Daisy's New Wings Read online

  Inch by inch, Daisy dragged her wings forward. But when they reached her shoulders the wind blew them back.

  ‘Don’t let the wind control your movements,’ said Acacia. ‘Slowly forward. Slowly back. Keep your wings under control.’

  Daisy tried again. Slowly she pulled her wings forward, slowly and painfully she inched them back. The wind blustered around her. She nearly lost her balance.

  Caught by the wind, Daisy’s wings trailed out behind her. She could not pull them back in. Daisy fought back the tears of frustration that were pricking her eyes. Learning to use her wings was much harder than she had expected, and she hadn’t even tried to fly yet.

  Dark clouds gathered over the water. A thunderstorm was on its way. Acacia noticed it too and pointed to the ground. ‘Time to head home, Daisy. If we stay any longer we’ll be blown away.’

  Another delay! thought Daisy. She grabbed hold of Aunt Acacia’s wrists in preparation for the flight down, and wondered if dangling from her hands was the closest to flying she would ever get.

  9

  Stormy Weather

  By the time they reached the ground, thick clouds covered the sky. The sunny day had disappeared, taking all the light and warmth with it. In the sudden cold, her thin, summer dress was no help at all. Daisy couldn’t stop shivering.

  Something caught her eye, huddled against the base of the tree. It was Vu, half tucked under the thick bark with just his head poking out into the wind. Daisy sat on the ground beside him.

  ‘What are you doing out in this weather? You should be home where it’s warm.’

  Vu chittered that she shouldn’t be doing dangerous things when he wasn’t there to look after her.

  Daisy smiled. ‘Oh, Vu,’ she cried, lifting him into her lap. ‘You really are the best friend ever.’

  Opening her locket, Daisy took out the tiny spiderweb quilt, held her wand against it and chanted, ‘Undo.’ The quilt expanded until it was full size once more. Daisy wrapped it around herself, shivering in the sudden warmth. She tucked her wand back into her belt, lifted Vu up to her shoulder and snuggled him under the quilt, too.

  ‘Come on, Daisy,’ said Aunt Acacia. ‘Put your magic shoes back on and I’ll meet you at home. Let’s see if we can get there before the rain sets in.’

  Daisy reached over to where she had left her boots, pulled them on and headed off. Beneath the clouds, a darkness had descended on the forest and Daisy couldn’t tell if Acacia was ahead of them.

  Daisy and Vu were about halfway back when the first heavy raindrops fell. With the help of her magic boots, Daisy dodged sideways and leapt forwards, but now and then a raindrop would catch her, soaking her to the skin.

  By the time she and Vu reached home they were thoroughly wet through.

  Daisy trudged through the kitchen and down the hall. Nen was in the lounge room, reading by the fire. She looked up and smiled as Daisy walked past.

  ‘How did it go?’

  ‘Not well,’ said Daisy, not wanting to talk about it.

  In her bedroom Daisy peeled off the sodden quilt and threw it in the corner, dumping her wet clothes on top. Then she pulled on her nightdress and climbed into her hammock to snuggle with Vu.

  A murmur of voices drifted down the hall as Acacia arrived back at the house. Daisy could tell from the tones in their voices that they were talking about her.

  Not long after, Nen appeared in the doorway, a mug of warm nectar for Daisy in her hands. Daisy took a sip, sighing with pleasure as the sweet warmth flowed through her body.

  Sliding into the hammock beside her, Nen put her arm around Daisy’s shoulder and pulled her close. ‘Would you like to talk about it?’

  Daisy hugged her back. ‘I’d rather just snuggle.’

  Acacia appeared in the doorway.

  Nen gave Daisy a last fierce hug before climbing back out of the hammock. ‘I’ll let you two talk,’ she said.

  Daisy watched as Acacia dragged a wooden chest over beside the hammock to sit on, and wondered what she was going to say. When she was seated Acacia handed Daisy a scrappy piece of green fabric. It was covered in clumsy, uneven stitches that wove around the edges in a long, snaking line.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Daisy.

  ‘One of my most treasured possessions,’ said Acacia.

  Daisy looked at the fabric. It didn’t seem very special, nothing at all like the tiny, perfect stitches of Aunt Acacia’s work.

