Treasure Hunt by Titania Woods Page B

think of Gran’s illness, and she looked away. She hated lying, but she couldn’t tell Bimi about it – or anyone else, for that matter. She knew she’d burst into loud, babyish tears if she tried.
    â€˜Come on,’ Twink said, putting on a bright grin. ‘Let’s go up to Violet Branch and grab the same beds we had last term!’
    â€˜OK,’ said Bimi doubtfully. ‘But Twink, are you sure –’
    â€˜Race you!’ broke in Twink. She zoomed through the doorway without replying.
    Inside, Glitterwings Academy rose up like a tall, golden tower, with branch-corridors shooting off in all directions. Fairies darted in and out of these like birds, for as high as the eye could see.
    With Bimi just behind her, Twink sped up the trunk, swooping around clusters of hovering students. Finally she landed on the Violet Branch ledge with a hop. The bright purple violets that hung over the doorway swayed in the sudden breeze from her wings.
    â€˜Phew! You won,’ panted Bimi, touching down beside her.
    â€˜It was close, though!’ said Twink. She pushed open the door to their branch, feeling slightly better after the frenzied flight.
    Violet Branch was just as she remembered: a crooked, sunny branch with different levels to it, and mossy beds tucked away in unexpected places. Violets hung over each bed like a sweet-smelling canopy.
    A chorus of voices greeted them. ‘Opposite!’ shrieked one. A lavender-haired fairy hurled herself at Twink.
    â€˜Hi, Sooze!’ said Twink, returning the hug. She and Sooze had been best friends once, and were still close – though Twink knew she had the best friend ever in Bimi now.
    â€˜Hi, Bimi,’ added Sooze as they pulled apart. She fluttered her pink wings with a grin. ‘We saved your old beds for you two, even though they’re the best ones!’
    â€˜Thanks, Sooze – that’s glimmery!’ said Bimi. Though she and Sooze hadn’t always got on in the past, they’d reached a truce of sorts these days. Twink was glad about it. Life had been very stressful when her two favourite fairies hadn’t got on!
    Twink and Bimi flew up to the smaller of the loft spaces. There were only two mossy beds up here, making a cosy little room of their own.
    â€˜Shall I take the bed by the wall again?’ said Bimi. She took her cricket clock out of his cage, and fed him a bit of fresh leaf. He munched it happily.
    â€˜OK,’ said Twink. She could see that Bimi was still concerned about her, and she hurriedly busied herself with unpacking. ‘How were your hols?’ she asked. ‘Tell me everything!’
    Bimi looked uncertain for a moment, and then shrugged. ‘They were really good. We went to visit my cousins in Green Wood, and –’
    Twink relaxed, smiling and nodding as her friend went on. Pulling out her favourite drawing of her family, she placed it on her bedside mushroom. Her parents and Teena smiled out at her.
    I don’t have a drawing of Gran , Twink realised with a pang. Why didn’t she? Suddenly she thought she’d give anything to have a drawing of her gran, with her purple hair and wise smile. And she couldn’t even write to Mum and Dad and ask them to send one, because they weren’t at home.
    â€˜Twink?’ said Bimi. Twink started guiltily. Her best friend stood with her hands on her hips. ‘You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?’ she demanded.
    â€˜No, I have!’ said Twink. ‘You were saying about – er . . .’ she trailed off, trying to remember.

    Bimi sighed. ‘Oh, Twink. Let me know when you want to talk about whatever’s bothering you.’
    â€˜Nothing’s wrong, I told you,’ muttered Twink. Why couldn’t Bimi just let things drop? But she knew that Bimi was worried about her, which made her feel even more wretched than before.
    Suddenly Twink spotted Pix coming into the branch.