Daisy's Quest Read online

  Contents

  Map

  1 A Forgetful Fairy

  2 Running Late

  3 Waiting

  4 Questing Things

  5 Magical Messages

  6 A New Friend

  7 Painted Ladies

  8 Chasing Waterfalls

  9 In Deep Water

  10 The Riddle

  11 Burning Bright

  12 Difficult Decisions

  13 Journey’s End

  14 The Fairy Queen

  Sneak Peek: Daisy’s New Wings

  Across a meandering river,

  In a forest tall and green,

  Live the magical Wilderness Fairies

  And their wise Fairy Queen.

  Guided by their Callings,

  The Wilderness Fairies strive

  To use their magic wisely

  And help the forest thrive.

  But one impatient fairy

  Has lessons yet to learn,

  Her Calling to discover

  And fairy wings to earn.

  1

  A Forgetful Fairy

  Daisy wondered if today would be the day she had been ­waiting for.

  Standing on the topmost leaf of a flannel flower bush, beneath the swaying shade of a bloom, she watched the morning sun sparkle off the deep green water below.

  The soft, thrumming sound of wings in flight made Daisy turn. A shiny green beetle hovered beside Daisy’s head before landing on her shoulder. It was her best friend, Vu.

  ‘Good morning, sleepyhead,’ said Daisy. ‘What shall we do on this beautiful day?’

  Looking exasperated, Vu chittered a reply.

  ‘That’s today?!’ Daisy exclaimed. She looked at how far the sun had already risen. ‘We’re going to be late!’

  Not having earned her wings yet, Daisy began the long climb down from the top of the flannel flower bush, carefully moving from one leaf to the next. It seemed to take forever.

  Daisy sighed with relief when her feet finally touched the ground. She was just about to set off running when, high above, through the gaps in the leaves, a flicker of movement caught her eye. It was Nen, Daisy’s mum, her smooth white hair shining in the sunshine and her pale green dress billowing about her as she fluttered among the flowers.

  Nen’s real name was Anne, which meant ‘kin to the flannel flower’, but Daisy had called her Nen as a baby, and the nickname had stuck.

  Daisy waved to get her attention.

  ‘This is a lovely surprise,’ Nen said as she landed, pulling Daisy into a big bear hug.

  ‘You left so early that I never got to say good morning. I thought you were helping your dad today?’

  ‘I’m on my way there now,’ said Daisy. ‘But it takes so much longer when you have to walk. I wish I had my wings,’ she groaned.

  Nen smiled. ‘I know, petal. But only the Fairy Queen can grant you your wings. I’ve been watching you though, and I’m sure it won’t be long now,’ she said with a wink.

  Daisy felt a tingling warmth spread through her body at Nen’s words. ‘Do you really think so?’ she breathed.

  ‘There’s not a speck of doubt in my mind. Now, give me a kiss before I go. The native bees are pollinating the wattle saplings on the south side of the forest today, and I want to make sure that none of the saplings are missed.’

  ‘Because bees are in the habit of missing whole trees,’ Daisy teased.

  ‘I know, I know. I worry too much,’ Nen shrugged. ‘I can’t help it though. It’s my Calling.’

  Daisy’s mum and dad were always so busy with their Callings – Nen helping the young plants grow, and her dad healing the sick. Even Daisy’s sister Maggie spent most of her time on her music.

  I wonder, thought Daisy, what my Calling will be?

  She stretched up to kiss Nen on the cheek.

  ‘Not a speck of doubt,’ she whispered as she watched her mum flutter away. ‘Did you hear that, Vu? Nen thinks I’ll have my wings soon.’

  With a chitter that he’d expected nothing less, Vu nuzzled against Daisy’s cheek before reminding her once again that there was somewhere they needed to be.

  2

  Running Late

  Today was the first time that Daisy had been invited to join her dad in the healing grove. He was the most gifted and gentle Healer in the forest. Even the shyest animals would come to him for help. Daisy had been so excited when he had asked her to help him, it seemed impossible that she could have forgotten!

  She was going to be late if she didn’t get there soon. She wasn’t supposed to use magic for frivolous things. As Nen always said, ‘Use magic when you don’t need to and you might not have it when you do.’ Like the golden hair on her head, Daisy’s magic was a part of her and, when left alone, it continued to grow. Using her magic was like having a haircut, though it took days instead of seasons to regrow.

