Poppy Muddlepup’s Daring Rescue

Chapter One A Ride to the Tower

The sun was already low in the sky by the time Lily Hart, Jess Forester, and Poppy Muddlepup the puppy made it to the other side of Friendship Forest. The three friends stood by a stretch of still, dark water at the forest’s edge, staring at the witch Grizelda’s stone tower on the far side. It stood on ground that was strangely rocky and gray, and studded with bare, black bushes. The tower loomed over the water, tall and creepy-looking. Yellow-green sparks shot out of the top.

They had already collected two of the ingredients they needed for the Rise and Shine potion—a tiny feather and some jewel water. The final ingredient was Sunrise Berries. They had until sunset to find them and then mix up the potion to wake Poppy’s brother Patch from his enchanted sleep. If they failed, Grizelda would wake him, but only in return for keeping all the magical flowers in the Muddlepups’ Garden Grove for herself. These plants were needed to heal all the sick animals in Friendship Forest, and the Muddlepup family were their special guardians.

“The berries must be at the top of the tower somewhere,” said Jess, summoning all her courage. I hope those sparks don’t mean Grizelda is practicing her witchy magic, she thought nervously to herself.

“So let’s go and get them!” said Lily, setting off. But then she groaned. “Oh, no! How are we going to get across the water?”

“Maybe there’s a bridge or stepping stones,” Poppy suggested. “Or even a boat. Let’s look!”

They began searching along the bank. Poppy raced ahead, but after a minute or two there was a sharp “Yap!” and she bounded back. Her tail wagged so fast it was a blur, just like Honey Needlenose’s hummingbird wings.

“There are some frogs just up ahead,” said Poppy. “They say they’ll help us. Come on!”

Jess and Lily followed, wondering how on earth frogs could help them cross the water. But when they reached them, they could see at once! The frogs were sitting on huge, round lily pads, the biggest and flattest the girls had ever seen. They floated on the water like giant tea trays. In the middle of each lily pad was a little hut, and outside each hut were frogs of all shapes and sizes.

The biggest frog, who carried a fishing net on a stick, called, “Hello, we’re the Greenhop family. Poppy says you need help, so hop, hop, hop aboard!” He turned to his family. “Grab your oars, everyone. To the horrible witch’s tower!”

Lily, Jess, and Poppy each chose a lily pad and carefully stepped onto it. It felt very wobbly. Water trickled over the edges, so the girls sat right in the middle, hugging their knees. Poppy climbed onto Mr. Greenhop’s lily pad, then put her head down with her paws over her eyes and her tail pointing straight up in the air.

The frogs got out their oars, and off they rowed, gliding over the dark water. Mr. Greenhop swung his net in the air every so often.

“I’m catching flies,” he explained. “Lots of flies around the witch’s home.”

Soon they reached the far bank. Lily shivered as she looked at the tower.

“Hop, hop, hop ashore,” whispered Mr. Greenhop. “I don’t want to stay on this side for too long—we’re far too close to that witch for my liking!”

Lily, Jess, and Poppy thanked the Greenhops for their help and stepped onto the bank. Now they knew why they were shivering, and why the ground was gray. On Grizelda’s side of the water, it was winter! Snow lay on the ground, but not crisp and white, like it was in Brightley. This was dirty gray and slushy.

“Everything about Grizelda’s tower is horrible,” muttered Jess. “Even the snow.”

“I wish we had our jackets and scarves back,” Lily said with a shiver.

“Wait!” said Poppy. She pulled three red flowers with sparkling centers from her bag. “Winter warmers,” she explained. “If you have one of these on you, it keeps you nice and toasty warm.”

Lily and Jess each tucked a winter warmer into their hair, where the twisting twirls were before, while Poppy looped hers through her bandanna.

“Wow,” gasped Lily as she felt a lovely heat surround her. “Your flowers really are magical, Poppy!”