  ‘I was just a bit younger than you are now when I realised that being a dressmaker was my Calling,’ Acacia continued. ‘This was the first sewing I ever did. I spent a whole day practising and was devastated when my sewing turned out like this. It made me wonder if I’d been mistaken about my Calling and if I would ever learn how to do it right.’

  ‘But if it was so upsetting, why is it so special to you now?’ asked Daisy.

  ‘Because it reminds me, when I’m frustrated and things aren’t going right, that learning something new takes patience and time.’ Acacia reached over to hold Daisy’s hand. ‘I know you’re frustrated, Daisydoo, and I promise we will get there in the end. But it’s going to take a little . . .’

  ‘Patience and time,’ Daisy finished for her. ‘Just promise me it won’t take too long.’

  ‘I promise,’ said Acacia. ‘You’ll be flying before you know it.’

  10

  Working Together

  When Daisy woke the next morning, it was still raining. Cold air swirled through the window so she rummaged through her winter chest.

  Maggie appeared in the doorway. ‘I thought I could hear you thumping about in here,’ she said with a grin. She held up a long-sleeved, deep purple dress. ‘Your winter dresses weren’t designed for wings so I brought you one of mine.’

  ‘Thanks, Maggie,’ said Daisy. ‘You’re the best.’ Slipping out of her nightie, she pulled the dress up and over her shoulders, shivering with the pleasure of being warm.

  Maggie shrugged. ‘It was too small for me anyway.’ Then she grinned. ‘Maybe if I give you all my old clothes, Aunt Acacia will make me new ones?’

  Daisy grabbed her pillow and aimed but Maggie was too quick, disappearing out of the doorway. Daisy rolled her eyes and shook her head. Sisters! she thought.

  Oblivious to all the commotion, Vu happily snored in his sleeping nest. Daisy decided to leave him there.

  Yesterday’s dress and her spiderweb quilt made a sodden pile in the corner. Feeling guilty for not looking after her things, Daisy dug beneath them until she found her wand.

  ‘The warmth of sun and winds that fly, suffuse this fabric, make it dry.’

  A golden glow spread through the wet things, radiating a gentle heat. Daisy held her hands toward it, smiling as the tingling warmth spread through her cold fingers. When the glow subsided, Daisy folded her now-dry dress and placed it back in her chest, then draped the quilt across the end of her hammock.

  A loud rumbling reminded her that it was breakfast time. Patting her belly, she headed down to the kitchen.

  Maggie and Aunt Acacia were standing by the fireplace, stirring a steaming green liquid in a copper pot, their voices lifted happily in song.

  ‘Come and join us,’ said Acacia when Daisy arrived. ‘Maggie’s just taught me her newest song.’

  ‘What are you making?’ asked Daisy, peering into the boiling pot.

  ‘It’s a dye.’ Maggie dug through the water with the wooden spoon and lifted a clump of wet fabric to the top. ‘See how the fabric is turning green? Acacia is going to use it in a new dress for me.’ She gave Daisy a cheeky smile.

  Daisy refused to rise to the bait.

  A beam of sunlight peeped through the kitchen window as Efa walked through the back door.

  ‘What a whopper that storm was last night!’ he scoffed. ‘The healing grove’s been overflowing with animals. This is my first break since early this morning. I’m so hungry I could gnaw the bark off a banksia tree.’

  ‘I think we can do better than that,’ said
Acacia. ‘I’m sure there’s some damper left over from breakfast.’

  Efa rubbed his hands together. ‘That’ll hit the spot.’ Then he frowned. ‘There was something about you, Acacia, that I had to remember. Oh, yes!’ He pulled a paperbark scroll from his pocket. ‘A messenger stopped me on my way back and asked me to give this to you. She said it was urgent.’

  Acacia took the paperbark and unrolled it. She read for a moment then said, ‘This will never do.’

  ‘What is it?’ asked Daisy.

  ‘A spell gone wrong, I’m afraid. A young fairy was trying to brighten up her old dresses, but instead of saying “brighten” she accidentally said “lighten”. Before she could think to say “undo” her dresses had floated out the window and blown away, leaving her with nothing but the clothes on her back.’

  ‘That’s terrible,’ said Efa.

  ‘It’ll be alright,’ said Acacia. ‘I have some things in my bag that, with a few small adjustments, will fit her just fine.’

  ‘But what about my lessons?’ Daisy blurted, feeling the pang of frustration again. ‘Aren’t you going to teach me how to fly?’

