Magic Bunny: Classroom Capers (6 page)

Still giggling silently at what had just happened, Julia crept back into the tent. Astonishingly, the other Wolverines were still fast asleep and had missed all the excitement.

‘Thanks, Arrow. You can do such amazing things,’ Julia whispered, stroking his warm fur.

Her magic bunny reached round to nuzzle her hand. ‘You helped me, when I thought my enemies were close. So I am glad I could help you,’ he said.

Something occurred to Julia. ‘What if it really
had
been dark rabbits outside? Would you have had to go back to Moonglow Meadow?’ she asked anxiously.

Arrow nodded. ‘I am afraid I would,’ he told her gently. ‘I must always protect the key. It is my duty as guardian.’

‘Well, now you don’t need to leave. Maybe you could stay with me forever? I could help you keep the key safe,’ Julia said hopefully.

‘I am sorry. That is not possible,’ Arrow said gently. ‘I will stay until Moonglow Meadow urgently needs more magic. When that happens, I may have to leave at once, without saying goodbye. Do you understand, Julia?’

Julia nodded, trying not to get upset, and she decided to enjoy every moment of their time together, however long that might be.

‘I hate wobbly bacon. I want mine cooked more than that!’ Ellie fussed, looking over Lex’s shoulder.

Lex stepped back from the cooker. ‘Well, you do it then! I’ll stir the beans instead. Unless you’ve got a problem with them too?’

Ellie banged the frying pan about as she turned the rashers. ‘No, but just stay out of my way, OK?’

‘Me? You’re getting in
my
way!’

Julia hid a groan. Ellie and Lex were at it again. And they’d been getting on so well the day before. She had a funny feeling that they liked each other though, even if they did argue.

‘I’m just glad I’m in charge of the toaster!’ she said to Arrow.

He sat invisibly on the work surface, watching her in fascination.
Ping!
Another two slices of toasted bread popped up. Julia lifted them out and put two more slices of bread in, before adding the toast to the pile on a plate.

‘I like toast!’ Arrow licked his lips, his nose twitching.

Despite the squabbling, breakfast was cooked on time. Julia and the rest of the Wolverines served the other teams and then finally sat down as well.

Mr Potter and the other teachers sat nearby.

‘… strange rumours about haunted towels, if you please!’ Mr Potter was saying. ‘I heard a teacher from the other school talking about it in the shower block.’

‘Moonlight
can
play very strange tricks,’ Miss Granger laughed. She was one of Julia’s favourite teachers.

They all laughed. Julia did too. She glanced down at Arrow who sat on her lap. No one would ever believe what had really happened!

After breakfast, the Elks washed up and cleared away and then everyone had a game of cricket in the camping field. Next door, the older school kids were being shown how to make a temporary shelter from what they could find lying about in the woods.

Julia noticed Kelly looking her way as she dragged a branch back across the field. There was a thoughtful expression on the girl’s spiteful face.
Maybe she still hasn’t learned that it’s a bad idea to pick on younger kids – especially with Arrow around
, Julia thought.

In the afternoon, the teams were allowed to walk with a teacher into the nearby village. Arrow had curled his front paws over the opening of Julia’s backpack and was enjoying the scenery.

When they arrived in the village, to Julia’s disappointment most of the shops were closed. She had hoped to buy her magic bunny a treat with her pocket money. She and Arrow were passing a charity shop when something in the window caught her eye.

‘Wow! Look at those cool roller boots!’ Julia enthused. ‘That tag next to them says they’re my size too. My old boots are too small for me now. I’ve wanted some new ones for ages and I’ve just got enough money to buy these. What a shame the shop’s closed.’

‘I could get them for you with my magic,’ Arrow offered. ‘You could put the money through the door.’

Julia was tempted, but she shook her head. ‘Better not. They would be difficult to hide. Miss Granger would notice and ask loads of questions. Maybe we could come back for them another time.’

Arrow nodded. ‘Very well.’

‘Thanks anyway for wanting to help.’ Julia smiled fondly at her friend. She checked the shop’s opening times. ‘It’s open again on Thursday.’

She glanced at the window one last time before she and Arrow moved away. The roller boots were white with red stars on the ankles and red laces. She could already imagine herself zooming down the street on them.

