| Finding Felix Continued
By Dr. Win Mellor-Hay
Eryn is taking part in the dangerous rescue mission for Felix. What does fate have in store for these two young fairies?
They made it through the North Forest in record time, everyones mind on the mission ahead. They paused slightly at the start of Silent Meadow. Eryn had some trouble flying at first because she wasnt used to the weight of the suit and it kept throwing her off-balance. She was a novice flyer, only having started two years ago when her wings opened. It took fairies quite a few years to master the art.
Once the group of twelve flew over a grassy knoll in the meadow, the team members could see the Pixie forest ahead. It was still some distance away, but their apprehension grew as they neared the woods. Eryn kept thinking about little Felix and how he might have navigated Silent Meadow on his own. She looked down at the meadow occasionally and saw the Silent Snakes leaping up off the grass to try to bite them. She shuddered and prayed that her wings strength would last the whole flight.
They came to rest just inside the edge of the forest. The fairies removed their protective glasses and looked around. The forest looked pleasant and ordinary enough. The Senior Elder looked at Eryn and she took the lead. He sent a security fairy up to walk beside her just in case of danger. Eryn walked, letting her mind lead her intuitively. As she walked forward, she could feel that they were getting closer to Felix.
The razor-flap trees looked completely harmless, but every once in a while you could hear a "thwap" sound like someone swatting at an insect. The razor-sharp leaves managed to slice cuts right through their protective suits. The Senior Elder told them to stay on the path, as tangle-vine snarled the ground everywhere else. Fifteen minutes into the forest they were hot and irritated by the slits from the trees. They started to hear sniffles, like the sound of a child crying. "Felix?" Eryn called out and the sniffling sound stopped. "Hello?" a young childs voice rang out in its place. "Felix: is that you? Were coming for you, Felix! Just hold on, okay?" Eryn called and increased her walking speed. "Im over here!" he called. "Watch out for the tangle-vine. Its really strong. And duck under the dream-sweet boughs! Theyll put you to sleep!" "The what?" the fairy walking beside her queried just as they rounded a cur
The vines were so tightly wrapped around his arms, he hadnt been able even to wipe his tears away. She made a move towards him and Felix shouted out: "Stop! Eryn, dont get caught in the tangle-vines! I dont think you can pull them apart! Theyre so strong!" Eryn paused before she stepped toward Felix. She looked at the insidious vine suspiciously. She picked up a twig and poked it down toward the ground where she almost stepped. The tangle-vine pulsed and leapt toward the twig, slipping its eely green fingers around it noiselessly. Within seconds the twig was yanked out of Eryns hand and disappeared under the dense growth of tangle-vine. "What can I do?" Eryn, asked Felix, dismayed to have come this far and now not be able to free the little boy. "The others have all gone to sleep from the dream-sweet boughs."
"Oh dear," Felix said miserably. "Now Ive brought all of you into this mess." "Dont worry about it, Felix. At least weve found you! And we will get you free." "Well, we better be quick about it. We have to drag those others out of the forest before the tangle-vine gets them."
"Theyre on the path " Eryn started. "Doesnt matter. If they lie still long enough, the tangle-vine will creep right onto the path and capture them."
Eryn looked at little Felix sadly. He was so frightened and remorseful. She knew she had to do something quickly before his spirits sank again. She started looking through the pockets of her protective suit for anything she could use. Maybe there would be rope, or a torch
.
Felix interrupted: "Eryn. There is something you can try." Eryn looked at Felix hopefully. He started again, very humbly: "The reason I came to this forest is because of a certain bush. Its called the squirt-berry bush " "Oh! Ive heard of that!" Eryn exclaimed.
"I read about it, while I was researching magic. I was convinced that if I could get some squirt-berries and eat them, I could make my magic come in early. So I found out how to get to this forest and I had just started looking for them when the vine got me. Ive been lying here ever since. "
"Oh Felix. You were so determined to get your magic early! You have to just wait and let Nature take its course!" "Yeah. I realize that now, Eryn. Some things arent meant to be rushed. If I were a little smarter Id never have risked the hazards of this forest and gotten everyone so worried about me.
Will Eryn be able to free Felix and save the rest of the Fairy search party?
Find out in the next issue of “Fairy Tales” |