Molly Twinkletail Runs Away

Chapter Five Trouble at the Treasure Tree

“Poor Molly might already be down there,” said Lily. “If she’s run into the Boggits, she’ll be so scared.”

As they got closer to the Treasure Tree, the girls saw that it was much taller than all the other trees, and its leaves shimmered in the sunshine. Different kinds of fruit and nuts covered its branches. There were apples and oranges, raspberries and strawberries, spiky pineapples and plump peaches. Nuts hung among the fruit in shiny clusters.

“Wow,” said Jess with a gasp. “It’s amazing!”

“And the Boggits are ruining it,” Goldie said grimly. “Look!” She pointed to where two of the Boggits had climbed onto one of the lower branches. One of them was ripping off fruit and throwing it onto the ground while another Boggit was yanking on a higher branch. It snapped off with a crack. The Boggit used the broken branch to whack more fruit from the tree.

“Oh, no,” said Lily in dismay. “The more damage they do, the less food there will be for all the animals. We’ve got to stop those Boggits!”

Goldie called to Captain Ace. “Can you set us down somewhere the Boggits won’t see us?”

Ace steered the balloon behind a small hill that was covered in flowering bushes. He lowered the basket and flipped a rope ladder over the side.

The passengers climbed down to the forest floor. “Thanks for the ride!” they said, keeping their voices low so the Boggits wouldn’t hear.

“You’re welcome,” whispered Captain Ace with another salute. “Good luck, Goldie. Good luck, young misses!” He took the rope in his beak and flew silently away.

Goldie led the girls around the hill, creeping from tree to tree. As they got closer to the Treasure Tree, Jess noticed some crumbs on the ground. She looked down.

“Hazelnut chips!” she said softly. “Molly’s definitely here somewhere. I hope the Boggits haven’t noticed her!”

“We’d better make sure we find her first,” whispered Lily.

They peeked out from behind a tree trunk. The Treasure Tree was shaking as the Boggits clambered up its branches. They were as tall as the girls, and wore ragged, filthy clothes. Their rough fur was colored in patches of dingy green, washed-out blue, and sickly yellow, and it was matted with dried mud. They stank of rotting cauliflowers.

The Boggits were so busy ruining the tree they didn’t realize they were being watched.

“Haargh haargh!” Sniff laughed from up where she squatted on a branch, her mouth open so wide the girls could see all her dirty teeth. “If Boggits chuck down silly fruit they go smashed and muddy and covered in ants!”

“Hegga hegga!” Reek chuckled. “Grizelda will be pleased with Boggits for ruining animals’ food.”

Whiffy spun around, flinging peaches in all directions. “Grizelda will laugh when Boggits tell her about silly little mouse who wanted to help Boggits, too!”

Jess and Lily both drew a sharp breath. They must be talking about Molly!

Pongo thumped his chest. “Pongo was clever, telling her to fetch drinks from Sparkly Falls for Boggits.”

Sniff laughed so much she nearly fell out of the tree. “Off mouse run to help. But mouse will never be able to do it. Haargh haargh!”

The Boggits whooped and jumped onto the ground. They ran around the Treasure Tree trunk, kicking squashed fruit at each other.

Jess, Lily, and Goldie stared at one another in alarm.

“Poor Molly,” said Lily. “She just wants to help people—even the horrible Boggits. Now she’s even farther from home. And all alone!”

“At least we know where to find her,” said Jess. “Goldie, how do we get to Sparkly Falls?”

Goldie was already heading back around the flowering bushes. “It’s this way, girls! I know a shortcut.”

The two friends set off after the cat. “Once we’ve rescued Molly,” Jess said, “we’ll work out a way to stop the Boggits from ruining the Treasure Tree.”

“But we’ve got to hurry,” said Lily. “Soon the poor animals won’t have any food left!”