Ruby Fuzzybrush’s Star Dance

Chapter Six Ruby’s Dance

After Lily and Jess had told the others their idea, Goldie’s whiskers drooped. “It’s a great plan, girls,” she said, “but how will we stop Smudge tripping over? I can’t think of anything.”

Ruby jumped up and down excitedly. “But I can!” she cried.

“What’s your plan, Ruby?” asked Lily.

Ruby swished her tail. “Remember the star dance we showed you?”

The girls and Goldie nodded.

“When Rusty and I first started learning it, our tails got in the way,” Ruby said. “But once we’d learned some dance moves, we stopped tripping over them. Dancing’s really good for learning how to keep your balance, you see,” she added.

Jess grinned—she’d guessed what Ruby was thinking. “So if you teach Smudge some dance moves, he’ll be less clumsy!”

“And then he won’t want to be in the dark anymore, since he won’t be tripping all the time,” Goldie finished. She reached over and hugged the little cub. “That’s brilliant, Ruby!”

“Smudge!” Lily called up at the tree where the dragon was hiding.

Smudge’s voice echoed from inside the tree. “Go away!” he grumbled.

“Ruby’s going to teach us how to dance,” Jess called back. “Why don’t you come and join us?”

“No!” Smudge. “I’m staying in here.”

Ruby looked disappointed, and Lily felt a nervous swirling in her tummy. They had to make Smudge reverse his spell, or the Friendship Tree would lose its magic and the Fuzzybrushes would be shadows forever!

Just then there was a flapping sound and the Wisefeather owls appeared, carrying a long string of beautiful lights in their beaks. The owls perched on the nearby trees and Lily and Jess blinked up at them happily. The golden bright lights twinkled above them like tiny chandeliers.

“Come on, let’s make Smudge change his mind!” Jess said determinedly. “Everyone, make some music!”

The nighttime animals gathered in a circle, lit by the golden lights. Melody Sweetsong the nightingale started to sing. Mr. Silverback clapped his paws while the Longears bat family whistled.

Ruby’s pointy ears pricked up happily. She held on to her tail with one paw and skipped in a circle. Goldie held her tail and followed after her, while the girls pretended to hold tails, too, and skipped along after them.

“Now hop like this!” Ruby called. She jumped from right to left, waving her tail in the opposite direction. Goldie and the girls copied her, the girls waving a hand instead of a tail. They were all grinning.

“This is so much fun!” cried Jess.

Lily giggled as Ruby started shuffling backward, wiggling her paws in front of her. As she copied the fox cub, she saw Smudge peeking out of the hollow in his tree. He was bobbing his head in time to the music.

“Let’s keep going,” Lily whispered. “I think it’s working!”

Ruby led them in a waltz around Smudge’s tree. Every few beats, she paused to kick out a paw and shimmy her tail.

Jess was last in line, and a movement from behind caught her eye.

It was Smudge! He was skipping after them, flapping his wings and dancing!

“Hee!” laughed Smudge, clapping his scaly paws. “Look at me!”

“Hooray!” cried Lily.

They all gathered around the dancing dragon. Ruby took his paw in hers. “Hold your tail in your other paw, like this,” she said, showing him, “then hop from foot to foot!”

“Whee!” said Smudge, doing as Ruby said. He finished the move with a flap of his wings and a wiggle of his head.

Goldie clapped. “That’s great, Smudge! You’re a really good dancer!”

Just then Smudge tripped over his tail. Jess held her breath. If Smudge didn’t manage to dance, he might not help the Fuzzybrushes!

But to their relief the dragon wobbled, then turned it into a twirling dance move!

“Good job, Smudge!” Ruby cried.

Jess pointed up at the glittering lights. “We couldn’t dance without Mr. Cleverfeather’s bright lights, though,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to see what we’re doing. Smudge, will you lift the spell you put on the Fuzzybrushes? Then you can dance under the stars every night.”

Smudge nodded his scaly head. “I want everyone to see me now,” he said. “Yes, I’ll take away the spell!”

Ruby gave a cry of delight. “I’ll get my family back!” she cried.

“And the Friendship Tree will be safe,” said Jess, smiling. “Lily and I can keep coming to the forest!”