Flying High by Titania Woods Page A

for it to work.’
    â€˜Bimi, that’s a fantastic idea!’ said Pix excitedly. ‘I think it could really work!’
    â€˜Me too,’ said a voice behind them.
    Bimi turned, and her eyes widened in surprise. Sooze was standing there.
    â€˜But I thought –’ Bimi stopped, biting back the words.
    Sooze reddened and fluttered her wings. ‘I – I suppose I shouldn’t have got so cross with Twink,’ she said awkwardly. ‘I was just feeling bored of it all, but I really do want to help. All right?’
    Bimi smiled at the sheepish fairy. ‘Sooze, that’s glimmery! Of course you can help!’ Privately, though, Bimi wondered how long it would be before Sooze got bored again!
    â€˜Everyone else will want to help, too, I’m sure of it,’ said Pix. ‘And I don’t see how we can get in trouble this time, either. We’re just doing what Mrs Lightwing said!’
    Suddenly a dreadful thought came to Bimi. ‘Oh, no!’ she groaned. ‘It’s not going to work after all. We’ve forgotten about Mariella! We’ll never get her to help.’
    Sooze grinned, and flicked back a strand of bright lavender hair. ‘Well, she doesn’t have to know that’s what she’s doing, does she? You leave Mariella to me!’
    M
    â€˜Twink, wake up! You’ve overslept!’
    Bimi was shaking her by the shoulder. Blearily, Twink opened one eye – and then sat up with a start. Daffodil Branch was empty! Its moss beds were all neatly made up, without a fairy in sight.
    â€˜Where is everyone?’ gasped Twink.
    â€˜They’ve already left for breakfast,’ said Bimi. ‘Hurry, you’ll be late!’

    â€˜But where’s Mrs Hover?’ Twink threw back her daffodil-petal blanket and leapt out of bed, quickly smoothing her wings.
    Bimi shook her head. ‘I don’t know. Oh, Twink, hurry !’
    Her thoughts spinning, Twink flung on her uniform. Why hadn’t anyone woken her up? But there was no time to ask. Bimi was already racing for the door, half-flying in her hurry.
    â€˜Come on!’ she called over her shoulder.
    Wasps, they must really be late! Twink grabbed her oak-leaf cap and ran after her.
    She reached the ledge outside the door and stopped short. Sunny was gone. Twink blinked. Sunny was always there, waiting patiently for her! What was going on?
    Bimi had already taken off, skimming away towards the Great Branch in a blur of silver and gold.
    â€˜Wait!’ Twink called after her. ‘Sunny’s gone! I can’t – ’
    â€˜Oh!’ screamed Bimi suddenly. Stopping in midair, she clutched her left wing.
    Twink rushed to the edge of the ledge. ‘Bimi! What is it?’
    â€˜My wing! I’ve got a cramp!’ Twink’s heart iced over as Bimi began to fall. ‘Help!’ she shouted. She grew smaller and smaller as she plummeted towards the ground.
    Without thinking, Twink launched herself off the ledge. Flapping her wings feverishly, she sped past classrooms and dorm branches, piercing through the air like an arrow. Bit by bit, the tumbling figure of Bimi grew closer as Twink gained on her.
    They were nearing the ground now – oh, wasps, she wasn’t going to make it! Twink put on an extra burst of speed, flying faster than she had ever thought possible.
    â€˜Hurry, Twink!’ cried Bimi.
    Her fingers brushed Bimi’s . . . there! Twink grabbed Bimi’s arm, her wings fluttering furiously to slow her down before they hit the ground. The two fairies landed in a heap on the soft moss carpet.
    Phew! Twink sat up in a daze, breathing hard. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
    â€˜It worked!’ shouted Bimi. Jumping up, she threw her arms around Twink. ‘Twink, you flew! You really flew!’
    Twink’s mouth fell open as she realised. ‘I – I did, didn’t I?’ she gasped.
    Bimi’s face was alight. She