Moon Princess by Barbara Laban Page A

friends.
    Feng glanced at her anxiously. ‘What is it? What’s wrong now?’
    â€˜We’re alone,’ Sienna said simply, her voice hollow. She flicked the switch of her torch but it was dead, broken in the impact. They were alone in the dark and, worst of all, they were separated from Minka and Xiaolong. Now they had no way of knowing how to reach her mum and Gege or how to get out of the old mine.
    Trying to swallow her feelings of panic, Sienna felt her way along the passage in the other direction, only to find it blocked in front of them too. ‘We’re trapped!’ she said. She tried to think, her heart pounding in her ears. There was nobody to help them, and they were deep ina mine, a rockfall at either end of the tunnel. Although … what if … ?
    A vague plan started to form in Sienna’s mind. Would it work? Could it work … ? Turning to Feng, she started to speak. ‘We are in real danger,’ she said, trying to keep the tremble out of her voice. ‘We only have one chance to get out of here. You have to call Xiaolong: make him use his flames to blast through the rockfall and get to us.’
    â€˜But he’s so small!’ Feng sounded doubtful.
    â€˜He’s getting stronger each day. You have to believe in him. I know he has the power to do this. I can see him, but I can’t summon him. Only you can do that.’
    Feng hesitated. Then he gave a small nod and closed his eyes. After a few moments of silence, Feng opened his eyes. ‘It’s not working!’ he cried in frustration.
    â€˜You can do it, Feng! Believe in him.’ Sienna closed her eyes too and pictured the little dragon breathing a huge fireball, blasting through the rubble. She realized that it was getting harder to breathe: the air was running out!
    Suddenly they heard a faint noise. It soundedlike roaring. ‘I can hear that,’ murmured Feng. ‘But what is it?’
    There was another roar and then a cloud of black dust fell over the children. ‘Oh no, not another collapse,’ whispered Sienna.
    Then there was a flash of light and fresh air filled the small space where Feng and Sienna crouched. More soot fell. When it cleared, Sienna opened her eyes and saw that the rockfall had been destroyed, clearing space for them to make their way back down the tunnel. And there was Xiaolong, hovering in front of Feng. He seemed bigger, and much stronger.
    To Sienna’s amazement and delight, Feng reached out his hand and stroked the little dragon. ‘I can see you!’ whispered Feng, touching Xiaolong’s snout tenderly. ‘My friend, my little dragon.’
    A noise from above caused Sienna to look up. As she did, she saw a large rock coming loose from the ceiling. ‘Look out!’ she shouted at Feng – but it was too late. She felt a sharp pain in her head and felt warmth spatter against her cheek.
    Then there was nothing but darkness.

14 Jiejiude – Rescued
    W hen Sienna opened her eyes she was lying on a bed. She turned her head to the side, aware that her head ached and was covered in a large bandage. There, sitting by her side, was a familiar figure. Dad!
    Seeing that she was awake, her dad enveloped her in an enormous hug. She felt safe in his warm arms. ‘Dad!’ she croaked. ‘You’re really here. Am I really here? Where is here?!’
    â€˜You’re in hospital,’ Dad said softly. ‘You’refine, but you had a nasty knock on your head and you were very dehydrated.’
    â€˜But … but how did you find me?’ asked Sienna. ‘I was in the mine … the roof fell in … then I don’t remember.’
    â€˜A huge part of the mine collapsed,’ said Dad, speaking in a low, soothing voice.
    Sienna’s heart clenched. Mum and Gege were in the mine – what if they’d been trapped, or worse?
    Dad continued. ‘A security guard heard the explosion and found you