  And so usually, Daisy tried to save her magic. But today, she decided to make an exception . . .

  She drew her wand from the velvety sheath that hung at her waist. Like every other fairy, Daisy had been presented with her wand on her fifth birthday. Daisy’s wand had been created from the fallen branch of a scribbly gum, with a paper daisy pattern above the handgrip. It was the instrument through which her magic could flow.

  Choosing two deep-green gum leaves and some slivers of bark, Daisy pointed her wand and chanted, ‘This fairy has no time to lose, turn bark and leaf into magic shoes.’

  The leaves began to curve upwards, becoming a sturdy pair of green boots. The bark slid beneath the boots to form thick brown soles, and a few tiny threads of bark wove in and out as laces.

  Daisy shrieked with delight as she gathered the boots to her and quickly slid them on. They fit her tiny feet perfectly. But would they work . . .?

  She took a small step and moved the distance of a giant leap!

  Laughing, she began to run, the long grasses and wild stems whipping past her as she moved beneath a tall stand of gum trees that reached endlessly for the sky.

  She reached the healing grove in no time at all and found her dad crouched down beside a young, black field cricket. He was examining a long gash on the cricket’s back leg. Looking at the gash made Daisy feel queasy, but her dad didn’t seem bothered at all.

  ‘Hush now, Simi,’ he soothed. ‘It’s just a graze, we’ll soon set you right.’

  It was his kindness that Daisy most loved about her dad. When she was little and hurt herself, it was him that she always ran to. With his calm voice and gentle hands, he always made Daisy feel as though everything would be all right.

  Though most fairies called him Efa, her dad’s real name was Leaf, which Daisy thought was just right. With his brown leaf wings, floppy green hair and scruffy clothes, Efa was like a patch of leaf litter come to life.

  Daisy averted her eyes as Efa smoothed a poultice on the cricket’s leg and then pressed the down from a bulrush seed against it as a dressing. Taking out his wand, he chanted, ‘Protect from harm and form a seal. Allow this creature’s wound to heal.’ The fluffy down wove tightly together and bonded to the cricket’s leg.

  ‘There you go,’ Efa said, rubbing the cricket’s back. ‘That will protect it from dirt and germs as it heals.’

  Efa turned and smiled. ‘So, my long-lost wanderers have finally arrived. Sit for a minute.’ He gestured towards a row of mushrooms just behind where Daisy was standing. ‘I won’t be long.’

  Daisy had begun to feel a little dizzy so was very glad of the seat. She watched as Efa spoke earnestly to the cricket.

  ‘There you go, Simi. Take it easy for a few days. And keep those leaps low.’

  With a nod of thanks, the cricket leapt into the air, quickly disappearing into the bush. ‘I said low leaps
!’ Efa shouted after the cricket. ‘They never listen,’ he muttered, shaking his head.

  Standing and stretching the kinks out of his legs, Efa walked over to sit beside Daisy. ‘So,’ he said, ‘are you ready to learn the secrets of healing? It could be your Calling, you know.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said Daisy. ‘You said my Calling would make me feel uplifted, like it was always meant to be a part of me. Healing just makes me feel queasy.’

  ‘Maybe not then,’ Efa conceded.

  ‘Nen says I’ll have my wings soon,’ said Daisy, changing the subject.

  ‘She’s usually right about these things. Let me see.’ Efa placed his hands on Daisy’s shoulders, feeling the bones underneath. ‘Oh, yes, definitely strong enough to hold up wings. I’d say they’ll be here sooner than you think.’

  At that moment, an injured blue-and-brown fairy wren hopped into the clearing. Vu chittered a challenge before diving under Daisy’s hair as the bright-eyed bird turned his head in their direction. Fairy wrens were insect eaters, and although Vu liked to think himself tough, it was better not to take chances with carnivores. Even injured ones.

  Efa rushed over to the fairy wren, his voice soft and soothing as he lay gentle hands on the wing that hung limply by its side.

  One look at the injured wing and Daisy’s world began to spin. Black spots appeared before her eyes and her legs seemed to lose their strength. The next thing she knew, she was sliding off the mushroom and onto the ground below.

