never find him. She looked out for the withered plants and brown leaves that signalled the presence of the Shadow but found nothing. Once, from the corner of her eye, she saw a hugeblack shape skimming over the treetops, but when she turned it was gone.
The day of the geography field trip was warm and bright. Kids piled on to the coaches at Pennington School, and Laney and Steph found a seat together. The year above was also on the trip and Laney spotted Fletcher sitting at the back with his friends.
“Now, listen up!” Their geography teacher, Mrs Martin, stood at the front of the coach. “There’s been a change of plan. There’s rain forecast for later and we need to be careful about the river just in case it floods like it did in the summer. So we’re going to the woods instead. We can still take soil samples and do measurements. I’ll give you your worksheets once we get there.”
There was a series of groans and cheers, and the coaches set off. Feeling thirsty, Laney pulled out her water bottle. A few bubbles rolled up to the surface as she tipped it up. She drank some and pulled a face. She’d heated the water again. She had to stop doing that – it made it taste horrible. Putting the bottle away quickly, she turned to chat to Steph. When she looked out of the window half an hour later she realised with a jolt that when Mrs Martin had said the woods, she’d actually meant Hobbin Forest.
The coaches parked up in a lay-by oppositeSkellmore Farm and they made their way along the footpath that led to the forest, stopping just before the trees.
“Shouldn’t we try another wood, Miss?” said Fletcher. “This one’s really easy to get lost in.”
“You’ll be fine, Fletcher. I’m giving you all a map,” said Mrs Martin.
Fletcher tried again. “But, Miss—”
“Right, everyone! Gather round!” bellowed Mrs Martin, and she started giving instructions and handing out sheets and clipboards.
Laney saw Fletcher’s worried face. She was still annoyed with him, but she understood what he was trying to do. Hobbin Forest was not a good place for a bunch of school kids right now. The mass of dark trees stretched in front of them, waiting.
“Now, I’ll put you into pairs and you can work together, share the map and bring back one set of soil samples and measurements.” Mrs Martin began calling out names. “Steph Mackall and Craig Mottle.” Steph pulled an agonised face. “Laney Rivers and Fletcher Thornbeam.” Laney sighed. She might have known she’d be paired up with Fletcher. She went to collect their map and clipboard, nearly tripping over Jessie, who was doing the same.
“Watch it!” Jessie snatched the nearest clipboard and went back to Cathy and Leah. Laney raised her eyebrows, wondering how Jessie had managed toend up in a group with her friends.
“Spread out and find different places to take measurements but be back here by three o’clock,” Mrs Martin called. “The coach won’t wait.”
“Here you are.” Laney handed the map to Fletcher and picked up the soil sample bags and the clipboard. Then they walked into the wood in silence.
“Are you still annoyed with me?” said Fletcher at last. “I can’t even remember what I said that upset you.”
Laney stuck her hands in her pockets. “You were freaked out that I got those roots off Craig when you couldn’t do it.”
“It
was
kind of strange. Maybe Mist power is stronger than I thought.”
“You don’t think I’m out of control then?”
Fletcher pulled a face. “I’m sorry I said that. Look – you’ve only just started your Mist training. You’ve got years to practise and learn how to handle your powers. Let’s just forget it and get this worksheet done.”
Laney hesitated. “Actually, I won’t be having any more Mist training. Frogley told me not to come back any more. It wasn’t my fault,” she added quickly. “Jessie set me up. I guess she can be happy now that she’s the only proper Mist kid in
The day of the geography field trip was warm and bright. Kids piled on to the coaches at Pennington School, and Laney and Steph found a seat together. The year above was also on the trip and Laney spotted Fletcher sitting at the back with his friends.
“Now, listen up!” Their geography teacher, Mrs Martin, stood at the front of the coach. “There’s been a change of plan. There’s rain forecast for later and we need to be careful about the river just in case it floods like it did in the summer. So we’re going to the woods instead. We can still take soil samples and do measurements. I’ll give you your worksheets once we get there.”
There was a series of groans and cheers, and the coaches set off. Feeling thirsty, Laney pulled out her water bottle. A few bubbles rolled up to the surface as she tipped it up. She drank some and pulled a face. She’d heated the water again. She had to stop doing that – it made it taste horrible. Putting the bottle away quickly, she turned to chat to Steph. When she looked out of the window half an hour later she realised with a jolt that when Mrs Martin had said the woods, she’d actually meant Hobbin Forest.
The coaches parked up in a lay-by oppositeSkellmore Farm and they made their way along the footpath that led to the forest, stopping just before the trees.
“Shouldn’t we try another wood, Miss?” said Fletcher. “This one’s really easy to get lost in.”
“You’ll be fine, Fletcher. I’m giving you all a map,” said Mrs Martin.
Fletcher tried again. “But, Miss—”
“Right, everyone! Gather round!” bellowed Mrs Martin, and she started giving instructions and handing out sheets and clipboards.
Laney saw Fletcher’s worried face. She was still annoyed with him, but she understood what he was trying to do. Hobbin Forest was not a good place for a bunch of school kids right now. The mass of dark trees stretched in front of them, waiting.
“Now, I’ll put you into pairs and you can work together, share the map and bring back one set of soil samples and measurements.” Mrs Martin began calling out names. “Steph Mackall and Craig Mottle.” Steph pulled an agonised face. “Laney Rivers and Fletcher Thornbeam.” Laney sighed. She might have known she’d be paired up with Fletcher. She went to collect their map and clipboard, nearly tripping over Jessie, who was doing the same.
“Watch it!” Jessie snatched the nearest clipboard and went back to Cathy and Leah. Laney raised her eyebrows, wondering how Jessie had managed toend up in a group with her friends.
“Spread out and find different places to take measurements but be back here by three o’clock,” Mrs Martin called. “The coach won’t wait.”
“Here you are.” Laney handed the map to Fletcher and picked up the soil sample bags and the clipboard. Then they walked into the wood in silence.
“Are you still annoyed with me?” said Fletcher at last. “I can’t even remember what I said that upset you.”
Laney stuck her hands in her pockets. “You were freaked out that I got those roots off Craig when you couldn’t do it.”
“It
was
kind of strange. Maybe Mist power is stronger than I thought.”
“You don’t think I’m out of control then?”
Fletcher pulled a face. “I’m sorry I said that. Look – you’ve only just started your Mist training. You’ve got years to practise and learn how to handle your powers. Let’s just forget it and get this worksheet done.”
Laney hesitated. “Actually, I won’t be having any more Mist training. Frogley told me not to come back any more. It wasn’t my fault,” she added quickly. “Jessie set me up. I guess she can be happy now that she’s the only proper Mist kid in
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