Chapter 3

3 As they reached the shining force field that worked like a barrier around the glade, Flutterdash paused. "I guess you're not coming in with me, right?" Quinn asked, hovering in midair. The small bird nodded.

"Will I see you again?" Quinn asked. Even though she and Flutterdash had only just met, Quinn felt that a special bond had already formed between them. Having Flutterdash flying by her side made Quinn feel stronger. Again, Flutterdash nodded, her eyes bright. Then she darted away in a flash of pink and green. Quinn turned to face the glade. The force field around it made a soft, special sound. Quinn had a feeling she was the only one who could hear it. She had always had sensitive hearing. She got it from her dad, who was a musician. The sound was a steady, comforting hum that seemed to vibrate in Quinn's chest. As Quinn pushed through the barrier, she felt like she was taking a bath in pure music. Quinn closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. She wanted to feel like this all the time! "You're here!" cried two familiar voices once she was inside the glade.

Quinn opened her eyes to see her friends from jewelry class, Mei and Aisha. But they looked very different from how they looked in the normal world. They were both Dragon Girls, just like she was. Mei was ruby colored, with gorgeous gold and silver marking on the insides of her wings. Aisha's body gleamed blue, like she was covered in polished sapphires. Her friends wrapped her up in a wing hug. "It's so good to see you," said Aisha. "Did you notice what's happening in the forest on your way here?"

Quinn nodded gravely. "Shadow Sprites are stealing the forest's sounds." As she spoke, something rustled nearby. The Dragon Girls turned toward the magnificent tree growing in the center of the glade. Its branches swayed back and forth, as if blown by a breeze— even though the air in the glade was completely still. Quinn's heart thumped. She knew what this meant. The Tree Queen was about to appear!

Sure enough, the tree began transforming into an elegant figure dressed in a flowing green gown. Her hair fell in dark waves around a kind and wise face. Her soft brown eyes twinkled as she greeted the group. "Hello, Treasure Dragons," the Tree Queen said. "I'm so glad you're here. As you've already noticed, there is something terrible taking place in the Magic Forest. Our sounds are disappearing." "How are the Shadow Sprites stealing the sounds, exactly?" asked Quinn. The Tree Queen waved her branches. "That's a very good question, Quinn," she said. "It's all about the third object that the Shadow Sprites have stolen from the forest's treasure vault. As you know, they took the Forest Book and the Magic Mirror. You three have done a wonderful job of returning them to the vault. But one object is still missing." Quinn thought about when she, Mei, and Aisha had been in the vault where the Magic Forest's

treasure was kept. There was still one empty column, right in the center. "It's the Heartstring Violin, isn't it?" she said. The Tree Queen nodded. "The Heartstring Violin is a precious and magical instrument. It is made from a branch of the Music Tree, one of the oldest trees of the Magic Forest. Its bow is made from the same wood. In fact, the Music Tree is an ancient ancestor of mine. A kind of great-great-grandmother. This violin is very old and very powerful." Already Quinn was dying to hear this magical violin! "What does it do?" asked Aisha. "The violin makes music that guides all the sounds in the Magic Forest. Everything in the forest is in tune with it. The waterfalls, the whistling breezes, the barking of the foxes, and the squeaks of the mice. Without the violin's music as a guide, everything gets confused. And that confusion makes it easier for the Shadow