  3

  Waiting

  A strong, lemony scent fizzed and sparked beneath Daisy’s nose. When she opened her eyes, she saw her dad kneeling beside her.

  ‘Take a sip,’ he said.

  Fuzzy-headed, Daisy did as she was told. She could see the fairy wren over Efa’s shoulder, its wing now bandaged with leaves.

  ‘Try not to look,’ said Efa. He helped Daisy to her feet, leading her away from the healing grove. The elixir had done its job well. With each step Daisy felt stronger and less queasy.

  ‘No more healing,’ said Efa firmly. ‘I think we can safely assume that it’s not your Calling. Take it easy. And do something fun. I’ll see you at home tonight.’ He gave Daisy a quick hug, then headed back to the grove.

  Vu was sitting on a branch, watching her anxiously.

  ‘That probably wasn’t the best way to earn a free afternoon,’ said Daisy, trying to lighten the mood. ‘Oh, well. What shall we do with it, Vu?’

  Lifting the stiff, green elytra that protected his flying wings, Vu prepared to take off. With a buzzing sound, his wings began to flutter. He lifted into the air, flying the short distance between them to hover near Daisy’s nose.

  ‘Show off!’ Daisy grinned. ‘You won’t be able to gloat for much longer. Soon, I’ll have wings, too.’

  ‘You’ve started the Fairy Quest,’ an excited voice called from behind her.

  Daisy spun around. It was her sister, Maggie, with Nelli. Nelli was a bright-red ladybird and Maggie’s best friend. She huffed happily, zooming over to play aerial chase with Vu.

  ‘You always sneak up on me,’ Daisy accused Maggie.

  Although they were sisters, the two fairies could not be more different. Maggie was only four years older than Daisy, and she was already a lot more mature. Their parents always told the story of how, on the day of Maggie’s birth, a nearby magpie had burst into song. Opening her eyes, the newborn Maggie had smiled and music had been her Calling ever since. Already knowing the purpose of her life, Maggie had never needed daydreams.

  Daisy batted Maggie playfully on the shoulder and received a cuff to the head in return. ‘Watch out, I just fainted you know.’

  ‘Sure you did,’ said Maggie, not believing a word. ‘So, have you started your Fairy Quest?’

  ‘Oh, no, not yet . . .’ said Daisy dejectedly, dropping her gaze to the ground to try and hide her disappointment.

  Maggie put an arm around Daisy’s shoulder. ‘C’mon, possum face, don’t frown. I know the waiting is the worst part, but it’ll happen soon.’

  ‘Easy for you to say,’ said Daisy, ‘with your fancy red dragonfly wings that it feels like you’ve had forever. I’m not even sure that the waiting is the worst part. I really want my wings, but I don’t know how I feel about the Fairy Quest. Sometimes, I can’t wait. Other times, my tummy’s filled with butterflies. If I just knew what to expect, maybe I wouldn’t feel so nervous.’

  ‘If it makes you feel any better, I felt the same way, too,’ said Maggie. ‘But then, one day, I sat down and thought about how all the fairies I knew had wings. And how every one of them must have completed the Fairy Quest to get them. It made me realise that, if they could do it, I could, too. I still didn’t feel prepared, but I did feel more confident.’

  ‘Prepared,’ said Daisy, the seed of an idea beginning to grow in her mind. ‘Thanks, Maggie,’ she said, giving her a loud kiss on the cheek. ‘You’ve actually been helpful for once.’ Pulling away from Maggie’s hug, Daisy ran into the gum-tree grove, heading for home. ‘Come on, Vu! No time for playing,’ she called to the little beetle. ‘We’ve got preparing to do.’

  4

  Questing Things

  Daisy flung open the door of her family’s home in the hollow base of a gum tree. She breathed in the homely smells, capturing just a lingering whiff of fresh damper left over from breakfast.

  With Vu hovering around her ear, Daisy ran up the wooden ramp that curved around the inside of the tree. Past the lounge room and the study, past her parents’ bedroom and her sister’s room until she reached her own special place.

  ‘So what do you take on a Fairy Quest?’ Daisy wondered as she came to a stop before her hammock.

  She turned a slow circle, scanning her possessions for anything she might need.