Jess led the way between spiteful-looking thorn bushes, which seemed to reach out and snatch at their clothes. A big, ugly, warty toad waddled out in front of Poppy and swelled up, making the poor puppy jump. Lily flapped her hands at the toad, then picked Poppy up.

“This place smells mean and nasty,” said the puppy, wrinkling her nose.

As they reached the tower, Lily gazed upward. “Wow! It’s so tall,” she said.

The walls were black and crumbling in places, and the narrow windows were as dark and cold as the witch’s eyes.

Jess gasped and pointed. A black vine had wound its way around the very top of the tower. Growing on it was something bright, sparkling, and orange. “Sunrise Berries!” she said.

Poppy wriggled in excitement.

“See?” said Lily. “Everything will be fine. We’re going to save Patch.”

“There’s only one problem,” Jess muttered. “We have to get to the top of the tower—without being spotted by Grizelda!”

Chapter Two A Frightening Climb

Jess found a door in the tower wall. It was big and solid, and had a knocker shaped like a scary monster face. Lily and Poppy kept close behind her as she reached for the iron doorknob. Everyone held their breath nervously...

But it wouldn’t turn.

“It’s locked,” said Jess. “Now what?”

“Keep looking for a way in,” said Lily.

They tiptoed around the outside of the tower, then Poppy gave a little yap. “There’s an open window,” she said, “but it’s too high up, even for you girls.”

Jess groaned, but Lily had an idea.

“Keep watch, Poppy,” said Lily. “Jess and I will find something to stand on.”

Poppy sat beneath the window, her ears pricked, watching for danger. Lily and Jess soon found what they needed—a rotten tree stump that had been ripped from the ground. They dragged it to the wall and stood it in the gray slush beneath the window.

Jess climbed onto the stump and reached up to the window. In moments she had hauled herself over the sill and inside. She looked out. “Pass Poppy up to me,” she told Lily.

Once the puppy was lifted through the open window, she immediately sneezed. “Ooh, it’s dusty,” she complained, rubbing her nose with a paw.

“Let’s be as quiet as we can!” Jess whispered. “Lily, your turn now. Stand on the stump and stretch your arms. Grab my wrists!”

Seconds later, Lily stood beside Jess, brushing down her dress.

“Careful,” Poppy whispered. “All this dust is very sneezy.”

They found themselves in a damp, dark hallway. It smelled of mold and musty, stale air. In the corner was a stone spiral staircase. When they stood at the bottom and looked up, it seemed to go all the way up through the tower.

“Come on,” said Jess, leading the way up the stairs. Cobwebs brushed their hair, and each footstep stirred more dust. Poppy was right. It was very sneezy!

The puppy’s ears suddenly pricked up. “Listen!” she said.

“What is it?” asked Lily.

“Footsteps,” whispered Poppy. “Grizelda’s coming!”

“Oh, no,” said Lily. “Hide! Quick!”

Jess spotted a door covered in sagging spiderwebs. She wrenched it open and saw it was a closet, full of huge old iron cauldrons.

Jess, Lily, and Poppy darted inside, shutting the door softly behind them. And not a moment too soon! Seconds later, through the gaps in the wood, they saw Grizelda climbing down the stairs. She was carrying a lantern and crowing to herself.

“It’ll soon be sunset, haa haa!” she said. “Those interfering girls will never be able to make the potion in time, even if they do find all the ingredients. The magic plants will be mine—all of them. Haaaaaa, haaaa, haaa!”

As she stomped past, the thick dust on the cauldrons filled the air, billowing up around the girls and Poppy. The puppy’s paw flew to her nose.

“Oh, no!” whispered Lily. She guessed there was a sneeze coming and quickly wrapped the puppy in her arms, hoping to stifle the sound.

“Aaah... aah... aah...” Poppy managed to hold back the sneeze for a moment, but then—“Fwooff!”

Through the gaps in the door, Jess saw the wicked witch stop.

