Fledge Star (6 page)

Mariella gave her an earnest nudge. ‘Because I want to help, that's why! Come on, Twink – we're on the team together. Why
wouldn't
I want to help you?'

Twink stared at her in amazement. Mariella, offering to help? But then again . . . why not? She had been nice these last few weeks – and so sympathetic over how the rest of the team were treating Twink! There was really no reason for Twink not to trust her.

‘I . . . yes, all right!' said Twink. She managed a wavering smile. ‘Thanks, Mariella.'

‘That's more like it,' grinned Mariella. ‘Don't worry, Twink – we'll have you back on the team in no time!'

.

Chapter Seven

‘So, ah . . . springtime is a very busy time,' mumbled Mr Woodleaf, peering nervously at his class. ‘Creatures such as . . . er . . . amphibians, especially, depend on us.'

Twink sighed. Another year with Mr Woodleaf in Creature Kindness, and he seemed just as terrified of them as ever!

Propping her chin on her hand, she gazed out of the window towards the Fledge field. Her wings tingled at the thought of zooming about the posts with the team again. And maybe it wouldn't be too much longer before she could.

She looked across the branch to where Mariella sat whispering with Lola. Who would ever have thought that the pointy-faced fairy would be so helpful? But true to her word, Mariella had been practising with Twink every afternoon for days now, going over and over the moves with her. Twink could feel
her confidence flooding back. Why, she might even be back on the team in time for the Forestglow match tomorrow!

Twink started as Mr Woodleaf heaved a large walnut bucket full of water on to his mushroom desk.
What
was he doing? She and Bimi exchanged perplexed glances.

Mr Woodleaf ran a hand through his dark green hair. ‘Right, ah . . . I have a very worried tadpole here.'

A tadpole! The class stood up, craning to see. Twink's eyes widened as she spotted a large, dark shape swimming about inside the bucket, with a long tail flicking behind it.

Mr Woodleaf cleared his throat. ‘You see, ah . . . tadpoles don't always want to become frogs.'

Reaching into the bucket, he gently lifted the tadpole partly out of the water. The class
oohed
in sympathy as they saw the wide-eyed expression on the little creature's face. It looked completely petrified!

Mr Woodleaf set the tadpole free again, and it hurriedly dived back under the water. Mr Woodleaf gloomily wiped his hands on a bit of mossy sponge.

‘He feels safe in the water, you see. We have to help him want to be a frog, or else he'll stay stuck as a tadpole for ever.'

Pix's hand flew up into the air. ‘Sir, should we sing him a song, like the frightened ladybirds we helped back in the first year?'

Mr Woodleaf nodded. ‘Yes, but a very different sort of song. Frogs do their own singing, you see – so to make him want to be a frog, we need to, ah . . . croon to him in his own language.'

Throwing his head back, Mr Woodleaf let out a loud, ‘
Ribbit! Croak-croak-ribbity-ribbit!'

Twink burst out laughing before she could stop herself – but it didn't matter, as everyone else was laughing as well!

Mr Woodleaf's cheeks reddened. ‘Ah . . . yes, well . . . let's hear
you
all do it. If we can make him want to be a frog, then our magic will speed up the transformation for him. All together, now! Try to follow the tune.'

Stifling her giggles, Twink struggled to master the ribbiting sounds. They were harder than she'd thought! Soon the Creature Kindness branch was echoing with ribbits and croaks. Mr Woodleaf conducted them with his hands, humming under his breath.

.

.

In the bucket, a rippling appeared on the surface of the water. A dark, round head peeked up over the rim.

‘Keep singing!' hissed Mr Woodleaf, still waving his hands about madly.

Her eyes glued to the tadpole, Twink croaked and ribbited louder than ever. The little creature blinked at them. A broad smile appeared across its face as it swished its tail about.

Then all at once, the tadpole began to grow a pair of hind legs. And then a pair of front legs grew, and the long tail began to shrink! Twink gasped as the tadpole's gills disappeared. Catching herself, she started to sing again.

With a splash, the tadpole leapt out of the bucket and squatted, dripping, on the desk. As the fairies sang with all their might, its skin changed from glossy black to bright green. Its eyes widened and turned gold. Finally the transformation was complete. It was a baby frog!

The girls stopped singing and cheered, beating their wings together. As the magpie's call pierced through the school, signalling the end of lessons, Mr Woodleaf picked up the frog with a shy, pleased smile.

‘Well done, girls! Ah . . . your homework tonight is to write a report about how to change tadpoles into frogs. Don't forget to include the tune!'

Twink quickly gathered up her books, humming to herself. Creature Kindness was their last lesson of the day. She could hardly wait to get on to the Fledge field again!

‘Another practice with Mariella?' asked Bimi casually, not looking at her.

Twink nodded. ‘That's right.'

‘Oh,' said Bimi, lifting a wing.

Twink hesitated with a petal book in her hand, not sure what to say next. Bimi had been acting funny about her practice sessions for days now. ‘What's wrong?' she asked finally.

Bimi made a face, flapping her bright wings. ‘Oh, I don't know! It's just strange that Mariella's being so nice, that's all.'

