Sophie Flufftail’s Brave Plan

Chapter Five Little Lola

“Stay back,” Jess said as another mound of earth appeared. “It could be Chilly, making more magic spells.”

Pop! A fresh mound sprang up right by her foot. Suddenly, a face appeared in the middle of the mound! It was a mole, wearing round purple-framed eyeglasses.

Goldie ran over, purring happily. “It’s okay! Those mounds are molehills, and that’s Lola Velvetnose!”

“Phew,” said Lily with a grin.

“Hello, Goldie!” Lola said, squinting up at them through her glasses. “Who’s that next to you? She smells like honey!”

“This is Jess,” said Goldie, going closer so the little mole could see her clearly. “She’s a girl, and so is Lily.”

Lola peered at Lily, then sniffed. “Mmm, you smell like strawberries,” she said.

“You scared us, making all those molehills!” Lily laughed.

“Sorry,” said Lola. “I’m investigating a strange new scent underground—a strong smell of chestnuts.”

“Oh!” cried Sophie, looking out from behind Lily. “That must be my family. We love chestnuts.”

Lola’s little pink nose went woffle woffle. “Yes,” she said. “You smell like chestnuts, too.”

“Is my family really underground?” Sophie asked.

“They must be,” said Lola. “Follow me, everyone. I’ll take you through one of my bigger tunnels.”

She dug a hole wide enough for the girls, and they dropped down into a tunnel, followed by Goldie. Sophie cuddled into the crook of Lily’s arm, her tail curled around her little body as she held on tightly to her new friend.

The tunnel was cool and smelled like freshly dug earth, but as Lily stepped inside, it got darker and darker. “Wait!” she called as Lola scrabbled ahead. “We can’t see!”

“I’ll fix that,” said Lola. She dug upward, making a little hole that let in dim light and fresh air.

Everyone followed her until she stopped at a corner. Woffle woffle went her little pink nose.

“The chestnut smell is coming from somewhere nearby,” she said.

They peered around the corner, and Sophie gave a little squeak.

At the end of the tunnel was an underground cottage. Outside were several deck chairs. Mr. Silverback the badger, wearing his green vest, sat in one. And in the others were the Flufftails!

“Hello there!” called Mr. Silverback in a rumbling voice. “Have you come to visit my underground garden, too?”

“Mom! Dad!” cried Sophie. She scurried over to them as the girls and Goldie explained to Mr. Silverback what had happened.

“Dear me,” he said, scratching his striped head. “No wonder they keep complaining about the light.”

“We’re going to take you home,” Sophie told her family.

“We can’t go home,” said Mr. Flufftail. “The sun’s shining. We don’t like sunshine.”

And they refused to move.

Sophie gave a little sob and Jess stroked her head comfortingly.

Goldie looked at the girls in dismay. “If we can’t get the Flufftails to fix the Shining House, the forest will be dark and cold forever!”