Emily Prickleback’s Clever Idea

Chapter Four A Threat to Willowtree River

With a grinding noise, the waterwheel slowed to a stop.

The yellow dragon flew away, giggling to herself. “Heeheehee! Now the forest will be dry and lovely, just right for sunbathing!”

Goldie and Lily rushed over to the stone hedgehogs.

“Maybe they just need waking up,” Lily said desperately.

Jess looked at Herbie. His black beady eyes were open wide, and his little nose was frozen in the air. “Herbie?” she called, but the hedgehog didn’t move.

“It’s no good,” Goldie said finally. “We can’t break dragon magic, remember? Dragons have to reverse their spells themselves.”

Jess was close to tears. “But we can’t leave them like this,” she said, “just four tiny hedgehog statues.”

Lily gasped. “Four!” she repeated. “There are only four of them.”

Goldie grasped Lily’s hands. “You’re right!” she said.

Jess was puzzled. “What do you mean?” Then she realized. “Of course—there should be five! Where is little Emily Prickleback?”

As they looked around, they heard a faint squeak. Then a little pile of leaves and petals started to uncurl, and a tiny, snuffly face peeked out.

“Emily!” cried Lily. “You had so many petals stuck on your prickles that Dusty didn’t spot you.”

She picked up the trembling creature, who snuggled into the crook of her elbow.

“What about my family?” Emily asked tearfully.

Jess stroked her cheek with a finger. “Don’t you worry,” she said softly. “We figured out how to get Chilly the ice dragon to reverse his magic. We’ll find out how to make Dusty end hers, too.”

Emily blinked back tears and clenched her little paws. “Mom and Dad say I’m good at figuring things out,” she said, “so I’ll help!”

Leaving the statues behind, they hurried back up the river, where they found the animals clustered near the starting line, still waiting for the river to speed up so the race could begin. The Featherbill family had started a water balloon fight and the ducklings were all waddling around, chasing one another with colorful water balloons. Ellie Featherbill squealed in delight as a balloon burst all over her fluffy feathers.

“Look,” Mrs. Featherbill cried. “The girls and Goldie are back!”

Goldie quickly explained what had happened. Everyone started chattering with worry.

Agatha Glitterwing the magpie put a comforting wing around Emily. “We can’t have the race now,” she said. “Not while the poor Pricklebacks are under a spell!”

Lily was staring at the river. Something about it didn’t look the same. “Does the river look shallower to you?” she asked Jess anxiously.

Emily raced to the riverside. “The waterwheel must be stopping. The river’s not just slowing down, it’s disappearing!”

Goldie’s whiskers quivered with worry. “We need to save Emily’s family so they can get it turning again. If we don’t, the river will turn as dry as bone, just like Dusty said in her spell!”

The Greenhops hopped up and down in a panic, croaking, “No Willowtree River? What will we do?”

“Oh, my!” squawked Agatha. “All the trees and flowers will die, and we’ll have nothing to drink!”

“We’ll have to leave Friendship Forest!” cried Mr. Silverback the badger.

“That’s exactly what Grizelda wants,” Jess said. “Did anyone notice which way Dusty went?”

“She was going to sunbathe,” said little Emily. “Maybe she went to the beach?”

Lily smiled at the hedgehog. “Great idea, Emily! Your brothers were right—you really are smart.”

Emily’s nose turned pink again.

“Coral Cove is close to here,” said Goldie. “It’s a little sandy beach where Willowtree River turns a corner. We just need to follow the river. Come on, let’s see if Dusty’s there!”

Emily rode in Jess’s pocket, being careful not to prick her with her spines, as the three friends set off.

“Good luck!” cried the Twinkletails.

“Take care,” called Mr. Silverback.

“Don’t worry!” Goldie shouted back. “We’ll save the Pricklebacks!”

Jess nodded. “After all, we’ve got a very smart hedgehog to help us...”