A Forest Charm (2 page)

As people stood around chatting outside the cabin, Cassie saw a chance to slip away. “Just heading to the bathroom!” she called to her dad.

“Okay, honey. Don't be long,” he said.

Cassie headed past the bathroom and ducked around the back of the cabin. She was alone with just the open forest in front of her. Fishing in her backpack, she pulled out a bar of chocolate.

“Yum, yum,” Cassie breathed, licking her lips.

She was about to take a big, luxurious bite, when suddenly, a dazzling bright flash of gold light shot out in all directions from the bush in front of her.

Cassie blinked hard, blinded for a moment. She rubbed her eyes and saw a tiny, cute puppy with fuzzy, white fur, a stocky body, and short legs crawling out of the bush.

“Can you help me, please?” it woofed.

Cassie gaped at the little, white puppy in utter amazement and the chocolate bar slipped from her numb fingers on to the ground.

She must be so hungry that she was hearing things! Talking puppies didn't just appear to small and ordinary girls. Even Jilly Atkins had never met one and she'd explored all kinds of strange and remote places.

Cassie shook her head, laughing at herself. Her dad always said that she had an overactive imagination.

“Hello, you,” she crooned, rubbing her fingers together to encourage the tiny puppy to come closer. “I think you must be a little Westie. Aren't you gorgeous? I wonder which of the instructors you belong to.”

The puppy pricked its ears, and two bright, midnight blue eyes looked up at her from behind a little fringe of fluffy, white fur. “I belong to no one but myself. I am Storm of the Moon-claw pack.”

Cassie did a double take. She snatched her hand back as if it had been burned. “Y-you really c-can talk?” she gasped.

“Yes, I can. Who are you?” the puppy yapped.

Cassie still couldn't quite believe this was happening, but she didn't want to scare the amazing puppy away. She squatted down to make herself seem smaller and less threatening.

The puppy pricked its ears and put its little head to one side, waiting for her to answer. Although Storm was really tiny, he seemed quite sure of himself.

“I'm Cassie. Cassie Yorke. I'm here with my dad to do some family team building. It's part of Dad's new job,” she explained.

Storm bent his neck in a formal bow. “I am honored to meet you, Cassie.” He took a few steps closer and reached out his neck.

Cassie grinned delightedly as the cute puppy's buttonlike black nose twitched and then she felt the little wet tip brushing against her fingers. She gently rubbed Storm's soft chest and then moved up to stroke his ears.

It still felt really weird to be having a conversation with a puppy, but Cassie's curiosity began to take over from her initial shock. “We're miles from anywhere in the middle of this forest. How come you're here if you don't belong to anyone?” she asked, puzzled.

Storm's tiny body began trembling all over like a leaf. “An evil lone wolf named Shadow is looking for me. He killed my father and litter brothers and injured my mother. Shadow wants to lead the Moon-claw pack, but the others will not follow him while I live.”

“But you're just a helpless little puppy. Why would an evil wolf—” Cassie began.

Storm backed away. “I will show you!”

There was another flash of bright gold light, and big sparks rained down all around Cassie and sizzled on the damp forest floor as they landed.

“Oh!” Cassie cried, blinking hard. But as her sight cleared, she caught her breath.

The tiny, white puppy had disappeared and in its place there crouched a majestic, young, silver-gray wolf with bright midnight blue eyes. Specks of gold dust gleamed in its fur and shone from within its deep neck-ruff.

Cassie eyed the wolf's sharp teeth and powerful muscles. “Storm?” she breathed nervously.

“Yes, it is me. Do not be afraid. I will not harm you,” Storm told her in a deep, velvety growl.

While Cassie was still struggling to take in the sight of Storm as his magnificent real self, there was a final dazzling flash and Storm reappeared once more as a tiny, white, scared-looking West Highland terrier puppy.

“Wow! That's an amazing disguise!” Cassie said, completely overwhelmed by what had just happened. “Shadow will never recognize you now.”

