4. Pogwurzel Plot

Evie and Kirsty stared at Rachel. "Tell us!" they cried. Rachel outlined her plan. "If we can convince the goblin that the forest is full of Pogwurzels, he'll do anything to escape. He'll want the mist cleared away so that he can find his way out of the woods. Since he's not clever enough to figure out how to use the Mist Feather himself, maybe we can convince him to give the feather to Evie and let her try." Evie clapped her hands together in excitement. "Then I can keep it and take it back to Doodle!" she said. "It's a wonderful plan!"

"But I'm not sure how we can make the goblin think that there are hundreds of Pogwurzels in the forest," Rachel added. The three friends sat quietly, thinking. Kirsty thought of her mom and the other runners trying to find their way along the race course. That gave her an idea. "I know how we can convince the goblin that there are Pogwurzels around!" she cried. "Evie, if you make us human-sized again, Rachel and I can creep up on the goblin from behind. Then we'll run past him, screaming that a Pogwurzel is chasing us!"

"Yes, that could work," Evie agreed. "We'll have to be very convincing," Rachel added. Evie nodded. "But you two can do it. I know you can," she said encouragingly. The three friends flew silently down to the ground behind the oak tree. Evie waved her wand and the girls zoomed up to their normal height. "Ready?" asked Kirsty. "You bet," Rachel replied. The girls crept toward the goblin. They could see him sitting on his log, still muttering to himself. "Now!" whispered Rachel.

Kirsty dashed forward. "Help! Help! Save us from the Pogwurzel!" she shouted.

Rachel was right behind her. "It's huge and scary and won't leave us alone!" she cried. The goblin leaped to his feet. His eyes were as big as saucers. "What?" he gasped. "Who are you?" Kirsty stopped. "Oh, my goodness, a goblin in Pogwurzel Wood!" she exclaimed, pretending to be surprised. Rachel stopped, too. "You must be very brave," she declared. The goblin's eyes flicked from Rachel to Kirsty. "Why?" he demanded shakily. "Are there many Pogwurzels around here?" "Oh, yes," Kirsty chimed in. "Hundreds. This forest is full of them. One of them was chasing us just now," she added, looking nervously over her shoulder. "He can't be far behind us." Just then, Evie fluttered down, her wings shining in the fog. "Pogwurzels especially love to catch goblins, you know," she said. The goblin's face turned pale with fear.

"If I were you, I'd get out of this forest right now," Evie continued. "But I can't," wailed the goblin. "The fog is so thick that I can hardly see my own toes!" Evie smiled. "I'll help you," she said sweetly. "Just give me that feather you're holding. I'll use it to make a clear pathway out of the forest for you." Kirsty and Rachel could hardly breathe. Their plan was working so far, but what would the goblin do next? He pinched his nose thoughtfully. "I don't know. Jack Frost won't like it if I give you the Mist Feather." "But he's not the one being chased by a Pogwurzel, is he?" Rachel pointed out quickly. "The Pogwurzels in this forest are extra-big," Kirsty said. "And really, really mean." "So is Jack Frost," the goblin said, looking torn. "I think I'll keep the feather."