  Her favourite bandana, deep green and patterned with paper daisies, was hanging on the wall. Bubbling with excitement, Daisy lifted it off its hook and lay it on the floor. With the corners tied together, it would make a perfect carrying bag for her Questing Things.

  Draped across her hammock was the silvery spiderweb quilt that Daisy’s Aunt Acacia had given her last Summer’s End. It was light but warm, and would come in handy if she had to sleep outside. Daisy bundled it into a tight ball and placed it in the centre of her bandana.

  ‘Well, that’s a start. What else should we take, Vu?’ she asked.

  Vu flew over to a jumbled mess of mementos and outgrown toys that had been dumped into a deep alcove in the wall. Landing on top of the messy pile, he crawled down into it, disappearing from view. The things on top rose and fell as he made his way beneath them.

  After a few moments, a creamy object lifted up to the surface. With a shove from beneath, it flew up into the air and landed with a thud on the floor.

  ‘A beeswax candle!’ exclaimed Daisy as she picked it up and placed it next to her quilt. ‘You’re a clever beetle.’ She reached over to scratch Vu on the head. ‘My magic wouldn’t last long if I had to use it for light.’

  With a satisfied look on his face, Vu climbed back up and perched himself on top of the pile.

  Daisy rummaged through the carved wooden chest that Efa had made for her eighth birthday, tossing things onto her bandana as she found them. ‘I’ll need some rope for climbing, a spare change of clothes and my magic shoes, of course.’ The pile on the bandana had grown considerably. Daisy looked at it and frowned.

  ‘What a lot to carry! That should be more than enough, don’t you think, Vu?’

  Vu flew over to inspect the bundle on the floor. Hovering above, he considered each item. Then, with a decisive chitter of disagreement, he clasped a corner of the bandana in his claws, as though to pick it up, and looked at Daisy pointedly.

  ‘Alright,’ said Daisy, ‘no need to get bossy.’ She gathered the four corners of the bandana and scrunched the fabric together in a tight grip, so that the contents were held firmly within it.

  ‘Now what?’ she asked Vu as she swung the heavy load over
her shoulder.

  Vu chittered for Daisy to follow as he flew out of her bedroom and down the long hallway, all the way to the kitchen, where he landed with a bump on the table.

  Daisy followed after him.

  Vu chittered that you couldn’t go on a Quest without something to eat.

  ‘Oh, Vu, of course you’re right,’ said Daisy. ‘What would I do without you?’

  Dumping the bandana on the table, Daisy started rummaging through the pantry. ‘Now, what’s a good travelling food for a Fairy Quest?’

  Daisy’s hand rested on a parcel wrapped in leaves. She held it up to her nose. ‘Smells good!’ she grinned. Placing the parcel on the table, Daisy carefully unwrapped it. Inside was the final slice of a bulrush pollen cake. Breaking off a bitesized piece, Daisy popped it into her mouth. ‘Delicious,’ she mumbled between bites. ‘Want some, Vu?’

  Vu shook his head in disgust.

  ‘Just kidding,’ laughed Daisy. ‘I know what you like.’

  Reaching to the very back of the pantry, she pulled out a small, brown sack. ‘Shredded hackberry leaves!’

  Vu chittered excitedly. Native hackberry leaves were his favourite. With a buzz of his wings, he flew over and landed on the sack.

  ‘Off you get,’ said Daisy, but Vu clung on. ‘I can’t open the sack with you clinging to it, Vu. Back to the table with you.’

  Vu buzzed back to the table with an indignant chirp and opened his mouth expectantly. Reaching into the sack, Daisy pulled out a handful of shiny leaves that had been chopped into tiny pieces.

  She placed one in Vu’s open mouth and the rest beside him on the table. Unfolding the corners of her bandana, she then placed the sack of remaining leaf pieces inside.

  Daisy folded the leaves back around the cake, and placed it beside the sack of hackberry leaves on her bandana.

  ‘Now, something to drink,’ Daisy said, standing on tiptoes to reach a shelf above her head. ‘I’m pretty sure . . . yes, here it is. Lemon myrtle cordial!’ She poured some of the cordial into a wooden flask and carefully filled it with just enough water so that it was not too weak and not too strong – exactly the way she liked it. She added the small wooden bottle to her pile of Questing Things.