Chapter
EIGHT

Thursday dawned bright and clear.

The week seemed to have sped by and Julia could hardly believe that this was the last full day of the holiday. Early next morning they’d all be going home. She felt a bit sad about leaving. Ellie and Lex had certainly made the holiday more interesting – they were finally getting on better now, making jokes and being more friendly towards each other.

‘I can’t stop thinking about those roller boots,’ she said to Arrow. ‘I hope there’ll be time to go back to the shop in the village.’

Arrow nodded.

But the entire morning was taken up with a cross-country hike. Everyone, including Julia, arrived back at camp tired and hungry. It was the Bears’ turn to make lunch and they soon turned out mounds of delicious egg sandwiches and fresh lemonade.

‘I hope you’ve all recovered,’ Mr Potter said, as Julia and Arrow sprawled on the grass afterwards with all the other kids, enjoying the warm sunshine. ‘Miss Granger has organized a treasure hunt.’

‘That’s right.’ Miss Granger handed out printed sheets of paper. ‘I’ve made a list of things for you to find. You’ll win points for everything you bring back to camp.’

The teams huddled in groups as they studied the lists.

‘This will be fun,’ Julia told Arrow as they set off. ‘You can join in and help me look for stuff.’

Arrow pricked up his floppy ears. ‘I would like that.’

‘OK. Ready troops?’ Mr Potter sent the Bears and Cougars off in one direction, and the Wolverines and Elks in another.

It was a lovely afternoon and Julia enjoyed wandering slowly across the fields with Arrow hopping along beside her. Now and then he stopped to nibble a patch of clover or snuffle a wild flower.

As they reached the woods, Julia and her team-mates went off in different directions to find the items they’d decided to look for.

‘We have to find a fir cone,’ she told Arrow, as everyone spread out under the trees.

The silver-blue bunny reared up on to his back legs excitedly. ‘I know of these from my world! Pine nuts are delicious!’ he told her eagerly.

Leaping forward he began snuffling around in the leaves that lined the forest floor and then dived beneath a clump of fern. The tall fronds waggled about as Arrow rooted beneath them. After a few seconds he backed out of the ferns, dragging the most enormous fir cone Julia had ever seen. It was almost as big as his whole body.

She only just managed not to burst out laughing. Her friend’s furry little sides heaved as he dropped the fir cone at her feet.

‘Well done! Thanks, Arrow.’

‘You are welcome,’ he puffed proudly, looking pleased with himself.

Holding the fir cone, and with Arrow tucked invisibly under one arm, Julia joined the other Wolverines. Between them, they had found most things on the list.

Lex had found an oak leaf. He twirled it between his fingers as he stood looking down at Ellie who was on her knees, her fingers combing through the grass. ‘All we need now is a pink flower petal,’ he said to her.

‘There are plenty of yellow flowers and here’s a blue one,’ Ellie murmured. ‘I’ve been looking for ages, but pink ones are difficult to find.’

‘Well, look harder,’ Lex suggested.

‘I am!’ Ellie said crossly. ‘I don’t see you looking. You could help, instead of just standing there giving orders!’

Lex sighed heavily. ‘I’ve found an oak leaf, haven’t I? Come on, hurry up. We don’t want to be the last ones back.’

Julia looked meaningfully at Arrow. Lex was being so bossy, even though Ellie was trying really hard.

‘I’ll help you,’ Julia said, scanning the ground with Ellie.

It took ages to find a pink flower and it was Arrow who eventually sniffed one out. Julia whispered her thanks as she carefully picked one petal. ‘Yay! That’s it! We’ve finished,’ she called in a louder voice.

‘Thanks, Julia,’ Ellie said, smiling.

‘Yeah. And sorry for being a grouch,’ Lex murmured, giving Ellie a friendly shove. Grinning, she shoved him back.

The Wolverines returned triumphantly to camp, to find the Elks and Cougars already there. The Bears arrived shortly after and everyone spread out their treasures.

Mr Potter and Miss Granger awarded team points and then everyone crowded round the wall chart to watch as she added them up to find out the final scores.

‘A dead heat!’ Mr Potter declared, with a rare smile. ‘Well done everyone.’

‘Yay!’ It was a popular result. Bears, Wolverines, Elks and Cougars whooped and capered about, exchanging high fives.