  ‘Of course I am,’ said Acacia. ‘But I can’t leave the poor fairy with no clothes, even if it is the middle of summer. If I leave right now I can be back by mid-afternoon. Keep working on your exercises and we’ll finish your lessons as soon as I get back.’

  She gave Daisy a distracted kiss on the cheek, then hurried out of the room, leaving Maggie to finish up the dyeing.

  Efa placed a hand on Daisy’s shoulder. ‘Don’t be downhearted. You’ll be flying soon.’ He ruffled her hair affectionately before heading to his study with a plate full of damper.

  Daisy’s shoulders slumped. All the happiness she had felt just a moment before had vanished with Aunt Acacia.

  A familiar buzzing sounded over her head. Landing on her shoulder, Vu nuzzled against Daisy’s cheek in sympathy.

  ‘Oh, Vu,’ said Daisy. ‘Somehow you always make me feel better. What would I do without you?’

  Vu chittered a forceful reply.

  Daisy reached up to tickle him on the head. ‘I hope we never have to find out either.’ She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath of the fresh, after-rain air. ‘Might as well do something useful. Come on, Vu! Let’s find a quiet part of the forest. I have exercises to do.’

  11

  A Dangerous Idea

  ‘Up, down, out and in,’ Daisy chanted. Vu, perched on Mother Wattle, watched her practise.

  ‘Hey, Daisy!’

  A familiar fairy, with pink and yellow hair, was wobbling among the branches. Vu huffed with displeasure and Daisy stifled a groan. Pea was a floating disaster, and Daisy didn’t have the energy for that today.

  Pea fluttered down to land somewhat clumsily on the ground beside her.

  ‘How are you adjusting to your new wings? They can feel a bit strange at first.’

  ‘I’m getting used to them,’ said Daisy.

  ‘Great! Now you can come flying with me. There are the sweetest baby lorikeets on the other side of the forest. We could pay them a visit.’

  Daisy shook her head. ‘I can’t, Pea. I haven’t actually learned to fly yet,’ she said, feeling a little embarrassed.

  ‘Oh!’ Pea laughed. ‘I can teach you that. I taught myself, didn’t I?’

  Vu chittered contemptuously. ‘I don’t know,’ said Daisy, thinking about Pea’s wobbly flying style. Still, even wobbly flying would be better than not flying at all.

  ‘Come on,’ said Pea. ‘What are you waiting for?’

  Daisy hesitated, not sure what to do. Conflicting thoughts rushed around her head before she realised there was a problem . . .

  ‘I can’t,’ said Daisy. ‘I haven’t any pollen to make my wings fly.’

  ‘Is that all?’ Pea reached into one of her stripy socks, pulled out a tiny yellow bag and handed it to Daisy.

  Vu chittered a warning as Daisy opened the bag and peered inside. The pollen glowed with magic and the promise of flight. Daisy couldn’t resist.

  She reached in and took a pinch. Magic flowed through her fingers as she lifted the pollen out of the bag.

  It can’t be an accident that Pea is here right now, thought Daisy. Maybe this is how it is meant to happen.

  Daisy made up her mind. She flung the pollen up, over her head. As it drifted down, her wings began to tingle.

  ‘This is it, Pea.’ Daisy could hardly contain her excitement. ‘I’m finally going to fly!’

  Vu buzzed over, a stern look on his face, chittering that this was a terrible mistake.

  ‘Don’t worry, Vu,’ said Daisy. ‘I’ll be alright.’

  She fluttered her wings. A soft breeze blew past her face but that was all. She fluttered them faster until they whooshed through the air, but still Daisy’s feet stayed firmly on the ground.

  ‘Huh,’ said Pea. ‘Sometimes having the wind beneath you can help get you going. Maybe you need to be higher?’

  Daisy climbed to a branch about halfway up the tree. Mother Wattle wasn’t a very tall tree, and she’d climbed much higher in the past. But she’d never considered stepping out into the air before . . .

  The ground suddenly seemed like a long way down. Vu swooped and hovered around her, chittering anxiously that this was a bad idea.

  ‘Maybe I shouldn’t,’ Daisy said to Pea.

  ‘You don’t have to if you’re afraid,’ said Pea. ‘Maybe you aren’t ready to fly.’

  But I am, thought Daisy. I am ready to fly. Taking a deep breath, she fluttered her wings and stepped off the branch.

