Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 "WE'LL FIND SHADOW BY FOLLOWING her scent," said Wolfy. He pointed to his nose. "I am very good at sniffing things out." "Shadow likes to sleep in my hat," said Peter. "Maybe that will help." Wolfy sniffed Peter's hat. He sniffed the air. He sniffed the ground. He sniffed the air again. "Do you have anything that belongs to Shadow?" asked Wolfy. "I have her favorite toy," said Peter. He held out a little stuffed mouse. Wolfy sniffed that, too. "Aha!" he said. He had Shadow's scent, and he had the trail. But he did not like where it led.

"Shadow went in there," he said. He pointed to the Gloomy Woods. Peter gulped. Franky shivered. Vampyra squeezed her eyes shut. The Gloomy Woods was dark, and spooky, and very, very gloomy. That's why it was called the Gloomy Woods. You might think that monsters would like dark, spooky, and very, very gloomy things. But that is just another story. They only like kind of gloomy things, not very, very gloomy. "It won't be so bad if we go in together," said Wolfy. He took one step toward the woods. He was nervous. "I have an idea," said Vampyra. "I know a way to make the Gloomy Woods not so gloomy." "How?" asked Franky. "I don't think anything can make it less gloomy."

"Peter," said Vampyra, "did you say you play the flute?" "I do," said Peter. "I can play lots of songs!" "Well, then why don't you play us a song?" asked Vampyra. Peter picked up his flute and played a song. It was a cheery, happy song. It worked! They all felt a little better, a little braver, and a lot less gloomy. "Lead the way, Peter!" said Franky.

Wolfy, Franky, and Vampyra followed Peter into the Gloomy Woods.