Storm blinked up at Cassie with a troubled expression. “Shadow will use his magic to find me as soon as he can and then no disguise will protect me. I need to hide now. Can you help me?”

Cassie's soft heart went out to the terrified little puppy. With his bright blue eyes peeking out from behind his bangs, square little face, and pointed ears, he was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. “I'd really love to. But I don't see how I can,” she said, chewing her lip. “We have to take part in lots of awful exercises. I bet some of the families might think a puppy would slow us down too much.” Cassie frowned as she thought about the Ronsons in particular.

“Do not worry, Cassie!” Storm barked softly, jumping up and pawing her waterproof pants. “I will use my magic so that only you can see and hear me!”

“You mean—you can make yourself invisible? Cool! Then you can come with me. Maybe you should do it now before someone sees you.”

Storm shook himself, so that tiny sparks flew out of his fluffy, white fur. “It is done.”

“Yay! It's going to be fantastic having someone nice I can talk to this weekend,” Cassie said. “Wait until I tell Dad about you. He's great at keeping secrets!”

“No! Only you must know I am here. You can never tell anyone. Promise me, Cassie,” Storm woofed, his little face serious.

Cassie felt disappointed that she couldn't even tell her dad the exciting news. But Storm looked so scared, gazing up at her with pleading, blue eyes. Cassie decided then and there that if it would help to keep Storm safe, she was prepared to agree.

“Okay. Cross my heart! That's my own way of saying I promise,” she said as Storm's furry, white brow wrinkled in a puzzled frown.

“I've been looking everywhere for you!” an irritated voice suddenly demanded from behind her.

Cassie froze as she recognized Erin's bossy tone.

“Who on earth are you talking to?”

Cassie whipped around guiltily. “Me? I was just talking to . . . er . . . myself,” she said hastily.

“Your dad sent me to find you,” Erin grumbled. “I thought you said that you'd be in the girls' bathroom.”

“Um . . . yeah. I've just . . . er . . . finished in there,” Cassie said distractedly. “I forgot the way back.”

Storm was sitting there large as life barely a foot away. Even though Storm had said he was now invisible, Cassie couldn't quite believe it. She tensed, waiting for Erin to notice the little puppy. But the older girl didn't comment and Cassie began to relax.

“I'm coming now,” she said, reaching for her backpack.

“About time, too,” Erin scolded.

Storm was now rolling on his back in the grass. He looked as cute as could be with his fat, pale tummy showing and all four of his short, white legs in the air. Cassie had to try really hard not to giggle.

“What's so funny?” Erin asked sounding annoyed.

“Nothing,” she said, forcing herself to concentrate. Luckily, Storm stood up and shook himself just as an extra-big giggle rose up in her chest. Cassie hastily turned it into a cough. “Sorry . . . er . . . frog in my throat. I bet it's going to take forever to make a fire and build a shelter and stuff,” she said, quickly changing the subject.

Erin smirked. “Not with
my
dad helping, it won't! Mom says he's a whiz with power tools. He can make anything. He made me an amazing tree house, with a ladder and slide and everything.”

I'd like to see him try to plug in an electric screwdriver in the middle of the forest
, Cassie thought, fed up with Erin's boasting.

“Hey!” Erin cried, spotting the chocolate bar on the ground. She swooped down and picked it up. “Is that yours? Have you been eating a secret snack?”

“No, I have not!” Cassie said truthfully. Well, it was true that she hadn't eaten any chocolate—yet. And after finding Storm, she'd forgotten all about it. “Anyway, so what? It's only one tiny little bar.”

“It's against the rules to bring your own food. Let's see what the others have to say when I show them this!” Erin waved the bar in the air triumphantly.

“Give it back!” Cassie cried, jumping up to try and reach it, but Erin kept dodging out of her way.

Suddenly, Storm streaked upward, shedding a glittering rocket's trail of gold sparkles behind him. He shot between Cassie and Erin, grasping the bar in his sharp little teeth. Tossing his head, he pulled the chocolate out of Erin's hand.