8 Chapter 8

8 The birdsong drew closer, and even more birds joined in. The song grew so loud it began to

drown out the mean whisperings of the Shadow Sprites. Soon Unichick could make out the words, and she translated them from birdsong for Naomi: Naomi's going to save the day She will roar those sprites away! The shadows might be sly and mean But they're no match for the Dragon Girl team! When Unichick began to sing it a second time, countless other birds joined in. Soon it felt like the entire Magic Forest was singing along! The warmth in Naomi flowed through her body, growing in strength. It was impossible to feel like a failure with her friends' gorgeous song ringing in her ears. Naomi felt a roar building inside her. And it was built from happiness. ROAR! The shadow tornado blasted apart. Light filtered through, and shadows went flying in all directions.

Naomi roared again, even louder this time. ROARRRR! The Shadow Sprites whirled off into the air. But Naomi knew she didn't have much time. The Shadow Sprites were already regrouping. A big, menacing cloud of them was forming overhead. The wind and the rain were loud, but Naomi thought she could hear the sound of beating wings. Was she imagining it? Then she heard a familiar voice. A moment later, a shower of golden glitter arced through the air.

Azmina landed beside her and flung a soggy wing around her. "We found you!" Willa appeared in a flutter of water and silver sparkles. "We heard your roar. It was amazing!" Naomi hugged her friends. "So was that birdsong!" The song from her friends, and their arrival, made Naomi feel strong—which was lucky because she still had to get that Rainberry! She

spotted a tiny glowing dot, vanishing between the trees. Naomi dashed after it, but the Shadow Sprite holding it was way ahead. Naomi prepared her biggest roar ever. The roar burst from her, glittering in all the colors of the rainbow. It covered the sprite, dissolving it to dust. The Rainberry began to fall toward the ground. Naomi leapt forward, the muscles of her shining, rainbow-striped body rippling. You can do this, she told herself. She stretched out a paw … and yes! The Rainberry dropped right into it! As Naomi's paw curled protectively around the precious fruit, the forest and the other Dragon Girls erupted into birdsong and loud cheering. Naomi flew back to her friends. She opened her paw to reveal the Rainberry, which glowed with all the colors of the rainbow. "Wow, it's so beautiful," breathed Willa.

"Let's add it to the potion right away," said Azmina. "I don't like the look of that storm cloud one bit." "Me neither!" agreed Unichick. Naomi glanced up. That was no normal storm cloud. It was made of Shadow Sprites, but this time something seemed different. Naomi thought she could see a face in the shadows.