6. Back on Track

Back On Track The three friends made their way toward the race course. The forest paths were tinged with gold, and the smell of earth and leaves filled the air. Runners pounded along between trees marked with big red signs. Everyone could see where they were going now. "You'd better hide on my shoulder," Rachel said to Evie. Evie nodded and fluttered beneath Rachel's hair. Suddenly, Kirsty spotted her mom dashing through the trees. Two other runners were close on her heels. "Come on, Mom!" Kirsty shouted. "You can do it!" yelled Rachel. Kirsty's mom smiled and waved. "Not far to go now," she called.

Kirsty and Rachel jumped up and down with delight. Evie cheered, too, but only Rachel could hear her tiny voice. "Looks like your mom's doing well," said someone at Kirsty's side. "Dad! Gran! You're here!" Kirsty exclaimed.

"And just in time. That fog held us up," said Mr. Tate. "Strange how it's completely gone now. Almost like magic!" Rachel and Kirsty looked at each other and smiled. "We're going to head home now," Kirsty told her dad. "Sounds good," he replied. "Gran and I will wait for Mom at the finish line." On the way home, the girls enjoyed the glorious sunshine, but Kirsty couldn't help missing the sparkly fairy mist just a little bit. "Time to give Doodle his feather back," said Rachel, as they reached Kirsty's house. "I wonder if he'll say something to us again." Every time the girls had returned a tail feather, Doodle had come briefly to life and started to speak. He'd given them part of a message, and they couldn't wait to hear the rest. "I hope so," said Kirsty. She repeated what Doodle had told them so far. "Beware! Jack Frost will come…" Evie flew up to the barn roof. As she put the feather into place, the girls watched eagerly.

A fountain of copper and gold sparks fizzed from Doodle's tail. The rusty old weather vane disappeared and in its place was a fiery magic rooster. Doodle fluffed up his glorious feathers and turned to stare at Rachel and Kirsty. "If his—" he squawked. But before Doodle could finish the message, his feathers turned to iron and he became an ordinary weather vane again.

Kirsty frowned. "Beware! Jack Frost will come if his…" she said, repeating all the words Doodle had said to them so far. "Jack Frost will come if his what?" Rachel wondered. Kirsty shook her head. "We'll just have to find the next feather and hope that Doodle tells us," she said. Evie nodded. "It's important to know the whole message. Jack Frost is dangerous," she warned. "And now I must leave you." She hugged Rachel and Kirsty. "Dear friends, thank you for helping me."

"You're welcome," said Kirsty. "Say hello to all our friends in Fairyland for us," added Rachel. "I will," Evie promised, zooming up into the bright blue sky. Her wand left trails of silver mist in the air. Then she was gone.