you over?”

“I'd love to!” Cassie said.

This weekend had turned out really well after all. Cassie had to admit that the team building had worked well—at least for her and Erin.

She was still taking these amazing developments in, when Storm suddenly gave a sharp whine of terror and shot toward the washroom door. At that moment, someone came in and Storm bolted straight out of the gap.

Cassie's tummy clenched. Storm's enemies must have come back. He was in terrible danger. Leaping forward, she ran after Storm. “Back in a minute,” she called to a puzzled-looking Erin.

Cassie pounded down the hallway. Right at the end of it, she saw Storm's stocky, little, white form dash around a door with
Storeroom
written on it. From somewhere just outside, she could hear loud snarls and growls.

As Cassie reached the storeroom, a dazzling flash of bright gold light streamed out of it. Nervous about what might happen, she slowly opened the door more widely and went inside.

There was Storm, a tiny, helpless puppy no longer, but his true majestic self: a beautiful young silver-gray wolf with glowing midnight blue eyes. An older wolf with a gentle face, whom Cassie guessed was his mother, stood next to him.

And then Cassie knew that Storm was leaving for good. She was going to have to be very brave. She rushed over and Storm allowed her to hug him one last time.

“I'll never forget you, Storm,” Cassie said, her voice breaking as she buried her face in his thick, soft fur.

“You have been a good friend. I will remember you, too,” Storm said in a deep, velvety growl.

Cassie took a step back just as an ugly growl sounded right outside the door. “Go. Save yourself, Storm!” she urged, her heart aching.

There was a final burst of brilliant gold light and a bright shower of sparks floated down all around Cassie and crackled on the storeroom floor. Storm and his mother faded and then were gone. The growl was abruptly cut off and silence fell.

Cassie felt her throat sting with tears. She was going to miss Storm so much, but at least she knew he was safe. And she would always have her secret memories of the wonderful adventure they'd shared.

“Cassie? Where are you?” called Erin's voice from the hallway.

“Coming!” Cassie called, heading for the door. She took a deep breath and silently wished magic puppy Storm and his Moon-claw pack well as, smiling, she went to find her new friend for some adventures of their own.

Sue Bentley's books for children often include animals or fairies. She lives in Northampton and enjoys reading, going to the movies, and sitting watching the frogs and newts in her garden pond. If she hadn't been a writer, she would probably have been a skydiver or a brain surgeon. The main reason she writes is that she can drink pots and pots of tea while she's typing. She has met and owned many cats and dogs and each one has brought a special kind of magic to her life.