Bella the Bunny by Lily Small

 
    CHAPTER ONE
    The Talking Bud
    Spring had come to Misty Wood. The early morning sun could see lots of baby plants starting to grow on the ground below as he rose through the bright blue sky. With a warm smile, the sun reached out his beams to help the plants push through the soil.
    High among the trees, there was a flash of silver. It was a little bunny! She had soft silver-gray fur, violet eyes that sparkled like jewels … and a pair of golden fairy wings. Her name was Bella, and she was a Bud Bunny—one of the fairy animals who lived in Misty Wood. As she flitted through the trees, she sang a song about the special job she was going to do—open the beautiful spring flowers.
    Shine on, shine on, big, bright sun!
    I’m on my way to have some fun.
    I’ll be spending happy hours
    Turning buds into flowers!

    Suddenly, Bella felt something trickle down her fur. Droplets of rain had started to fall. Pitter-patter went the raindrops as they bounced on the leaves. Bella smiled as the water tickled her nose. She liked the rain just as much as she liked the sun—it helped the flowers to grow, too!
    Bella twitched her velvety nose. The leaves and the earth and the new plants smelled lovely in the rain. Everything was green and fresh.
    Misty Wood will be even more beautiful when I’ve done my job! Bella thought. She twirled her wings and did a happy somersault. Soon there’ll be lovely flowers everywhere!
    Just as quickly as it had begun, the rain stopped and the sun was shining again.
    â€œNo time to lose,” Bella told herself. “I must hurry to Bluebell Glade. There are hundreds of bluebells there, just waiting for me to open them.”
    She darted off through the trees, singing more of her song.
    Little buds just wait for me.
    I’ll come soon to help you be
    Pretty flowers fresh and bright,
    Blue and yellow, pink and white.
    â€œHello, Bella!”
    Bella spun around at the sound of her name. Carla, a Cobweb Kitten, was flying along behind her. Her wings sparkled in the sunlight as she hurried to catch up.
    Carla was Bella’s best friend. She had white fur the same color as the mist that gathered under the trees—and beautiful spots that looked like chocolate chips.

    Carla flew up, and the two friends touched noses to say hello.
    â€œI can’t stop. I must get to Bluebell Glade,” Bella explained. Then she noticed the little basket Carla was carrying, made from tightly woven flower stems. “Your basket looks heavy today, Carla.”
    â€œIt’s full to the brim with dewdrops,” Carla replied proudly.
    Just like the Bud Bunnies, the Cobweb Kittens had an important job to do in Misty Wood. Every day, the Cobweb Kittens gathered dewdrops and hung them on cobwebs so they glittered in the sunlight.
    Suddenly, Bella’s ears quivered. She could hear a buzzing noise.
    Bzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzzz.
    â€œWhat’s that?” Bella said, spinning around.
    â€œLook!” Carla cried.
    Bella turned to see what Carla had spotted. A cloud of tiny wings glinted in the sunshine. Hundreds of insects were flying toward them.
    A small blue June bug bumped into Bella’s nose.
    â€œOops, sorry!” the June bug squeaked before whizzing on.
    Then a swarm of striped hoverflies buzzed by.
    â€œHey, where are you going?” called Carla.
    â€œ Zzzzz. Musssst dassshhhh!” the hoverflies replied, following the June bug.
    â€œI’ve never seen so many insects,” Bella told Carla. “I wonder what’s going on.”
    A big yellow butterfly fluttered up to them.
    â€œHello, Mr. Butterfly,” Bella said. “Where are you all going?”
    â€œToday is the Misty Wood Insect Sports Day,” he said. “I’m the chief steward!” He twirled his long antennae grandly.
    â€œWow!” Bella gasped.
    â€œInsect Sports Day! How could we have forgotten?” said Carla. “It happens every year on Heather