“Who’s there?” Grizelda snapped.

“Quick!” whispered Lily. “Hide in one of the big cauldrons.”

They clambered inside the largest one, hardly daring to breathe.

“Who’s there, I say?” snarled Grizelda.

“Show yourself or I’ll... aha! The closet!”

Lily, still hugging Poppy, could feel the pup’s heart racing as fast as her own.

Grizelda yanked the door open. Shadows moved as the witch swung the lantern forward.

On the wall, Jess saw the silhouette of witchy hair, swirling like snakes as Grizelda peered into the closet.

Oh, no, Jess thought. Please, please don’t let her see us!

Chapter Three The Black Vine

Jess’s legs were like rubber, and Lily clapped her hand over her mouth to stop herself crying out. Both girls felt Poppy’s little body trembling between them.

Grizelda’s lantern swung closer. If she came any nearer, she would see them! The girls held their breath for what felt like forever before Grizelda grunted.

“Humph. It must have been a rat.”

The girls breathed again as the door slammed shut and Grizelda’s voice faded away, muttering, “If I catch anyone...”

They waited a few moments to be sure she had gone, then Jess climbed out of the cauldron and opened the door. “That was close!” she said. “Come on—let’s get those berries and get out of here!”

The others followed, hurrying up the stairs after her.

Both girls pulled sticky cobwebs from their faces as they climbed, and they had to watch where they stepped. Some of the worn stairs were slippery with puddles of green, slimy water.

At last they reached a small wooden door. There was nowhere else to go, so Jess pushed it open, and they found themselves in a courtyard on the tower’s roof.

It was a relief to be in the fresh, cold air, but a horrible smell wafted across to them, like rotten eggs soaked in stagnant pond water. It came from a fountain of dirty water that sent puffs of yellow-green sparks up into the air.

Beyond the fountain was a black vine.

“Look!” cried Jess in delight.

All along the vine, brilliant orange berries sparkled in the rays of the setting sun.

Lily clapped her hands with glee and Poppy let out a yap of delight. The three friends made their way past the fountain.

“Be careful not to let any droplets touch you,” Lily warned. “Grizelda’s bad magic could be in that stinky water.”

When they reached the vine, Jess reached out to grab a handful of the berries. Immediately, there was a flash of sparks, and jagged shards of ice appeared on the berries, covering them completely.

“Oh, no!” cried Jess. “Grizelda knows we need the berries. She must have put a spell on them, in case we managed to escape from that terrible cage.”

Lily picked up a stone from the ground and smashed it onto one of the frozen shards. But instead of shattering, more sparks fizzed from the ice. They all took a step back.

Worry swirled inside Jess. “What are we going to do?” she asked.

Poppy’s ears pricked up and she gave a yap. “The winter warmers!”

“Yes!” cried Lily. “Oh, you clever puppy.”

They each held their winter warmer flowers against the ice. As the heat from the blooms spread, drips began to splatter on the ground.

“The ice is melting!” said Lily.

Soon, the girls were able to grab handfuls of the velvety berries. Lily stuffed them into her pocket.

Jess looked up at the sky. The light was growing dim. “It’s almost sunset,” she said, turning to Lily. “How will we get back to the Muddlepups’ den in time?”

“Oh, no!” wailed Poppy. “We’ve got everything we need, but we’re too late to save poor Patch.” She put her paws over her eyes and sobbed.

“Oh, Poppy, we’re so sorry!” said Jess, blinking back her own tears as she hugged the shaking puppy. “We did everything we could. Grizelda was just too clever for us.”

“Wait! Listen!” said Lily. “What’s that? I heard a voice!”

Jess and Poppy turned, expecting to see Grizelda. But it wasn’t the witch!

“Look, Jess!” she cried.

Captain Ace, the stork, was flying toward them with a rope in his long beak, pulling his hot air balloon along.

And in the balloon’s basket was Goldie!

