Silver Hill by Catherine Cooper

flew in, landed heavily on the bed and made the Dorysk bounce up and down several times before he managed to regain his balance.
    ‘Dorysk … Timmery … Timmery … Dorysk,’ said Camelin grumpily, ‘you both know Jack and you both know me. Now can we get on?’
    ‘Thanks,’ said Jack. ‘And you’re right, we ought to get going.’
    ‘Oh I do love adventures,’ said Timmery. ‘I’m honoured to be included.’
    ‘I wish I could come with you,’ whispered Orin.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ said Jack. ‘A Spriggan tunnel is no place for any white rat.’
    ‘I know,’ sighed Orin. ‘You will be careful won’t you?’
    Jack stroked her head to reassure her before turning to Camelin.
    ‘Ready?’
    ‘Ready.’
    ‘Close your eyes everyone,’ said Jack before touching his forehead against Camelin’s.
    Once he’d shaken himself free of his pyjamas he turned to Timmery.
    ‘Hop on.’
    ‘Oh no you don’t,’ interrupted Camelin. ‘I’ll take Timmery, you can have the Dorysk. He wriggles about too much. We’ll see how you like it when you feel itchy all over and can’t have a good scratch.’
    Camelin had already left with Timmery and didn’t see the Dorysk shape-shift into another tiny bat. Jack tried not to laugh.
    ‘Our secret,’ the Dorysk said as he climbed onto Jack’s back. ‘We won’t tell the grumpy one!’
    Jack set off at speed after Camelin into the moonless night with his wand securely held in his beak.

    ‘Ow! Watch what you’re doing with that,’ Camelin grumbled as Jack landed bedside him on the narrow ledge in front of the small door.
    ‘Sorry, I’ve never flown with anything in my beak before.’
    The Dorysk wriggled out of Jack’s feathers and by the time he jumped onto the ledge he was a flea again. Jack looked around. There was a small path leading down the hillside. He gripped the end of his wand with his claws and made a light glow from the tip so they’d be able to see.
    ‘Look Camelin, down there, it’s wider on the path, come and help me transform, then I can get the door open.’
    Jack and Camelin hopped down to the lower level. For a split second the whole of Silver Hill lit up. Jack was grateful it was a dark night and no one was around, he wasn’t happy about being naked. He picked up his wand and ran back up the path leaving Camelin to follow. By the time Camelin reached the door Jack had already removed the silver chain and used Nora’s special key to unlock it.
    ‘You’re getting a bit good with that wand,’ said Camelin. ‘I’ve got a lot of catching up to do when I get mine back.’
    Jack removed the key and slipped the chain back over his head when Camelin wasn’t looking. Thankfully the door opened inwards but it squeaked noisily. Jack closed it behind them as quietly as he could. The hat the Dorysk had seen earlier was still on the hook, but to Jack’s delight, hanging underneath it was a coat. It wasn’t the best fit but at least Jack didn’t feel so exposed with it on, especially when he realised it wasn’t pitch black inside. As the Dorysk had said, a soft glowing light filled the warm tunnel. There was an inviting smell of cooking too, which hadn’t gone unnoticed.
    ‘Barbecue!’ croaked Camelin excitedly.
    ‘You don’t think we’re too late do you?’ said Jack.
    ‘Too late for what?’ asked Timmery.
    Jack turned and frowned at Camelin.
    ‘You didn’t tell Timmery, did you? You could have told him everything on the way over.’
    ‘Needed all my breath for flying, don’t do small talk.’
    Jack sighed and shook his head. He had far more important things to worry about than being cross with Camelin. He quickly told Timmery everything the Dorysk had seen and heard. By the time Jack finished, Camelin had already made his way to the end of the tunnel. His beak was open and Jack knew he was enjoying the lovely smells.
    ‘You don’t think that’s roast dragon do you?’ Jack asked him again.
    ‘Naw, that’s sheep. Spriggans will nab one