Fira and the Full Moon (6 page)

“U
H-HUH
,” O
RREN 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.

“I’m not giving up!” Fira said.

But what could she do? They were so far underground. So far from light.

The only thing she could do was rest…and see if her glow came back.

She found a corner where the gems twinkled the most brightly. Sitting back against the wall, she closed her eyes.

A heaviness settled over her wings. She felt herself drift. Seconds passed, then minutes. Finally, Fira sat up with a start. Had she even slept? She didn’t think so. She was too anxious.

“Feeling better?” Orren asked.

Fira wasn’t sure. A blast of cool air blew through the cavern. She shivered. She hadn’t felt cold when the expedition had kept moving. But now that they were staying in one spot, she felt chilled to the bone. Her stomach rumbled with hunger.

“I’ll try to glow now,” she told Orren.

Fira took a deep breath. Her glow flickered, strong and bright. She grinned. It was working! But then, as if a switch had turned it off, the light snuffed out.

Fira took another breath and tried with every inch of her being to glow.

Nothing happened.

“This is all my fault!” she cried. “We’re trapped here because of me.”

Orren patted her back. “There, there. We knew the danger. We wanted to go. We are at fault.”

Fira knew that it was useless to place blame. But she couldn’t help scolding herself.

“Oh, why did I come on my own?” she asked herself aloud. “I could have taken another light talent or two. But no, no. I was so sure I could do this alone, without anyone’s help. And now we’re all in real trouble.” She put her head in her hands.

“There, there,” Orren said again, awkwardly. “Someone will come looking for us. Eventually.”

“Eventually.” Fira sighed. How long would that be?

Fira and the miners fell quiet. In the silence, Fira heard a noise. It sounded like a giggle.

Was she imagining things?

Tee-hee.

It
was
a giggle!

“What?” A few miners raised their heads.

“Shhh!” Fira held a finger to her lips. Now she heard voices. Three different voices, talking to one another. Arguing.

Could it be?

The voices grew louder.

“I see footprints over here!”

“No! There are more footprints this way. Let’s take this tunnel.”

“No, no, no, Sparkle. You think you know everything. This is the way to go!”

It was the triplets! They were right outside Crystal Cave!

“Sparkle! Helios! Glory!” shouted Fira. She had never thought she’d be so happy to hear their arguing.

“Helios! Glory! Sparkle!” she added, to be fair. Then, “Glory, Sparkle, Helios! We’re here! We’re here!”

T
HE TRIPLETS BURST INTO
Crystal Cave. Their glows lit the room with a dazzling brightness.

Fira rushed over to give them hugs. “What are you doing here?” she cried.

Sparkle shrugged. For once, she seemed unsure. “We thought we could help.”

“We know we didn’t listen to you,” Helios added. “You told us to stay in our room. But we followed you. We thought you might have trouble. We thought you really could use our help.”

“Yes,” Glory put in. “We all agreed. We didn’t have one fight about it.”

“Our glows are so strong,” Sparkle said. “We have all this energy. And you seemed…tired.”

Precious stepped closer. “Looks like we’re rescued,” she said with a sigh. “Yes,” said Orren. “Let’s give a cheer.”

“Hooray,” the miners chimed together in flat voices. “Hooray for the triplets.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Fira laughed with relief. “Let’s get going!”

This time, the triplets led the way. They took turns going first, the other two walking behind with Fira.

“So you’re not angry?” Glory asked.

Fira shook her head. “You really rescued us. I should have realized what a help you’d be. I judged you too quickly.”

And wasn’t I just as rash when I was a young fairy?
Fira thought. Even now, she didn’t always think everything through. Like the triplets, she was still learning.
After all, a true leader has to work as part of a team.

The expedition wound its way back through the maze of tunnels. Then, as the sun began to rise, they went out of the cave entrance and into the woods.

“Not much longer now,” said Precious in a glum voice. “We’re almost home.”

A few minutes later, the miners stopped at the dairy barn. “We have to put these mice to bed now,” Orren said. “So we’ll part here.”

Fira hugged Precious. The mining fairy stood stiffly for a moment. Then Fira felt her hug back. “See you in the tearoom!” Fira called to the miners.

But suddenly, she let out a jaw-cracking yawn. She felt too tired for breakfast. Instead, the triplets led her to her cozy room.

“Here,” said Helios. He passed by the mirror without so much as a glance. “You get into bed.”

“Yes,” Sparkle agreed. “Good idea, Helios.” She took Fira’s shoes off and fluffed up the pillow. Fira lay down. Glory pulled the blanket up to her chin.

“Hey!” said Fira sleepily. “You’re still not fighting.”

“Maybe we learned something, too,” Glory said. “Now you just rest. We’ll get you a nice cup of baby blue tea.”

“I’ll brew it!” Sparkle said eagerly.

“No, it was my idea!” Glory said. “I’ll do it!”

“I want to!” Helios rushed to the kettle. “I can make a perfect cup.”

The arguing went on and on. But Fira didn’t hear a thing. She was fast asleep.