Chapter Four Back to the Den

“Goldie!” cried Jess. “How did you know where we were?”

Ace lowered the basket to the tower roof, and Goldie sprang out. She hugged her friends and Poppy. Then she quickly told them how she’d found them.

“When I got back to Friendship Forest after visiting Barney,” she explained, “I found Mrs. Taptree waiting for me. She told me about poor Patch and the potion and rushed me to Garden Grove. Then Woody Flufftail came by and said you had two ingredients already and were looking for Sunrise Berries.”

“We found them,” said Lily. “Right here in Grizelda’s tower!”

“I guessed you would,” said Goldie. “You’re brave and clever, and I knew you’d do your best to find all the things you needed.”

“And you found us!” said Jess.

“Yes, thanks to Captain Ace,” said Goldie. “I thought you might need help getting back to the Muddlepups’ den in time. Now quick—into the basket!”

When they were all safely aboard, Ace flew them away and over the forest. As the balloon took them farther and farther from Grizelda’s chilly tower, they felt happier and happier. But then Goldie gasped. “Hurry!” she cried. “The sun has almost set!”

Captain Ace’s wings beat harder and the balloon moved faster through the darkening sky.

Poppy spotted her family’s den first. “There, Captain Ace!” she cried, pointing her paw.

Ace lowered the balloon over the den and Lily climbed down a rope ladder, being careful not to land on the magical flowers below. Who knew what might happen if they were stepped on?

Jess passed Poppy to Lily, then she and Goldie climbed down.

Everyone yelled, “Thank you!” to Captain Ace as he flew off with the balloon. Then they rushed into the den, calling, “We’re back!”

Mr. and Mrs. Muddlepup were sitting with Patch, who was still fast asleep in his nest of blankets. They looked very worried.

“Poppy, fetch a bowl, please,” Lily said. Then she explained their plan to the Muddlepups. “We’re going to make the Rise and Shine potion, and then we’re going to wake Patch up.”

Jess carefully emptied the jewel water out of the bottle blooms and into the bowl, then Lily dropped in the berries and added the hummingbird feather.

There was a fizzle! and a pffft! as the ingredients dissolved into a swirling, foaming, orange mixture. It began to glow with magic.

“It’s turning as bright as the sunrise,” Lily said. “That’s a good sign, isn’t it?” she asked anxiously.

No one replied. Lily guessed that they were all wondering the same thing. Oh, please let the potion work, she thought desperately.

Mrs. Muddlepup propped Patch up. Lily took a spoon and carefully dripped a little of the potion into his mouth. She’d done this sort of thing with medicine many times before at the wildlife hospital, but she’d never been quite this nervous.

The potion fizzed as it touched Patch’s tongue. His mouth moved a little as he tasted it. Now Lily was able to give him a whole spoonful.

Fizzle... fizzle, it went.

Patch’s nose twitched. He yawned a great wide yawn. And finally—he opened his eyes!

Mrs. Muddlepup burst into happy tears. “You’ve saved him! Oh, thank you, girls, you’ve saved my little Patch! How can we ever repay you?”

Jess and Lily felt as if they would explode with pleasure and relief. Through the windows, they could just see the last rays of the setting sun lighting the magical grove. They’d been just in time!

But then Jess saw something else. An orb of eerie yellow-green light was floating down toward the Muddlepups’ cozy den.

“Grizelda!” cried Jess. “She’s coming!”

Chapter Five Good-bye, Muddlepups!

Goldie and the girls hurried out and saw the orb explode in a shower of evil-smelling sparks. There stood Grizelda, her dark eyes glittering coldly.

“This is it!” the witch sneered. “Your last chance to save Patch. Hand over Garden Grove and the magical plants to me, and the puppy will wake. If you refuse, he will sleep forever! Haaa!” Her laugh boomed like thunder.

Lily and Jess heard movement behind them and turned to see the Muddlepups emerging from their den. Last to come out was Patch—looking as wide-awake and bouncy as ever!

