could communicate with all the animals in Never Land.
“I’m glad you’re here, Fira,” said Elixa, a healing-talent fairy. “You need to know what’s going on.”
Fira gazed around. The fireflies rested fitfully on branches. Their lights flickered dimly. Some didn’t light at all.
Beck patted the wings of one firefly. Elixa placed a leaf compress on another.
“They have the no-fire flu,” Elixa explained. “They won’t be able to light Pixie Hollow tonight.”
Fira groaned. It was almost dusk. Already the light-talent fairies would be hanging glowworm lanterns. But the lanterns were only decoration. The fireflies did the real work of lighting Pixie Hollow. This was trouble, indeed.
Beck went to her side. “I know you’re tired from all the harvesting,” she said quietly, trying not to disturb the fireflies. “But is there anything you can do?”
Fira straightened her wings. “Of course there’s something I can do!”
She would organize all the light-talent fairies. They would need to light the places fireflies usually brightened: gardens, groves, busy sky routes. And the next night a full moon would be out, which meant there would be a dance in the fairy circle. The light-talent fairies would have to light that, too. There was so much work! She had to get going!
With a quick wave good-bye, Fira set off once again. Her mind raced with details. Which fairies would light the fairy-dust mill? Which ones would cover the forest? And who would light the fairy circle?
It was a lot to ask of fairies who were already tired. It will be all right, Fira told herself. We can manage for now. But what if the fireflies are still sick tomorrow?
F IRA DID DOUBLE DUTY that night. She directed light-talent fairies to all corners of the Home Tree. She guided others to locations around Pixie Hollow: the dairy barn, the fairy-dust mill, and the fairy circle, where celebration-setup fairies were preparing for the Fairy Dance.
The next day, Fira slept until midafternoon.
“I can’t remember ever sleeping so late!” she said out loud. Usually, she woke with the dawning sun. “But I worked so hard last night. I must have been exhausted,” she added.
Fira felt a little dazed. Maybe some food will help, she thought. I hope there are some leftovers from lunch. She was ravenous!
A few minutes later, she flew into the tearoom. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows. Just looking at the sunshine made Fira feel better. She stood for a moment in a bright spot, drawing strength from a sunbeam.
The large room was empty of fairies. Dining tables stood bare, without any food in sight.
“Looks like I’ll have to wait for dinner.” Fira sighed. She hadn’t had anything to eat since dinner the night before. Maybe I’ll just sit right here, she thought. No use leaving and coming back.
Then she smiled. One by one, other light-talent fairies straggled into the tearoom. They walked slowly, rubbing their eyes.
A cooking-talent fairy stuck her head out the kitchen door. “They’re here!” she announced. “The light-talent fairies are here!” Serving-talent fairies hurried out, carrying trays of steaming hot acorn soup and poppy puff rolls.
“They’ve been waiting for us!” Luna said. She sat next to Fira. “How nice!”
At a nearby table, Iridessa yawned. Then her mouth stretched into a grin. She sipped the soup happily. “I’m really waking up now!” she exclaimed.
“Me too,” Fira agreed. She took a bite of a roll. “Thank you!” she called to the cooking- and serving-talent fairies.
Fira looked around at the other light-talent fairies. They were perking up but still seemed tired. The night before had taken its toll.
“All right,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about tonight.”
“Tonight?” Luna groaned. “I just woke up. Can’t we relax for an hour?”
Fira shook her head. “There’s too much work to do.” She counted on her fingers. “We have to check on the fireflies. We
“I’m glad you’re here, Fira,” said Elixa, a healing-talent fairy. “You need to know what’s going on.”
Fira gazed around. The fireflies rested fitfully on branches. Their lights flickered dimly. Some didn’t light at all.
Beck patted the wings of one firefly. Elixa placed a leaf compress on another.
“They have the no-fire flu,” Elixa explained. “They won’t be able to light Pixie Hollow tonight.”
Fira groaned. It was almost dusk. Already the light-talent fairies would be hanging glowworm lanterns. But the lanterns were only decoration. The fireflies did the real work of lighting Pixie Hollow. This was trouble, indeed.
Beck went to her side. “I know you’re tired from all the harvesting,” she said quietly, trying not to disturb the fireflies. “But is there anything you can do?”
Fira straightened her wings. “Of course there’s something I can do!”
She would organize all the light-talent fairies. They would need to light the places fireflies usually brightened: gardens, groves, busy sky routes. And the next night a full moon would be out, which meant there would be a dance in the fairy circle. The light-talent fairies would have to light that, too. There was so much work! She had to get going!
With a quick wave good-bye, Fira set off once again. Her mind raced with details. Which fairies would light the fairy-dust mill? Which ones would cover the forest? And who would light the fairy circle?
It was a lot to ask of fairies who were already tired. It will be all right, Fira told herself. We can manage for now. But what if the fireflies are still sick tomorrow?
F IRA DID DOUBLE DUTY that night. She directed light-talent fairies to all corners of the Home Tree. She guided others to locations around Pixie Hollow: the dairy barn, the fairy-dust mill, and the fairy circle, where celebration-setup fairies were preparing for the Fairy Dance.
The next day, Fira slept until midafternoon.
“I can’t remember ever sleeping so late!” she said out loud. Usually, she woke with the dawning sun. “But I worked so hard last night. I must have been exhausted,” she added.
Fira felt a little dazed. Maybe some food will help, she thought. I hope there are some leftovers from lunch. She was ravenous!
A few minutes later, she flew into the tearoom. Sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows. Just looking at the sunshine made Fira feel better. She stood for a moment in a bright spot, drawing strength from a sunbeam.
The large room was empty of fairies. Dining tables stood bare, without any food in sight.
“Looks like I’ll have to wait for dinner.” Fira sighed. She hadn’t had anything to eat since dinner the night before. Maybe I’ll just sit right here, she thought. No use leaving and coming back.
Then she smiled. One by one, other light-talent fairies straggled into the tearoom. They walked slowly, rubbing their eyes.
A cooking-talent fairy stuck her head out the kitchen door. “They’re here!” she announced. “The light-talent fairies are here!” Serving-talent fairies hurried out, carrying trays of steaming hot acorn soup and poppy puff rolls.
“They’ve been waiting for us!” Luna said. She sat next to Fira. “How nice!”
At a nearby table, Iridessa yawned. Then her mouth stretched into a grin. She sipped the soup happily. “I’m really waking up now!” she exclaimed.
“Me too,” Fira agreed. She took a bite of a roll. “Thank you!” she called to the cooking- and serving-talent fairies.
Fira looked around at the other light-talent fairies. They were perking up but still seemed tired. The night before had taken its toll.
“All right,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about tonight.”
“Tonight?” Luna groaned. “I just woke up. Can’t we relax for an hour?”
Fira shook her head. “There’s too much work to do.” She counted on her fingers. “We have to check on the fireflies. We
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