The Magical Land- Children Series

We have company!

The way to the Palace of the Faeries turned more
sinuous with each step. The three friends remained
silent, absorbed by their thoughts. Footprints left
soft indentations that were quickly filled by the
moss that seemed to cover the forest ground.

Everywhere they looked they marveled at the wonders
of the Magical Land. Cascading waterfalls and shallow
ponds, refelected the color of the rainbow. Nestled
between the trees a bee's nest humed with activity.

Once they saw a small fleet of dragon flies, their
scales shining an iridescent green.

The air smelled of sweetness. The heady scents of
honey and flowers were everywhere. Suddenly, they came
accross a canyon of great depth. Ahead of them
streched a bridge of floating rocks.

"By all the saints! How are we to cross this!"
exclaimed Mr. Goat

"Be calm, gentleman," Mr. Owl tested his wings. "I
believe I will go first. If is not safe to cross, I
can always fly and find us another way to cross."

"Good idea, Mr. Owl." agreed the wolf "Beware any
traps."

The owl look over his wings at the wolf. He didn't
need to hear that. Marching to the first stone, he
stared at it and then at the bottom of the cliff.
Supressing a shudder, he took a deep breath lifted his
wings and landed safely on the first stone. Turning
around to encourage his friends, he felt a warm
sensation on his talons. It spread to
his body and before he knew it...

"Mr. Owl!!" screamed the goat

"Mr. Owl, are you ok?!" howled the wolf pacing the
edge of the cliff

Where the rock had been, there was only open air. The
rock had vanished, along with Mr. Owl. The two friends
stared in horror, unable to accept their friend was
gone.

"Close your mouth, you two!" Mr. Owl's voice sounded
out in the near distance

"Mr. Owl!" they exclaimed in unison

"I'm alright!" He sighed. "I suppose that the rock is
magical and I am simply invisible while I stand
on it"

"You gave us a scare!" said the goat.

"Come off the rock Mr.Owl!" the wolf called out.

"Nonsense! I will continue 'til the end and then get
off the bridge." said Mr.Owl. "Now follow along, man."

Mr.Goat looked up at the darkening sky and the clouds
moving in from the east. It looked like there was a
storm brewing. The purple clouds he had seen before
were nearly black

"Yes, let us make haste. A storm is brewing" he
stepped onto the first stone, and disappeared.

Mr. Wolf felt a tingle on the back of his neck. He
sniffed the air, sensing a smell he hadn't been aware
of before. He turned but couldn't see any danger.

"Hurry up, Mr. Wolf!" shouted Mr. Goat

"I'm coming." He started towards the bridge.

Mr.Owl was ruffling his feathers, now visible.
Mr.Goat had just gotten off the bridge when he let
out a long pent-up breath.

"Cheer up. Mr. Goat it wasn't ..." he broke his
sentence

Shaking the magical dust off, Mr.Goat looked up from
his grooming to watch Mr.Owl. His friend staring at
the rocks as they dissapeared. The first one should
be to Mr.Wolf's . But the rock two steps back
grew invisible also. Something was coming
right behind Mr. Wolf!

"Run! Run ,Mr.Wolf.Someone is behind you!" shouted
both friends.

"I knew it!" growled Mr. Wolf.

The wolf took two giant leaps almost missing his
step and landed with a hard thud on the edge of the
cliff. He turned just in time to see the final stone
disappear. He noticed the sweet, musky scent again.

"W...who's there? " asked the goat.

Only silence followed.

"If someone is there, we mean no harm. We need
directions to the Palace of the Faeiries." said Mr.Owl

Just then, thunder rolled and lighting flashed in the
now dark purple skies. Drops of golden rain started
falling and soon they were drenched in the glowing
liquid.

Ahead of them, all of the rocks appeared and just
then they saw her. She was floating on thin air. Her
tiny frame was aglow because of the water. Strong
little arms crossed over her chest and her bluish
hair whipped in the wind. Defiance stood written all
ver her angelical features.

"State your names and business, foreigners. Or I will
be forced to call reenforcements!"

Her voice pitched so high, the three friends had to
grit their teeth to keep from screaming.