Secret Rescuers

Maya was so excited she could hardly breathe. She’d never seen a sky unicorn foal before! His legs were slender and his soft coat was so white it almost glowed…

Chapter One

The Snow White Foal

Maya leaned over the side of the boat and let her fingers trail through the cool water. It was wonderful to sail along with the breeze tickling her cheek and ruffling her long black hair. She loved watching the ducks swim and seeing the rabbits scampering along the sandy bank. The river ran all the way through the Emerald Plain and there was so much wildlife to see!

Sometimes, if she was really lucky, Maya would catch sight of a magical creature.

There were lots of amazing magical animals in the Kingdom of Arramia, like giant eagles with golden feathers, star wolves that sang, and even sky unicorns!

The river sparkled in the sunshine. Two planets, one green and one purple, hung in the cloudless sky.

Leaning out a bit further, Maya watched the six boats following theirs down the river.

Each one had a large white sail and a cabin painted in bright red, blue and green. Maya and her family were part of Mr Inigo’s Amazing Travelling Troupe. They sailed up and down the kingdom’s lakes and rivers, stopping in every town to put on a show. Right now they were on their way to the town of Blyford on the shores of Misty Lake.

Maya smiled to herself. She couldn’t wait for the next show. She was going to perform a new dance in the turquoise dress she was wearing.

She’d been practising for weeks!

“Maya, don’t lean out too far,” said her mum. “You don’t want to fall in with that nice dress on!”

Maya moved back a little and smoothed the folds of the turquoise dress. It was made of a silky material that shimmered in the light. “Are we close to Misty Lake yet?”

“It’s not far now,” her mum replied. “I expect we’ll look for a place to camp soon.”

Her dad came out of the cabin and took hold of the main rope to pull in the sail. Then he fetched a small silver trumpet and blew a single note. On the next boat, Maya’s three older brothers took down their sail. Then they each blew a note on their own silver trumpet. This was how they sent messages down the line of boats. Soon all the sails were in and the boats slowed down a little.

“There’s Misty Lake – just beyond the bridge.” Her dad pointed to a wooden bridge
not far downstream. A mass of glittering water lay just beyond it.

“I can see it!” Maya made a graceful jump, raising her arms as if they were wings. Then she twirled around. They were moves from her new dance.

“Maya!” Her mum laughed. “Remember, no dancing on the boat. There isn’t room!”

“Sorry, I forgot!” Maya stopped herself halfway through the spin.

The boat sailed around a bend in the river and a towering hill came into view. There was a pale shape standing at the top, which made Maya catch her breath.

It was a sky unicorn.

As Maya watched, more unicorns trotted over the brow of the hill, their snowy manes flowing in the breeze. With their white coats, golden horns and brightly coloured tails, they looked like the most beautiful creatures in the whole kingdom!

Maya had seen sky unicorns before, but never so many together. There must have been at least twenty of them! The tallest one at the front lifted his head and his golden horn gleamed in the sunlight. Maya had heard stories about how sky unicorns could gallop into the air and race right through the clouds, but she’d never seen them do it. She watched them eagerly, but the magical animals showed no sign of leaving the hill.

“They’re amazing, aren’t they?” said her dad. “Now, where did I put the spare mooring rope?”

“I wish they’d fly,” sighed Maya. “If I could gallop through the sky I’d do it all the time.”

“Perhaps there’s a foal,” said her mum. “Unicorns will often stay on the ground if there’s a foal because the little ones can’t fly until they’re older. Now, I’d better help your dad find that rope.” She hurried away.

The sky unicorns walked slowly down the hill to the river, close to Maya’s boat. A little foal
skipped to the front of the herd, his turquoise tail swishing happily. Then he bent his head to drink from the river. Maya was so excited she could hardly breathe. She’d never seen a unicorn foal before. His legs were slender and his soft coat was so white it almost glowed. He raised his head and looked at her with big dark eyes.

“Hello, I’m Maya!” she called softly.

The foal nodded his head and shook his snowy mane, almost as if he were saying hello back.

Just then, a man riding a horse appeared at the top of the hill. Maya guessed at once that he must be a knight because he was dressed in armour. When he saw the unicorns, he shouted at two guards who were hurrying after him.

Then he drew his sword and rode towards the unicorns. “Stop, you horrible beasts!” he bellowed. “Stop in the name of the queen.”

The unicorn foal jumped in fright and his tail trembled.

Maya turned to her parents in alarm, but they’d both disappeared into the cabin.

The sky unicorns dashed along the riverbank, scared away by the man’s fierce shouting. The knight chased them, urging his horse to go faster. The sky unicorns quickened into a gallop. Racing along the riverbank, they dashed across the wooden bridge that spanned the river. Their hooves made a sound like thunder.

The knight urged his horse to go faster but he couldn’t match their speed. “How dare you!” he yelled. “Come back at once! All magical beasts are to be captured by Royal Order.” He called to the guards, but they were slowed down by their heavy swords and shields.

Maya watched with wide eyes. Why would
anyone
want to chase a unicorn? The herd had almost reached the end of the bridge now. Soon they would be on the other side of the river. Maya smiled to see them gallop so fast. Then her heart dropped.

Where was the foal?

Quickly, she scanned the bridge and the riverbank. The foal had fallen over beside a bramble patch halfway to the bridge. He was trying to stand up again, but his leg was caught by a prickly branch.

“Mum, Dad, quick!” Maya called, but her parents didn’t come out of the cabin. The boats behind theirs were hidden by the
bend in the river so no one else could see what was happening.

Maya’s heart thumped faster. The knight was riding towards the bridge with his sword in his hand. Any moment now he might notice the baby unicorn.

Running to the back of the boat, Maya turned the ship’s wheel to make the boat drift closer to the bank.

She eyed the water. It was so shallow that she could see the bottom. She knew she was a good swimmer anyway.

Climbing on to the side of the boat, she jumped in.