Fira and the Full Moon Read online

  “Come on. Let’s go,” Fira told the triplets, “before we do any more harm.”

  They left Lily still tending her poppy. Fira fluttered her wings, unsure of what to do next. She really needed to check on the fireflies. But what about the triplets?

  The three fairies looked at Fira hopefully. Fira sighed. The Pixie Hollow tour wasn’t working out anyway. She should take the triplets back to their room. And while she was at the Home Tree, she could stop and see Elixa in her potions workshop. Maybe Elixa had some good news.

  “All right,” said Fira. “I’m taking you home.”

  “Why? What are you doing now?” Sparkle asked. “Are you going to your room, too?”

  “Uh, no. I have some business.”

  “Light-talent business?”

  “Can we go, too?”

  “Can we? Can we?”

  The sun was beginning to set. The mining expedition would be leaving in just a little while. It would take too long to argue with the triplets. It would be faster to let them tag along.

  “Okay,” Fira said. “But this time, stay out of trouble!”

  THE POTIONS WORKSHOP was on the third floor of the Home Tree. The door was wide open.

  Fira knocked. Then she flew in, followed by the triplets.

  The young fairies gazed around the room. Rows of birch-bark shelves filled the workshop from ceiling to floor. Each shelf was crammed with potions, medicines, and plant extracts. Each jar was clearly labeled.

  “‘Ground-up pine nuts,’” Sparkle read. “‘Laurel-leaf bits.’ ‘Sesame oil.’”

  “Elixa?” Fira called. She flew up and down the rows.

  “Let’s open the jars and smell what’s inside,” Sparkle whispered to the others. She twisted off a top. “Ugh! Peat moss.”

  Glory and Helios started to open jars, too.

  “Don’t do that,” Fira warned, flying back.

  “‘Right-on-thyme powder. Very fine,’” Helios read, flying to a top shelf.

  Sparkle picked up the jar. “Glory, you should try this!” she called. “You’re always last. You’re never on time.” She pretended to toss it to the younger fairy.

  “Stop!” Fira hissed. She took the jar out of Sparkle’s hands and put it back on the shelf.

  “Is there any skin cream here, I wonder?” Helios said as he sorted through more potions in a corner.

  “This is a workshop,” Fira said. “We really have to be careful.”

  “Okay,” Glory agreed. She spun around clumsily, knocking over a jug marked MUSHROOM POISON! STAY AWAY!

  Fira caught the bottle just before it hit the ground.

  “Elixa?” she called loudly, and a bit desperately. “Are you here?”

  “Yes!”

  Fira jumped. Elixa had stepped out from behind a potted miniature raindrop cactus. She wore a light green smock, with lots of big deep pockets, and long gloves.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you,” Elixa said. She smiled at the triplets. “I was so busy working. I didn’t realize you were here.”

  Elixa held up a tube made from a plant stem. One end was stuck into the prickly cactus. “I’m extracting cactus juice.”

  “Is this part of a potion for the firefly flu?” Fira asked. “Along with the plants from Lily’s garden?”

  Elixa nodded. “I’m going to mix this with some ground-up mint. It should be an equal blend. One part soothing herb. One part sharp cactus medicine that gets right to the point of healing. Come look.”

  Fira hesitated. “Oh, the triplets will be fine,” Elixa said, as if reading her mind.

  Fira wasn’t so sure. But she really wanted to examine the healing potion. “Stay still,” she ordered the triplets.

  She ducked behind the cactus with Elixa. They both sat down, and Fira sighed. It felt good to rest. “See? Here comes the juice now,” Elixa said. “I’ll just give a careful squeeze to this part of the cactus. There!”

  “When will it be ready?” Fira asked.

  “Oh, not too long now,” Elixa said. “Maybe another hour.”

  “Another hour? You mean the fireflies will be better soon? They can light Pixie Hollow tonight? And go on the mining expedition?”

  Fira felt a burst of energy. Her glow flared. Things were beginning to look up.