Twink shook her head as the others started flitting from the branch. ‘I know, but Mariella's different when we play Fledge. Honestly, Bimi, she's helped me loads already! We've spent hours and hours practising together.'

‘Mmm. And what is
she
getting out of it?' Bimi drew her blue eyebrows together sceptically.

Twink let out a breath. Oh! Bimi was acting so
right
again. It was just like when she had told Twink to go to sleep instead of studying the set pieces for the match! She shoved the petal book into her bag.

‘We're both on the team, that's all,' she said stiffly. ‘Teammates help each other – I wouldn't expect you to understand!'

The Flea leapt from post to post, sailing high in the air with every jump. Twink narrowed her eyes as she swooped after it. Timing her attack just right, she twisted to change direction – and then lunged upwards! The Flea gave a surprised squeak, and struggled in her arms.

‘Got you!' cried Twink triumphantly. ‘Mariella, look! I got him!'

Mariella's smile looked a bit strained. ‘Glimmery.'

Still holding the struggling Flea, Twink skimmed across the field to Mariella. ‘I think I'm ready to try out for Madge!' she cried excitedly. ‘Don't you? The Forestglow game is tomorrow – Madge will be so relieved to have me back on the team!'

Mariella took the Flea from Twink and put him back in his cage. ‘Yes, I – I suppose.'

Twink stared at her. ‘What do you mean?'

Mariella smiled. ‘Nothing. Forget I said anything. I think that's enough practice for today, don't you?' Grabbing up the cage, she skimmed quickly off towards where Lola waited for her on the sidelines.

‘But –' Twink frowned in confusion, and then flitted after her.

Mariella and Lola were in a huddle on the sidelines, whispering together. As Twink drew closer, their voices carried across the grass.

‘You mean you haven't
told
her?' demanded Lola.

‘Shh! No, I haven't!' hissed Mariella back.

Lola shook her head. ‘Well, I really
think you ought to –'

‘Tell me what?' asked Twink as she flew up beside them. Bewildered, she looked from one to the other.

Mariella scowled. ‘Nothing! Lola, flap off!'

The thin little fairy gave a haughty sniff. ‘Fine! But you know I'm right.' She flitted away, her pale blue wings wavering in the sunlight.

Twink's hands felt clammy. ‘Um . . . what is she right about?'

‘Nothing, I said!' Mariella's eyebrows drew together. ‘Oh, Twink, just forget about it, can't you? I don't want to hurt your feelings!'

Twink stared at her. ‘Hurt my feelings? How?'

Mariella flushed. ‘Well, there's something I know, but – but I don't want to have to tell you.' Her eyes filled with tears. ‘But now that Lola's let the moth out of the bag, I suppose I
have
to tell you, don't I?'

‘Tell me what?' Twink shook Mariella's arm as they hovered. ‘Mariella! What is it?'

‘All right.' Mariella sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘I – I didn't
want
to tell you this, but – well – I don't think you should go back to Madge about being on the team.'

Though it was a warm spring day, Twink suddenly felt like an icicle had dropped between her wings. ‘Why not?'

‘Because – because the rest of the team don't want you back!' blurted Mariella. ‘Oh, Twink, I didn't want to tell you! But I
heard
them! They were saying the most awful things about how you play –'

‘But I've got so much better now,' whispered Twink.

Mariella shook her head. ‘They don't care. They don't trust you any more after the Sparklelight match. They want you off the team.'

‘Oh.' Twink's wings slowed to a stop. She drifted downwards, landing on the ground. Her throat felt too tight to speak.

.

.

Mariella swooped down beside her. ‘Oh, Twink, it's really mean of them!' she cried. ‘After you've worked so hard, too. It's just not fair!'

‘No – well – never mind,' muttered Twink. Suddenly she couldn't bear talking for a moment longer; she had to get away! ‘I'll – I'll see you later!' she burst out, and took off into the air as fast as she could.

A smile spread across Mariella's face as she watched Twink fly away. Picking up the cage she peered at the Flea, waggling her finger through the bars at him. ‘That didn't go badly at all, did it?' she said cheerfully.

‘I don't believe it!' said Bimi, her blue eyes flashing. It was later that same day, and the two girls had just flown into the Great Branch for dinner. Drawing Twink to one side, Bimi propped her hands on her hips.

‘Twink, you've gone completely mad if you trust Mariella for one single second! Have you actually
forgotten
what she's like?'

Bimi had seen how upset Twink was when she returned to school, and it hadn't taken much for her to get the whole story out of her friend. Now Twink shook her pink head miserably as the rest of the school streamed past them, landing with skips and jumps.

‘It's not like that, Bimi. I told you! She's – she's been really helpful, trying to get me back on the team again. Besides, the others haven't spoken to me since the Sparklelight match! It must be true.'

‘Rubbish,' said Bimi. ‘Why don't you just
ask
them?'

Twink felt the blood leave her face. ‘Ask them?'

‘Of course!' cried Bimi, flapping her wings. ‘Honestly, Twink, you're ready to give up because of what
Mariella
said – so why not just ask the others if it's true? At least then you'll know!'

Twink looked doubtfully towards the upper-year tables. Mia and a few of the others on the team all sat together, at the Gardenia Branch table. Could she really get up the courage to go and ask them what they thought of her? She shivered.