Sophie Flufftail’s Brave Plan

Chapter One A Stormy Day

Jess Forester smiled as she spread some sunshine-yellow butter on her last piece of crusty bread. “That was a great lunch, Dad,” she said.

“Mmm,” said her best friend, Lily Hart. “Cheese, toast, and walnuts. Yum!”

Mr. Forester smiled. “Have some more nuts. We picked lots before the squirrels took them all.”

“If I eat any more nuts, I’ll turn into a squirrel!” Jess joked, getting up to clear the table. “Anyway, we’ve got to get back to Helping Paw.”

The two girls smiled at each other.

They were lucky to live on the same street—and even luckier that Lily’s parents ran the Helping Paw Wildlife Hospital. The hospital looked after all kinds of animals in need, and both Jess and Lily loved helping there whenever they could!

Mr. Forester glanced out of the window. “Take your coats,” he said. “It looks like it’s about to rain, and you don’t want to get wet.”

As he spoke, rain splattered against the window. Jess and Lily put their coats and rain boots on, and Jess picked up her big rainbow-striped umbrella.

When they stepped outside, Lily’s short, dark hair blew across her face. She ducked under Jess’s umbrella and glanced at her friend. “The rain’s making your hair curlier than ever!” She smiled.

Once they’d crossed the lane, Jess opened Lily’s gate and ran down to the Helping Paw barn at the far end of the yard.

But as she raced after her friend, Lily spotted something strange beneath the chestnut tree. “Wait!” she cried.

Lily showed Jess a heap of leaves and twigs. “Something’s moving under there,” she whispered.

Lily pushed the wet leaves aside. Underneath were three bright-eyed creatures huddled together, long tails curling around their tiny, furry bodies.

Lily gasped. “Baby squirrels!” she cried. “They must have fallen from the tree.” She glanced around. There was no sign of the babies’ parents anywhere.

“They’re so tiny,” said Jess, moving her umbrella to shelter the little squirrels from the rain. “We can’t leave them here. They’re already soaked.”

“You’re right,” said Lily. “Mom and Dad say you should usually leave baby animals alone, in case their parents come looking for them, but I think we have to take them to the wildlife hospital.” She scooped up two baby squirrels, and Jess gently picked up the third.

When they reached the barn, Lily knocked on the door with her foot.

Mrs. Hart opened it. “Goodness!” she exclaimed when she saw the squirrels. “Bring them in!”

Lily and Jess carried the babies to Mr. Hart, who was standing by the examination table. The girls gently put them on the table, then, as they took off their coats and boots, they explained where they’d found them.

Mrs. Hart found a nest box, and Lily cut some squares of soft blanket to line it.

“These will make a nice bed,” she said.

“Like a real squirrel home!” said Jess. “Nice and warm and dry.”

They gently lifted in the three babies, while Mr. and Mrs. Hart went to the kitchen area to find them some food.

Lily and Jess were watching the little squirrels snuggle up to one another cozily, when they heard something tapping at the barn window.

They looked up to see a beautiful green-eyed cat on the sill outside. Raindrops sparkled on her whiskers.

“Goldie!” whispered Jess.

“She’s soaked!” said Lily, flying to open the window.

The cat darted inside and jumped down, her fur dripping on the floor.

Jess leaped up to get a towel. Excitement fizzed through her as she gently dried the cat’s golden fur. Goldie might look like an ordinary cat, but Jess and Lily shared a wonderful secret—Goldie lived in Friendship Forest, a magical world filled with talking animals!

Goldie purred as the girls patted her dry.

“Maybe Friendship Forest is in danger again,” Lily wondered out loud.

“I hope Grizelda isn’t back,” said Jess anxiously.

Grizelda was a wicked witch who wanted to take Friendship Forest all for herself. She had sent the Boggits, her four smelly helpers, into the forest to ruin it. Luckily, the girls and Goldie had managed to stop Grizelda’s plan and save the forest.

Goldie looked up and meowed, then padded over to the door.

“She wants us to follow her!” said Jess. Her blue eyes shone. “Lily, I think Goldie’s going to take us back to Friendship Forest!”

“We’re going to see our animal friends again!” said Lily, smiling. She jumped up and peered out of the window. Luckily, the rain had stopped. “Mom!” she called to Mrs. Hart. “We’re going outside.”

“Okay,” called Mrs. Hart.

Pulling their coats and boots on, the girls followed Goldie past Helping Paw and down to Brightley Stream. They hopped across the stepping stones and ran toward the tree in the middle of Brightley Meadow. It looked like a dead oak tree, but the girls knew that it was the Friendship Tree, and it was very special.

Lily and Jess ran up to the tree and grinned at each other. Something magical was about to happen!

As Goldie reached the tree, leaves sprang from the lifeless branches, birds swooped down to sing sweet songs, and brilliant butterflies danced above the bright yellow flowers that bloomed below. Lily ran her fingers over two words carved into the tree’s bark. “Ready, Jess?” she asked, feeling a thrill of excitement.

Together they read the words aloud, “Friendship Forest!”

Instantly, a door with a leaf-shaped handle appeared in the trunk. Jess clasped Lily’s hand and opened the door. Shimmering light shone from inside. They ducked and followed Goldie into the golden glow.

What magical adventure would they have this time? Lily and Jess couldn’t wait to find out!