  Elixa sat back on her heels. She carefully placed the healing potion on a worktable. “Well, the fireflies can take the medicine right after it’s finished. But I’m not sure how long it will take to work. It might be a few hours. It might be a few days.”

  “But tonight is the full moon! The expedition leaves no matter what.”

  Boom! The cactus gave a sudden jerk. Its spines shook. The plant stretched higher. It was growing!

  “What’s going on?” Elixa darted around, unsure of what to do.

  With another jerk, the cactus grew a bit more.

  “The triplets!” Fira said. She raced around the plant to find the three fairies.

  Silently, Glory held out an open jar. “‘Growing powder,’” Fira read.

  “I wanted to grow,” Glory admitted. “But I dropped some onto the cactus by accident.”

  “Silly little fairy,” said Sparkle. She reached for the jar.

  “Maybe it will work on my hair,” said Helios, reaching, too.

  As Glory pulled back, the others leaned forward. The jar tipped over. The rest of the powder poured onto the cactus.

  The plant shot up, knocking over jars and shelves. Its sharp spines scraped the walls. Fira grabbed the healing potion from the worktable just before a fast-growing spine knocked it over.

  Fira flew toward the ceiling, trying to outrace the growing cactus. The cactus stretched toward her. The workshop shook with the force.

  “I can’t go any higher!” Fira cried when she reached the ceiling.

  Afraid, the triplets pressed themselves against the wall. But the cactus spines kept coming…closer, and closer still, as the plant grew.

  “We’re going to get poked!” Glory shouted. “We can’t escape.”

  The fairies squeezed themselves into a corner. Glory gasped as a cactus spine pricked her clothes.

  “Stay calm,” Elixa ordered. She reached into a pocket of her smock and took out a small potions kit. “I always keep an emergency stash handy,” she said.

  She quickly mixed some green and red powders together. Then she soared between the needles, sprinkling the powder over the cactus.

  The plant jerked again. Then, slowly, it began to shrink.

  “Whew,” said Elixa. “That was close.”

  Fira helped the triplets out of the corner. But the laboratory was a disaster. Broken jars littered the floor. A layer of spilled powder covered tables, chairs, and shelves. Cactus spines stuck out of seat cushions and through potion recipe books.

  Everything was in shambles—again!

  “We’ll help clean up,” Sparkle offered. “Right, you two?” she said to the others.

  Glory and Helios nodded. “Do you have any extra smocks?” Helios asked. “I don’t want to get my clothes dirty.”

  Elixa shook her head. “I think you’re better off leaving things alone. This is a delicate job. Potions might get mixed together, and that could be trouble. Really, only healing-talent fairies should help.”

  “I’d fly backward,” Fira said for what felt like the millionth time that day.

  Elixa shrugged. “That’s okay.”

  Fira held up the healing potion for the fireflies. “At least we still have this.”

  Elixa eyed the triplets, then took the jar. “I’d better hold on to it.”

  Fira agreed. “We’ll leave now,” she said. She turned to the triplets.

  But they were already gone.

  THOSE FAIRIES! Fira thought. First Tink’s metal. Then Lily’s flower. Then the mess at Elixa’s workshop. And now they’ve flown off without a word. Who knows where they could have gone?

  She tried to think calmly. But her mind was racing. Sparkle had wanted to see the Mermaid Lagoon. Fira
would start there.

  But only the mermaids were at the lagoon, singing mermaid songs and combing their hair.

  Next, Fira visited the fairy-dust mill, the dairy barn, and Havendish Stream. The triplets were nowhere to be found.

  It was getting dark now. Not knowing what to do, Fira flew home. Her wings felt heavy. She yawned.

  Finally, she flew into the first floor of the Home Tree. Up she went through the holes in the ceilings, climbing floor by floor. She knew she had lots to think about. The triplets still needed to be found. And then there were the fireflies. What would happen to Pixie Hollow and the mining-talent fairies if the fireflies still had the flu? Fira needed to make some plans.

  But right now, all she wanted was to lie on her bed, close her eyes, and rest.

  She flew past the triplets’ room.

