Bella Tabbypaw in Trouble

Chapter Six A Terrible Plan

“At least Bella’s okay,” whispered Jess. “But why is she with the Boggits? And what are they doing down here?”

Lily asked the glowworms to switch off and the glow faded. They all hid beneath an overhanging rock so they could spy on the Boggits without being seen. They could make out lots of tall, thick stone pillars through the gloom that looked as if they were holding up the cavern roof.

“Those pillars are blocking the view,” whispered Lily. She jumped as a Boggit laughed.

“Haargh! Haargh!”

Rusty sniffed. “Pooh, those Boggits stink!”

“Like rotting cauliflowers,” Jess agreed in disgust. “Are they searching for jewels? Can you see what they’re up to, Goldie?”

“Yes,” said the cat. “Whiffy’s scratching herself, Reek is picking his nose, and Sniff and Pongo are carrying huge stones.”

Pongo’s voice echoed around the cavern. “Oy, kittycat,” he grunted to Bella. “Put goggles on and tell Boggits where cracks are in pillars.”

Bella stopped whistling. “All right,” she said. After a moment, she continued. “This one’s cracked.”

Pongo bashed the pillar hard with his stone.

“Hegga, hegga!” chuckled Sniff. “Kittycat can see cracks with goggles. Clever Sniff to think of bringing kittycat to tunnels.”

“Are we going to get some jewels now?” Bella was pointing upward. “You promised you’d help me find some jewels if I helped you with my night goggles.”

Jess glanced at the cave ceiling, where Bella was pointing. She gasped. “Look, Lily! Goldie, see there? On the cavern roof?”

“It’s glittering!” whispered Lily.

“Jewels!” breathed Goldie. “The roof is studded with them, just like the legend said!”

“Poor Bella,” whispered Lily. “She must have left Goldie’s grotto to go exploring and bumped into the Boggits. They’ve tricked her into helping them!”

“But why are the Boggits smashing the pillars?” Jess wondered.

Whiffy gave another pillar a bash. “Boggits are right under Toadstool Glade. When pillars fall, Toadstool Glade will crash down. Bang! Smash! All animals’ nasty cottages fall to bits! Grizelda be pleased!”

Jess, Lily, and Goldie clutched one another in horror!

“This is Grizelda’s most terrible plan yet!” gasped Lily. “All the animals’ homes will be destroyed. They’ll have to leave the forest and Grizelda will have it for herself!”

Goldie quickly explained what was happening to Ruby and Rusty. “To save Friendship Forest, we’ve got to stop the Boggits from smashing those pillars,” she said urgently.

Jess glanced at her lantern. “Lily,” she said, “remember how the glowworms’ light cast big shadows on the wall?”

Lily nodded.

“It’s given me an idea for scaring away the Boggits,” said Jess. “A shadow monster!”

“Brilliant!” said Lily. “But we can’t scare Bella.” She thought for a moment. “I know! Quiet, everyone!”

She picked up a stone and threw it as far as possible across the cavern. As she heard it land, the Boggits turned toward it. They’d heard it, too.

“What be that?” asked Whiffy.

“Boggits look,” said Pongo. “Come on.”

All four lumbered toward where the stone had landed.

In a flash, Lily darted out and scooped Bella up. The little kitten gave a happy squeak and started purring.

“Hi, Lily—” Bella started to say, but Lily hushed her.

She darted back behind the rock, where Jess and Goldie hugged Bella with relief.

“Thank goodness you’re safe!” said Goldie. She explained that the Boggits had tricked Bella into helping them with their plan.

Bella was horrified. “Knock the cottages down? Destroy Toadstool Glade?” she whispered. “I thought they were being nice. They can’t ruin the village!”

“You’re right,” said Jess. “And we need a brave little explorer to help stop them.”