Grizelda gasped when she saw the puppy. A look of fury spread across her face, and her wild green hair stood out like the bristles on a hairbrush.

“How did this happen?” she shrieked. “You couldn’t have made the Rise and Shine potion, because you didn’t have all the ingredients!” She pointed at Patch. “He broke my spell! How did he break it? Answer me!”

Jess went to speak, but Goldie hushed her. “Grizelda doesn’t know you got the Sunrise Berries from her tower,” she whispered. “She thinks Patch has special magic powers!”

Jess’s face lit up. “Let’s tell her that all the Muddlepups are magical,” she whispered back, “and that she’d better leave them alone if she knows what’s good for her.”

Lily nodded and turned to the Muddlepups so that her back was to Grizelda, putting a finger to her lips.

Jess spoke in a loud voice. “Of course Patch broke your spell. Everyone knows that all the Muddlepups are magical and can break spells. Isn’t that right, Lily?”

“Yes, that’s why they look after Garden Grove,” Lily said. “They have special powers, so you’d better stay away, Grizelda! There are four of them and there’s only one of you!”

Jess glanced around. The Muddlepups were trying to hide their grins.

“I’m magical, too, you horrible witch!” Poppy shouted bravely. She skittered past the girls, clutching a bunch of purple pom-pom puffballs. She held them up and chanted nonsense words. “Bikker cree duckfar!” Then she blew on them, releasing clouds of bright pink smoke, just as she had shown the girls earlier. They wafted toward the witch.

“Run, Grizelda!” Lily called. “Poppy just did a spell that makes witches disappear!”

Grizelda screamed and backed away from the pink cloud. “You might have won this time,” she shrieked, “but this isn’t the last you’ll see of me!”

She snapped her fingers and vanished in a shower of yellow sparks.

After a moment’s silence, everyone burst into loud cheers. “Hooray!”

Mr. and Mrs. Muddlepup hugged the girls, and both their tails wagged.

“We’re not really magical, are we?” asked Patch. “We’re not special?”

Lily smiled. “We did make up most of what we said to fool Grizelda,” she explained, “but you Muddlepups definitely are special.”

“And so are you girls!” yapped Poppy in delight.

A little while later, they were all enjoying Mrs. Muddlepup’s delicious sweetroot soup and hazelnut crackers, and then it was time for Jess and Lily to say good-bye. There were lots of hugs for everyone, and kisses and cuddles for Poppy, then Goldie took Lily and Jess all the way back to the Friendship Tree. The girls put their warm clothes back on while Goldie touched a paw to the trunk.

“Thank you for helping with the flower festival,” she said as the door appeared, “and thanks for helping the Muddlepups.”

They both hugged her.

“I’ll come and visit you again,” Goldie promised.

“I hope it will be soon,” said Lily.

“Me, too!” said Jess. “Bye, Goldie.” She opened the door and stepped into the shimmering golden light.

Lily followed and both girls found themselves back in Brightley Meadow. Snow was falling softly, sparkling white. It was nothing like the dirty gray slush around Grizelda’s tower.

“Let’s hurry back,” said Jess. “That hot chocolate will be waiting!” The girls knew that no time passed in the human world while they were in Friendship Forest.

They raced across the meadow, over the stream, and up the garden until they reached the woodpeckers’ aviary. They crept inside the enclosure and quietly lifted the nest-box lid. The chicks were snuggled together, fast asleep.

“Aww, they’re just like Dig and Tipper,” said Lily.

“But quieter!” giggled Jess.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Hart passed them steaming mugs of hot chocolate with pink marshmallows. “You’ll never guess what I just saw,” she said. “Ollie was walking his dog, and a beautiful golden cat walked right alongside it, almost like they were friends!”

Lily and Jess shared a secret smile. That golden cat was their friend, too. Their magical friend! They couldn’t wait for their next adventure with Goldie in Friendship Forest!

The End