  Soft sounds escaped through the keyhole. Fira stopped short. They’d been there all along! If only she hadn’t been so hasty. If only she hadn’t wasted time scouring Pixie Hollow from one end to the other. She could have been napping instead. Of course she should have tried their room first.

  She burst into the bedroom.

  The three sat close together on one bed. They looked up, happy to see Fira. “You’re here!” said Sparkle. “We’ve been waiting for you!”

  “We made such a mess of things. We didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Helios explained.

  “What can we do to make things better?” Glory asked.

  Was there anything they could do? Fira hesitated.

  Just then, Spring, the message-talent fairy, flew in behind her. “I have a message from Elixa,” Spring told Fira. “The fireflies are feeling better.”

  “Thank goodness!” Fira clapped her hands.

  “But their glow is still weak,” Spring went on. “They might not be able to light Pixie Hollow for the whole night.”

  Fira drooped. Once again, the light-talent fairies couldn’t rest. Just in case the fireflies lost their glow, the fairies had to be ready to fill in.

  “The fireflies can’t guide the miners, either,” continued Spring. “It’s too risky.”

  No fireflies on the expedition? No light-talent fairies who could leave Pixie Hollow?

  That left Fira—and Fira alone—to lead the miners.

  An hour later, Fira sat in her room. She gazed at the full moon, drawing strength from its light. She’d already helped the light-talent fairies find their places around Pixie Hollow. She’d even made a schedule for them. Now it was almost time for the expedition.

  Fira knew she was taking on a lot. After all the flying and chasing and fairy-sitting she’d done that day, she felt tired already. But she had to be strong. She was in charge. And so many fairies were counting on her.

  She got up to leave.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  “No fair.” Sparkle’s voice came through the door loud and clear. “I told you I’d knock first.”

  “But you always go first,” Glory complained. “Why can’t I knock first?”

  Helios said, “Knock, snock. Let’s just go in. I’m sure Fira will be glad to see us. Are my wings straight?”

  Fira opened the door. “I was just on my way out,” she told them.

  “We need to say something first,” said Sparkle. She stepped in front of the others.

  Fira glanced at the moon. Time was running out. “I know you feel bad about everything that happened,” she said to the triplets. She tried not to sound impatient. “You’ve told me already. But I really need to go. The miners need me.”

  “We know. We want you to take us with you,” Sparkle said. “We can help.”

  “Yes!” said Helios. “You didn’t give us an assignment for tonight. All the other light-talent fairies have one.”

  “You don’t trust us,” added Glory, “because we made such a mess of things.” She jumped up and down and hit her head against the doorframe. “Ouch! But we have lots of light energy. We can really help…if you’ll let us.”

  Fira stared at the triplets. For a moment, she thought maybe they could help her with the mining trip. But then she remembered everything that had happened. Of course they were too young and too inexperienced to go.

  “The best way for you to help is to stay in your room,” she told them.

  “Don’t go anywhere. Don’t do anything. Don’t even talk to anyone.”

  Without another word, she darted out the window. As she flew, she could hear the triplets.

  “This is all your fault, Glory.”

  “No, it’s not. It’s your fault, Sparkle. You’re always so bossy.”

  “What about Helios? He never pays attention. Stop looking in that mirror, Helios!”

  But soon their voices faded away. Fira flew on, alone.

  THE NEVER MINE WAS DEEP in the woods. The entrance was a cave in a small clearing.

  Fira flew there quickly. She soared through the night in the light of the full moon.

  Outside the mine, Precious, Orren, and the other miners waited. One mouse stood ready, a mining cart harnessed to his back. The cart was empty. But the miners hoped to fill it with Never iron, pewter, and other metals. Another mouse carried sacks filled with axes, shovels, and picks.

  Fira landed next to Orren. “I’m here,” she said, “ready to light the tunnel.”

  Just then, a large cloud covered the moon. The woods darkened, and Fira shivered.

  “All right, Fira. It’s time to go,” Orren said in his gloomy voice. “Everyone, form a line. Fira, you should go first.”

  One by one, the fairies, sparrow men, and mice entered the tunnel. Fira brightened her glow. The tunnel was wide, but its ceiling was low, so the fairies had to walk instead of flying.

