4 Chapter 4

4 In Naomi's opinion, flying was the very best thing about being a Dragon Girl. It felt as natural to Naomi as running or walking. And it was much

more fun. She loved practicing midair gymnastics, doing backward somersaults and forward rolls as she zoomed above the treetops. But today Naomi knew they had to stay focused on the mission ahead. Once the sun set, the Shadow Sprites would be even more powerful. Naomi looked down at the forest below her. She couldn't see any Shadow Sprites right now, but she could definitely see their work. Many trees and flowers were completely gray, and the grass looked like it was dying. She frowned. They just had to stop those sprites from ruining the Magic Forest! Azmina zoomed up beside her. "Where are we headed?" she asked. "Do you know what the Tree Queen meant by 'aim high'?" "I figure she meant that we should go to the highest point in the forest," Naomi said. She nodded to the mountain looming in the distance. "I'm thinking we go up there."

Willa flew up on Azmina's other side. "Isn't that a bit … obvious?" she said. "I mean, aren't riddles more complicated than that?" Naomi felt a little wriggle of doubt inside her, but she pushed it away. "It's only the first part of the riddle, remember. We also have to 'get to the root of the problem.' " "What does that mean, I wonder?" Azmina mused.

"We'll work that out when we get there," said Naomi. "Let's speed up. Who knows how long we've got until the sun sets!" The mountain looked big from a distance. But as they flew toward the peak, Naomi realized it was enormous! The air grew icy cold and thin. Naomi felt that wriggle of doubt again as they came in to land. The top of the mountain was almost completely bare. The wind whipped across their glittering scales. All Naomi could see were some rocks and a huge leafless tree, its bare branches reaching for the sky. Naomi could feel the others watching her. She thought about the Tree Queen's riddle. Find the one who seems calm but is actually petrified. She knew that petrified was another word for "scared." But there was no one up here who was calm or scared. There was no one up here at all! What did the Tree Queen mean? Naomi wished she could ask her dad for help. When she got stuck

on a riddle, he always came up with a hint to get her thinking right. "Let's look around the tree," Naomi suggested. Maybe there was a little animal living there that they needed to find. As Naomi circled the tree, one of her wings brushed against the trunk. She stopped. Had the tree just shivered? Naomi patted the tree again, and this time she was sure the tree moved. She placed a paw on its sturdy trunk. It wasn't like a normal tree. It felt harder and colder than wood. There came a deep, hearty laugh. "Please don't do that!" said a voice. "People don't think that stone is ticklish, but it actually is." The Glitter Dragons stared at one another, and then at the tree. "Did you just speak?" Naomi asked the tree. "Yes." The voice sounded hollow but relaxed. "I've been expecting you. A little bird told me that my cousin, the Tree Queen, sent you."

"Wow, the Tree Queen is your cousin? Can you transform like she does?" Azmina asked. "No, I stopped being able to do that long, long ago," replied the tree creakily. "Back before I hollowed out and turned to stone." "You're made of stone?" Willa exclaimed. "Yes. I am a petrified tree," said the tree proudly. "That's what it's called when wood turns to stone. I actually quite like it. I don't have problems with termites or woodpeckers anymore. Turns out it's rather relaxing being made of stone." Excitement shot through Naomi. She understood the queen's riddle! This tree was very calm, but it was also petrified! "We are making a potion to stop the Shadow Sprites. Do you have anything we might use?" Naomi asked. The tree creaked apologetically. "Nothing up here, I'm afraid. But if you went down to my roots, you might find something."