Sister Secrets by Titania Woods Page B

exciting and wonderful, all at the same time.
    â€˜There it is!’ hissed Teena.
    Following her best friend’s pointing finger, Zuzu’s pulse skipped a beat. The star-gazing platform lay just below them, like a circular raft floating atop a sea of branches.
    Teena touched down on the centre of the platform, looking happily around her. ‘Oh, isn’t it wonderful ! I can hardly wait to get everyone up here for a midnight feast.’
    Landing beside her, Zuzu peered at the nine crystals that glowed around them. Their light seemed weird and unearthly, and Zuzu bit her lip. ‘Teena, we won’t stay long, will we?’
    â€˜No, of course not! I just wanted to see it.’ Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Teena smiled up at the stars.
    Sitting beside her, Zuzu felt herself relax. It was wonderful to be up here with her best friend, with the crystals gleaming so brightly. Her thoughts began to drift as she gazed at them. Why had they made her nervous? They were so pretty, like lanterns . . . like white fire . . . like shining gems . . .
    All at once Zuzu blinked, starting awake. How long had they been up here? It seemed like just a heartbeat, but the moon had moved – hadn’t it? She shook her head dazedly, feeling rather frightened.
    Suddenly Teena started to giggle.
    â€˜What is it?’ asked Zuzu. A smile grew across her own face, though she wasn’t sure why.
    Teena laughed harder, clutching her ankles and rocking back and forth. ‘Oh!’ she spluttered. ‘It’s so funny! I’m – I’m a flower!’
    â€˜A flower ?’ Zuzu stared at her as the bright light from the crystals shone around them. But somehow the notion didn’t seem so strange. She and Teena could be flowers, she realised. Why, their legs were just like stems! And their wings just like petals!
    Zuzu began to laugh. ‘What – what kind of flower?’
    â€˜I’m a daisy!’ shrieked Teena. ‘And you – you’re an apple blossom !’
    This seemed the most marvellous thing Zuzu had ever heard. She jumped to her feet. ‘Look at me!’ she said, spreading her arms. ‘I’m an apple blossom, dancing in the wind!’
    Teena joined her, and in no time at all the two fairies were capering about the platform, fluttering their wings and giggling.
    â€˜Ooh!’ cried Teena, stopping short. ‘Do you know what flowers can do?’
    â€˜What?’ asked Zuzu eagerly.
    â€˜We can float on the breeze!’ announced Teena. She sprang on to the platform railing, swaying a bit. ‘Come on, Twin! Let’s float down to the ground! Flowers don’t even need wings!’
    â€˜Float?’ The idea was delightful. Zuzu jumped up next to Teena, peering downwards. Then she frowned. What looked like a whole forest of branches lay between them and the ground.
    â€˜But . . . won’t we hit a branch?’ she asked doubtfully. She had a vague feeling that there was something wrong with their plan, though she couldn’t imagine what. Something . . . something they hadn’t thought of . . .
    â€˜Of course not!’ Teena’s eyes sparkled in the crystal light. ‘Flowers drift. We’ll drift right around them.’
    â€˜Oh!’ said Zuzu, greatly relieved. That explained it. She grinned. ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’
    Teena grasped her hand tightly. ‘Come on, then – on the count of three!’
    The two friends stood side by side, holding hands as they teetered on the slender railing. ‘One,’ they chanted. ‘Two . . .’
    .

    Squeezing quickly through a window, Twink and Sooze sped upwards, dodging leaves and branches as they flew.
    Fear pounded through Twink like a raging waterfall. Oh, what if something had happened to Teena? She’d never forgive herself for not looking after her sister better.
    â€˜Come on, Sooze, faster!’ she called as they neared the top of the