  By the light of her own glow, Fira could see bits of wood shoring up the cave ceiling. Clouds of dust danced around her feet. The miners plodded through the tunnel with heavy steps.

  “We’ll need to go far into the cave,” Precious said from behind Fira. “All the ore has been mined near the front.”

  Still, the mining expedition continued at the same slow pace. The fairies crept like snails through the tunnel. Bit by bit, the path narrowed. It dipped deep underground. It twisted and turned, splitting in two again and again.

  “Left,” Orren directed Fira. “Now right. Take that tunnel. The one with the steep stairs.”

  This is more complicated than any maze, Fira thought. I’m glad Orren knows the way!

  Not one glimmer of light seeped into the mine from outside now. The air felt cool.

  They went farther and farther into the tunnel. Water dripped from the walls. Fira hugged herself for warmth and turned up her glow.

  Her step was slowing. Her bones felt weary. She was glad when Orren said, “Stop. I have to check the map.”

  She rested a moment, directing her glow so that Orren could read. “We’re almost there,” he said. “Crystal Cave is just ahead. Past there, we should find new ore.”

  Orren squinted. “Can you glow a bit more brightly?” he asked Fira.

  “Everyone needs to be able to see.”

  Fira concentrated. Her light blazed more strongly.

  “Thank you,” Orren said gruffly.

  A few moments later, they stepped into a large cavern. Fira spun slowly. Glittering gems lined the walls. They reflected Fira’s light with brilliant reds, greens, and blues. Fira felt refreshed, as if her wings had been washed with cool water on a hot summer day. Her glow brightened.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Precious said. Her voice sounded lighter to Fira. Almost happy.

  Precious reached out and touched one of the gems. Fira could tell that Precious loved these rocks, just as Fira loved light. They were her joy. Fira gave Precious an understanding smile. Precious smiled back. Then she added in her gloomy way, “But we need to keep moving.”

  The expedition trudged forward. “Here it is,” announced Orren. Fira stopped. They stood in another large opening. But this cavern had no jewels. Its walls were smooth and bare.
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  “We can begin,” Orren told the others.

  Each miner took a tool.

  Fira sat in the center of the chamber. She cast her light into one corner, then another. She tried to brighten each spot in the cavern.

  If they mine as slowly as they walk, Fira thought, we’ll be here until the next full moon.

  But the miners were as quick as lightning. They struck the walls with picks. They hacked away at stones with axes. They shoveled bits of ore into the mouse cart.

  “Try this area!” Precious directed. “Go deeper over there!”

  Fira drew on all her strength to keep the room lit.

  In just a little while, the cart was filled. “Our job is done,” Orren said. “We can go.”

  The group started retracing their steps. Fira slipped on a stone and faltered. She righted herself. But something was wrong. Her glow was dimming. Full moon or no full moon, she felt more tired than she’d ever felt before.

  I can’t keep up my glow, she thought.

  After a few more steps, they entered Crystal Cave. Fira hoped that the bright gems would help her once again.

  Whoosh! A sharp gust of wind blew through the cavern. It hit Fira full force. She shook with the chill.

  “Oh, no!” she moaned. Her glow flickered, then went out.

  The jewels shone dimly. Fira guessed that the gems were picking up bits of light from the low, dim glows of the miners.

  “Too dark,” said Orren. “Can’t make out much of anything.”

  “Not even the way out,” Precious said with a shrug.

  “We can’t leave Crystal Cave!” Fira cried. “We can’t go anywhere at all!”

  They were trapped!

  “UH-HUH,” ORREN AGREED with Fira. “We’re stuck, all right.”

  “Looks like we’re goners,” Precious added in a flat tone.

  The other miners shuffled their feet. Some sat, leaning against big rocks. One miner twiddled her thumbs. Another scratched an itch.

  Orren poured cups of water for everyone from a chestnut-shell canteen.

  Nobody panicked. Nobody cried out in fear. They settled on the ground and accepted their fate. Even the mice stood quietly.