  12

  Consequences

  For one moment, Daisy hung in the air. I’m doing it, she thought. I’m flying!

  Then, she started to fall. She tumbled out of control. Branches and leaves whipped against her, and bright yellow pollen billowed through the air. A twig brushed past her hand. Daisy grabbed at it and managed to catch hold. She jolted roughly and found herself swinging by one hand.

  ‘Oh, no!’ squealed Pea. ‘Hold on, Daisy. I’m coming.’

  The tiny fairy barrelled towards her, careening into Daisy and sending them both tumbling into the air once more. Daisy screamed as Pea fluttered with all her strength, just managing to slow their fall.

  They landed with a thud in the leaf litter, Pea falling awkwardly onto Daisy’s legs. Daisy lay still, eyes closed. Pea couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not.

  ‘Are you all right, Daisy? Please say you’re all right.’ Tears streaked Pea’s face. ‘I’m really sorry. Please open your eyes.’

  Daisy’s eyes fluttered open. She struggled to sit up. ‘I’m fine, Pea. Just winded I think.’

  ‘Oh, thank goodness,’ Pea sighed with relief. She jumped to her feet. ‘Let me help you up.’

  Chittering angrily, Vu flew past Pea to settle on Daisy’s shoulder. Still grumbling, he nuzzled against her cheek.

  Ignoring Pea’s outstretched hand, Daisy pushed herself onto her knees. But as she placed her right foot on the ground, a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She fell back down into the leaf litter, squeezing her eyes shut and breathing deeply as if to hold the pain at bay.

  ‘Pea,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t think I can get up.’

  Pea dropped to her knees beside her. ‘Lean on me, Daisy.’ She pushed back the hair from Daisy’s face, stroking her gently across the forehead. ‘The healing grove isn’t far from here. Efa will fix you up. Come on, I’ll help you.’

  Knowing that her dad wasn’t far away gave Daisy the courage to get up. With her arm around Pea’s shoulders she placed all the weight onto her other foot and began to slowly hop through the forest.

  ‘Efa, come quickly,’ called Pea as they reached the edge of the healing grove. ‘Daisy needs you.’

  Efa raced over and lifted Daisy into his arms, worry and concern all over his face. ‘What happened?’

  ‘She fell,’ said Pea. ‘And I fell on top of her.’

  ‘What? How? Oh, n
ever mind,’ said Efa as he lay Daisy on a bed of soft moss. ‘Daisy, where does it hurt?’

  ‘My ankle.’

  ‘Is that the only place?’

  ‘Yes.’

  There was a gentle pressure as Efa pressed his fingers against Daisy’s ankle. She flinched at the sudden pain.

  ‘There’s some swelling,’ said Efa, ‘but I think it’s just a sprain.’ With deft fingers, he wrapped her ankle in leaves, then took out his wand.

  ‘A snowy chill you need to feel, so that your damaged foot may heal.’ Efa held his hand against the leaf bandage as it grew cold against Daisy’s ankle. ‘That should do the trick.’ He turned to Daisy. ‘Now, how did this happen?’

  ‘Well . . .’ said Daisy.

  ‘It was my fault,’ Pea interrupted. ‘I was encouraging her to fly before she was ready and she stepped off the branch of a tree. How can I make it better? I’ll do anything.’

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ said Daisy. ‘It was my decision. Please don’t blame Pea, Dad.’

  Efa frowned. He scooped Daisy up into his arms.

  ‘Thanks for looking after her, Pea. She’s going to be fine, but I’m taking Daisy home now, and unless you’d like to explain to Nen how she got into this mess . . .’

  ‘Come to think of it,’ said Pea, ‘I think I’d better be getting home myself. My dad is a worrier, you know.’ She waved forlornly. ‘Bye, Daisy. I’m so sorry I got you injured.’ Then she turned to go.

  ‘Pea,’ Daisy called after her. ‘I’ll come see you when I’m better. Don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.’

  Pea smiled sadly and fluttered away.

  ‘Come on, Daisy,’ said Efa. ‘Let’s get you home.’

  13

  Healing

  ‘Get used to being in there,’ said Efa as he helped Daisy into her hammock. ‘You’ll need to have a few days off that ankle.’

  Daisy groaned, but she knew it was her own fault. She should have waited for Aunt Acacia. And she should never have listened to Pea.